President

Trump’s ‘peace through strength’ doctrine is being tested across three regions, as the White House pairs anti-interventionist rhetoric with rapid, forceful action in Venezuela, Nigeria and the Middle East. Nearly a year after returning to office promising to be a “peacemaker and unifier,” President Donald Trump has ordered large-scale military strikes in Venezuela and announced the capture and removal of Nicolás Maduro, the country’s leftist strongman. The raid, launched at the start of the new year, follows a Christmas Day…

Trump orders strikes in Venezuela, announces Maduro capture, as U.S. flexes muscle in multiple theaters Donald Trump returned to office vowing to be a peace president. Nearly a year later, he is leaning hard on military force. The U.S. president on Tuesday ordered large-scale strikes in Venezuela and announced that Nicolás Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country — a stunning escalation that follows a Christmas Day operation in Nigeria and fresh warnings aimed at Iran. Trump said U.S. forces were “locked and…

Saturday January 3, 2026 JOWHAR, Somalia — A landmine explosion struck a convoy escorting Hirshabelle State President Ali Guudlawe Hussein on Friday as it traveled from Mohamed Dheere Airport toward Jowhar, injuring several members of his delegation but leaving the president unharmed, officials said. The blast occurred at Jiiro Carmoole, a stretch of road between the airport and Jowhar town, and hit one of the vehicles providing security for the president shortly after his arrival, according to security sources. Ali Guudlawe…

Somalia’s president warns Israel against North Western State of Somalia presence, says recognition risks importing conflict to Horn of Africa Published Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned that Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia and any effort to establish a foothold in the breakaway region would risk dragging the Horn of Africa into broader Middle East hostilities. “We have never attacked Israel. We never have created problem to Israel. We don’t want Israel to come to us…

ISTANBUL — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned that Israel’s unexpected recognition of North Western State of Somalia risks destabilizing the Horn of Africa and could be tied to attempts to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, escalating tensions across a strategic maritime corridor linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Tuesday from Istanbul, where he met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mohamud said Israel’s move was “not merely a diplomatic gesture but a cover for…

Somalia’s President to Visit Saudi Arabia Amid Shifting Alliances MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to make an official visit to Saudi Arabia later this week, officials said, a trip aimed at consolidating ties with Riyadh as Mogadishu recalibrates its regional alliances across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. Somali officials said the agenda will center on strengthening bilateral relations, regional cooperation and security coordination, with both governments looking to formalize a…

Somalia’s president warns Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia could inflame Horn of Africa ISTANBUL — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned that Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia risks importing Middle East tensions into a “very volatile region,” saying his government will not accept an Israeli presence in the breakaway northern territory. “We have never attacked Israel. We have never created a problem for Israel. We don't want Israel to come to us and bring their problem to…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned that Israel’s decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia could destabilize the Horn of Africa and carry implications for Palestinians in Gaza, calling the move “unexpected and strange” after three decades of nonrecognition by any country. In an interview with Al Jazeera from Istanbul, Türkiye, on Tuesday, Mohamud said Somali intelligence indicates North Western State of Somalia agreed to three Israeli conditions in exchange for recognition: accepting the resettlement of…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will travel to Ankara on Tuesday to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a high-stakes visit that comes days after Israel said it would recognize North Western State of Somalia and as Turkey and Somalia weigh the next steps in offshore energy exploration. Two people familiar with the plans said Erdogan is expected to address Israel’s unilateral move during talks with Mohamud. The Somali leader also plans to brief Ankara on a seismic survey completed in October off Somalia’s…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened leaders from several federal member states and the Banadir regional administration on Sunday in Mogadishu, following Israel’s steps toward recognizing North Western State of Somalia as an independent state, according to the president’s office. In a closed-door briefing, Hassan Sheikh told the assembled leaders that the Israeli move violated Somalia’s territorial integrity and statehood. He said the federal government was pursuing a coordinated response grounded in…