Axadle Editorial Desk

Gulf Powers Call for Unified Front Against Rising Iranian ‘Aggression’ RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a joint warning Monday, condemning continued Iranian attacks against Gulf states as a “dangerous escalation” that threatens regional stability, and vowing that Gulf Cooperation Council member states would “spare no effort” to defend their territories. In a high-level call, the leaders pledged to mobilize “all available capabilities” to…

AL-MISKAD MOUNTAINS, Somalia — On a windswept ridge overlooking a maze of limestone caves, Puntland State Defence Forces soldiers huddle around a hand-held screen, tracking a lone figure sprinting through a chalky valley. “He has been to fetch water for his friends,” one says, as the dot moves toward a suspected hideout. Another adds: “He is running and carrying something on his back.” The suspected cave network below, commanders say, shelters 50 to 60 Islamic State group fighters. It is one node in a stubborn insurgency…

GALKAYO, Somalia — Security officials from Puntland State and Galmudug met Sunday in Galkayo to coordinate plans for stabilizing Somalia’s divided Mudug region, pledging closer cooperation and heightened vigilance ahead of Eid al-Fitr, officials said. The joint session brought together members of the two states’ security committees to assess the overall security picture, examine recurrent flashpoints along their shared boundary and align responses to threats that spill across administrative lines. The meeting, held in a city…

BAIDOA, Somalia — Southwest State’s information minister on Monday denied social media reports that fighting erupted overnight in Baidoa, insisting the regional capital remains calm despite unverified accounts of a mortar incident near a military installation. Minister says “no shooting” occurred and daily life is normal in Baidoa Unconfirmed online claims alleged a mortar round landed near a Southwest State base Officials accuse unnamed groups in Mogadishu of spreading misinformation Denial comes amid broader political…

Puntland State forces clear Bosaso–Qardho highway after soldiers’ pay protest; at least one wounded BOSASO, Somalia — Puntland State security forces on Saturday dispersed soldiers protesting unpaid wages and reopened a key highway linking Bosaso and Qardho, ending a blockade that had halted traffic and stranded motorists for nearly a day. At least one protester was injured in a brief confrontation, authorities and preliminary reports said. The soldiers had sealed off the strategic route on Friday, choking movement on one of…

Sunday, March 15, 2026 BAIDOA, Somalia (AX) — Armed fighters aligned with opposition figures and clan leaders clashed Saturday with Southwest state security forces in the Qansahdhere district of Bay region, residents said, reporting hours of heavy gunfire and a tense, fast-moving situation. Local sources said both heavy and light weapons were used as the confrontation unfolded from early in the day and continued for several hours. Casualties were reported on both sides, though precise figures could not be independently…

North Western State of Somalia Coast Guard warns holiday travelers: Only it can designate safe swimming zones Hargeisa (AX) — The commander of the North Western State of Somalia Coast Guard urged holidaymakers on Saturday to follow official safety guidance as thousands prepare to flock to Berbera and other coastal towns during Eid and public holidays, warning that only the Coast Guard has legal authority to designate safe areas for swimming. “Anyone who wants to know safe areas for swimming should consult the Coast Guard,”…

Taiwan reports return of large-scale Chinese air force activity after two-week lull TAIPEI — Taiwan on Sunday said Chinese military flights around the island have resumed at scale after an unexplained pause of more than two weeks, with 26 People’s Liberation Army aircraft detected in the previous 24 hours, the defense ministry reported. The sorties — concentrated in the Taiwan Strait — mark the largest single-day tally since Feb. 25, when Taipei tracked 30 aircraft as Beijing carried out what it called a “joint combat…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s federal government has rejected claims that Chinese fishing vessels are operating illegally in its waters, insisting the ships hold valid licenses and comply with Somali law and international maritime rules. The Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy framed the arrangement as part of a longstanding partnership with Beijing and said licensed activity falls within Somalia’s maritime governance framework. “All licensed vessels operate legally under official permits issued by the Federal Government of…

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said Sunday he has left the country after spending two months in hiding, accusing President Yoweri Museveni’s government of targeting him and his allies in the wake of January’s disputed election. In a five-minute video posted on X, formerly Twitter, Wine said he had traveled abroad for “critical engagements” and to mobilize international pressure, including targeted sanctions, against Museveni’s administration. He repeated his claim to have won the presidential vote, which Uganda’s…