military

U.S. military chiefs visit North Western State of Somalia as Congress advances bill to deepen engagement HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia — Senior U.S. military officials overseeing East Africa operations met Monday with North Western State of Somalia’s new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, in a rare high-level visit to Hargeisa that dovetailed with fresh momentum in Washington to widen America’s ties with the self-governing territory. The talks — which both sides described as focused on security…

Analysis: Egypt’s Troop Move to Somalia — A New Chapter in African Security and Influence The announcement that Egypt will send troops to Somalia under the African Union’s stabilization mission marks a notable juncture in an evolving map of regional power. At first glance it is a pragmatic step — extra boots to help a fragile state push back al-Shabab — but read more closely it is also a diplomatic and strategic signal from Cairo about where it wants to sit in the Horn of Africa and beyond. On the ground: what we know…

Estonia says Russian jets briefly crossed its airspace, raising NATO fears of spillover Estonia accused three Russian MiG‑31 fighters of violating its airspace near the tiny island of Vaindloo on Thursday, an incursion that lasted roughly 12 minutes and deepened Western worries that Moscow’s war in Ukraine could accidentally — or deliberately — spill beyond the battlefield. Moscow denied the claim, saying the aircraft remained over neutral waters. Quick scramble, sharp words Italian F‑35s operating under NATO’s Baltic Air…

Egypt announces troop deployment to Somalia, intensifying Horn of Africa contest Egypt has announced it will deploy troops to Somalia under a bilateral security agreement, a move Cairo says is intended to bolster counter‑terrorism operations and help stabilize the war‑torn Horn of Africa nation. Officials described the steps as the completion of planning for the deployment, but they provided few operational details, leaving open questions about the size, mandate and timetable of the force. What Cairo says Egyptian…

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…