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Thousands flee Khan Younis as Israeli military surrounds southern Gaza city

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza War

Photos show displaced people sitting on the side of streets and in the vicinity of the seashore. Videos also show cars, trucks, and tractors transporting families and their essential belongings, and crowds of people walking.

The Israeli military has announced its ground forces have “encircled” the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip after 24 of its soldiers were killed in the enclave in its largest single-day toll in the three-month war.

“Over the past day, troops carried out an extensive operation during which they encircled Khan Younis and deepened the operation in the area,” the military said in a statement on Tuesday, calling the city a stronghold of the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

Palestinian officials said at least 25,490 people have been killed and 63,000 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health said Nasser Hospital and El Amal City Hospital in Khan Younis, among the few partially functioning hospitals in the territory, were under “extreme danger” from Israeli bombardment.

“The buildings of the Nasser Medical Complex are exposed to shrapnel, endangering the lives of patients, staff and displaced people,” the ministry wrote on its Telegram channel on Tuesday.

“The Israeli occupation places Nasser Medical Complex and El Amal Hospital in Khan Younis in extreme danger,” it added, calling for “urgent intervention” to safeguard both facilities.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society, which operates El Amal Hospital, on Tuesday said Israeli drones were targeting anyone moving around the facility.

It added its ambulances were unable to reach the injured and a civilian was killed by Israeli gunfire at the entrance of the hospital, noting “gunfire and repeated targeting of displaced individuals” in posts on X.

Leo Cans, the head of mission for Palestine with the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF), stated about 20 percent of healthcare workers were still working in Nasser Hospital with most having to flee for their own safety and that of their families.

“This is a strategy that has been used by the Israeli military to scare people, to terrorise the healthcare workers for them to leave without having to shut down the hospital,” Cans told Al Jazeera.

UAE recruited al-Qaeda militants to carry out assassinations in Yemen: Report

By
IFP Media Wire
-
UAE Yemen

In the report, which was detailed in a documentary released on Monday, a whistleblower told the BBC that former members of militant group al-Qaeda – which has long had a presence in south Yemen – were in fact hired to work with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in a security capacity.

The whistleblower provided the names of 11 former al-Qaeda members allegedly working with the STC.

The documentary shows leaked court documents that reveal that an al-Qaeda member said he was offered release from prison by UAE officers in exchange for carrying out assassinations.

Nasser al-Shiba, a former high-ranking al-Qaeda operative suspected of involvement in an attack on the US warship USS Cole, which killed 17 Americans in 2000, was also now working with one of the STC’s military units, sources told the BBC.

The report also includes testimonies from two employees of US security company Spear Operations Group, who said they were hired by the UAE to conduct targeted killings in Yemen.

Aidarus al-Zubaidi, the head of the STC, has denied the claims of al-Qaeda involvement in its military forces.

A probe by Buzzfeed previously revealed in 2018 that the UAE had hired the mercenaries to assassinate prominent members of al-Islah, the Yemeni branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.

That report included leaked drone footage of a failed attempt in December 2015 to kill al-Islah’s Anssaf Ali Mayo and everyone in his office.

In the BBC documentary, former US Navy Seal and Spear operative, Isaac Gilmore admitted that Mayo was among names on a “kill list”.

“Modern conflicts are unfortunately very opaque,” he stated, adding, “We see this in Yemen – one person’s civil leader and cleric, is another person’s terrorist leader.”

The deal between Spear and the UAE was struck in Abu Dhabi during a meeting that included Israeli-Hungarian founder of Spear Abraham Golan, as well as Mohammed Dahlan, an exiled former Palestinian politician, who has since become an adviser to Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed.

A photograph of Gilmore, Golan and Dahlan was published in Buzzfeed’s 2018 report.

While the UAE is among several countries to have labelled the Muslim Brotherhood and its affiliates in the region as terrorist organisations, the movement is not proscribed by the United States government.

The attempted assassination of Mayo began a spate of targeted killings in Yemen between 2015 and 2018, during which time human rights organisation Reprieve investigated 160 killings.

Reprieve found that only 23 of those killed had links to terror organisations.

“The UAE is willing to destroy the whole country and bring mercenaries from around the world to annihilate al-Islah,” Mohammed Abdulwadood, a member of the party in Taiz, told Middle East Eye in 2018.

“The UAE is cunning but God does not help the cunning to succeed.”

Huda al-Sarari, a lawyer who has investigated rights abuses by UAE-backed groups in Yemen, told the BBC that she had frequently received death threats for her work.

Sarari’s son was killed in 2019, in a shooting that Aden’s public prosecutor found was carried out by a member of the Emirati-backed counter-terrorism unit in southern Yemen. To date, no one has been prosecuted over the killing.

The UAE government has denied that it had targeted individuals not connected to terrorism, and announced its counter-terrorism activities were conducted at the invitation of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

Islah and the UAE had previously been working on the same side of Yemen’s war since 2015 against the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah.

However, the relationship soured considerably and in October 2017, clashes broke out in Aden between Islah’s and Emirati proxy militias.

Russia says Zelensky in difficult condition, no one giving Ukraine Money

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Volodymyr Zelensky

“Zelensky is in a very difficult position. He stopped receiving money, there are not enough shells for him abroad, he has restless situation inside the country, there are many dissatisfied people. He needs to camouflage his positions with something. And that is why he disguises it with such absurd decrees. It is unlikely that this can help the Kiev regime in any way, the difficulties will only increase. This is despite the fact that for sure there are still more or less bright minds who understand what needs to be done to get out of this situation,” Peskov said, commenting on Zelensky’s decree “On the territories of the Russian Federation historically inhabited by Ukrainians”.

Peskov added that Zelensky’s territorial claims to Russia are an attempt to hide problems that the Kiev ‘regime’ is currently facing.

“This is not stupidity. This is probably an attempt to somehow try to hide the problems that the Kiev regime is accumulating. Zelensky has really big problems. And it seems like he should have already understood what needs to be done to stop all this. But he doesn’t want to,” the spokesman told reporters, noting the Ukrainian president tries to maintain support of his people but fails.

More and more Ukrainians are having doubts about Kiev’s decision to “continue bloodshed”, the spokesman stated.

Earlier this week, Zelensky named a number of Russian regions, including Belgorod and Kursk, as territories “historically inhabited” by Ukrainians and instructed the government to draw a plan on how to preserve the national identity of Ukrainians who live in this area.

Moscow has repeatedly announced it is open to peace talks with Kiev, as long as the reality on the ground and its interests are taken into account. Moscow is willing to reach a solution “which would guarantee legitimate national interests of Russia and the Ukrainian people”, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told CBS in an interview published on Tuesday.

Ukraine has refused to sit down at the negotiating table with Russia, with Zelensky singing a decree ruling out any talks between him and Putin in autumn 2022. Instead, Kiev has tried to garner support for its own plan known as the “Zelensky peace formula”, which demands Russia withdraw its troops from all territories claimed by Ukraine before any talks begin. The list of demands also includes reparations from Russia and a tribunal for its leadership.

Moscow has dismissed such demands as “absurd” and repeatedly stated that any talks on the conflict resolution without Russia are pointless.

Peskov also stated that Zelensky could only dream of the levels of popular support Russian President Vladimir Putin has.

”He is trying to get back the overwhelming [popular] support – he really wants to be like, for example, President Putin, so that the entire nation will support him – but it isn’t working out that way,” Peskov told reporter Pavel Zarubin.

“More and more people in Ukraine are starting to think that maybe the Kiev regime is doing something wrong.”

Zelensky is also trying to go back to where he was nearly two years ago, when the West was sending him practically unlimited amounts of money and ammunition, but “that won’t happen” either, Peskov continued.

US carries out new round of airstrikes in Iraq

By
IFP Media Wire
-
US Warplanes

“US military forces conducted necessary and proportionate strikes on three facilities used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq,” the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, said in a statement.

“These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and Coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias,” Austin added.

On Saturday, four US personnel suffered traumatic brain injuries after Iraq’s Ain al-Asad airbase was hit by multiple ballistic missiles and rockets fired by militants from inside Iraq.

US troops in Iraq and Syria have been attacked about 150 times by armed groups since the Israel-Gaza war started in October, putting pressure on President Joe Biden to respond militarily, despite political sensitivities in Baghdad.

The attacks against the United States are seen as retaliation for its support of Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip which has so far killed more than 25,000, mainly children and women.

The US has 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq, advising and assisting local forces to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State, which in 2014 seized large parts of both countries before being defeated.

The war in Gaza has been spreading in recent months, with US forces hitting Houthi targets who have launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

On Monday, the US and the UK conducted a further round of strikes against the Houthis in an attempt to stop the rebel group targeting shipping in the southern Red Sea.

That raid marked the eighth time the US had conducted strikes on Houthi targets this months and the second time that the UK had participated.

The Houthis say they are targeting Israel and its western allies in support of Palestinians in Gaza in its targeting of the Red Sea – and there has been no sign that their attacks on shipping slowed after the first wave of attacks.

After Monday’s strikes, a Houthi army spokesperson warned the allied attacks would not go unpunished or unanswered.

Turkish MPs approve Sweden’s NATO membership bid

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Sweden Turkey NATO

Of the 346 members of parliament who voted, 287 were in favor of Sweden’s accession and 55 voted to reject it. Four others abstained from voting.

The vote was the second step of Turkey’s ratification process after the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission approved the bid last month. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can now sign the protocol into law.

The outcome on Tuesday cleared a significant hurdle for the Nordic country’s accession into the military alliance, with Hungary now set to be the only member state that has not yet ratified Sweden’s accession.

However, on Tuesday, Hungary’s Prime Minister Victor Orban stated he had invited his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson to visit Hungary to negotiate the terms of Sweden’s accession.

Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in May 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier that year. Finland joined NATO in April 2023, doubling the alliance’s border with Russia, but Sweden has faced numerous delays in its path to accession.

Erdogan initially objected to Sweden’s membership bid, accusing Swedish officials of being too lenient on militant groups, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Since applying, Sweden has tightened its anti-terror legislation and agreed to work more closely with Turkey on security concerns.

Erdogan’s approval of Sweden’s accession bid also rides on a commitment by the United States, with the Turkish president signaling that he won’t sign the protocol into law unless the US approves the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin said on Tuesday that Congress, however, is waiting to see the accession documents completed before moving forward on the matter.

Following Tuesday’s Turkish parliamentary vote, Kristersson stated Sweden was “one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO”.

The US Ambassador to Turkey Jeffry Flake reiterated the sentiment in a post on X, saying “Sweden’s accession to NATO is a critical step in strengthening the alliance” and that he “greatly appreciate the Turkish’s parliament’s decision to approve Sweden’s entry into NATO”.

The US-led bloc’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Tuesday during a press conference in Brussels NATO sees no threat from Russia toward any of its members. His comments come as several countries, including Germany and the Baltic states, have raised concerns of a potential future Russian attack.

Answering questions from journalists following the signing of major new investments in artillery ammunition productions, Stoltenberg stated, “We don’t see any direct or imminent threat against any NATO ally.”

At the same time, he stressed that the bloc nevertheless “closely monitors what Russia does” and has increased its “vigilance and presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” in order to prevent any attacks on allied nations.

Moscow has dismissed any claims that it intends to attack any NATO members as “complete nonsense”, with President Vladimir Putin arguing that Russia has “no geopolitical, economic … or military interest” in doing so.

Iran to face Syria at AFC Asian Cup knockout stage

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Mehdi Taremi

Team Melli had previously beated Palestine 4-1 and Hong Kong 1-0 in the group.

In the match held at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on Tuesday, Mehdi Taremi scored twice in each half.

The Porto striker opened the scoring for Iran in the 25th minute, moving behind the Emirati defense to take advantage of an intelligent Sardar Azmoun pass before coolly slotting home.

Iran’s star duo Azmoun and Taremi combined again to make it 2-0 in the 65th minute when the AS Roma forward cut inside and fed his teammate with a well-weighted pass and Taremi emphatically converted into the roof of the net to double Team Melli’s advantage.

The UAE could reduce the deficit in the 64th minute but Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved Yahya Al Ghassani’s penalty kick.

Al Ghassani pulled a goal back in the added time.

Iran will meet Syria on Jan. 31, while the UAE face Tajikistan three days earlier.

Palestine also reached the Asian Cup knockout rounds for the first time after beating Hong Kong 3-0 on Tuesday for their maiden win in the history of the competition.

Hamas official hails South Africa for calling Israel to account “Gaza crimes”

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Gaza War

Khaled Qodoumi said by so doing, South Africa forced the Zionist regime to be called to account its crimes.

Qodoumi was speaking on the occasion of the “Day of Gaza, Symbol of Palestine’s Resistance “.

He added that this is the first time Israel is standing in the dock over its atrocities.

South Africa filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice against the Israeli regime over its atrocities, which, it says, constitute war crimes and crime against humanity.

The Palestinian death toll from Israel’s invasion of Gaza has risen to 25,490, with 70 percent of them women and children, that’s according to the Gaza Health Ministry on Tuesday.

Official: Iran’s non-oil exports hit $36bn

By
Mahdi Arman
-
Iran Trade

That’s according to Ali Akbar Shamani, the exports director general of the Iranian customs organization.

The official said this figure includes $15bn worth of petrochemical products.

Iran’s non-oil exports have been on the rise over the past few years despite the Western sanctions on the country.

Iran’s Leader urges Muslim countries to cut off Israel’s vital arteries

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Ayatollah Khamenei

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with those in charge of a congress of 24,000 martyrs of Tehran Province.

The Leader criticized Muslim officials for making “wrong” statements about Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, saying they raise issues such as a ceasefire, which is beyond their control and lies in the hands of the evil Zionist enemy.

“The issue that is in the hands of the officials of the Muslim countries is to cut off the vital lifelines of the Zionist regime,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.

“The Muslim countries should severe their political and economic contact with the Zionist regime and not help this regime.”

The Leader asserted that the Palestinian nation will emerge victorious despite hardships and inappropriate conduct of the authorities of Muslim countries.

“The victory of the people of Gaza is definite and that it will happen in the not too distant future,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.

Iran’s Army receives giant fleet of indigenous drones

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Iran Drone

In a ceremony attended by Army Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi and Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the new combat, reconnaissance, suicide, interceptor and radar drones were delivered to Army units.

Manufactured by Iran’s Defense Ministry experts, the UAVs include multipurpose strategic Ababil-4 and Ababil-5 drones that can be employed in reconnaissance operations, patrol missions, electronic warfare, data gathering, and aerial combat.

The Army has also received new Arash drones that can carry out suicide operations in long ranges with pinpoint accuracy.

The fleet of Karrar jet drones will be also utilized in a broad range of air defense operations at high altitudes.

The new UAVs have been furnished with self-protection and anti-electronic warfare systems, homegrown multiple navigation instruments, precision strike smart weapons, and up-to-date features that integrate them into other network-based weapon and operation systems.

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