Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured on 1+1 with Youri Smouter, Discussing the History and Contemporary Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar

Watch this new episode of 1+1! 

In our final episode of our Africa series, our journey across the African continent, looking at the history and current affairs of each African country, and its region we look at our final African country, the last of the six island nations and that is Madagascar. 

To watch this program in its entirety just click on the following link: 1+1 E405 Youri speaks to Abayomi Azikiwe of Pan-African Newswire & Black Agenda Report on Madagascar - YouTube

As always, our tour guide and historical guide, is Abayomi Azikiwe of Pan-African News Wire and Black Agenda Report. Do enjoy this final episode of this epic Africa series with Abayomi.

Please share widely as facebook blocks me from sharing or shadow bans me sometimes. 

Donate if you can to 1+1 and our friends respectively. And join us next week and week after as we will explore with Abayomi what Africa must do to overcome its plight and celebrate Abayomi’s remarkable journalism and history work. All my best till then! Have a great weekend and good night and good luck! 

Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW Editor, Featured on Latino Media Collective at WPFW in Washington, D.C.: Interview on the Detroit People's Tribunal and the History of Resistance 

Listen to this interview with Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, on the Latino Media Collective discussing the political situation in Detroit involving civil rights and immigrant struggles. 

To listen to this program just click on the following URL: August 14th, 2026: Detroit vs ICE | Latino Media Collective 

The program aired on Fri. Aug. 14, 2026 over WPFW Radio in Washington, DC and is hosted by Oscar Hernandez.

Mali Separatists Release 82 Soldiers, Including Some Held Since a Major Attack in April

12:16 PM EDT, August 13, 2026

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Separatists in northern Mali have released 82 soldiers, including some taken captive during a nationwide attack on government forces in April, the Malian military and a rebel spokesperson said Thursday.

A statement from the Malian Armed Forces said that the “freed soldiers are now safe and being cared for by the relevant authorities.” Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the separatist Azawad Liberation Front, confirmed the release.

Mali has been plagued for over a decade by insurgencies by militants affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, including JNIM, as well as a Tuareg-led separatist rebellion in the north.

Violence escalated in recent months after an alliance of JNIM and Tuareg separatists carried out coordinated attacks on April 25, targeting the airport of the country’s capital, Bamako, the nearby garrison town of Kati, and several northern and central cities.

Ramadane said that the soldiers were released on humanitarian grounds, and that some of them had been held captive since as long ago as 2023. He said around 118 Malian soldiers are still captive.

April’s attacks exposed weaknesses of Mali’s strategy to combat the rebellion, including relying on Russia, which has partnered with the military-led government after it distanced itself from former allies such as France.

The soldiers’ release was announced the same day Mali’s president pardoned Yann Vézilier, a French national sentenced to 20 years in prison. Vézilier, who worked for the French Embassy in Mali, was arrested in August 2025 and accused of being an intelligence agent involved in a plot to destabilize the country.

The Malian government said in a statement the clemency did not overturn the court’s findings and required the individual’s immediate removal from the country.

The French foreign ministry didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

US Missionary Kidnapped in Niger is Released After 9 Months in Captivity, His Organization Says

Motorcyclist ride along a street in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo, file)

12:36 PM EDT, August 14, 2026

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — An American missionary who was kidnapped in Niger in October has been released, his organization said Friday.

Kevin Rideout “is in good health in the care of U.S. officials,” SIM International, an Evangelical mission organization, said in a statement.

He will soon be reunited with his extended family, the statement added.

Rideout was back in U.S. custody on Friday, the country’s President Donald Trump said in a post on social media.

“Kevin, the United States of America looks forward to welcoming you HOME. Glad to have helped!” Trump wrote.

Rideout was kidnapped in the West African country’s capital, Niamey, on Oct. 21 by three armed individuals and was probably driven out of town, according to information provided by a security official at the time.

No armed group claimed responsibility for the abduction.

Niger has long faced attacks from armed groups including jihadis linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization.

The U.S. Embassy in Niamey issued a security alert a day after Rideout’s kidnapping, warning that U.S. citizens “remain at a heightened risk of kidnapping throughout Niger, including in the capital city.”

Niger is ruled by a military junta that took power in 2023 after deposing the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. The new authorities ousted Western partners including the United States, which had soldiers in Niger, and forged a new security and diplomatic alliance with Russia.

In June, more than 30 people were killed when gunmen attacked the main airport in Niamey. It was the second attack this year at the airport, a strategic hub that serves as the ruling military’s command, hosting its air force base and most of its drones and aircraft. It’s also the headquarters of the regional alliance that brings together troops from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The violence is the latest sign of armed groups increasingly targeting cities and urban centers in Africa’s Sahel region.

China and Egypt Launch Second Joint Air Force Exercise

Africa News

By Agencies

Military

China and Egypt are set to strengthen military cooperation with a new round of joint air force exercises scheduled to take place in Egypt from mid-August through early September.

The exercise, known as "Eagles of Civilization 2026," marks the second edition of the bilateral training program following the inaugural drills held last year.

According to China's Ministry of National Defense, the exercise will include air combat tactics, air superiority operations, combat search and rescue, and joint force deployment drills designed to improve operational coordination between the two militaries.

Chen Xi, Spokesperson, China's Ministry of National Defense: "From mid-August to early September, the Chinese and Egyptian air forces will hold Eagles of Civilization 2026 joint training in Egypt. The training will focus on such subjects as air combat tactics, air superiority operations, and combat search and rescue, and will include force employment drills. As the second iteration of its kind, the joint training will further enhance mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, and contribute to regional peace and stability."

The exercises reflect growing defense ties between Beijing and Cairo as both countries expand military cooperation through joint training and strategic exchanges.

Central African Republic: Muslims Return as Sibut Rebuilds

FILE - An arial view of Bangui, Central African Republic, is seen on March. 8, 2024.

By Dominic Wabwireh with AFP

Central African Republic

Years after civil war drove many Muslims from Sibut, the call to prayer is echoing again from the town’s rebuilt central mosque. Returning residents and Christian neighbours are seeking to restore trust and revive a community once known for peaceful coexistence.

The Islamic call to prayer has returned to the rooftops of Sibut, a town about three hours north of Bangui that was once home to a thriving Muslim and Christian community.

Many Muslim residents fled after the Central African Republic descended into sectarian violence following the Seleka rebellion in 2013 and the rise of anti-Balaka militias.

Among those returning is Muslim trader Idriss Elder, who spent years in exile in neighbouring Chad. He now runs a small food shop in Sibut, hoping to rebuild the life he left behind.

A mosque becomes a symbol of reconciliation

The central mosque, once looted and destroyed during the conflict, has been rebuilt. Its imam, Said Goni, says the message from the pulpit is now one of peace and social cohesion.

“We are in a time of peace and living together,” Goni said. “All of us who have returned need peace.”

Security has improved in Sibut as Central African forces have regained control, supported by Russian fighters and the continued presence of UN peacekeepers.

For returning residents, the improved security has made it possible to rebuild businesses, homes and community ties.

Christian neighbours welcome returnees

In the Adramane district, where many Muslim homes and businesses were destroyed or abandoned, Christian residents say they want their former neighbours back.

“We are pleased to see the Muslims returning,” said resident Avenir Bissafi. “We have forgiven everything. We are asking our Muslim brothers to come back.”

But the neighbourhood remains a shadow of its former self, with damaged homes and a subdued market where Muslim traders once played a central role in the local economy.

Destroyed homes delay return

For many displaced Muslims, however, security is not the only obstacle to coming home.

Ousmane Chaibou, president of Sibut's Islamic Council, says many former residents remain in Chad or elsewhere in the Central African Republic because their houses were destroyed.

“The real problem is that their homes have been destroyed,” he said. “To this day, they have no houses to live in. That affects their plans to return.”

Authorities say they want to help displaced residents come back, but the wider country remains politically fragile and armed groups continue to operate in several areas.

For Sibut, the gradual return of its Muslim community offers a fragile symbol of reconciliation after years of violence.

Zambia's Opposition Leader Expresses 'Grave Concern' as Vote Count Suspended

Election workers count ballots at a polling station in Lusaka, Zambia, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026.

 Africa News

Zambia

Zambia’s opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has raised “grave concern” after the country’s electoral commission suspended vote counting nationwide amid reports of violence.

Mundubile said his party’s Parallel Voter Tabulation, based on results collected from polling stations and tallying centres across the country, indicated that he had won the presidential election and secured a majority of seats in parliament.

He called for the immediate publication and verification of the official results, warning that delays could create opportunities for interference or manipulation.

“The will of the Zambian people” must be independently verified, Mundubile said, calling for all stakeholders to have access to relevant electoral records.

Zambians went to the polls on Thursday in an election dominated by concerns over economic hardship. President Hakainde Hichilema, who has been in power since 2021, faced Mundubile, a former minister in the previous Patriotic Front government.

Around 8.7 million people were registered to vote. Voters were also choosing members of parliament, with the legislature expanded from 156 to 226 seats.

Official presidential results were expected on Monday.

The election comes as Zambia, a major copper producer in southern Africa, continues to grapple with economic challenges, making the outcome closely watched both at home and abroad.

Zambia Resumes Counting After Violence Disrupts Election Process

A Zambia's army vehicle is seen parked at the entrance of the Election results centre, in Lusaka, Zambia, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.

By Dominic Wabwireh with AFP

Zambia

Zambia has resumed vote counting after a nationwide suspension over election-related violence, with the Electoral Commission saying security threats have been contained. The first presidential results are expected at 10:00 p.m. local time, or 2000 GMT.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia lifted the suspension after consultations with law enforcement agencies and a review of the security situation.

Commission chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis said the threat to the electoral process had been contained and measures were in place for counting to continue.

The commission had suspended counting on Friday after reports of violence targeting election staff and the theft of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes.

Rival camps await official results

President Hakainde Hichilema, seeking a second five-year term, said his campaign was receiving “encouraging results” and urged supporters to remain peaceful and patient.

His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, meanwhile claimed victory in the presidential race and said his alliance had also won a majority of parliamentary seats.

Official results will determine whether Hichilema can secure another term or whether the opposition can force a change of power in the copper-rich country.

Election follows tense campaign

About 8.7 million voters were registered for Thursday’s election, which also included parliamentary and local contests. Counting for parliamentary seats was suspended alongside the presidential tally.

The vote was held against a backdrop of concerns over political freedoms, arrests and tensions between the government and opposition.

Authorities also arrested several people accused of attempting to disrupt the electoral system, including former senior government officials.

Economic record at stake

The election has also put Hichilema’s economic record under scrutiny. His government has secured a major debt restructuring agreement, restored an IMF programme and returned the economy to growth after Zambia defaulted on its sovereign debt under the previous administration.

But poverty, unemployment and rising food prices remain major concerns for many voters, with more than 70 percent of the population living on less than $3 a day, according to the World Bank.

Zambia has traditionally enjoyed peaceful transfers of power since the return to multiparty democracy in 1991, making the handling of the vote and the final result closely watched.

Mali Junta Pardons French Agent Jailed for 'Undermining State Security'

Présidence de la République du Mali/Page Facebook

Mali's junta leader Assimi Goïta

14 August 2026

Radio France Internationale

By RFI

Mali's junta leader General Assimi Goïta has pardoned a French intelligence agent serving a 20-year prison sentence, a rare conciliatory move after years of strained relations between the west African nation and its former colonial ruler.

The move comes as Mali's military authorities struggle to contain a renewed offensive by jihadist and separatist groups.

The French agent, identified as Yann Vézilier, was arrested in August last year alongside several Malian officers who were allegedly planning a coup.

Accused by Mali of espionage and undermining state security, Vézilier spent nearly 10 months in detention in Bamako before standing trial. France has repeatedly rejected the allegations as "baseless".

Diplomatic fallout

France's foreign ministry said the agent was "carrying out a security cooperation mission, and at no point did France participate, directly or indirectly, in the destabilisation of Mali".

Following the arrest, France suspended counter-terrorism cooperation with Mali and expelled two Malian diplomats.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday, Mali said the pardon "does not call into question the facts established by an adversarial judgment rendered during trial".

The statement added that there would be "immediate removal of the individual from national territory".

The sentencing of the French agent in June further damaged relations between France and Mali, where the military has been in power since coups in 2020 and 2021.

Goïta's decision to release the agent demonstrated his "commitment to peace and dialogue, as well as to the ancestral values of forgiveness, hospitality and magnanimity that characterise our culture", the statement said.

Unresolved case

The Malian officers arrested alongside Vézilier have not yet gone on trial. They are accused of creating an espionage and conspiracy network aimed at destabilising the government and carrying out a coup.

The government also referred to a "brotherly country" whose "good offices, exercised discreetly and with scrupulous respect for Mali's sovereignty, contributed to securing this pardon".

A Malian military source interviewed by French newspaper Le Monde said Morocco, which maintains good relations with both France and Mali, reportedly played a role.

Insurgents attack multiple towns in northern and central Mali, army says

Security pressure

Mali has faced a security crisis since 2012 involving groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as criminal gangs and separatist movements.

Since April, the country has seen a series of attacks by a coalition of Tuareg separatists from the Front de libération de l'Azawad (Azawad Liberation Front, FLA) and jihadists from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

The attacks led to the death of Mali's defence minister, the capture of the northern city of Kidal and the brief seizure of the town of Anefis.

In recent years, Mali has moved away from France in its fight against insurgents and strengthened military and political ties with Russia. France withdrew its 2,400 troops from Mali in 2022 as relations deteriorated.

On Thursday, the Malian army announced the release of 82 soldiers held since April by JNIM and the FLA.

A foreign ministry source told AFP that Algeria helped secure their release.

Mali and Algeria began easing tensions in July. Despite a dispute that had lasted more than a year, the two countries announced the return of ambassadors and the reopening of their airspace to each other.

(with AFP)

Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.

Zambia Opposition Leader Claims Election Victory As Hichilema Awaits Official Results

Nyasa Times

Mundubile (L) claims shock victory over Hichilema as Zambia election descends into crisis

14 August 2026

263Chat (Harare)

By Lovejoy Mutongwiza

Zambia's presidential election entered a tense phase on Friday after opposition leader Brian Mundubile claimed victory, while incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema stopped short of declaring a win and said his camp was receiving "encouraging results" as official counting continued.

Mundubile, leader of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), said his party's Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT), based on results collected from polling stations and totalling centres nationwide, indicated that he had won the presidency.

In a statement issued on August 14, Mundubile questioned delays in the publication and verification of official results, warning that prolonged uncertainty could create room for interference or manipulation.

He called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to immediately release results and provide political parties and observers with access to electoral records needed to independently verify the outcome.

Mundubile also cited allegations of irregularities reported by his party, including claims that military personnel had taken control of some totalling centres in Mufulira and that Gen 20 result forms had been removed.

He further raised concerns over alleged incidents involving ballot boxes in Chawama and Matero constituencies, as well as reports that election officials in North-Western Province had been instructed to stop issuing results and Gen 20 forms.

The opposition leader called for all ballot boxes and electoral documents to be preserved, with their chain of custody maintained. He also urged the ECZ to publish results at polling-station and constituency level so figures can be reconciled against original records.

Hichilema, meanwhile, urged Zambians to remain calm and await the official declaration.

"We continue to receive encouraging results and reports of peace, unity and solidarity across our country as the votes come in," he said.

"Let us remain peaceful, patient and patriotic as we await the official outcome from those entrusted with managing the vote."

Mundubile also called on supporters to avoid violence, saying the protection of the vote must be pursued within the law.

With both camps expressing confidence in their respective tallies, attention is now focused on the ECZ as it verifies and announces the official results.

"The people of Zambia voted. Their decision must be respected," Mundubile sai

Read the original article on 263Chat.

United States and Israeli Policy Further Divides Somalia

White House to cut back on United Nations assistance while there is continued military and diplomatic interference by Washington and Tel Aviv

By Abayomi Azikiwe

Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Wednesday August 12, 2026

Geostrategic Analysis

A recent announcement by the administration of United States President Donald Trump that it will withdraw monetary support for the United Nations Mission in the Horn of Africa state of Somalia has further endangered the capacity for national unity and economic growth.

This country and the broader region have been long coveted by the US and its allies due to its strategic location near the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Indian Ocean.

It should not be surprising that these discussions around the future of imperialist involvement in Somalia and the Horn of Africa have resurfaced in light of the failure of the US and Israel to defeat the Islamic Republic of Iran and its allies in West Asia. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of a similar military tactics being utilized by the Ansar Allah resistance movement in Yemen related to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has caused panic on an international level.

The sharp rise in commodity prices including oil has caused severe distress in international markets as the impact of the US-Israeli war against Iran is being felt throughout other geo-political regions across the globe. Even though President Donald Trump and his cabinet have dismissed widespread concerns among people living in the US over rising prices, the majority of the population have expressed opposition to the foreign policy of the administration. 

Prospects for oil exploration and drilling in Somalia have existed for decades although these plans have never reached fruition. Decades-long imperialist interference in the internal affairs of Somalia has spawned separatist enclaves and armed insurgencies which have hampered the attainment of peace and security inside the country. 

These external and internal problems can easily be viewed as a cause for the humanitarian crisis involving food deficits and threats of renewed famine. Despite the billions of dollars which have gone into reshaping the security apparatus of Somalia, there are millions of people still facing starvation and lack of water resources. 

In a recently published report from Radio Dalsan on the status of US and UN assistance to Somalia, it notes that:

“The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) has opened a tender seeking licensed auctioneers to sell off a wide range of its vehicles, generators and other equipment in Somalia, a notice published on the UN Global Marketplace shows. The call for expressions of interest, issued August 6, comes as Washington moves to cut off funding for the UN's logistical support mission by the end of 2026, deepening uncertainty over the future of international backing for Somalia's fight against al-Shabab. The tender matters now because it lands at the center of a widening rift between the United States and the United Nations over how and whether, to keep supporting Somalia's security transition. UNSOS underpins the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), supplying transport, fuel, food and other non-lethal supplies to roughly 12,000 African troops and police fighting a resilient insurgency. Any wind-down of that support network would strike at the core of the mission's ability to operate.” (https://allafrica.com/stories/202608110106.html)

However, the possibility of a shutdown of the UN Mission which coordinates the African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) does not mean the end of imperialist machinations in the country as well as the entire Horn of Africa region. Although the Trump administration has formally withdrawn from a number of international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement as well as liquidating the Agency for International Development (USAID), this does not mean that they are disengaging from world affairs. 

The administration in Washington has advanced proposals to replace the assistance to African states by the WHO and USAID by negotiating bilateral agreements. Some AU member-states have accepted the Trump administrations proposals while others have rejected them. 

Pentagon Moves into Puntland While Israel Recognizes Somaliland

In Somalia, the most widely known breakaway areas are Somaliland and Puntland. These two areas located in the north of the country have not been recognized as independent entities by the United Nations and the African Union. 

The operational independence of these breakaway areas is a direct result of the collapse of the previous military government of General Mohamed Siad Barre during 1991. Despite this 35-year-old dispute, the Federal capital in Mogadishu continues to claim sovereignty over these regions of the country.

Nonetheless, the divisions which exist in Somalia makes it prone to imperialist and zionist interference which have implications for the entire country and the Horn of Africa region. In the period leading up to the presidential and congressional elections of 2024, it was reported that a second Trump administration would recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

Although formal recognition by Washington of Somaliland has not occurred as of yet, the State of Israel has established diplomatic relations with this breakaway area. This action by Tel Aviv prompted large demonstrations in Mogadishu condemning the zionist settler-colonial state for its role in the internal affairs of Somalia.

These developments have implications which extend beyond diplomatic recognition. The threat of further international conflict in the Horn of Africa and West Asia remains. A potential merger of the geopolitical struggles in the Horn of Africa and West Asia could easily result in a further deteriorating securing situation. 

According to one source which studies the US-Israeli axis in their attempts to seize control over areas throughout both geopolitical regions, indicates that the risk of instability has risen to higher levels. The impact of diplomatic recognition of Somaliland by Tel Aviv as well as Washinton’s reconfiguration of its imperialist project in the Horn of Africa, could very well result in a broader conflict.

The Geopolitical Monitor website says of the current situation:

“On June 1, the Global Conflict Index published a report documenting how conflicts in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa risk merging into a singular conflict system. While functionally independent of each other, overlapping interests and actors are blurring the lines between these conflicts. Two aspects of the above report are particularly concerning regarding developments between Israel and Somaliland. The first is the role of ‘bridging states’ like Israel in merging conflicts systems – states that are structurally embedded and pursuing interests in both regions. The second aspect is the single ‘shock’ that precipitates the two conflict theaters fusing together. Any number of events could act as the trigger. Israel’s activity in Somaliland is one such risk. Overlapping strategic interests in Somaliland, great power politics in the Horn of Africa, and ripple effects from the Iran war have combined to render the policy of diplomatic recognition far more dangerous than originally envisioned.” (https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/israel-somaliland-recognition-two-conflict-zones-collide-in-the-mena/)

Furthering this possible merger of the two conflict zones is the reports of US escalation of its military presence in Puntland. If there is a heightened US presence in Puntland it could easily attract the attention of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Yemen. 

The potential for greater instability related to the worsening capacity of the Federal government in Mogadishu to provide security for the state, may in the short term, provide a rationale for the deployment of more Pentagon troops into Somalia and the entire Horn of Africa region. Consequently, the foreign policy of the Trump administration can only exacerbate the already precarious security situation in the region.

Responsible Statecraft says in a report on the expansion of Pentagon presence in the breakaway areas of Somalia, that:

“In early August, the top U.S. special operations commander for Africa signed a security agreement with the president of Puntland — a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia — to expand the American military installation there. The deal surfaced through a short statement from the Puntland government. ‘Under the agreement, the United States will expand its military base in Bosaso to improve operations against terrorism and to help protect maritime security,’ the Puntland Government of Somalia wrote in a statement. ‘The Puntland state remains committed to fighting terrorism and any threat that could harm the security, stability, and development of Puntland, Somalia, and the Horn of Africa.’ There are few details regarding the arrangement, which has no public text and has not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) or anybody in Washington.” (https://responsiblestatecraft.org/us-military-base-somalia/)

Unity is the Only Solution

Therefore, observers inside of Africa and internationally should not be confused by the rhetoric of the Trump administration which says it is resolving conflicts and downsizing its presence in the Global South. Since the beginning of the second non-consecutive term of Trump, the international situation has been marked by escalating wars in Africa, Latin America and West Asia. 

The AU along with other interested mass organizations and political parties on the continent have no choice except advocating greater unity within and between the 55-member states. As long as the imperialists and their allies can divide and conquer African states, there can be no progress in regard to economic development and political stability. 

Morocco Tightens Ceuta Border Security Over Mass Crossing Calls

By Al Mayadeen English

12 Aug 2026 22:04

Morocco tightened security around the Ceuta border after detecting online calls encouraging a new mass crossing attempt on August 15.

Moroccan authorities have stepped up security near the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after detecting online calls encouraging another large-scale attempt to cross the border on August 15.

The Interior Ministry said Wednesday that anonymous posts circulating on social media had falsely suggested that the crossing linking the northern Moroccan town of Fnideq with Ceuta would be opened on Friday, which is a public holiday in Spain.

Authorities said the messages appeared aimed at mobilizing people for a coordinated attempt to enter the Spanish-controlled territory irregularly.

“All the necessary measures were taken to counter all attempts at illegal passage and intercept every person seeking to participate,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Rachid El Khalfi said.

The ministry said it had identified “the circulation of publications and anonymous messages on social media inciting the organisation of collective, illegal crossing attempts” toward Ceuta.

Moroccan officials warned that those responsible for spreading or organizing the calls could face legal action. El Khalfi said several people suspected of involvement had already been summoned for questioning, according to Morocco’s state-run MAP news agency.

Authorities seek to prevent repeat of July crisis

The heightened security measures come less than a month after an unprecedented surge at the same border.

Around 72,000 people, the majority of them Moroccan nationals, entered Ceuta irregularly over several days in late July, marking the largest such movement recorded into the territory.

Most of those who crossed were later returned to Morocco. However, local authorities in Ceuta say approximately 2,000 people remain there, including nearly 1,000 unaccompanied minors.

Rabat has called on Spanish authorities to accelerate procedures for returning the minors.

The July crossings also resulted in a significant loss of life, although Moroccan and Spanish authorities have issued sharply different figures.

Moroccan authorities said 11 bodies were recovered following the crisis, while Spain reported that at least 80 people had died.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights offered a substantially higher estimate, saying at least 141 people were killed.

Ceuta, located on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast but administered by Spain, has repeatedly been a focal point for migration toward European territory, with attempts to enter the enclave often increasing during periods of heightened political or economic pressure.

South Sudan Elections Face Uncertainty amid Conflict and Delays

By Al Mayadeen English

7 Aug 2026 20:46

UN officials warn that South Sudan’s 2026 elections face major challenges as violence, displacement, and delays threaten a peaceful political transition.

As South Sudan's first elections in December 2026 near, the UN secretary-general’s special representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, Anita Kiki Gbeho, stated that conditions for peaceful and inclusive polls remain uncertain. 

“While elections represent an important transition milestone, concerns are growing about whether conditions necessary for credible, peaceful and inclusive elections can be established in time,” Gbeho said.

She raised concerns on Thursday over the continued clashes between government forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition, stating that civilians continue to suffer from loss of livelihoods and displacement. 

Over 420,000 people were displaced by violence between January and June, while South Sudan is already hosting roughly 1.4 million people who escaped the war in neighboring Sudan. 

Gbeho urged South Sudan's leadership and the international community to make a primary effort in ending the war, protecting civilians and humanitarian workers, and guaranteeing access to aid. 

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has remained firm on the fact that elections will be held as scheduled on December 22, 2026.

Juba remains far behind in election preparations

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) told the 15-member UN Security Council on Thursday that South Sudan is falling far behind schedule in its preparations for the upcoming elections. 

“Critical prerequisites for the conduct of credible, peaceful and inclusive elections remain unmet,” RJMEC Chairperson George Aggrey Owinow said, pressing on South Sudan’s leaders to build political consensus through “inclusive and genuine dialogue.”

The commission stated that urgent decisions had to be made on unresolved legal and political questions, the completion of the unification of forces, amnesty for civic and political space, reasonable funding for electoral bodies, and improving security in conflict-affected areas, while also making an effort towards the displacement of civilians.

RJMEC further stated that the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement was “significantly constrained” by a political and security impasse that has persisted since March 2025.

It further criticized amendments made to the peace agreement that removed the permanent constitution and national census and necessary conditions for elections, stating that these changes were made without considering the procedures required under the accord. 

RJMEC noted that worsening humanitarian conditions, including displacement, food insecurity and restricted humanitarian access, were limiting the involvement of women, young people and people with disabilities in political and civic processes. Women’s representation in South Sudan continued to dip below the 35% quota required under the peace agreement.

US Military Set to End two-decade Presence in Iraq by Sept. 30

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Associated Press

13 Aug 2026 15:50

Washington is preparing to withdraw its remaining forces from Iraq, closing a chapter that began with the 2003 US invasion and continued through years of military intervention.

The United States is on track to withdraw its remaining forces from Iraq by September 30, according to US and Iraqi officials who spoke with the Associated Press, marking the latest and potentially final stage of a military intervention that began with Washington's 2003 invasion and occupation of the country.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi reaffirmed September 30 as the "fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces" after meeting with US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper on Wednesday.

A US official also confirmed to AP that Washington expects to complete the withdrawal by the deadline, although the official declined to disclose how many US troops remain in Iraq or where they would be redeployed.

The withdrawal comes after more than two decades of US military intervention in Iraq, during which Washington invaded and occupied the country, withdrew its combat forces in 2011, and returned militarily in 2014.

US occupation forces set to leave Iraq by September 30

The September 30 deadline follows the 2024 agreement between Baghdad and Washington to wind down the US-led coalition's military mission in Iraq.

Most US forces withdrew from bases across Iraq last year, while a remaining contingent stayed in the Kurdistan Region. Two Iraqi Kurdish officials told AP that the drawdown of US troops and military equipment from Erbil began approximately three weeks ago.

The departure would represent a major reduction in the US military footprint in a country where Washington deployed more than 170,000 troops at the height of its counterinsurgency operations in 2007.

While Washington describes the current withdrawal as the conclusion of its military mission against ISIS, the broader history is inseparable from the 2003 invasion and the subsequent occupation of Iraq.

Two decades of US intervention in Iraq

The US invasion in 2003 toppled Saddam Hussein's government and initiated an occupation that profoundly reshaped Iraq and the wider region.

Washington's military presence reached more than 170,000 troops during the 2007 counterinsurgency campaign. The final US combat troops withdrew in December 2011, but the departure proved temporary.

In 2014, US forces returned to Iraq after ISIS seized large areas of the country and Syria. Washington presented the deployment as part of the campaign against ISIS and maintained approximately 2,500 troops after the group lost its territorial control, officially for training and counter-ISIS operations.

For Iraq's Resistance, however, the continued presence of US troops represented an extension of foreign military intervention and a violation of Iraq's sovereignty.

In June 2025, Kataib Hezbollah warned of severe consequences should US forces fail to withdraw from Iraqi bases, including Ain al-Asad and Camp Victoria.

Washington's military presence amid regional escalation

The remaining US presence in northern Iraq has also become entangled with the wider regional confrontation.

US bases in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region have faced repeated attacks since the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, according to the source material.

The latest withdrawal preparations come as Washington's regional military posture faces growing pressure, taking place against a broader backdrop in which US military intervention has faced increasing resistance and strategic setbacks across West Asia.

New Images Show Damage from Iranian Strikes on US-linked Gulf Sites

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Fars News Agency

13 Aug 2026 21:31

New satellite imagery published by Fars News Agency shows damage from earlier Iranian strikes on US military, intelligence-linked, energy, and industrial infrastructure in the UAE and Bahrain.

Iranian media have released new satellite imagery showing extensive damage inflicted by Iranian strikes on US military and US-linked strategic infrastructure across the Gulf during the war.

The images, published by Iran’s Fars News Agency on Thursday, compare several facilities before and after Iranian attacks, including sites in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The material does not appear to document a new round of strikes. Rather, it provides new imagery of attacks carried out earlier in the war, offering a clearer picture of the damage sustained by military, intelligence-linked, and industrial facilities across the region.

Among the locations highlighted is Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, where an Iranian strike destroyed a US TPS-57 long-range surveillance radar.

The imagery shows a large radar structure before the attack and substantial destruction around the installation afterward. Fars described the radar as a key component of the US military’s regional surveillance network.

Strategic and industrial sites hit

Another set of images shows damage at the Habshan gas complex in the UAE, where Iran struck a gas-compression facility.

Habshan is a major component of the UAE’s gas infrastructure. Damage at the complex following Iranian attacks had previously been acknowledged by Emirati authorities, although the full extent of the destruction was not immediately disclosed.

The newly released imagery also includes a data center in Bahrain supporting US military intelligence operations.

Satellite images presented by the Iranian outlet show significant damage at the location following the strike. Previous reporting and satellite imagery had also documented Iranian attacks affecting data-center infrastructure in Bahrain, including facilities operated by Amazon Web Services.

A fourth set of images focuses on an industrial facility in the UAE, where an Iranian attack destroyed a carbon unit used by the aluminum industry.

Emirates Global Aluminium previously confirmed that its Al Taweelah industrial complex sustained significant damage during Iranian missile and drone attacks. Subsequent reports indicated that restoring some of the damaged infrastructure could require months of repair work.

Iran highlights reach of its strikes

The publication of the new imagery comes as Tehran continues to stress the scale and precision of its military operations against US forces and infrastructure supporting Washington’s regional military presence.

Throughout the war, Iran repeatedly stated that US bases and facilities used to support attacks against the Islamic Republic would be considered legitimate military targets.

The newly released images are being presented as evidence that Tehran succeeded in reaching sensitive installations despite the extensive network of US and allied air-defense systems deployed across the Gulf.

Fars said the targeted facilities collectively as part of the United States’ regional “backbone,” arguing that the strikes extended beyond conventional military bases to infrastructure supporting Washington’s surveillance, intelligence, energy, and logistical networks.

Hormuz Under Full Iranian Control, US Claims False: Khatam al-Anbiya

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters

13 Aug 2026 17:42

Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters rejected US claims of normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has reaffirmed that control over the Strait of Hormuz remains firmly in Iranian hands, rejecting US attempts to present maritime traffic through the strategic waterway as having returned to normal.

The headquarters framed Washington’s claims as part of a broader effort to project control that has not materialized on the ground.

“Washington’s claims that vessels are passing normally through the Strait of Hormuz are nothing but lies and fabrications,” the spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said.

The statement noted that the balance governing passage through the Strait has not changed and that the Islamic Republic continues to determine the conditions under which ships may cross.

“The Strait of Hormuz remains, as before, under the full management and control of the Islamic Republic,” the headquarters stressed.

That authority, it added, extends directly to commercial navigation.

“No commercial vessel or oil tanker has been, or will be, able to pass safely through the Strait without authorization from the Armed Forces.”

Iran challenges US claims

The statements directly challenge Washington’s portrayal of the Strait as operating normally and reinforce Tehran’s argument that US military presence and public declarations have not translated into the ability to restore unrestricted navigation without Iranian approval.

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Tehran said Iranian officials view US President Donald Trump’s latest remarks through the same lens, interpreting them as an attempt to compensate politically and rhetorically for Washington’s inability to achieve its objectives.

“Iran considers Trump’s statements regarding the Strait of Hormuz to be nothing more than media hype aimed at covering up the failure of the aggression to achieve its objectives,” the correspondent said.

Tehran’s position therefore remains unchanged: normal maritime activity will not resume simply on the basis of US declarations.

“The Strait of Hormuz is completely closed, and maritime traffic cannot resume until the United States meets Iran’s conditions.”

Iran holds its ground as talks continue

Diplomatic contacts with Oman are continuing alongside Iran’s refusal to relinquish its leverage over the Strait.

“Talks between Tehran and Muscat are continuing, according to Iranian officials, and are proceeding positively, with progress achieved on several levels,” Al Mayadeen’s correspondent reported.

The continuation of those talks does not alter Tehran’s insistence that control over the waterway remains with Iran or that unrestricted passage depends on its conditions being met.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters broadened its criticism of Washington, describing US policy itself as a persistent source of instability in the region.

“The United States constantly seeks to foment trouble, instability, and insecurity in the region,” it said.

The headquarters also dismissed US threats as incapable of forcing Iran to retreat from its position.

“Washington’s threats, which are not backed by any real power or foundation, will produce nothing but further misery and helplessness.”

Rather than treating Washington’s military pressure as decisive, the headquarters pointed to previous confrontations as evidence that US leaders are already familiar with Iran’s ability and willingness to resist.

“Washington’s leaders and military have, in the past and up to this day, experienced firsthand the strength of the Iranian people and the courage of the nation’s sons serving in the Armed Forces.”

Khatam al-Anbiya warns against further escalation

The headquarters said the Iranian Armed Forces remain fully alert to US and Israeli activity across the region.

“The Iranian Armed Forces are monitoring all movements of the American and Zionist enemies in the region.”

It also tied Iran’s position in the Strait to the broader defense of national sovereignty and the principles of the Islamic Revolution.

“The Iranian Armed Forces will not hesitate to secure the rights of the people and safeguard national sovereignty under the leadership of Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei.”

“The Iranian Armed Forces will not retreat even an inch from defending the principles of the Revolution under the leadership of Sayyed Mojtaba Khamenei.”

The message from Khatam al-Anbiya was ultimately one of deterrence: Iran will not yield control under pressure and will treat any escalation as grounds for an even stronger response.

“The Iranian Armed Forces will respond to any threat, regardless of its nature or level, with a response more powerful and severe than before.”

Senator Schumer Demands Dismissal of US War Secretary

Friday, 14 August 2026 1:50 AM

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has demanded the immediate dismissal of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, branding him “completely incompetent” as American sailors endure horrific conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during Washington’s prolonged aggression against Iran.

In a post on the US social media platform X on Thursday, Schumer said,  “When Pete Hegseth was nominated, everyone knew he was completely incompetent. Now our brave sailors are paying the price in a horrific and unfathomable way. Pete Hegseth must be fired immediately.”

The remarks come amid mounting reports of severe hardship facing the roughly 5,000 sailors and Marines on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which has been continuously at sea for more than 250 days since departing San Diego in November 2025.

Rerouted to the Middle East ahead of US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began in late February, the Lincoln has operated without a meaningful port call for over 200 days while supporting airstrikes, a naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, and other elements of the illegal US campaign.

Multiple sailors have reportedly attempted to jump overboard in desperation, with at least one entering the water and requiring rescue. Crew members and their families have described shortages of basic supplies, contaminated water, broken toilets and moldy showers, intermittent hot water, disrupted mail deliveries that left care packages lost for months, and severe food rationing, including meals reduced to half a cup of rice and two tortillas, with no fresh produce or milk for months. Long 12- to 16-hour shifts with no days off have compounded the mental health crisis and exhaustion.

Hegseth, speaking to reporters in Panama, dismissed the accounts as “completely misrepresented,” insisting the Pentagon ensures crews receive everything possible and praising sailors for enduring “austere conditions with less port calls.”

Iran has denounced the US and Israel for committing some of the most severe violations of international humanitarian law in modern history through their ongoing military aggression against the Islamic Republic.

The crisis exposes the profound failures of US military overreach. Democratic senators, including Richard Blumenthal and Ruben Gallego, have written to Hegseth demanding answers on the Navy’s ability to sustain such operations and calling for bipartisan oversight visits to the ship. Families of crew members have publicly clashed with Navy leadership over the endless extensions of a deployment originally expected to end in May.

In a clear sign of strain on the American war machine, the USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East from the Pacific to relieve the Lincoln, according to Navy statements and open-source tracking. The swap underscores how Iran’s resolute resistance and the contested environment created by the conflict have disrupted traditional US supply lines and forced extended, unsustainable deployments.

Washington’s aggression, launched under the banner of “Operation Epic Fury,” has already exacted a heavy toll not only on regional stability and global energy markets but on its own personnel.

Iran: US and Israel Guilty of Gravest War Crimes Since 1949

Thursday, 13 August 2026 10:13 PM

A picture released shows graves being prepared for victims, mostly children, of a US terrorist attack on a girls' primary school in Minab, Iran.

On the 77th anniversary of the adoption of the Four Geneva Conventions, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has issued a statement denouncing the United States and the Zionist regime for committing some of the most severe violations of international humanitarian law in modern history through their ongoing military aggression against the Islamic Republic.

The statement, released on Thursday, recalls that on August 12, 1949, the four Geneva Conventions established binding principles for armed conflict, including the distinction between military and civilian targets, proportionality, military necessity, and the prohibition of unnecessary suffering.

Common Article 1 of the conventions obliges all states parties not only to respect these rules “in all circumstances” but also to ensure their respect by others. These principles now form an integral part of customary international humanitarian law binding on every nation.

Yet the world continues to witness unprecedented breaches. The Zionist regime, the ministry declared, remains the single greatest violator of international humanitarian law. Over the past eight decades it has perpetrated the most serious international crimes -- war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity -- in occupied Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and across West Asia.

The statement identifies the Zionist regime’s aggressive operations against Iran in 2025 and 2026, carried out with the full complicity and participation of the United States, as among the gravest violations of humanitarian law since the conventions were adopted.

“The war crimes committed by the terrorist US army and the genocidal Zionist regime during their military aggression against Iran over the past year and a half have pushed the boundaries of savagery and barbarity,” the ministry said.

It cited specific atrocities: the massacre of students and teachers in Minab with Tomahawk missiles; the attack on the Lamerd stadium with cluster munitions on February 28, 2026; and the bombing of residential homes in Qeshm with one-ton bombs on July 30, 2026. These, it stressed, represent only a fraction of the thousands of war crimes inflicted on the Iranian people.

The ministry pointed to the open and systematic contempt shown by the US ruling establishment for the fundamental rules of international humanitarian law. Explicit statements by high-ranking American officials -- including the president, the secretary of war, and the secretary of state -- together with a repeated pattern of strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, demonstrate a clear intent to commit grave, severe, and organized violations of the laws of armed conflict.

Attacks by the United States and the Zionist regime on hospitals, universities, schools, residential areas, bridges, airports, and fire stations, along with the deliberate killing of civilians, women, and children in places such as Minab, Lamerd, and Qeshm, fall squarely under the grave breaches listed in Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These include willful killing, the infliction of great suffering, and the extensive destruction of property. Both the material and mental elements of these crimes have been fully established.

Repeated admissions by US officials of a policy of “no quarter, no mercy,” open threats to strike Iranian infrastructure, bridges, and power plants, and rhetoric about “returning Iran to the Stone Age” or “completely destroying Iranian civilization,” combined with the systematic targeting of civilian objects, provide irrefutable evidence of premeditated intent and a deliberate pattern of grave breaches under Article 147.

The systematic destruction has disrupted commercial activities, maritime transportation, emergency response services, and daily livelihoods.

Once attribution, causation, and the other legal elements are confirmed in each case, criminal responsibility attaches to the perpetrators and those who ordered the acts under Article 146 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which requires states parties to search for and prosecute those responsible for such violations.

The continued commission of these serious breaches by the United States and the Zionist regime, coupled with the inaction of the United Nations, the states parties to the Geneva Conventions, and Switzerland as depositary, has normalized violations of humanitarian law and fostered a culture of impunity for war crimes. This trend, the ministry warned, is not merely a threat to one nation but a catastrophic regression for the entire legal order that humanity constructed to civilize conflict and restrain violence.

The international community, the states parties to the Geneva Conventions, and Switzerland cannot remain indifferent to such unprecedented violations that constitute clear war crimes. Accountability must be pursued without delay.

Report: Iran Wiped Out Nearly Quarter of US High-tech Reaper Fleet

Thursday, 13 August 2026 7:36 PM

A MQ-9 Reaper. (File photo)

The United States has lost 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones since launching its war of aggression against Iran, with Iranian air defenses bringing down roughly a quarter of the US fleet and exposing the vulnerability of one of Washington’s key surveillance and strike platforms, according to a report.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that the losses could cost US taxpayers more than $1.3 billion, with each Reaper estimated to be worth between $30 million and $50 million, depending on its configuration.

When the war began on February 28, the US had approximately 185 Reapers, including 165 operated by the Air Force and 20 by the Marine Corps.

Iranian air defenses accounted for a substantial share of the losses, highlighting the difficulty faced by the US military in protecting its costly drones while operating over Iranian territory.

By March 11, US officials had acknowledged that Iran had shot down around 10 Reapers. The drones had been deployed extensively for surveillance and to identify and target Iranian missile launchers.

The losses continued to mount. More than two dozen Reapers had been destroyed by May, reducing the Air Force fleet to roughly 135 aircraft by May 12, according to US defense officials at the time.

On July 8, a US official confirmed that Iran had shot down around 30 MQ-9s since the beginning of the war, underscoring the scale of the losses well before the latest figure of 45.

The attrition is particularly significant because the MQ-9 Reaper is a central component of US intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, as well as precision strikes. Its ability to operate without risking a pilot has made it a preferred platform for missions over heavily defended territory.

The mounting losses have also added to broader pressure on US weapons stocks during the war, including the depletion of costly precision-guided missiles.

Some US interceptors cost more than $1 million each, while Iranian drones and missiles have repeatedly put US air-defense systems under pressure across West Asia.

The US-Israeli aggression against Iran triggered sustained Iranian missile and drone strikes against US and Israeli assets across the region.

Iran also closed the Strait of Hormuz in response, while Washington and Tehran later signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17 in an effort to end the war across all fronts.

Renewed US aggression in recent weeks, however, has prompted Iran to resume attacks against American assets and close the strategic waterway once again.

CIA Doubted Israeli Intel on Alleged Iranian Threat that Forced Trump to Change Planes: Report

Thursday, 13 August 2026 7:13 PM

US President Donald Trump speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport, California, August 04, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly had serious doubts about Israeli intelligence claiming that Iran was planning to assassinate US President Donald Trump during his July visit to Turkey, according to a report.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that CIA analysts did not find the Israeli intelligence compelling and conveyed their skepticism to the Trump administration.

One US official described the warning as “Israeli-derived, not US-generated, and viewed as low confidence,” while another said some intelligence officials believed it was intended to influence Trump’s decisions rather than simply warn him of an imminent threat.

The report said Israel was particularly concerned about improving relations between Washington and Ankara, as Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Turkey’s possible return to the US F-35 fighter jet program.

Israeli officials oppose the potential sale of the advanced US fighter to Turkey, arguing that it could weaken Israel’s so-called military advantage in the region.

One former official described the incident as part of a broader pattern of Israelis seeking to “shape presidential decision-making.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also received the warning but did not treat it as serious enough to prevent him from boarding Air Force One for the return journey, according to the report.

Democratic Senator Christopher Van Hollen likewise questioned the intelligence, asking whether the Israeli-provided information was “independently verifiable.”

“I have no doubt that Iran would like to see the president gone, but this all seems a little fantastical,” Van Hollen added.

A report shows the suspected plot to kill Trump in Turkey was an Israeli ruse to derail Iran-US talks.

The intelligence warning nevertheless triggered a highly unusual security operation during Trump’s departure from Turkey on July 8, with the Secret Service removing him from Air Force One after the NATO summit.

Trump was transported inside an airport catering vehicle to an Air Force C-32A, which then flew him to Britain while two F-16 fighter jets provided an escort.

Air Force One continued its flight with White House officials, security personnel, support staff and journalists aboard, effectively serving as a decoy while Trump traveled on the smaller aircraft.

Trump later claimed he had not been frightened by the reported threat and said he simply followed the Secret Service’s instructions to board “a different flight, a different plane.”

Qeshm Oil Pollution Direct Result of US-Israeli Aggression: Deputy FM

Thursday, 13 August 2026 11:07 PM

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi (Photo by Tasnim news agency)

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi has firmly attributed the recent oil pollution along the shores of Qeshm Island to the repercussions of foreign military aggression in the region.

In a tweet on Thursday,  Gharibabadi also stressed that the incident further highlights the urgent necessity for the Islamic Republic to define and implement its own management mechanism for the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Gharibabadi’s remarks come as Iranian environmental authorities report the near-complete containment of the spill through rapid and effective action, demonstrating the country’s capacity to protect its sensitive marine environment despite the ongoing consequences of the US-Israeli war of aggression.

The statement makes clear that such environmental disasters are the direct and inevitable consequence of foreign military aggression, reinforcing Iran’s determination to establish a sovereign management mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard its national interests, regional security and the marine environment of the Persian Gulf.

Habib Masihi Taziani, director general of Hormozgan Province’s Department of Environmental Protection, announced that pollution along southern Qeshm had been almost entirely collected by Wednesday evening, with remaining efforts nearing full completion.

Despite the environmental impact, monitoring teams found no carcasses of dolphins, sea turtles or other aquatic and coastal species linked to the pollution.

Officials confirmed that oil slicks in affected marine areas were removed using specialized absorbent pads and materials, while contaminated sand was carefully stripped from beaches to a depth of two to five centimeters.

The latest pollution forms part of the broader environmental fallout from the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, which has repeatedly targeted the country’s vital oil and energy infrastructure. On April 8, US-Israeli forces struck Iran’s Lavan oil refinery, triggering fires and extensive damage that released petroleum contamination into surrounding waters.

Iranian environmental authorities subsequently documented pollution along the southern and eastern shores of Lavan Island and the mainland coast near Bandar Maqam, with contamination also detected around Qeshm, Larak, Hengam and Hormuz islands.

These attacks have raised serious concerns over the wider ecological damage inflicted by strikes on Iran’s oil facilities, particularly along the sensitive coastline of Hormozgan Province.

Iran’s top environmental authority says US-Israeli aggression has caused oil pollution affecting parts of Qeshm Island and nearby coastal areas.

The US-Israeli aggression began on February 28, prompting the Islamic Republic to exercise its legitimate right of self-defense by launching missile and drone strikes against US and Israeli assets across the region and closing the Strait of Hormuz. Although Washington and Tehran signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding on June 17, renewed American aggression has since forced Iran to resume defensive operations against US targets and once again close the strategic waterway.

Thousands Flee Yearslong Drought in Somalia as Hunger Deepens and Aid Shrinks

By MOHAMED SHEIKH NOR and OMAR FARUK

2:45 AM EDT, August 12, 2026

BAIDOA, Somalia (AP) — After nearly two weeks on the road with her five children, Luul Mohamed finally arrived in the southwestern Somali city of Baidoa with no food and little sense of what would happen next.

Drought conditions had forced Mohamed and her family to leave Saakoow, a town in the Middle Jubba region more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) away. They moved from village to village before arriving in Baidoa, now a major hub for people fleeing drought, insecurity and food shortages, on Aug. 3.

“We are very hungry and in a desperate situation,” Mohamed said. “We have nothing to eat and can only place our hope in God, as He is the one who sustains us through this ordeal that culminated in our trip.”

The family’s journey is one example of a deepening humanitarian emergency in Somalia, where years of drought, conflict and economic pressures are pushing more families from rural communities into displacement camps as hunger rises and humanitarian funding shrinks.

About 2 million people are facing emergency levels of food insecurity, more than double the number recorded last year, according to Plan International, which has provided assistance to more than 200,000 people in Somalia this year. The humanitarian group and Somalia’s Disaster Management Agency are calling for increased international assistance, with concern that the crisis could be compounded by another climate shock later this year.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization has projected a greater than 90% probability of El Nino conditions developing from mid-2026 and intensifying during Somalia’s October-to-December rainy season, bringing the severe risk of flooding.

Somalia is highly vulnerable to extreme weather and has experienced repeated cycles of prolonged drought followed by destructive flooding. The shocks have eroded livelihoods, displaced communities, contributed to disease outbreaks and worsened food insecurity.

In Baidoa, hundreds of thousands of people fleeing prolonged drought have gathered in sprawling displacement settlements on the outskirts of the city.

One of them, Habiba Adan, fled her settlement in Awdiinle in the Bay region after four consecutive years of drought destroyed crops and killed livestock. She eventually moved to Baidoa with her two older daughters and now lives in a displacement camp.

Adan would like to return home, but she said continuing drought and failed harvests there have left families with little prospect of rebuilding their lives.

“The drought we are experiencing has stretched for four consecutive years, and this year, most crops have again been decimated,” Adan said. “Farmers were only able to harvest enough to sow their fields for the next season, leaving our future bleak. Here in these camps, we lack food and essential support. We have no food, water, or money, and we sit idly.”

According to Plan International, the city is hosting about 1.6 million people, nearly half of them displaced. It says one in five families lacks reliable access to water, among the most immediate challenges facing displaced families. They are increasingly forced to buy trucked water at steep prices that many simply cannot afford.

Families have nothing left after years of drought

Reena Ghelani, the global CEO of Plan International, visited Baidoa last week, meeting drought-displaced families and visiting a malnutrition ward in the Bay region.

Ghelani said many of the families she met had tried to remain in their communities through successive years of drought, leaving only when their resources were exhausted.

Many fled “after waiting and waiting year after year of drought and just surviving,” Ghelani said. “And now they say there’s nothing left. They have no water. They have no stocks. The animals have died. There is literally nothing left anymore.”

She said rising prices are placing additional pressure on families already struggling to find enough food.

Children are suffering from malnutrition

Data released in May by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global hunger monitoring system, showed that about half of children under 5 in Somalia were facing acute malnutrition.

Plan International, citing Save the Children, said the number of children receiving treatment for the most dangerous form of malnutrition in Baidoa had nearly tripled over six months.

Dr. Omar Abdikarin, a nutritionist in Baidoa, said patients are arriving for treatment from the Bay as well as the neighboring Bakool and Gedo regions.

“Malnutrition is prevalent in this region, and the majority of patients treated at this hospital suffer from malnourishment,” Abdikarin said.

The health risks extend beyond malnutrition. Ghelani said she encountered children affected by outbreaks of diphtheria, measles, malaria, cholera and acute diarrhea.

The prospect of heavy rainfall later this year presents a new threat to communities facing multiple crises. Intense rainfall and flooding could wash away homes and farmland, contaminate drinking water and force families to move again. Aid agencies warn that the expected El Nino conditions will compound the crisis for countless families before they have had time to recover from prolonged drought conditions.

For families arriving in Baidoa such as Mohamed’s, the most urgent question is where to find clean water and food.

Mohamed said her husband had left for farms on the outskirts of the city, in search of work or something for their children to eat. A day after arriving in the city, she was still waiting to find out whether her husband would return with good news.

___ Faruk reported from Mogadishu, Somalia.

Mali Separatists Release 82 Soldiers, Including Some Held Since a Major Attack in April

12:16 PM EDT, August 13, 2026

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Separatists in northern Mali have released 82 soldiers, including some taken captive during a nationwide attack on government forces in April, the Malian military and a rebel spokesperson said Thursday.

A statement from the Malian Armed Forces said that the “freed soldiers are now safe and being cared for by the relevant authorities.” Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the separatist Azawad Liberation Front, confirmed the release.

Mali has been plagued for over a decade by insurgencies by militants affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, including JNIM, as well as a Tuareg-led separatist rebellion in the north.

Violence escalated in recent months after an alliance of JNIM and Tuareg separatists carried out coordinated attacks on April 25, targeting the airport of the country’s capital, Bamako, the nearby garrison town of Kati, and several northern and central cities.

Ramadane said that the soldiers were released on humanitarian grounds, and that some of them had been held captive since as long ago as 2023. He said around 118 Malian soldiers are still captive.

April’s attacks exposed weaknesses of Mali’s strategy to combat the rebellion, including relying on Russia, which has partnered with the military-led government after it distanced itself from former allies such as France.

The soldiers’ release was announced the same day Mali’s president pardoned Yann Vézilier, a French national sentenced to 20 years in prison. Vézilier, who worked for the French Embassy in Mali, was arrested in August 2025 and accused of being an intelligence agent involved in a plot to destabilize the country.

The Malian government said in a statement the clemency did not overturn the court’s findings and required the individual’s immediate removal from the country.

The French foreign ministry didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

DR Congo’s Ebola Outbreak is on Track to Surpass the Deadliest One in History, WHO Chief Says

By STEFANIE DAZIO and MARK BANCHEREAU

3:49 PM EDT, August 12, 2026

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest one in history, which erupted over a decade ago and killed over 11,000 people, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

“At its current pace, it’s on track to eclipse the West African Ebola outbreak of 2014 to 2016,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters. That outbreak horrified the world and jolted efforts to develop a vaccine.

The outbreak in eastern Congo, considered the fastest-growing one yet, has killed over 2,000 people out of more than 4,300 cases. The outbreak was declared on May 15, but health authorities now say sequencing showed it began months earlier, in February.

It is unlike recent Ebola outbreaks because the rare Bundibugyo virus responsible for it has no approved vaccines or treatments, though efforts to address that are underway.

WHO says this outbreak ‘had a big head start’

Experts say this outbreak is moving faster than efforts to track and manage it in a remote part of eastern Congo facing ongoing conflict, near the borders with South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda.

Most new cases and deaths are being reported in communities outside the reach of health workers in a region of poor infrastructure and ill-equipped health centers. Some workers have gone on strike over lack of pay. Misinformation about the virus circulates in communities where some are wary of outsiders, keeping some people from clinics.

“The outbreak had a big head start, still way ahead of us, and we’re playing catch-up,” Tedros said.

Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud, WHO’s director for health emergency alert and response operations, said the agency expects the peak of the outbreak to be reached in six months.

“But ... that’s the moderate scenario,” Mahamud said. “There is a one-case scenario where this outbreak may last nine months to 12 months.”

This Ebola outbreak has killed more people at a faster rate than any other, including the 2014-2016 outbreak that had at least 28,000 cases. That one took about eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.

Two vaccines for this type are being tested

Ebola is rare but highly contagious and can be contracted from bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, and from contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing. The disease it causes is severe and often fatal.

Clinical trials of two possible treatments for this type of Ebola began last month in Ituri, the most affected of the five provinces in Congo where cases have been reported.

Two vaccines developed specifically for the Bundibugyo virus are now being tested in people for the first time, Tedros said Wednesday.

WHO also plans to test whether an existing Ebola vaccine could protect people against the virus after studies in animals showed promising results.

The origins of the outbreak are becoming increasingly clear.

A study published in Nature Medicine on Monday added evidence that the outbreak began when the virus jumped from an infected animal to a person, rather than stemming from earlier outbreaks. Researchers found the virus is genetically different from versions seen in Bundibugyo Ebola outbreaks in 2007 and 2012.

___

Dazio reported from Berlin and Banchereau from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.