#UPDATE: Al-Shabaab Targets AUSSOM-Ugandan Military Positions in Janaale, Golweyn and Number 60
Al-Shabaab militants launched coordinated overnight attacks on several military positions manned by Ugandan troops in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, targeting bases in the district…
#UPDATE: Al-Shabaab Targets AUSSOM-Ugandan Military Positions in Janaale, Golweyn and Number 60
Al-Shabaab militants launched coordinated overnight attacks on several military positions manned by Ugandan troops in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, targeting bases in the district of Janaale as well as the areas of Golweyn and Number 60, according to local residents and security sources.
Heavy fighting was reported at the targeted locations late Monday night and continued into the early hours of Tuesday, with residents describing sustained exchanges of gunfire and explosions. The full extent of casualties and damage was not immediately clear, and there has been no official statement from the Somali government, the Ugandan military, or the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Leonid Tsukanov
[REGNUM] The standoff between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels (Ansar Allah) is escalating. Yemeni rebels appear to have decided to seriously pursue control of the sea lanes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, damaging the economy and image of the "all-powerful Saudis." These would be the all-powerful Saudis who could not manage to conquer South Yemen, even with allies and mercenaries? Shocking. Or, you know, not.
Of course, the House of Saud has a response to the new challenge. However, the effectiveness of these countermeasures is seriously questionable.
THE VICE IS TIGHTENING
For a long time, the Houthis lacked the technical capacity to completely block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Even with control over a significant portion of Yemen's coastline, the waters near Djibouti and Somalia remained a blind spot. This was exploited by cunning Saudi captains, who circumvented the "total blockade" and maintained oil supplies at pre-crisis levels.
Pro-Iranian forces have attempted to close the loophole several times, for example by landing troops on Zuqar Island at the very mouth of the strait, and also by launching offensives to capture a strategic height on the Jabal Dhubas ridge (controlled by pro-Saudi loyalists with the alleged support of foreign private military companies), but both operations ended in failure.
Against this backdrop, Riyadh became increasingly defiant and demonstratively increased the volume of oil shipped to Red Sea ports, thereby demonstrating its complete control of the situation.
However, the Houthis quickly adapted to the new status quo. Their goal was not so much to seal the strait as to make shipping through it a dangerous and costly undertaking.
As part of their new strategy, pro-Iranian forces deliberately attacked two large Saudi tankers, the Layla and the Encelia, on July 23. Both had previously been considered untouchable and had passed through the Strait of Hormuz unhindered even during the peak periods of the blockade.
The impact was devastating: after a direct hit, the Encelia's upper deck caught fire, forcing the tanker to urgently return to port for repairs. The Layla, which suffered minor damage from shrapnel hitting its superstructure, followed suit.
And although the cargo of both ships was saved (as were the lives of the crew members), the number of people willing to try to break through the Saudi blockade after this episode sharply decreased.
Overall, shipping volumes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have fallen more than sevenfold—a decline even more precipitous than in the first days of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Unlike Tehran, Sana'a has not offered its neighbors any "green routes."
FLEXIBLE GOAL SETTING
It is worth noting that the geography of the Houthis' targets is not limited to the sea.
As the conflict escalated, Yemeni missile forces increasingly began targeting oil refining and transportation infrastructure within the kingdom.
The refinery and oil storage facilities in Jizan (the fifth largest complex in Saudi Arabia) and the export terminal in the port of Yanbu (where the Saudis transferred their main oil traffic after the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz) were hit.
Attempts were made to damage the East-West main pipeline, but the Houthi UAVs and missiles were shot down before they could reach the target.
Nevertheless, the general trend remained unchanged: Ansar Allah intended not only to disrupt Saudi Arabia's maritime communications, but also to undermine the very system of distributing petroleum products within the kingdom, knocking a key pillar of statehood out from under the House of Saud.
This provoked a nervous reaction from Western players. US President Donald Trump attempted to publicly threaten the Houthis, promising to "punish" them for sabotaging shipping in the Red Sea.
However, the matter never went beyond threats: there was a risk that the US "aid" would result in even greater attacks on Saudi territory. Therefore, the Pentagon shelved plans for a military operation.
The European military mission "Aspides", which is effectively responsible for the safety of civilian shipping off the coast of Yemen, also chose to remain silent and not threaten the Houthis with retaliatory strikes.
Moreover, after the incidents with the Saudi tankers, Germany hastily withdrew the minesweepers and escort vessels previously stationed in Djibouti to the Mediterranean basin before the Houthis could preemptively sink them.
And although most of its Western partners verbally expressed their "absolute and exhaustive support" to Riyadh, it was forced to deal with the new threat solely on its own.
The industry reacted quickly to the inaction of the powers that be: after the incidents at sea, the world's largest insurer, Lloyd's of London, chose to stop selling war risk insurance to all shipowners associated with Saudi Arabia and shipping through the Red Sea.
Other major insurers followed suit, significantly reducing the attractiveness of Saudi oil for shipping companies.
Riyadh's attempts to convince private companies to control the situation were unsuccessful: few wanted to repeat the mistakes of the Encelia crew and become a target for Ansar Allah missiles and UAVs.
WRESTLING UNDER THE CARPET
However, one shouldn't think that Saudi Arabia's situation is completely hopeless. Riyadh has found unexpected support in Yemeni tribal militias, which have their own scores to settle with the Houthis.
Moreover, the combined mobilization potential of such "pocket forces" is in no way inferior to that of Ansar Allah. In effect, the House of Saud has decided to put the ball back in the Yemenis' court, giving the fighting the familiar character of internecine strife. And at the same time, push the Houthis further into the mainland.
And the first successes were not long in coming. By the morning of July 27, fighters from the pro-Saudi Al-Jaid tribe, after several attempts, managed to establish control over the town of Al-Yatma (Al-Jawf province). Although this victory seemed minor, it significantly changed the operational situation in the region.
This is partly because the Houthi opponents have managed to cut off (for the first time since the civil war began in 2014) a key supply route that feeds a large group of pro-Iranian forces in the strategically important mountainous region of Jabal al-Madmun.
To relieve the besieged garrison (which is also believed to contain Iranian military advisers), Ansar Allah commanders are forced to hastily transfer units from coastal provinces to Al-Jawf, thereby loosening the naval stranglehold on Riyadh.
The latest temporary pacification between Iran and the United States also proved extremely inopportune for the Houthis. It not only led to a drop in oil prices to $88 per barrel (following a spike to $105–110 provoked by Ansar Allah), but also expanded the relatively safe routes through Iranian territorial waters.
Under these circumstances, Riyadh could redirect supplies back to Persian Gulf ports—it had previously successfully established the capacity for a rapid reverse flow. In this case, the effectiveness of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait "blockade" would be significantly reduced.
On the other hand, relying on destabilizing the situation inside Yemen could have the opposite effect.
Especially if Riyadh gets carried away with this game and begins to excessively support the growing anti-Houthi coalition.
Then, in addition to the troubling strikes on tankers and oil infrastructure, more serious retaliatory actions could well be added, to which the Saudis would have to respond by launching a full-fledged military campaign against Ansar Allah.
Which, in turn, is fraught with the possibility of an almost complete repetition of the 2014 crisis, from which Riyadh barely escaped.
Breaking | The Houthis have followed through on their threats, claiming an attack on the Saudi-flagged oil and chemical tanker NCC GHAZAL (IMO 9685205). If accurate, this would mark the third vessel the group has claimed to target this week.
Breaking | The Houthis have followed through on their threats, claiming an attack on the Saudi-flagged oil and chemical tanker NCC GHAZAL (IMO 9685205). If accurate, this would mark the third vessel the group has claimed to target this week.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group launched multiple ballistic missiles at the tanker after it allegedly violated the Houthis’ maritime navigation ban and ignored warning calls. He claimed the vessel was forced to turn back.
Mediators have stepped into the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with talks reportedly underway in Muscat aimed at preventing a full-scale war in Yemen. So far there has been little progress, as Riyadh continues to increase support for Yemeni government… pic.twitter.com/8BACT5d8Uh
Mediators have stepped into the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with talks reportedly underway in Muscat aimed at preventing a full-scale war in Yemen. So far there has been little progress, as Riyadh continues to increase support for Yemeni government forces and allied tribes, sending reinforcements to Al-Jawf, Marib, and the Hodeidah area.
Negotiations remain complicated by the Houthis’ demands for an end to the naval blockade and the resumption of international flights to Sanaa, which Saudi Arabia rejects. Both sides have incentives to reach some form of understanding — Saudis to protect remaining oil export capacity, Houthis to claim a political win — but meaningful progress is still required before any real de-escalation can take hold.
Saudi defense ministry spokesperson Turki al-Maliki says on X that the drones were launched from Iraqi territory by what he describes as Iran-backed terrorist militias.
Saudi Arabia reserves the legitimate right to defend itself and its national capabilities and retains the right to respond “at the appropriate time and place,” al-Maliki adds.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Shamil Kerashev
[REGNUM] The British political establishment has found a new excuse to talk about "national security threats" that supposedly make anything pale in comparison – including a monstrous economic downturn.
As a recent Daily Mail report reveals, a nest of "right-wing extremism" has suddenly emerged in the heart of rural Wales—the county of Powys. The site is a five-acre plot of land on the outskirts of an abandoned village, home to a group called The Woodlander Initiative (TWI).
Judging by the published photos, it currently consists of a few log cabins, huts, and tents. However, there are plans to expand the infrastructure in the foreseeable future, including the construction of a school.
But the most important thing is the eligibility criteria. Applicants must be white, heterosexual, and preferably not single, but willing to move with their family.
All of this, of course, could not help but provoke a strong reaction—first from the regional centrist party Plaid Cymru, then from official London, whose position is being conveyed by the government-affiliated monitoring group HOPE Not Hate. Allegedly, a real plot to create a "racially segregated enclave" has been uncovered in the Welsh wilderness, which will inevitably become a springboard for a "fascist uprising."
However, reporters arriving at the scene didn't detect any militarized atmosphere and were forced to admit the scene was much more in keeping with a standard summer campsite. And the local farmers apparently haven't complained about their new neighbors or noticed any signs of a "neo-Nazi invasion."
"I helped them get some timber and build a couple of fences. They're nice guys, they wave at us when we pass," John Weedon, the owner of a nearby farm, told The Guardian.
"I think the 'white supremacy' narrative is complete nonsense. You can't be right-wing or say anything at all these days without being immediately labeled a radical," added Lee Price, a local shopkeeper.
Another farmer, William Jones, who sold the land to TWI, declined to comment. Another anonymous commenter speculated that the camp was unlikely to survive for long: the huts are unheated and will likely be abandoned with the first cold snap of autumn.
Incidentally, resolving the issue of constructing anything more permanent will be problematic. According to British law, the mere purchase of an agricultural plot does not grant the owner planning rights: the land's intended use must be reviewed in court. Therefore, in the present case, the "massive conspiracy against democracy" boils down more to a potential protracted dispute with land inspectors.
At the same time, it certainly shouldn't be reduced to some local, cartoonish eccentricity—after all, The Woodlander Initiative conceals a rather large-scale and systemic process. The fact is that the Welsh initiative is only part of a long-term crowdfunding project launched two years ago.
Its stated goal is extremely ambitious: the organisers want to raise a million pounds to buy the land and set up similar camps in every county in the UK without exception.
Legally, it's essentially impossible to find fault with such transactions: the plots are acquired privately through pools of solidarity investors. And, as the flow of funds shows (about a third of the total has already been raised), there are quite a few people willing to chip in.
"We need our own land, our own places to meet and talk, our own community to preserve our culture," emphasizes the idea's author, Salisbury-born tattoo artist Simon Birkett.
Incidentally, it was his background that proved to be a key argument in the fight against TWI for mainstream British propaganda. Birkett, in particular, was cited for his long-standing ties to the National Party (BNP), which has targeted a far-right audience since the mid-1980s, sometimes even declaring its continuity with Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists.
However, the National Party's actual political influence, not to mention electoral support, is negligible at best: according to recent PollCheck data, its current rating is zero. Furthermore, it's no secret that the British far right considers the BNP a creation of the secret services, once used by the authorities to discredit and undermine protest votes.
Consequently, even if Birkett personally had suddenly retained absolute loyalty to the party, he would hardly have been able to recruit a sufficient number of sponsors using a purely political filter.
Indeed, The Woodlander Initiative's membership is quite diverse. The bulk of its members are classic "preppers" (wilderness survivalists), downshifters tired of big cities, and those who can be broadly described as conservatives—those opposed to modern globalist trends.
Moreover, among the donors were even environmental activists, traditionally gravitating toward the left. Clearly, such a diverse crowd looks less like an army of skinhead stormtroopers and more like those simply looking to escape the stifling city regulations.
And, of course, the reasons for their desire are well known. Take, for example, the results of the national Community Life Survey, which recently recorded a sharp decline in trust in social institutions in major urban centers. For example, in London, Birmingham, and Manchester, only 30% of residents consider their surroundings normal, while in rural areas, the figure ranges from 54% to 75%.
The root of the problem appears to be the rapid ghettoization of once-thriving industrial cities, where the middle working class—whether young or old—is finding it increasingly difficult to turn a blind eye to the growth of ethnic neighborhoods, rampant ethnic crime, and the total destruction of the familiar socio-cultural environment.
Correcting the electoral situation is virtually impossible: Britain, like the rest of Western Europe, adheres firmly to the unspoken rule of "change personalities, not policy"—the faces of officials and the composition of parliament change, but the political course remains the same. Therefore, internal migration was bound to become virtually the only option for the white proletarian sooner or later.
And how can one not recall the American precedent that served as a direct source of inspiration for Welsh escapists? The Return To The Land (RTTL) movement, which spearheaded the creation of a gated community in a remote area of Arkansas, in a section of the Ozark Plateau.
The enclave's founder, a lover of Greek philosophy and Trumpist, Eric Orwall, made no secret of his plans to implement so-called soft resegregation in the United States by creating a network of "white heterosexual shelters" in rural areas. However, once the startup outgrew the confines of a farm utopia and began attracting substantial financial flows, the US federal government gave the organizers a hard time.
Endless tax audits, coupled with bank suspensions and intense media backlash, simply destroyed the community's economic base, putting an end to its plans to expand into the Appalachian Mountains and the Deep South.
To be fair, Orwoll should be criticized for his overly radical views, along with his inherently politicized approach. He even once went so far as to say that the world could do with "a new leader like Hitler."
The founding fathers of Britain's The Woodlander Initiative act more gently and subtly – although this will most likely not protect them from bureaucratic reprisals, for which a formal pretext will certainly be found.
The only question is whether addressing the symptom will help slow the progression of this grave social disease. The answer will come if—or, more accurately, when—the English, deprived of the opportunity to peacefully build a dozen huts, find an alternative outlet for their frustration. And not in quiet, pastoral Wales, but right on the streets of their million-plus cities.
[IsraelTimes] Tourists on Greek island say they were singing in Hebrew when assailants began shouting ‘F*ck Israel,’ ‘Free Palestine’ at them; one Israeli shot in head with air rifle
Israeli tourists said they were violent mostly peacefully attacked near and inside their hotel on the Greek island of Crete early Sunday morning by assailants armed with sharp objects and rifles who shouted "Fuck Israel" and "Free Paleostine," leading them to fear for their lives.
The group of young Israelis was walking home from a party in the coastal town of Malia while singing in Hebrew at around 4 a.m., when the attackers began shouting the slogans at them, according to report by Israel’s National Center for Combating Antisemitism and channels 12 and 13.
"We yelled back at them, and there was an argument. We then got closer to the hotel, and suddenly we saw a bigger group arrive and that they had called more people over for backup," Raz, 17, told Channel 12.
"They began to jump us and throw glass bottles. One of them got close to me and tried to break a bottle on my head, but luckily my friend stopped him," he said.
The attackers pursued them into the hotel compound, armed with air rifles and sharp objects, where they began to search for Israeli and Jewish guests, the National Center statement said.
One Israeli suffered a head injury from being shot with an air gun, according to the statement.
The Israeli tourists locked themselves in their rooms, and "several youths reportedly sent distress and farewell messages to their families in Israel during the incident," the statement read, adding that hotel staff tried to protect guests until police arrived.
"They had fire in their eyes," Raz said. "There was only one guard at the entrance to the hotel, who couldn’t deal with them, and they just entered the hotel grounds and started looking for us, knocking on the rooms. There were other guys outside who threw glass bottles and fired air guns."
Raz said it took a long time before authorities arrived to disperse the assailants.
"In the morning I purchased new flights and returned to Israel immediately. I didn’t want to stay there. We were supposed to return in another two days, but after what happened, I personally did not want to and couldn’t stay in that place," he said.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry and embassy "coordinated with local authorities during the incident," the National Center said.
The incident is under investigation. While locals claimed the violence was the result of a clash with drunk local youths, the Israeli tourists said it was a targeted antisemitic attack, according to the center.
The past year has seen a spate of anti-Israel incidents in Greece, which is one of the most popular destinations for Israeli tourists during the summer months.
Last year, Israeli cruise ships were met with crowds of protesters, who in one case prevented a ship from docking in an incident that the Greek government condemned. Multiple Israelis have said they were harassed or assaulted after speaking Hebrew in public places.
#3
The Greek worldview was a logic machine decoupled from purpose or law, where morality was endlessly redefined to match the latest philosophical fashion, and fickle gods needed to be propitiated lest they take out their pique on the nearest convenient target. The Jewish view was of a morality-centered, purposeful, directional history where even the limitless God is limited within the universe by His laws. Both sought to decode the universe through logic.
Naturally they despised one another, long before early Christianity came along, and in the East was frozen by the Moslem conquest..
[IsraelTimes] At least 14 drone strikes have hit Iranian Kurdish rebels in Iraq’s Kurdistan region since yesterday, an opposition commander says, blaming the attacks on Iran.
During the Middle East war, the autonomous Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and foreign oil companies, as well as the exiled rebels, has been a target for attacks carried out by Tehran and pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups.
Since hostilities resumed in the region, drone attacks have repeatedly been intercepted over Kurdistan’s capital Erbil, and others have struck Iranian Kurdish rebels.
Amjad Panahi from the Komala party tell AFP that “Iranian forces have launched 14 drone attacks since Monday… against bases belonging to our party as well as the PDKI and the PAK.”
He adds that the strikes caused material damage and fires, but no casualties.
Adib Khaldian from the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) confirms that drone attacks had targeted his group.
The opposition officials add that the most recent attacks came before dawn.
#2
The Iranians are bombing them so there must be a worry. There was a retired General on the radio yesterday claiming the Kurds are already in Iran territory.
[IsraelTimes] A Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander who commanded a cell of terrorists that abducted Israeli civilians during the October 7, 2023, onslaught was killed in a strike in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday, the military announces.
The IDF says the strike in Khan Younis yesterday killed Muhammad Khalil Muhammad Aslam, a platoon commander in Islamic Jihad’s elite forces
“During the October 7 massacre, Aslam commanded a terrorist cell that participated in the abduction of Israeli civilians,” the army says.
The IDF justifies the strike during the ceasefire by saying that Aslam had recently been advancing attacks on troops and Israeli civilians.
“The terrorist posed an immediate threat and was eliminated in a precise aerial strike,” the military adds.
[IsraelTimes] Lebanese security forces have arrested a man accused of transferring nearly half a million dollars to the Islamic State group in neighboring Syria, a judicial official tells AFP.
Forces “arrested a man who had stolen $400,000 from his father’s safe, and investigations showed that he had transferred the money to Syria” for ISIS, the official says on condition of anonymity.
The inquiry also showed that the individual was “part of a cell active between Lebanon and Syria” that included three members who are in prison in the Lebanese city of Tripoli and “handled coordination with ISIS in Syria,” the official adds.
Two other suspected cell members are believed to have crossed Lebanon’s porous border into Syria after the matter was uncovered.
The group “was responsible for funding ISIS with the aim of carrying out terror acts, whether inside Syrian territory or in Lebanon,” the official adds.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
07/29/2026 2026-07-29 05:16 ||
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[BBC via] "Kick our ass!"
Iran has launched "multiple" ballistic missiles in an "attempted surprise attack" on American forces in the Middle East, the US military said, shattering a lull in the fighting.
The attack occurred at 17:45 EDT (21:45 GMT) on Tuesday, with all missiles "successfully intercepted", said US Central Command (Centcom), which did not disclose any locations of targets.
The US military and Saudi Arabian forces meanwhile struck "Iran-aligned terrorists" in Iraq in retaliation for Iran-directed drone attacks, according to Centcom.
Tehran has not yet commented. The reported crossfire would end a brief break in hostilities between the US and Iran, which was designed to bring negotiators back to the table.
The US and Saudi Arabia struck "multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites" in eastern Iraq, according to Centcom.
The US military said this was "a strong response to over 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours", using an acronym for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Centcom said Iran's military "and its terrorist proxies must cease these attacks to avoid further US military response".
Earlier on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia said its military had intercepted and destroyed drones targeting petroleum facilities in the country's eastern region.
Defence ministry spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki alleged the drones were launched by Iran-affiliated militia groups in Iraqi territory.
[IsraelTimes] Iran says recent US strikes destroyed an airport and a marine control tower, and caused damage to 12 bridges and two tunnels, among other infrastructure.
Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani provides the details in an announcement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency.
The US military said it struck numerous military targets this month in response to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Arab countries hosting US forces.
Both sides paused their attacks over the weekend, though tensions remain high.
Mohajerani says Bushehr International Airport, on the Persian Gulf, has been “rendered inoperable.” Both tunnels have been reopened and alternate routes have been established around the damaged bridges, she says.
She says other civilian infrastructure had also been destroyed, including a meteorological center and fishing boats. The US says it targeted small boats used by Iranian forces to harass ships in the strait.
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/29/2026 00:00 ||
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#1
I don’t understand the lyrics in the song in this Facebook Reel, but it’s fun and the final image was completely unexpected. Link
#4
Let'squit screwing around, Iran is suffering from a prolongued drought and its water supplies are dwindling fast. Destroy the dams and catchments. Iranians are good at suffering; make them suffer.
It appear to be Russian language, if you open the video in its own YouTube tab and not play it in the Rantburg window, you can turn on the close captioning, just select auto translate > English and it will translate from Russian CC to English CC.
Hope this help and thank you TW for posting this video!
#8
Comments on X (The Iranian Watcher, Ida Turan and others) are suggesting something major is going to happen overnight in Iran. There are tweets that a larger than normal number of F-15 Stike Eagles involved and they are taking off heavily loaded.
A comment from, I think Monday night, made the statement that when the shooting stops, the IRGC is in more danger. Probably a reason they keep breaking the cease fires.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
