military

Arab League’s proposed joint force: an attempt to turn talk into hard power DOHA — The Arab League’s revival of a long-talked-about idea — a joint military force under a central command — is less a sudden pivot than the latest sign of a region wrestling with the limits of its collective muscle. The plan, reportedly first tabled by Egypt, would stitch together land, sea, air and special operations units from member states into a standing capability the league says could respond quickly to crises across the Middle East and…

U.S. halts support for Somalia’s elite Danab commandos, raising alarm as AU forces prepare to leave MOGADISHU, Somalia — The United States has suspended its support for Somalia’s elite Danab special forces, reliable sources told Axadle on Monday, a move that could reshape the fragile security balance as African Union troops prepare to withdraw next year. The decision, described to journalists by sources who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the subject, follows growing U.S. concerns about “accountability…

Israeli strike flattens 14‑storey Mushtaha Tower in Gaza City as residents flee Explosion levels a high‑rise used to shelter displaced families A massive explosion reduced the 14‑storey Mushtaha Tower to rubble on Friday, sending an enormous plume of smoke over Gaza City and deepening daytime terror for thousands who have already been uprooted by months of war. Video shared on social media and by local news outlets showed the residential block in the Al‑Rimal neighbourhood collapsing after a blast at its base. Gaza’s…

High-rise in Gaza city razed as Israel presses for tactical offensive; civilians urged to flee south An Israeli strike levelled a roughly 15-storey residential tower in Gaza city on Thursday, the second such collapse in as many days, as the Israeli military intensified warnings for residents to head south toward a so-called “humanitarian zone” ahead of a planned ground offensive. Video circulated by Israeli officials showed the building buckling and disintegrating into a cloud of dust and concrete. Israel’s defence…

Historic Leap: Somalia's First Female Military Cadets Graduate MOGADISHU, Somalia — In a groundbreaking ceremony that reverberated through the hallways of history, Somalia welcomed its first-ever female military cadets. This significant event marks not just a military milestone but a powerful cultural shift within a nation long-encumbered by traditional patriarchal constraints. The graduation at a Turkish-run military academy epitomizes the slow yet inexorable march toward gender equality in Somalia—a journey many hope…

Puntland State’s Resilience: A New Dawn in the Fight Against ISIS MOGADISHU, Somalia — As the sun rises over the rugged landscapes of Puntland State, the echoes of a different kind of warfare resonate across the Al-Miskad Mountains. In recent weeks, the region has emerged as a frontline in the battle against ISIS, drawing both local and international attention. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson has lauded Puntland State’s impressive strides in counterterrorism efforts, a move that could be a…

Mandera’s uneasy morning: Allegations of Jubaland training on Kenyan soil test a fragile border On a normal school day, the dusty yard of Border Point 1 Primary in Mandera Town would fill with children in blue uniforms and plastic sandals, their chalkboards listing multiplication tables and Swahili proverbs. Instead, the gates are shut. And this week, the school became the unexpected center of a regional security storm when Mandera County officials alleged that Jubaland regional forces from Somalia are training there—inside…

Somalia and Egypt Edge Closer on Defense — With the Nile Dispute in the Background MOGADISHU — Around a long wooden table inside Somalia’s Ministry of Defense, a quiet but consequential conversation unfolded this week. Somalia’s deputy defense minister and senior generals received Egypt’s defense attaché, Col. Ahmed Fathi Abdelsatar Al-Husseini, to discuss tighter military cooperation: more joint training, deeper coordination, and, according to Somali officials, a possible Egyptian role within the African Union’s security…

Behind the Lines: Ethiopia and Egypt's Tug of War Over Somali Peacekeeping The geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa is shifting, and at its heart lies a quietly simmering tension between two regional powers: Ethiopia and Egypt. The backdrop to this palpable unease is Somalia, a nation struggling to rebuild amidst the shadows of its past conflicts. As Cairo prepares to send troops under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), questions arise about the motives and implications of their…

markdown Quiet Victory in a Troubled Landscape: Kenya's Operation Against Al-Shabaab NAIROBI, Kenya - Nestled within the coastal Lamu County, a dense and mysterious woodland called Boni Forest covers the land—a forest that, for years, has sheltered both an array of wildlife and the ominous threat of Al-Shabaab militants. This week, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) marked a noteworthy victory in this shadowy theater of conflict. The Battle for Boni The KDF, alongside a multi-agency security task force, conducted a precision…