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Iran sends 3rd shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Iran Humanitarian Aid

“One shipment had already been sent to Gaza by air and another one via sea, and this is the third consignment of humanitarian aid all of which has been donated by Iranian people to the oppressed Palestinian nation,” said Pirhassan Koolivand, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

“This batch contains medicines, medical equipment, food and survival items such as tents and blankets,” he added.

So far, over 10,000 tonnes of different types of aid needed by people of Gaza have been dispatched via the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is holding talks to send more aid to Gaza.

More than 27,000 people have been killed and 80 percent of the residents of Gaza with the population of 2.3 million, have been displaced in Israel’s war on the enclave since early October last year.

US, UK hit dozens of “Houthi targets” in Yemen in new wave of attacks

US-led coalition Yemen

Washington and London have carried out a series of combined air- and sea-launched strikes against at least 36 targets at 13 locations across Yemen, the US Central Command announced on Saturday.

The joint operation was carried out by Tomahawk missiles launched from US Navy ships, and F/A-18 fighter-bombers launched from the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower. The US Central Command said the raid targeted “multiple underground storage facilities, command and control, missile systems, UAV storage and operations sites, radars, and helicopters”.

“These strikes are intended to degrade Houthi capabilities used to continue their reckless and unlawful attacks on US and UK ships as well as international commercial shipping,” CENTCOM added.

UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has also stated that strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen are about protection.

“The Houthis’ attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea are illegal and unacceptable and it is our duty to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation,” Shapps said in a statement after the United Kingdom and United States conducted the strikes against the group.

Shapps also added the strikes were “not an escalation”, noting that they have “already successfully targeted launchers and storage sites involved in Houthi attacks” on ships in the Red Sea.

Earlier on Saturday, the US struck six locations in Yemen, stating they contained Houthi cruise missiles set to be launched at ships in the Red Sea, US Central Command reported on X (formerly Twitter).

In response, the Houthis are set to “meet escalation with escalation”, according to a senior political official and spokesman Mohammed al-Bukhaiti.

“Our military operations against the Zionist entity will continue until the aggression against Gaza stops, no matter what sacrifices it costs us,” he wrote on X.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been attacking shipping in the region in solidarity with Palestinians since the breakout of the Israel-Hamas conflict in October last year. Initially targeting only Israeli-affiliated vessels, the Houthis later began attacking the US and UK-owned ships, after the coalition launched strikes against Yemen.

Hamas says Gaza ceasefire must entail full withdrawal of Israeli soldiers, end of blockade

Gaza War

“Since the beginning of the aggression, the movement has stated that it is open to discussing any initiatives or ideas that can stop the barbaric aggression on our people and restrain this criminal enemy that has murdered civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, and destroyed civilian infrastructure and human life in the Gaza Strip,” Osama Hamdan, the movement’s representative in Lebanon, said at a press conference in Beirut on Saturday.

Hamdan added that the movement has received the general framework proposal discussed at the Paris Quartet meeting, stating, “The [Hamas] leadership’s discussions and consultations on are based on the premise that negotiations would lead to a total end of the terrorist aggression against our people and a complete withdrawal of the occupation army from Gaza.”

He noted that Hamas also seeks lifting of the siege “that has been imposed on Gaza for 17 years, reconstruction of what the occupation has destroyed, a serious prisoner exchange deal, and practical international recognition of our people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of their fully independent state with al-Quds as its capital”.

“For 120 days, this Nazi occupation [regime] has not stopped committing the most heinous crimes and massacres against unarmed civilians, mostly children, women, the elderly, and displaced people who lack the most basic human necessities, in addition to the brutal destruction of [their] homes, properties, and infrastructure.”

“This Nazi war will remain a testament to the brutality of the occupation and a stain on the forehead of all those involved in it, and those who falter in criminalizing and stopping it,” the Hamas official continued.

He also slammed the global inaction in the face of Israel’s crimes in Gaza, saying, “The crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing are being committed in plain sight of the whole world, which stands by watching, [and] procrastinating, and [is] unable to stop the Zionist crimes that are supported by the US administration.”

Hamdan reiterated that the United States “is complicit in [Israel’s crimes in Gaza] and responsible for the continued aggression against more than two million Palestinians there”.

The Hamas representative also warned about false news and reports circulated “by hostile entities about the course of the ceasefire negotiations”, which he said were aimed at undermining and weakening “unity, steadfastness, and resilience” of the people of Gaza.

“The failed criminal [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his criminal extremist warlords continue their campaign of lies and deception. They have not been and will not be able to achieve any of their aggressive objectives as failure is surrounding them at all stages of their Nazi war against our people,” Hamdan added.

He asserted that at the end, Netanyahu and his criminal regime will “have no choice but to submit and comply with the terms of our people and our victorious resistance”.

Taiwan helping to arm Russia amid Ukraine war: Report

Russia Ukraine War
Emergency services work at an apartment building after a missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, on Monday, July 31.

Citing “trade records and Russian tax documents” obtained by the outlet, the Post pointed to entities in the Russian arms industry that have boosted transactions with Taiwan, with one firm, I Machine Technology, importing over $20 million in CNC machine tools produced on the island since January 2023. The machines were reportedly sent in 63 separate shipments.

“The Taiwan-made machines accounted for virtually all of the Russian company’s imports in the first seven months of last year, according to the records, and the company’s sales during that period were overwhelmingly to the Russian defense industry,” the paper added, although it did not specify how the CNC machines were to be used.

Former US arms control official Kevin Wolf told the WaPo that such transfers likely violated sanctions imposed by both Washington and Taipei in response to the conflict in Ukraine. However, an executive from I Machine Technology, Aleksey Bredikhin, argued that this was not the case.

Instead, Bredikhin said that any purchases after January were for spare parts only, and did not run afoul of Taiwan’s export controls, which were further tightened early this year.

“I’m not buying anything from them except for parts,” he added.

Nonetheless, the American official claimed that the CNC machines were “very important for making military items” and could be connected to “military-end uses,” including manufacturing drones.

Another executive from one of the Taiwanese producers, Yu Ming Je, questioned the authenticity of the files obtained by the Post, and also insisted that the sales were in line with local laws. Asked about ties to Russia’s arms industry, Yu stated he was not aware of any such connections with his company, adding “Distributors basically have many users”.

A close strategic ally of the US and a frequent buyer of American arms, Taiwan has largely fallen in line with the US sanctions policy toward Moscow, imposing several layers of penalties since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in early 2022.

In announcing its latest round of sanctions, which mirrored those already imposed by the US and European Union, Taiwan’s economy ministry vowed to “in principle” block all export license applications to Russian firms going forward. The ministry declined to comment on whether such equipment sales violated export rules, but announced the government planned to specifically bar sales to I Machine Technology in the future.

Several killed in Ukrainian attack on Russia bakery

According to the latest figures by the Russian Emergencies Ministry, at least 20 people were killed during the strike. Some ten others received wounds of varying severity, ending up hospitalized

The acting head of the LPR, Leonid Pasechnik, accused the Ukrainian military of deliberately targeting the building during the weekend to maximize potential damage on civilians.

“Several dozen more civilians may remain under rubble,” Pasechnik wrote on Telegram without providing an exact figure.

The local military commandant’s office told RIA Novosti the estimated figure of missing persons initially stood at 40.

The incident triggered a massive emergency services response, with multiple rescuers and heavy machinery deployed to the scene in order to dig through the rubble.

No official information on weaponry used by the Ukrainian military to strike the bakery was readily available. Some media reports, however, suggested the building was struck by a projectile launched from a US-supplied HIMARS missile system.

Israeli protesters demand early elections, release of hostages

Israel Protest

The protesters, gathered at Horev junction in the city of Haifa, were carrying banners with slogans such as “Elections Now” and “Save the Hostages”.

In the city of Rehovot, dozens of people protested in front of the Weizmann Institute of Science, chanting slogans against Netanyahu, according to the newspaper.

In the coastal town of Caesarea, protesters rallied in the rain before marching toward one of the private residences of Netanyahu. Some were seen calling for the prime minister’s removal, chanting, “Guilty, guilty, guilty!”

And in Tel Aviv, demonstrators gathered at Habima Square to call for immediate elections.

“The government of Israel declares in its actions that it is not competent and that the good of the state and its citizens are not at the top of its mind,” the protesters said in a statement.

“We will go out to demonstrate that our future depends only on us – we the people will determine our destiny!,” they added.

Israelis have been protesting almost daily, demanding early elections and the release of hostages in Gaza, but major demonstrations are held on Saturdays.

Israeli officials estimate that there are around 136 hostages still held in Gaza since Hamas launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Palestinian resistance factions, led by Hamas, captured around 250 people in towns and cities near Gaza and last November exchanged dozens of them with Israel during a seven-day humanitarian pause.

In return, Palestinian prisoner institutions reported that Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners from its jails during the pause, including 71 women prisoners and 169 children.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 that killed at least 27,200 Palestinians and injured 66,500 following a surprise attack by Hamas. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Ex-Pakistan’s PM, wife get 7-year jail for marriage law violation

Imran Khan

The civil court, set up inside the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi city where Khan is imprisoned, delivered the sentence on Saturday in the presence of the couple. It also slapped a fine of a million rupees ($3,560) on them.

The case against the couple was filed last year by Bibi’s former husband Khawar Maneka, who alleged that his divorced wife did not observe the necessary three-month break required under Islamic law before remarrying Khan.

Maneka claims he divorced his wife in November 2017. Khan announced his third marriage with Bibi in February 2018, months before he became the prime minister.

It is Khan’s third conviction this week – and a second for his wife – in advance of general elections on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Khan, along with his close aide Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for leaking a confidential cable – called cypher – sent by a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States.

Khan claimed the document contained evidence that the Pakistani military, in collusion with his political opponents and US officials, conspired to have him removed from power in April 2022. Washington and the Pakistani army have denied the charge.

A day later, Khan and Bibi were sentenced to a 14-year imprisonment and fined 1.5 billion rupees ($5.3m) in a case related to the illegal sale of gifts they received when Khan was the prime minister.

Bibi has been put under arrest at Khan’s Islamabad residence.

Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, an official belonging to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told Al Jazeera the haste with which the judgments against Khan were passed made a “mockery of the law”.

“The way these trials are being conducted leaves a huge question mark on the February 8 elections. This is a test case for Pakistan’s higher judiciary,” he added, calling the marriage case “fake” and questioning the judiciary for taking it up.

“In a way, it’s a victory for Imran Khan. It proves that every other charge on him is also false, hence such ridiculous cases and sentences are being slapped on him. It also shows that while other countries are concentrating on economic progress, this is the level that we are operating at here,” he continued.

PTI President Gohar Ali Khan said the marriage law trial was “shameful” and the verdict was “expected”. He stated the party will appeal the sentencing in a higher court.

The series of convictions against Khan have cast a long shadow on the February 8 elections, which Khan is barred from contesting. The vote is also being held amid a severe crackdown on the PTI, which has also been barred from using its election symbol, forcing its candidates to contest as independents.

Yet, most surveys continue to show Khan as the country’s most popular leader.

Iraq says US attacks killed at least 16, including civilians

Us Attack Syria Iraq

The attacks in the Akashat area and the town of Al-Qaim, close to the border with Syria, including sites “where our security forces are stationed, alongside nearby civilian places”, the government statement said, calling it “aggression against Iraq’s sovereignty”.

Local authorities in Anbar province said the air raids targeted sites used by militias known as Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashad al Shaabi, including a PMU military base in the Akashat and houses used as weapon warehouses in Al-Qaim.

According to the mayor Rutba, Emad Al-Dulaimi, most killed and wounded in the Akashat area are PMU fighters.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated the US informed the Iraqi government of its plans before carrying out the strikes. But the Iraqi government has denied that claim, stressing the United States is “misleading international public opinion”.

The US side “intentionally engaged in deception and distortion of facts, stating coordination with Iraqi authorities for the perpetration of this aggression—an unfounded claim crafted to mislead international public opinion and evade legal responsibility for this condemned act, in violation of international laws,” the statement read.

The government statement added such attacks “will push the security situation in Iraq and the region to the brink of the abyss, jeopardizing ongoing efforts to establish the necessary stability”.

Iraq has also summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires in Baghdad in the wake the air strikes.

“In protest against the American aggression that targeted Iraqi military and civilian locations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon Mr. David Bircher, the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Baghdad,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It continued that this is “due to the absence of the American Ambassador, to deliver an official protest note regarding the American aggression that targeted military and civilian locations in the areas of Akashat and Al-Qaim on the evening of last Friday, February 2, 2024”.

Iran FM to UN envoy: US attacks on Iraq, Syria result of “failed, wrong” policy

Iran FM and UN envoy

Hossein Amirabdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with the UN secretary general’s special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg in Tehran on Saturday.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in the region, with their focus being on the Yemen issue.

Amirabdollahian underlined that the military approach of the US government, especially the attacks of the US and Britain against Yemen and Washington’s move to put Yemen’s Ansarullah movement on its so-called terrorist list, has made the situation more complicated and also made it difficult to find a political solution to the issue.

He also condemned the recent US attacks against targets in Syria and Iraq, saying the aggression is the result of the country’s continued wrong and failed approach to solving problems by resorting to force and militarism.

Referring to Iran’s continued support for establishing lasting peace and security in Yemen, Amirabdollahian stressed that efforts to establish stability throughout the region will benefit all regional countries.

The UN secretary general’s special envoy for Yemen, in turn, appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s commitment to stability and security in the region, especially Yemen.

Grundberg presented a report on the efforts of the UN to restore peace in Yemen and reduce tensions in the country.

The UN chief’s special envoy for Yemen further underlined the necessity of resolving regional crises by using regional capacities.

AFC Asian Cup 2023: Iran eliminate Japan after late penalty by Jahanbakhsh

Iran Football Team

With the match tied at 1-1 and headed to extra time, Iran won a penalty in the fourth minute of added time and Jahanbakhsh stepped up to blast the ball into the top corner, drawing a loud roar from the Iranian fans in the arena.

When the final whistle blew, the Iran bench emptied onto the pitch and an emotional Jahanbakhsh dropped to the turf in relief while many players wept tears of joy.

Iran, who are seeking a record-tying fourth Asian Cup title, had not beaten Japan in 19 years while their victory also extended Amir Ghalenoei’s unbeaten streak to 16 matches since he took charge in March.

Iran will find out their semi-final opponents later on Saturday when defending champions Qatar take on Uzbekistan. Jordan play South Korea in the other semi-final.

After a cagey start to a physical contest, Japan had taken the lead through Hidemasa Morita who made a run past four defenders before beating Alireza Beiranvand in goal to silence the Iran fans in the stadium.

But the volume went up when Iran equalised 10 minutes into the second half with a sublime move where Sardar Azmoun played the ball through to Mohammad Mohebi, who ran around his marker before slipping his shot past Suzuki into the bottom corner.

Japan had dominated possession in the first half but it was Iran who controlled proceedings after the equaliser as they initiated wave after wave of attacks and the pressure finally paid off in second-half added time.

Japan’s Ko Itakura made a mess of a clearance in the 94th minute and as he tried to recover, he tripped Hossein Kanani in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot, with Jahanbakhsh converting to whip their fans into a frenzy.