Add source Login
Israeli army intensifies attacks on Gaza City

Israeli army intensifies attacks on Gaza City

The Israeli army intensified its air and ground attacks on Gaza City on Sunday, aiming to force residents to flee to the central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian sources, reported Xinhua. Local sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that the Abu Iskandar and Jabalia areas in the northern part of the Gaza Strip are witnessing a dangerous escalation, with Israeli forces carrying out air and artillery bombardment targeting homes and apartments. The sources and witnesses said that Israeli warplanes bombed several residential homes in the Jabalia al-Nazla area over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, tanks randomly fired machine guns in the areas they infiltrated. Some Palestinian families are trapped and unable to leave their homes due to the intense shelling, lack of transportation, and the absence of safe places to evacuate. The attacks have also led to the disruption of basic services such as drinking water, the sources and witnesses reported. "The Israeli army is tightening the noose around the city and its residents to force us to flee south," Ismail Labad, a 32-year-old father of two children and a resident of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, one of the city's largest neighborhoods, told Xinhua. Labad said that the Israeli army wants to reach the center of the city, which is "overcrowded and is being bombed by air, land, and sea around the clock, but we will not leave because there is no empty space in the south." The situation is not much different in the Zeitoun and Sabrah neighborhoods in the south of the city, which have been subjected to aerial and artillery bombardment for several days, with forces slowly advancing on their outskirts. Mervat Salem, a mother of three from the Sabra neighborhood, said, "The bombing of the neighborhood has not stopped, and every moment we witness the loss of our lives due to the intensity of the airstrikes." "The sound of the explosions makes the house shake as if an earthquake is hitting the area," Salem added. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on these incidents. Also on Sunday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said in a brief statement that children in Gaza are not going to school and are being forced, once again, to seek a safe place. "There is nowhere safe, not enough space, not even enough tents," it continued, noting that the intense Israeli military operation in Gaza City is "pushing thousands of people into the unknown." Since Israel resumed its intensified military campaign on March 18, at least 11,328 Palestinians have been killed and 48,215 injured, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza since the war began in October 2023 to 63,459, with a total of 160,256 people injured, according to an update by the health authorities in Gaza on Sunday.

AU congratulates Morocco on winning African Nations Championship

AU congratulates Morocco on winning African Nations Championship

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has congratulated Morocco on winning the African Nations Championship in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, hailing it as "a proud moment for Morocco and for African football," reported Xinhua. In a statement issued late Saturday, Youssouf praised the tournament for showcasing Africa's unity and talent, and applauded all participating teams for their passion and resilience. He also commended Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for hosting the tournament together, calling it a model of regional partnership. The chairperson paid tribute to Sudan for reaching the semi-final despite the country's challenges, describing the team's performance as "a beacon of hope." Reaffirming the AU's support, Youssouf said sport is an essential part of culture and diplomacy, and remains a powerful driver of peace, unity, and international cooperation. Morocco won the African Nations Championship after beating Madagascar 3-2 in the final in Nairobi on Saturday.

Nigerian troops kill 12 suspected terrorists in 2-day raids

Nigerian troops kill 12 suspected terrorists in 2-day raids

At least 12 suspected terrorists were killed over the weekend by Nigerian troops in raids targeted at hideouts in the country's northeastern states of Borno and Yobe, local media reported Sunday. The military raids hit some identified enclaves of the Islamic State West Africa Province terror group in Borno and Yobe, between Friday and Saturday, the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported, citing an official source at the army headquarters. The operations followed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance from the Nigerian Air Force, as ground troops swooped on the suspected terrorists in their locations, engaging them in a "heavy gun battle," NAN reported, quoting the source. "This operation reflects renewed vigor in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts," said the source, adding that arms and ammunition were also recovered from the suspected terrorists.

Yemenis voice loss, fear as floods deepen humanitarian crisis

Yemenis voice loss, fear as floods deepen humanitarian crisis

As torrential rains since early August have continuously submerged homes and displacement camps across Yemeni provinces, affected residents are voicing despair over compounded losses in a country struggling with one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, reported Xinhua. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Wednesday that heavy rains and floods have affected tens of thousands in Yemen since April, with over 100 killed or injured. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Thursday that more than 46,500 people have been affected across 73 displacement sites in the country since early August. Provinces including Ibb, Sanaa, Marib, Hodeidah, and Taiz were particularly hard hit, with extensive damage to homes, farmland and infrastructure. According to government figures released in recent hours, flooding in Marib killed three people and injured two others after waters swept through local displacement camps. Nearly 2,944 families in these camps suffered damage during August, with 464 families losing almost all possessions, showed the figures. Last week, the entire villages in Hays district, Hodeidah were washed away, leaving more than 1,200 families without shelter, local authorities said, adding that on Tuesday alone, the rains and floods killed dozens of livestock, severely damaged critical infrastructure, and hampered rescue operations in Hodeidah. "We lost everything in a matter of hours," Ahmed Yamani, a resident of Hays district, told Xinhua. "The water came so fast. We barely escaped with our lives. Our house, our livestock, everything we worked for is gone," Yamani said. "The floods came without warning," Fatima Hadhrami, a displaced mother of four in Marib, highlighted the precarious conditions in camps for internally-displaced persons. "We are living in tents that offer no protection. Our children were terrified when the rains started," she said. "We thought we had found safety here, but now the floods have reached us too," said Nasser Kahalf, another displaced man in Marib. "Where can we go now? We have been moving from place to place for years." "The well water we used to drink is now dirty and unsafe," said Mohammad Salehi, a farmer from the southern province of Lahj. With health facilities strained and sanitation systems collapsed, the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases is rising. As further heavy rains are forecast, humanitarian agencies are racing to deliver aid while local authorities pledge to facilitate its distribution. Meanwhile, officials from Yemen and international organizations are calling for urgent global intervention and assistance. Last week, the Yemeni Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation urged global support for emergency shelters, food, and hygiene supplies, whereas governors of Aden and Hodeidah have appealed to the Yemeni government and international humanitarian partners for urgent intervention to rescue affected families. "The floods in Yemen are another devastating blow for families who have already lost so much," Abdusattor Esoev, IOM's chief of mission in Yemen, said Thursday in a statement. "People are once again left without homes, belongings, and a sense of safety. They need protection, they need assistance, and above all, they need the international community to stand with them," Esoev said.