Tag: conflict

US says Putin seeking to ‘take advantage’ of Israel-Hamas war

By W.G. DUNLOP and Shaun TANDON WASHINGTON, Oct 31, 2023 (AFP) – The United States accused Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday of trying to use the Israel-Hamas war to reduce Western support for Ukraine, which it said requires continued backing from Washington to prevent Russian success. Hamas militants carried out a shock cross-border attack from Gaza this month that Israeli officials say killed more than 1,400 people, prompting Washington to rush military aid to Israel […]

First US citizens leave Gaza as Biden promises effort

By Shaun TANDON WASHINGTON, Nov 1, 2023 (AFP) – President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the first US citizens were able to leave the war-hit Gaza Strip after weeks of diplomacy and mounting frustration by hundreds of US citizens trapped in the conflict. Since Israel launched retaliatory strikes following a bloody assault by Hamas, the impoverished Gaza Strip has seen limited food, water and medicine, leading Palestinian-Americans to file lawsuits alleging double-standards on efforts to […]

N. Korea sends Russia artillery rounds for satellite advice: Seoul

SEOUL, Nov 1, 2023 (AFP) – North Korea has provided Russia with over one million artillery rounds to use in its war with Ukraine with Pyongyang appearing to receive advice on satellite technology in return, a South Korean lawmaker said Wednesday, citing Seoul’s spy agency. Russia and North Korea, who are historic allies, are both under a raft of global sanctions — Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, and Pyongyang for its testing of nuclear […]

FBI director warns of heightened threats in US from Israel-Hamas war

By Chris Lefkow WASHINGTON, Oct 31, 2023 (AFP) – The Israel-Hamas war has heightened the threat of attacks in the United States, raising particular concerns for the Jewish and Muslim communities, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Tuesday. “We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since (the Islamic State group) launched its so-called caliphate several years ago,” Wray told the Senate […]

US arrests three Russians for shipping weapons components to Russia in violation of sanctions

NEW YORK, Oct 31, 2023 (AFP) – Three Russians were arrested Tuesday in New York for evading US sanctions to ship electronic components for weapons used by Moscow in its war in Ukraine, authorities said. Nikolay Golstev, 37, and his wife, Kristina Puzyreva, 32 — both Russian-Canadian — were arrested along with their alleged partner Salimdzhon Nariddinov, 52, who has Russian-Tajik citizenship. The trio are accused of evading sanctions to dispatch, over the course of […]

Russian president Vladimir Putin blames Ukraine, West for Dagestan airport riot

MAKHACHKALA, Russia, Oct 30, 2023 (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday accused Ukraine and the West of instigating anti-Israel rioting at Dagestan’s Makhachkala airport the previous day, an accusation that Washington has called absurd. Security forces have detained over 80 people since the incident, which saw rioters in the Muslim-majority region take over the runway on Sunday evening in an attempt to encircle a plane that had flown in from Israel. “The events […]

Hamas video shows women abducted in Israel attacks

GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Oct 30, 2023 (AFP) – Hamas released Monday a video showing three of the more than 230 people Israel says were seized by Palestinian militants in massive October 7 raids which triggered all-out war in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the anguished images of the three women as “cruel psychological propaganda” and vowed to “do everything to bring home all the kidnapped and missing people”. In a statement, Netanyahu […]

Thai FM travels to Qatar, Egypt for Hamas hostage talks

BANGKOK, Oct 31, 2023 (AFP) – Thailand’s foreign minister begins an urgent visit to Qatar and Egypt on Tuesday for talks on the fate of 22 Thais taken hostage by Hamas in its attack on Israel. Israeli authorities say more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed in an attack launched by the Palestinian militant group on October 7 from the Gaza Strip. In response, the Israeli military has pounded Gaza, where the Hamas-controlled health […]

Israel demolishes West Bank home of Hamas deputy leader

ARURA, Palestinian Territories, Oct 31, 2023 (AFP) – The Israeli army demolished the West Bank home of exiled Hamas number two Saleh al-Aruri with explosives on Tuesday as war raged with the Islamist group in Gaza. The Israeli military said forces entered the village of Arura, near Ramallah, and shot at people who were “hurling” rocks towards them during the demolition. Aruri is accused by Israel of masterminding numerous attacks. He was elected deputy to […]

US says Israel must protect Gaza civilians as calls for aid grow

By Michael Mathes Israel must protect innocent Gaza residents by distinguishing between Hamas militants and civilians, the White House warned Sunday, as world leaders stepped up calls for desperately needed humanitarian aid to reach the war-torn Palestinian territory. Israel has intensified its air and ground operations against Hamas in Gaza following a bloody attack by the Palestinian militant group more than three weeks ago that Israeli authorities say killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians. […]

Netanyahu sorry for deleted security chiefs post on Hamas failures

JERUSALEM, Oct 29, 2023 (AFP) – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly apologised Sunday for accusing security and intelligence officials of failing to see signs of the devastating Hamas attack that set off the Gaza war. Netanyahu, who has faced strong opposition criticism over security lapses before the October 7 Hamas attack, had made his accusations in an overnight posting on X, formerly Twitter, which he later deleted, replacing it with an apology. “Never, under […]

Israel pounds Gaza after night raids targeting Hamas tunnels

By Adel Zaaanoun with David Stout in Ashkelon GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Oct 28, 2023 (AFP) – Israel pounded the Hamas-run Gaza Strip with air and artillery strikes on Saturday after an intense night of attacks when it said 150 “underground targets” were hit. No official toll was immediately given, but a Gaza civil defence official told AFP a “large number” of dead was feared from one of the most intense nights of attacks in […]