Author: Steven Sahiounie

Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, following reports that Netanyahu plans to replace Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with Gideon Sa’ar, a close ally. Speaking to Israel Hayom, Gantz said, “Replacing the Defense Minister on the eve of a major northern campaign, which could escalate into a regional war, is a severe security oversight.” The leader of the “State Camp” party further accused Netanyahu of putting Israel’s security at risk during a critical time. “Instead of focusing on defeating Hamas, retrieving hostages, handling Hezbollah, and ensuring the safe return of northern residents, Netanyahu…

Zelensky’s Critique of China’s Export Controls Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has indirectly criticized China for its recent export restrictions on drones. In a social media post on Monday, Zelensky commented on the tighter controls Beijing has imposed, stating: “Some of the largest states exporting drone components are introducing export restrictions. We know what to do so that those restrictions are not critical to us.” Background on China’s Drone Restrictions Last year, China implemented a two-year ban on the export of civilian drones and related equipment, responding to allegations that both Ukraine and Russia were “weaponizing” Chinese products. The rules were…

On Tuesday, Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sweilam, stated that Cairo is closely monitoring what he described as “disruptions” by Ethiopia regarding the Nile River. In his comments to the media, Sweilam criticized Ethiopia’s actions as sometimes unjustifiable and unscientific, noting significant issues with the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). He pointed out that Addis Ababa continues to unilaterally fill the dam, while negotiations have proven to be mere time-consuming exercises and political cover. Sweilam questioned why Ethiopia is retaining billions of cubic meters of water without being ready to generate electricity,…

Israeli airstrikes targeted central and southern Gaza on Tuesday morning, resulting in the deaths of five Palestinians, including a child. Medical sources reported that four of the victims, including a young girl, were killed when several homes in the Bureij Refugee Camp were bombed. Many individuals remain trapped under the rubble. Additionally, one person died from an Israeli airstrike on a bicycle in the Qizan al-Rushwan area of Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Israeli artillery also struck the neighborhoods of Tel al-Hawa and Al-Sabra in southern Gaza City. According to medical sources affiliated with…

An Iraqi police source revealed details on Tuesday about a shocking incident in which a teenager shot and killed members of his family in Basra. According to Iraqi media, the accused teenager has preliminarily confessed to the security authorities that he deliberately killed three family members. The teenager explained during interrogation that he was motivated by a history of physical abuse and mistreatment by his father. He planned the crime as an act of revenge. The security forces recovered the weapon used in the crime, a Kalashnikov rifle belonging to the father, along with two hand grenades found at the…

The prospect of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ignited significant debate. This move comes amid the ongoing Gaza conflict and rising tensions in northern Israel. Underlying Issues Netanyahu reportedly threatened to fire Gallant for opposing an expansion of the war into Lebanon. However, the core issue appears to be Gallant’s resistance to passing a law that would exempt ultra-Orthodox (haredi) Jews from military service. The haredim have threatened to collapse Netanyahu’s government if this law isn’t passed. Gallant’s Position Gallant is not fundamentally against a war in Lebanon but wants to allow more time…

Storm Boris has caused devastating flooding in Central Europe, resulting in the deaths of 15 people and creating the worst flooding in two decades. The storm has led to dam breaches and widespread destruction across several countries. The storm hit Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary, forcing the evacuation of hundreds and isolating entire villages. Romania has reported at least 7 fatalities, Poland 4, Austria 2, and the Czech Republic 1, with authorities in the Czech Republic also reporting 7 people missing. So far, the flooding has led to the collapse of 12 dams. Several areas, particularly in…

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli military plans to present its strategy for securing the breached border with Jordan to top officials from the Finance and Defense Ministries in the coming days. The goal is to secure funding and approval for the necessary budget. The newspaper reports that since the beginning of the year, the Israeli military has observed a rise in Iranian efforts to arm militants in the West Bank with explosives and traditional improvised explosive devices through smuggling across the eastern border, which incurs very high costs. The proposed plan will involve three key phases: The report also…

Explosions and gunfire echoed across Bamako, Mali’s capital, early Tuesday morning, according to a France-Presse correspondent. An anonymous gendarmerie official reported that unidentified armed men attacked at least one gendarmerie camp in Bamako. The shooting, which varied in intensity, began around 5:00 AM and was interrupted by occasional explosions. Black smoke was seen rising near the airport later in the morning. Mali, a country plagued by poverty, has been grappling with activities from militant and separatist groups. Since 2012, the country has faced a severe, multi-dimensional crisis, with deadly attacks from groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as…

Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump have called for him to use private security rather than relying solely on the Secret Service, following his second assassination attempt in two months. According to a report by the Daily Mail, Trump’s supporters on social media have suggested employing military veterans or even members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang as an alternative form of protection. Among those who commented was Robert O’Neill, the former Navy SEAL known for killing Osama bin Laden. On X (formerly Twitter), O’Neill wrote, “Maybe we should get private security for President Trump… for God’s sake.” Many…