Iranian Forces Strike US Facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan

By Al Mayadeen English

Iran announces new strikes on US-linked facilities in Kuwait and Jordan as military exchanges intensify across the Gulf following renewed US attacks on Tehran.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it targeted a major US military logistics and support center in Kuwait as part of the fourth wave of Operation Nasr 2, while Iran’s Army said it launched a new wave of drone strikes against US positions in Jordan.

In a statement on Thursday, the IRGC said the KJL logistics and support center in Mina Abdullah, Kuwait, revealed as a key US military supply hub in West Asia, was "set on fire and destroyed" during the operation.

The force said the strike was carried out under the code "Ya Aba Abdillah al-Hussein" in response to continued US attacks on Iranian coastal positions and southern areas of the country.

The IRGC said retaliatory operations would continue, adding that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until what it described as US aggression ends.

Strikes hit US facilities in Bahrain

The IRGC reported additional retaliatory operations against US military infrastructure in the region, expanding its ongoing “Nasr 2” operation. In its 12th communique, the IRGC said its forces targeted facilities belonging to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain during the fifth wave of the operation.

The strikes hit the National Security Information (NSI) management center, command and control facilities, large storage sites for military parts and equipment, and fuel depots belonging to the US Fifth Fleet.

The IRGC said the operation was carried out in response to US efforts to impose control over the Strait of Hormuz and restrict regional energy flows.

“The export of oil and gas from the region is either for everyone or for no one,” the statement said, warning that further disruptions could follow if Washington continued its actions in the region.

Iranian Army announces new drone strikes on Jordan base

Separately, The Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Artesh) announced the eighth phase of Operation Saeqeh, saying a new wave of drone attacks targeted US military facilities at al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan.

According to the statement, Iranian drones struck locations housing F/A-18 fighter aircraft and large equipment hangars belonging to US forces at the base for the second time.

The Army said the operation was carried out in response to repeated US attacks and reaffirmed that Iran would continue defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The power of our defense is not to start any war, but to protect Iran’s independence and territorial integrity," the statement said.

Regional military exchanges intensify

The latest announcements come amid a widening confrontation between Iran and the United States following the collapse of the June ceasefire and the resumption of the US aggression on Iran.

Iranian forces have carried out multiple retaliatory operations targeting US-operated facilities across the region, including bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar.

Earlier footage showed an Iranian one-way attack drone striking a US military facility in Kuwait, while a photo released by Iranian state television showed a fire in northern Jordan following a reported ballistic missile strike on a US-linked position.

Regional reports also indicated explosions at US facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan as military exchanges expanded across the Gulf.

US strikes targeted civilian infrastructure

The escalation has also included accusations over the targeting of civilian and economic infrastructure.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran reported that the latest US strikes on Iran targeted a mineral water production facility in Ilam Province.

Iranian media reported that the facility near Musaian village was hit by three projectiles.

The reported strike came after US President Donald Trump threatened further attacks against Iran’s critical infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, if Tehran did not return to negotiations.

Under international humanitarian law, attacks targeting civilian infrastructure that is not directly contributing to military operations are prohibited and may constitute war crimes.

‘Airport for Airport, Siege for Siege’: Yemen Issues Warning

By Al Mayadeen English

14 Jul 2026 19:22

Yemeni officials say the operation on Abha Airport was a response to the targeting of Sanaa Airport, while UN efforts continue to push for de-escalation.

The Yemeni Armed Forces issued a warning on Tuesday to all airlines against flying through Saudi airspace, saying carriers must take the warning seriously until the siege on Sanaa International Airport is lifted.

The warning was issued through the forces’ Military Media channel, which said Sanaa had activated the equation of “airport for airport and siege for siege.”

Al Mayadeen dissects situation

In a related development, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Yemen reported that possible scenarios stemming from the siege on Yemen could include a situation in which “America will not achieve any outcome,” while stressing that developments on the ground were moving in favor of the Yemeni Armed Forces.

“The upper hand was with the Yemeni Armed Forces on all fronts that were opened against them across various Yemeni provinces,” our correspondent added.

He added that Yemen was calling for the blockade to be lifted and for laws to be implemented, while noting that one possible scenario involved the activation of internal elements within Yemen.

Yemen signals expanded response if blockade on airports continues

Elsewhere in his remarks, our correspondent noted that Yemeni leaders had confirmed that the targeting of Abha Airport was a response to the Saudi bombing of Sanaa Airport.

“Sanaa confirms that if war breaks out, Yemen will expand the scope of fire deep inside Saudi territory,” the correspondent said, adding that Yemen had decided to apply this model to all airports if Saudi Arabia entered the war.

Our correspondent also said that breaking the blockade was not limited to the siege of Sanaa Airport but included the broader land, sea, and air blockade.

UN seeks renewed dialogue after Saudi aggression

Meanwhile, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen said meetings had been held in Muscat with senior Omani officials and Ansar Allah’s chief negotiator, Mohammed Abdul Salam.

“My discussions with senior Omani officials and Ansar Allah’s chief negotiator focused on the need for immediate de-escalation,” Hans Grundberg said.

He added that the parties must engage in negotiations under United Nations auspices to address both short- and long-term priorities. 

The developments followed the Yemeni Armed Forces’ announcement that Saudi warplanes had targeted Sanaa International Airport on Monday, prompting a retaliatory operation against Abha International Airport using ballistic missiles and drones. YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the operation achieved its objectives and warned airlines against flying through Saudi airspace until the blockade on Sanaa Airport is lifted.

Yemen maps Saudi targets, reveals coordinates: ‘Response is coming’

Yemen has vowed to retaliate against Saudi Arabia over its aggression on Sanaa International Airport, earlier today, asserting that the strikes targeting the vital lifeline for Sanaa are an act of war that ends any pretense of a truce.

Yemeni Military Media identified major Saudi airports, ports, and oil facilities as potential targets after Riyadh attacked Sanaa International Airport, signaling that Yemen will not allow its sovereignty or civilian infrastructure to be violated without consequences.

Yemeni Military Media released footage, titled “The response is coming,” displaying several strategic airports, ports, and energy facilities across Saudi Arabia following the attack on Sanaa International Airport.

Facilities mapped

The footage marked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

It also identified Jazan Port, Jeddah Islamic Port, King Fahd Industrial Port, and the Ras Tanura refinery and oil-export complex.

The locations featured in the footage stretch from the Saudi capital and the Red Sea coast to the oil-producing Eastern Province, demonstrating the reach of Yemen’s missile and drone capabilities.

King Khalid International Airport serves Riyadh, while the airports in Jeddah and Dammam are among Saudi Arabia’s most important civilian and commercial aviation hubs.

Jazan and Jeddah ports are vital to Saudi trade and maritime activity, while King Fahd Industrial Port and Ras Tanura form a central part of the Kingdom’s petroleum and export infrastructure.

The footage did not state that every listed site would necessarily be targeted. However, it delivered an explicit warning that Riyadh cannot expect to attack Yemen while preserving complete security for its own economy and infrastructure.

Trump's 3 Failed Options for Reopening Strait of Hormuz: The Economist

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: The Economist

14 Jul 2026 22:22

The Economist examines why none of Washington's options of further attacks, escalation, or blockade can reopen the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran-US MoU unravels.

The memorandum of understanding that was meant to end the US war on Iran is unraveling, and Washington is left with the same three options it had before the deal existed, none of which reopens the Strait of Hormuz.

The Economist traces the collapse back to the MoU's fifth paragraph, which commits Iran to "make arrangements" for safe passage of commercial vessels.

Washington reads this as an obligation to clear mines, while Tehran reads it as a right to administer traffic through the Strait. Washington has already revoked the sanctions waiver that let Iran sell oil, and Trump has said he will resume the naval blockade.

Option one: Continued limited attacks

The first path available to Washington is simply to keep doing what it has already been doing, attacking Iranian military sites and equipment on a limited basis. The Economist argues that this option has effectively already failed.

More than 300 such attacks over five nights have not shifted Iranian behavior in any meaningful way, and there is little reason to expect a sixth night, or a sixtieth, to succeed where the first fifty did not.

Part of the problem is geographic, as even if the US were able to bomb every coastal launcher Iran possesses, the country could keep firing on shipping from positions further inland, since many of its missiles and drones have ranges well beyond 1,000 kilometers. 

Option two: Escalation

The second option is to escalate well beyond the current tit-for-tat, but The Economist notes that this path carries substantial risk without any assurance of a better outcome.

Attacking Iran's core infrastructure directly would likely draw retaliation against Gulf states caught in the crossfire and could expose Washington to accusations of a war crime.

Deploying ground troops, meanwhile, is regarded as politically untenable in Washington under current conditions, making it a non-starter regardless of its theoretical military logic.

Trump has repeatedly floated occupying Kharg Island, the site of Iran's main oil export terminal, but The Economist points out that this would do nothing to reopen Hormuz itself, since the island sits more than 600 kilometers from the strait.

Option three: Reimposing the blockade

The third option, reinstating the naval blockade, might look like the least disruptive choice, but The Economist argues it simply returns both sides to the standoff that existed before the MoU was signed, a staring contest over which side blinks first under economic pressure.

That earlier standoff is precisely what produced the interim deal now falling apart, which offers little confidence that repeating it would end differently.

There is also no guarantee Iran accepts a renewed blockade without retaliating against Gulf states this time around, and if it does escalate in response, Trump would be left choosing between all-out war and a retreat from his stated goals.

No outside help in sight

Britain and France have offered to help Oman clear mines from the strait, but Germany, Japan, Gulf states and China have all stayed on the sidelines, The Economist observes, leaving Washington with little meaningful outside support to draw on.

Tanker traffic through the strait has collapsed to its lowest level since May, and Brent crude has climbed roughly 20 percent since July 6, trading near $87 a barrel.

The Economist concludes that neither Washington nor Tehran has a military path to what it wants, claiming that the US cannot bomb the strait open, and Iran cannot profit while it stays shut, leaving the fragile MoU as the least bad option either side has left.

US Resumes Naval Blockade on Iranian Ports

By Al Mayadeen English

US forces resumed a naval blockade on Iranian ports as Iran said oil exports remain uninterrupted.

The United States resumed its naval blockade on vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas on Tuesday, expanding economic pressure campaign on Iran amid continued hostilities.

US forces announced that the blockade had officially resumed, with more than 20 US Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft deployed across the region for the operation.

"The American forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready," the US military said, describing the deployment as part of its ongoing campaign in the region.

Iran: Oil exports continue despite renewed US pressure

The renewed blockade comes as Iran said its crude oil exports remain unaffected despite Washington's decision to revoke a temporary sanctions waiver.

Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said Iran had continued exporting oil without interruption by relying on sanctions-resistant mechanisms developed over years of US economic restrictions.

According to Iran's Oil Ministry, Tehran deliberately maintained those export networks throughout the temporary sanctions relief period rather than restructuring its sales around US authorization, citing Washington's history of failing to uphold its commitments.

Paknejad added that Iran also accelerated crude exports while the exemption remained in force and stressed that the country's existing export mechanisms would allow shipments to continue at previous levels despite renewed US restrictions.

Iran expands regional retaliation

The blockade follows another round of Iranian military operations targeting US-linked military infrastructure across the region.

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the second wave of Operation Nasr 2, saying missiles and one-way attack drones struck the US-operated Juffair base in Bahrain.

According to the IRGC, the operation destroyed weapons support depots, a satellite communications center, and accommodation facilities used by US forces before expanding to facilities linked to the US Fifth Fleet.

In a subsequent statement, the IRGC said fuel storage facilities were set ablaze while missile and drone strikes destroyed a Patriot air defense radar, the fleet's air control radar, a C-RAM radar system, and a command and monitoring center for unmanned guided boats.

The IRGC said the operations were carried out in response to continued US attacks on Iranian territory and stressed that retaliatory operations remain ongoing.

Prominent Moroccan Journalist and Critic Jailed Upon Arrival in Tangiers

Ali Lmrabet, a Moroccan journalist and critic of the kingdom's government who has been living for many years in Spain, was arrested on charges of spreading false information upon his return to his native country this weekend, his wife said Monday.

Le Monde with AFP

July 13, 2026, at 7:38 pm (Paris) 

French-Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet in Geneva, Switzerland, June 29, 2015. FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

A prominent Moroccan journalist and critic of the kingdom's government was set to appear before a prosecutor on Monday, July 13, for "spreading false information" after his arrest upon return to the country from Spain, his wife told Agence-France Presse news agency. Ali Lmrabet, 66, is a leading figure in Morocco's independent press and has lived in Spain for years. He holds dual French-Moroccan citizenship.

"He called me at 7:00 pm and told me that upon arriving at Tangier airport, he was detained for spreading false information and undermining state institutions," his wife Laura Feliu told AFP late on Sunday. Lmrabet told Feliu that he was the subject of "several arrest warrants" related to the allegations, she said. Morocco's public prosecutor did not immediately respond to an AFP comment request.

Press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) told AFP in a statement that Lmrabet was accused of "alleged dissemination of false information harmful to constitutional institutions," pending his hearing before the prosecutor. "RSF stands mobilized alongside the journalist and will closely monitor the developments of this case," the group said in the statement. "We call on Moroccan authorities to scrupulously respect Ali Lmrabet's procedural rights and guarantee his access to a lawyer of his choice."

Lmrabet's wife said the journalist had not returned to Morocco for "several years" following the death of his father. Lmrabet previously published weekly publications Demain Magazine and the Arabic-language Doumane in Morocco before both were banned in 2003 after he was convicted of insulting the king, among other charges. He was then sentenced to three years in prison but was released in early 2004 under a royal pardon.

Lmrabet was later banned from working in journalism in Morocco between April 2005 and April 2015 after being convicted of defamation over comments he made on displaced Sahrawis living in the Tindouf refugee camps in southwestern Algeria. Western Sahara, a mineral-rich former Spanish colony, has been largely controlled by Morocco since 1975 but is considered a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations. Morocco has long been in conflict with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the Sahrawi people.

Le Monde with AFP

Urgent Appeal as Sahrawi Activist Naâma Asfari’s Health Deteriorates

July 14, 2026 Hour: 6:15 pm

Imprisoned Sahrawi activist Naama Asfari is entering his second month of an indefinite hunger strike, protesting severe prison conditions and demanding his transfer to a detention center in occupied Western Sahara.

The 56-year-old  political prisoner, Sahrawi activist Naâma (Enaama) Asfari, was imprisoned since 2010 and he is serving a 30-year sentence in northern Morocco. He initiated his protest last June 8, protesting harsh detention conditions and demanding his transfer to occupied Western Sahara. Politics

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has issued an urgent international appeal warning that imprisoned Asfari is in critical health after 36 days on hunger strike in Morocco’s Kenitra prison.

Sahrawi authorities and supporters detailed that Asfari’s health condition has been aggravated by prolonged isolation, the alleged denial of urgent medical care and years of separation from his family, urging immediate international intervention to protect his life.

According to an official statement released on July 13, Asfari’s medical condition has reached a critical stag, warning that the activist’s life is at risk after more than a month without food and accused Moroccan prison authorities of refusing him the urgent medical attention his condition requires.

Sahrawi authorities further alleges that Asfari remains in isolation and that his wife, French national Claude Mangin, has been barred from entering Morocco, preventing her from visiting him for the past eight years, which has compounded both his physical and psychological suffering while in detention.

In this sense, the authorities has called for Asfari to receive immediate specialized medical care, unrestricted access to his family, international monitoring of his condition, and his unconditional release.

Asfari’s Long Detention

Naâma Asfari has become one of the best-known Sahrawi political prisioners. He was born in 1970 into a Sahrawi family whose members were deeply affected by the Western Sahara conflict. His father, a prominent Sahrawi activist, was imprisoned by Moroccan authorities in 1975, and Naâma did not see him again until 1991. His mother died while his father remained in prison. Politics

Graduated in International Law and Economics, Asfari later moved to Paris, where he pursued postgraduate studies in International Relations and co-founded the Committee for the Defense of  Human Rights in Western Sahara (CORELSO) alongside his French wife. His advocacy has repeatedly led to arrests during visits to his family in Laayoune, with supporters stating that he was detained six times within seven years. In 2009, he reportedly spent four months in prison for carrying a keychain displaying the Sahrawi flag.

The most significant chapter of his detention began on November 7, 2010, following the dismantling of the Gdeim Izik protest camp. Moroccan security forces arrested him in Laayoune, transferred him to an undisclosed location while blindfolded and handcuffed, and held him in custody for more than 27 months before a Moroccan military court sentenced him to 30 years in prison. That sentence was later upheld by the Court of Appeal in Salé on July 19, 2017.

Asfari was transferred to El Aarjat prison in September 2017 , approximately 1,320 kilometers from Laayoune, further limiting contact with relatives. His case has since been referenced in reports presented before the United Nations Human Rights Council, reflecting continuing international attention to his detention.

Asfari is recognized globally as the leader of the Gdaim Izik group and his case symbolizes the broader legal persecution of Sahrawi activists fighting against Moroccan colonial occupation.

A group of 24 Sahrawi political prisoners from the same case remain behind bars. Their families continue to struggle for their freedom and basic dignity inside Moroccan jails. Supporters emphasize that the Gdaim Izik trial violated international fair trial standards, meanwhile the Moroccan State has consistently ignored international calls to review the controversial judicial sentences.

With Asfari now reportedly in critical condition after weeks on hunger strike, Sahrawi authorities insist that immediate medical intervention is essential. They argue that the combination of prolonged imprisonment, alleged denial of healthcare, isolation and family separation has created an increasingly serious humanitarian situation that demands urgent international scrutiny.

Global Solidarity Mobilized

The Association of Families of Sahrawi Prisoners organized protests last week outside the Prison Administration headquarters in Rabat to demand the immediate restoration of the inmates’ fundamental rights.

The collective denounced systematic violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and they accused Morocco of denying essential medical assistance and using prolonged isolation against prisoners. Relatives described these prison practices as acts of physical and psychological torture, expressing deep concern over the impunity enjoyed by prison guards and administrative staff.

The struggle of the Sahrawi people for self-determination against Morocco’s occupation remains a core focus of anti-colonial solidarity and it highlights the ongoing resistance of the nation fighting for their sovereignty, meanwhile the international community continues to demand a referendum on independence.

Author: Laura V. Mor

Source: Embassy of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic / Agencies

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez Thanks CARICOM for 88 Containers of Humanitarian Aid

This episode of Caribbean solidarity stands as a powerful testament to the enduring principles of South-South cooperation that have historically defined relations among nations of the Global South. Photo: Venezuelan Presidential Press.

July 14, 2026 Hour: 9:33 pm

Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez received of humanitarian aid from CARICOM member states this Tuesday, including medical supplies and heavy machinery, to assist in the emergency response following recent earthquakes.

Acting President Delcy Rodriguez received on July 14 a total of 88 containers of humanitarian aid from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), in a demonstration of regional solidarity following the seismic events that have affected the South American nation. ExecutiveBranch

The shipment was organized under the leadership of Guyana, demonstrating that historical and  political differences among Caribbean nations can be set aside in moments of humanitarian need.

During an inspection of the international humanitarian aid that has arrived in the country, the Acting President expressed her gratitude to the Governments of Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Haiti for their timely support.

“I feel moved because I am among countries of Caricom, countries of our Caribbean, who with great effort, coordinated by Guyana, have all sent aid to Venezuela, ” she affirmed.

Text reads: “Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, thanked the humanitarian aid sent by the countries of CARICOM, stressing that this action shows once again, the close ties of Venezuela with the entire Caribbean region. She pointed out that, together with Guyana, the bloc’s member states had provided inputs to support families affected by the earthquakes of June 24, in a gesture of regional solidarity that strengthens cooperation between brotherly peoples.”

Medical and Material Support

The aid package includes 1,400 tons of rice, 7,000 canned goods, 3,400 boxes of water, 100,000 diapers, 1,350 mattresses and pillows, and 1,000 bags of clothing and footwear. The medical component of the aid is also significant: 1.5 million tablets of medications and, notably, 32 doctors and surgeons who have been deployed to the hardest-hit areas.

The arrival of heavy machinery is crucial for clearing debris and reopening access routes in the affected zones. The equipment includes one backhoe, one mini loader, eight electric generators, two percussion drills, six water pumps, six wireless angle grinders, and additional power generation units. These tools will enable rescue and reconstruction teams to operate more effectively in areas where infrastructure has been severely damaged.

These provisions are destined for the thousands of families who have been displaced or severely affected by the earthquakes that have shaken various regions of Venezuela in recent weeks. Photos: Venezuelan Presidential Press.

Haiti’s contribution was particularly remarkable: the Caribbean nation sent 35 physicians along with a field hospital to support emergency medical operations.

“Thanks to Haiti, which also sent doctors, 35 doctors, a field hospital. We say that Haiti will always be with Venezuela and Venezuela will always be with Haiti. It is marked in our history,” declared Acting President Rodriguez, highlighting the deep historical bonds that unite both nations. GeographicReference

Acting President Rodriguez also acknowledged the support from Russia. “We have just thanked President Putin, his government and his people for the aid that arrived in Venezuela,” she stated. The Russian contribution complements the CARICOM shipment, reflecting the diverse network of international solidarity that has rallied around Venezuela during this emergency.

“We want to thank the Prime Ministers, President Irfaan Ali, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the President of Suriname, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, of Saint Kitts and Nevis, of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Prime Minister of Belize. I also thank Saint Lucia, Antigua and Dominica for all this effort to support our people“, Rodriguez asserted, naming each contributing nation.

The Venezuelan Acting President emphasized the emotional significance of the Caribbean response: “I truly want, from the bottom of my heart, in the name of the Venezuelan people, to thank you for this support that you are providing today to our country.”

“Venezuela is in your hearts, but we know that you are also in our hearts, because at all times we have maintained our close ties of friendship, cooperation and brotherhood“, she added.

Local authorities in the affected states have begun distributing the incoming supplies through established civil protection networks, prioritizing the most vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

“In the name of the Venezuelan people, I ratify the close ties of friendship, cooperation and brotherhood that unite Venezuela with each of the countries of the Caribbean,” concluded Acting President Rodríguez, reaffirming the mutual commitment between Venezuela and its Caribbean neighbors.

As reconstruction efforts continue, the Venezuelan Government has announced that it will maintain coordination with international partners to ensure that aid reaches all affected communities efficiently and transparently. The CARICOM contribution represents not only material support but also a powerful symbol of regional unity in the face of adversity.

Complicity or Subversive Protagonism in Search of an Explosion?

The media and subversive apparatus lends itself to the nightmare of continuing to torture the Cuban people with more oil blockades, sanctions of all kinds, threats of new measures, and intimidation of foreign investors to plunge the country into misery and try to bring it to its knees before the powerful economic and military machine of the world superpower, which aspires to turn us into its next 21st-century neocolony

Author: Francisco Arias Fernández | internet@granma.cu

July 13, 2026 12:07:00

Media warfare, disinformation, and manipulation are what is being used against Cuba. Photo: Archive

Media outlets and correspondents accredited in Havana to Washington, such as the decidedly unfriendly and biased EFE news agency, are intertwined with cyber-mercenaries close to the State Department, anti-Cuban organizations in Florida—some with terrorist leanings, others openly promoting U.S. military intervention, or inciting violence and social unrest—to inflame the already volatile summer scene, fueled by the inhumane effects of a sinister plan, in the style of the Miami henchmen entrenched in the government.

This media and subversive apparatus lends itself to the nightmare of continuing to torture the Cuban people with further oil blockades, sanctions of all kinds, threats of new measures, and intimidation of foreign investors to plunge the country into misery and try to bring it to its knees before the powerful economic and military machinery of the global superpower, which aspires to turn us into its next 21st-century neocolony.

They are betting that the martyrdom instigated by the White House and amplified in its own way by the media monopolies will be the sure trigger for internal destabilization and the justification for a "humanitarian intervention" that will flood the country with blood and allow the reimposition of Yankee domination over the island, with missiles and the imperial license to lynch communists, in these days of resurgent fascism at the hands of the magnates who own the planet.

Hoping that the blackouts, the lack of fuel and water, the shortages of food, medicine, transportation, and other disruptions to basic services for the population will be the final straw and lead to violence, vandalism, disobedience, thuggery, and terrorism, the war's proponents, in alliance with subversive agents from the North, are inciting and calling for disorder and challenging the social peace and security of our people.

At the same time, they persist in discrediting the government and questioning its ability to overcome so many obstacles; in sowing despair, confusion, disunity, uncertainty, and hatred.

Without scruples or limits, incredulous at the example of courage and resilience of an entire people, in the face of the merciless torture of millions, they try to use the bad weather and suffering as triggers, associating it with shameful dates, exaggerated lies, fake news, infamous figures, and paid criminals and vandals.

With the complicity of stateless individuals, fortune hunters, on constant international tours with all expenses paid by taxpayer funds diverted by the architects of the destructive plan against Cuba, they carry their message of death and intolerance, both to the UN and to the European Parliament, to try to deceive and prejudice public opinion and play into the hands of puppets and vengeful individuals.

The Equation of Chaos: Cognitive Warfare and Economic Suffocation

Cognitive warfare is not an epiphenomenon, but the main driver of a strategy designed to fracture the soul of the nation

Author: Raúl Antonio Capote | informacion@granmai.cu

July 13, 2026 12:07:04

The cognitive warfare strategy against Cuba involves designing specific narratives for the housewife in Havana, the young tourism worker in Varadero, or the engineer in Holguín. Photo: Image taken from Razones de Cuba

Washington, at full throttle, seeks to synchronize the attempted energy collapse with disinformation and the sowing of doubt, in an unprecedented scenario of multidimensional pressure.

In the literature of strategic intelligence, there is an old concept that, in the digital age, has reached a terrifying level of sophistication: generating confusion to sow doubt in people. Today, this strategy has become the central axis of U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba. It is not just one of the classic tools of ideological confrontation, but a dissonant symphony in which material suffocation and the erosion of perception play in unison.

A detailed map of this new cartography of conflict allows us to appreciate how cognitive warfare is not an epiphenomenon, but the main driver of a strategy designed to fracture the nation's soul. It's not just the usual blatant lies; it's a perverse mechanism of subtle poisoning, seeking to sow suspicion about everything and everyone.

That particle of uncertainty, endlessly repeated in digital ecosystems, erodes trust in institutions and in the narrative of resistance. Information overload, the creation of parallel realities, and the use of bots that replicate messages with slight variations all pursue a single goal: to make citizens stop believing in their own perceptions.

In recent months, the qualitative leap has been the massive use of Generative Artificial Intelligence. Furthermore, Washington has perfected the technique of hyperrealistic deepfakes and audience micro-segmentation. It's no longer about broadcasting a single message for the entire island, but about designing specific narratives for the housewife in Havana, the young tourism worker in Varadero, or the engineer in Holguín. 

Tools like advanced language models allow for the generation of thousands of versions of the same hoax, tailored to the vocabulary, pain, and frustration of each demographic group. Artificial intelligence synthesizes voices, clones the faces of leaders in compromising contexts, and, most dangerously, simulates WhatsApp conversations between "ordinary citizens" discussing power outages and shortages with a prefabricated tone of defeat. But the crown jewel of this cognitive strategy is the use of predictive AI to anticipate discontent. Algorithms process sentiment on social media and closed forums, detecting peaks of emotional exhaustion.

It is in these moments of extreme vulnerability, as the energy blockade strikes with prolonged power outages and fuel shortages paralyze transportation, that amplification campaigns are activated. Then, the AI ​​transforms the situation into an unbearable psychological ordeal, multiplying the perception of chaos.

We are witnessing a diabolical equation: while the population is suffocated by the lack of electricity and food, in order to provoke discontent, the digital space is simultaneously flooded with messages that blame the Cuban government exclusively for this scarcity, omitting the external origin of the suffering.

These are the weapons of a narrative designed to incite collective despair. AI does the work; when a neighborhood goes dark, cell phones (if they have battery and data) are flooded with fabricated messages about "incompetent management" and "official privileges," without ever mentioning the declared economic war.

The ultimate goal is not just economic collapse per se, but social unrest. The White House aims to replicate the script used in other regions and unsuccessfully attempted in Cuba in the past, but with far more sophisticated technology. The idea is to synchronize the moment of peak material hardship with an unstoppable digital offensive that overwhelms the state's capacity to respond, creating the image of an ungovernable nation in the eyes of the world.

However, human intelligence has one advantage over artificial intelligence: historical awareness. Faced with this hyper-technological disinformation machine, a cultural counteroffensive is needed to reclaim the value of verified information, data journalism, and, above all, empathy.

A cognitive war is won in the streets, in neighborhood dialogues, in the trust built face-to-face, where AI cannot yet reach. The challenge for Cuba is titanic: to withstand the pressure of a suffocating blockade and, at the same time, defuse the cyber cluster bombs that explode in citizens' pockets.

Therefore, the response cannot be merely institutional; it must be social. It is about building an ethical shield against doubt and understanding that, in this new war, every informed citizen is a soldier of truth. Washington has unleashed all its weapons.

The question that hangs in the air—and that time and history will answer—is whether the tenacity of the Cuban people, forged in more than six decades of resistance, will be able to overcome this perverse alliance between material suffocation and the digital mirage.

Refining Domestic Crude Oil: A Path of Great Effort that Continues to Yield Results

The processing of 20,000 tons of domestic crude oil in the Santiago de Cuba refinery demonstrates the resilience of Cubans and their boundless will to find solutions in the face of the most complex adversities

Author: Luis Alberto Portuondo | internet@granma.cu

June 11, 2026 11:06:36

To process the national crude, it has been necessary to study, innovate, and experiment, the director of the Hermanos Díaz refinery affirmed. Photo: Archive

SANTIAGO DE CUBA.— In 2024, Granma had already investigated the processing of heavy crude oil, which our country imported, using a solvent that brought it to 16 degrees API—created by a team of specialists at the Hermanos Díaz Oil Refinery—to convert it into medium crude and, once distilled, obtain the derivatives.

"That technological feat allowed our company to leave behind the period between 2016 and 2021, marked by losses, meager production, and the regrettable exodus of engineers, technicians, and service personnel," acknowledged engineer Irene Barbado Lucio, general director of this branch of the Cuban Petroleum Union (Cupet).

But in 2026, "the situation became extremely complex due to the energy blockade imposed by the Trump administration, preventing the oil we once purchased abroad from flowing through our facilities," the director lamented.

"Once again, the option was to become self-sufficient through our own efforts, as advised by the Commander-in-Chief in his concept of Revolution. He was the one who promoted the expansion and modernization of our plant in the 1980s, but I want to emphasize that it was designed to process light crude," specified Víctor Manuel Díaz Despaigne, director of the refining area.

THE BEGINNING OF THE TRANSFORMATIONS

When refining of imported heavy crude began, the Hermanos Díaz refinery—one of the country's four refineries—processed "naphtha, gasoline, fuel for drilling wells, fuel oil for thermoelectric power plants and distributed generation, as well as for asphalt production and the nickel industry," explained its CEO.

This was the result of the efforts of more than 700 workers, because the technological upgrades were numerous. Thanks to this collective ingenuity and the powerful movement of innovators and efficiency experts, profits were generated and distributed, and the emigration of skilled personnel to other Cupet companies and to centers in both the state and private sectors was prevented.

According to Barbado Lucio, "it was a complex process, involving much study and experimentation, in which our maintenance team—responsible, as its name indicates, for ensuring the operation of the industry—and Cupet's Refining Directorate also played a fundamental role."

"If at the end of the last decade we had resigned ourselves to the technological limitations that, obviously, made refining heavy crude impossible, the fate of this important industry would have been very uncertain. That is why, united, we overcame what seemed invincible," he affirmed.

With some seven decades of operation, work is underway at this site to improve infrastructure, production processes, and working conditions. In this regard, progress has been made on the flow measurement project to guarantee traceability of the processing, prevent fuel losses, and consequently strengthen fire suppression systems, lightning rods, and spill containment measures (which minimize environmental impacts in Santiago Bay).

ANOTHER TURNING POINT

Through coercion and blackmail, the U.S. government "dictated to our suppliers that they should no longer sell us crude oil. But the greatest risk was that the country would run out of naphtha, essential for continuing extraction in our oil wells," emphasized the member of the Party's Central Committee.

"If we were able to convert imported heavy crude into medium crude, given the urgency, we decided to do the same with domestic crude," stated the director of the refining area.

After intensive studies and adjustments, "we conducted an initial run of domestic crude in March; we obtained naphtha, diesel, and fuel oil, and, above all, the exploitation of our oil fields did not stop," the director pointed out.

Although these initial results were encouraging, the need for further adjustments to the plant also became apparent, given the viscosity and aggressiveness of Cuban oil due to its high sulfur and acidity levels.

That is why, in this initial stage, crude oil from the western region is being refined, as it "has better characteristics, flows better, and has lower viscosity," commented engineer Irenaldo Pérez Cardoso, deputy director of Cupet.

These actions were carried out in parallel with those developed by the Petroleum Research Center, based on thermoconversion, which were announced by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, along with members of the National Innovation Council.

According to the president, "we broke a precedent, a taboo that existed in the country, that national crude oil could not be used for other purposes, and we had practically condemned it to be used directly in a group of thermoelectric plants."

FOR GREATER AND BETTER RESULTS

Since the country has only received one Russian tanker in the last six months, Cupet continued working with domestic crude and processed 20,000 tons. Once again, the Hermanos Díaz team took on this colossal challenge, which happily "yielded results superior to the first run of this pilot phase, with the production of solvent naphtha destined for wells and fuel oil," said Irene Barbado Lucio.

Because the diesel obtained from domestic crude does not meet all the standards for commercialization, it was necessary to blend it with a higher-quality fuel to make it usable. The May run met the objectives; the extra-heavy fuel oil is even being used at the Antonio Maceo Thermoelectric Power Plant, with positive results, and its use in the nickel industry is being evaluated.

Even though the processed amount does not cover the country's demand, it represents a technological advancement for making more efficient use of endogenous energy resources. "Therefore, we reiterate that, given the high sulfur content, acidity, and viscosity of Cuban crude, specialists were required to perform calculations and adjustments to optimize and facilitate the refining process," stated Yanet Revé Luna, senior specialist in the Technology Department.

Thus, the crude oil washing systems were rehabilitated, "and the dosage of a new product called Vapen 220 pe was established. This product serves as a neutralizer at the top of the atmospheric distillation tower for the corrosive acids that form during the fractionation process," the specialist affirmed.

Taking into account the characteristics of Cuban oil, a line was constructed to collect the polluting gases released at the top of the vacuum distillation tower. These gases are then burned in the furnaces, thereby contributing to environmental protection and the health of the workers.

Since it was very difficult for the fuel to flow through the ten-inch diameter lines to reach the suction and processing unit, "we made an interconnection with a 20-inch line," Revé Luna noted.

And in complete accordance with the need to take a little bit away from the problems each day, this team—with many of its members working long hours and in complete anonymity—continues to apply science and innovation so that petroleum products—no longer imported, because they are denied to us—are present, to the extent possible, in the country's main activities.

Sahel Alliance Reviews Legal Framework for Unified Military Force

By Al Mayadeen English

12 Jul 2026 23:17

Defense ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger reviewed the legal framework for the Sahel Alliance's unified military force during talks in Ouagadougou.

Defense ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger met in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, to discuss the legal framework governing the unified military force of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), in a move aimed at advancing plans for a joint army among the three countries.

The meeting brought together Burkina Faso's Minister of State for Defense and Veterans Affairs, Celestin Simpore, Niger's Minister of National Defense, Salifou Mody, and Mali's Minister Delegate for Defense, Omar Diarra.

The ministers reviewed a draft legal statute that will govern the operations of the confederation's unified force and establish the legal basis for its future military activities.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Simpore said Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger were entering a new phase in structuring their military cooperation, saying that the proposed statute is the legal foundation for the unified force.

He said the framework would enable the force to conduct joint operations across the territory of the Confederation of Sahel States against armed groups.

Simpore said that the unified force is the foundation of the "real army" the three countries are working to build together, adding that efforts are underway to strengthen its personnel, equipment, and operational capabilities to improve the effectiveness of joint military operations.

He added that the force's capabilities would be expanded progressively with the goal of establishing a fully integrated, rapidly deployable joint army capable of operating anywhere within the confederation.

Military cooperation expands across the Sahel

The meeting comes days after Russia and the three Sahel states announced plans to deepen their military partnership amid an increase in attacks by armed groups across the region.

Military cooperation and counterterrorism remain central pillars of the Confederation of Sahel States, whose members continue to face attacks by armed groups operating across vast and porous border regions.

Officials said the legal framework is intended to define the rules governing troop deployments, operational jurisdiction, command structures, and coordination mechanisms, allowing the alliance to transform ad hoc joint operations into a more structured collective defense system.

The three countries aim to use the unified force to overcome the operational limitations imposed by national borders, enabling a coordinated response to armed groups that operate across frontier areas where security oversight remains limited.

Saudi Arabia Trains Over 5,000 Somalian Troops for Army Integration

By Al Mayadeen English

12 Jul 2026 23:36

Saudi Arabia is supporting a program to train over 5,000 Somali soldiers as Mogadishu seeks to rebuild its armed forces and strengthen security.

A high-level Saudi military delegation visited two training camps in the town of Guri Ceel in Somalia's Galguduud region, where forces affiliated with the Somali federal government are undergoing training as part of a Saudi-backed program to prepare new military units for integration into the Somali National Army.

The visit comes within the framework of growing defense cooperation between Mogadishu and Riyadh, with the program, as per reports, aimed at strengthening the capabilities and readiness of newly formed Somali military units.

According to media reports, the training program includes 5,107 soldiers at the two camps, including around 2,000 young recruits from the Puntland state, while the remaining trainees were recruited from various regions across Somalia.

The training is expected to last nine months, during which recruits will receive instruction in basic military skills, operational procedures, and combat training before joining the Somali Army.

Foreign trainers involved in program

Reports said the trainers participating in the program are foreign personnel from Romania, Ukraine, South Africa, and Colombia.

The Somali government has not yet released official details regarding the selection process for the trainers or the nature of the training being conducted at the two camps.

The Saudi delegation's visit comes months after Somalia and Saudi Arabia signed a defense and military cooperation agreement in Riyadh on February 9, 2026, aimed at strengthening defense ties, military training, and coordination between the two countries.

The agreement was signed by Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi and his Saudi counterpart, Khalid bin Salman.

Somalia seeks to rebuild armed forces

The Somali government has been working to rebuild its armed forces and enhance their ability to assume security responsibilities amid ongoing operations against Al-Shabaab and the gradual transfer of security duties from African Union forces to Somali security institutions.

The initiative also reflects Saudi Arabia's efforts to expand its security and defense presence in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa, a strategically important region linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean and witnessing increasing regional and international competition.

Somaliland Jails Musician Without Trial Over al-Quds Song

By Al Mayadeen English

11 Jul 2026 14:18

The musician's detention has prompted condemnation from the opposition and renewed concerns over freedom of expression.

Security forces in the breakaway region of Somaliland have detained young musician Khalid Mohamud Abdillahi, widely known as Khalid Kamil, after he recorded a song about occupied al-Quds, Hiiraan Online reported, citing his family.

Kamil has been held without trial for the past two weeks, his brother, Abdimajid Mohamud Abdillahi, said Thursday.

Abdimajid said intelligence officers arrested the musician at his home in Hargeisa before transferring him to the Criminal Investigation Department. He said Kamil was later moved to the central prison.

“They arrested Khalid at his home,” Abdimajid said. “The intelligence accused him of singing a song about Jerusalem that he had not yet released.”

Family questions basis for arrest

Abdimajid said authorities informed the family that Kamil was being detained because of the song but maintained that its content was unrelated to Somaliland.

“The security services told us that Khalid was being held for a song, but since the song was not about Somaliland, but about Jerusalem, we saw that someone was pushing or behind the arrest,” Abdimajid stressed.

Opposition party condemns detention

Somaliland’s opposition KAAH party denounced the arrest on Thursday, describing it as an infringement on fundamental freedoms and part of a broader campaign to suppress criticism of the breakaway government’s policy toward "Israel".

“The arrest of artists, journalists and citizens for expressing their views and creativity undermines the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the constitution,” the party said.

KAAH urged the government to release Kamil immediately and halt intimidation targeting artists and members of the creative community.

The party added that democratic governance should be grounded in respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression rather than arrests and repression.

Previous arrests linked to 'Israel' recognition debate

Somaliland has previously detained religious leaders, traditional elders, journalists, and youth activists who opposed the prospect of Israeli recognition of Somaliland. Several of those detained were later released without trial.

The song, which has not been officially released but has circulated on social media, praises occupied al-Quds and highlights the city's religious importance.

According to Kamil’s brother, the lyrics include lines stating that al-Quds “has been stolen” and criticizing those who remain silent about this crime.

Arrest follows opening of 'Somaliland mission' in al-Quds

The detention comes after Somaliland opened a diplomatic mission in occupied al-Quds in June, six months after "Israel" reportedly recognized Somaliland as an "independent state".

The mission, located in a technology hub in the western part of occupied al-Quds, was inaugurated during an official visit by the regional president of the breakaway region of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi, to "Israel".

During the visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was a “deep spiritual connection” between the two sides.

Somalia’s federal government, which regards Somaliland as part of its territory, condemned the engagement with "Israel" and said any contact with the separatist administration violated Somalia’s sovereignty.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not secured broad international recognition. Somalia continues to maintain that Somaliland remains part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Macron, Ramaphosa Hold Talks to Deepen France-South Africa Ties

By Al Mayadeen English

12 Jul 2026 21:15

Emmanuel Macron and Cyril Ramaphosa hold talks in Paris on trade, security, climate, and strengthening France-South Africa relations.

French President Emmanuel Macron received South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Élysée Palace in Paris as part of an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and coordinating positions on a range of international issues.

French media sources said the meeting reflected a "strong convergence of views" between the two leaders on global affairs, particularly issues related to peace, food security, climate change, and challenges stemming from regional and international crises.

The discussions focused on expanding political, economic, and strategic cooperation between France and South Africa, with particular emphasis on trade, investment, energy, and critical minerals, sectors both governments consider priorities for the next phase of their partnership.

Leaders discuss regional security and global challenges

Macron and Ramaphosa also addressed regional security issues across Africa, including ongoing conflicts in parts of the continent, as well as broader international matters on which Paris and Pretoria are seeking closer coordination.

Ramaphosa's visit comes as both countries seek to reinforce their long-standing partnership, while France works to strengthen its engagement with key African partners beyond its traditional sphere of influence on the continent.

According to the French presidency, the visit is part of efforts to deepen cooperation with South Africa, whose growing role as a leading African power, G20 member, and partner on international governance, development, and security has become increasingly significant.

Visit follows recent diplomatic tensions

The visit also comes weeks after limited diplomatic tensions emerged when South Africa was not included among the countries invited to the G7 summit in Evian, making the Paris meeting an opportunity to reaffirm the strength of bilateral relations.

On Sunday, Ramaphosa is also scheduled to visit the South African National Memorial at Delville Wood in northern France to mark the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood during World War I, where South African troops fought on the Western Front and suffered heavy losses.

Libya's Rival Rebel Chiefs Meet to Discuss Unification of Armed Forces

Libya

Top military leaders from Libya’s rival armies met in Sirte on Sunday to discuss ongoing efforts to reunify the military.

Eastern forces Chief of Staff Khaled Haftar and his western counterpart Salah al-Din al-Namroush met alongside representatives of the UN Support Mission in Libya.

Without providing details, a statement issued by the eastern forces said the meeting was "constructive."

The north African country plunged into chaos after the Pentagon-NATO-CIA engineered ouster of longtime Pan-Africanist statesman and leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

It’s since been run by two governments: Abdulhamid Dbeibah's internationally recognised Government of National ‌Unity in the west, and Khalifa Haftar’s rival Government of National Stability in the east.

Talks to reunify the country reportedly began late last year, when both Libyan sides asked Pakistan to mediate. The US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey are all said to support the process.

A proposed reunification plan would create a 36-month transitional power-sharing setup, with Dbeibah as prime minister and Haftar’s son Saddam leading a presidential council.

The plan also gives Haftar’s faction budget authority due to its control of the country’s major oilfields and infrastructure.

EU Bans Purchase and Import of Sudanese Gold in Bid to Curb War Economy

Sudan

The European Union is banning the purchase, import and transfer of Sudanese gold in a bid to curb sources of financing for the country’s devastating conflict.

The measure announced by the European Council on Monday also bans the sale, supply, transfer and export of mercury and cyanide to Sudan, chemicals used to mine the precious metal.

The decision includes targeted exemptions, such as goods intended for humanitarian purposes, public health emergencies and disaster response.

Gold has become a major source of revenue in sustaining the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

Since fighting broke out in 2023, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced, triggering what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Airstrikes Kill 26 al-Shabaab Rebels in Southern Somalia

Source: Xinhua| 2026-07-13 21:17:00|Editor: huaxia

MOGADISHU, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army, supported by international partners, killed 26 al-Shabaab militants in a series of airstrikes targeting three locations in the Middle Shabelle region of southern Somalia.

In a statement issued Sunday, the defense ministry said that the operation also destroyed an armored vehicle and a fuel tanker used by the militants to launch attacks in Cadow Jilib, Geyfo, and Qordheere locations.

"These operations form part of the ongoing efforts of the Somali National Armed Forces to pursue al-Shabaab leaders and militants and degrade the group's ability to organize and carry out terrorist attacks," the ministry added. 

UN Urges Immediate Aid as Somalia Faces Severe Drought

Source: Xinhua| 2026-07-13 21:39:00|Editor: huaxia

MOGADISHU, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) relief agency has appealed for urgent assistance for hundreds of thousands of Somalis, particularly in the northern regions, who face escalating hardship amid severe drought conditions.

In its latest humanitarian report released on Sunday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that cumulative crises, including severe drought, flooding, dwindling aid, and protracted conflict, have systematically undermined the resilience of millions of Somali households.

The OCHA estimated that severe drought conditions have affected roughly 250,000 people, with coastal and remote communities hit the hardest.

"Authorities are appealing for urgent assistance, warning that hundreds of thousands of people are facing increasing hardship, including more than 570,000 people who require water assistance and 1.5 million that require food assistance," the OCHA said.

The OCHA said the Somalia Humanitarian Fund has stepped up support to the famine-risk Buurhakaba district in the Bay region, providing 4.7 million U.S. dollars, including a recent two-million-dollar reserve allocation.

The UN agency said that malnutrition is rising, with over 400,730 children experiencing acute malnutrition, including 97,150 severe and 303,580 moderate cases.

"Reproductive health services and emergency obstetric care remain severely limited, particularly for nomadic communities. Drought has also disrupted education, with more than 820 schools reportedly closed," the OCHA added.

Africa CDC Urges Stronger Protection Measures for Ebola Responders

Source: Xinhua| 2026-07-12 20:51:45|Editor: huaxia

ADDIS ABABA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The confirmed infection of a U.S. humanitarian worker supporting the ongoing Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has added critical urgency to the protection of health responders, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The Africa CDC said in a press statement issued Saturday that health workers, humanitarian personnel, volunteers and operational staff are "sustaining the response under intense pressure," identifying cases, caring for patients and protecting affected communities in order to contain transmission.

It said relevant authorities and the response team have launched an epidemiological investigation, contact tracing and exposure risk assessments concerning the U.S. humanitarian worker, while highlighting that the exact circumstances of the exposure remain under investigation. The confirmed case has been supporting the outbreak response in Bunia, the capital of eastern DRC's Ituri Province and the epicenter of the outbreak.

At least 112 healthcare workers have been infected with the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, while some 35 have lost their lives in the DRC, according to the latest data from the African Union's specialized public health agency.

"Reliable protective equipment, strong infection prevention systems, continuous training, psychosocial support and safe working conditions are essential for every person delivering this response," the statement quoted Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya as saying.

The agency urged all organizations operating in affected areas to strengthen occupational safety measures, report suspected exposures and symptoms promptly, and provide continuous support to their personnel.

Last month, France reported an imported Bundibugyo Ebola case involving a health worker who had supported the response in the DRC.

Chinese Medical Team Provides Free Healthcare Services in Tanzania's Zanzibar

Source: Xinhua| 

2026-07-12 22:00:30|Editor: huaxia

A member of the 35th Chinese medical team in Zanzibar conducts an ultrasound examination for a local resident during a free medical outreach in Zanzibar, Tanzania, July 11, 2026. The 35th Chinese medical team in Tanzania's Zanzibar conducted a free medical outreach on Saturday, delivering healthcare services and health education to local residents. (The 35th Chinese medical team in Zanzibar/Handout via Xinhua)

DAR ES SALAAM, July 12 (Xinhua) -- The 35th Chinese medical team in Tanzania's Zanzibar conducted a free medical outreach on Saturday, delivering healthcare services and health education to local residents.

The medical team also distributed bilingual health education materials in English and Kiswahili and conducted sessions on infectious disease prevention and the home-based management of chronic conditions, tailored to the island's tropical climate.

Dua Musa, an official from the Zanzibar Ministry of Health, said the outreach improved access to professional healthcare for residents who otherwise would have had to travel long distances for treatment.

The event was carried out as part of China's "100 Medical Teams in 1,000 Villages" program, said Bao Zengtao, leader of the medical team, noting that the team provided consultations to around 200 people across a wide range of specialties, ensuring comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses affecting the local population. ■

Xi to Attend Opening Ceremony of 2026 World AI Conference, Deliver Keynote Speech

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia2026-07-13 19:19:45

BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance will be held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20. Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote speech, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Monday.

In response to a related query, Lin Jian said President Xi will systemically elaborate on China's policies, position, visions and propositions on AI development and governance when he addresses the opening ceremony of the conference themed "Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future."

China has invited government officials and people across industries, universities and research institutes around the world, as well as heads of international organizations to share the moment together in China, Lin added.

Noting that AI technological innovation is undergoing broad-based breakthroughs and demonstrating unprecedented dynamism, Lin said that such progress brings both opportunities and challenges to the international community, making AI governance a profound topic of our times.

In recent years, in the field of AI, China has been acting on the four global initiatives and the Global AI Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi, said Lin, noting China is committed to providing international public goods, advocating AI for good and for all with real actions, and helping the Global South strengthen capacity-building, which are highly commended by the international community.

"Through this conference, China looks forward to building a platform for various parties to enhance mutual trust, pool consensus, and deepen cooperation so as to promote the sound, safe and orderly development of AI, and make this conference a milestone in the history of AI development," Lin said.

Three Killed in Moscow Region as Russian Air Defenses Shoot Down 342 Drones in Past Night

Ukrainian UAVs were intercepted over 15 Russian regions

© Alexander Polegenko/TASS

MOSCOW, July 13. /TASS/. Over the past night, air defenses intercepted and destroyed 342 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

Three people were killed and three others were injured as a drone crashed in the settlement of Pionersky in Istra outside Moscow. In Solnechnogorsk, two people were injured after a drone hit an apartment building.

TASS has collected key details about the impact.

Scope

- Between 8:00 p.m. Moscow time (5:00 p.m. GMT) on July 12 and 8:00 a.m. Moscow time (5:00 a.m. GMT) on July 13, alert air defense capabilities intercepted and eliminated 342 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over Russian regions, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported.

- Namely, drones were downed over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Krasnodar, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Oryol, Rostov, Ryazan, Tula, Vladimir, and Volgograd Regions, as well as the republics of Crimea and Adygea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, the ministry specified.

- Air defenses shot down 50 UAVs flying toward Moscow, the mayor of the Russian capital, Sergey Sobyanin, wrote on Max channel.

- According to him, since 8:30 p.m. Moscow time (5:30 p.m. GMT) on July 12, more than 350 enemy drones have targeted the Moscow Region.

- Air defenses and electronic warfare systems jammed and repelled 81 drone attacks over the Moscow Region, Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov wrote on Max channel.

- Namely, drones were downed over the Odintsovo, Naro-Fominsk, Ruza, Ramenskoye, Mozhaisk, Volokolamsk, Chekhov, Ozery, Istra, Podolsk, Stupino, Domodedovo, Solnechnogorsk, and Kolomna municipalities.

- Overnight, air defenses destroyed four drones in a Maikop suburb in Adygea, the head of the Russian North Caucasus Republic, Murat Kumpilov, reported via Telegram.

- Another three Ukrainian drones were shot down in the skies over the Tula Region, Governor Dmitry Milyayev reported on Max channel.

- Earlier, he said the Russian Defense Ministry’s units had destroyed six Ukrainian drones.

Moscow Region affected

- Three people were killed and three others were injured as a drone crashed in the settlement of Pionersky in Istra outside Moscow, Moscow Region Governor Andrey Vorobyov said on his channel on Max.

- Later, he said two people were injured after a drone hit an apartment building in Solnechnogorsk.

- A wall and windows in the building were damaged.

- Also, two private homes in the village of Babkino in the Istra municipality sustained damage.

- In Mozhaisk, the window sill and glass panes of two windows in an apartment building were damaged, with no injuries reported.

- Prosecutors said the Moscow Region came under attack using fixed-wing UAVs on Sunday night.

- Emergency services are working at the scenes.

- The Main Investigation Department of the Russian Investigative Committee (IC) opened a criminal case into the terrorist attack, IC Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said.

- A legal assessment will be given to actions by the commanders of Ukrainian units implicated in these terrorist attacks, she stressed.

- Five houses were destroyed and five cars were damaged as a result of criminal actions by Ukrainian armed formations in Pionersky in the Istra municipality, Petrenko specified.

- A search for an elderly woman who may have been trapped under the rubble is currently underway.

Impact on other regions

- A blaze occurred on the premises of an industrial site in the homestead of Vyazniki in the Stavropol Region, Governor Vladimir Vladimirov reported via Max.

- Firefighting squads and other emergency services are working at the scene.

- According to operational data, no one has been injured.

- As many as 39 people were evacuated as a drone crashed in Vladimir, damaging glass panes at an apartment in a residential building there, Governor Alexander Avdeyev wrote on Max channel.

- A blaze caused by falling drone debris was reported at a plant in the Temryuk District of the Krasnodar Region. No injuries have been reported, the southern Russian region’s operational headquarters reported on Max channel.

- Fragments of a drone fell on the premises of a private home in the settlement of Ilyich; glass panes and a wall were damaged, and an outbuilding caught fire as a result. The fire was promptly extinguished.

- Fragments of a UAV damaged a hangar with equipment on the premises of a business in the Belorechensk District, with no injuries reported.

Russian Air Defenses Destroy Over 180,000 UAVs in Ukraine Operation — Top Brass

Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 926 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and 12 smart bombs over the past 24 hours

© Alexander Reka/TASS

MOSCOW, July 13. /TASS/. Russian air defense forces have destroyed over 180,000 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, according to the latest report released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

"Overall, the following targets have been destroyed since the start of the special military operation: 673 aircraft, 284 helicopters, 180,451 unmanned aerial vehicles, 665 surface-to-air missile systems, 30,143 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,757 multiple rocket launchers, 35,747 field artillery guns and mortars and 66,376 special military motor vehicles," the ministry said in a statement.

Kiev loses 1,415 troops along engagement line in past day - latest figures

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,415 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army lost over 200 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, more than 220 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and roughly 175 troops and three armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost over 340 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, more than 385 troops and three armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and roughly 95 troops and three jamming stations in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 200 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 200 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Stetskovka and Volnaya Sloboda in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade, a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian army, a territorial defense brigade and a border guard detachment of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service in areas near the settlements of Vesyoloye, Zakharovka, Bely Kolodez and Vodyanoye in the Kharkov Region, the ministry reported.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 200 personnel, four armored combat vehicles, nine motor vehicles and three field artillery guns in those frontline areas over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 220 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 220 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Maleyevka, Blagodatovka, Monachinovka and Staroverovka in the Kharkov Region, Svyatogorsk and Shchurovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

Overall, the Ukrainian army lost more than 220 troops, four armored combat vehicles, 17 motor vehicles, a US-made 155mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system and an electronic warfare station in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup West over the past 24 hours, the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 175 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 175 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on formations of three mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade, a mountain assault brigade, an air assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Nikolayevka, Nikolaipolye, Kramatorsk, Kondratovka, Druzhkovka, Izhevka and Orekhovatka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

Overall, the Ukrainian army lost an estimated 175 personnel, three armored combat vehicles, 23 motor vehicles and two field artillery guns in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup South over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts over 340 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 340 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, two marine infantry brigades and two National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Rubezhnoye, Maryevka, Zolotoi Kolodez and Gruzskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Gavrilovka, Ivanovka and Chuguyevo in the Dnepropetrovsk Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 340 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, seven motor vehicles and an electronic warfare station in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 385 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 385 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup East units continued advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two assault brigades, a jaeger brigade, an air assault brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian army and two marine infantry brigades in areas near the settlements of Kolomiytsy and Vasilkovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Barvinovka, Mirovka, Blagodatnoye, Lyubitskoye, Novosoloshino and Shirokoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 385 personnel, three armored combat vehicles, nine motor vehicles and a Grad multiple rocket launcher in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminates 95 Ukrainian troops in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr eliminated roughly 95 Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy jamming stations in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of two mechanized brigades, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and a marine infantry brigade in areas near the settlements of Yurkovka and Grigorovka in the Zaporozhye Region, Novoaleksandrovka and Ingulets in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.

"Up to 95 Ukrainian military personnel, 12 motor vehicles and three electronic warfare stations were destroyed," the ministry said.

Russian forces strike Ukrainian long-range UAV assembly sites over past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian long-range UAV storage and assembly sites and enemy deployment areas over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck fuel and energy and transport infrastructure used by the Ukrainian army, sites for the storage and workshops for the assembly of long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, fuel and lubricants and ammunition depots, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 142 locations," the ministry said.

Russian air defenses intercept 926 Ukrainian UAVs, 12 smart bombs over past day

Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 926 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and 12 smart bombs over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down 12 guided aerial bombs and 926 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet destroys Ukrainian naval drone over past day

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet destroyed a Ukrainian naval drone in Black Sea waters over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"The Black Sea Fleet’s forces destroyed an uncrewed surface vessel of the Ukrainian army," the ministry said.