CONFLICT

Russian Airstrikes Kill Civilian Family in Syria

Russian air strikes on the last major rebel stronghold in Syria killed five civilians from the same family, including three children, according to rescuers and a war monitor on Tuesday. "On December 25 at 10:00 pm (0700 GMT), Russian warplanes targeted civilian houses," on the outskirts of the town of Armanaz, in Idlib province, said Abdel Halim ...

Netanyahu Vows to Escalate Conflict

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Gaza Strip on Monday and vowed to step up the army's assault in the Palestinian territory, his party said. "I just came back from Gaza ... we're not stopping, we're continuing to fight, and we're intensifying the fighting in the coming days. It's going to be a long war that's not close to ...

Israel Contemplates Trading Hamas Leaders' Lives for Hostages

Israel is reportedly exploring an unconventional approach in dealing with Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Deif, by considering not killing them but rather granting immunity and relocating them to Qatar or another country. Such an agreement would only be entertained within the context of a broader solution, securing the release of all ...

Pope Calls for Ceasefire in Gaza in Christmas Message

Pope Francis on Monday deplored the desperate humanitarian situation of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and the freeing of hostages in his Christmas message. "My heart grieves for the victims of the abominable attack on 7 October, and I reiterate my urgent appeal for the liberation of those still being held hostage," ...

France Concludes Anti-Jihadist Operations in Sahel After Decade

The last French troops have withdrawn from Niger, concluding over a decade of anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel, amid strained relations and regional coups. The last French troops withdrew from Niger on Friday, marking an end to more than a decade of French anti-jihadist operations in West Africa's Sahel region, as reported by AFP and ...

UN Urges Israeli Probe Into Potential War Crimes

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is calling for Israel to open an investigation into “the possible commission of a war crime” by its armed forces in Gaza. The UN received “disturbing information” regarding the death of “11 unarmed Palestinian men” in the city of Gaza on Tuesday evening during an Israeli Army ...

US Announces 10-Nation Coalition to Combat Red Sea Attacks

The United States announced on Monday a 10-nation coalition to address Houthi missile and drone attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Countries joining the “multinational security initiative” include the United Kingdom, France, Bahrain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain. In reaction, Houthi rebels said Tuesday they ...

Security Council Struggling to Find Consensus on Gaza

The UN Security Council is struggling to speak with one voice ahead of a vote expected on Tuesday regarding a new resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. A vote may occur as soon as Tuesday morning if negotiations succeed in breaking an impasse 10 days after a US veto. On December 8, despite unprecedented pressure from UN Secretary-General ...

Israel Faces Increasing Criticism Over Gaza Operations

Israel faced mounting international pressure on Monday over the rising civilian death toll and the destruction of hospitals in Gaza as it pressed on with its war against Hamas militants in the besieged Palestinian territory. The United Nations Security Council was set to vote on Monday on a new resolution calling for an 'urgent and sustainable ...

HRW: Israel Using Starvation as a Weapon of War in Gaza

Human Rights Watch on Monday accused the Israeli government of intentionally starving civilians in Gaza as part of its offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory. “The Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in the occupied Gaza Strip, which is a war crime,” the group charged in a report. “Israeli ...

Colonna Calls for 'Immediate and Durable' Gaza Truce

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called for an “immediate and durable” truce in the Gaza war during her visit to Israel on Sunday, December 17, with her counterpart Eli Cohen, who acknowledged that France could play a positive role in preventing a war with Lebanon. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna pressed for an “immediate ...

WHO: Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza a 'Bloodbath'

The emergency department at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, severely affected by Israeli bombardments, has been labeled “a bloodbath” and is deemed “in need of resuscitation” the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday. A team from the WHO and other United Nations agencies managed to deliver medical supplies to the hospital on ...