UN Fears “Full-Scale War” Over Jerusalem
The United Nations says it fears a “full-scale war” amid ongoing deadly exchanges between Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli military.
Military
Church Leaders Fear For Jerusalem As Death Toll Rises In Battles
Church leaders have expressed concern about the future of Jerusalem and its neighborhood as several people were killed Tuesday in nearly non-stop Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
IDF kills 4 Islamic Jihad, Hamas commanders in targeted strikes in Gaza
Three Islamic Jihad commanders and a Hamas commander were killed in targeted strikes by Israeli forces on Tuesday afternoon, as the Israel Defense Forces expanded its airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the firing of hundred of rockets at Israeli cities.
‘Dozens Killed, Hundreds Injured In Israel-Palestinian Clashes’
Palestinian officials in the Gaza Strip claimed Monday that some 20 people were killed in fighting with Israel in one of the bloodiest clashes in years.
Ukrainian Soldiers Killed Amid Flareup In East
Ukraine says at least two soldiers were killed and another wounded in recent days in clashes between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists. The military claims the latest reported skirmishes rose the death toll to at least 36 Ukrainian soldiers killed in the east this year.
IDF strikes Gaza after rocket launched at Israel amid Jerusalem unrest
The Israeli Air Force struck a Hamas military site in the southern Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire earlier on Saturday night, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
US-NATO launch massive military exercise; Russia unhappy
On Tuesday the United States and its NATO allies launched a massive military exercise which Moscow has described as “anti-Russian,” Just the News reports. Named Defender-Europe 21, the exercise is being conducted in Europe following the recent build-up of Russian troops and military equipment along the border with Ukraine.
Iran Teases Attack on US Capitol Building as Biden Admin Prepares To Lift Sanctions
Iran released a provocative new video over the weekend that depicts its military forces blowing up the United States Capitol building, a threat that comes as the Biden administration inches closer to providing Tehran with billions of dollars in economic sanctions relief.
Philippines Christian school leader arrested and detained in government crackdown on human rights
Police in the Philippines has arrested and detained the administrator of a Christian school in Bicol region, in what rights advocates have described as a spate of “questionable operations” designed to crack down on human rights in the island nation, International Christian Concern reports.
Report: Civilian killed, six injured in Israeli airstrike on Syria
An Israeli airstrike set off Syrian air defenses early Wednesday, killing one and injuring six, according to Syrian state-run SANA news.
Egypt and Turkey to hold two days of talks in normalization push
Egypt and Turkey will hold two days of political consultations in Cairo on Wednesday and Thursday as part of a push to mend ties between the regional rivals, the two countries said.
Nigeria troops rescue Christian schoolboy abducted by Fulani herdsmen
Government troops in Nigeria’s Plateau state have rescued a boy who was one of four students kidnapped from their Christian mission school by Muslim Fulani herdsmen last month, Morning Star News reports. Kelvin Eze of King’s School was rescued on April 30; the other three students had managed to escape the day before.
China nuclear buildup faster than expected, U.S. now believes
China’s military is advancing its nuclear arsenal and delivery systems so fast the Defense Intelligence Agency has had to move up its estimate of when Beijing will double its warhead stockpile, the general in charge of military intelligence told Congress on Thursday.
Zarif Had No Knowledge of Israeli Strikes Until Kerry Told Him, Translation Reveals
Leaked audiotape of Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif indicates he had no knowledge of covert Israeli military strikes before former secretary of state John Kerry provided him with the information, new details that contradict the State Department’s recent defense of Kerry.
Papua Churches Urge UN To Help End Attacks
The West Papua Council of Churches urges the United Nations to help end a “humanitarian tragedy” in Indonesia’s Papua region where it says Indonesia’s military kills Christian leaders.
Kerry Denies Telling Iranians About Covert Israeli Operations; State Dept. Says It Was Public Knowledge
Facing calls for his resignation, President Biden’s climate envoy John Kerry on Monday denied as “unequivocally false” claims that he had informed Iran’s foreign minister about covert Israeli military strikes against Iranian facilities in Syria.
Pentagon says US Navy fired warning shots at Iran boats in Gulf
A US Navy vessel fired warning shots toward three Iranian military speed boats in the Gulf this week to warn them after they sped close to the ship, the Navy said Tuesday.
IDF shoots down Hezbollah drone on Lebanon border
Israeli forces shot down a drone belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah terrorist group that crossed into northern Israel from Lebanon on Tuesday, the IDF said.
John Kerry told Iranians about secret Israeli operations in Syria: Report
Former Secretary of State John Kerry kept Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif informed about secret Israeli military actions in Syria, the Iranian diplomat said in recently leaked audio, casting new light on communication between the two men after Mr. Kerry returned to life as a private citizen in 2017.
Israel shuts down Gaza fisheries following three straight nights of rockets from the Strip
After three consecutive nights of rockets firing from Gaza into southern Israel, and five rockets overnight, Israel shut down the Gaza fishing zone Monday, the Times of Israel reports. Israeli journalists have noted that airstrikes are normally conducted in retaliation for Gaza rockets, and that the closure of fisheries appears to be Israel’s only response in this round of the ongoing conflict.