Author: Admin

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israeli forces conducted daylight strikes Saturday against Tehran, Iran’s capital city, sending plumes of smoke billowing from the metropolitan area. The initial strike occurred in proximity to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s governmental offices.

American forces are taking part in the military operation, sources familiar with the mission confirmed to reporters under anonymity due to the classified nature of the strikes. The scope of Washington’s role remains unclear, and White House officials have not provided immediate comment.

Officials have not confirmed whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was present at his offices during the assault. The Iranian leader has remained out of public view recently as diplomatic friction with Washington has intensified. The military action occurs while the United States has positioned an extensive array of combat aircraft and naval vessels throughout the region, aiming to compel Tehran toward nuclear negotiations.

Security forces blocked access routes leading to Khamenei’s governmental complex in central Tehran as additional explosions echoed throughout the city.

The Israeli operation focused on Iran’s armed forces, governmental institutions, and intelligence facilities, an informed source revealed while requesting anonymity to discuss classified operational details.

Former President Trump has pursued an agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities and recognizes a potential opening as the nation faces internal unrest following widespread demonstrations. Tehran had sought to prevent military conflict but insists on its uranium enrichment rights while refusing negotiations on additional matters including ballistic missile development and backing for militant organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran’s immediate response remains uncertain, though officials have previously threatened American military personnel and installations across the region would face retaliatory attacks.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the operation as necessary “to remove threats,” without providing additional specifics.

Multiple Israeli medical facilities activated emergency procedures, relocating patients and surgical operations to subterranean areas.

Tehran residents reported hearing the initial explosion near Khamenei’s headquarters. Iranian government media subsequently acknowledged the blast without identifying its origin.

Warning sirens activated throughout Israel as authorities closed national airspace. Military officials announced they had issued “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”

Additional explosions struck Iran’s capital following Israel’s confirmation of the military campaign. Government officials have not released casualty figures from the strikes.

Iranian authorities simultaneously shut down airspace and disrupted cellular phone networks.

Aviation warnings were distributed as explosions continued across Tehran.

Israeli military forces carried out a preemptive strike against Iran on Saturday, according to official statements from Tel Aviv, escalating tensions across the Middle East and casting doubt on ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve Iran’s nuclear program dispute.

According to The New York Times, which cited a U.S. official, American forces were also conducting strikes against Iranian targets. Reuters learned from a source that Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been moved from Tehran to a protected location for safety.

Saturday’s military action follows a previous 12-day aerial conflict between Israel and Iran that occurred in June, and comes after repeated threats from both U.S. and Israeli officials warning of further strikes if Tehran continued advancing its nuclear and missile development programs.

“The State of Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran to remove threats to the State of Israel,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

According to an Israeli defense official, military planners had been developing this operation for several months while working closely with Washington, with the timing finalized weeks before execution.

Iranian media outlets reported hearing explosions in Tehran on Saturday, while warning sirens activated throughout Israel at approximately 08:15 local time as military officials issued proactive alerts to ready citizens for potential incoming missile attacks.

Israeli authorities ordered the shutdown of educational institutions and most workplaces, excluding critical services, while implementing a complete ban on public airspace operations. Civilian air traffic was suspended, and airport officials urged citizens to avoid all airport facilities.

Diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran had resumed in February as both nations sought to address the longstanding nuclear dispute through negotiations rather than military action, hoping to prevent regional destabilization.

However, Israeli leadership maintained that any American agreement with Iran must require the complete elimination of Tehran’s nuclear facilities, going beyond simply halting uranium enrichment, while also pushing Washington to address Iran’s missile capabilities in the diplomatic discussions.

Iranian officials indicated willingness to consider limitations on their nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief, but rejected connecting missile program restrictions to nuclear negotiations.

Tehran has also declared its intention to defend against any military aggression.

Iranian leadership warned regional nations hosting American military personnel that they would target U.S. installations if Washington proceeded with strikes against Iran.

During June’s conflict, American forces joined Israeli operations targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, representing the most significant direct U.S. military engagement against the Islamic Republic to date.

Iran responded to those June attacks by firing missiles at the U.S. Al Udeid air base located in Qatar, which serves as America’s largest Middle Eastern military installation.

International leaders have expressed concern that Iran’s missile development program poses risks to regional security and could potentially deliver nuclear warheads if fully developed, though Tehran maintains it is not pursuing nuclear weapons capability.

Israeli Defense Minister confirmed Saturday that the nation conducted a preemptive missile strike targeting Iran, according to official statements.

The Israeli military activated air raid warning systems throughout the country on Saturday as a precautionary step “to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward Israel” in potential retaliation for the strike.

Military confrontations between Pakistani forces and Afghanistan’s Taliban government stretched into Saturday, marking the third consecutive day of warfare as global leaders expressed mounting alarm and urged immediate diplomatic intervention.

On Friday, Pakistani military strikes targeted Taliban installations and outposts across multiple locations, reaching as far as Kabul and Kandahar in what represents one of Pakistan’s most significant cross-border operations into Afghanistan in recent years, according to military sources.

The Pakistani government maintains that Taliban authorities are providing sanctuary to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, whom they accuse of conducting insurgent operations within Pakistan’s borders – allegations the Taliban government firmly rejects.

Pakistani officials characterized their military response as retaliation for cross-border attacks, while Afghan authorities condemned the strikes as violations of national sovereignty. Taliban leaders indicated willingness for negotiations but cautioned that expanded hostilities would bring severe repercussions.

The escalating violence threatens to spark extended warfare along the challenging 2,600-kilometer border region separating the two nations.

International mediation efforts accelerated Friday evening when Afghanistan announced that Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi conducted phone discussions with Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan regarding tension reduction and maintaining diplomatic communications.

European Union representatives demanded both nations step back from confrontation and pursue peaceful negotiations, while United Nations officials pressed for immediate cessation of military actions.

Russian authorities encouraged both governments to suspend fighting and resume diplomatic talks, as Chinese officials expressed serious concern and offered assistance in resolving tensions.

American officials backed Pakistan’s authority to defend against Taliban aggression, according to State Department representatives.

A U.S. government source, requesting anonymity, indicated Washington does not consider Pakistan the instigator in recent developments and acknowledged Islamabad faces significant security pressures, while expressing hopes the crisis won’t intensify.

Combat operations persisted throughout Friday night along border areas.

Pakistani military sources reported their ongoing mission, code-named “Ghazab Lil Haq,” had eliminated numerous Taliban positions and facilities across multiple sectors, though Reuters could not confirm these assertions.

Both militaries have claimed substantial enemy casualties with contradictory figures that remain unverified. Pakistani officials reported 12 of their personnel and 274 Taliban fighters killed, while Taliban sources claimed 13 of their forces and 55 Pakistani soldiers died.

Taliban deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat stated that 19 civilians perished and 26 sustained injuries in Khost and Paktika provinces, claims Reuters could not substantiate.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif declared “our cup of patience has overflowed” and characterized the hostilities as “open war,” threatening retaliation against additional attacks.

Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani warned during remarks in Khost province that the conflict “will be very costly,” noting that Afghan military units had not yet deployed beyond currently engaged forces.

Haqqani emphasized the Taliban had overcome “the world, not through technology, but through unity and solidarity,” achieved through “great patience and perseverance” rather than advanced military equipment.

Pakistan maintains vastly superior military resources compared to Afghanistan, fielding hundreds of thousands of active personnel and advanced aviation capabilities.

By comparison, Taliban forces lack conventional air power and depend primarily on lightweight arms and infantry units.

Nevertheless, the Islamist movement brings extensive combat experience from twenty years of guerrilla warfare against U.S.-led coalition forces before regaining control in 2021.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — When evening arrives, Saddam al-Yazji sits with his wife and daughter to share a simple noodle soup, ending their daily Ramadan fast in Gaza City. Their makeshift dining spot consists of a portable table placed in the dirt beside a massive heap of debris, mangled steel, and concrete chunks — the remains of what was once their family home.

Beneath this wreckage lie the remains of most of their loved ones.

These three individuals represent nearly all who remain of their once-large family. In December 2023, an Israeli bombing attack on their residence claimed the lives of al-Yazji’s mother and father, three brothers, one sister, most of their children, plus his wife’s parents and siblings — a devastating total of 40 family members lost in one strike.

Ramadan, the sacred Islamic month, typically centers around family connections, featuring large celebratory iftar meals at sunset to conclude each day’s fasting period. Throughout the Gaza Strip, this holy season has transformed into a time when wartime casualties create particularly profound grief for countless families mourning relatives killed during the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas, which has continued for over two years.

“I look at photos of our gatherings in Ramadan and cry,” said the 35-year-old al-Yazji. “Where is my family? All are wiped out.”

“It’s the third Ramadan without them.”

Before the conflict began, al-Yazji’s father, Kamel al-Yazji, would gather all his children and grandchildren for iftar around a massive table loaded with meat, rice, and various other foods, remembered Saddam’s wife, Heba al-Yazji.

The month of Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset, serves as a period focused on spiritual contemplation and prayer. The observance also strengthens community bonds through charitable giving.

The elder al-Yazji had previously served as a judge within the Palestinian Authority and was recognized as a prominent athletic leader in Gaza, holding the position of chairman for the Palestinian Athletics Federation. Saddam al-Yazji made his living operating a grocery store located on the first floor of their four-story family residence in Gaza City’s Rimal district.

The deadly air attack occurred just months after Israel began its intense bombing campaign following the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in October 2023. The building collapsed completely, trapping everyone who was inside.

“We were in the same house, in other part of the house,” Saddam al-Yazji said. “We survived miraculously.”

The sole additional survivors included one brother’s daughter and his expecting wife. The fatalities included 22 children.

Rescue workers recovered some victims immediately after the attack. One of al-Yazji’s brothers lies in a makeshift grave marked with wooden sticks near the destroyed residence. Approximately 20 family members continue to remain trapped beneath the rubble.

Following the bombing, the couple and their 11-year-old daughter Maryam spent most of the conflict living in a temporary shelter elsewhere in Gaza City. During the two previous Ramadan observances, they made efforts to return to their destroyed home’s location for iftar meals whenever possible.

After a ceasefire agreement took effect in October, the three relocated to a tent positioned adjacent to their former residence.

“Life is empty,” Heba al-Yazji said. “The war took everything from me. We wish we had died with them rather than remain alone.”

During the entire conflict, Israel has conducted strikes against Palestinian residences and temporary shelter areas, frequently resulting in multiple family casualties simultaneously. Israeli officials state they focus on Hamas fighters, although they seldom identify specific intended targets.

Israel’s military operations have resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, with nearly half being women and children, based on Gaza Health Ministry statistics. The ministry, operating under Hamas-led governance, keeps comprehensive casualty documentation that U.N. agencies and independent analysts generally consider reliable, though it doesn’t distinguish between civilian and militant deaths.

Approximately 8,000 additional victims remain trapped under destroyed building debris, according to ministry reports. Recovering most bodies proved impossible during active bombing and ground combat operations. The ceasefire has allowed increased recovery work, though efforts remain limited due to insufficient heavy machinery.

Israel’s military response followed the Hamas attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of more than 250 hostages. The hostages have been freed, primarily through ceasefire negotiations.

Nearly every Gaza resident has experienced the loss of at least extended family members. Almost the complete population of 2.1 million lacks permanent housing, with most residing in expansive temporary encampments. More than 80% of the territory’s structures have sustained damage or complete destruction.

A vast landscape of destruction that once comprised the Rimal neighborhood surrounded the small Ramadan table where the three remaining al-Yazji family members shared their evening meal.

Saddam al-Yazji remembered the “great dining table” from their family’s previous Ramadan celebrations and how everyone eagerly anticipated the annual gathering.

“I feel like I have betrayed them by being alive,” he said.

TYMPAKI, Greece — A sophisticated Israeli-manufactured Heron 2 unmanned aircraft lifts off from the runway, beginning another monitoring operation over Mediterranean waters.

The drone’s advanced equipment searches for vessels across the 220-mile expanse of ocean separating Libya from Crete, Greece’s largest island, with technology capable of identifying concealed activities beneath ship decks.

Last year brought a dramatic surge to Crete, with irregular migration jumping three times higher than previous levels. The island handled approximately 20,000 arrivals, making it Greece’s primary entry point despite a 26% decline in overall irregular migration to Europe during 2025, according to Frontex, the European Union’s border protection agency.

This Mediterranean passage ranks among Europe’s most dangerous migration routes, where unidentified remains frequently appear on coastlines. The corridor continues expanding due to ongoing conflicts and political turmoil throughout Africa, even as other Mediterranean pathways see reduced activity.

With the EU preparing stricter anti-migration policies, Frontex plans to concentrate additional resources on Crete to halt the continuing wave of arrivals.

Eastern Libya has emerged as a primary departure hub for human traffickers, undermining years of European efforts to prevent these journeys and transforming Crete into a critical pressure zone.

Vessels departing Libya typically carry excessive passenger loads and lack proper seaworthiness, embarking on lengthy, dangerous voyages across the Libyan Sea. These conditions have resulted in catastrophes like the 2023 fishing vessel disaster that claimed at least 700 lives.

Greek rescue teams recently saved 20 migrants and retrieved four bodies from a distressed boat south of Crete, with dozens more presumed lost at sea.

Every rescue operation reinforces the same harsh truth: these crossings represent deadly gambles with human lives.

The journey to Crete presents far greater dangers and distances compared to the brief voyage from Turkey to nearby Greek islands. It demands larger ships capable of multi-day ocean navigation and requires different operational strategies from Frontex, including enhanced patrol vessels and expanded aerial monitoring.

At Tympaki airfield on Crete, Mariusz Kawczynski, a senior Frontex operations official, emphasized the drone technology’s vital role while standing next to the aircraft.

“This asset is of critical importance,” Kawczynski stated. “There is no substitute in modern technology to have eyes for Europe of the threats that are coming to our borders.”

Georgios Pyliaros, who oversees Frontex operations in Greece and Cyprus, noted that harsh weather conditions created an anticipated seasonal decline in January and February activity, though the agency anticipates increased crossings during spring months.

“If we take into consideration what happened in the last two or three years, we will have some increase in the following months, for sure,” Pyliaros explained.

The dramatic increase in Crete arrivals last year strengthened hardline political stances in Athens. Greece implemented a temporary three-month suspension of asylum applications from migrants using the Libya route, eliminated certain amnesty programs, and established mandatory detention for asylum seekers whose applications face rejection.

The European Union is also adopting stricter approaches, with new continent-wide migration regulations beginning in June designed to enhance border screening procedures and accelerate deportation processes.

Frontex’s permanent workforce is projected to reach 10,000 officers by year’s end — representing a doubling from 2021 staffing levels — demonstrating the policy transformation and expectations of continued pressure along major routes.

A conflict monitoring initiative at Sweden’s Uppsala University documented 61 active global conflicts during 2024 — the highest count since World War II — including expanding militant operations in western Africa, a significant factor driving population displacement.

The International Organization for Migration, a United Nations agency, calculates that at least 2,185 individuals died or disappeared in the Mediterranean during 2025. The organization reported 606 migrant fatalities already documented in Mediterranean waters through February 24, cautioning that restricted access to search-and-rescue data suggests actual numbers are likely higher.

“The continued loss of life on migration routes is a global failure we cannot accept as normal,” stated IOM Director General Amy Pope. “These deaths are not inevitable.”

HAVANA – Cuban authorities have disclosed new details about a deadly maritime confrontation this week, revealing that a group of Cuban exiles attempting to reach the island carried an extensive weapons cache including nearly 13,000 ammunition rounds, 13 rifles, and 11 handguns.

According to Havana officials, the Wednesday incident began when 10 Cuban nationals traveling from the United States entered Cuban territorial waters and fired upon a border patrol vessel. Cuban forces responded with gunfire, resulting in four fatalities and six wounded individuals who are now in custody.

During a televised broadcast on Friday, high-ranking Cuban Interior Ministry officials presented the confiscated weapons and equipment in an effort to support their version of events. The display included containers filled with a portion of the 12,846 recovered ammunition rounds and photographs of both vessels showing extensive bullet damage from what officials described as close-range combat at approximately 20 meters.

The incident occurs during a particularly tense period in U.S.-Cuban diplomatic relations, following President Donald Trump’s increased pressure on the island nation through what amounts to an oil embargo after the January 3 capture and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a key Cuban partner.

Cuban officials have characterized the attackers as Cuban exiles, including some previously designated as suspected terrorists, who departed from U.S. territory with plans to create disorder and target military installations on the Communist-governed island.

Colonel Victor Alvarez of the Interior Ministry explained the group’s alleged objectives: “The intent of this group is to infiltrate, to promote public disorder. To incite the people to unite. To carry out something violent. Attack military units in order to incite social unrest and to unite the people in order to steal the revolution. That has been duly proven.”

American officials have questioned Cuba’s account of the events. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that his administration would conduct an independent investigation, emphasizing that the operation was not sanctioned by the U.S. and involved no American government personnel.

Cuban authorities reported that the infiltrators departed from Marathon in the Florida Keys using two boats but abandoned one due to mechanical problems. They consolidated onto a single speedboat that U.S. officials confirmed was reported as stolen in Florida.

The recovered equipment included a drone, communication devices, cutting tools, knives, a portable generator, and various other supplies. Officials also discovered insignia from the November 30th Movement and People’s Self-Defense, organizations opposed to the Cuban government.

According to Cuban accounts, a five-member border patrol crew aboard a 9-meter vessel first observed the approaching boat around 7 a.m., with some occupants already in the water approximately one nautical mile from a small island off Cuba’s northern coastline, roughly 100 miles from Marathon.

Cuban officials stated the infiltrators initiated gunfire from 185 meters away, striking the Cuban patrol boat captain in the stomach. Despite severe bleeding, the wounded captain continued steering toward the attacking vessel, resulting in the close-quarters firefight at about 20 meters distance.

Cuba characterized its military response as measured and appropriate.

Interior Ministry Colonel Ybey Carballo stated: “It is a defensive model that practically never uses firearms, and the use of firearms is proportional to the type of action being carried out against our force.”

The detained Cuban nationals are receiving medical treatment while facing multiple serious charges including armed assault, unauthorized entry into national territory, terrorism-related crimes, and weapons trafficking. Prosecutor Edward Robert Campbell announced during the television program that convictions could result in prison sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years for lesser charges, and 20 to 30 years or potentially capital punishment for the most serious offenses.

JOHANNESBURG — In a rare move for Africa’s most established democracy, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to send military forces into areas experiencing extreme criminal activity, targeting organized crime syndicates, gang warfare, and unlawful mining operations.

Ramaphosa declared that military personnel would be stationed in regions experiencing some of the globe’s most severe violent crime rates, addressing what he called the “most immediate threat” to South Africa’s democratic system and economic progress.

The president indicated that three of the nation’s nine provinces would receive military support, though he provided no specific timeline. Opposition voices argue that bringing in the military may signal that Ramaphosa’s administration is failing in its fight against crime.

Cape Town, home to approximately 3.8 million residents, stands as South Africa’s second-largest metropolitan area and a major tourism destination known for its scenic beauty.

However, the surrounding areas called the Cape Flats have gained infamy for lethal gang conflicts.

Criminal organizations with names like the Americans, the Hard Livings and the Terrible Josters have spent years fighting over illegal narcotics territory while engaging in extortion schemes, prostitution rings, and murder-for-hire operations.

Innocent civilians, including young people, frequently become casualties in gang shootouts. Recent crime data shows that South Africa’s three most dangerous police districts are all located in or near Cape Town.

Ramaphosa announced that military units would be sent to the Western Cape province, home to Cape Town, where statistics indicate approximately 90% of the nation’s gang-related murders occur.

He also named two additional provinces for troop deployment: Gauteng, which contains Johannesburg, the country’s largest city, and the Eastern Cape province.

Areas surrounding Johannesburg and throughout Gauteng province contain numerous deserted mining sites, where officials have struggled for years with unauthorized gold extraction.

Officials report that mining criminal groups, called zama zamas, operate under heavily armed crime organizations that violently defend their territories. These syndicates recruit “informal miners” from impoverished communities to descend into mine shafts seeking remaining valuable materials.

These criminal networks frequently connect to serious violent incidents, including a 2022 case that horrified South Africa when approximately 80 suspected illegal miners faced charges for the gang rape of eight women filming a music video at a defunct mine site.

In the previous year, a confrontation between law enforcement and unauthorized miners in an abandoned mine resulted in at least 87 miner deaths after police adopted aggressive tactics and blocked food deliveries to force them to surface.

Security analysts note that illegal miners often participate in additional crimes within surrounding neighborhoods, and territorial disputes between competing groups have displaced residents who flee seeking safer locations.

Government officials estimate that roughly 30,000 unauthorized miners operate throughout South Africa’s approximately 6,000 abandoned mining sites.

The administration has documented rising illegal mining activity, calculating that criminal organizations steal over $4 billion worth of gold annually.

Authorities believe the trade operates primarily under the control of migrants from nearby Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, creating resentment within South African communities toward both crime leaders and foreign residents in local areas.

Ramaphosa recognizes that South Africans who lived through the apartheid era of enforced racial separation, which concluded in 1994, may remember images of soldiers deployed to crush democracy movements.

Acknowledging this difficult history, he emphasized the importance of not deploying military forces “without a good reason.”

However, he stated it has now “become necessary due to a surge in violent organized crime that threatens the safety of our people and the authority of the state.”

Ramaphosa attempted to address concerns by explaining that military forces would function under police supervision.

South African troops have been deployed in other recent situations. In 2023, soldiers patrolled streets following a series of truck attacks that raised fears about broader civil unrest. Additionally, approximately 25,000 troops were deployed in 2021 to suppress violent demonstrations triggered by former President Jacob Zuma’s incarceration.

South Africa also utilized military personnel to implement strict lockdown measures during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Crime specialists have voiced concerns regarding Ramaphosa’s recent deployment strategy, arguing that military intervention cannot provide lasting solutions to criminal activity and that soldiers lack expertise in civilian law enforcement.

Firoz Cachalia, the nation’s police minister, has supported Ramaphosa and emphasized that military forces will assist police “their operations in particular locations.”

He described the deployment as temporary and designed to stabilize regions “where people are losing their lives” daily.

KAMPALA, Uganda — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed finds himself at the center of growing tensions that could spark another conflict in the volatile Horn of Africa region.

While his admirers view him as a visionary leader working to restore Ethiopia’s historic prominence, critics characterize Abiy as an agitator whose demands for sea access through hostile neighboring territory could ignite widespread warfare.

Last Sunday in southern Ethiopia, Abiy orchestrated a military display featuring the nation’s special forces conducting tactical exercises in what observers interpreted as a clear message to Eritrea. A prominent banner declared Ethiopia would break free from its landlocked status “you like it or not,” accompanied by images of soldiers forcing entry to reach Assab port.

Since Eritrea’s independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following prolonged guerrilla conflict, Assab has remained under Eritrean control. Ethiopia currently routes most of its commerce through Djibouti’s port, paying approximately $1.5 billion annually in fees — an amount that until recently exceeded the nation’s total foreign currency reserves, according to London-based Africa Practice consulting.

This financial burden previously motivated Abiy to pursue a contentious sea access agreement with Somaliland two years ago, which infuriated Somalia and escalated regional tensions since Somalia maintains jurisdiction over the semi-autonomous territory.

Though the Somaliland controversy has subsided, Abiy’s current focus on Assab has generated legitimate concerns about potential warfare between him and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, along with possible allies including rebellious leaders from Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.

The International Crisis Group warned in its latest analysis that while such “a catastrophic turn of events is by no means inevitable,” without international diplomatic intervention, the opposing forces “could find themselves party to a new regional war that would prove difficult to contain or end.”

Abiy emerged from relative anonymity to assume leadership in 2018 at age 41, initially viewed as a reform-oriented pragmatist. His efforts to mend Ethiopia’s strained relationship with Eritrea, which had been deteriorating since the 1990s, contributed to his 2019 Nobel Peace Prize recognition.

However, he surprised many in 2020 by launching military action against Tigray’s rebellious leadership, escalating into a devastating civil war. Ethiopian forces, supported by Eritrean allies, fought against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the regional governing body. The conflict, characterized by sexual violence and other atrocities committed by all parties, concluded with a peace accord in 2022.

Now, Abiy’s pursuit of sovereign control over Assab has reportedly triggered military reinforcements along the Ethiopian-Eritrean border, according to regional experts.

Professor Kjetil Tronvoll of Oslo New University College, who specializes in peace and conflict studies, indicates that Tigray’s rebellious leadership and Eritrea appear to be “coordinating” their efforts against Ethiopian forces.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on both Ethiopia and Eritrea to honor the border agreement established 25 years ago, while other regional powers have advocated for diplomatic negotiations.

Meanwhile, verbal confrontations accompany intermittent fighting within Ethiopian borders. Tigrayan officials blame Ethiopian federal forces for conducting drone strikes, while Ethiopia alleges that Eritrea is “actively preparing to wage war against it” and has positioned forces in Tigray, which borders Eritrea.

Eritrea contends that Ethiopia harbors a “long-brewing war agenda” to capture Assab — an accusation that Abiy appeared to validate through his military demonstration in Hawassa, attended by senior government and military leadership.

Following his rise to power, Abiy positioned himself as a philosophical architect of Ethiopian revival. Through his “medemer” concept — an Amharic term meaning strength through unity — the prime minister envisioned what he called a “beautiful symphony of progress.”

Leading the ruling Prosperity Party, Abiy has championed completion of the massive Nile River dam project despite strong Egyptian opposition over water flow concerns. His vision includes transforming Addis Ababa into an attractive capital with green spaces and modern architecture, alongside plans for nuclear energy development and 1.5 million new homes. This year marked the groundbreaking of what would become Africa’s largest airport, a $10 billion project near Addis Ababa.

Yet he confronts two major obstacles: Ethiopia’s status as the world’s most populous landlocked country with over 130 million residents, and ongoing ethnic tensions fueling conflicts in the Amhara and Oromia regions, where government forces continue battling insurgents.

Pursuing warfare over port access would undermine Abiy’s ambitious development agenda by diverting military personnel and resources to another armed confrontation with Eritrea, whose officials dismiss him as reckless.

Eritrean leaders argue that Abiy’s public provocations serve to distract from domestic difficulties and that his infrastructure initiatives contradict reports of food insecurity affecting parts of Ethiopia. Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea’s government spokesperson, regularly refers to Abiy’s Prosperity Party as the “Potemkin party.”

In a Monday statement, Gebremeskel accused the party of continuing to “spew and ramp up, at almost every public occasion, toxic and provocative vitriol against the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of neighboring countries.

HAVANA – Cuban Ministry of the Interior leadership disclosed on Friday evening the contents they claim were discovered on a speedboat registered in Florida that engaged in gunfire with military personnel in coastal waters earlier this week, resulting in troops returning fire and fatally shooting four individuals.

Authorities also told The Associated Press that investigators determined the 10 Cuban individuals departed from the United States using two vessels, though one experienced mechanical problems, forcing the group to move all equipment to the operational boat while abandoning the disabled craft.

Government representatives stated that apprehended individuals provided these details during questioning and emphasized that U.S. Coast Guard officials were notified immediately.

Cuban authorities reported finding numerous items on the vessel: twelve high-caliber firearms, one equipped with a telescopic sight; a large cooler containing over 12,800 rounds of ammunition; eleven handguns; military-grade footwear, helmets equipped with recording devices; and tactical backpacks in camouflage patterns.

“We could clearly determine that we were confronting a terrorist operation launched from a vessel originating in the United States,” stated 1st Col. Ivey Daniel Carballo from Cuba’s Border Guard Troops during an interview with the AP.

Carballo explained that their 30-foot patrol vessel spotted the unauthorized craft Wednesday morning and moved to approximately 600 feet away for inspection purposes, but came under attack from high-caliber weapons.

The colonel reported that three attackers died immediately while a fourth sustained injuries and succumbed later.

Carballo noted the speedboat’s position was roughly one mile northeast of Cayo Falcones along the northern coastline. He added that the border guard commander sustained injuries during the encounter.

Victor Eduardo Álvarez Valle, a senior Criminal Investigation official with State Security at the Interior Ministry, informed the AP that authorities were caught off guard by the level of opposition they faced.

“We didn’t expect it, especially with that many people and weapons,” he stated.

“The military equipment found on board has been identified by the assailants, including where and how they acquired it, and the training they received. They also revealed who financed it,” Álvarez continued.

He pointed out that investigators counted 13 bullet impacts on the border patrol vessel and 21 additional strikes on the suspects’ boat, “meaning that there was combat.”

While Cuban officials initially reported Wednesday that one person had been apprehended on shore, Álvarez indicated that currently, no evidence suggests the suspects maintained any assistance network within the island.

Edward Robert Campbell, Cuba’s chief prosecutor within the Attorney General’s Office directorate, informed the AP that the six detained individuals, all of Cuban heritage, may face terrorism accusations carrying potential penalties of three decades imprisonment, life sentences, or capital punishment, though executions have been suspended for over ten years.

The Associated Press received access to Cuban military leadership and viewed the confiscated materials displayed at the former Cuban Institute of Radio and Television facility before a broadcast that presented them publicly for the first time.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated this was not an American government operation and confirmed that U.S. officials were conducting their own investigation.

North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un distributed advanced sniper rifles to top party and military leadership during a Friday ceremony at Workers’ Party headquarters, according to state-run media reports released Saturday.

The North Korean leader described the newly manufactured weapons as exceptional, telling recipients the firearms represent his confidence in them. The rifles were developed by the nation’s Academy of Defence Science and distributed to commemorate the party’s Ninth Congress.

“As was already made public, this new-generation sniper’s rifle our Academy of Defence Science developed and produced is really a wonderful weapon,” Kim stated during the presentation.

Among those receiving the ceremonial weapons were Central Military Commission members, high-ranking Korean People’s Army officers, and security unit commanders. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, also received a rifle and was officially identified for the first time as head of the General Affairs Department within the party’s Central Committee.

State media photographs captured Kim’s teenage daughter, known as Ju Ae, participating in the ceremony and handling a rifle at a shooting facility. The young girl, estimated to be in her early teenage years, has appeared more frequently in official media alongside her father during various inspections, including weapons facility visits.

Intelligence analysts suggest these public appearances indicate Ju Ae may be receiving preparation for eventual leadership of the isolated nation. South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency believes her visible role suggests she now contributes to policy discussions and holds significant influence as the regime’s second-most powerful figure.

Additional photographs showed Kim Yo Jong posing with a rifle next to Hyon Song Wol, a close adviser to Kim Jong Un who maintains ties to the leader’s spouse.

The weapon distribution ceremony concluded North Korea’s week-long Ninth Congress, which ended with a military parade display.

Following a major week-long political gathering in North Korea, leader Kim Jong Un distributed sniper rifles to high-ranking government and military leaders, according to state media reports. The ceremony included striking images of his teenage daughter handling firearms at a shooting range, further intensifying questions about whether she’s being positioned as his eventual replacement.

The rifle presentation took place Friday, with Kim describing the weapons as symbols of his “absolute trust” and appreciation for officials’ dedication during the five years since the previous Workers’ Party congress in 2021, the Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday.

The gathering also resulted in a promotion for Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, who now holds the position of general affairs director within the party’s central committee. This new role expands her responsibilities to include overseeing internal party operations and administrative functions, building on her recent work as a key spokesperson addressing Washington and Seoul.

State media photographs captured Kim Yo Jong and other senior officials testing the rifles distributed by Kim Jong Un at the shooting facility. His young daughter, dressed in a brown leather jacket matching her father’s style, was also photographed using one of the weapons as smoke emerged from its barrel.

The girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and approximately 13 years old, first appeared publicly during a long-range missile demonstration in November 2022. Since then, she has joined her father at an expanding array of events, including military displays, factory visits, and a September trip to Beijing where Kim Jong Un met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for their first face-to-face meeting in six years.

The political congress wrapped up Wednesday in Pyongyang after seven days of meetings. These gatherings represent North Korea’s most important political occasions, occurring every five years since 2016, and serve as elaborate productions celebrating Kim’s authority before thousands of party delegates.

During this year’s sessions, Kim reinforced his commitment to expanding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, which currently includes multiple systems capable of threatening the United States and its Asian partners. He also maintained his confrontational position toward South Korea.

However, Kim indicated openness to potential talks with the U.S., repeating Pyongyang’s previous position that Washington must drop its demands for North Korean nuclear disarmament before meaningful negotiations can resume.

South Korean intelligence officials and analysts carefully examined the congress for indications that Kim might be preparing to continue the family’s dynastic control into a fourth generation by establishing his daughter as his heir. This month, South Korea’s intelligence service concluded that Kim Jong Un appears close to officially naming her as his successor.

While the girl didn’t participate in party meetings during the congress, she appeared alongside her father at Wednesday night’s military parade that marked the event’s conclusion. Despite expectations that she might receive an official party position during the congress, no such announcement occurred, and party regulations require members to be at least 18 years old.

Some analysts suggest that if Kim Jong Un intended to use the congress to strengthen his daughter’s succession prospects, the indicators would likely be indirect, such as celebratory declarations about North Korea’s resilience and attributing that strength to successful leadership transitions within the socialist system.

In a Thursday assessment of the congress, North Korean state media declared that the meetings “laid a solid foundation for the sacred effort to ensure and realize the glorious succession and development of our party.”

Israeli lawmakers gathered Wednesday to honor America’s approaching 250th anniversary, but their celebration carried an urgent warning: the decades-old partnership between the two nations cannot be taken for granted.

The conference, hosted by the Knesset’s Israel-US caucus, featured repeated declarations that while the alliance remains robust and active, it faces unprecedented challenges that demand constant attention and effort.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the event to The Media Line as “a wonderful opportunity to once again celebrate the partnership between the US and Israel.” With America’s milestone anniversary approaching, he called it “quite appropriate” to acknowledge Israel as “our most trusted and cherished partner in the world.”

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, a senior Likud party member, established the conference’s tone early in his remarks. “Today, Israel, the Jewish people, and the entire free world, face the twin threats of terrorism and antisemitism,” he declared. “Those who chant ‘death to America’ also chant ‘death to Israel’.”

Ohana highlighted what he characterized as extraordinary cooperation between Jerusalem and Washington, noting that “President Trump has met with Prime Minister Netanyahu seven times in 13 months, unprecedented by any measure.” He praised Ambassador Huckabee for defending Israel publicly “with the courage and composure of Daniel in the lion’s den.”

While the anniversary celebration provided the official purpose for the gathering, speakers delivered a more strategic message about emerging threats to the relationship – not diplomatic or military divisions, but subtler, longer-lasting challenges.

Ambassador Huckabee emphasized the mutual benefits of the partnership, explaining that the annual $3.8 billion aid package represents just “0.005% of the US budget.” He stressed it’s “not a one-way street. It is a two-way street,” noting that ammunition used by Israeli forces is manufactured “just outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, where I live,” and Israeli missile defense components are also produced in his home state.

However, Huckabee moved beyond economic arguments, saying “Let’s not put it in economic terms. Let’s put it in something more important, something even deeper.” He argued that the countries share a “Judeo-Christian foundation.”

Likud lawmaker Ohad Tal reinforced the investment argument, stating bluntly, “The $3.8 billion that the US gives to Israel every year isn’t aid. It is America’s smartest and highest return investment.” Quoting former Secretary of State Alexander Haig, Tal called Israel “the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk” and “America’s most cost-effective aircraft carrier that does not need to be moved.”

Yet Tal warned that support for Israel faces pressure across the political spectrum. The alliance, he said, is “constantly challenged in college campuses, in the streets of Western capitals, in the media, in think tanks, in civil society organizations, and even in parts of Washington.” He specifically named American right-wing figures, saying “Candace Owens, Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and others have joined the radical left and Islamists in their hatred for Jews.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, also from Likud, emphasized the partnership’s ideological foundation. “This is not charity. This is partnership,” she said, adding that “Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than President Donald J. Trump.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised Trump’s regional impact following the Gaza conflict. President Trump, Sa’ar said, “has proven time and again that he deserves the title, the leader of the free world,” claiming his leadership “made our region and the world a safer place.”

Sa’ar credited the Trump-supported 20-point plan with ending the war, stating it “helped bring about the release of all our hostages.” He said “at the heart of this plan are the disarmament of Hamas and Islamic Jihad” along with Gaza’s demilitarization and Palestinian society’s deradicalization.

Despite the praise for current cooperation, concerns about the future emerged throughout the event. Yesh Atid party member Michal Shir told The Media Line that while “the very strong relationship and friendship … is crucial for the future of both nations,” she cautioned that “the world is changing” with “tectonic plates shifting since we haven’t seen since World War II.”

She warned that younger generations are “being influenced by social media” and that rising antisemitism is changing public opinion. “We see the numbers. These are not good numbers,” she said. In her conference remarks, she described antisemitism as “a test of Western civilization itself,” adding that “the fight against antisemitism is not Israel’s fight alone.”

Carole Nuriel from the Anti-Defamation League provided troubling statistics to support these concerns. “For the Jews in the diaspora, and certainly in the US, there is no ceasefire,” she said. “We are talking about 10,000 [antisemitic] events a year in the US.”

She reported that Americans holding antisemitic views have increased from “11-12%” historically to “24%” currently. “One out of four Americans,” she said, maintains “significant antisemitic attitudes.”

Rotem Oreg-Kalisky, founder of Israeli NGO Librael, shared polling data highlighting the challenge. He said “53% of Americans hold a negative opinion on Israel,” while among Americans under 30, “Only 24% hold a positive opinion on Israel.”

He observed that arguments about technology innovation or military cooperation fail to connect with audiences focused on human rights, because those who cannot support Israel based on values like “justice, peace, equality, and human rights” are not interested in Israel’s technology sector.

While calling President Trump “a true friend of the State of Israel,” Oreg-Kalisky added, “The bad news, he will not be president for a long time,” urging preparation “for every scenario.”

Yasmin Lukatz, executive director of the Israel Collaboration Network, described a fundamental shift in how the alliance is discussed. “The discussion used to be how to strengthen the connection between Israel and the United States,” she said. “It turned into the question: Why do we even need the connection?” She maintained the relationship remains “win-win” based on shared values and mutual interests, but acknowledged the debate has reached schools, campuses, and boardrooms.

Former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Herzog cautioned against confusing current strength with permanent security. “For the American Jewish community, added to the traumatic date of October 7th, is October 8th,” he said, describing “an unprecedented wave of antisemitism.” He warned that “we should never take our relations for granted” and called for “a long-term strategy” and continued bipartisan investment.

The most personal testimony came from Orna and Ronen Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli soldier killed on October 7 whose body was kidnapped and later returned for burial. They described raising their son with “Jewish-Zionist education” and “a close and ongoing connection to the State of Israel,” saying he “chose to come to Israel, to enlist in the IDF, and to become a combat officer out of a sense of responsibility.”

Because Omer held American citizenship, they acted quickly in Washington, with a letter about his case reaching the White House on October 8, 2023. “Within a few days, we understood that the struggle for the release of the hostages does not take place only in Israel,” they said. “It takes place also in the United States, and mainly in Washington.”

They described initial “listening, openness and identification” across party lines, but noted that “as the war continued, we saw cracks, mainly among the younger generation. Less connection, less identification, less sense of partnership.”

Other lawmakers invoked history and tradition to emphasize continuity. National Religious Party member Simcha Rothman referenced early American precedent, distinguishing between tolerance and belonging while insisting the bond should remain “forever strong.” Yesh Atid’s Moshe Tur-Paz, the caucus co-chair, used Purim imagery to stress unity against current threats. “We say to Haman, we say to Iran, we are not scattered,” he declared. “We are together.”

Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely described “a war of values,” adding “identity” as a third pillar alongside the traditional diplomatic focus on security and prosperity.

Boaz Bismuth from Likud, who chairs the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, rejected narratives of isolation. “Israel is not alone,” he said. Still, he acknowledged regional uncertainty. “These are very, very challenging days,” he said, adding, “I am very anxious to know what tomorrow will bring.”

Israeli Druze politician Afif Abed of Likud addressed the conference in Hebrew, highlighting what he called the historic bond between the Druze community and Israel. He referenced the longstanding “blood covenant” between Druze citizens and the Jewish state, discussing Druze villages under attack in the north and thanking Israel for supporting the community during crises.

Abed connected the US-Israel alliance’s strength to regional stability, arguing that close Washington ties strengthen Israeli security and, consequently, the security of minority communities whose futures are linked to the state.

The anniversary provided the framework for the gathering, but the real discussion centered on deeper concerns. While Huckabee spoke of trust and partnership, others presented polling data, antisemitic incidents, and generational changes. The relationship appears solid at the government level, but whether that strength extends throughout American society remained an unresolved question hanging over the proceedings.

A military cargo aircraft transporting freshly printed currency went down Friday near La Paz, Bolivia, striking a highway and causing at least 15 fatalities while injuring others, according to officials.

The Hercules C-130 aircraft was carrying newly minted Bolivian banknotes when it “landed and veered off the runway” at El Alto airport, which sits next to Bolivia’s capital city, before crashing into an adjacent field, Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas reported. Emergency crews successfully extinguished the fire that consumed the aircraft.

Fire department chief Pavel Tovar confirmed the death toll of at least 15 individuals, though he did not specify whether the victims were aboard the aircraft or in vehicles on the roadway.

Salinas declined to provide specific casualty numbers and stated that investigators are looking into what caused the accident.

According to Bolivian Air Force Gen. Sergio Lora, search teams had not located two of the aircraft’s six crew members by Friday evening. He noted the plane had been traveling from Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia after collecting its monetary cargo there.

Social media footage revealed aircraft wreckage, demolished automobiles, and victims along the roadway. Tovar reported that no fewer than 15 vehicles sustained damage in the incident.

The military aircraft had been transporting paper money from La Paz, and online videos showed civilians scrambling to gather the scattered currency at the crash location while riot police worked to clear the area.

Central Bank President David Espinoza confirmed the banknotes had been brought to Santa Cruz from overseas but declined to reveal the monetary value of the cargo being moved.

Airport officials halted all incoming and outgoing flights temporarily following the incident.

BUENOS AIRES – In a major legislative victory for Argentina’s libertarian President Javier Milei, the nation’s Senate has given final approval to comprehensive labor reforms on Friday, clearing the way for the controversial measures to become law.

The Senate voted 42 in favor, 28 opposed, with two lawmakers abstaining on the sweeping changes that Milei’s government says will attract investment and boost formal employment opportunities. However, labor organizations argue the reforms strip away crucial worker safeguards, including strike protections.

Political observers view the bill’s passage as evidence that Milei possesses sufficient legislative support to push forward his broader free-market economic agenda. The reforms are also anticipated to strengthen investor confidence in the president’s business-friendly policies.

Since assuming office, Milei has achieved notable economic progress, stabilizing currency exchange rates and dramatically reducing inflation from double-digit monthly increases to 2.9% in January – earning praise from the International Monetary Fund.

Among the most disputed elements of the new law is the creation of a company-funded severance account using money previously designated for the national retirement system. Critics in the opposition warn this provision could simplify the firing process for employers while potentially draining pension fund resources.

Additional changes include loosened employment regulations, modifications to vacation policies, expansion of the standard work shift from eight to twelve hours, and authorization for companies to pay wages in international currencies.

Labor unions, who have organized demonstrations and a countrywide work stoppage in protest, particularly oppose new restrictions on striking that mandate essential services continue basic operations during labor disputes.

This labor overhaul represents just one component of Milei’s legislative agenda. Parliament is simultaneously considering modifications to laws governing Andean glacier protection – a proposal the administration claims will open mining opportunities but environmental advocates fiercely resist.

Chilean authorities have rejected a request to permit a Chinese hospital vessel to offer medical treatment to local citizens aboard the ship, according to officials in Santiago on Wednesday.

The vessel, known as the Silk Road Ark, reached the waters near Chile’s port city of Valparaiso on Wednesday as part of a multi-country tour spanning approximately twelve nations.

According to Chile’s Health Ministry, officials had been evaluating a proposal submitted through diplomatic channels at the close of 2025 requesting permission for the ship to provide onboard healthcare services to Chilean residents. However, authorities ultimately decided against granting the necessary permits.

“We determined that it is not appropriate to authorize this health operation to function on the ship’s facilities,” the health ministry stated, citing domestic health regulations that limit such medical services to healthcare professionals who have received proper accreditation within Chile.

Chinese embassy representatives in Chile have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the decision.

The rejection occurs as Chile finds itself managing increasing diplomatic tensions with the United States regarding its relationship with China.

Washington has announced plans to implement visa restrictions targeting three Chilean government officials, claiming they have compromised essential telecommunications infrastructure and weakened regional security measures.

Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren explained that a proposal from two Chinese corporations to construct an underwater cable system connecting Chile with Hong Kong has raised concerns in Washington, with U.S. officials viewing the project as a potential security risk.

Chilean government representatives have emphasized that the cable project remains in preliminary phases and has not received final approval.

CONAKRY, Guinea — Sixteen military personnel and police officers from Sierra Leone have been freed by Guinea following their detention earlier this week amid tensions along the disputed border between the two West African nations, according to Sierra Leonean officials.

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Information announced on Facebook that “All security officers arrested by the Guinean authorities have been safely handed over to Sierra Leone.”

The personnel were released after Foreign Minister Alhaji Timothy Kabba led a diplomatic mission to Conakry, Guinea’s capital, the ministry reported.

According to Sierra Leone’s government, multiple security personnel, including a commanding officer, were detained and taken across the border by Guinea’s armed forces on Tuesday.

Guinea’s military defended the arrests in their own statement, claiming the Sierra Leonean team had crossed into Guinea without proper authorization and “set up a tent and raised their national flag” approximately one mile inside Guinea’s territorial boundaries.

The two neighboring nations have maintained an ongoing territorial disagreement for over twenty years, dating back to Sierra Leone’s brutal civil conflict from 1991 to 2002. During that war, Sierra Leone requested Guinea’s military assistance to protect its eastern frontier, but Guinea’s forces never completely departed after the conflict ended.

Monday’s confrontation took place in Kalieyereh, located in Sierra Leone’s Falaba District, where Sierra Leone says its military and police personnel were “making bricks for the construction of a border post and accommodation facility.”

This marks another chapter in the continuing border tensions, following last year’s incident when Guinea’s military moved into a mineral-rich border community in Sierra Leone, raising alarm throughout the region.

MIAMI (AP) — A hijacked vessel carrying 10 individuals and armed with weapons left the Florida Keys bound for Cuba, but deadly violence broke out before the boat could reach its destination. Cuban authorities claim the passengers were terrorists attempting to enter their nation illegally.

The deadly incident occurred Wednesday as U.S.-Cuba relations remain strained. With the Trump administration taking a harder line against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, focus has returned to Cuba as America’s longtime ideological opponent in the region. This has renewed scrutiny of Florida’s Cuban exile community, particularly radical factions that have historically pursued violent means to topple the island’s communist regime.

Military-style operations, attention-grabbing demonstrations and legally questionable protests have occurred for generations across the Florida straits. These activities typically involve hardline exiles, including some who initially fought alongside Fidel Castro’s revolutionary forces in 1959 but later turned against him when he aligned Cuba with the Soviet Union.

However, such aggressive approaches have diminished since the Cold War ended, prompting many Miami residents to question whether Cuban intelligence services manufactured the armed assault story.

“Cuban Americans today are, whether on the left or on the right, really focused on trying to influence U.S. policy rather than thinking that somehow paramilitary action by small groups are gonna overthrow the Cuban government,” said William LeoGrande, an American University government professor who specializes in Cuba.

The gunfight resulted in four fatalities and numerous unanswered questions. Cuban officials characterized most boat occupants as dangerous criminals. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose political career developed within Miami’s Cuban exile community, quickly questioned Cuba’s version of events, promising American authorities would examine what he called a “highly unusual” maritime confrontation.

Anti-revolutionary organizations — including groups like Alpha 66 and Omega 7 — maintained small memberships but reached peak influence during the 1970s and 1980s. Their power diminished after the Reagan administration imprisoned their leadership for domestic terrorist activities, including a failed Castro assassination attempt during his 1979 United Nations visit and the murder of a Cuban diplomat in New York one year later.

Antonio Tang enlisted with Alpha 66 after escaping Cuba and seeking refuge in Canada in 1981.

He received military training and guerrilla warfare instruction with the volunteer organization at an Everglades facility named Rumbo Sur — Direction South. Most of their operations failed before beginning, he explained.

“We were kind of amateurs — and no match for the Cuban military and interior ministry,” said Tang. “They always knew in advance what we were doing. Many folks ended up in jail.”

Ernesto Díaz, deputy secretary general of Alpha 66, described the 10 men as martyrs.

“It is an act of compassion for a Cuban people who are suffering,” Diaz, 86, said. “It was a sacrifice that has demonstrated the nobility and sensitivity towards freedom in Cuba.”

Former Cuban intelligence officer Enrique Garcia said a well-funded Cuban intelligence department — called Q-2 — spent decades co-opting armed resistance groups. In some cases, Cuban agents would fund weapon purchases and drive unsuspecting exiles into plots.

Agents infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue, which lost four members in 1996 when Cuban fighter jets shot down their airplanes in the Florida straits.

“This strategy —seemingly still in place— sought to portray the Cuban exile community as extremist and link the U.S. government and agencies to such activities,” said Garcia, who defected to the U.S. in 1989. “The U.S. intelligence community is aware and must have documented in its archives that this was a permanent modus operandi of the Cuban intelligence service.”

Garcia said he can’t remember any covert act of the sort Cuba has denounced in at least three decades.

He also finds the timing of the attack suspicious. The Trump administration has asserted almost unprecedented pressure on Havana to open its economy and relinquish almost seven decades of single-party rule.

Marina Luz Padron, whose ex-husband, Hector Cruz Correa, was among those reported killed, appealed for privacy as the family mourns. She described her ex-husband as an excellent father to their 4-year-old child, who still hasn’t been told about his fate.

“If he went to Cuba it was because he wanted freedom for his country,” Padron told The Associated Press in a brief interview.

Other family members spoke to Spanish language influencers in Miami describing their loved ones as peaceful and far removed from what Cuban officials denounced as a “terrorist” incursion.

Ibrahim Bosch, president of the Republican Party of Cuba, another exile group, said that Michel Ortega Casanova, one of those killed, was the leader of his party in Tampa for a while until he requested to be replaced so he could spend more time to with his family.

“He was an excellent person, very hardworking, very dedicated to his family,” Bosch said. “He always had the hope of freedom for Cuba.”

But Florida resident Misael Ortega Casanova said his brother — an American citizen who has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years and still agonizes over the suffering that Cubans endure — was on an “obsessive and diabolical” quest for Cuba’s freedom.

“They became so obsessed that they didn’t think about the consequences nor their own lives,” Misael told The Associated Press.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned the detention of a young man from Western Australia who allegedly planned terrorist attacks, calling the situation deeply disturbing.

Law enforcement officials took a 20-year-old resident of Bindoon, located approximately 39 miles north of Perth, into custody on Friday. Authorities subsequently filed charges against him for plotting terrorist activities. According to police reports, the suspect had authored a written manifesto outlining his intentions to carry out mass casualty attacks against Islamic worship centers, the state’s police headquarters, and the parliamentary building.

Taking to social media platform X on Friday evening, Albanese expressed his dismay: “The arrest of a WA man over an alleged racially-motivated terrorist plot is deeply shocking.”

The Prime Minister continued his statement by saying: “Allegations the man was planning to target the Muslim community through attacks on mosques — as well as attacks on the WA police and parliament — are particularly distressing. He should face the full force of the law.”

This incident represents another entry in Australia’s recent string of terrorism-related cases, including a failed bombing attempt at a Perth demonstration on January 26, where protesters had gathered to oppose the nation’s official holiday.

Additionally, in December, two armed attackers targeted a Hanukkah gathering at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, resulting in 15 fatalities in what became Australia’s most devastating mass killing in almost three decades. Intelligence officials determined the attackers drew inspiration from the Islamic State extremist organization.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s interim police chief revealed Friday that law enforcement officials are developing strategies to conduct general elections safely this year, even as criminal gangs continue terrorizing the Caribbean nation.

André Jonas Vladimir Paraison, who took over as temporary head of the National Police in August, declined to share specifics but promised additional details would be released shortly.

“We have a plan for the election, but it’s still in the kitchen and has not finished cooking yet,” he said.

When pressed about whether Haiti would be prepared to conduct elections in 2024, Paraison avoided giving a direct answer.

Government officials have announced intentions to conduct general elections in late August, followed by runoff voting in early December. The Provisional Electoral Council stated Friday that political party and candidate registration will begin March 2 and continue through March 12.

The troubled nation hasn’t conducted general elections in more than ten years, with criminal violence escalating dramatically following President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination at his home in July 2021.

Paraison described Haiti’s current situation as having “exploded,” while emphasizing that law enforcement personnel are working to restore security and allow citizens to return to normal life.

Criminal organizations have forced a record 1.4 million residents from their homes in the nation of nearly 12 million people, with armed groups maintaining control over approximately 90% of Port-au-Prince and claiming large portions of the country’s central areas.

The widespread violence has shuttered thousands of businesses and forced hundreds of schools to close their doors.

United Nations data shows more than 5,900 people lost their lives last year, with over 2,700 others suffering injuries.

Paraison expressed hopes of increasing officer numbers to better safeguard Haitian citizens. He recently supervised the graduation of nearly 900 new cadets but acknowledged that additional personnel are necessary.

U.N. representatives have noted that Haiti in recent years maintained fewer than two officers per 1,000 residents, falling significantly short of international benchmarks.

Even with limited resources, Paraison has directed recent missions into gang-controlled areas, successfully reclaiming locations such as Carrefour-Aéroport, an important intersection.

Law enforcement agencies are also releasing more frequent updates about suspected gang members eliminated during these operations.

Paraison observed that criminal groups possess extensive weaponry and ammunition supplies. “Don’t forget, Haiti doesn’t make weapons. The weapons here come from somewhere else,” he said.

Security analysts have previously estimated that up to half a million small arms may be present in Haiti, while a 2023 U.N. investigation discovered that increasingly advanced weapons, including .50 caliber sniper rifles and belt-fed machine guns, are being smuggled into the country primarily from the United States, particularly Florida.

Haiti’s National Police are collaborating with a U.N.-supported mission headed by Kenyan officers that remains inadequately funded and staffed while battling criminal organizations. A specialized gang suppression unit is anticipated to take over the mission’s responsibilities in the coming months.

EL ALTO, Bolivia – A military transport aircraft belonging to Bolivia’s Air Force went down Friday evening on a crowded street in El Alto, located adjacent to the nation’s capital of La Paz, as reported by local television outlets.

The Hercules transport plane was carrying freshly printed currency destined for distribution throughout Bolivia’s interior regions, according to local news outlet Unitel, which referenced information from Bolivia’s Defense Ministry.

Video clips circulating on social platforms revealed pandemonium at the crash location, with crowds of people rushing to collect scattered banknotes from the pavement after the incident. Emergency responders at the site used water cannons to disperse the gathering crowds. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of these images.

Officials have yet to release information regarding casualties or deaths from the incident. Bolivia’s central banking authority was scheduled to hold a press briefing later Friday evening.

Following the crash, El Alto International Airport suspended operations temporarily, according to a statement from Bolivia’s national carrier, Boliviana de Aviacion. The airline clarified that the crashed aircraft was not part of their fleet.

Television footage from local news sources revealed extensive damage to the military aircraft, along with significant destruction to multiple cars parked along the street where the plane came down.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has directed non-essential embassy personnel to depart the country immediately, sending an urgent message Friday morning as the Trump administration evaluates possible military responses to rising tensions with Iran.

According to The New York Times, three embassy employees confirmed receiving Huckabee’s email at 10:24 a.m. local time Friday, directing staff planning to leave Israel to do so “today.” The ambassador cautioned that the directive “will likely result in high demand for airline seats today” and encouraged recipients to book any available outbound flight that would enable travel back to Washington. “The first priority will be getting expeditiously out of the country,” Huckabee stated in the message, the Times reported.

While attempting to calm concerns, Huckabee stressed the urgency of the situation, writing “there is no need to panic” but noting that staff members thinking about leaving should move swiftly. “For those desiring to leave, it’s important to make plans to depart sooner rather than later,” he stated.

The embassy communication arrives as US leadership evaluates various options for responding to heightened Iranian tensions, while maintaining diplomatic dialogue. ABC News reported Thursday that Admiral Brad Cooper, who leads US Central Command, is preparing to present President Donald Trump with briefing materials on potential American military strikes against Iran. The report cited sources close to the president and another person with knowledge of the discussions.

General Dan Cain, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also participated in the briefing preparations. ABC’s sources indicated that a coordinated US-Israeli military operation targeting Iran remains among the possibilities being actively reviewed by the administration.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts persist. MSNBC reported that Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, who has been acting as an intermediary in US-Iran discussions, is set to meet Friday in Washington with Vice President JD Vance and additional high-ranking US officials. These scheduled discussions underscore ongoing attempts to maintain negotiations that have achieved minimal advancement thus far.

The Dominican Republic announced Friday it has discovered massive rare earth mineral deposits that could transform the Caribbean nation into a major supplier of materials essential for high-technology manufacturing.

President Luis Abinader revealed during his annual congressional address that initial research shows the country possesses more than 150 million tons of rare earth elements in gross deposits. These 17 specialized metals are crucial components in semiconductor production, aerospace technology, and defense equipment manufacturing.

Abinader outlined an ambitious timeline to complete mineral deposit evaluations by the end of this year, with plans to certify the reserves in early 2025. This certification process represents a crucial milestone before any large-scale mining and processing operations can begin.

Officials have not yet determined what portion of the 150 million tons would be economically feasible to extract and process for commercial use.

The president connected the mineral development plans to his administration’s broader environmental and economic strategy, emphasizing what he called “responsible use of natural resources.” He stated this approach would enhance Dominican sovereignty, reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign resources, lower carbon emissions, and improve the country’s competitive position globally.

The mineral deposits are situated in Pedernales province along the Dominican border, and they have already attracted significant attention from the United States government.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the discovery in February of last year, emphasizing that global access to such resources will be critical for developing essential technologies throughout this century. Rubio made clear that the rare earth materials “belong to the Dominican Republic and its people,” while extending American partnership and support for their development.

Washington has thrown its support behind Pakistan following a dramatic escalation in cross-border violence that Pakistani officials are calling an ‘open war’ with Afghanistan’s Taliban government.

On Friday, the State Department issued a statement backing Pakistan’s defensive actions after days of intensifying military clashes between the two neighboring nations.

‘The United States supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against attacks from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group,’ a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The current crisis began when Pakistan conducted airstrikes against Taliban positions in major Afghan cities last weekend. Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership responded with cross-border attacks on Thursday, marking a significant escalation in longstanding tensions between the countries.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif characterized the violence as ‘open war’ as both nations reported substantial casualties from the fighting.

The conflict centers around Pakistan’s allegations that Afghanistan provides safe haven for Pakistani Taliban militants – claims that Afghanistan’s government firmly rejects. Afghan officials maintain that Pakistan is attempting to shift blame for its own internal security problems.

Despite Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and superior military technology compared to Afghanistan, the Taliban forces bring extensive guerrilla warfare experience gained through decades of combat against U.S.-led coalition forces before reclaiming power during America’s chaotic 2021 withdrawal.

Washington, which maintains Pakistan as a key non-NATO partner, expressed concern about the deteriorating situation. The State Department spokesperson acknowledged awareness of the ‘escalation in tensions and outbreak of fighting between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban,’ while noting the U.S. was ‘saddened by the loss of life.’

American officials also criticized the Taliban’s security record, stating ‘The Taliban have consistently failed to uphold their counterterrorism commitments,’ and adding that ‘terrorist groups use Afghanistan as a launching pad for their heinous attacks.’

The Taliban indicated Friday they remained open to diplomatic negotiations despite the ongoing military confrontation.