Israel becomes first country to recognize North Western State of Somalia, pledges full diplomatic ties Move marks first formal recognition of the breakaway republic since 1991; embassies and ambassadors planned under joint declaration. HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — Israel on Friday became the first country to formally recognize the Republic of North Western State of Somalia as an independent, sovereign state, a landmark decision that establishes full diplomatic relations more than three decades after North…

Israel has condemned a joint statement by 14 countries — including Ireland, France and Britain — that denounced its approval of new settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal under international law, with senior officials calling the criticism discriminatory and vowing to press ahead. “Foreign governments will not restrict the right of Jews to live in the land of Israel, and any such call is morally wrong and discriminatory against Jews,” Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said. “The cabinet decision to establish…

Israel says its forces have killed a member of Iran’s Quds Force in Lebanon, identifying the man as Hussein Mahmoud Marshad al-Jawhari and alleging he helped plan attacks from Syria and Lebanon. In a statement, the Israeli military described al-Jawhari as a key operative in the Quds Force’s Unit 840 and said he “operated under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)” in terrorist activities directed by Iran against Israel and its security forces. The military said he was killed in the area of Ansariyeh, without…

Israel carried out a series of strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting what it called Hezbollah infrastructure less than a day before an international committee overseeing a fragile ceasefire is due to convene. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported multiple strikes in the south and east. The Israeli military said it hit “terror infrastructure sites in multiple areas across Lebanon,” including “a military compound used by Hezbollah to conduct training and courses” for members of the…

Somalia rejects Israeli claim of contacts, says no ties with Israel Saturday December 13, 2025 MOGADISHU (AX) — Somalia’s government has forcefully denied having any ties or communications with Israel, rebutting a public assertion by an Israeli official that the two sides have been in contact. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar, widely known as Ali Balcad, said Thursday there is “no truth” to the suggestion that Israel and Somalia maintain channels of communication. His remarks followed comments by Israeli…

Ghana Deports Israeli Nationals Amid Diplomatic Tensions Ghana has taken the significant step of deporting three Israeli nationals, a move that appears to be a direct response to the treatment of Ghanaian citizens at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. This escalating diplomatic conflict underscores the intricate and often fraught relationships between nations in the region. In a troubling incident, seven Ghanaians, including four members of an official delegation attending a cyber-security conference in Tel Aviv, were…

Israel has given final approval for 764 new homes in three settlements in the occupied West Bank, drawing condemnation from the Palestinian Authority and highlighting the strain on regional diplomacy as humanitarian aid to Gaza lags far behind targets set under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The approvals were announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an ultra-nationalist who opposes a Palestinian state. Smotrich said that since late 2022, when he took office, 51,370 housing units have been cleared by the government’s…

Israeli airstrikes hit towns in south Lebanon on Wednesday as the Israeli military said it was targeting Hezbollah weapons storage facilities, a day after Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives met for direct talks under a U.N. ceasefire mechanism. The strikes struck Mahrouna, Jbaa, Majadal and Baraasheet, Lebanon's official National News Agency reported, and an AFP photographer saw smoke rising above Jbaa. The Israeli army said it "began conducting strikes on Hezbollah terror targets in southern Lebanon" after…

Return of a body under the ceasefire exposes the fragility of a hard-won pause The slow handover of a single body from Gaza to Israeli custody this week read like a terse footnote in an unfolding diplomatic script — yet it carries disproportionate moral and political weight. Israeli military spokespeople confirmed to the Red Cross that a coffin containing the remains of a hostage was being transferred back to Israeli forces, part of commitments tied to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan. Hamas, meanwhile, said it had…

Indirect talks open in Sharm El-Sheikh under Trump plan as Gaza war grinds on Delegations representing Hamas and Israel have begun indirect negotiations in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm El‑Sheikh aimed at ending nearly two years of war in Gaza, diplomats and officials said Monday, in a U.S.‑backed effort that has raised hopes and doubts in equal measure. Under the outline promoted by former U.S. President Donald Trump — who has waded into the role of broker with envoys including businessman Steve Witkoff and his…