Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Regnum] More than 1,000 migrant children are currently being held in a juvenile detention center in Ceuta, Spain. This was reported on August 5 by 20minutos.
"The Ceuta government estimates that approximately 1,000 minors are already in child protection centers. Beyond this number, there are concerns that many more remain unaccounted for and remain hidden, hiding in the city's informal settlements, particularly in hilly areas, undetected by local police," the article states.
The government estimates that the number of children in the Ceuta juvenile detention center is 2,600% higher than its capacity.
Human rights organizations warn that hundreds of children may be left without necessary protection. Save the Children called for the minors to be identified as quickly as possible and placed in safe conditions where they can receive the necessary medical and psychological care.
However, according to Spanish law, children who are unaccompanied by adults cannot be deported.
At the end of July, Ceuta, Spain, was overwhelmed by an influx of migrants from Morocco. According to Mayor Juan Jesús Vivas, up to 60,000 illegal immigrants entered the city from the neighboring country on July 31, representing almost 70% of Ceuta's population. Italian authorities suspended the Schengen Agreement with Spain on August 1.
Morocco said that this number may increase and recommended that families who cannot contact or find their loved ones "not rely solely on social media in their search"
About 60 Moroccans are considered missing nearly a week after masses of illegal migrants had crossed to the Spanish African exclave of Ceuta last week, according to news portal The Maghreb Times.
“They’re dead, Jim. Flattened on the rocks by the rampaging mob, then their bodies washed out to sea.”
According to its sources in law enforcement agencies, the initial list of the missing consisted of 43 people, including men, women, and children.
On Thursday the authorities learned that relatives had found three young people among those who returned from Ceuta.
Later, there were reports about 17 more people who went missing. Thus, according to the sources, 57 Moroccans are currently listed as missing.
Morocco said that this number may increase and recommended that families who cannot contact or find their loved ones "not rely solely on social media in their search," as it does not replace official channels.
[Reuters] Saudi Arabia expects imminent coordinated attacks from Iraqi militias north of the Gulf state and from Yemen's Houthis from the south under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a senior Saudi official said.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said late on Thursday that intelligence reports from Saudi Arabia, the United States and other regional countries indicated civilian and economic sites could be targeted, including energy infrastructure, ports and airports.
Saudi Arabia had observed drones and missiles being moved, suggesting coordinated operations from both directions, and was prepared to take all necessary measures to respond to "any aggression," the official said.
The rare warning underscores how the Gulf kingdom has come increasingly into the crosshairs of the regional conflict over the past weeks.
It has faced attacks from Yemen's Houthis and Iraqi militias and in late July carried out strikes with U.S. Central Command against Iran-backed groups in Iraq after blaming them for drone attacks on its oil facilities.
Iraqi militias said they would respond to the Saudi strikes.
#2
Turkey, Pakistan & Saudi Arabia just signed a mutual defense agreement stating
"that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all"
Multiple sources, but link to one: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-turkey-pakistan-pledge-mutual-defense-rcna591330
#6
@4 & 5
Pakistan and Turkey both share a border with Iran and both have militaries that can easily handle what's left of Iran's military. Turkey can project air power into Iraq to go after the Iranian backed militias in Iraq. Pakistan probably can as well.
Posted by: Bobby ||
08/07/2026 16:57 Comments ||
Top||
#9
Will MBS support Pakistan in a war with India? Will Pakistan support Turkey taking over the balance of Cyprus? In addition to “being available” to help defend against an attack, will the parties be drawn in to joining an attack against a 3rd party (Turkey vs Kurds; Pakistan in Pushran; Saudi vs Houthi)?
#10
I suspect the answer to all of those is no, Blossom Elmolush6088. They each want the others to help in their quarrels, not to take on new ones contrary to their own interests.
[FOX] The U.S. State Department said a "threat against American interests" forced the United States to suspend all of its government activities in a Mexican state where visitors face a risk of violence "from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs and criminal organizations."
The warning from the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico about the state of Michoacan, which is located west of Mexico City, includes a halt to the inspections of avocados required for their export, according to The Associated Press.
"Due to a threat against American interests, U.S. government activities in Michoacan State have been suspended as of August 5," the message read. "Reminder that the U.S. travel advisory designates Michoacan as a Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ area."
While the U.S. Embassy did not specify the nature of the threat in its security alert, Michoacan Gov. Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla said on social media that a temporary halt to avocado inspections was intended to safeguard workers following recent arrests linked to alleged extortion, the AP reported.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Kamran Gasanov
[REGNUM] Turkey moved confidently into Syria after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, and then its attention shifted further south and east – towards Lebanon and Iraq.
The recent visit of the prime ministers of these countries to Ankara, the agreements on the participation of the Turkish company TPAO in the development of oil in Iraq's Kirkuk and the "Roads of Development" confirm Recep Tayyip Erdogan's intentions to restore influence in the former vilayets of the Ottoman Empire.
By seeking to weaken Iran, Türkiye is at the same time, paradoxically, creating new points of conflict with Israel.
TURKISH BREAKTHROUGH INTO IRAQ
Turkey's increased involvement in Iraq began in March 2023, when then-Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani arrived in Ankara. A year later, a Turkish leader visited Baghdad for the first time in 12 years.
The main outcome of these meetings was the "Road to Development" project. Iraq, with its Shiite majority, became an Iranian domain after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the failed American occupation.
Interestingly, both visits took place before Assad's overthrow in Syria.
However, given the growing pressure from Israel and the US on Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran itself in these years, Turkey's dominance in the Middle East has become increasingly difficult. Assad's fall is not the cause of Ankara's rise or Tehran's weakening, but rather a result.
At the end of July, Erdoğan continued to expand his influence in Iraq. A meeting with the new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, was held at the Beştepe Palace. Five agreements were signed, including a document on the "Road to Development." This is a transport corridor from the port of Greater Faw in the Persian Gulf through Iraq to the Turkish border, with further access to Europe.
The cost of creating a 1,200-kilometer logistics route (including roads, railways, and port infrastructure upgrades) is estimated at $17 billion. The project also involves Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, and Syria—Arab countries where Iran has limited leverage.
For Tehran, the "Development Road" means losing exclusive control over transit flows from the Persian Gulf. While the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports were previously the only outlet for energy and cargo from the region, an alternative route has now emerged, completely controlled by Turkey and its allies.
Iran observed the process silently and did not publicly torpedo Turkish initiatives, but nevertheless attempted to slow them down.
At a meeting between Turkish and Iraqi leaders in Ankara, Iraqi Transport Minister Wahb Al-Hasani refused to sign the "Road to Development" document. Only after a direct order from the Prime Minister did he finally sign the agreement.
Several regional media outlets attributed the delay to Iranian influence. Al-Hasani is a member of the Shiite Badr Organization in Iraq, which is affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The minister quickly denied accusations of working for Iran, citing "technical and protocol glitches." However, such glitches are extremely rare at such a high level. Erdogan was forced to summon his Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, to find out what was going on. The awkward pause lasted several minutes.
Turkish columnist Mehmet Koçak, writing in Yeni Akit, notes: "Iran fears that the Development Road project, as well as the Zangezur Corridor, seen as a gateway to the Turkic world, could negatively impact its geopolitical and economic interests." He also noted that this was the first time President Erdoğan had personally noted that any of the documents scheduled for signing were missing.
OIL COMEBACK
In parallel with its transportation projects, Türkiye made a historic breakthrough in the energy sector by reaching an agreement with Iraq to supply more than 750,000 barrels of oil per day via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline.
As Sabah newspaper columnist Erhan Afencu writes, "Turkey lost the battle for Mosul and Kirkuk 100 years ago, in 1926, and received only a share of Mosul's oil for 25 years. Payments for this share ended in 1955. Last week, TPAO acquired 15% of BP Energy Company's shares in Kirkuk Limited. This agreement made Turkey a partner with BP in the Kirkuk fields."
This isn't just a commercial deal, but Turkey's return to a region it considered its own a century ago. TPAO became a partner in a consortium including BP (43%) and ConocoPhillips (42%), gaining access to fields with estimated reserves of approximately 3 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
The war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, while strengthening Tehran's position in relations with the US and Sunni monarchies, simultaneously increased Turkey's role as a transit country. Together with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria, Turkey is reviving the Hejaz Railway, which will connect Istanbul with the Persian Gulf.
There is talk of a Qatar-Europe gas pipeline project through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey. And since April, Iraq has been shipping fuel by truck to the Syrian port of Baniyas, and from there by tanker to the EU.
LEBANESE VECTOR
In parallel with its Iraqi efforts, Ankara is actively working with Lebanon. At the end of July, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun arrived in the Turkish capital. This signaled Beirut's willingness to reduce the influence of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and France in its territory. Turkey promised financial and military assistance for the reconstruction of southern Lebanon, as well as support for dialogue with the new Syrian leadership.
Academician Tuba Yildiz, writing for Fokus+, notes: "Lebanon has realized that it can obtain the necessary foreign policy support thanks to Turkey's diplomatic and political strength, especially given Washington's contradictory position." Although Donald Trump is attempting to reconcile Hezbollah with Israel, the ceasefire is constantly violated.
As Israel also keeps pointing out.
Turkey's presence could pose a direct challenge to Hezbollah's influence. The Lebanese government could lean on Ankara to weaken the pro-Iranian movement. Other players could also support this process, including the United States, the European Union, France—and even Israel, which is hostile to Erdogan.
That last is backward - it’s Turkey — specifically President Erdogan — that is hostile to Israel.
Turkey's entry into Lebanon was largely due to the weakening of Hezbollah in its confrontation with Israel following Operation Pager and the armed clashes that have been ongoing since 2024, as well as the coup in Damascus.
Influence in Syria allows Ankara to open a natural corridor to Lebanon and work directly with Beirut. Closer ties with Lebanon will strengthen Turkey's position in the Mediterranean, where it already has a 1,500-kilometer coastal zone and a presence in Cyprus, Syria, and Libya.
Yıldız writes: "Turkey views Lebanon not as an extension of its Syrian policy, but as an independent component of a regional strategy with its own internal dynamics—as part of the fight against Israel and strengthening its position in the Eastern Mediterranean." In this context, the recent attempt to enshrine the expansive geopolitical concept of the "Blue Homeland" into law is highly symptomatic.
In Lebanon—as in Libya and Syria—Turkey appears to be unwilling to limit itself to economic and soft power. Ankara may send troops to guarantee the republic's security from Israeli attacks and incursions.
That could prove amusing — what has Turkey’s army done beyond march in parades and bully the Kurds of Iraq and Syria?
Erdogan wanted to send troops to Gaza as part of Trump's peace plan, but due to Israeli opposition, the US president did not approve of this approach.
Golly — why do you suppose they objected?
Turkish journalist Yahya Bostan points out that Israel won't be able to do the same in Lebanon, where Turkey is already present as part of the UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL.
Sure — for a little while longer.
"This time, Ankara's hand is strong," the author asserts. Erdogan has already hinted at his willingness to become the republic's security guarantor: "We want to participate in all initiatives aimed at ensuring Lebanon's sovereignty."
Turkey's growing influence in Iran's traditional spheres of influence undoubtedly irritates Tehran. However, Tehran remains pragmatic and is reluctant to openly clash with Ankara at the official level. After all, their interests often coincide. The countries are important trading partners.
On security issues, Iran and Turkey can both compete, as they did in Syria, and present a united front. For example, when the US attempted to mobilize Iranian Kurds against the ayatollahs during its attack, Ankara threatened to launch military action against the separatists.
In any case, by gaining a tactical advantage in Iraq and Lebanon, Turkey is not achieving hegemony. Firstly, Iran, due to religious factors, will still retain its potential both in Iraq and in other countries with large Shiite populations. Secondly, Turkey's strengthening in Lebanon will exacerbate tensions with Israel, which will both divert resources and undermine good relations with the United States.
[Jpost] The report analyzed the operational patterns, funding sources, and network of connections between organizations and entities involved in incitement, terrorism, and illegal activity.
Twenty anti-Israel pro-terror organizations in the US have raised more than $250 million in cumulative funding over five years, the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry revealed in a new report.
The report analyzed the operational patterns, funding sources, and network of connections between organizations and entities involved in incitement, terrorism, and illegal activity.
Among the listed organizations are American Moslems for Paleostine, the Paleostinian Youth Movement, Moslem American Society, Code Pink ... a U.S. anti-war group. The group describes itself as a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. It was founded in 2002 by Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin and of the other usual antiwar suspects. Its website lists hysterical allegations of US war crimes, and states that thousands of civilians were killed in Fallujah in 2004. Maybe it was millions. Benjamin was a 2000 candidate for the U.S. Senate on the Green Party ticket. She lost... , Students for Justice in Paleostine, Jewish Voices for Peace, and Within Our Lifetime.
LEGITIMATE DONATION MECHANISMS BEING USED TO FUNNEL FUNDS TOWARDS INCITEMENT
The ministry identified what it said are seemingly legitimate donation mechanisms being used to funnel resources into delegitimization and incitement activities. The ministry also found what seems to be patterns of coordination among organizations, joint campaigns, and large-scale public and advocacy operations, which, at times, cross the boundaries of legitimate discourse and may contribute to radicalization, incitement, and even violence.
American Moslems for Paleostine (AMP) is one of the main organizations examined in the report. Founded in 2006, AMP describes itself as an organization focused on Paleostinian advocacy, education, and community engagement. According to the report, AMP operates through a fiscal sponsorship structure rather than as an independent nonprofit entity, with AJP Educational Foundation serving as its 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor and AJP Action operating as a separate 501(c)(4) entity involved in political advocacy.
The report identifies AMP as a central organization within what it describes as a broader network of US-based groups involved in anti-Israel advocacy. It alleges that AMP has maintained connections with individuals and organizations linked to Hamas ..not a terrorist organization, even though it kidnaps people, holds hostages, and tries to negotiate by executing them,... and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Paleostine (PFLP).
Among the key figures highlighted in the report is Osama Abu Irshaid, AMP’s chairman. The report cites his participation in a 2021 conference in Jordan alongside representatives of Hamas and the PFLP, as well as his previous association with the Islamic Association of Paleostine (IAP), an organization that was found civilly liable in the US for supporting Hamas.
The report also focuses on Hatem Bazian, identified as an AMP founder and a prominent figure in the organization’s ideological and public messaging. It alleges that Bazian promoted holy warrior Islamist positions and antisemitic rhetoric, citing comments at protests and public events, including his call during student demonstrations for an "Intifada in the US."
Financially, the report examines AMP’s relationship with AJP Educational Foundation and AJP Action, arguing that the overlap between the entities raises questions about transparency and whether funds donated for educational purposes may support political activity. It notes that AMP’s revenue through AJP Educational increased from approximately $1 million in 2020 to $2.3 million in 2024, according to figures cited in the report.
The report also highlights a Virginia investigation into AMP’s financial records, stating that a court ordered the organization in 2024 to provide documents requested by the state attorney-general’s office regarding finances, leadership, donations, and activities.
It is important to note that AMP has denied any connections to Hamas. AMP’s lawyer told USA Today in 2024: "There have been many allegations and insinuations against American Moslems for Paleostine and whether it has connections to Hamas, supports Hamas, or in any way, shape, or form aids Hamas. The answer to all of those is simple and clear: No. No, it does not."
MAPPING THE BROADER NETWORK OF US-BASED PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISM
Beyond individual organizations, the ministry’s report attempts to map what it describes as a broader network of relationships connecting US-based pro-Paleostinian groups, activists, donors, and advocacy structures.
The main overlap described is between American Moslems for Paleostine (AMP), the US Campaign for Paleostinian Rights (USCPR), National Students for Justice in Paleostine (NSJP), and the Council on American-Islamic Relations ... the Moslem Brüderbund's American arm ... (CAIR).
According to the report, these connections are significant not only because of individual affiliations, but also because they denote a broader ecosystem in which organizations project common messages, mobilize supporters, and provide institutional support for campaigns targeting Israel.
Nevertheless, while the report alleges ideological and organizational connections, proving a legal violation requires demonstrating specific prohibited conduct, such as material support for designated terrorist organizations. The ministry’s report is, therefore, not a criminal complaint but rather a compilation of what it deems evidence.
Speaking about the report, Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli said: "We continue to expose the true face of ’innocent’ civil society organizations, which, in practice, support terrorism and incitement against the State of Israel."
"The era of the double game — where organizations could support terrorism while hiding behind an ’innocent’ and ’civil’ facade — has come to an end."
He noted that he has reached out to members of Congressional committees and the US Department of Justice to ask them to "take action" against these organizations and "halt their operations."
Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry Director-General Avi Cohen-Scali said, "These are disguised humanitarian organizations that promote subversive antisemitic activity, delegitimization, and incitement to terrorism."
"We will continue to work to expose the links between ’innocent civil’ organizations and terrorist groups."
Courtesy of Skidmark in comments, to get the information into the searchable record:
[Reuters] ISLAMABAD/KARACHI, Aug 6 (Reuters) - When blasphemy allegations against a Christian family prompted a mob of hundreds to assemble in Pakistan's teeming metropolis Karachi last month, officers knew they might only have minutes to save the four women and one child who were targeted.
Islamic Pakistan has witnessed around 90 blasphemy-linked lynchings since 1990 and many started exactly like this.
But as police officer Sanghaar Ali Malik and his unit confronted the crowd on a narrow street, Malik recalled he sensed a chance to end the situation peacefully.
The deafening chant of "Death to blasphemers!" was in the air, but the main instigators of such riots in the past — Pakistan's powerful fundamentalist groups — were missing, reflecting a military-led crackdown that has cut registered blasphemy cases by roughly two-thirds this year.
"No religion allows you to take the law into your own hands," Malik said he told the crowd, quoting verses from the Muslim holy book, the Koran.
Surprisingly, even for himself, Malik said in an interview, the people listened. With no instigators whipping up frenzy, they melted away after being assured that police would investigate the case.
The country's Islamist groups have long been backed by the powerful military to keep the civilian government in check, and, occasionally, to stoke tensions with hostile nations, analysts say. But the groups have retreated to the shadows after a crackdown that four government and security sources said was overseen by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The crackdown, the sources and analysts said, was driven by Pakistan's desire to improve ties and better integrate its economy with the West, as Munir builds on a personal rapport with U.S. President Donald Trump. It comes after Islamabad's falling out with the Afghan Taliban, an erstwhile ally that also hands out custodial and corporal punishments for blasphemy.
#1
And so the pendulum swings the other way for a while.
Bits & pieces of information over the years has 2, possibly 3 factions Pakistan's government & military:
The hard line Islamist's
The nominally pro Western moderates
and possibly a small group that has not taken either side.
The first two have been fighting over the control of the country for decades, but are evenly enough matched that neither side has risked started a civil war to eliminate the other.
[North Press] Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced on Thursday that the country’s security and military forces have raised their level of readiness and enhanced combat preparedness under new directives issued by the country’s leadership.
In a statement posted on X, the Security Media Cell said the measures were ordered by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
The statement said authorities had decided to raise the level of security readiness and combat preparedness across the security and military forces.
It added that the move is intended to ensure the implementation of training activities and unit movements as part of maintaining a high level of operational readiness across all security force formations.
Posted by: badanov ||
08/07/2026 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[156 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq
[IsraelAlma] Yesterday (August 5, 2026), two IDF soldiers were killed, and four additional soldiers were seriously wounded as a result of the detonation of an explosive device inside a structure where an IDF force was operating in the village of Majdal Zoun in southern Lebanon.
The circumstances of the incident are still under investigation, but it already raises a broader question: how do explosive devices continue to pose a threat in the area of the Yellow Line?
At this stage, four main possibilities can be identified regarding the origin of the explosive device:
An explosive device that was emplaced as part of the defensive array built by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon before the war.
An explosive device that was emplaced during the war.
An explosive device that was emplaced by Hezbollah operatives who remained (“were trapped”) in the area of the Yellow Line.
An explosive device that was recently emplaced by Hezbollah operatives who returned to the area under the cover of the return of the civilian population.
The last possibility gains additional weight in light of the recent developments in southern Lebanon. Recently, residents began returning to the village of Al-Mansouri, adjacent to Majdal Zoun, even though it is an area designated as a military zone where the return of civilians had not been permitted. The return of the residents took place under the protection of the Lebanese Army, which established a military post there.
The American military presence in Iran is not being reduced.
🔻In the Arabian Sea, two carrier strike groups led by the USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln remain active, with 16 combat and amphibious ships (down slightly from about 18 last month).
The American military presence in Iran is not being reduced.
🔻In the Arabian Sea, two carrier strike groups led by the USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln remain active, with 16 combat and amphibious ships (down slightly from about 18 last month).
🔻In the Mediterranean, a group of two US guided-missile ships continues operations, while the destroyer USS Gonzalez is positioned in the Red Sea monitoring the Suez Canal area.
🔻The air component is largely unchanged: 12 B-1B strategic bombers are based at RAF Fairford, with reconnaissance carried out by RC-135, U-2S, P-8A, RQ-4B and MQ-4C aircraft. Over the past day these assets conducted 68 imaging sorties of 57 targets inside Iran.
🔻Tactical aviation activity has increased, with US and Israeli aircraft flying 38 sorties near the Iran-Iraq and Iran-Saudi borders.
The limited adjustments mainly reflect the need for greater Red Sea coverage after Houthi attacks. Overall the force posture shows little fundamental change and still appears geared toward possible further escalation.
Posted by: badanov ||
08/07/2026 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[253 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iran
#1
Posts on X are stating they are seeing an increase of aircraft travelling from England to the Gulf and back over the past 7-10 days
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.
..not a terrorist organization, even though it kidnaps people, holds hostages, and tries to negotiate by executing them,...
