Iraq
Associated Press: Islamic State Attacks On Track To Double In Iraq And Syria Compared To Last Year, US Military Says
“The U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that the Islamic State group is trying “to reconstitute” as the number of attacks in Syria and Iraq is on track to double those of the previous year. IS has claimed 153 attacks in both countries in the first six months of 2024, CENTCOM said in a statement. According to a U.S. defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t allowed to speak publicly on the matter, the group was behind 121 attacks in Syria and Iraq in 2023. “The increase in attacks indicates ISIS is attempting to reconstitute following several years of decreased capability,” CENTCOM said. The announcement comes just after the 10-year mark since the militant group declared its caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria. At its peak, the group ruled an area half the size of the United Kingdom where it attempted to enforce its extreme interpretation of Islam, which included attacks on religious minority groups and harsh punishment of Muslims deemed to be apostates.”
Reuters: Drones Target Iraq's Ain Al-Asad Airbase, No Casualties, Say Military Sources
“Two armed drones on Tuesday targeted Iraq's Ain al-Asad airbase, which hosts U.S forces and other international forces in western Iraq, two Iraqi military sources told Reuters. It was the second attack against U.S. forces in Iraq since early February when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq stopped their attacks against U.S. troops. In April, two drones were shot down near Ain al-Asad base, according to a U.S. official. No casualties have been reported, said the sources. An Iraqi military official said defence systems downed one drone near the base perimeter. Iraqi army patrols stepped up patrolling the areas around the base to prevent possible further attacks, said an Iraqi army official. The attack came less than a week before an expected visit by a high level Iraqi military delegation to Washington to continue talks on ending the U.S.-led military coalition in the country.”
Lebanon
BBC: Smoke On The Horizon - Israel And Hezbollah Edge Closer To All-Out War
“As the war in Gaza grinds on, there are growing fears another Middle East war may erupt - with devastating consequences for the region, and beyond. Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah (backed by Iran) have been trading fire across their shared border for the past nine months. If this conflict escalates to all-out war, it could dwarf the destruction in Gaza, draw in Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, and Yemen, spread embers around the Middle East and embroil the US. Iran itself could intervene directly. The United Nations has warned of a “catastrophe beyond imagination”. For now, a low-level war simmers in the summer heat, along a 120km (75 mile) stretch of border. One spark here could set the Middle East alight. Over the lapping of the waves, and the thwack thwack of paddle games on the beach, a sound cuts through - a sudden deep boom.”
Reuters: Hezbollah To Hit New Israeli Targets If It Keeps Killing Civilians, Nasrallah Says
“Hezbollah will hit new targets in Israel if it keeps killing civilians in Lebanon, the group's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Wednesday, noting a spike in the number of non-combatants killed in Lebanon in recent days. Five civilians, all Syrians and including three children, were killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Tuesday and at least three Lebanese civilians were killed the day before, according to state media and security sources. "Continuing to target civilians will push the Resistance to launch missiles at settlements that were not previously targeted," Nasrallah said, in comments made during a televised address to mark the Shi'ite holy day Ashoura. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, refers to all Israeli population centres as settlements and does not recognise Israel.”
Middle East
Associated Press: Israel’s Military Will Begin Drafting Ultra-Orthodox Men On Sunday. It Could Rattle The Government
“The Israeli military on Tuesday said it would begin sending draft notices to Jewish ultra-Orthodox men on Sunday — a step that could destabilize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The announcement followed a landmark Supreme Court order for young religious men to begin enlisting for military service. Under long-standing political arrangements, ultra-Orthodox men had been exempt from the draft, which is compulsory for most Jewish men. The exemptions created resentment among the general public in Israel, especially after more than nine months of war against Hamas militants in Gaza. The army summons is the beginning of a monthslong enlistment process that could be difficult to enforce if there is large-scale refusal to comply. The army did not say when it expects ultra-Orthodox men to begin serving or how many it expects to enlist.”
Bloomberg: Israel-Hamas Truce Talks Said To Face Four Key Sticking Points
“Negotiations aimed at winding down Israel’s nine-month war on Hamas in Gaza face four key sticking points, including which hostages should be released, according to people with knowledge of the talks. Other issues include whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sticks to his demands that Hamas be barred from northern Gaza, according to the people, who asked not be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak publicly. Additionally, Netanyahu wants his forces to retain control of a key southern border corridor and that he should not be bound to an indefinite cease-fire. Israel declared war on Hamas on Oct. 7, when it was attacked by thousands of militants who killed 1,200 people and took some 250 hostage. The group returned 110 captives and Israel released about three times as many Palestinian detainees during a seven-day cease-fire that ended Dec. 1.”
Associated Press: Israeli Strikes In Southern, Central Gaza Kill More Than 60 Palestinians, Including In ‘Safe Zone’
“Israeli airstrikes killed more than 60 Palestinians in southern and central Gaza overnight and into Tuesday, including one that struck an Israeli-declared “safe zone” crowded with thousands of displaced people. Airstrikes in recent days have brought a constant drumbeat of deaths of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, even as Israel has pulled back or scaled down major ground offensives in the north and south. Almost daily strikes have hit the “safe zone” covering some 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) along the Mediterranean coast, where Israel told fleeing Palestinians to take refuge to escape ground assaults. Israel has said it is pursuing Hamas militants who are hiding among civilians after offensives uprooted underground tunnel networks.”
Somalia
Garowe Online: Al-Shabaab Fighters Executed By Firing Squad In Somalia
“Al-Shabaab militants were executed by authorities in Somalia, officials said, in the latest crackdown against the militants who have been destabilizing the Horn of Africa nation for the last 19 years, when they first struck in the country. Al-Shabaab is fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia, but there have been concerted efforts to drive them away from the country. The group has lost several strategic towns across the country. According to reports, five men convicted for terrorism including assassinations and the killing of two clerics and an elder have been executed by firing squad in Kismayo, Jubaland state of Somalia, Tuesday. The firing squad has been used to tackle those convicted of terrorism in the country for the last few years. The country uses the military's court-martial to execute those responsible for the criminal activities, which have destabilized thousands of people.”
Voice Of America: 12 Killed As Somali Troops, Local Militias Clash
“Twelve people were killed Monday in central Somalia as government soldiers and local militias fought over two truckloads of weapons illegally brought over the border from Ethiopia. Two soldiers are among the dead in the clash inside the village of Shiilamaow, about 20 kilometers northwest of Abudwak town, close to the Ethiopian border, said a Somali security official who asked not to be named because he is not allowed to speak to the media. The Internal Security Ministry said government security forces had seized the weapons from "illegal weapons traders” and were escorting them when armed militias erected a checkpoint and intercepted the weapons. The local militias overpowered government forces after receiving reinforcements from clansmen, the official added. The Somali government did not disclose the quantity of the weapons but the security official told VOA Somali that the weapons were two truckloads and included DshK and PKM machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and ammunition.”
France
Reuters: France's Macron Discusses Israel/Hamas War With Egypt, Qatar And Bahrain
“French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on Tuesday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas, said Macron's office. France is a United Nations Security Council permanent member and the country has both large Jewish and Muslim populations. Also, hostages holding French citizenship were killed in the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7 last year. Qatar has also played an increasingly important role as a mediator - in January, Qatar and France brokered a deal with Israel and Hamas to deliver urgent medication to Israeli hostages. "The President condemned recent Israeli air strikes that have targeted UN schools as well as displaced citizens in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp which have left a large number of civilian victims," Macron's office said in a statement.”
India
The Times Of India: 'UN Unable To Respond To Global Challenges Such As Terrorism, Pandemics': India At UNSC Open Debate
“India at the UNSC meeting on Wednesday pointed out the UN's shortcomings in addressing complex global issues such as terrorism, pandemics, climate change, threats from emerging technologies, cyberattacks, and the disruptive influence of non-state actors. "While we may have succeeded in preventing another world war, this does not hide the reality of the UN's inability to respond to increasingly complex global challenges such as terrorism, pandemics, climate change, threats posed by emerging technologies, cyberattacks and the disruptive role of non-state actors," R. said R. Ravindra, Chargé d'Affaires & DPR of India. India reiterated its call for time-bound negotiations to reform the UNSC, criticising the manipulation of council mechanisms by major powers as detrimental to the multilateral spirit.”
The Times Of India: Three Militants Killed During An Ambush In Cachar, 3 Cops Injured
“Three militants belonging to Hmar People's Convention Democratic (HPDC) who had been arrested on Tuesday afternoon, were killed during an ambush by the other members of the said outfit during a search operation at the Bhuban Hills in the eastern fringe of Assam’s Cachar district on the wee hours of Wednesday. Sources said three members of Hmar outfit were arrested at Ganganagar in Dholai circle of Cachar district on Tuesday afternoon. Apart from the arrest of three militants, several sophisticated weapons including an AK series of rifles were also recovered from the auto-rickshaw in which the militants were travelling. Sources said that in the wee hours of Wednesday, Cachar police along with the three arrested militants went to Bhuban Hills, 25 km from here for further search operation.”
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