southern

Al-Shabaab attacks Jubaland base in Kuday; outcome disputed KISMAYO, Somalia — Al-Shabaab fighters launched a pre-dawn assault Wednesday on a Jubaland security forces base in Kuday, a strategic coastal area in Lower Jubba about 60 kilometers south of the port city of Kismayo, according to local sources. Residents said the attack began with explosions that were followed by direct clashes between government soldiers and the militants around the base on Kuday island. The scale of the fighting and the extent of damage remained…

Somalia’s largest telecommunications provider, Hormuud Telecom, on Monday accused Kenyan government forces of deliberately destroying its equipment and facilities in the Dhuyac-garoon area of the Lower Juba region, saying the incident has severed communications and mobile money access for tens of thousands of civilians in southern Somalia. In a statement, the company said the damage targeted infrastructure serving communities in Dhuyac-garoon and has left an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 residents without essential…

Australia’s south sweltered through a brutal heatwave that pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in multiple cities on Thursday, triggering health warnings, straining power grids and igniting bushfires across already parched landscapes. Meteorologists said the conditions were the worst in six years, invoking comparisons to the 2019–2020 “Black Summer,” when catastrophic bushfires ravaged southeastern Australia and killed 33 people. Authorities warned the current burst of extreme heat could intensify fire risk in…

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…

Somali and AU Forces Secure Awdheegle in Push to Root Out al‑Shabab MOGADISHU — Somali National Army troops, backed by Ugandan contingents operating under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), announced on Saturday that they have taken full control of Awdheegle, a strategic town in the Lower Shabelle region, as part of a wider offensive aimed at dislodging al‑Shabab militants. The operation, called “Silent Storm,” has been under way for days across swathes of the fertile Lower Shabelle, where farmers,…

Israel has intensified its airstrikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon, launching a series of attacks just one day after Lebanese officials hinted at their consideration of a US-mediated ceasefire. This conflict is deeply rooted in a web of alliances, with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad enjoying the backing of Iran, Israel’s primary adversary. Notably, Iran has expressed its eagerness for a rapid conclusion to the ongoing hostilities that have gripped Lebanon for nearly two months. Since September 23, Israel has…

Israel's military has unleashed a series of intense airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, marking one of the most significant daytime assaults in the region. This ramped-up offensive comes after the Israeli defense minister made clear there would be no ceasefire until their objectives were fully realized. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising over Beirut as approximately ten airstrikes rained down throughout the morning hours. In a warning distributed via social media, the Israeli army informed locals of their…

Even with a rising tide of awareness regarding children’s rights, the latest findings from UNICEF unveil some serious educational hurdles faced by kids in Eastern and Southern Africa. The figures are eye-opening and provoke serious thought. Research has shown that a staggering 87% of children recognize their rights. Yet, awareness doesn’t equate to adequate support or access. Take Tanzania, for instance, where youngsters are vocal about their need for better digital literacy and vocational training opportunities. They see…

Government and Al-Shabaab Forces Clash, Resulting in Loss of 11 Soldiers in Southern Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia — A fierce firefight near Wayaanta, some 60 kilometers from Kismayo, claimed the lives of at least 11 soldiers from both Somali regional and federal units on Wednesday. The area, located in the state of Jubaland, became a hotbed of violence as government troops clashed with al-Shabaab insurgents. Anonymously, three officials disclosed that the skirmish not only fatally impacted the forces but also left…

In a recent escalation, Israeli airstrikes on Sidon, a coastal city in southern Lebanon, resulted in the tragic loss of at least eight lives, with 25 others suffering various injuries, as reported by the nation’s health ministry. Meanwhile, a separate strike in Zawtar al-Sharkiya claimed the lives of three individuals. Remarkably, a bomb dropped on Marjayoun yesterday tragically resulted in five fatalities. In the midst of these aggressions, Israel confirmed that four of its soldiers lost their lives while engaged in…