Militants in Gaza launched a fresh barrage of rocket fire into southern Israel today after overnight Israeli airstrikes, underscoring the fragility of an unofficial 16-month ceasefire with Hamas. The latest escalation in tensions began yesterday when Islamic Jihad, another Gaza militant group, fired rockets into Israel.

No Israeli casualties were reported from either of the rocket attacks that targeted the towns of Ashkelon and Ashdod. But the exchange has stirred new fears of escalating tit-for-tat violence at a time when the US is brokering peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

[Read more…]

The Sudanese government has issued a directive to crush the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/ Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and force it out of areas it controlled in the east of North Darfur state within the coming 72 hours.

A meeting was held to discuss the deteriorating security situation in the state which was attended by Sudan’s 2nd Vice President Hassabo Abdel-Rahman, minister of interior Abdel-Wahid Youssef, defense minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, governor of North Darfur state Youssef Kibir, and the director of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta Abbas al-Moula.

[Read more…]

The parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has adopted an independence declaration from Ukraine which is necessary for holding a March 16 referendum.

“We, the members of the parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Sevastopol City Council, with regard to the charter of the United Nations and a whole range of other international documents and taking into consideration the confirmation of the status of Kosovo by the United Nations International Court of Justice on July, 22, 2010, which says that unilateral declaration of independence by a part of the country doesn’t violate any international norms, make this decision,” says the text of the declaration, which was published by the Crimean media.

[Read more…]

The Israel Air Force struck an Islamic Jihad cell in southern Gaza on Tuesday minutes after it was identified as being behind an attack on an IDF unit on the Gaza-Israel border.

According to military sources, the terrorists fired a mortar shell at soldiers who were conducting routine security measures near the frontier.

[Read more…]

Libya’s parliament has ordered a special force to be sent within one week to “liberate” all rebel-held ports in the volatile east, officials said on Monday, raising the stakes over a blockage that has cut off vital oil revenue.

The conflict over oil wealth is increasing fears that Libya may slide deeper into chaos or even splinter as the fragile government fails to rein in dozens of militias that helped oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but now defy state authority.

[Read more…]

A day after President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi announced a change in ministerial position, in a bid to address Yemen’s deteriorating security crisis and instigate a change in policy at the oil ministry, the country’s founding economic block; military officials confirmed that al-Qaeda had yet again targeted a military base in the southern province of Abyan, in Lawder.

It is important to note that Abyan was turned in 2012 into an al-Qaeda hub after the terror group managed to exploit Yemen’s power vacuum by establishing several strongholds at the heart of the region. Strong in its positions al-Qaeda proclaimed the cities of Zinjibar and Jaar, Islamic Caliphates.

[Read more…]

Syrian government forces seized a town from rebels near the Lebanese border on Saturday, their latest attempt to cut off opposition fighters’ fluid supply lines from the country, state media and activists said.

The fighting in Zara came as President Bashar Assad marked the 51st anniversary of his ruling Baath party’s ascent to power, vowing to strengthen relations with international allies that have provided his main backing over the past three tumultuous years.

[Read more…]