Saturday April 18, 2026 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is “completely open” to commercial shipping and will stay that way for the duration of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, as United States President Donald Trump declared that a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran was “very close”. “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas…

Efe Ozkan and Seyit KurtSaturday April 18, 2026 State Minister Ali Mohammad Omar says Mogadishu rejects recognition of breakaway region, warns of security risks in Red Sea corridorANTALYA / ISTANBUL Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs has accused Israel of undermining Somali sovereignty after recognizing a region within North Western State of Somalia, saying the move could deepen instability in a strategically sensitive part of the Horn of Africa. Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum,…

Thursday April 16, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali airstrikes hit the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab group across several regions, killing 54 fighters and wounding several others, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday. In a statement, the ministry said the operations took place in Hiiraan, Lower Shabelle, Bay and Lower Jubba, where the military had been tracking what it described as important militant positions over recent days. The government said the targets were identified after surveillance indicated a rise in militant activity.…

By Maziar MotamediWednesday April 15, 2026 Photographs displayed in Tajrish Square place particular focus on the eyes of children who lost their lives in the Minab attack, as part of the 'Eyes of Minab' exhibition organised to commemorate the victims, in Tehran, on April 14, 2026 Iran is pressing its case for compensation for the destruction wrought by the United States and Israel, even as it maintains a defiant stance and regional actors scramble to broker a way out of the conflict. Tehran’s envoy to the United Nations…

Sunday April 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is on the verge of its first offshore deep-water drilling campaign, with Petroleum and Minerals Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed saying Saturday that the Curad-1 exploratory well will be drilled in Galmudug State, far out at sea between Mareeg and Harardheere and roughly 275 kilometers (171 miles) from land. Shire stressed that the site sits in deep waters well beyond the coast, describing the operation as taking place “very far from land.” “Curad-1 will be drilled offshore in…

Thursday April 9, 2026 Rescuers stand amid rubble at the site of an Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon, on April 8 President Donald Trump said Lebanon was left out of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, a position that directly undercut Pakistan’s claim that it had helped secure a truce covering the wider region. The comment came after Israel unleashed a sweeping assault on Lebanon on Wednesday that killed and wounded more than 1,400 people in crowded areas. Trump brushed off the fighting between Israel and…

Berk Kutay GokmenTuesday April 7, 2026 President Donald Trump escalated his warning to Iran on Tuesday, saying “a whole civilization will die tonight” as the clock ticked down on his deadline for a ceasefire deal. “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something…

Tuesday April 7, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — Somalia’s Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission has set April 28 as the date for elections to the Southwest State House of Representatives and 11 district local councils, opening the way for the region to choose a president and lawmakers through a one-person, one-vote system within 45 days. Commission chairman Abdikarim Ahmed Hassan announced the schedule Monday in Baidoa, framing the ballot as a major milestone in widening public participation and strengthening…

Monday April 6, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somali government forces, supported by international partners, killed 12 al-Shabab fighters in a planned operation near Baidoa and Daynuunay in the Bay region, the Ministry of Defense said Monday. According to the ministry, the strike targeted militant positions around the vital corridor that connects Mogadishu and Baidoa. Several other fighters were wounded in the assault, though officials did not release additional details. The ministry said the mission was part of a wider push to…

Monday April 6, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia is on the verge of its first offshore oil drilling campaign, a move that one senior government official said Sunday carries major economic and geopolitical implications as a Turkish drillship prepares to enter the country’s territorial waters. The vessel, Çağrı Bey, is due to arrive in Somalia on April 10, setting the stage for the country’s inaugural offshore drilling operation and a landmark moment for its energy industry. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Omar said the…