[Garowe] Over the last few weeks, the Somali National Army (SNA) has failed to fully take control of various frontlines. The loss of Adan Yabaal perhaps gives a clearer indication of a weak force struggling to stamp authority despite massive investment by the international partners in the force.
Now, racing against time and with key financiers led by the US contemplating a drastic cut of the budget for mission peacekeepers and the local forces, the Somali National Army is under pressure to take over security responsibilities, not until it shows its defence capabilities and mission readiness attitude.
Antonio Guiterres, the United Nations ...the Oyster Bay money pit... Secretary General, predicts that the resources for payment of soldiers are first diminishing, with no guarantee that the US and other multinational funders would be committed to the mission. There is no indication that stability could be realised in Somalia.
Recently, the Troops Contributing Countries met in Kampala, Uganda and agreed to have at least 8,000 more soldiers dispatched to Somalia — at the time, the UN is keeping downsize the force and invest in local forces ahead of exit. This even draws uncertainties.
Samira Gaid, a security analyst, says misplaced political imperatives should be blamed for SNA inefficiencies, with politicians failing to give the military ample time to organise operations for effective execution.
"The anti-AS operations in 2022, which began spontaneously, were initially led by communities, but it was expected that the offensives would naturally transition to military leadership," she says. "Unfortunately, that never came to pass; the military was sidestepped, and the war effort was led at the highest levels, with objectives determined and targets set by politicians for political ends—without adequate planning or qualified military strategy."
"Many other factors also came into play: logistical challenges, changes in security leadership at critical times, and the use of hastily trained forces rather than older, more knowledgeable units, among others," Samira Gaid further says.
Asked if there is a possibility of SNA troops taking security responsibilities shortly, Samira says 'I cannot tell' while citing failures of the military in various frontlines, while insisting that the force has been degraded as opposed to five years ago when there was a plan.
Changes in military leadership under Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have also impacted the execution and strategy, further diminishing the SNA's chances. A few months ago, Hassan Sheikh sacked General Odowaa Yusuf Rage, but only to reinstate him a few weeks ago following challenges on the frontlines.
But despite the challenges, the government has also invested in religious scholars for the anti-radicalisation mission, besides blocking sources of finance for the group, starving them significantly. Websites and social media sites used for propaganda have been locked, too.
Another tussle is al-Shabaab ... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda... 's change of strategy — the group is keen to endear itself to the civilians by pretending to offer alternative leadership, further making it harder for the government and the military to counter them. As a result, civilians in some sections are embracing al-Shabaab leadership.
"They appeared less punitive than in previous campaigns against known and suspected collaborators of the Somali government and security forces, with Adan Yabaal being the only exception. They reportedly made calculated concessions, such as allowing clans to retain arms and offering "tax" breaks, she says.
"This shift appeared aimed at regaining the trust of communities—or at least reducing resistance to their presence. We also didn’t see the gory images and videos of beheadings of captured security personnel that they had previously circulated. All in all, they seemed to have shifted their political approach, blending in co-option as a means of regaining access."
The administration of Hassan Sheikh is blamed for focusing too much on political situations in Somalia instead of diverting attention to the al-Shabaab war. Whether or not the war would be waged militarily, the general strategic approach was mutilated, and there is a need for a deliberate change in strategy.
Somalia’s federal government has come under criticism for a slowdown in its military offensive against the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militant group, following the recapture of Aadan Yabaal town in Middle Shabelle region by Somali National Army (SNA) forces in April 2025.
According to sources cited by Shabelle Media, planned follow-up operations against the insurgent group have stalled as the government in Villa Somalia becomes increasingly preoccupied with political maneuvering and preparations for upcoming national elections.
The slowdown comes amid reports that international support—particularly from the United States, which has played a key role in backing Somalia’s counter-insurgency efforts—has diminished in recent months, affecting both funding and logistical assistance.
In addition, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which succeeded ATMIS, is reportedly facing significant financial constraints. The mission has yet to secure adequate funding necessary for sustained peacekeeping and military support operations across the country.
The setback comes at a critical time, as Al-Shabaab has intensified its attacks on military bases and recently liberated areas, raising fears among civilians and international observers about a possible resurgence.
Security analysts are urging a rapid reassessment of Somalia’s anti-insurgency strategy, stressing the need for consistent political commitment, international backing, and operational funding to prevent militants from regaining lost ground.
[IsraelTimes] NBC News says proposal is serious enough to have been discussed with Libyan leaders; unclear where in the North African country the Palestinians would live, or how they’d get there
The Trump administration is working on a plan to permanently relocate as much as one million Paleostinians 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 oppression and disproportionate response... Strip to Libya, NBC News reported Friday, citing five people with knowledge of the matter.
Definitely thinking outside the box…
The plan is under serious enough consideration that the US has discussed it with Libya’s leadership, the report said, while stressing a final agreement has yet to be reached.
In exchange for resettling the Paleostinians, the administration would release to Libya billions of dollars of funds the US froze more than a decade ago, NBC added.
According to three of the sources quoted in the report, Israel has been kept in the loop about the administration’s talks on the matter.
"These reports are untrue," an administration spokesperson told NBC in response. ""The situation on the ground is untenable for such a plan. Such a plan was not discussed and makes no sense."
There was no response from Israel or either of Libya’s two rival governments the report, which also said administration officials have discussed offering incentives such as free housing and possibly a financial stipend to encourage Paleostinians to leave Gaza for the North African country.
An official told the US network that it remains unclear where one million Paleostinians from Gaza could be settled in the largely lawless Libya, which has been plunged into chaos and division since the 2011 civil war in which longtime dictator Muammar Qadaffy ...The late megalomaniac dictator of Libya, admired everywhere for his garish costumes, funny hats, harem of cutie bodyguards, and incoherent ravings. As far as is known, he is the only person who's ever declared jihad on Switzerland...> was tossed and killed.
The NBC report also noted the logistical challenges involved in transporting one million people from Gaza to Libya, particularly with no airport in the Strip.
US President Donald Trump ...So far he's been unkillable, and they've tried.... triggered global perplexity in early February by suggesting the US "take over" Gaza and turn it into a "Middle East Riviera" while forcing its Paleostinian inhabitants to relocate to Egypt, Jordan, or other countries. He has since said, however, that no Gazooks would be expelled.
Visiting the Middle East this week, Trump said he wanted the United States to "take" Gaza and turn it into a "freedom zone": "I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good. Make it a freedom zone. Let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone," he said. "I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone."
While far-right ministers in Israel have urged using the ongoing war with Hamas ..the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,... as an opportunity to reestablish Israeli settlements in the Strip lauded the plan, the Paleostinian Authority and Arab nations rejected it outright.
Despite public opposition among the region’s leaders, the government has moved forward with plans to encourage Paleostinians to relocate, though The Times of Israel found no meaningful change in Israel’s exit policy for Gaza residents in recent months.
Pakistani-born Muslim ex-Labour MP Chaudhry Sarwar demands laws to criminalise disrespect of Islam and Mohammed. This isn’t free speech. It’s a bid to import Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to Britain. #WakeUpAndSmellTheJihadpic.twitter.com/mLI2Ba3qFM
There is (was?) also a governor of Pakistani Punjab by that name. This is our first encounter with the former MP. At any rate, the MP is just demanding a formal law to make de jure the currently existing de facto situation in formerly great Britain.
[Rudaw] The Ottoman Turkish defense ministry announced on Thursday that its cross-border operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) continue. The statement comes just days after the Kurdish group declared its decision to dissolve itself and disarm, expressing hope that Ankara would take concrete steps to advance the emerging grinding of the peace processor.
In a Thursday briefing, the Ottoman Turkish defense ministry’s Spokesperson Zeki Akturk stated that the Ottoman Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) are continuing to take "intensive and effective measures" against the PKK at The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire... ’s borders with the Kurdistan Region and northeast Syria (Rojava).
Akturk noted that "within the scope of the ongoing Operation Claw-Lock," Ottoman Turkish forces have recently seized "a large number of weapons, ammunition and living materials from the caves" belonging to the PKK, rendering them unusable. He also reported that one PKK member "surrendered" during the week, highlighting what he called "the effectiveness of the ongoing search and screening activities" in the region.
Operation Claw-Lock was launched by Turkey on April 18, 2022 with the goal of targeting PKK positions in the Metina, Zap, Avashin, and Basyan areas in northern Duhok province along the Ottoman Turkish border.
In Syria, Ottoman Turkish forces have destroyed extensive underground infrastructure used by the PKK and the People’s Protection Forces (YPG), Akturk said, elaborating that "since January 8, approximately 99 kilometers of tunnels in the Tal Rifaat region and 112 kilometers in the Manbij region have been destroyed."
The YPG is the backbone of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) — de facto army of Rojava.
Founded in 1978, the PKK initially sought an independent Kurdish state but later shifted its focus toward securing broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey.
The group announced on Monday that it would disband and end its decades-long armed conflict with the Ottoman Turkish state, calling it a step toward a peaceful resolution. The group reported intense bombardment by Turkey while they were holding their much-anticipated congress.
Ottoman Turkish President His Enormity, Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First ...Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey. In Anatolia did Recep Bey a stately Presidential Palace decree, that has 1100 rooms. That's 968 more than in the White House, 400 more than in Versailles, and 325 more than Buckingham Palace, so you know who's really more important... stated on Wednesday that Turkey’s intelligence services will closely monitor the PKK to ensure the group follows through on its pledge to dissolve and disarm.
Erdogan described the PKK’s decision as indicative that "we have entered a new phase in our efforts for a terror-free Turkey."
"The era of terror, guns, violence, and illegality has now come to an end," he stressed.
For his part, Akturk, stated in his Thursday briefing that the PKK’s decision "should be implemented without wasting time," warning, "We are careful and prepared against any situation that could sabotage the process, including verbal and action-based provocations."
Akturk concluded, "Land search and scanning operations, detection and destruction of caves, shelters, mines and homemade explosives... will continue with determination until it is ensured that the area is cleared and will no longer pose a threat to our country."
Meanwhile,
...back at the shootout, Butch clutched at his shoulder. Ow! he exclaimed, with feeling...... a member of the Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) - a US-based human rights ...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions... organization monitoring Ankara’s operations in the Kurdistan Region - told Rudaw on Thursday that Ankara has "bombed Mount Metina and Mount Gara in [the Kurdistan Region’s northern] Duhok province eight times since the PKK’s decision."
Kamran Osman added, "In addition to the bombings, Ottoman Turkish drones are still flying over the villages along the slopes of Qandil, Khwakurk, and Khunera."
According to the American organization’s statistics, the Ottoman Turkish military has carried out more than 500 Arclight airstrike ...KABOOM!... s in the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of this year, most of them targeting the borders of Duhok province, followed by Erbil and Sulaimani.
[KhaamaPress] Thousands of Afghan refugees in Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party, received urgent deportation letters, sparking fear and confusion amid ongoing immigration policy uncertainties.
In recent weeks, thousands of Afghan refugees residing in California have received deportation notices from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These letters demand that recipients leave the United States within seven days, warning that failure to comply will result in federal enforcement actions. The notices have caused widespread anxiety among the Afghan community, particularly in the Bay Area, which hosts one of the largest Afghan populations in the U.S.
Many of the affected individuals entered the U.S. under humanitarian parole after the Taliban ...mindless ferocity in a turban... ’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. While some were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), the Biden administration’s decision to provide immigration relief has been reversed. The DHS announced the termination of TPS for Afghanistan, effective July 12, 2025, citing improved conditions in the country. This move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader immigration enforcement policies, which have drawn criticism from refugee advocacy groups.
The deportation notices have raised concerns due to their inconsistencies. Some letters lack personal identifiers such as names or case numbers, leading to confusion among recipients. In certain instances, individuals received follow-up letters stating that the initial notice was sent in error. These discrepancies have exacerbated the fear and uncertainty within the Afghan community.
Afghan community leaders and legal advocates are mobilizing to support those affected. Attorney Spojamie Nasiri reported that many of her clients have received the deportation notices, prompting widespread fear and reluctance to engage in daily activities. Community organizations are offering legal assistance and guidance to help individuals navigate the complex immigration landscape.
The situation highlights the precarious legal status of many Afghan evacuees. A report by CBS News revealed that over 36,000 Afghan evacuees lack a direct pathway to permanent legal status in the U.S., leaving them vulnerable to deportation if their asylum claims are unsuccessful. The proposed Afghan Adjustment Act, which aims to provide a legal pathway to permanent residency for these individuals, has stalled in Congress, leaving many in legal limbo.
[KhaamaPress] Chief Minister, Sardar Sarfraz Bugti claims rising militancy in Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... , Pakistain, is fueled by Taliban ...mindless ferocity in a turban... support, weak governance, and corruption, urging urgent action.
Sardar Sarfraz Bugti, the Chief Minister of Balochistan, has highlighted a concerning escalation in hard boy activities within the province, attributing the intensification to support from the Taliban in Afghanistan. In a recent interview with BBC, Bugti emphasized that the deteriorating security situation has made it increasingly difficult for security forces to differentiate between allies and adversaries. He noted that Death Eaters are operating with greater autonomy, complicating counterinsurgency efforts .
Bugti pointed to the province’s uneven development, weak governance, and corruption as factors that have allowed Lions of Islam to gain a foothold. He asserted that these Death Eaters are receiving support from Afghan soil, with some reportedly residing in areas under Taliban control. The Chief Minister’s remarks underscore the challenges faced by Pak authorities in addressing the insurgency.
In response to the growing threat, Shafqat Ali Khan, a spokesperson for Pakistain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called on the Taliban to dismantle bad boy sanctuaries within Afghanistan. Khan’s statement reflects Pakistain’s ongoing concerns about cross-border terrorism and the Taliban’s role in harboring groups that target Pakistain.
International reports have corroborated Pakistain’s allegations, with the United Nations ...where theory meets practice and practice loses... Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team confirming that the Afghan Taliban provides logistical, operational, and financial support to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP). The UN report indicates that the TTP operates with an estimated 6,000 to 6,500 fighters in Afghanistan and has conducted over 600 attacks on Pak soil .
Despite these findings, the Taliban has consistently denied any involvement in supporting bad boy groups targeting Pakistain. Hamdullah Fitrat, the Taliban’s deputy front man, rejected claims that terrorist groups operate from Afghan territory, asserting that no foreign group is allowed to operate on Afghan soil .
[IsraelTimes] Diplomat in Paris says the confab, jointly sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, should lead to more nations joining the 150 that have already recognized Palestinian statehood.
Go, indulge yourselves. But it won’t change anything.
[IsraelTimes] UN investigation into alleged assault by the prosecutor, who is behind arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, reportedly nearing its end
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has stepped down temporarily as an investigation by the United Nations ...a lucrative dumping ground for the relatives of dictators and party hacks... into alleged sexual misconduct by him nears its end, his office said on Friday.
The move is unprecedented and there is no clear procedure for replacing Khan. The situation creates added uncertainty for the ICC, which is already facing an existential crisis due to US sanctions over its arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
The ICC’s two deputy prosecutors will take over his duties in the meantime, his office said.
Khan’s office said the prosecutor had taken leave until the end of the investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services.
The prosecutor has denied allegations of misconduct that were reported to the court’s governing body in October last year.
In a letter sent to his staff and seen by Rooters, the prosecutor said that he had been keeping his position under constant review. "In light of escalating media reports, I have made the considered decision to take leave," Khan said.
"My decision is driven by a deep and unwavering commitment to the credibility of our Office and the Court, and to safeguard the integrity of the process and fairness to all involved," he said.
Khan had earlier ignored calls by NGOs and ICC staff to step down while the investigation was underway. Several of those NGOs on Friday hailed his decision to temporarily step down as a sign that no one is above the law.
"Stepping aside helps protect the court’s credibility and the trust of victims, staff, and the public. For the alleged victim and whistleblowers, this is also a moment of recognition and dignity," said Danya Chaikel of human rights ...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions... watchdog FIDH.
Others said suspending Khan would not derail the ICC’s investigations as the office of the prosecutor is not a one-man show.
"In fact, removing an individual whose alleged behavior may have fueled a toxic work culture may strengthen the office’s ability to carry out its mandate with professionalism and public trust," Alix Vuillemin of the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice told Rooters.
Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter, told Rooters that Khan had spoken to UN Sherlocks last week in what is believed to be the final interview of the external investigation into the allegations, which started in December.
It is unclear when the probe will finish and also what the outcome will be and what it would mean.
Khan allegedly forced sexual intercourse upon a member of staff on multiple occasions, The Wall Street Journal said last week, in a report that questioned whether the allegations may have prompted his decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Last month, it was reported that United Nations Sherlocks examining the allegations of sexual misconduct were also looking into allegations that Khan retaliated against staff who reported the allegations or were critical of his handling of the matter.
Khan has alleged that the accusations against him were part of an effort to undermine the ICC. The Journal report said that court officials were concerned that the Mosssd ...sees all, knows all, gets 'em all in the end... was operating at The Hague. No further details were given.
[Rudaw] Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudan ...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans... i received a message of gratitude from 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... for repatriating people with links to the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems.... (ISIS) from camps in northeast Syria (Rojava), during a meeting with the mission’s head in Iraq on Wednesday.
The message, delivered by UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) chief Mohammed al-Hassan, "commended Iraq’s recent accelerated efforts in repatriating Iraqi nationals from al-Hol and Roj camps and detention facilities in Syria," said a statement from Sudani’s office.
Guterres assured Sudani that the UN will continue cooperation with authorities in Baghdad on the matter "to ensure the safe return and reintegration of Iraqi citizens," according to the statement.
Roj and al-Hol camps, both located in Rojava’s Hasaka province, house tens of thousands of individuals, mainly Iraqis and Syrians, with ties to ISIS. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control the area, have warned of the continued threat of radicalization within the camps.
"The message stressed the importance of allocating sufficient resources to support rehabilitation, reintegration, and accountability in line with international laws and standards," the statement added.
Iraq has repatriated around half of its citizens in batches, placing them in rehabilitation programs prior to reintegration.
The repatriation of ISIS affiliates has long been a contentious issue in Iraq, given the heinous human rights ...which often include carefully measured allowances of freedom at the convenience of the state... violations and war crimes the group committed following its 2014 seizure of large swaths of territory in Iraq’s north and west.
While some tribes and communities have expressed willingness to integrate individuals linked to the group, others argue that reintegration should be limited to families of ISIS members, particularly those who were not directly involved in severe crimes.
ISIS captured vast swathes of northern and central Iraq in 2014, but the group’s so-called caliphate was dismantled in 2017 after Iraqi and Kurdish forces, with support from a US-led international coalition, retook the territory.
[Rudaw] A mass grave believed to contain the remains of seven Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems.... (ISIS) members were uncovered in the Shingal (Sinjar) district of western Nineveh province earlier this week, local sources said on Friday.
The grave was discovered as residents began returning to the long-abandoned village of Korovi, cleaning up homes damaged during years of conflict. One house appeared to have been used by the jihadists, including as a grave.
"This village was abandoned for a long time. I mean we abandoned it 10 years ago and this house was vacated one or two years before ISIS. After things became better and people returned, he [the homeowner] also wanted to clean up his house. As he cleaned his house, bodies emerged, weapons and paraphernalia of an ISIS group emerged," Abdulaziz Mizr, a local resident, told Rudaw.
Alongside the remains, weapons and explosives were found.
"They had weapons, suicide belts, bombs," said Mizr.
An engineering team was called in to deal with the explosives.
"After they came and cleaned and looked at it, they took out their weapons. They also had a boom jacket, they also dismantled that and took it out... After they cleaned, the engineering team said there was nothing left here. They cleared the whole place. The engineering team handed the weapons over to the police," Mizr said.
The village is now hoping someone from the government will deal with the bodies in the grave.
"We have informed the Mass Graves Exhumation Team and they said they would come to pick them up, but we do not know when they will do that," Mizr added.
Initial information obtained by Rudaw indicates that the grave contains the remains of seven ISIS fighters.
In June 2014, ISIS took control of large areas in northern and western Iraq. Two months later, in August, the group launched a genocidal assault on the Yazidi community in the Shingal district. Whole villages were emptied as Yazidis fled. They have been slow to return because of ongoing instability and a lack of reconstruction.
[IsraelTimes] The sister of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped in Iraq two years ago, meets with US President Donald Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler.
“Her captors, Kataeb Hezbollah, must be held accountable by Al Sudani,” Emma Tsurkov writes in a post on X, referring respectively to an Iran-backed Iraqi militia and the prime minister of Iraq. “They should consider what became of Hamas.”
[IsraelTimes) Former American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander’s family posts a photo of him relaxing at home with his two siblings in what is his first weekend since he was released from captivity on Monday.
Meanwhile, Channel 12 reveals new details about his captivity, citing what Alexander has shared with family members since his return.
“The first year was hell,” Alexander has said. He has also reportedly told relatives that his conditions improved when Donald Trump was elected president, as his captors recognized that he was “worth” more.
But before that, he at one point lost roughly 44 pounds.
He was moved repeatedly throughout his captivity, spending time in tunnels, apartments, mosques and tents for displaced Gazans. In the latter, conditions were particularly bad and he drank sea water and dirty bread.
His captors once moved him by hiding him in a donkey-pulled cart. His face was covered and his captor was dressed as a woman, Channel 12 reports.
[IsraelTimes] The outgoing chief of the IDF Operations Directorate, Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, visited Azerbaijan this week to coordinate security matters with Turkey regarding Syria, the military confirms.
According to the IDF, Basiuk did not meet with any Syrian officials in Baku, rather only Turkish ones, contrary to reports in Hebrew-language media.
US President Donald Trump this week invited Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to normalize ties with Israel.
Sharaa confirmed last week that security-related talks were being held through mediators, though he did not comment on potential diplomatic relations.
[IsraelTimes] The IDF confirms fuel entered Gaza in recent weeks, but not for the Palestinian population, following denials that any such supplies were allowed into the Strip.
According to the military, the fuel was destined for field hospitals run by foreign countries, and the move was approved by the political echelon. The fuel did not reach any Palestinians, it says.
The Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) had previously denied that any fuel entered Gaza.
Israel stopped allowing aid into Gaza on March 2 after the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage release deal concluded. It is set to resume aid deliveries in the coming weeks, as part of a US-backed plan that aims to prevent the food and supplies from reaching Hamas.
[IsraelTimes] Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held captive in Gaza, said Friday she had received proof from freed hostage Edan Alexander that her son is still alive in Gaza.
Alexander was freed from captivity on Monday as part of an agreement between the US and Hamas, to which Israel was not a party.
During an interview at a “Friday Culture” event, Zangauker said, “Matan is still alive. We received this information due to the return of Edan Alexander.”
But she said the good news may be for nothing if her son is eventually killed by the “military pressure implemented since Edan returned.”
According to Zangauker, “The military pressure killed hostages. The only way to bring back my Matan and all the hostages is with a complete agreement for the end of the war. [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] is dragging us toward an endless political war.”
Petulant, pissy, loudmouthed, self-aggrandizing fool, who places her personal politics above the fate of her son and the nation. She endangers her son and all the other still-living hostages every time she opens her mouth.
Alexander, a US-Israeli IDF soldier kidnapped on October 7, 2023, was freed by Hamas after 584 days in captivity in what the terrorist organization said was a gesture toward the Trump administration.
He was released from Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv on Friday after completing a medical checkup. Channel 12 reported earlier in the week that Alexander had returned with injuries sustained from torture at the hands of his captors, as well as flea bites.
Matan Zangauker, 24, was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky. Gritzewsky was released on November 30, 2023, as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel.
Zangauker’s mother, Einav, has become one of the most recognizable relatives of hostages. The former Netanyahu supporter has led protests and made media appearances in which she has repeatedly demanded a ceasefire-hostage deal and slammed the government and the prime minister.
When it was revealed that Hamas planned to release Alexander, Zangauker said she feared that would leave Matan alone in captivity.
“The two of them are in a dark tunnel without any other hostages. If Matan is left alone in the tunnel, Netanyahu is deciding to murder my boy; instead of releasing all of the hostages, he has become my private angel of death,” she said in a previous statement.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum
…they’ve done some good, supporting the families moved away from the Gaza border for the duration, after they were shamed into it. But mostly they have worked to overthrow Bibi’s conservative government — in the midst of a shooting war they continued the effort that has gone for the past quarter century whenever the conservatives controlled the Knesset — because they are offended that their beloved Labour Socialists are not still running things...
said on Friday that Israel was losing the “opportunity of the century” as it intensifies operations in the Gaza Strip, instead of reaching a deal to return hostages and joining diplomatic initiatives led by US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, the Tikva Forum, a hawkish organization of hostages’ families, said reports of widespread airstrikes in Gaza meant the war was heading in the “right direction,” and urged more military pressure they argued would secure the release of their loved ones.
“The justification for the military activity is solely for the release of all our abductees together, without selection and without stages,” the forum said, urging the complete defeat of Hamas.
So useful to have a conduit to the enemy’s private thoughts…
[KhaamaPress] Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that Western powers engage in talks because they lack the capability to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities militarily.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, recently stated that the primary reason Western nations engage in negotiations with the Islamic Theocratic Republic is their inability to employ military force against Iran’s nuclear facilities. Speaking on May 15, 2025, during the 36th Tehran International Book Fair, Araghchi emphasized that Iran’s defensive capabilities and missile prowess provide leverage in diplomatic discussions. He argued that if Western powers could neutralize Iran’s nuclear infrastructure militarily, there would be no necessity for dialogue. Instead, Iran’s negotiators approach talks with the confidence derived from their military strengths.
In recent developments, U.S. President Donald Trump ...His ancestors didn't own any slaves... announced that the United States is nearing a nuclear agreement with Iran. During a visit to Doha, Trump indicated that Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... had "sort of" agreed to the terms of a new deal, which includes halting uranium enrichment for up to three years. In exchange, Iran seeks the lifting of economic sanctions and guarantees against future U.S. withdrawal from the agreement. However,
a clean conscience makes a soft pillow... significant gaps remain, particularly concerning the extent and timeline of uranium reduction and the destination of the remaining stockpile.
The fourth round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States took place in Oman, with senior representatives from both sides participating. Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi expressed cautious optimism, stating that the talks were constructive and held in a calm and respectful environment. He noted that both sides are committed to reaching a fair and honorable agreement based on equality. The discussions focused solely on Iran’s nuclear program, with Iran insisting that its defense capabilities, including its missile program, were not on the agenda.
President Trump has emphasized that the central demand of the proposed agreement is that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons. While expressing a preference for diplomatic solutions over military action, Trump has also warned that substantial gaps remain in the negotiations. Iran has expressed willingness to limit uranium enrichment and accept inspections in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Adviser Ali Shamkhani indicated Iran’s readiness to permanently renounce nuclear weapons and reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium to civilian-use levels. Nonetheless, disagreements persist on key issues, including the extent and timeline of uranium reduction and the destination of the remaining stockpile.
Despite the progress in negotiations, tensions remain high. Trump has threatened further sanctions and military action if diplomacy fails. Iran has warned that it could expel UN nuclear inspectors if the United States does not meet its demands. The situation remains complex, reflecting deep mistrust and Iran’s advancements in its nuclear capabilities since the U.S. exited the 2015 nuclear agreement.
The ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States represent a critical juncture in international diplomacy concerning nuclear non-proliferation. While both sides have expressed a willingness to reach an agreement, significant challenges remain, particularly concerning Iran’s uranium enrichment program and the lifting of sanctions. The outcome of these talks will have profound implications for regional stability and global security.
#2
I double-dog dare ya to destroy our nuke sites!
-- Mad Mullahs
Posted by: Bobby ||
05/17/2025 6:40 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that Western powers engage in talks because they lack the capability to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities militarily.
Yeah don't be so sure, bucko. We suppose you're just saying this to appease the local masses. There are a couple of western assets that I'm aware of that could do the job quite well, if we let them.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
05/17/2025 7:15 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Some regimes can not be coerced with threats of strategic bombing. Read Robert A. Pape's Bombing to Win: Air Power and Coercion in War(1996). One indicator is a regime that believes that they can not regain power if they ever show weakness and lose it to Opposition parties -- they will opt to 'go down fighting to the end'.
Then let us dispense with the threats and proceed to the actual strategic bombing. Might want to give the IDF a heads up in case they want to tag along.
#8
Because really, it’s not about driving them to the point of agreement, but about ensuring they don’t have their nasty little toys anymore. This is about quickly and thoroughly breaking all the things, and incidentally (or not so incidentally — not my call, thank goodness) killing a few people in the vicinity.
[IsraelTimes] US President Donald Trump again says Iran’s nuclear program will be addressed in a manner that is either “violent or not violent.”
“I prefer non-violent,” he tells Fox News. “I don’t want it to be a violent thing, but they are not going to have a nuclear weapon.”
He also notes Iran “has a lot of oil,” questioning why “when you have unlimited amounts of oil and gas, why do you need civil nuclear? I just don’t see it.”
“I think nuclear is fine for civil, if you have a country with no oil.”
US President Donald Trump says that Iran wants to trade with the United States, according to excerpts from an interview with Fox News.
“Iran wants to trade with us, OK? If you can believe that I’m OK with that. I’m using trade to settle scores and to make peace,” Trump says in the interview conducted before he left Abu Dhabi after a four-day Middle East trip.
“But I’ve told Iran, we make a deal. You’re going to be really — you’re going to be very happy,” says Trump, who has been pushing Iran on a nuclear deal.
[X]
"I'm using trade ... to make peace": President Trump outlines how he is approaching a deal with Iran in an interview with @BretBaierpic.twitter.com/0k4T37vYKa
[NAHARNET] The United States has sanctioned "a network of senior Hezbollah officials and financial controllers," the U.S. State Department said.
"These individuals, located in Leb ...an Iranian satrapy until recently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel... and Iran, collaborate with Hezbollah leadership to manage significant financial transfers from international donors, which are crucial to the Hezbollah budget," the State Department added in a statement.
"This action supports President (Donald) Trump’s whole of government policy of maximum pressure against Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... and its terrorist proxies like Hezbollah," the statement said.
It added that the United States is "committed to supporting Lebanon by exposing and disrupting funding schemes for Hezbollah’s terrorist activities and Iran’s destabilizing influence in the region."
"Iran and Hezbollah cannot be allowed to keep Lebanon captive. The United States will continue using tools at its disposal until this terrorist group no longer threatens the Lebanese people and the whole region," the State Department said.
A U.S. Treasury statement identified the sanctioned individuals as Mu’in Daqiq al-’Amili, Fadi Nehme and Jihad Alami.
[IsraelTimes] Syria plans to print a newly designed currency in the UAE and Germany instead of Russia, three sources say, reflecting rapidly improving ties with Gulf Arab and Western states as a move to loosen US sanctions offers Damascus new opportunities.
In another sign of deepening ties between Syria’s new rulers and the UAE, Damascus on Thursday signed an $800 million initial deal with the UAE’s DP World to develop Tartus port — the first such deal since US President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement on Tuesday that US sanctions on Syria would be lifted.
Syrian authorities began exploring the possibility of printing currency in Germany and the UAE earlier this year, and the efforts gained steam after the European Union eased some of its sanctions on Damascus in February.
The redesign will remove former Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad’s face from one of the Syrian pound’s purple-hued denominations that remain in circulation.
Syria’s new rulers are trying to move quickly to revamp an economy in tatters after 13 years of war. It has recently been further hampered by a banknote shortage.
One of Assad’s key backers, Russia, printed Syria’s currency during more than a decade of civil war after the EU imposed sanctions that led to the termination of a contract with a European firm.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
05/17/2025 00:00 ||
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[NAHARNET] U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus will return to Leb ...home of the original Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade.... in around a week, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday.
In an evening interview with LBCI television, Ortagus confirmed the imposition of new U.S. sanctions targeting three Hezbollah ''financiers'', stressing Washington's commitment to cutting off illicit financing to Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate JewsZionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol... and its proxies in the Middle East.
She added that the U.S. administration has revived the "maximum pressure" campaign originally launched during President Donald Trump ...dictatorial for repealing some (but not all) of the diktats of his predecessor, misogynistic because he likes pretty girls, homophobic because he doesn't think gender bending should be mandatory, truly a man for all seasons... 's first term, particularly targeting Iran and affiliated groups like Hezbollah.
"These sanctions aim to identify and expose individuals and networks facilitating illicit financing for Hezbollah. This is part of our broader strategy to ensure that terror proxies throughout the region, especially those funded by Iran, are held accountable," Ortagus said.
She emphasized that this effort would continue with additional sanctions on the way.
When asked whether Israel's occupation of five strategic sites in south Lebanon offers Hezbollah justification to keep its weapons, Ortagus firmly rejected the notion.
"Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon into wars twice in the past two decades -- wars the Lebanese people did not choose. They destroy the south every time," she said. "There is no justification for Hezbollah to keep its arms," she added.
Ortagus also reiterated the United States' desire to work with Lebanese leaders, including President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker Nabih Knobby Berri
...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... , to create a new economic future for Lebanon.
"But that future is only possible when the Lebanese state, through the Lebanese Armed Forces, has the exclusive authority over weapons," she noted.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/17/2025 00:00 ||
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[NAHARNET] Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said that Lebanon ''has managed to pave the way for a promising new start, despite all the difficulties that the project of rebuilding confidence and the course of reform are facing.''
''There will be no turning back in the project of consolidating the monopoly of arms in the hands of the Lebanese state alone, which should be in charge of the war and peace decisions and of defending its land and sons -- all its sons -- with the means allowed by international laws and norms,'' Salam added, in an interview with the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
''The entire Lebanese state is seeking full Israeli withdrawal from its land and to prevent all forms of violations. The government is also working on rallying efforts to launch the reconstruction process,'' Salam went on to say.
Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of arms handover [NAHARNET] Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of the handover of its weapons to the Lebanese state and it will ''embarrass'' everyone, a source close to Hezbollah said.
''Consensus between Hezbollah and the Lebanese president has become bigger than the issue of arms handover and dialogue between Presidenty Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah is ongoing, without specifying any deadlines or dates,'' the source added, in remarks to Al-Arabiya's Al-Hadath channel.
''The handover of weapons is possible, in return for gains for Hezbollah such as Israel's withdrawal and reconstruction,'' the source said, adding that ''Hezbollah's acceptance to hand over its weapons does not mean giving them up for nothing in return.''
''Hezbollah is convinced that the slogans it voiced in the past and which needed weapons are no longer existent and it is fully cooperating with Aoun and offering him solutions related to its heavy and strategic weapons,'' the source revealed.
''President Aoun knows Hezbollah's concerns as to the withdrawal of its arms and is working on resolving the difficulties, while Hezbollah knows well the magnitude of international pressure on the president for its disarmament,'' the source went on to say.
''Arab and donor countries have informed Leb ...The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. Only one of those statements is an exaggeration.... that they will not to engage in the reconstruction project until the vision for Lebanon and the region becomes clear. According to their definition, reconstruction is linked to the state's ability to undertake necessary reforms, fully disarm Hezbollah and prevent it from rebuilding its military and financial capabilities,'' the daily said.
''These countries do not want to engage in such a project while the situation has not yet reached a peaceful path,'' the newspaper added.
All the Arab and European promises are ''awaiting serious action by the Lebanese state and signals from Washington,'' the daily said.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] The Syrian Seaports and Land Border Crossings Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai-based port operator DP World on an $800 million investment in the port of Tartus. Prior to this, Damascus terminated the port management agreement with Russia.
“The memorandum implies comprehensive investments in the development, management and operation of a multi-purpose terminal in the port of Tartus, which will improve the port’s efficiency,” RIA Novosti reported on May 16.
It also noted that the Syrian Border Guard and DP World will cooperate to establish industrial zones, free economic zones, dry ports and transit terminals in strategic areas of Syria.
As reported by the Regnum news agency, armed opposition groups entered Damascus in December 2024. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad resigned and flew to Russia with his family, where they were granted political asylum. Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Bogdanov said that Moscow expects to maintain military bases in Syria, as they play an important role in the fight against international terrorism.
In January 2025, Tartus Customs Director Riyad Judi announced that the new Syrian authorities had terminated the contract for the modernization of the port, signed with a Russian company in 2019, and annulled all agreements. The contract was concluded for 49 years. It envisaged investments in the port in the amount of $500 million and the transfer of its management to the Russian side.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said in April that Russia was interested in establishing relations with the new Syrian authorities. Moscow also maintains contacts with all players in the region.
Trim your beard, put on a $4000 suit, send your wife to Sultan Erdogan’s wife’s modest dressmaker, and you, too, can be a success in the great, wide world.
[IsraelTimes] The World Bank says that the $15.5 million Syria owed it has been paid off by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, clearing Damascus to take out new loans. So they bought Syria for $15m?
Hey Greenland!
Saudi Arabia and Qatar had announced plans last month to clear Syria’s outstanding debts, a move that Syria hailed as paving the way for recovery and reconstruction after a 14-year conflict that killed half a million people and caused wide destruction in the country.
The debt was owed to the World Bank’s International Development Association, a fund that provides zero- or low-interest loans and grants to the world’s poorest countries.
“We are pleased that the clearance of Syria’s arrears will allow the World Bank Group to reengage with the country and address the development needs of the Syrian people,” the World Bank says in a statement.
It adds that “the first project in our reengagement with Syria is centered on access to electricity.”
Months after a lightning insurgency unseated former Syrian President Bashar Assad and ended the civil war that decimated much of the country’s infrastructure, severe electricity shortages continue to plague the country.
The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syrians live in poverty and state-supplied electricity comes as little as two hours every day. Millions of Syrians cannot afford to pay hefty fees for private generator services or install solar panels to supplement the meagre supply.
In March, Qatar began supplying Syria with natural gas through Jordan to ease the long hours of electricity cuts.
However, Western sanctions imposed on the country during the Assad dynasty’s rule have posed an obstacle to development and reconstruction projects.
Earlier this week, during a regional tour during which he met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, US President Donald Trump said he would move to lift the sanctions, clearing the way for investments in Syria.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
05/17/2025 00:00 ||
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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.
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
..the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,...
...Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey. In Anatolia did Recep Bey a stately Presidential Palace decree, that has 1100 rooms. That's 968 more than in the White House, 400 more than in Versailles, and 325 more than Buckingham Palace, so you know who's really more important...
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
...sees all, knows all, gets 'em all in the end...
...a Moslem country located in the Horn of Africa. It is noted for its affinity for rule by ex- or current generals, its holy men, and for the oppression of the native Afro population by its Arab conquerors. South Sudan, populated mostly by the natives, split off from Sudan proper, which left North and South Darfur to be oppressed by the guys with turbans...
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling 
[IsraelTimes] The IDF confirms fuel entered Gaza in recent weeks, but not for the Palestinian population, following denials that any such supplies were allowed into the Strip.
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for 
...an Iranian satrapy until recently ruled by Hassan Nasrallah situated on the eastern Mediterranean, conveniently adjacent to Israel...
...home of the original Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade....
[NAHARNET] Prime Minister 
[NAHARNET] Hezbollah will ''go far'' in the issue of the handover of its weapons to the Lebanese state and it will ''embarrass'' everyone, a source close to Hezbollah said.
...The Leb civil war, between 1975 and 1990, lasted a little over 145 years and produced 120,000 fatalities. The average length of a ceasefire was measured in seconds. Only one of those statements is an exaggeration....
[Regnum] The Syrian Seaports and Land Border Crossings Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai-based port operator 
[IsraelTimes] The World Bank says that the $15.5 million Syria owed it has been paid off by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, clearing Damascus to take out new loans.
