Thousands of Christians Flee Myanmar Bombardments’
Thousands of Christian villagers have reportedly fled bombardments in Myanmar since the coup that ousted the nation’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on February 1.
Military
IDF: Hezbollah likely to initiate limited battles with Israel in 2021, not war
The Israel Defense Forces does not anticipate the outbreak of a large-scale war in the coming year, but does expect that Hezbollah and other terror groups will likely initiate more limited rounds of violence, according to its annual intelligence assessment.
Eritrea: Government frees 70 Christians imprisoned for years without trial
The government of Eritrea has released 70 Christians who had been in prison for between two to twelve years without trial, International Christian Concern reports. However, rights advocates do not believe this action by the military dictatorship signals a change in its abusive stance toward Evangelical Christians.
Ex-U.S. Secretary Schultz Dies At 100
Former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz, who spent most of the 1980s trying to end the Cold War and reach Middle East peace, has died. He was 100.
Nigerian government executes six Christian soldiers: “Nigeria is becoming like Rwanda”
The Nigerian government executed six Christian soldiers on trumped-up charges in Abuja last month, a civil rights lawyer has told the Christian Post. According to Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chair of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, the soldiers were framed for a crime committed by one of their superiors.
ICC has jurisdiction to probe Israel, Hamas for war crimes, pretrial judges rule
In a major decision released Friday, a pretrial chamber of the International Criminal Court determined that The Hague has jurisdiction to open a criminal investigation against Israel and the Palestinians for war crimes alleged to have taken place in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
Report: Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in Syria
Syrian state television said Wednesday evening the country’s air defenses responded to “Israeli aggression” in what appears to be an attack on Hezbollah targets in the area.
U.S. Threatens Myanmar With Sanctions Over Coup
U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday he was considering reimposing sanctions against Myanmar after the military seized power in a coup.
Taiwan Says Chinese Fighters, U.S. Aircraft Both Entered Defence Zone
Six Chinese fighter aircraft and a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft entered the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on Sunday, the island’s defense ministry said, in an unusual admission of U.S. military activity.
Myanmar Leader Suu Kyi Detained In Coup
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who became the controversial de facto leader of Myanmar, has been detained under house arrest by the military in an apparent coup, her party confirmed.
US Defense Intelligence Agency bought warrantless phone location data
A report published Friday reveals that the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in recent years bought American smartphone location data with first obtaining warrants, Common Dreams reports. As the DIA is responsible for apprising military and civilian policymakers about the actions and intentions of foreign governments and non-state actors, the current revelation has caused digital rights advocates to react with alarm.
Israeli Military Chief Orders New Plans to Strike Iran’s Nuclear Program
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi announced on Tuesday the IDF is preparing military plans to hit Iran’s nuclear program in the upcoming year.
US B-52 bomber flies over Gulf again in message to Iran
A US B-52 heavy bomber flew over the Persian Gulf, the US military said on Wednesday, in the sixth such flight since November 2020 — and the third this year.
US exploring new bases in Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions
The U.S. military is exploring the possibility of using a Red Sea port in Saudi Arabia and an additional two airfields in the kingdom amid heightened tensions with Iran, the military said Tuesday.
IDF chief warns Israel won’t accept return to Iran nuclear deal, offensive military options on table
The head of the IDF warned Tuesday that Israel would not accept a direct return to the Iran nuclear deal and the military was preparing contingency plans in case the Iranians moved closer to producing a nuclear weapon.
Declassified U.S. intelligence bolsters Wuhan lab theory in coronavirus outbreak
U.S. intelligence findings recently declassified by the State Department provide fresh evidence for the theory that the COVID-19 pandemic likely began at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, China’s sole high-security laboratory that has links to the country’s military.
Biden issues executive order allowing transgender people to join US military
President Joe Biden has issued an executive order that reverses the Trump administration’s ban on transgender people joining the US military, Voice of America reports. Transgender citizens had been allowed to serve in the military and receive transitioning treatment under former President Barack Obama, but new transgender recruits were subsequently banned under former President Donald Trump.
Syrian media reports Israeli airstrikes near western city of Hama
Syrian state media reported Israeli airstrikes near the western city of Hama in the predawn hours of Friday morning.
National Guard keeping 25,000 troops in Washington with no plans to leave — yet
The more than 25,000 National Guard troops called to provide inauguration security remained in place Thursday and will continue to patrol the near-vacant capital city until federal agencies release them, military officials said.
Biden to reverse transgender military ban imminently, White House says
President Joe Biden will soon reverse the ban on transgender people serving openly in the military, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Wednesday.