Does this mean that things are going badly for civil society in Somalia and much too well for Al Shabaab, or is this just the usual diplomatic blithering and posturing? Please help me understand this, dear Reader — I don’t know how to read these tea leaves.
[ShabelleMedia] Senior officials and delegates from Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union ...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful... Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) gathered in Kampala today for a high-level preparatory meeting. The session precedes an Extra-Ordinary Summit aimed at evaluating ongoing efforts and setting the strategic direction for long-term peace and stability in Somalia.
This summit was agreed upon during the recent official visit of Somali President H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Uganda. Leaders resolved to convene under the theme "To Stabilize Somalia," identifying this as the mission’s ultimate objective.
Speaking at the opening of the technical and bigwigs’ meeting, Ambassador John Mugerwa, representing the Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the gathering as timely. It comes in the wake of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) mandate ending on 31 December 2024.
Ambassador Mugerwa recalled that the African Union Peace and Security Council endorsed AUSSOM’s Concept of Operations in August 2024. He explained that the mission is currently in its first phase, focusing on repositioning troops and transferring key security locations to Somali forces to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities.
"In the spirit of the common African defence and security policy, an attack on one is considered an attack on all," he said. "This is the spirit that has so far guided this struggle from the early days of AMISOM."
He underscored that AUSSOM’s success rests on Somalia’s ability to build and prepare its national security forces, adding that it "hinges on force generation, integration, mentorship, and the readiness of Somali forces."
Condemning the recent spike in attacks by the al-Shabaab ... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda... , Ambassador Mugerwa commended the bravery of Somali forces and their international allies.
"We must not allow al-Shabaab to win," he said, stressing that the meeting presents a critical opportunity to resolve operational issues and establish a clear strategic path.
He further called for stronger financial and logistical support, stating, "The success of this mission will depend in large part on the provision of adequate, predictable and sustainable funding." He acknowledged the crucial contributions of the European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... , the United Kingdom, and other international partners.
He conveyed condolences to those injured and honoured the soldiers from TCCs and Somalia who, "paid the ultimate price in the pursuit of peace and stability in Somalia."
Ambassador Mugerwa reaffirmed Uganda’s long-term commitment to Somalia, dating back to its initial troop deployment under AMISOM in 2007. He proposed the creation of a political body to oversee stabilisation efforts, backed by a robust monitoring and evaluation system, and advocated for political reconciliation between Somalia’s federal government, its federal member states, and clan leaders.
The meeting was attended by key military and diplomatic leaders, including Uganda’s Ambassador to Somalia, Prof. Sam Tulya-Muhika; Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Sam Okiding; AUSSOM Force Commander, Lt Gen Sam Kavuma; and representatives from Djibouti, Egypt, Æthiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.
[ShabelleMedia] Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Wednesday called on the Somali people to remain “vigilant against terrorist propaganda” as the national army undertakes what he described as “strategic maneuvers” in its fight against Al-Shabaab.
In a formal statement released to the newsrooms, Farmaajo stressed that the army’s recent withdrawal from certain cities should not be interpreted as a defeat. “This is not a sign of weakness,” he said. “It is a calculated repositioning as the armed forces build capacity and prepare for more effective operations against extremist elements.”
The remarks come amid growing public concern and speculation following the Somali National Army’s pullback from several key locations in recent weeks. Farmaajo, who served as president from 2017 to 2022, sought to reassure the nation by pointing to past military gains during his administration.
“Between 2018 and 2020, we successfully liberated numerous cities from terrorist control,” he said, urging the current leadership to build on those achievements by fostering national unity and political stability.
He also extended an appeal to Somalia’s international partners, calling for continued cooperation and assistance. “The support of our friends and allies remains vital to Somalia’s recovery and the strengthening of our national security institutions,” Farmaajo said.
His comments come at a time of heightened insecurity in parts of the country, where the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militant group continues to stage attacks targeting civilians, government institutions, and military personnel.
Somalia is currently undergoing a transitional phase, with ongoing efforts to build a cohesive federal security apparatus and strengthen local governance structures. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) is gradually handing over security responsibilities to Somali forces, in line with a phased drawdown plan.
Farmaajo’s statement underscores the complex challenges facing the Somali government as it seeks to maintain territorial control, counter insurgency threats, and navigate political dynamics ahead of the next electoral cycle.
[VANGUARDNGR] The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede on Wednesday ordered troop of the Nigerian Army to flush out bandidos terrorising the people of Baruten and Kaiama local government areas of Kwara state and Borgu in Kainji forest in Niger State within one month.
Oloyede, while addressing a troop at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Kwara state capita,l said that the Nigerian army will not allow the insurgency in the north east to escalate to the north central.
He posited that it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Army to protect the territorial integrity of the nation adding that ''no single part of the territory would be allowed to integrate or be taken away by holy warriors in any form either in form of bandidos or Boko Haram ... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... or whatever name they may call it.''
''I'm giving you one month from now to recover all territory in Baruten, Kaiama and other areas in Kainji forest to the territorial integrity of Nigeria.''
The Chief of Army Staff who inspected the military guard of honour at the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment said ''I'm giving you one month from now to recover all territory in Baruten, Kaiama and other areas in Kainji forest to the territorial integrity of Nigeria.''
He said that the bandidos must be flushed out of the Nigerian territory in the next one month.
''All of you have promised to fight and recover whatever the holy warriors might have taken from the country and I believe you will keep the promise.''
Oluyede who explained that he was going round the country to ensure that the country becomes better noting that ''the country was having some challenges and we have to push the holy warriors out of the country.
''In the next one month, I don't want to see any one of the holy warriors in our borders again.''
The chief of Army Staff also promised better welfare, feeding, education facilities, uniform for members of the Armed forces adding ''i want to see soldiers become good medical doctors, engineers and other professionals.
''We have tried to intervene in providing uniforms with provision of 100,000 units of Uniform per month while N1billion was being allocated to feeding for the soldiers on monthly basis and we have also improved the accomodation facilities.'' he said
Tulsi Gabbard has referred two intelligence officials to the Department of Justice for allegedly leaking classified information - with a third referral on its way. The unidentified officials allegedly leaked the classified intelligence to the Washington Post and the New York Times, an Office of the Director of National Intelligence official told Fox News Digital. 'Politicization of our intelligence and leaking classified information puts our nation's security at risk and must end,' Gabbard, who serves as the director of national intelligence, said as news of the pending charges broke. 'Those who leak classified information will be found and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' she vowed.
Gabbard then went on to claim that the 'deep state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine President Trump's agenda. I look forward to working with the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate, terminate and prosecute these criminals.' The move to refer the three officials for criminal prosecution comes as Trump officials ramp up their investigations into possible leak, with Gabbard establishing a new task force last month to root out unauthorized disclosures of classified intelligence.
She said at the time that a 'leaker within the IC sharing information on Israel / Iran with the Washington Post' was among the 'unauthorized leaks' she was looking at, according to Axios. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has since conducted an internal review and sent the criminal referral to the Justice Department, a source inside the office told Fox News. The Department of Justice would then send a referral to the FBI to begin a formal criminal investigation. 'We are aggressively investigating other leaks and will pursue further criminal referrals as warranted,' the source said. 'Any intelligence community bureaucrat who is considering leaking to the media should take this as a warning.'
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense is conducting its own probe into possible leaks amid increased scrutiny of the department following Secretary Pete Hegseth's and other top Cabinet officials' Signal chat with the Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Just last week, in fact, Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, Hegseth's top adviser Dan Caldwell and Colin Carroll (pictured) ,chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg were fired. Caldwell and Selnick were even personally escorted from the premises. In the aftermath, the trio released a statement saying they were 'incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended' and decrying 'baseless attacks' on their character. 'Unnamed Pentagon officials have slandered our character with baseless attacks on our way out the door,' they said. 'All three of us served our country honorably in uniform - for two of us, this included deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And based on our collective service, we understand the importance of information security and worked every day to protect it.'
Caldwell (Pictured) also denied he leaked any classified information in an interview with Tucker Carlson - and instead claimed the investigation was 'weaponized' against him because he 'threatened' established ideas within the Pentagon's walls. He then went on to imply that insider in-fighting led to the firing of Selnick and Carroll, separate from those that led to his own termination. 'We were threatening a lot of established interests in our own separate ways and we had people who had personal vendettas against us. And I think they weaponized the investigation against us.'
When asked to expound on what views Caldwell held that could have gotten him fired, he said that there is a bipartisan desire to see America go to war with Iran. 'I think there clearly is a very strong coalition within the United States that wants to see another war in the Middle East and it crosses both parties.' Furthermore, Caldwell - who blames career staffers for leaking out sensitive information - believes that the investigation that supposedly led to his firing is a total sham. 'There's a lot of evidence that there is not a real investigation but again, sitting here right now, there are a lot of unknowns about this,' he said.
Selnick (Pictured) and Carroll are now planning to sue for wrongful termination, according to Politico. But Hegseth has held firm in his accusations of his former colleagues, warning on Tuesday that they will likely be prosecuted, Reuters reports. 'If those people are exonerated, fantastic,' he told Fox News, before adding: 'We don't think - based on what we understand - that it's going to be a good day for a number of those individuals because of what was found in the investigation.'
He went on to explain that there had been a number of leaks that triggered the investigation, including about military options to ensure US access to the Panama Canal and Elon Musk's visit to the Pentagon. 'We said "enough is enough, we're going to launch a leak investigation,"' he recounted. 'We took it seriously. 'It led to some unfortunate places, people I have known for quite some time. But it's not my job to protect them. It's my job to protect national security.'
Yet Hegseth - himself - is also facing scrutiny after it was revealed that he shared details of a US foreign military attack in a second Signal group chat , this time involving his wife, brother and personal lawyer. Neither the White House nor Hegseth denied that he had shared such information in the chat, instead focusing their responses on what they called disgruntled workers who leaked to the media. They have also insisted that no classified information had been disclosed. 'It´s just fake news. They just bring up stories,' President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday. 'I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and that´s what he´s doing. So you don´t always have friends when you do that,' Trump said.
Posted by: Skidmark ||
04/24/2025 09:00 ||
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#1
Gabbard then went on to claim that the 'deep state criminals leaked classified information for partisan political purposes to undermine President Trump's agenda.
[KhaamaPress] U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz warns that groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, and al-Shabaab ... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord... are planning attacks on America.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz warned that terrorist groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, and al-Shabaab are planning attacks against the United States. He stated these groups have developed "plans and schemes" for potential strikes.
In a TV interview on April 22, Waltz emphasized that these groups are actively working to target the U.S., and the U.S. government has been working to dismantle their leadership. He mentioned that the Trump administration has eliminated 74 known terrorist leaders thus far, though he did not provide specific details about the locations or identities of those targeted.
Waltz highlighted the ongoing importance of Afghanistan in counterterrorism efforts, referencing previous reports by The Washington Post. The National Security Advisor explained that terrorist groups in Afghanistan have been attempting to regroup and plan new attacks, similar to the September 11 attacks.
He also mentioned the successful efforts by the Trump administration in bringing home American citizens detained abroad, including the recent release of two American citizens from Taliban ...the Pashtun equivalent of men... prisons. This reflects the administration’s continued focus on countering terrorism and protecting U.S. citizens globally.
While these efforts have been significant, Waltz emphasized the need for continued vigilance. He stressed that the U.S. cannot afford to wait for another attack before taking further preventive actions.
As these threats loom, the U.S. government’s strategic focus remains on preventing terrorist attacks and securing the safety of its citizens. The importance of international cooperation and intelligence-sharing has never been clearer in the fight against terrorism.
Ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks continue to be a priority for the current administration, as it seeks to maintain national security and prevent further tragedies.
[TOWNHALL] Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party, is set to release an undocumented Democrat convicted of killing two teenagers over six years before his sentence was set to conclude. Border czar Tom Homan indicated that this will not necessarily shield him from facing accountability for his actions.
The undocumented Democrat killed the two teens in a drunken driving incident, according to Fox News.
Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiano was driving drunk at high speed in 2021 when he crashed into a car carrying 19-year-olds Anya Varfolomeev and Nicholay Osokin. Both teens were killed in the fiery ...a single two-syllable word carrying connotations of both incoherence and viciousness. A fiery delivery implies an audience of rubes and yokels, preferably forming up into a mob... wreck. Ortega-Anguiano was later convicted of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2022.
Now, California officials say he will be released early, sparking outrage from the victims' families and immigration officials.
Ortega-Anguiano has an extensive criminal history. He was convicted for burglary in 2005 and stealing a car in 2007. He was also convicted of battery and kidnapping in 2014, Fox News reported.
During an appearance on Fox News, Homan was asked about Ortega-Anguiano's release. ''Everybody asks why I get so emotional on network TV, why I get emotional when I testify, because I've met hundreds of angel moms and dads and hear every story.''
Homan continued: ''But I'll make this commitment right now. I work for Secretary [Kristi] Noem on this case, and I guarantee you, if they don't honor a detainer we'll have ICE agents outside that facility to take custody of this individual and deport him.''
Posted by: Fred ||
04/24/2025 00:00 ||
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#1
If a California American citizen had done the crime the sentence would have been much longer.
Of course they did, since the Mighty Pak Army planned, trained, funded, and guarded the execution of it. Enjoy your dry riverbeds, O Pakistanis, while you ponder how it all went so horribly wrong. See here for the Indian view of Day 2 of the Pahalgam attack.
[GEO.TV] Defence analysts are sceptical of the recent attack in Pahalgam, a hill station in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir ...a disputed territory lying between India and Pakistain. After partition, the Paks grabbed half of it and call it Azad (Free) Kashmir. The remainder they refer to as "Indian Occupied Kashmir". They have fought four wars with India over it, the score currently 4-0 in New Delhi's favor. After 72 years of this nonsense, India cut the Gordian knot in 2019, removing the area's special status, breaking off Ladakh as a separate state, and allowing people from other areas to settle (or in the case of the Pandits, to resettle) there.... (IIOJK), that resulted in the deaths of 26 tourists, including a navy officer, suggesting it could be part of a planned false flag operation by India.
At least 17 people were also injured in the shooting on Tuesday in the Baisaran valley in the Pahalgam area. The dead included 25 Indians and one Nepalese national, police said.
It was the worst attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai shootings, and shattered the relative calm in Kashmir, where tourism has boomed as an anti-India insurgency, opens new tab has waned in recent years.
Defence expert, Brigadier (retd) Ahmed Saeed Minhas, denounced Indian media for blaming Pakistain without evidence, pointing out that the attack occurred 400 kilometres inside IIOJK.
Talking to Geo News, Brig Minhas referred to India's past response, mentioning that Pakistain showed great restraint in 2019 by returning Indian pilot Abhinandan safely.
Another analyst, Brigadier (retd) Rashid Wali, also raised questions about India's approach, noting that propaganda against Pakistain started doing the rounds almost immediately after the attack, with Indian media spreading baseless claims.
"If India attempts any action, it may face embarrassment like the Balakot episode," he warned.
Former senator, Mushahid Hussain Syed, who is also a veteran foreign affairs expert, condemned India's practice of jumping to blaming Pakistain following terror incidents in India or IIOJK.
He called it an "automated response" by the Indian government and mentioned that such actions, like the Jaffer Express attack and now the Pahalgam incident, fit into India's routine of shifting blame without investigation.
Commenting on India's allegations, national security expert Syed Muhammad Ali said that New Delhi's alleged ''false flag operation'' serves to defame Islam, Pakistain, and the Kashmiri people, while distracting from domestic issues.
India pledges strong response after IIOJK attack kills 26 tourists
[GEO.TV] Indian security forces launched a massive hunt on Wednesday for attackers suspected of killing 26 men at a tourist destination in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in the worst attack on civilians in nearly two decades, with New Delhi pledging a strong response.
At least 17 people were also injured in the shooting that took place on Tuesday in the Baisaran valley in the Pahalgam area of the scenic, Himalayan federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The dead included 25 Indians and one Nepalese national, police said.
It was the worst attack on civilians since the 2008 Mumbai shootings, and shattered the relative calm in IIOJK, where tourism has boomed as an anti-India insurgency has waned in recent years.
India suspends Indus Water Treaty, bans entry of Pakistanis
[GEO.TV] India on Wednesday suspended the Indus Water Treaty and banned the entry of Pak nationals, a day after the killing of at least 26 tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The new measures announced by New Delhi mark a sharp escalation between the two nuclear-armed South Asian nations.
Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security — India's highest decision-making body on national security, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) detailed five measures as part of what officials called a "decisive response to cross-border terrorism".
"The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistain credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism", Indian diplomat Vikram Misri told news hounds in New Delhi.
The Indus Water Treaty is a water-sharing agreement between Pakistain and India, facilitated by the World Bank. It gives India control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) of the Indus basin while it gives Pakistain authority over the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab).
Furthermore, he said, the Integrated Check Post Attari would be closed with immediate effect. "Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before May 1, 2025," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/24/2025 00:00 ||
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[NEWARAB] Paleostinian Authority President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas ...aka Abu Mazen, a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial. While no Yasser Arafat, he has his own brand of evil, just a little more lowercase....> slammed Hamas ..a regional Iranian catspaw,... on Wednesday, demanding the group relinquish control over 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... , fully disarm, and free Israeli captives held in the enclave.
The comments were made at the 32nd session Paleostinian Central Council meeting, which some factions, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Paleostine and the National Initiative decided to boycott, alongside prominent political figures.
Abbas crudely lashed out at the group, calling them "sons of dogs," before demanding they operate within the laws of a Paleostinian state. He urged for an independent and recognised Paleostinian state, which would be a part of the UN.
He went on to demand that Israel fully withdraws from Gaza, ensuring there are clear and sustainable mechanisms in place to allow for necessary aid and reconstruction. He insisted that the rebuilding of Gaza should not include any displacement of Paleostinian people.
"We are already working with our brothers in Egypt, as well as with the UN, in order to hold an international conference for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which friendly countries can participate in, along with various international organizations," he said.
He further called on Israel to stop attacks, military operations, and the building of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
COMMITMENT TO THE PLO
Abbas also demanded that the Paleostine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which does not include Hamas, be recognised as the sole legitimate representative of the Paleostinian people, adding that there should be a single Paleostinian political system, law, and "national opinion".
He denounced Hamas for its 2007 takeover of the Gaza Strip, which took place after a conflict with his Fatah organization.
"Hamas, since its coup against Paleostinian national legitimacy in 2007, and its work throughout this period to separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and Jerusalem, causing six wars on Gaza - without exempting the occupation [Israel] of course from responsibility - has inflicted severe damage on the Paleostinian cause," he said.
He added that Hamas has, over the years, given Israel "free pretexts to carry out crimes in Gaza", saying that one of the pretexts was taking the captives from Israel in October 2023.
"The consequences of all these actions carried out by Hamas were the aggression, destruction and closure of future prospects for our people."
He added that this "makes it obligatory for us and our people to end its seizure of power and authority in the Gaza Strip completely, and to leave it to the PLO and the legitimate Paleostinian National Authority, to protect their interests and future."
Abbas said that at the Arab League ...an organization of Arabic-speaking states with 22 member countries and four observers. The League tries to achieve Arab consensus on issues, which usually leaves them doing nothing but a bit of grimacing and mustache cursing... summit in March, he had called for the creation of a new role, vice-chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO and the President of the State of Paleostine, referring the matter to the Paleostinian National Council.
At the meeting, he also called for amnesty for those dismissed from Fatah and called for them to be reinstated to their jobs after they submit requests to the Paleostinian leadership.
Abbas said he still stands by his comments at the summit, before highlighting that Paleostine is very close to a new catastrophe that "threatens our existence and threatens to liquidate our entire national cause".
He further denounced Israel's "barbaric aggression" on the West Bank and on Gaza, which he said violates international laws and agreements made with the PLO.
"Our vision to achieve a just and comprehensive peace and ensure security and stability in Paleostine and the region requires a political horizon based on ending the Israeli occupation—including the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable and recognized Paleostinian state, which is a full member of the UN, and lives in security and peace alongside Israel," he added.
He further called on Hamas to cede control of Gaza to the PA, give up its arms, and become a political party.
“Hamas must hand over Gaza responsibilities and hand over its arms to the responsibility to Palestinian Authority and transform into a political party,” Abbas said.
Hamas has refused calls in recent months by Israel and the United States to lay down its arms.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/24/2025 00:00 ||
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[GEO.TV] Hamas ..a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth",... 's armed wing released a video on Wednesday showing an Israeli hostage alive in 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... , speaking in Hebrew and walking through a tunnel.
The nearly three-minute clip released by the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades shows the captive speaking to the camera. AFP was unable to immediately identify him, or verify when the footage was recorded.
The family of hostage Omri Miran said Wednesday that it was a “disgrace” that he is still being held in a tunnel on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, after Hamas published a propaganda video showing the hostage.
The family approved the release of a still image, but asked that the full video, in which the hostage is seen walking through a tunnel in Gaza and lighting a candle to mark his birthday, not be published.
Miran, who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, marked his 48th birthday on April 11, his second in captivity. He is married, with two small daughters.
Miran previously appeared in a Hamas propaganda video last April. Following the release of other hostages during the most recent ceasefire, Miran’s family reported receiving confirmation that he is alive from other hostages who were held alongside him up until last July.
[GEO.TV] Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking Wednesday at an annual Holocaust commemoration, said Iran was an existential threat and warned that "the fate of all humanity" was at stake if it acquires nuclear arms.
"The regime in Iran is a threat to our destiny, to our very existence, and to the fate of all humanity," Netanyahu said in a solemn address at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial centre in Jerusalem.
"This is what will happen if it obtains nuclear weapons. If we lose this battle, the Western nations will be next," Netanyahu said, using the memorial day to deliver a political message.
"Israel will not lose, will not give in, and will not surrender," he said.
"They want to kill, to destroy all the Jews," he said of Hamas.
"They openly declare their intent to destroy the Jewish state, and that will not happen!"
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Leonid Tsukanov
[REGNUM] France and Israel have fallen out. President Emmanuel Macron's intention to recognize Palestinian statehood amid the Gaza crisis has led to the cancellation of a French parliamentary trip to the West Bank.
Tel Aviv, with a stroke of the pen, banned entry to twenty-seven politicians at once, alarming the French establishment.
The Israeli authorities believe that they have thus nipped in the bud Paris's mistaken turn towards Palestine. However, paradoxically, Tel Aviv's actions have only accelerated the drift of the Elysee Palace.
TWO APPROACHES
Relations between France and Israel have developed in fits and starts throughout their history and have depended heavily on the personal positions of French leaders.
For example, under Charles de Gaulle, the Elysee Palace was a key supplier of weapons to the young Jewish state for almost two decades (until 1962).
Under François Mitterrand (in the early 1980s), Paris and Tel Aviv together sent troops into Lebanon to stabilize the situation and prevent the victory of pro-Iranian forces.
Under Nicolas Sarkozy (second half of the 2000s), France became a “bridge” between Israel and the EU, and also played a significant role in containing Iranian ambitions in the Middle East.
There have also been figures among French presidents who were less loyal to the Israelis, who have reduced to nothing some of the achievements of their predecessors.
Thus, de Gaulle and Mitterrand were replaced in 1995 by Jacques Chirac, who sympathized with the leader of the Palestinian rebels, Yasser Arafat, and advocated for the independence of Palestine.
And François Hollande, who came to power immediately after Sarkozy, launched a campaign to force Israel and Palestine to negotiate and normalize relations.
HARDENING OF THE STANCE
Current French leader Emmanuel Macron has long occupied a balancing position between the two camps of the French elite.
Under his rule, Paris has invested considerable effort and resources in the fight against anti-Semitism in Europe, as well as in creating a positive image of the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
French state-owned tech firms have contributed significantly to the behind-the-scenes technology exchange between Israel and the Arabian monarchies long before the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020.
At the same time, Macron reacted very harshly to the start of the Israeli army operation in Gaza in 2023, cutting off arms supplies to Israel and calling for an embargo on other EU countries.
In addition, Paris cancelled a number of major contracts for the purchase of Israeli equipment and technology; it banned the Jewish state's concerns from participating in the international exhibition of naval equipment "Euronaval".
However, relations reached a truly critical stage in April 2025, when the French leader announced plans to officially recognize Palestinian statehood in the coming months.
In doing so, the Elysee Palace demonstrated that it had abandoned the balancing act between the two approaches and had joined the line of Chirac and Hollande.
"INTEREST GUIDE"
Macron's decision to recognize Palestine, at first glance, was nothing out of the ordinary - by April, the Palestinians had secured the support of three-quarters of the world's countries, including European powers.
However, it was France's diplomatic maneuvers that Tel Aviv considered the most alarming signal. And there are several reasons for this.
The first is the changing nature of French foreign policy. Given Paris's increased influence within the EU, a hypothetical arms embargo at the EU level, advocated by the Elysee Palace, would severely affect the country's defense capability: arms imports would fall by at least a third.
Official Tel Aviv was also concerned by the fact that France, during the Gaza crisis, had become excessively close to Egypt and had begun to support its peacekeeping initiatives.
Cairo and Paris are jointly promoting the outlines of a future deal on Gaza, which implies maintaining Palestinian control over the enclave, which is not understood by some Israeli elites.
Populist politicians like Itamar Ben-Gvir call the Elysee Palace the "conduit of interests" of Egypt and demand a "decisive response" from the authorities.
Finally, France managed to straighten out relations with Turkey, which made further "friendship" with Tel Aviv against Ankara inexpedient. But it gave Turkish politicians a unique chance to turn the edge of French policy in the Middle East against the Israelis.
In the context of the intense rivalry between Tel Aviv and Ankara for control of Syria, France's contribution to the struggle could prove decisive.
COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT
Tel Aviv decided to respond to the change in the vector of French policy in its own way.
Less than a week after Macron's statements, Israeli authorities barred entry to a group of 27 French parliamentarians who were planning to visit the West Bank to meet with Palestinian Authority officials (including activists representing Gaza).
Despite the fact that the delegation consisted mainly of representatives of left-wing parliamentary parties opposed to Macron, Tel Aviv's decision was perceived as a slap in the face to the entire French parliament.
Moreover, Israeli law enforcement officials justified the cancellation of visas by the letter of the “prohibited” law, which allows restricting entry to persons who may act to the detriment of the interests and security of the state.
Israel has previously used it to prevent individuals suspected of collaborating with Iranian authorities from entering the country.
However, in the last six months, at least twice the law has been transformed into an instrument of collective punishment – for the rapid expulsion of inconvenient European politicians from the country.
It should be noted that this is the second time that the French have suffered under the Israeli law. In February 2025, French MEP Rima Hassan was banned from entering the country for “systematically promoting a boycott of Israel.”
The French elites considered the first case of expulsion to be isolated and preferred to let the matter slide, but they no longer tolerated a mass ban on entry.
The parliamentarians have filed a complaint with Macron and demanded that he take retaliatory steps. Calls to respond to Tel Aviv's demarche have also come from representatives of the president's Renaissance party.
COLD REVENGE
So far, the spat between Paris and Tel Aviv has not caused serious damage to relations between the two countries.
After the parliamentary delegation's trip to the West Bank was disrupted, the Elysee Palace took a break to consider its response. The Israelis are confident that this behavior shows that Paris has understood Tel Aviv's concerns and will adjust its position on Gaza.
However, a bureaucratic slap in the face, on the contrary, risks accelerating France's drift towards the anti-Israeli camp. Especially since the political demand for this comes from both the opposition and government forces.
It seems that the Elysee Palace is indeed determined to act, but not hastily. The French authorities are systematically looking for a sore spot in Israel so that their response will be proportionate to the insult inflicted.
[NAHARNET] Representatives of President Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah will meet in the next few hours to continue the discussions over the group's weapons, in order to ''pave the way for an official and declared meeting between President Aoun and Hezbollah to discuss disarmament,'' MTV has reported.
Hezbollah has meanwhile made demands that it sees as ''logical,'' which are ''Israel's withdrawal from the five points it is occupying in Lebanese territory, the release of the Lebanese captives held by Israel, and halting the continuous Israeli attacks and violations of the ceasefire agreement,'' the TV network said.
''These demands came after the United States exerted pressure on the officials in Leb ...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects.... to set a time frame for the removal of Hezbollah's weapons, prompting Lebanon in turn to meet pressure with pressure by asking the U.S. to press Israel to withdraw from the five points,'' MTV added.
The U.S. side has meanwhile ''informed Lebanon that it has requested a time frame for withdrawal from Israel,'' the TV network revealed.
Sources informed on the negotiations meanwhile told MTV that Israel is yet to respond to the U.S. request.
Time frame? When Hezbollah surrenders completely or dies tired, whichever comes first. Ditto for Hamas in the south. I hope the Trump team is asking just to underline the answer.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/24/2025 00:00 ||
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[NAHARNET] Lebanese Forces A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb... leader Samir Geagea ....Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005.... criticized Wednesday Hezbollah's officials for stating that the group will not hand over its arms as long as Israeli troops are in South Leb ...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects.... Hezbollah's chief Sheikh Naim Qassem ... the Grand Vizier of the Hezbullies... -- and other Hezbollah officials -- had said that Israel must completely withdraw first and stop its violations, otherwise Hezbollah "will not let anyone disarm" it.
President Joseph Aoun said last week he hopes to restrict arms to the state in 2025 through "dialogue" with Hezbollah. "Does anyone expect us to discuss a national defense strategy as warplanes fly over our heads and there is occupation in south Lebanon," Qassem responded in a televised speech. "These are not discussions, this is surrender," he said.
Geagea considered that Hezbollah's statements would affect Lebanon's credibility and "damage its image" as Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani River and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south under a November ceasefire truce.
But under that truce, Israel was also meant to withdraw all of its forces from south Lebanon. Despite the deal, its troops remained at five south Lebanon positions that they deem "strategic", as several experts said Israel's ongoing troop presence along the border played into Hezbollah's hands. Israel has also continued to carry out near-daily strikes against Lebanon, saying it is targeting members of Hezbollah who are breaching the truce agreement.
According to Geagea, Hezbollah should first abide by the ceasefire agreement, and after that Israel would withdraw and stop its strikes and Lebanon would be able to "rebuild the state."
"We cannot accept that Lebanon's credibility and image be further damaged by reneging on the ceasefire agreement," Geagea said, calling on the new government and administration to remind Hezbollah's officials of their previous commitments.
Hezbollah was left badly weakened by more than a year of hostilities with Israel, beginning with the group's campaign of rocket fire at its arch-foe in support of ally Hamas ..one of the armed feet of the Moslem Brüderbund millipede,... , and culminating in a major Israeli bombing campaign that killed many Hezbollah commanders including the group's longtime leader Sayyed ...Arabic term meaning your/his lordship. Groveling in His Exalted Presence is encouraged... His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah ...The late, lamented satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...> .
Posted by: Fred ||
04/24/2025 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...
... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
...a disputed territory lying between India and Pakistain. After partition, the Paks grabbed half of it and call it 
..a regional Iranian catspaw,...
...Formerly inhabited by hardy Phoenecian traders, its official language is now Arabic, with the usual unpleasant side effects....
...Arabic term meaning 
