Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
Gaza Round-up: S. Gaza no-go zone expanded, IDF Paleo casualties number does not match Hamas claim, Hamas weapons factory near med.site hit |
2025-06-13 |
IDF issues new evacuation warning for southern Gaza, expanding no-go zone [IsraelTimes] The IDF issues a new evacuation warning in the southern Gaza Strip, slightly expanding a large no-go zone. “The IDF is operating with great force in the areas where you are located to destroy the capabilities of the terror organizations,” the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee says on X, attaching a map showing the areas that are to be evacuated. Palestinian civilians in the area are called to head west. UN reports full internet blackout across the Gaza Strip [IsraelTimes] The United Nations says that there is a full internet blackout in the Gaza Strip, likely due to military activity damaging the last cable into the enclave, which has paralyzed aid operations. “Lifelines to emergency services, humanitarian coordination, and critical information for civilians have all been cut. There is a full internet blackout, and mobile networks are barely functioning,” deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq tells reporters. “In a context already limited by physical access restrictions and widespread damage, emergency services are cut off, and civilians cannot access life-saving support,” Haq says. Gazan targeted in strike last month identified as man with special needs A physical handicap like CP does not imply a mental handicap, nor need either prevent a man from wearing a suicide vest. — so he was a plausible risk. [IsraelTimes] After the IDF said it launched an airstrike in Gaza on a terrorist, the victim was identified as a disabled man with special needsThe IDF issued a statement saying it carried out an airstrike last month targeting a “terrorist” in Khan Younis, but a Haaretz report identifies him as a man with special needs. The incident took place on May 30 and shortly afterward, footage of the strike blowing Muhammad al-Farra to pieces was posted on the Telegram page of Israeli journalist Amit Segal with the Hebrew caption, “Gaza.” It was liked by thousands of followers. The clip shows Farra walking with a limp before being targeted. Farra was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after a childhood accident. The IDF, in its statement on the incident, says the man was identified walking in and out of buildings “used for terrorist activity” and that it had already ordered the area to be evacuated. It does not explain why or how Farra was identified as a terrorist. IDF: ‘Warning shots’ fired overnight at crowd of Gazans who ‘posed threat’ to troops [IsraelTimes] Israeli troops fired “warning shots” at a crowd of Palestinians that approached them and “posed a threat” in the Netzarim Corridor area of central Gaza overnight, the military says, in what has become a near-daily occurrence. Palestinian media reported that some 32 were killed by Israeli fire as they approached an aid site operated by the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in the area. The IDF says that “according to a preliminary examination, the number of reported casualties does not match the information available to the IDF.” “The details of the incident continue to be examined in depth,” the IDF says. According to the IDF, the shooting took place hundreds of meters from the GHF site, and before it was open for aid distribution. The military says the Palestinians approached the troops “despite warnings that the area is an active combat zone.” The army has warned Palestinians not to approach routes leading to GHF sites between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time, describing these roads as closed military zones. Still, GHF has indicated that its sites are open past those hours. IDF says it struck Hamas operatives at weapons manufacturing plant in Gaza City’s Shati camp [IsraelTimes] Earlier today, the military says, it struck Hamas operatives at a building used as a weapons manufacturing plant in Gaza City’s Shati Camp. “The facility struck was used to produce weapons for the Hamas terror organization and were intended to be used in terror attacks targeting IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip. “The facility operators were terrorists who were part of Hamas’s weapons production unit,” the army says. The IDF says that “Hamas embedded this weapon production facility in close proximity to a medical site. This site was not damaged during the strike.” |
Link |
Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Six people, including journalist Fedorchak, were killed in shelling of the LPR |
2025-03-25 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] Six people, including Izvestia journalist Alexander Fedorchak, were killed as a result of artillery shelling by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This was reported on March 24 by the head of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) Leonid Pasechnik. "Today, another crime by Ukrainian Nazis occurred. Six people were killed as a result of artillery shelling of the Kremensky municipal district by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Among them were three employees of federal media outlets working in the territory of the Luhansk People's Republic: Izvestia correspondent Alexander Fedorchak, cameraman and driver of the Zvezda TV channel Andrei Panov and Alexander Sirkeli," Pasechnik wrote on his Telegram channel. He added that the victims were trying to tell the world the truth about what was happening. Pasechnik expressed his condolences to the families and friends of those killed in the shelling. According to the head of the LPR, a 14-year-old teenager was also injured in the attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He received shrapnel wounds. He was quickly taken to a medical facility. As reported by the Regnum news agency, the Russian Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on the following grounds regarding the deaths of journalists and civilians as a result of shelling by Ukrainian forces of the village of Mikhailovka in the LPR : murder; obstruction of the lawful professional activities of journalists; intentional destruction or damage to someone else's property. The Investigative Committee assured that all measures would be taken to identify and prosecute those involved in these crimes. Zvezda TV channel cameraman Andrey Panov and the film crew driver Aleksandr Sirkeli died in a special operation zone on LPR territory on March 24. The death occurred as a result of a strike on a civilian car by two HIMARS missiles. Izvestia military correspondent Aleksandr Fedorchak was also with them. More from regnum.ru The Russian Foreign Ministry said it would seek a response to the death of the Izvestia journalist The death of Izvestia correspondent Alexander Fedorchak in the area of the special operation is another crime of the Kiev regime against freedom of speech. Russia will seek an international reaction to what happened, commented the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova on March 24. "I can assure you that the latest crime of the Kiev regime against freedom of speech and journalism will not be consigned to oblivion by "strategic silence" paid for by Western curators. We will not only bring information to the attention of the relevant international organizations, but we will seek their reaction. The OSCE and UNESCO, as well as other specialized international institutions, are obliged to react," the diplomat told Izvestia. Zakharova expressed her condolences to the family and friends of the deceased journalist. As reported by the Regnum news agency, Alexander Fedorchak died as a result of an artillery strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the territory of the LPR on March 24. Previously, he worked in the Kupyansk direction. His last report from the Kharkiv region was published on March 23. The head of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov expressed condolences in connection with the death of his fellow countryman Alexander Fedorchak, calling him a talented journalist and a courageous man. The chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia Vladimir Solovyov also addressed words of condolence. The correspondent of "Russia 24" Evgeny Nipot added that he will remember his deceased colleague as a truly brave patriot and professional. The UN opposes the murders of journalists and demands their thorough investigation, Deputy Spokesman for the Head of the World Organization Farhan Haq commented on the death of Alexander Fedorchak on March 24. The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media will provide support to the relatives and friends of Izvestia correspondent Alexander Fedorchak, who died in the special operation zone, said the head of the department, Maksut Shadayev. |
Link |
Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
Lebanon’s Berri rejects IDF plan to stay in 5 posts beyond deadline, as US backs it | |
2025-02-14 | |
[IsraelTimes] Parliament speaker says he, president and PM insist on full IDF withdrawal by Tuesday, but Trump official indicates Israel maintaining 5 positions crucial for combating Hezbollah Leb ...an Iranian satrapy until recently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel... ’s parliamentary speaker Nabih KnobbyBerri ...perennial Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, head of the Amal Shiite party aligned with Hezbollah, a not very subtle sock puppet of the Medes and Persians... said on Thursday that Beirut rejected Israel’s demand to remain in five southern locations beyond a February 18 withdrawal deadline, as the Trump administration appeared to get behind Jerusalem’s demand to do so. Concerns have mounted ahead of a deadline for the fragile truce, agreed to in November 2024, that ended more than a year of hostilities, including a brief all-out war, between Israel and the Hezbollah terror group, after the latter started firing rockets and drones at the Jewish state on October 8, 2023, in solidarity with fellow terror group Hamas ![]() , which had just attacked Israel from the Gazoo ...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppressionand disproportionate response... Strip. Under the deal, Lebanon’s military was to deploy in the south alongside United Nations ...where theory meets practice and practice loses... peacekeepers as the Israeli army withdrew over a 60-day period, which was extended until February 18. Iran-backed Hezbollah was also meant to leave its positions in the south, near the Israeli border, over that period. Israel has accused Lebanon of failing to meet its obligations to deploy to the area, allowing Hezbollah to maintain or renew its presence there, and has petitioned to maintain its presence in response. The United States, a key mediator, "informed me that the Israeli occupation will withdraw from villages it still occupies on February 18, but it will remain in five points," Hezbollah ally Berri told news hounds, according to a statement released by his office. "I informed them in my name and on behalf of President General Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Judge Nawaf Salam of our absolute rejection" of this proposal," the statement added. That’s nice. Not effective, but at least he feels better. Earlier, Berri had met with US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson and US Major General Jasper Jeffers.The American general co-chairs a committee involving the United States, La Belle France, Lebanon, Israel and UN peacekeepers tasked with ensuring any ceasefire violations are identified and dealt with. "I refused to discuss any extension to the deadline for [Israel’s] withdrawal," Berri said. "It is the responsibility of the Americans to enforce the withdrawal, otherwise, they will have caused the greatest setback for the government." For its part, the Trump administration indicated Thursday that it supports the Israel Defense Forces remaining in five strategic positions in southern Lebanon beyond the February 18 withdrawal deadline. "The United States views President Joseph Aoun as having a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead Lebanon away from the stranglehold of Hezbollah and Iran, and we believe that President Aoun has the mandate to do that," a Trump administration official said in a statement to The Times of Israel. "The first test of that is whether the Lebanese Armed Forces actually implements the letter of the ceasefire agreement that Lebanon signed in November 2024 to counter Hezbollah’s efforts to reassert itself," the official continued. "Israeli presence in the five points directly bears on whether the government of Lebanon ultimately does what it has promised to do," the Trump official said, suggesting that Israel’s sustained presence in those five positions will help the effort to prevent the regrouping of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. "Unlike the Biden administration, we will not be grading on a curve," the official added, appearing to claim that the previous White House was too lenient regarding the effort to combat Hezbollah. The statements came after Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer confirmed Israel’s intention to remain in the five points in an interview with Bloomberg. Dermer, a close Netanyahu confidant, did not say how long the troops will remain, but "signaled Israeli troops won’t be removed in the short-term." His comments came after reports that the US — despite originally rejecting a general extension — had approved such a move. ’HONOR COMMITMENTS’ On Saturday, Lebanon’s prime minister named a new government, with the weakening of long-dominant, Iran-backed Hezbollah bringing to a close two years of rule by caretaker authorities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres ...Portuguese politician and diplomat, ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, he was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees between 2005 and 2015. He was the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002 and was the Secretary-General of the Socialist Party from 1992 to 2002. He served as President of the Socialist International from 1999 to 2005. In both a 2012 and 2014 poll, the Portuguese public ranked him as the best Prime Minister of the previous 30 years... ’s deputy front man Farhan Haq said, "We continue to urge Israel and Lebanon to honor their commitments to the cessation of hostilities understanding." "Continued progress in Lebanese Armed Forces redeployment and Israeli Defense Force withdrawal is crucial," Haq said, adding that "the parties must avoid any action that could raise tensions, endanger civilians and further delay their return to their towns and villages on both sides." Haq added that the "UN continues to urge the full implementation of Resolution 1701 as a comprehensive path towards longer-term peace, security and stability on both sides of the Blue Line." He was referring to the UN Security Council decision that ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah. Under Resolution 1701, only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers can be deployed in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah must remain north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Israeli border. Late Thursday night, the IDF said it carried out ... KABOOM!... s targeting Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon, which Lebanese media reported near the towns of Yohmor and Deir Siryan. The sites hit by fighter jets were used by Hezbollah to store weapons and launchers and had "posed a direct threat to the Israeli home front," the military said. The IDF also said Hezbollah’s operations at the sites "constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."
The soldiers also found a multiple rocket launcher system. [YouTube] | |
Link |
International-UN-NGOs |
ICC prosecutor is first court official to be targeted after Trump restores sanctions |
2025-02-08 |
[IsraelTimes] Sources tell Reuters that Karim Khan’s name has been added to nonpublic annex, exposing him to US asset freeze and travel ban International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan is the first person to be hit with economic and travel sanctions authorized by US President Donald Trump ...His ancestors didn't own any slaves... that target the war crimes tribunal over investigations of US citizens or US allies, two sources briefed on the matter told Rooters on Friday. Khan, who is British, was named on Friday in an annex — not yet made public — to an executive order signed by Trump a day earlier, a senior ICC official and another source, both briefed by US government officials, told Rooters. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential matter. The sanctions include freezing of US assets of those designated and barring them and their families from visiting the United States. The order directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in consultation with Secretary of State Marco Rubio ...The diminutive 13-year-old Republican U.S. Senator from Florida, Secretary of State in the second Trump administration... , to submit a report within 60 days naming people who should be sanctioned. The ICC on Friday condemned the sanctions, pledging to stand by its staff and "continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world, in all situations before it." Court officials met in The Hague on Friday to discuss the implications of the sanctions. The International Criminal Court, which opened in 2002, has international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in member states or if a situation is referred by the UN Security Council. Dozens of countries warned on Friday that the US sanctions could "increase the risk of impunity for the most serious crimes and threaten to erode the international rule of law." "Sanctions would severely undermine all situations currently under investigation as the court may have to close its field offices," the 79 countries — who make up about two-thirds of the court’s members — said in a statement. UN DEAL WITH US Under an agreement between the United Nations ...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks... and Washington, Khan should be able to regularly travel to New York to brief the UN Security Council on cases it had referred to the court in The Hague. The Security Council has referred the situations in Libya and Sudan ![]() ’s Darfur region to the ICC. "We trust that any restrictions taken against individuals would be implemented consistently with the host country’s obligations under the UN Headquarters agreement," deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Friday. Khan was most recently in New York last week to brief the Security Council on Sudan. "International criminal law is an essential element to fighting impunity, which is unfortunately widespread," Haq said. "The International Criminal Court is its essential element, and it must be allowed to work in full independence." Related: International Criminal Court: 2025-02-07 Good Morning International Criminal Court: 2025-02-07 US President Trump to impose sanctions on International Criminal Court International Criminal Court: 2025-02-02 South Africa, Cuba Form ‘Hague Group' to Oppose Israel, Support Terror Related: Karim Khan 01/15/2025 ICC prosecutor says Israeli objections to Netanyahu warrant should be rejected Karim Khan 01/10/2025 US House votes to sanction ICC over Israel arrest warrants Karim Khan 12/03/2024 ICC top judge pans ‘appalling’ US threat to penalize court over Israel arrest warrants |
Link |
Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
UNRWA-US chief denounces Israel's ad campaign against UN agency as 'destructive' and spreading misinformation |
2024-09-03 |
[ALLISRAEL] UNRWA-USA Chief Mara Kronenfeld sharply criticized an Israeli ad campaign seeking to defund the agency by highlighting the involvement of several of its workers in anti-Israel activism and outright terrorism. For years, the State of Israel has maintained that UNRWA, the United Nations agency officially tasked with managing Palestinian refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, has been promoting hatred and violence against the Jewish state. In its recent advertisement, “UNRWA Educating Terrorists Since 1949,” Israel held the controversial UN agency directly responsible for extremism and terrorism against Israel and Jews. The advertisement highlights the significant number of anti-Israel individuals and terrorists who received their education through the UNRWA-led system in the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria (West Bank). Israel's ad campaign seeks to defund UNRWA, arguing that the organization contributes to the problem rather than facilitating a solution to the ongoing Middle East conflict. However, UNRWA-USA Chief Mara Kronenfeld slammed Israel's campaign. “There is an incredibly powerful campaign to dismantle UNRWA,” Kronenfeld stated. “I want the public to know what’s happening and the insidious nature of it, especially at a time when civilian lives are under attack in Gaza,” she added. Kronenfeld, who heads a seven-person staff in the United States, claimed that Israel is running a misinformation campaign against UNRWA. However, in August, the UN admitted that some UNRWA employees likely participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion and attack on Israel. “For nine people, the evidence was sufficient to conclude that they may have been involved in the seventh of October attacks,” UN representative Farhan Haq stated. In January, the United States, Japan and several European nations temporarily suspended financial aid to UNRWA after Israel provided evidence that some UNRWA officials participated in the Oct. 7 attack. Earlier this year, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant revealed the names of 12 UNRWA workers who took part in the Oct. 7 atrocities. Furthermore, Israeli intelligence has estimated that at least 12% of UNRWA’s 13,000 employees in Gaza have affiliations with Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Following pressure from the United States and other Western nations, the UN claimed it would investigate the problematic ties between its UNRWA agency and the terrorist organization Hamas. However, in April, a presumably independent panel stated: “Israel made public claims that a significant number of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organisations. However, Israel has yet to provide supporting evidence of this.” The purpose of the highly politicized report was to restore humanitarian aid to UNRWA, a goal largely realized as the U.S. and other Western nations resumed financial aid to UNRWA soon after. The Israeli Foreign Ministry quickly blasted the report for ignoring the strong ties between Hamas and UNRWA. "Hamas has infiltrated UNRWA so deeply that it is no longer possible to determine where UNRWA ends and where Hamas begins. More than 2,135 UNRWA workers are members of either Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), while one-fifth of UNRWA school administrators are Hamas members," the Israeli ministry stated. |
Link |
Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Kursk II: Russian news roundup for August 8th, 2024 |
2024-08-08 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. MFA: Kyiv tried to sow panic with a barbaric attack on the Kursk region [Regnum] The Kiev regime, with the barbaric attack of the Ukrainian army on the Kursk region, tried to sow panic among the residents of this region and show at least some semblance of activity against the backdrop of the constant failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the war zone. This is stated in a commentary by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova. ![]() “With their barbaric attack in the Kursk region, the Ukrobanderites tried to sow panic among the region’s residents and demonstrate at least some semblance of activity against the backdrop of the constant failures of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the conflict zone,” the press service of the Foreign Ministry quoted her as saying. The diplomat emphasized that the Kyiv regime’s calculations in this direction did not come true, noting that this and other bloody crimes of Kyiv are being committed in the cynical silence of the West, which continues to support its puppets in Ukraine. “All this only strengthens the feeling of impunity of Ukrainian neo-Nazis, who are confident that they will get away with any crime,” Zakharova clarified. She added that Russia calls on the international community not to stand aside and to strongly condemn the criminal actions of the Kyiv regime. As reported by the Regnum news agency, on the morning of August 6, Ukrainian troops attempted to break through to the Kursk region, which was repelled by FSB border guards and Russian army troops. According to the Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian Armed Forces deployed 300 militants, 11 tanks, and more than 20 armored vehicles. In the evening of the same day, the Ukrainian army attempted to break through to the Kursk region for the second time. Russian artillery and aviation carried out preemptive strikes on the military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region, after which the saboteurs retreated. On August 7, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case under several articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation after the attack of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on border settlements in the Kursk region - terrorist attack, murder, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition, encroachment on the lives of law enforcement officers, etc. The official representative of the department Svetlana Petrenko noted that as a result of the criminal actions of the Ukrainian troops, several dozen civilians, including children, and Russian military personnel were injured. Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the country's regions to support the Kursk region amid attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Russian leader clarified that regional leaders have the ability to do more than ordinary citizens. More from regnum.ru UN called the attack of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the Kursk region an escalation The attack by Ukrainian troops on the Kursk region increases the risk of escalation. This was stated on August 7 by the deputy official representative of the Secretary General of the world organization Farhan Haq at a briefing. "Incidents like these increase the risk of a worrying escalation of the crisis. We would like to see the situation de-escalated to the greatest extent possible," he said. As reported by the Regnum news agency, Ukrainian armed forces made two attempts to break through the border with Russia in the Kursk region on August 6. In the morning, Russian positions were attacked by 300 Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters, who were supported by 11 tanks and more than 20 armored vehicles. Russian fighters thwarted the attempt to break through to the Kursk region. The Ukrainian Armed Forces made a second attempt to break through in the evening of the same day. In addition, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out a series of strikes on peaceful neighborhoods in populated areas of the Kursk region. The Ukrainian army deliberately attacked people who were trying to leave the border areas. Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov reported to President Vladimir Putin on August 7 that the operation would be completed by defeating the enemy and reaching the state border. He specified that Kiev had used up to 1,000 fighters in the attack. The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost 315 soldiers and 54 armored vehicles, including seven tanks. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called on the international community to condemn Kiev's criminal attacks on Russian territory. The diplomat also called the attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region another terrorist act. White House spokesman John Kirby said at a briefing on August 7 that the United States intends to seek clarification from the Kiev regime regarding the Ukrainian Armed Forces attack. He added that the US position on the use of American weapons on Russian territory "has not changed." Even more from regnum.ru Gerasimov: Up to 1,000 Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers took part in the attack on Kursk Oblast Kiev used up to 1,000 Ukrainian servicemen in the attack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on the Kursk region. This was reported on August 7 by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. ![]() “At 5:30 a.m. on August 6, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine numbering up to one thousand people went on the offensive with the aim of capturing a section of territory in the Sudzhinsky district of the Kursk region,” he said. Gerasimov specified that during the repelling of the attack by the Russian military, the enemy lost 315 fighters, of which at least 100 were killed and 215 wounded. The Russian military also destroyed 54 units of armored vehicles, including seven tanks, the Chief of the General Staff added. As reported by the Regnum news agency, Ukrainian militants attempted to break through to Kursk Oblast on the morning of August 6, but were repelled by FSB border guards and Russian army troops. In the evening of the same day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to break through to Kursk Oblast for the second time, but retreated after preemptive strikes on military equipment in Sumy Oblast. On August 7, the Russian President called the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attack on the Kursk region a large-scale provocation by the Kiev regime. The head of state emphasized that Ukrainian Armed Forces militants are firing from various types of weapons at civilian buildings, residential buildings, and ambulances. Later that day, the Defense Ministry reported that the Russian army was continuing to destroy Ukrainian troops that were attempting to break through the state border in the Kursk region. The ministry specified that the Ukrainian Armed Forces fighters were not allowed to advance deep into Russian territory. Yet, more from regnum.ru Gerasimov reported to Putin about halting the advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region The advance of the Ukrainian army deep into the Kursk region has been stopped, said the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov. Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov “The operation will be completed by defeating the enemy and reaching the state border,” Gerasimov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The Chief of the General Staff reported to the Russian leader that Kyiv had used up to 1,000 Ukrainian servicemen during the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attack on Kursk Oblast. The offensive began at 05:30 a.m. on August 6. The Ukrainian Armed Forces intended to seize Kursk Oblast. The Ukrainian army suffered 315 casualties, including at least 100 killed and 215 wounded. The Russian Armed Forces destroyed 54 armored vehicles, including seven tanks. On the morning of August 6, up to 300 Ukrainian fighters attempted to attack border villages in the Kursk region. The military attempted to break through the state border in the Korenevsky and Sudzhansky districts. The FSB Border Service of Russia together with the military repelled the armed provocation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Acting head of the region Alexey Smirnov stated that battles with Ukrainian military are taking place in the Sudzhansky and Korenevsky districts. Later, the Ministry of Defense reported that Russian Iskander crews struck Ukrainian air defense positions in Sumy Oblast. The Russian Armed Forces destroyed two Ukrainian BUK-M1 SAM launchers. The Defense Ministry also showed footage of the destruction of Ukrainian saboteurs' military equipment on the border of Kursk Oblast. As the Russian Defense Ministry reported on August 7, the Russian Armed Forces prevented the Ukrainian military from advancing deep into Russian territory. During the fighting, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 260 soldiers. At a meeting with the government, Putin called on the regions to support the Kursk region amid attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov instructed the Ministry of Finance to allocate 1.8 billion rubles for certificates for the resettlement of residents of the Kursk region. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called on the international community to condemn Kiev's criminal attacks on Russian territory. The diplomat also called the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attack another terrorist act. |
Link |
Israel-Palestine-Jordan | |
UNRWA: Nine Members Might Have Participated in October 7 Attack on Israel | |
2024-08-06 | |
[LegalInsurrection] The United Nations ...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks... Relief and Works Agency for Paleostine (UNRWA) revealed an investigation found that nine staff members might have participated in the massacre and attack on Israel on October 7. "For nine people, the evidence was sufficient to conclude that they may have been involved in the seventh of October attacks," said Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. Israel previously named 100 UNRWA employees doubling as Gazoo ...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppressionand disproportionate response... terrorists. But I guess only 19 made the list for the organization. "I acknowledge the completion of the investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) into the serious allegations that 19 area UNRWA staff members in Gaza were involved in the abhorrent attacks of 7 October on southern Israel," wrote Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General. Lazzarini said nine cases had no evidence against the staffers. One case showed no evidence against the staffer, who has since rejoined UNWRA. But the other nine cases "the evidence — if authenticated and corroborated — could indicate that the UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the attacks of 7 October." "I have decided that in the case of these remaining nine staff members, they cannot work for UNRWA," wrote Lazzarini in the press statement. "All contracts of these staff members will be terminated in the interest of the Agency." Who knows when UNWRA will take action against the nine staffers? In January, the U.S. and other Western countries halted UNRWA funding due tot he accusations At the time, Shin Bet, an Israeli intelligence community, gave UNRWA and the UN information that showed UNWRA employees participated and used "the agency’s vehicles and facilities during the Oct. 7 Hamas ![]() attack." An Israeli official said, "This was strong and corroborated intelligence. A lot of the intelligence is a result of interrogations of Death Eaters who were arrested during the Oct. 7 attack."
| |
Link |
Caribbean-Latin America |
UN delivers aid to Haiti to caution against ongoing violence and hurricane |
2024-06-20 |
[AFRICANEWS] The United Nations ...where theory meets practice and practice loses... on Tuesday announced the delivery of aid to Haiti to caution against the devastating effects of the hurricane ![]() blow me dow!... The UN's deputy spokesperson Farhan Had announced Tuesday that the aid will help hundreds of displaced families in Haiti due to the ongoing violence and the upcoming hurricane. "Two cargo flights organized through the World Food Program (WFP) landed in the capital, Port au Prince, carrying 55 tonnes of medicine, shelter and hygiene materials. These supplies will be used to assist displaced people and to prepare for the hurricane season. WFP School Meals program has now distributed some 30 million meals across the country since the start of the current school year. Of these, nearly 17 million meals have been provided through its program that supports local farmers. As we previously said, the education sector has been severely impacted by the recent violence, with more than 200,000 children and 4000 teach," said Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General. Haiti experiences the hurricane season beginning of June and runs through November and is forecast to be severe this year. A gang-fueled crisis has devastated Haiti, and the U.N. estimates 360,000 people in the Caribbean nation are displaced. |
Link |
Israel-Palestine-Jordan | |
Floating Pier off the Coast of Central Gaza will be Partially-Dismantled and Towed to the Port of Ashdod | |
2024-06-16 | |
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
…in Southern Israel due to Rough Seas, which have been Forecasted for the Weekend. They further state that the Pier will be Reinstalled once Weather is Permitting.
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the pier would likely be moved to the Israeli port of Ashdod until sea conditions improve.Aid began arriving via the pier on May 17, and the United Nations ...aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society... said it transported 137 trucks of aid to warehouses, some 900 metric tons, before the US announced on May 28 that it had suspended operations so repairs could be made. The UN said on Friday it had still not resumed transportation of aid from the pier to UN World Food Program warehouses. "Our security colleagues are still working to ensure that secure conditions for humanitarian work can be re-established," said deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq. UN officials also said they were reassessing the use of the pier, claiming that Israeli military activity nearby had jeopardized the perceived neutrality of the aid route. Rushing out a mortally maimed Israeli commando after last week’s hostage rescue raid, Israeli rescuers opted against returning the way they came, across a land border, Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told news hounds. Instead, they sped toward the beach and the site of the US aid hub on Gazoo ...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppressionand disproportionate response... ’s coast, he said. An Israeli helicopter touched down near the US-built pier and helped whisk away hostages and the commando, according to the US and Israeli militaries. Israel and the US deny that any aspect of the month-old US pier was used in the Israeli raid. They say an area near it was used to fly home the hostages. However, Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried... the UN World Food Program, which works with the US to transfer aid from the pier to warehouses and local aid teams for distribution within Gaza, suspended cooperation as it conducts a security review. Aid has been piling up on the beach since. The UN has to look at the facts as well as what the Paleostinian public and gangs believe about any US, pier or aid worker involvement in the raid, Haq said. "Humanitarian aid must not be used and must not be perceived as taking any side in a conflict," Haq said. "The safety of our humanitarian workers depends on all sides and the communities on the ground trusting their impartiality." Rumors have swirled on social media, deepening the danger to aid workers, humanitarian groups say. "Whether or not we’ve seen the pier used for military purposes is almost irrelevant. Because the perception of people in Gaza, civilians and gangs, is that humanitarian aid has been instrumentalized" by parties in the conflict, said Suze van Meegen, head of operations in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council. Oxfam International and some other aid organizations said they are waiting for answers from the US government because it’s responsible for the agreements with the UN and other humanitarian groups on how the pier and aid deliveries function. Questions include whether the Israeli helicopters and security forces used what the US had promised aid groups would be a no-go area for the Israeli military around the pier, said Scott Paul, an associate director at Oxfam. | |
Link |
Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: September 8th, 2023 |
2023-09-09 |
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title [Korrespondent] 21:58 The “management” of the occupied Zaporozhye nuclear power plant decided to temporarily release some of the employees from work, said Renat Karchaa, adviser to the head of Rosenergoatom. According to him, this was done due to the allegedly “increased threat of provocations from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” ![]() 21:52 Russia is blocking the adoption of a joint declaration by the G20 summit participants, Reuters reports citing a European diplomat. According to him, Moscow announced that it would agree to a joint summit declaration only under certain conditions that relate to the Ukrainian issue. In turn, India, being the host country of the meeting, is looking for compromises. However, for now Russia is blocking “a compromise that would otherwise be acceptable to everyone,” the diplomat added. 21:29 British planes protect ships with Ukrainian grain from attack from the Russian Federation, The Telegraph writes, citing sources from Downing Street. According to the publication, the British use their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to monitor Russian activities in the Black Sea. As part of these operations, RAF aircraft fly over the area “to deter Russia from carrying out illegal attacks on civilian vessels,” the publication’s sources note. 20:54 The UN is not trying to achieve easing of sanctions against Russia, and proposals for the grain deal were drawn up taking into account existing restrictions, said Deputy Spokesperson of the Secretary General Farhan Haq. 20:40 Easing part of the sanctions regime against the Russian Federation in exchange for the renewal of the grain agreement will be “a victory for Russian food blackmail and an invitation from Moscow to new waves of blackmail,” Foreign Ministry Speaker Oleg Nikolenko said. According to him, the international community "should work to return Russia to fulfill its obligations, and not increase its sense of impunity and encourage new aggression by offering concessions." 20:33 IAEA experts at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant heard more than 20 explosions over the past week, which may indicate “increased military activity and a potential threat to the safety of the nuclear power plant,” said the agency’s general director Rafael Grossi. 20:27 Estonia plans to adopt a bill in the near future that will allow the confiscation of Russian assets - this will be the first such decision in the EU, said the country's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna. According to him, work on the initiative was complicated by strict guarantees of private property in Estonia. The bill must first be approved by the Estonian government, then it will be submitted to parliament for consideration. 20:21 Zelensky, in an evening video message, complained about “too long a sanctions pause on the part of partners and Russia’s too active attempts to circumvent sanctions.” According to him, it is very important to prohibit Russia "from using the companies of the free world, the technologies of the free world, the products of the free world, to fight against freedom." On the issue of restrictions against the Russian Federation, the president named three priorities: further sanctions against the Russian energy sector, real restrictions on the supply of chips and microelectronics in general, and further blocking of the Russian financial sector. Zelensky also said that today he held an important preparatory meeting for the international event, which is scheduled for September: “Details - a little later. We are preparing an important defense package for our soldiers.” 20:12 The Polish city of Wroclaw will help in the restoration of Mariupol after its liberation - the corresponding intention to conclude a Declaration of Solidarity was signed by mayors Vadim Boychenko and Jacek Sutryk. 19:44 In occupied Berdyansk, on the night of Friday, September 8, two explosions occurred on the territory of the municipal lyceum, where the occupiers located one of the “polling stations.” The pseudo-elections were supposed to begin on September 8, but this polling station never opened, the UP reports citing sources in the SBU. According to the publication, the Security Service of Ukraine is behind the explosions. 19:39 Zaluzhny said that he had a telephone conversation with the Supreme Commander of NATO Armed Forces in Europe and the commander of the US Armed Forces in Europe, Christopher Cavoli, discussed the situation at the front and the needs of the Ukrainian army, and exchanged views on the enemy’s possible plans. According to Zaluzhny, Ukrainian troops continue to move forward despite fierce enemy resistance. 18:51 In Krivoy Rog, the number of victims has increased to 73, one person died , said the head of the OVA Sergei Lysak. Of the injured, 35 people are in hospital, three in serious condition. In the city, among other things, 62 apartment buildings and seven private buildings, and more than 50 cars were damaged. 18:46 The Russians fired artillery at the village of Severnoe in the city of Toretsk, Donetsk region. As a result of a shell hitting a private house, four people were injured, including two teenagers aged 14 and 15, the Office of the Prosecutor General reported. 18:40 Lithuania transferred 4.5 million units of ammunition to Ukraine, the country’s Ministry of Defense reported. 18:28 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that he does not see the possibility of ending the war in Ukraine in the near future: “I don’t really hope that we will have a peaceful solution in the near future. I believe that both sides have decided to continue the conflict.” 18:09 In Bryansk, after a drone attack, a fire started again at the Silicon El microelectronics plant, local publics write. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the destruction of three drones over the city. Governor Alexander Bogomaz said that the debris of one of the intercepted UAVs hit the “administrative building of an industrial facility”, a fire started, and there were no casualties. Another drone, according to him, was suppressed by electronic warfare forces over Bryansk, the railway station building was damaged by debris, passengers were evacuated. 17:00 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposed a four-point agreement to Lavrov so that Russia would return to the grain agreement, writes Bild. According to the publication, we are talking about the lifting of EU sanctions against Rosselkhozbank, insuring Russian ships against attacks in the Black Sea, unfreezing the assets of Russian fertilizer companies, as well as access for Russian ships transporting food and fertilizers to EU ports. Bild writes that the Russian leadership is now carefully studying the UN proposals and has not yet agreed, since the Kremlin considers them “too good to be true.” 16:43 According to updated information, as a result of the Russian strike on Krivoy Rog, one person was killed and 60 were injured , the State Emergency Service reports. 16:38 Denmark has sent the first ten Leopard 1A5 tanks to Ukraine, said Ground Forces Commander Arpe Nielsen. In total, Kyiv should receive more than 100 such vehicles from Denmark and Germany. 16:25 Russia has partially established its own production of attack drones and deployed an additional station for launchers in Crimea, said Natalya Gumenyuk, speaker of the Southern Defense Forces. 15:48 In Orekhovo, Zaporozhye region, the bodies of two people killed as a result of Russian shelling on September 7 were found under the rubble, the National Police reported. In addition, one person died as a result of a direct hit by an artillery shell on a private house in Primorsky, Vasilyevsky district. 15:33 About 200 Ukrainian military personnel will learn to operate and repair Abrams tanks for several more weeks, although the main course ended in August. The exercises continued at the request of the Ukrainian side - they will continue while 31 American tanks are re-equipped and prepared for shipment to Ukraine, Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for the US Army Command in Europe and Africa, told Voice of America. 14:45 The presidential representative in parliament, People's Deputy Fyodor Venislavsky, clarified that restrictions on traveling abroad will apply only to those women who will be mobilized, and not just registered for military service. 14:42 In August, all aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which was part of the Regional Group of Forces of the Republic of Belarus and Russia, was withdrawn from Belarus, reports the Belarusian Gayun monitoring group. Thus, 11 helicopters flew from the Machulishchi airfield to the Seshcha airfield in the Bryansk region, and nine Su-34 and Su-30SM fighters of the Russian Aerospace Forces flew from the Baranovichi airfield. Most of these helicopters and planes have been in Belarus since the beginning of January 2023. Analysts also report that in Belarus in July-August there was a significant decrease in the number of Russian military personnel, and this was not a rotation. Currently, there are about 2,100 Russian military personnel left in the Republic of Belarus. 14:16 In the Kherson region, three sappers from The HALO Trust, an organization engaged in humanitarian demining, were blown up by a Russian mine. One of the victims is in serious condition, said the head of the OVA, Alexander Prokudin. 13:38 Search and rescue operations have been completed in Krivoy Rog: one person died, 54 were injured. Among the injured are nine police officers, said Interior Minister Igor Klimenko. 13:34 Zelensky said at the Yalta European Strategy summit in Kiev that Prigozhin was killed by Putin - “at least we have such information.” At the same time, he emphasized that for Ukraine, the death of the head of the Wagner PMC means “one less terrorist,” while the morale of the Russians fell, “because they covered themselves with the Wagnerites, threw themselves forward - they lost this protection, for us this is definitely a plus.” 13:01 The Russians fired mortars at Vesyoly, Kherson region, one person was wounded, OVA reported. 12:43 In Krivoy Rog, as of 12:30, one person died and 52 were injured , rescue operations continue, the State Emergency Service reports. 12:38 In the Belarusian village of Tsel near Osipovichi, more than half of the Wagner PMC camp has already been dismantled, Belarusian Gayun reports. According to the group’s experts, if at the start of dismantling on July 28 the camp consisted of about 292 tents, then at the moment more than 160 units have already been dismantled, that is, 55%. Initially, it was assumed that there would be at least 8,000 mercenaries in Belarus, and the camp was built based on this figure. But as a result, fewer Wagnerites came than expected. In addition, some of them may be moved to barracks, so the extra tents are now being dismantled. 12:22 As a result of the attack on Krivoy Rog, 44 people were injured, one died , the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. Work continues. 12:14 Ukraine has returned nine more children, said Ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets. According to official data from the Russian side, the occupiers illegally deported more than 744 thousand Ukrainian children. According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, at least 20 thousand cases of illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation have been officially documented. In total, 386 Ukrainian children were returned. 12:03 The Russians dropped an aerial bomb on Otradokamenka, Kherson region - three people were killed, four were injured, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. 11:37 Chinese opera singer Wang-Fang and a group of Chinese bloggers arrived in Mariupol, said Oleg Nikolenko, speaker of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. He stressed that this visit is illegal, as well as an example of “complete moral degradation”, since the singer performed the song Katyusha on the ruins of the drama theater, in which the Russian army killed more than 600 Ukrainian civilians. “Ukraine respects the territorial integrity of China and expects from the Chinese side an explanation of the purpose of the stay of Chinese citizens in Mariupol, as well as the route of their entry into the temporarily occupied Ukrainian city. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is initiating a ban on entry into Ukraine for all these Chinese “guest performers,” Nikolenko emphasized. 11:10 Sergei Lysak reported “about 40 victims” in Krivoy Rog. 10:53 As a result of the morning missile attack on Zaporozhye, two fires broke out - in an administrative two-story building and in a gas module nearby. One person was hurt. Thanks to the actions of rescuers, it was possible to prevent the explosion of methane tanks, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported. 10:48 The number of victims as a result of the Russian strike on Krivoy Rog has increased to 32 , said the head of the Dnepropetrovsk OVA Sergei Lysak. Three administrative buildings and seven residential buildings, including one multi-story building, were damaged. The fire that started in the garage has been contained. The investigation of the area continues. 10:39 The number of victims as a result of the morning strike in Sumy has increased to three, the State Emergency Service reported. 10:36 As a result of the attack on Krivoy Rog, one of the police administrative buildings was destroyed, said the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Igor Klimenko. One policeman died, rescuers rescued three more from the rubble, they are in serious condition. Six employees received injuries of varying severity. 10:27 Ukrainian military intelligence, after the successful completion of the Sinitsa special operation, is in dialogue with several more Russian pilots, Budanov said. In his opinion, the act of the Russian pilot Kuzminov, who flew the Russian Aerospace Forces Mi-8 helicopter to Ukraine, can become an example for other Russian pilots, including those with whom the dialogue continues. The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate also said that after the Sinitsa special operation, the top military-political leadership of the Russian Federation was “upset.” In this regard, the FSB has significantly stepped up its work, “but this will not give them anything,” Budanov added. 10:20 The number of victims as a result of the Russian strike on Krivoy Rog has increased to 26, one person died , the Office of the Prosecutor General reported. Rescue and search operations continue, the exact number of victims is being established. 09:43 The Russians fired a missile at Krivoy Rog and hit the administrative building. According to preliminary data, one person was killed and nine were injured. A fire started on an area of 200 square meters, said the head of the Dnepropetrovsk Regional Fire Department, Sergei Lysak. 09:02 As a result of the morning strike in Sumy, two people were injured, the State Emergency Service reported. 08:54 At night, the Russians fired at the village. Petropavlovka, Kupyansky district, Kharkov region, one person was injured, said Oleg Sinegubov, head of the OVA. The village was also shelled. Kucherivka, Kupyansky district, a residential building was damaged. During the day, the enemy shelled populated areas of the Kharkov, Bogodukhovsky, Chuguevsky and Kupyansky districts. One person was injured as a result of a drone strike on a private house in the village. Granov, Kharkov district. In addition, between the city of Barvenkovo and the village. Chervonoye, Izyum district, while working in a field, a tractor ran over a mine and the tractor driver was injured. And in the area with. Mospanovo, Chuguevsky district, a truck was blown up by an explosive device, two people were seriously injured. 08:43 In the morning, the Russians hit Sumy with a rocket - one private house was destroyed, six more were damaged, OVA reported. In addition, at night and in the morning the enemy shelled the Sumy and Seredino-Buda communities. 08:36 In Cuba, 17 people were arrested who were recruiting for the war against Ukraine, writes Reuters. The Cuban Interior Ministry said that, among others, the organizer of the criminal group was arrested. Those detained are accused of human trafficking, mercenary activities and hostile acts against a foreign state. They carry a penalty of imprisonment for up to 30 years. 08:19 The General Staff announced the estimated losses of the Russian Federation as of the morning of September 8:
07:56 Over the past 24 hours, 39 military clashes took place at the front, the General Staff reported in its morning report. In the Kupyansk direction, the Defense Forces repelled enemy attacks in the Sinkovka area of the Kharkov region; on Limansky - in the Novoyegorovka area of the Lugansk region; on Bakhmutsky - in the Orekhovo-Vasilievka, Kleshcheevka and Andreevka districts of the Donetsk region; on Avdeevsky - in the Keramika and Avdeevka districts of the Donetsk region; on Maryinsky - in the Marinka and Novomikhailovka districts of the Donetsk region; on Shakhtarsky - in the area south of Prechistovka. At the same time, the Defense Forces have partial success south of Bakhmut, as well as in the area south of Rabotino, Zaporozhye region. 07:45 At night, air defense destroyed 16 out of 20 Shahed-136/131 attack UAVs , the Air Force command reported. Russia attacked the Odessa region with groups of attack drones from the south-eastern and southern directions (Primorsko-Akhtarsk - Russian Federation, Cape Chauda - Crimea). The drones were destroyed within the Odessa and Nikolaev regions. 07:24 In the morning, the enemy fired several missiles (preliminarily ballistic) at civilian infrastructure facilities in Zaporozhye. There is information about at least one casualty, said the head of the OVA, Yuri Malashko. 00:11 The US State Department threatened sanctions and visa restrictions to those who support the “elections” in the annexed Ukrainian territories, including “international observers.” |
Link |
Arabia |
UN says 5 staff members kidnapped in Yemen 18 months ago walk free |
2023-08-12 |
[AlAhram] In a brief statement, U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said that all "available information suggests that all five colleagues are in good health." The five men were workers with the U.N. Department of Security and Safety, Haq said. The identity of the kidnappers was not revealed. |
Link |
Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Syria to reopen main border crossing from Turkey: UN |
2023-08-10 |
[Rudaw] The United Nations ...an idea whose time has gone... on Tuesday announced they reached an "understanding" with the Syrian government to reopen the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with ...the occupiers of Greek Asia Minor... to deliver humanitarian aid ![]() "The Secretary-General welcomes the understanding reached yesterday by the United Nations and the Government of Syria on the continued use for the next six months of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing," read a statement from Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary General António Guterres ![]() . He added that the agreement had been reached on Monday. The border crossing opening comes after talks between the UN aid chief Martin Griffiths and Syrian officials, according to the statement from Haq. The statement regarding Bab al-Hawa followed an earlier announcement that Damascus has agreed on keeping two other crossings to the northwest, Bab al-Salameh and al-Rai, open for three months until November 13. "The consent reaffirmed by Syria in recent days provides a basis for the UN and its partners to lawfully conduct cross-border humanitarian operations through Bab al-Hawa," he added. The Bab al-Hawa cross-border mechanism is the only way UN aid, including food, medicine, water, and other critical resources, can be delivered to northwest Syria without having to traverse through areas controlled by the Syrian government. The crossing has been in use by the UN since 2014. In July, the UN Security Council was unable to renew the agreement that enabled the delivery of aid to Syria. This was due to Russia vetoing the proposed draft, sparking concern among the international community for the millions of aid-dependent residents in the region. The province of Idlib in northwest Syria is the last pocket of rebel-held territory in the region and is mainly controlled by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else ...al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, from which sprang the Islamic State... (HTS), which has been internationally recognized as a terrorist organization. The area’s residents, including families displaced from across the country, also suffer from dire economic conditions and rely heavily on aid for their basic necessities. According to the UN, the humanitarian assistance provided through the cross-border mechanism reached "an average of 2.7 million people every month" in 2022. |
Link |