UN peacekeepers ahead of schedule as they pull out of northern Mali rebel stronghold

United Nations peacekeepers on Tuesday withdrew from a rebel stronghold in northern Mali weeks earlier than planned because of growing insecurity, leaving the town in the hands of ethnic Tuareg separatists.

Underscoring the uptick in violence, at least two peacekeepers were wounded en route to the largest U.N. base in Gao.

"The peacekeepers’ convoy that left Kidal this morning was the victim of two improvised explosive device attacks," Myriam Dessables, head of communications for the U.N. mission known as MINUSMA, told The Associated Press.

UN PEACEKEEPERS WITHDRAW FROM NORTHERN MALI AS VIOLENCE RISK ESCALATES

JNIM, an extremist group with links to al-Qaida, later claimed responsibility for the attack.

MINUSMA has now left eight of its 13 bases after Mali’s junta earlier this year ordered the 15,000-strong mission to leave the West African country, claiming it had failed in its mission in trying to contain an Islamic extremist insurgency.

"The conditions for the departure of all these bases were extremely difficult and trying, for a variety of reasons — all completely beyond the mission’s control — including the deterioration of the security situation and the resulting multiple threats to peacekeepers," MINUSMA said in a statement confirming the latest departure.

About 850 U.N. peacekeepers had been based in Kidal along with 150 other mission personnel.

An employee with MINUSMA told AP that the peacekeepers left Kidal in convoys after Mali's military junta refused to authorize flights to repatriate U.N. equipment and civilian personnel.

The employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists, said the former MINUSMA base and the town's airport were now under rebel control.

"I see residents of the town returning to the base to take away scrap metal and other objects left behind by the peacekeepers," a resident of Kidal, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, told the AP.

MALI JUNTA POSTPONES 2024 ELECTION, DELAYING RETURN TO DEMOCRATIC RULE

Mali's junta, which overthrew the democratically elected president in 2021, has sought to distance the country from international partners. Former colonizer France, another partner in the fight against extremists, pulled out its military forces in 2022.

The U.N. peacekeeping operation became one of the most dangerous in the world, with more than 300 MINUSMA members killed since operations began in 2013.

Violence is again spiking between ethnic Tuareg rebels and Mali’s military, prompting the U.N. to move up its departure once planned for mid-November.

Analysts say the violence signals the breakdown of a 2015 peace agreement signed between the government and the rebels. That deal was signed after Tuareg rebels drove security forces out of northern Mali in 2012 as they sought to create an independent state they call Azawad.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/V1AQ2u7

Mexican navy finds 4 more sunken boats in Otis aftermath

The Mexican navy said Tuesday that four more boats have been located on the bottom of Acapulco bay, bringing to 33 the number of vessels that apparently sank when Hurricane Otis slammed into the resort city last week.

The boats are believed to have been one of the key sources of hurricane deaths, because many crews are missing and apparently stayed aboard their craft when the Category 5 storm hit. So far, 47 people have been confirmed killed, including three foreign residents.

Navy Secretary José Rafael Ojeda said a ship with a crane has arrived. and that search teams hope to start lifting the boats to the surface soon to check for victims.

42 LOCALS, 3 FOREIGNERS REPORTED DEAD IN HURRICANE OTIS THUS FAR

"We have located 33 vessels, and we are going to start trying to lift them," Ojeda said.

However, with just one crane working, lifting the boats to the surface could take weeks, raising the prospect of a long, agonizing wait for relatives.

On Monday, a handful of relatives demonstrated on Acapulco's mud-clogged main boulevard to demand authorities speed up the search, holding up hand-lettered signs saying "I'm looking for my husband."

Abigail Andrade Rodríguez was one of four crew members aboard the rental boat Litos, a 94-foot, twin-motor yacht based in Puerto Marques, just south of Acapulco’s main bay, on the night the hurricane hit.

"None of them has been found," said Susy Andrade, her aunt.

"She spoke with her family (Tuesday) and she said the sea was very choppy, and that they were going to leave Puerto Marques and head for the (Acapulco) marina to see if they would be safer there," Andrade said. "It appears they didn’t arrive."

Around midnight, the yacht appears to have sent out an SOS after being blown or fleeing across the main bay. There was no official word that the Litos was among the 29 boats confirmed sunk.

"Things don’t look good," Andrade said, "but we want to find her."

Acapulco is known for both its abundance of expensive yachts and its cheap tour boats that carry tourists around the bay.

In previous hurricanes in Acapulco, most of the dead were swept away by flooding on land. But with Otis, a significant number appear to have died at sea. Residents have said that some crews had either chosen or been ordered to stay aboard to guard their craft.

A local business chamber leader put the number of missing or dead at sea as high as 120, but there has been no official confirmation of that.

HURRICANE OTIS, STRONGEST STORM IN EASTERN PACIFIC'S HISTORY, TEARS THROUGH ACAPULCO

Roberto Arroyo, Guerrero state’s civil defense secretary, said late Monday that the death toll stood at 47, with 54 people listed as missing.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said over the weekend that his opponents are trying to inflate the toll to damage him politically, but with hundreds of families still awaiting word from loved ones, it was likely to keep rising.

The federal civil defense agency tallied 220,000 homes that were damaged by the hurricane, which blew out the windows and walls of some high-rise hotels and ripped the tin roofs off thousands of homes.

Officials from the national electric company promised to have power restored in all of Acapulco by late Tuesday, a week after the hurricane hit. But a company official suggested early Tuesday that goal probably wouldn't be met, in part because some downed power poles and towers were so remote or surrounded by squatter communities that they had to be replaced by helicopter.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/7nXikRj

Iran proxies step up attacks against American forces overseas in light of US support for Israel

American troops operating in the Middle East have been faced with an uptick in attacks in recent weeks, a trend that could continue as the U.S. supports Israel's war effort against Hamas.

U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on facilities in eastern Syria last week in response to continued attacks on U.S. troops by Iranian proxies in recent weeks, striking a weapons depot and an ammo storage area believed to be used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated groups, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News' chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin.

The strikes come as Pentagon officials have warned of the possible fallout of Israeli's war with Hamas leading to increased danger for U.S. forces, with one senior defense official telling reporters that they "see a prospect for much more significant escalation against U.S. forces and personnel in the near term and, let's be clear about it, the road leads back to Iran," according to a report from Military.com.

The warning came as Israel began its second phase, which saw a number of troops enter Gaza in response to the Hamas terror group's attack on communities in the country's south on Oct. 7 that saw some 1,400 Israelis killed and hundreds taken hostage. While U.S. troops are not directly involved in the conflict, forces carrying out counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and Syria have been put at increased risk, particularly from attacks by Iranian-backed proxies looking to influence U.S. support for Israel.

US TROOPS IN MIDDLE EAST ATTACKED 14 TIMES, INJURING 24 PEOPLE OVER THE LAST WEEK: PENTAGON

Robert Greenway, the director of the Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation, told Fox News Digital that a "good chunk of those [were] towards Al-Asad Airbase [in Iraq], our largest in the area and a critical part of our operations."

The Pentagon's acknowledgment of the issue has taken a sudden turn over the last few weeks, according to the Military.com report. Earlier this month, the report notes, Pentagon top spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said he was "not tracking any specific information regarding the specific targeting of American citizens or U.S. military forces or their families." But last week, Ryder told reporters during a Pentagon press briefing that there have been a growing number of attacks and that "by virtue of the fact that they're supported by Iran, we will ultimately hold Iran responsible."

HAMAS TERROR BASE IS HIDDEN BENEATH GAZA'S LARGEST HOSPITAL, ISRAEL ALLEGES

Other senior defense officials also acknowledged the uptick in attacks in comments to Military.com, but just what the response will be is even more important, Greenway said.

"We should be responding in kind to prevent this from continuing, otherwise one of these times they're going to get lucky and they're going to cause a casualty and fatality or perhaps multiple ones," he said. 

Bill Roggio, managing editor of the Long War Journal at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that the situation poses the risk of escalating further.

"The risk of this escalating is significant, it certainly needs to be on the radar of the Department of Defense," Roggio said. "They have tens of thousands of fighters per group in their ranks, and if they wanted to muster forces and attempt to overrun a base, they may very well be able to do so."

US MILITARY CARRIES OUT AIRSTRIKES ON FACILITIES IN SYRIA OPERATED BY IRANIAN-BACKED FORCES

Roggio said that many U.S. bases in Syria are lightly guarded, and while it's difficult to confirm an exact number of troops, the number of U.S. forces is thought to be around a couple of hundred. Meanwhile, bases in Iraq are largely guarded by Iraqi forces, which Roggio says have proven to be "unreliable."

He also argued that the U.S. countering with strikes on targets such as ammo depots likely wouldn't be enough to deter future attacks. Instead, Roggio said, the U.S. would likely have to surge possibly a couple of thousand more troops into the area to protect the under-guarded installations.

Greenway noted that the continued attacks will begin to have an impact on U.S. forces' counterterrorism operations in the region, arguing that it will be difficult for troops to conduct "offensive operations" while also having to defend themselves from attacks.

The Pentagon announced that it is moving more air defense platforms as well as the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier strike group to the region in response to the attacks, a move that Ryder says "enhances our presence and ... provides another level of capability across the broader Middle East region." Meanwhile, more U.S. troops have surged into the region and an additional 2,000-plus troops have been put on a "prepare to deploy" order, something that defense officials said will be "critical to bolstering regional deterrence efforts, safeguarding our troops and assisting in the defense of Israel."

Roggio said Iran has multiple goals in the region and its proxies could even be moved to Israel's borders with Lebanon and Syria and present additional problems for Israeli forces as they continue their offensive in Gaza. Iranian proxies could also continue attacks on U.S. forces in the area in an attempt to undermine U.S. resolve and support of Israel in the ongoing conflict.

Greenway said such attacks are likely to continue, also arguing that Iranian-backed proxies will continue to hit U.S. troops in an attempt to soften resolve for American support of Israel.

"The intent behind these attacks is to create pressure on the United States," Greenway said, adding that such pressure is aimed at causing the U.S. to then apply pressure to Israel to end hostilities. "This is how Iran works, through surrogates and proxies against the United States."

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/CgAfDBW

Israel ambassador blasts UN 'silence' over Hamas atrocities; to wear yellow star until terrorists condemned

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations gave a blistering speech at the world body on Monday, blasting the Security Council for not condemning Hamas terrorists for the intentional murder of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, and remaining silent just like the "world" did when Nazis killed innocent Jews at Auschwitz.

Ambassador Gilad Erdan addressed the emergency meeting on the Israel-Hamas war, which was convened at the request of the United Arab Emirates.

During his address, he attacked the Security Council’s silence on the heinous acts committed by Hamas terrorists, likening it to when his grandfather Chaim and his children were sent to Auschwitz.

ISRAELI UN AMBASSADOR DEMANDS UN SECRETARY-GENERAL RESIGN AFTER ‘SHOCKING’ SPEECH

"When his babies were sent to the gas chambers, the world stayed silent. When their bodies were burned along millions of other Jewish children, the world was silent," Erdan said. "Today, after innocent Jewish babies were burned alive, this Council is still silent. Some of you have learned nothing in the past 80 years. Some of you have forgotten why this body was established."

He reminded them that every day after today, he wanted each member of the Security Council to remember what he said while they all remained silent in the face of evil.

"Just like my grandparents, and the grandparents of millions of Jews, from now on, my team and I will wear Yellow Stars. We will wear this star until you wake up and condemn the atrocities of Hamas," Erdan said. "We will walk with a yellow star as a symbol of pride. A reminder that we swore to fight back to defend ourselves."

HAMAS LAUNCHES MASSIVE ROCKET BARRAGE AS ISRAEL DELAYS INVASION 

The ambassador also made a comparison between Hitler and Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei, saying the latter’s regime is the Nazi regime. The Ayatollah’s army includes "Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Houthis, the Revolutionary Guard and other savage Jihadists."

"Instead of shouting ‘Sieg Heil,’ these radical Nazi Islamists scream, ‘Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to England!’" Erdan said. "We were attacked by the Hamas Nazis. We were shown that genocidal Jew-hatred did not die with Hitler, it bubbled and grew, until it invaded our homeland."

He said the difference, though, is Jews today have "a strong state and a powerful military."

ISRAEL AMBASSADOR WARNS UN ‘CONTAMINATED’ BY ANTISEMITISM, SAYS PEACE WITH SAUDIS CAN ‘TRANSFORM’ REGION

Erdan accused the Ayatollah of spreading "poisonous genocidal ideologies with the world" in the days leading up to Oct. 7, and tweeting about the end of Israel, alleging that Israel is dying.

"On the day of the massacre, he called for the eradication of Israel alongside a video of Israelis running for their lives as his Hamas Einsatzgruppen mowed them down with machine guns," the ambassador said. "If Hitler had a Twitter account, it would look exactly the same as Khameini’s."

He blasted the U.N. for not condemning the "Nazi murderers," accusing them of giving the terrorists fodder for their efforts when the UN General Assembly was seen "applauding efforts to prevent the Jews" from defending themselves.

TULANE UNIVERSITY CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AT DUELING PALESTINIAN, ISRAEL PROTESTS: ‘A DARK DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY’

"They heard the Secretary-General portray understanding for the Nazi slaughter. And this is precisely why we have seen the most staggering rise in Jew-hatred since the Nuremburg laws and their aftermath. The antisemites have been empowered," Erdan said. "They now know that slaughtering Jews in their beds, is met with silence. They have been so galvanized by this organization’s inaction that they cannot wait to butcher Jews themselves."

He added that today, calls for "gassing the Jews" can be heard in Sydney, Australia; chants for a Judenrein Palestine, "From the River to the Sea" can be heard across the U.S.; and battle cries against Jews are being screamed in Paris, Brussels and London.

Then on Sunday, an airport in Russia was invaded by Islamist terror supporters hunting for Jews to lynch.

JEWISH STUDENTS AT GEORGETOWN LAW FEAR VIOLENCE AMID HEATED RHETORIC FROM CLASSMATES AND ANTI-ISRAELI GROUPS

"This is precisely where the world stood as the Nazis begin their rampage," Erdan exclaimed. "Precisely the same moment! And then too – the world was silent."

He told the council had it existed back on June 6, 1944, it would likely be debating the amount of fuel and electricity the citizens of Munich had on D-Day as Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy or would be fixated on the death toll of Germans versus the murdering of British civilians.

"This Council would be calling for a ceasefire before the Russians retook Stalingrad," Erdan said.

But then he spoke to the strength of his people, describing Jews as "unbreakable."

"Many have tried to destroy us…but none have succeeded," Erdan said. "The Iranian Reich will be no different! Israel will prevail. We will bring our hostages home. And the citizens of the Jewish State will live in peace and freedom."

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/4KSt6NV

Slovak PM looks to curb migration by deploying forces to Hungarian border

The new Slovak government announced a big deployment of police and armed forces Monday along the border with Hungary to prevent growing numbers of migrants entering the country.

Prime Minister Robert Fico did not immediately give details of the deployment but said that illegal migration must be controlled or else people linked to "terrorist" groups could enter the country.

Fico, who spoke after meeting Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Esto, said the deployment would start later Monday and that he would personally inspect the situation at the border.

LEFTIST UKRAINE SKEPTIC ROBERT FICO BACK IN AS SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER

His new government was sworn in last Wednesday after his leftist Smer, or Direction, party won the Sept. 30 parliamentary election, opening the way for the populist leader to become prime minister for the fourth time.

The new government has not yet released its policy program, but Fico has suggested it will include a tough stance against migration.

Esto said that the situation in the world has been serious recently due to the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas, which attacked the country on Oct 7, and that he expected a new wave of migration.

The minister said the government hoped to control the entire 407-mile frontier with Hungary.

ORBÁN COMPARES HUNGARY'S EU MEMBERSHIP TO SOVIET OCCUPATION IN FIERY SPEECH

The previous Slovak government resumed random checks at the border with Hungary on Oct. 5, a day after the country’s neighbors, including Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland, reintroduced controls at their borders with Slovakia to curb migration. Then-Slovak Prime Minister Ludovit Odor criticized the neighbors’ border controls at the time, saying it would be preferrable to find a Europe-wide solution to the problem of migrants.

All four countries belong to the European Union’s visa-fee Schengen zone.

The migrants mostly use Slovakia as a transit country on the way to western Europe.

According to the Interior Ministry, Slovakia registered almost 40,000 migrants from the beginning of the year until Oct. 1 — 11 times more than a year ago.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/ekIU1Xz

42 locals, 3 foreigners reported dead in Hurricane Otis thus far

Three foreign residents were among at least 45 people killed when Hurricane Otis hit Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco last week, officials said Monday, as the continuing search for the missing focused on submerged boats.

Those confirmed dead included one American, one Canadian and one person from England, all of whom had been living in Acapulco for some time and were not considered tourists, local prosecutors said.

Meanwhile, the Navy said search efforts would now focus on finding possible bodies among the 29 boats known to have sunk in Acapulco Bay the night the hurricane hit.

HURRICANE OTIS, STRONGEST STORM IN EASTERN PACIFIC'S HISTORY, TEARS THROUGH ACAPULCO

The boats have been located and authorities were waiting for a ship equipped with a crane to arrive later Monday to lift the wrecks out of the water, Navy Secretary Adm. José Rafael Ojeda said.

There have been continuing reports that some crew members were aboard boats during the storm. Acapulco is known for both its abundance of expensive yachts and its cheap tour boats that carry tourists around the bay.

"As of now we know of 29 craft that have sunk," Ojeda said. "A ship with a crane is going to arrive to lift the boats ... we already know where they are." He said they hoped not to find "any drowned people there."

Otis roared ashore last Wednesday with devastating 165 mph winds after strengthening so rapidly that people had little time to prepare.

In previous hurricanes in Acapulco, most of the dead were swept away by flooding on land. But with Otis, a significant number appear to have died at sea. Local residents have said that some crews had either chosen or been ordered to stay aboard to guard their craft.

A local business chamber leader put the number of missing or dead at sea as high as 120, but there has been no official confirmation of that.

Abigail Andrade Rodríguez was one of four crew members aboard the rental boat Litos, a 94-foot, twin-motor yacht based in Puerto Marques, just south of Acapulco's main bay, on the night the hurricane hit.

"None of them has been found," said Susy Andrade, her aunt.

"She spoke with her family (Tuesday) and she said the sea was very choppy, and that they were going to leave Puerto Marques and head for the (Acapulco) marina to see if they would be safer there," Andrade said. "It appears they didn't arrive."

Around midnight the yacht appears to have sent out an SOS after being blown or fleeing across the main bay. There was no official word that the Litos was among the 29 boats confirmed sunk.

"Things don't look good," Andrade said, "but we want to find her."

There were conflicting reports of the number of people confirmed dead so far.

The government reported Sunday that at least 48 people died when Category 5 Hurricane Otis slammed into Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, most of them in Acapulco. Mexico’s civil defense agency said in a statement that 43 of the dead were in the resort city of Acapulco and five in the nearby township of Coyuca de Benitez.

Guerrero state’s governor created some confusion Monday by reporting 45 dead, but it was unclear if she was citing the toll only for Acapulco or the whole state. Gov. Evelyn Salgado did say, however, that the number of those missing had risen to 47.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Saturday that his opponents are trying to inflate the toll to damage him politically, but with hundreds of families still awaiting word from loved ones, it was likely to keep rising.

In Acapulco, families held funerals for the dead on Sunday and continued the search for essentials while government workers and volunteers cleared streets clogged with muck and debris left by the hurricane.

Katy Barrera, 30, said Sunday that her aunt’s family got buried under a landslide when tons of mud and rock tumbled down onto their home. Her aunt’s body was found with the remains of their three children ranging in age from 2 to 21. Her uncle was still missing. Separately, Barrera’s own mother and brother also remained missing.

"The water came in with the rocks, the mud and totally buried them," Barrera, who was standing outside a local morgue, said of her aunt’s family.

As she prepared to lay her relatives to rest, Barrera — who had hardly even had a chance to search for her own mother and brother — expressed desperation and frustration at the aid and personnel she had begun seeing in tourist areas of the city but not in their neighborhood high on a mountainside hit by landslides.

OTIS TO BE UPGRADED TO HURRICANE BEFORE MAKING LANDFALL NEAR ACAPULCO

"There are many, many people here at the (morgue) that are entire families; families of six, families of four, even eight people," she said. "I want to ask authorities not to lie … there are a lot of people who are arriving dead."

During a short time outside the morgue Sunday morning, at least a half-dozen families arrived, some looking for relatives; others identifying bodies and some giving statements to authorities.

The somber convoys of hearses and relatives crossed much of the battered Acapulco en route to the cemetery, passing ransacked stores, streets strewn with debris and soldiers cutting away fallen trees.

Officials from the national electric company promised to have power restored in all of Acapulco by late Tuesday, a full week after the hurricane hit.

Aid has been slow to arrive. The storm’s destruction cut off the city of nearly 1 million people for the first day, and because Otis had intensified so quickly on Tuesday little to nothing had been staged in advance.

The federal civil defense agency tallied 220,000 homes that were damaged by the hurricane, which blew out the windows and walls of some high-rise hotels and ripped the tin roofs off thousands of homes.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/WATPd9Y

5.4 magnitude earthquake rocks Jamaica

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit Jamaica on Monday, prompting people to flee buildings amid heavy shaking.

The earthquake was located about 2 miles west-northwest of Hope Bay, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It occurred at a shallow depth of 6 miles.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.

WORLD FOOD PROGRAM APPEALS FOR $19 MILLION TO AID AFGHANISTAN FOLLOWING A SERIES OF POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES

The earthquake prompted panic on the island. Members attending the U.N.'s International Seabed Authority meeting that began Monday could be seeing fleeing on camera before the broadcast cut off. The group eventually returned, but decided to postpone the meeting to late afternoon Monday amid jitters.

"We need some time to adjust emotionally," said Elza Moreira Marcelino de Castro, Brazil's representative.

Food, wine bottles and other items flew off the shelves at grocery stores when the quake struck, and some damage to buildings was reported.

One unidentified journalist was on-air in Jamaica when the ground began shaking.

"We’re having an earthquake," he said calmly.

Then, the shaking grew stronger.

"Oh, God," he said as the lights flickered off and he sought shelter under a desk.

While small earthquakes are common in and around Jamaica — some 200 a year — large ones are rare. The devastating Port Royal earthquake occurred in 1692, with a portion of the town sinking into the sea. Then in 1907, a quake struck the capital, Kingston, killing more than 1,000 people. Another big quake was reported in March 1957, affecting mostly western Jamaica, according to the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica.

The island sits atop the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault zone, which it shares with Haiti and the Dominican Republic, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/zA0UbP3

At the army base where Israel identifies its dead: 'They went from house to house burning family after family'

Warning: This article contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers.

SHURA ARMY BASE, Israel – Three weeks after Hamas’ deadly massacre on multiple Israeli army bases, civilian communities and a music festival, Israel is still struggling to identify its dead, not only because of the size and scope of the surprise, multi-pronged terrorist attack, but also due to the sheer brutality carried out by thousands of Palestinian terrorists, say those working to identify the dead.

At the Shura Army Base, on the outskirts of the central Israeli city of Ramle, dead bodies and hacked-up body parts continued to pile up this week, still arriving from the country’s south in refrigerated trucks. 

At the base, army personnel and volunteers, as well as religious authorities officiating the delicate process, described seeing atrocities reminiscent of the Holocaust – imagery not often invoked in a country whose foundations grew out of the Nazi genocide against the Jews in World War II. 

VIDEOS OF HAMAS BRUTALITY TOWARD ISRAELIS EERILY REMINISCENT OF ISIS TACTICS

"During a war, each side tries to make a convincing argument that they are right but these kinds of atrocities we have not seen since the days of the Nazis," Col. Rabbi Haim Weisberg, head of the army's rabbinic division, said in an interview. 

"They went from house to house burning family after family," he said. "We are seeing trucks still arriving filled with body bags that contain whole families – grandparents, mothers, fathers, and even little children are being brought down from the trucks." 

"In normal times, the rabbis on this base deal with dead soldiers, but this time it is abnormal," said Weisberg of the base that is just one among several involved in the identification process. 

"Here we have identified hundreds of bodies and there are still many more waiting to be examined," he said.

Weisberg described how some of the bodies were so badly burned that regular DNA testing was useless. In many cases, dental forensic teams were called in and forced to track down the personal dental records of the victims. In some extreme cases, even those methods have not been effective. 

Along with the more than 1,400 people murdered in the attack and an additional 239 now confirmed by the Israeli army as being held captive in the Palestinian enclave, a further 100 people still remain missing. 

ISRAEL’S HUNT FOR HAMAS TERROR GROUP LEADER YAHYA SINWAR: 'DEAD MAN WALKING'

Since the Oct. 7 attack, the IDF’s special forces have been engaged in localized raids inside the Gaza Strip in order to retrieve dead bodies and body parts. Inside the devastated communities that sit along the border with Gaza, forensic archeologists have been called in to search for human remains. Earlier this week, a human jaw was found in a burnt-safe room. 

Families, including those who had hoped their loved ones might be still alive even if they were being held hostage by Hamas, are being informed all the time that their relatives are, in fact, among the dead. 

Speaking at Shura, Weisberg described in graphic detail how one badly charred body turned out to be two victims – a mother and a baby bound together in a deep embrace. Another victim, he said, was a pregnant woman, her stomach cut open, her fetus pulled out and beheaded. The umbilical cord was still attached. 

"When you think about evil, you realize it is beyond comprehension when you see what this terror organization did," the rabbi said. 

ISRAELI SURVIVORS OF HAMAS TERROR ATTACK RECOUNT HARROWING BRUTALITY, HEROISM

The grisly work at Shura takes place in a large white tent surrounded by rows of refrigerated containers. Inside each dusty box are dozens of carefully wrapped bodies and smaller bags containing either babies and small children or body parts. The smell is overwhelming. 

In addition to the army personnel and the religious figures on site, there is also a team of female volunteers tasked with cleaning the bodies of murdered women. The group is part of a unique military reserve set up over a decade ago to deal with female combat soldiers who might be killed in action. 

"They wanted to have women who could deal with the burial and the identification procedure so that it wouldn't fall on young male soldiers and in order to protect the privacy of young women," said Shari, one of the volunteers who could not be named due to military guidelines. 

Shari said the group was specially trained by the army for a mass casualty event, but it was not until Oct. 7 that they were called up for service. Since then, she said, the unit has been working around the clock. 

"I’ve seen things that no one should ever see," said Shari, describing how many of the dead women arrived still wearing their pajamas, their heads blown off and some booby-trapped with grenades. 

"We saw evidence of rape," Shari stated. "Pelvises were broken, and it probably takes a lot to break a pelvis… and this was also among grandmothers down to small children. These are things we saw with our own eyes."

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/BARzUGb

More Israeli troops pour into Gaza with IDF on 'high alert' on northern border

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson announced Monday that more military forces are pouring into the Gaza Strip and are "directly engaging terrorists" as troops remain on "high alert" along Israel’s border with Lebanon. 

In a briefing, the spokesperson said over the last 24 hours, "we have expanded ground activities, with additional forces entering the Gaza Strip including Infantry, Armored Corps, Combat Engineering and Artillery Corps. 

"Through integrated strikes of the Ground Forces and the IAF, dozens of terrorists were eliminated last night who had barricaded themselves in buildings and attempted to attack the forces that were moving in their direction," the spokesperson said. 

"We maneuver on the ground, identify the terrorists, and strike from the air. Ground forces are also directly engaging terrorists," the spokesperson added. "The fighting is being carried out in the Gaza Strip." 

LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS 

Along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, troops also remain on "high alert" for attacks by the militant group Hezbollah, according to the IDF. 

"Yesterday a fighter jet struck rocket launchers in Syria that had launched rockets towards Israel. An aircraft also struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. We are continuing to strike along the border," the IDF spokesperson said. "Every terrorist cell that Hezbollah deploys to the security fence will be eliminated. Every terrorist cell that attempts to shoot at our territory will be eliminated. We will continue to operate in this way today as well. We will continue to maintain high alert in the north. This is the mission." 

The developments come as a high-level Israeli official visited Doha to negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza alongside Qatari negotiators, Fox News has learned. 

‘SQUAD’ MEMBER CORI BUSH ACCUSES ISRAEL OF ‘ETHNIC CLEANSING’ IN WAR AGAINST HAMAS 

"A high-level Israeli official, in coordination with the U.S. visited Doha to meet Qatari negotiators on Saturday to discuss the hostage situation and further the talks about the release of hostages," the official said. 

"Talks had stalled on Friday due to disagreements on the technical aspects of a potential deal, leading to the [military] escalation on Friday night, but talks continued on Saturday and have been ongoing following the productive visit of the Israeli official," the official added. 

The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is believed to be holding some 239 hostages in the Gaza Strip. 

The IDF spokesperson said Monday that "returning the hostages is a supreme national mission." 

Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom and Trey Yingst contributed to this report. 

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/kBWflJb

US 'vigorously condemns' pro-Palestinian rioters who stormed Russian airport searching for Israeli flight

The White House said Sunday it "vigorously condemns" the group of pro-Palestinian rioters in Russia who flooded an airport as they were shouting antisemitic chants and reportedly searching for passengers from a flight that departed from Tel Aviv, Israel.

The airport, located in the city of Makhachkala in the Republic of Dagestan, closed after rioters began flooding the runway Sunday night, Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia reported. All other flights headed toward Makhachkala were diverted.

In the first public comment made by the Biden administration since the incident, White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the U.S. condemns the "antisemitic protests" at the airport in Russia.

"The United States vigorously condemns the antisemitic protests in Dagestan, Russia," Watson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The U.S. unequivocally stands with the entire Jewish community as we witness a worldwide surge in antisemitism. There is never any excuse or justification for antisemitism."

PRO-PALESTINIAN RIOTERS STORM RUSSIAN AIRPORT, FLOOD RUNWAY LOOKING FOR ISRAELI FLIGHT: OFFICIALS

Many users on X blasted Watson's post for referring to the riot as a "protest," with some people replying that the correct term would be "pogrom," which means attacks on particular ethnic groups, particularly Jewish people.

During the riot, a small number of Israelis were "isolated" at the airport as rioters were heard yelling "Allahu Akbar" and antisemitic slogans, according to Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reporter Amichai Stein.

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem told Reuters that an Israeli ambassador in Russia was working with authorities to protect the Israelis in the region.

BIDEN, OTHER WESTERN LEADERS REAFFIRM ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF, CALL FOR CIVILIAN PROTECTION

"The State of Israel views gravely attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Israel expects the Russian law enforcement authorities to safeguard all Israeli citizens and Jews, whoever they may be, and to take robust action against the rioters and against the unbridled incitement being directed at Jews and Israelis."

The majority of residents in Dagestan are Muslim while Jewish people represent a minority group in Russia – accounting for approximately 83,000 people in the entire country.

The riot at the Russian airport comes amid the ongoing war in the Middle East between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists. 

More than 9,400 people have been killed on both sides since Hamas launched its largest attack against Israel in decades on Oct. 7, prompting Israeli forces to respond. Thousands more have been wounded, and many others have been taken hostage by Hamas and raped, tortured and murdered.

Fox News' Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/TeikEjp

Taiwan president on Reagan's support during visit with US delegation: Shared values of 'freedom and democracy'

As the world’s attention remains divided on the Israel-Hamas war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a delegation from the Ronald Reagan Foundation visited Taiwan last week seeking to shore up U.S. support for the island that continues to be threatened by Beijing.

"Taiwanese skepticism about America's staying power and its ability to deter aggression is on the rise," Heino Klinck, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, told Fox News Digital. 

"The Biden administration's precipitous Afghanistan withdrawal, piecemeal material support to Ukraine, inability to provide defense articles in a timely manner, as well as other foreign policy woes are the fodder for Chinese disinformation and propaganda that fuel this skepticism." 

The foundation’s trip recalls two visits President Reagan made while still serving as governor of California, first in 1971 and again in 1978. The delegation included members from the foundation and members of various groups, including former politicians, military experts and members from companies like Google and Citigroup.

CHINESE FIGHTER JET FLIES WITHIN 10 FEET OF US B-52 BOMBER: US MILITARY

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with the delegation, thanking the group for its "hospitality and considerable support" when she visited the Reagan Library earlier this year and highlighted the work done to "enhance Taiwan-U.S. relations." 

"Taiwan and the U.S. share the values of freedom and democracy," Tsai said. "Together, we strive for peace and prosperity in the region. … Our other distinguished guests have continued President Reagan's legacy and ideals in advocating for individual freedom, economic opportunity and global democracy."

Reagan established himself as a "devoted defender" of Taiwan, often calling for the establishment of "official" or "government-to-government" relations, according to an article from The Washington Post written during his first presidential campaign. 

NORTH KOREA ACCUSES ISRAEL OF ‘GENOCIDE’ IN GAZA, LABELS US AN ‘ACCOMPLICE’

"I would not pretend, as [President] Carter does, that the relationship we now have with Taiwan, enacted by our Congress, is not official," Reagan said regarding the difference between him and the man he would eventually defeat. Reagan would later temper his language to align more with official U.S. policy, but his actions toward Taiwan remained those of a close friend and ally. 

When Reagan visited China in 1984, he sought to reassure Taiwan he would not agree to any deals that would hinder relations between Taipei and Washington, with assurances delivered verbally and in briefings to representatives from Taiwan, The New York Times reported at the time. 

The Foundation quoted Reagan, saying, "There are cultural differences making nations each unique in its own way, but at the same time I think all are bound together with a common heritage of a love of freedom," and "our destiny is democracy and the defense of that destiny is one that all of us share." 

Reagan Foundation President David Trulio told Fox News Digital the group undertook the trip because it is "strongly behind the long-standing bipartisan consensus supporting Taiwan." 

ISRAEL IS ‘VERY AWARE’ OF ITS SECURITY ENVIRONMENT: LT. COL. DAKOTA WOOD

"The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute was honored to lead this delegation to Taiwan, a vibrant democracy and an absolutely key economic partner in Asia, a region vital to America’s future," he said.

Klinck in his comments to Fox News Digital continued to focus on the growing Taiwanese public skepticism, arguing that the people worry that U.S.-Taiwan relations have regressed to "a sub-component of the U.S.-China relationship." 

"The merits of Washington-Taipei relations in all domains must be emphasized outside of Washington-Beijing dynamics," Klinck said. "Leveraging opportunities such as completing a U.S.-Taiwan free trade agreement and U.S. leadership to internationalize peace, security and stability in the Taiwan Strait would be strong messages underscoring American commitment."

Concern over U.S. commitment to Taiwan has accelerated following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, which has consumed global media and political minds and seemingly sucked the oxygen from other conflicts. Even Ukraine coverage has found diminished airtime in the face of the rapidly escalating situation in the Middle East. 

NATO ALLY PRAISES HAMAS AS ‘FREEDOM FIGHTERS,’ CONDEMNS ISRAEL AS A ‘WAR CRIMINAL’

Former Sen. James Talent, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital Ukraine "is very much on the minds of Taiwanese leaders" who "appreciate America’s policy of support" for Ukraine because Taiwanese leaders "think it is important for the democracies of the world to make clear that unprovoked aggression is something they will resist."

"We need to strengthen deterrence, which means both Taiwan and the United States building up the kind of military capabilities that gives Beijing pause about blockading or invading Taiwan," Talent said. "That’s the big and most urgent challenge."

He highlighted other challenges, such as the way China uses economic power to advance national objectives. But he praised Taiwan’s efforts to develop "self-sufficient" defensive power and "a greater role in Asian affairs." 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Trulio stressed that America must keep in mind that "the world is watching" how it handles these various crises, and the way Ukraine and Israel play out will have "impacts" on "both sides of the Taiwan Strait."

"The Chinese Communist Party is attempting to use misinformation to make the Taiwanese people skeptical about America’s will to support its friends and allies," Trulio argued. "It was clear from our discussions in Taiwan that strong support for Ukraine counters that skepticism and would make China less inclined to initiate a crisis."

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/nmSow56

UN food program chief says organization lost communication with humanitarian teams in Gaza

The United Nations' World Food Programme said Saturday the humanitarian organization has lost contact with their aid teams in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists.

WFP chief Cindy McCain made the announcement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, after communications to people in Gaza were cut.

"The silence is deafening," McCain wrote. "As conflict rages on, I am extremely worried for the safety of all humanitarian workers and civilians. We are at a tipping point. Humanity must prevail."

This comes during Israel's continued expansion of its ground attack against Gaza after cutting communications to the region. The residents of Gaza are now left without cellphone or radio service as Israeli forces attack Hamas from the ground, sea and air.

NETANYAHU ANNOUNCES ‘SECOND PHASE’ OF ‘LONG AND DIFFICULT’ WAR ON HAMAS: ‘MY LIFE’S MISSION'

More than 8,700 people have been killed in Gaza and Israel since Hamas launched its largest attack against Israel in decades on October 7, leading to retaliatory action from Israeli forces. Thousands more have been wounded, and many others have been taken hostage by Hamas and raped, tortured and murdered.

McCain said food assistance from the U.N. has not been able to reach civilians in Gaza because of the recent attacks.

"With communications cut in #Gaza, our lifesaving food assistance is at a standstill. We cannot reach staff and partners, or the people who rely on us," McCain said in another post on X. "We urgently need the ability to operate and sustained access for humanitarian assistance. Every minute counts."

FAMILIES OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES TAKEN BY HAMAS MEETING WITH NETANYAHU

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company's Starlink satellite internet service will support internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza, although a timetable for when the connectivity in the region would be available is unclear given that access to the service requires certain technological equipment.

The international community has been working to supply civilians of Gaza with humanitarian aid, including food, water and medical supplies, in the wake of the violence in the region. This aid that began crossing into Gaza includes a 20-truck convoy carrying humanitarian assistance that was delivered to the region through the Rafah border crossing more than a week ago.

There have been calls from countries around the world for additional aid to be supplied to civilians stranded in Gaza.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said Saturday morning he was surprised by Israel's overnight airstrikes in Gaza.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"I was encouraged by what seemed to be a growing consensus for the need of at least a humanitarian pause in the Middle East," he wrote on X. "Regrettably, instead I was surprised by an unprecedented escalation of bombardments, undermining humanitarian objectives."

The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees warned last week that relief operations could be significantly cut due to Israel's blockade of fuel. The organization said fuel deliveries are needed to ensure people in Gaza have clean drinking water, hospitals can remain open and life-saving aid operations can continue.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/pol9S0k

Netanyahu announces 'second phase' of 'long and difficult' war on Hamas: 'My life's mission'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday announced that his forces have entered the "second stage" of its war with the terrorist group Hamas, calling the fight a "second War of Independence." 

"The war inside the Gaza Strip will be long and difficult, and we are prepared for it," Netanyahu said during a press conference in the evening, local time. "This is our second War of Independence."

"We will fight for the defense of the homeland," he continued. "We will fight and not retreat. We will fight on land, sea and in the air. We will destroy the enemy above ground, and underground. We will fight and win."

"The war inside the Gaza Strip will be long and difficult, and we are prepared for it," he added, saying that the war is now "my life's mission."

FAMILIES OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES TAKEN BY HAMAS MEETING WITH NETANYAHU

Netanyahu spoke at the end of a difficult week for Israel, with more discussion and frustration on both sides of the conflict as some world leaders called for a humanitarian pause or a ceasefire. The United Nations voted on several motions and passed one calling for a ceasefire, which Israel outright rejected and labeled "despicable." 

Tension remained high as Israel continued to make incursions into Gaza ahead of a much-anticipated ground invasion: Allies had reportedly urged Israel to hold back while negotiations over the 220 hostages dragged on, which frustrated Israeli leadership who accused Hamas of using the negotiations to delay and regroup. 

Instead of a wide-scale ground invasion, Netanyahu announced Saturday the "second phase of the war, whose goals are clear: The destruction of Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities, and the return of the hostages home." 

NATO ALLY PRAISES HAMAS AS ‘FREEDOM FIGHTERS,’ CONDEMNS ISRAEL AS A ‘WAR CRIMINAL’

"We decided to expand ground operations unanimously – both in the War Cabinet and in the political-security cabinet," Netanyahu said. "We did so in a prudent and informed manner, out of a commitment to ensuring the fate of the state and ensuring the safety of our soldiers."

"We did so in a prudent and informed manner, out of a commitment to ensuring the fate of the state and ensuring the safety of our soldiers," he continued. "The commanders and fighters who are now fighting in enemy territory know that the people, and the leadership of the people, stand behind them."

Netanyahu invoked the history of the Jewish people, recalling Joshua Ben-Nun, Judah Maccabee and Bar Kochba – heroes of the Jewish people – as well as famous victories in the Six Days War and Yom Kippur War, as well as the famous refrain, "never again, never again."

PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS SCALE PART OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE, FORCE SHUTDOWN OF ICONIC NYC ARTERY

He reiterated the warnings about how Hamas operates – using civilians as human shields and hiding beneath hospitals to carry out their operations while manipulating international law for protection. He claimed that Israel’s allies in the "Western world and … the Arab world, understand today that if Israel does not win, they will be next in line in the campaign of conquest and murder of the axis of evil."

In an Op-Ed published Saturday in The New York Times, former U.S. envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross claimed that he had spoken with allies across the Middle East during the past two weeks and found that Arab officials understood "that Hamas must be destroyed in Gaza," since any perceived victory for the terrorists "will validate the group’s ideology of rejection, give leverage and momentum to Iran and its collaborators and put their own governments on the defensive."

Netanyahu leaned on that existential threat at the peak of his speech, stressing that the war on Hamas is a fight "to be or to cease," but he insisted that Israel would succeed, saying, "we will be and we will win" but admitting the war would not end quickly.

"In the first weeks of the war, we crushed the enemy with massive air strikes, and in recent days with increasing force, in order to help our forces enter the ground in the safest possible way," he said. "We have eliminated countless murderers, including multi-murderers, we have destroyed countless terrorist headquarters and infrastructure - we are only at the beginning of the road."

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/81sdVbl

Burmese rebels join forces, launch offensive in country's northeast

An alliance of ethnic rebel groups on Friday launched a coordinated offensive in northeastern Burma to seize military targets in areas near the Chinese border, the groups and residents of the area said.

The Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, calling themselves the Three Brotherhood Alliance, said in a joint statement that they have begun "Operation 1027" in Burma's Shan state. The offensive could become a new major front in the strife-torn Southeast Asian nation.

Major coordinated attacks initiated by opponents of Burma's military government are relatively rare, partly because the army has a great advantage in weaponry and trained manpower.

DRONE ATTACK IN EASTERN BURMA KILLS AT LEAST 5, INCLUDING SENIOR ARMY OFFICIAL

"Our primary objectives in launching this operation are multi-faceted and driven by the collective desire to safeguard the lives of civilians, assert our right to self-defense, maintain control over our territory and respond resolutely to ongoing artillery attacks and air strikes" perpetrated by the military government, said the statement.

Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the spokesperson for the military government, acknowledged in a phone interview with pro-military media outlet NP News that towns in northern Shan state had been attacked, and members of the security forces were killed in the town of Chinshwehaw, but did not give a number. Chinshwehaw is a small town that borders China, about 200 miles northeast of Mandalay, Burma's second largest city.

The groups in the rebel alliance, like other minority groups living in border regions, have struggled for decades for greater autonomy from Burma's central government.

Fighting between the army and many ethic minority armed groups, including the alliance members, intensified after the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

Several groups, including those in the Three Brotherhood Alliance, have collaborated with pro-democracy militias formed after the military takeover. These militias, collectively known as the People’s Defense Force, now battle the army over much of the country.

The alliance’s statement said its members are also "dedicated to eradicating the oppressive military dictatorship, a shared aspiration of the entire Myanmar population."

The politics of ethnic groups in the north is complicated because the area borders China, which maintains good relations with Burma's ruling generals. The groups in the alliance also have good relations with China and have vowed to protect foreign investments in their territories where Chinese-backed projects are located.

Another link is that the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, or MNDAA, is the fighting arm of Burma's Kokang minority, who are ethnic Chinese.

Details of Friday’s fighting are difficult to confirm, since the area is difficult to access.

Battles were reported in the townships of Kyaukme, Kutkai, Lashio, Laukkaing, Muse and Namhkan in northern Shan state, beginning with simultaneous attacks at dawn.

Media in Shan state reported the alliance forces had attacked military targets, checkpoints, toll gates and police stations, and that Chinshwehaw — which hosts one of Burma's five official border trade crossings with China — was seized by the MNDAA. It said the military responded with aerial bombardments and shelling and that many hundreds of civilians are fleeing to safer areas.

Photos on social media showed bodies apparently of security force personnel killed in the fighting, captured soldiers and damaged toll gates.

SHAN News, a local online media outlet, reported four people, including three children, were killed and six others wounded by artillery strikes in Kutkai and Namhkan townships.

A Laukkaing township resident confirmed to The Associated Press that Chinshwehaw and border trade checkpoints were seized by MNDAA on Friday morning. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared reprisals from the military and rebel groups.

A member of Laukkaing’s police force told the AP that at least 17 policemen including a lieutenant were killed and others were wounded after the MNDAA attacked patrol cars and checkpoints. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information.

EU INITIATES ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN AND LABOR RIGHTS IN BURMA

Military spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said a hotel in Chinshwehaw was attacked by the MNDAA and hotel staff and civilians seized and taken away.

A truck driver from Lashio, a key trading post, said the town’s gates were closed after the rebel groups attacked a toll gate just outside of town. Road traffic was also stopped, said the truck driver, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he fears punishment from the authorities.

MNDAA-backed online media posted a statement from the group saying it had captured some strategic locations and blocked roads in order to raid online fraud operations in Laukkaing.

The alliance statement had said it is committed "to combatting the widespread online gambling fraud that has plagued Myanmar particularly along the China-Myanmar border." That refers to casinos and other properties where organized crime carries out online and phone scams employing thousands of people, many tricked into coming from China by fake job offers but who end up working in conditions of near slavery.

The crime rings are headed by ethnic Chinese, often in cooperation with local Burmese warlords. In recent weeks the Chinese government has pushed a crackdown on these operations, and thousands of people involved have been repatriated to China.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/DIfkARc

Ex-Colombian army officer gets life for role in Haitian president's assassination plot

A federal judge in Miami on Friday sentenced a retired Colombian army officer to life in prison for his role in plotting to kill Haiti's President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, which caused unprecedented turmoil in the Caribbean nation.

Germán Alejandro Rivera García, 45, is the second of 11 suspects detained and charged in Miami to be sentenced in what U.S. prosecutors have described as a conspiracy hatched in both Haiti and Florida to hire mercenaries to kidnap or kill Moïse, who was slain at his private home near the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince on July 7, 2021.

Rivera, also known as "Colonel Mike," had pleaded guilty in September to conspiring and supporting a plot to kill the Haitian president. According to court documents, he was part of a convoy headed to Moïse's residence the day of the killing, after he relayed information that the plan was not to kidnap the president but rather kill him.

KENYAN CABINET GREENLIGHTS HAITI PEACEKEEPING FORCE; PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL STILL NEEDED

Rivera faced the maximum penalty of up to life imprisonment and now hopes that his sentence could be reduced in the future as part of a cooperation agreement he has signed with U.S. authorities.

Sometimes U.S. attorneys recommend judges to reduce a sentence if they determine that the convicted person helps with their investigation.

Federal Judge José E. Martínez handed down the sentence at a hearing in Miami that lasted less than 30 minutes.

"Good luck to you, Mr. Rivera," the judge said after accepting to make a recommendation for the Colombian to remain at a South Florida federal prison, as he requested.

The sentencing came just months after Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar was sentenced to life in prison in June for his role in Moïse's killing. Meanwhile, former Haitian senator John Joel Joseph is set to be sentenced in December. Eight more defendants are waiting trial next year in the United States.

Rivera entered the hearing wearing a prisoner's beige shirt and pants. He was handcuffed and had shackles on his ankles as he listened to the judge's ruling seated next to his attorney.

The Colombian declined to make statements when the judge asked him if he had anything to say. "Not at the moment, your honor," Rivera answered.

According to the charges, Rivera, Jaar, Joseph and others, including about 20 Colombian citizens and several dual Haitian-American citizens, participated in the plot. The conspirators initially planned to kidnap the Haitian president, and later changed the plan to kill him. Investigators allege the plotters had hoped to win contracts under a successor to Moïse.

HAITIAN BORDER CROSSING REMAINS SHUT OVER CANAL DISAGREEMENT WITH DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Moïse was killed when assailants broke into his home. He was 53 years old.

Meanwhile, more than 40 suspects in the case remain detained in Haiti and have languished in prison more than two years after the assassination as the newest investigative judge continues his interrogations. Among those arrested after the killing are 18 former Colombian soldiers, who are in custody in Haiti.

The case received a boost last week when police arrested Joseph Félix Badio, a key suspect who once worked at Haiti’s Ministry of Justice and at the government’s anti-corruption unit. He was detained in the capital of Port-au-Prince after more than two years on the run.

Since the assassination, Haiti has experienced a surge of gang violence that led the prime minister to request the deployment of an armed force. In early October, the U.N. Security Council voted to send a multinational force led by Kenya to help fight the gangs.

Kenya has not announced a deployment date.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/mKNMfVQ

More than 50 countries to attend Ukraine peace talks in Malta: 'Critical moment'

EXCLUSIVE - After two rounds of high-level international talks in Copenhagen and Jeddah, Ukraine is gathering partners to rally for peace in Malta Oct. 28-29. 

National security advisers will be discussing President Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace formula addressing everything from child abductions to environmental damage. Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor took part in a similar summit in Saudi Arabia in August.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the gathering counterproductive, saying it has "absolutely no perspective." 

Ahead of the talks in Malta, Fox News Digital exclusively spoke to Andriy Yermak, head of the office of the president of Ukraine. Yermak spoke via Zoom from the presidential office in Kyiv.

UKRAINE MOVES TO BAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES OVER ALLEGED RUSSIAN TIES

YERMAK: First of all, it's very important that the process continues after Copenhagen and Jeddah. We expect more countries to gather in Malta. As of now, more than 50 countries have confirmed participation, which exceeds the number of participants at the Jeddah summit.

Secondly, timing matters. The war in Ukraine continues, and there is another war in the Middle East. At this moment in time, it’s important that countries from different continents come together, sit at the table and talk about peace, about just peace.

President Zelenskyy's peace formula is unique because it's not just about how to end Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine. It's also about the crisis, which we face because of this war. And, in crisis, I mean food security. I mean energy. I mean ecology, humanitarian issues, kidnapped and illegally deported Ukrainian children. It's important that we talk about these issues, that we show responsible countries can talk to each other, can agree to respect international law and, most importantly, that we talk about how to end the war, how to end the killings of innocent children. 

I'm optimistic about this meeting.

YERMAK: The fact that the war in Ukraine has not ended and stills goes on has its implications beyond Ukraine. Every day we are attacked with Iranian drones, Russia is tightening ties with Beijing and, right before this interview, there were reports of Moscow hosting Hamas delegation. I think this says enough about the complexity of the situation. 

When it comes to our war, we are not disputing anything with Russia. They came to our land. They occupied our territories. They killed our civilians. They want to destroy our nation. We are really fighting for the freedom and democracy here. 

President Zelenskyy's peace formula is a real platform to end the war, a platform to return to international law and to help Ukraine to return to our internationally recognized territories. It can also be used in other wars, other conflicts. One of the principal parts is bringing kidnapped children home. Bringing them from illegal captivity, something we are now seeing in Israel as well. 

BUSINESS OWNERS IN A UKRAINIAN FRONT-LINE CITY ADAPT EVEN AS 'A MISSILE CAN COME AT ANY MOMENT'

As long as war in Ukraine goes on, the threats will continue. Aggressors do not stop until they are stopped. Ending war and bringing just peace to Ukraine prevents other wars and conflicts from happening.

We feel the pain of the Israeli people, we know it firsthand. Every day for almost two years, our people have been under the attacks of Russian missiles and Iranian drones. We know what they are experiencing.

YERMAK: We have been repeatedly saying this. Those are Iranian drones. And when Iran provides Russia with those drones, Iran knows what they are used for. They are used to kill Ukrainians.

Wars divide people. They also show who is on the side of light and who sides with devil. I am very happy that most people are on the right side. That's how we started closely working with American people. They understand that we have common values. Nothing has changed, we continue to fight. It's been two years, but every day we continue to fight for millions of Ukrainians. We fight every day, every minute.

Just as we speak, our people fight on the frontlines. Just now, cities are under attack, but our people keep fighting because we strongly believe in our victory. We strongly believe in freedom. And we believe in our friends, especially in the United States, our biggest partners. Our victory will be a joint victory just as much as Russia losing is in the strategic and political interests of the United States because the U.S. is the leader of the free world.

YERMAK: First of all, I'd like to congratulate the American people with the new speaker and congratulate Rep. (Mike) Johnson on his election. Any elections in the states are purely American business. Every state must respect this, and we respect this.

We are very happy that we have bipartisan support of the American Congress, which, once again, we felt during President Zelenskyy's recent trip to New York and D.C. I am sure that Americans will support Ukraine, and Americans will support our freedom and democracy. 

I hope that we will build a very constructive, very open relationship with the new speaker, I have no doubts about that. We often hear, especially coming from the Russian propaganda, that American support to Ukraine will decrease. I do not believe in this because our unity is not only for this brief moment. The United States, the White House, Congress, State Department and ordinary American people support democracy. They clearly see how Ukraine not just survived, but continues to liberate its territories. I am positive we will have a constructive, successful relationship with the new speaker. We will do our best for this.

YERMAK: President Zelenskyy has said this many times, and this is the position of our team, as well as the Ukrainian people: We do not mind accountability. We are open to it. We are open to any checks and transparency. 

If I am asked to summarize President Zelenskyy's trip to the states in one word, I'd say trust. It's impossible to build a strong relationship without trust. On our end, we are ready to do everything to maintain this trust. Keeping this strong trust is our priority, for which we are ready for any cooperation at any level.

Now is a critical moment. We have a plan, and we see how this war can be won. We also know what we need to do it. And to win this war will be very difficult, maybe even impossible, without the help of the United States and other partners. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

We showed that it is possible to defeat what once was called the "second army in the world." We showed it's possible. We showed it's doable, and we proved we are capable of doing it.

The U.S. will be represented in the Malta meetings by Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/E5OoVTd

White House says Russia is executing its own soldiers for not following orders

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Thursday said Russia is executing soldiers who have failed to follow orders and threatening entire units with death if they retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire.

It's a development that U.S. national security officials believe reflects Russia's morale problems 20 months into its grinding invasion of Ukraine, said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

PUTIN OVERSEES RUSSIAN MILITARY DRILL SIMULATING ‘MASSIVE RETALIATORY NUCLEAR STRIKE’: REPORTS

"It’s reprehensible to think about that you would execute your own soldiers because they didn’t want to follow orders and now threatening to execute entire units, it’s barbaric," Kirby told reporters. "But I think it’s a symptom of how poorly Russia’s military leaders know they’re doing and how bad they have handled this from a military perspective."

The White House has downgraded and released intelligence findings about Russian action over the course of the war. In the past, the administration has said it has acted to disclose the intelligence to highlight plans for Russian misinformation and other activity so allies remain clear-eyed about Moscow’s intent and Russia thinks twice before carrying out an operation.

This latest unveiling of intelligence about Russia's struggles comes as President Joe Biden is pressing the Republican-controlled House to go along with providing more funding for Ukraine as Kyiv tries to repel Russia in a war that has no end in sight.

Kirby pointed to the information as he renewed a plea for Congress to pass a nearly $106 billion supplemental funding request that Biden unveiled last week. The funding request includes more than $61 billion for Ukraine.

"President Putin is not giving up on his aspirations to take all of Ukraine and as long as Russia continues its brutal assault we have to continue to support the Ukrainian people and their self defense, because his intentions are clear," Kirby said. Putin "basically said that if Western weapons to Ukraine stop, Ukraine would have a week to live. So to ensure that we can continue to do that it’s critical that Congress step up and pass the supplemental requests that the president put forward last week."

Kirby did not provide any details on how many Russian troops have been executed for failing to follow orders or any specific examples of units threatened with execution for retreating from Ukrainian fire.

The Wagner Group military contractor was reported to have had a practice of executing those who fled. The contract soldiers were pulled out of Ukraine after their leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, mounted an armed rebellion in June. There also have been reports, including from the British Defense Ministry, that the regular Russian military has deployed "barrier troops" that threaten to shoot any deserters.

"They are in such desperate need to make some kind of progress, particularly in the Donbas, the Donetsk areas, that they are literally throwing young men into the fight who haven’t been properly trained, haven’t been properly equipped, and certainly are not being properly led," Kirby said.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/w7oi19J

WATCH: Brawl breaks out during early showing of anticipated horror movie, 'Five Nights at Freddy's'

During an early showing of the highly-anticipated horror flick, "Five Nights at Freddy’s," a fight broke out between audience members in a United Kingdom movie theater.

In a video posted by @jojoincel on X, moviegoers are seen attacking another guest as he sits in his seat while the film's closing credits scroll on the screen in Acton, London. 

Other people are seen using their cellphone's flashlights during the brawl.

The X-user said he did not know what started the fight, but said most of the audience was upset about the ending of the horror movie.

"Everyone in the audience was just complaining, and they started fighting at the end of the movie," @jojoincel wrote on X. "Honestly, I have no idea what happened."

‘BARBIE’ MOMS BRAWL OVER BAD THEATER BEHAVIOR IN VIRAL VIDEO

The film adaptation of the popular video game has been released at select locations before it comes to theaters Friday.

The Metropolitan Police in Acton did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request on the fight.

This is not the only movie brawl that has happened in recent months. 

‘THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER’ REPLICATES 1973 HORROR MOVIE BY LEAVING VIEWERS ‘SHAKEN TO THEIR CORE’: FILMAKERS

In July, "Barbie" moviegoers in Brazil went viral after a woman confronted a parent who allegedly let her child watch YouTube videos throughout the entire screening of the blockbuster film.

The clip, shared by TikTok user Sophia Ferreira, shows a woman in pink pants storming up the stairs of the theater as the credits roll and shoving the offending mom, sending her falling into a row of seats.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

A manager is seen breaking up the fight as the two women continue to exchange angry words. 

Fox News Digital's Brianna Herlihy contributed to this report.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/5pcOoqY

Business owners in a Ukrainian front-line city adapt even as 'a missile can come at any moment'

KRAMATORSK, Ukraine (AP) — In a city where damaged buildings are everywhere, a destroyed pizzeria stands out as a painful reminder of lives and livelihoods dashed in an instant.

A Russian ballistic missile struck the popular eatery in eastern Ukraine in June, killing 13 people including an award-winning Ukrainian writer and several teenagers. Seven of the victims were staff.

LEFTIST UKRAINE SKEPTIC ROBERT FICO BACK IN AS SLOVAK PRIME MINISTER

Today, fresh flowers and notes have been placed where the entrance once was. A T-shirt, part of the waitstaff’s uniform, hangs near the makeshift memorial with the inscription "We will never forget."

"As an entrepreneur, of course, I regret the loss of property, but there’s something that cannot be returned: human lives," said Dmytro Ihnatenko, the owner of RIA Pizza.

The bombed-out building in Kramatorsk underscores the massive risks for businesses in this front-line city in the Donetsk region. But that has not deterred many other business owners who have reopened their doors to customers in the past year.

The city council estimates there are 50 restaurants and 228 shops now open in Kramatorsk, three times the number open at the same period last year. Most are believed to be existing business that closed in the early days of the war and have reopened.

"We understand that this is a risk, and we are taking it because this is our life," said Olena Ziabina, chief administrator of the White Burger restaurant in Kramatorsk. "Wherever we are, we need to work. We work here. This is our conscious choice."

The White Burger chain operated mainly in Donetsk and Luhansk regions before the war. But after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it could reopen only in Kramatorsk. It launched two new restaurants in the capital, Kyiv, and Dnipro to keep the chain alive.

Kramatorsk’s restaurant is the chain's top performer in profitability, even though prices are 20% lower than in the capital’s restaurant.

After the attack on RIA Pizza, White Burger's operators didn’t consider closing the Kramatorsk restaurant, Ziabina said. "I cried a lot," she said, recalling the day she heard about the attack.

Kramatorsk's economy has adapted to war. The city houses the Ukrainian army’s regional headquarters, and many cafes and restaurants are frequented mainly by soldiers as well as journalists and aid workers.

Ukrainian women often travel there to reunite for few days with husbands and boyfriends.

Soldiers joke that Kramatorsk is their Las Vegas, providing all the "luxuries" they need like good food or coffee. But restaurants offer only non-alcoholic beer due to the city's proximity to the battlefield.

The city streets are mostly empty except for military cars. The residents who stayed avoid big gatherings and crowded places.

Still, it is a far cry from the war’s early days, when Kramatorsk's shops, restaurants and cafes were shuttered. Tens of thousands of people were left without jobs, and factories were closed.

"Probably, thanks to the military, we can still come back to this city," said Oleksandr, who asked to be identified only by his first name because of security concerns.

He is a co-founder of one of the numerous military shops in Kramatorsk serving soldiers. Oleksandr said he marks up prices by only 1 hryvnia (2 cents) above the manufacturer’s price. He said the aim isn’t to earn money but to provide the military with the necessary equipment.

Many residents cherish new work opportunities brought by the reopening of shops and restaurants.

But there are fewer options for older people, said Tetiana Podosionova, 54. She worked at the Kramatorsk Machinebuilding Plant for 32 years, but the plant closed due to security risks when the war started.

"I had hoped to work at the factory until retirement," Podosionova said. Most jobs are now in restaurants and shops, where she had no experience.

Finally, she found a job at Amazing Fish Aquarium, which resumed operations months after the war began. The aquarium has hundreds of exotic fish and dozens of parrots and remains open to entertain residents, who are often stressed from missile strikes.

But every reopened business carries risk. Ihnatenko, the pizzeria owner, still comes to his destroyed restaurant every day when he's in Kramatorsk. He doesn't know why. He looks tired. His voice is hardly above a whisper.

He, like many business owners, saw Ukraine's successful counteroffensive in the neighboring Kharkiv region last year as a sign that life could return to Kramatorsk.

"It seemed safer here," he explained, standing in the rubble of his restaurant.

He has no plans to rebuild and reopen yet again.

His tragic experience shows the challenges that business owners face while keeping their doors open.

"A missile can come at any moment," he said.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/RNTvmM6

Israeli forces conduct ground raids in Gaza ahead of expected invasion

Israeli troops and tanks conducted a ground raid in northern Gaza overnight into Thursday, Israel Defense Forces said, attacking Hamas targets.

The operation was meant to "prepare the battlefield" for an expected ground operation in the Palestinian territory after two-week long airstrike campaign, a military spokesman said.

Additionally, IDF made 60 arrests in the West Bank, of which 46 where Hamas members. Since the start of the war on Oct. 7, about 1,000 wanted individuals have been arrested, IDF said.

The Israel-Hamas war, now in its 20th day, has exacted devastating casualties on both sides. In the initial attack on Israel, terrorists with the Islamic group Hamas infiltrated the Jewish state and killed at least 1,400 Israeli men, women and children in the most brutal ways imaginable, many tortured and raped first. Israeli officials say as many as 224 people were taken captive back into Gaza and are now being held hostage by Hamas. The military says 309 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the war. 

ISRAEL CONDUCTS ‘BRIEF’ GROUND INCURSIONS IN GAZA AS NETANYAHU VOWS INVASION AGAINST HAMAS: LIVE UPDATES

At least 10 Americans are feared to be among the 224 people held captive by Hamas. 

The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza claimed Wednesday that more than 750 people were killed over the past 24 hours, higher than the 704 killed the previous day, the Associated Press reported. The death toll reported by Hamas could not be independently verified, and the ministry does not distinguish between Palestinian civilians and terrorist combatants. By comparison, 2,251 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed in the entire six-week-long war in 2014, according to U.N. figures.

The Israeli military has urged Palestinian civilians to flee areas in the Gaza Strip where Hamas has placed infrastructure to fire rockets at Israel. These military targets are embedded within civilian buildings and U.S. officials have said Hamas uses the Palestinian people as human shields. 

During the overnight raid, soldiers killed fighters and destroyed militant infrastructure and anti-tank missile launching positions, the military said. It said no Israelis were wounded. There was no immediate confirmation of any Palestinian casualties.

GAZA HOSTAGE CRISIS RESPONSE SHOWS BIDEN, BLINKEN HAVEN'T LEARNED ANYTHING FROM AFGHANISTAN: GOLD STAR DAD

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a military spokesman, said the raids were "part of our preparations for the next stages of the war." 

The military also reported it executed some 250 airstrikes across Gaza in the past 24 hours, targeting tunnel shafts, rocket launchers and other militant infrastructure.

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has warned that lack of fuel, food and medical aid for Palestinians caught in the crossfire will make the humanitarian crisis there worse.

The Gaza Strip is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, and about 1.4 million of them have been displaced from their homes by the war. Many are staying in crowded U.N. shelters as Israel's relentless airstrikes continue. 

MEDIA RUNNING HAMAS NARRATIVE ON GAZA HOSPITAL ‘DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED’ TO ENDANGERING US EMBASSIES ABROAD

Days ago, Israel permitted more than 60 trucks to enter Gaza with humanitarian aid from Egypt, but U.N. officials and aid workers say the limited supplies is insufficient. Israel has refused to permit fuel to be delivered to Gaza, which is needed to power generators, fearing that Hamas will confiscate it and launch more rockets at Israeli residential areas. 

The rising death toll will increase if Israel begins a full-scale ground operation in Gaza. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his country Wednesday evening during a primetime address that its cabinet is "deciding" on the timing for a possible ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. 

"The goal, the timing of what the Israel Defense Forces is going to do is based on the cabinet and the chief of staff and the cabinet are deciding," Netanyahu said. "And when we get into Gaza as we go on, we will exact the highest price from these murderers for what they've done." 

Netanyahu said Israel has two goals in the war – to "destroy Hamas and all its infrastructure" and to "do everything that's possible to bring our hostages back home." 

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Israeli military remains poised for a ground invasion of Gaza at any moment, though plans for such an operation have been delayed. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi told reporters on Tuesday that Israel is "ready to invade," but nevertheless explained the delay. 

Reports have said U.S. officials have pressured the Israelis to delay an invasion while negotiations to release hostages happen behind the scenes.

Fox News' Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

from Latest World News on Fox News https://ift.tt/yqvU0HW