Israel says striking targets affiliated with Hezbollah's Radwan Force
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X that the military is striking targets affiliated with Hezbollah's Radwan Force.
'As part of the strikes, military compounds belonging to the Radwan Force have been targeted, where terrorist operatives and warehouses used to store combat equipment employed by Hezbollah have been identified,,' Adraee said.
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Arab News
20 minutes ago
- Arab News
French army leaves Senegal, ending military presence in west Africa
DAKAR: France on Thursday formally handed back its last two military bases in Senegal, leaving Paris with no permanent army camps in either west or central Africa. Ending the French army's 65 years in independent Senegal, the pull-out comes after similar withdrawals across the continent, with former colonies increasingly turning their backs on their former ruler. The move comes as the Sahel region faces a growing jihadist conflict across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that is threatening the wider west African region. A recent string of attacks this month in Mali included an assault on a town on the border with Senegal. France returned Camp Geille, its largest base in the west African country, and its airfield at Dakar airport, in a ceremony attended by top French and Senegalese officials. They included Senegalese chief of staff General Mbaye Cisse and General Pascal Ianni, the head of the French forces in Africa. Cisse said the handover marked 'an important turning point in the rich and long military journey of our two countries.' He said the 'new objectives' were aimed at 'giving new content to the security partnership.' Senegalese troops were working 'to consolidate the numerous skills gained it its quest for strategic autonomy,' he added. The general ended his speech with a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the French author of 'The Little Prince,' who spent several months in Dakar: 'For each ending there is always a new departure.' Ianni said Paris was 'reinventing partnerships in a dynamic Africa.' 'We have to do things differently, and we don't need permanent bases to do so,' he said. The French general however insisted that the pull-out 'takes nothing away from the sacrifices made yesterday by our brothers-in-arms in Africa for our respective interests.' Around 350 French soldiers, primarily tasked with conducting joint operations with the Senegalese army, are now leaving, marking the end of a three-month departure process that began in March. After storming to victory in 2024 elections promising radical change, Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye demanded France withdraw troops from the country by 2025. Unlike the leaders of other former colonies such as junta-run Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, however, Faye has insisted that Senegal will keep working with Paris. Reinventing partnerships Senegal was one of France's first colonies in Africa. After gaining independence in 1960, Senegal became one of France's staunchest African allies, playing host to French troops throughout its modern history. Faye's predecessor, Macky Sall, continued that tradition. However Faye, who ran on a ticket promising a clean break with the Sall era, has said that Senegal will treat France like any other foreign partner. Pledging to make his country more self-sufficient, the president gave a deadline of the end of 2025 for all foreign armies to withdraw. 'Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country, and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,' Faye said at the end of 2024. He maintained nonetheless that France remained 'an important partner for Senegal.' Faye has also urged Paris to apologize for colonial atrocities, including the massacre on December 1, 1944, of dozens of African soldiers who had fought for France in World War II. A lawmaker from the president's ruling Pastef party, Guy Marius Sagna, hailed Thursday's 'end to the presence of the French occupying army.' 'Bravo to President Diomaye Faye!... Bravo to the patriots! Decolonization continues,' he told the press. French former empire With governments across Africa increasingly questioning the presence of French soldiers, Paris has closed or reduced numbers at bases across its former empire. In February, Paris handed back its sole remaining base in Ivory Coast, ending decades of French presence at the site. The month before, France turned over the Kossei base in Chad, its last military foothold in the unrest-hit Sahel region. Coups in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali between 2020 and 2023 have swept military strongmen to power. All have cut ties with France and turned to Russia instead for help in fighting the Sahel's decade-long jihadist insurgency. The Central African Republic, also a former French colony to which the Kremlin has sent mercenaries, has likewise demanded a French pull-out. Meanwhile, the army has turned its base in Gabon into a camp shared with the central African nation focused on training. Only the tiny Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti will play host to a permanent French army base following Thursday's withdrawal. France intends to make its base in Djibouti, home to some 1,500 people, its military headquarters for Africa.
Arab News
20 minutes ago
- Arab News
UK MP Jeremy Corbyn announces ‘independent Gaza tribunal'
LONDON: British MP Jeremy Corbyn has announced an independent 'Gaza tribunal' to investigate the UK's involvement in Israel's military operation in the territory. The former Labour Party leader, who now sits in parliament as an independent, has been one of the most prominent voices in the UK against Israel's war. He previously called for the government to set up an inquiry into British involvement in the conflict, but his bill was rejected at its second reading earlier this month. Corbyn said on Thursday he would hold a Gaza tribunal in September because 'the public deserves to know the full scale of their government's complicity in genocide. 'Just like Iraq, the government is doing everything it can to protect itself from scrutiny,' he said, referring to the UK's ill-fated decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. 'Just like Iraq, it will not succeed in its attempts to suffocate the truth.' The left-wing politician added: 'We will bring about justice for the people of Palestine.' Earlier this month, the government blocked an inquiry into its complicity in the Gaza genocide. We don't need their permission to uncover the truth. That's why, today, we are announcing The Gaza Tribunal. Sign up at — Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) July 17, 2025 The UK suspended 30 arms export licenses to Israel in September last year in response to its Gaza operations. But Corbyn and pressure groups say the UK is still supplying other weapons, including parts for F-35 fighter jets. The Royal Air Force is also accused of flying surveillance flights over Gaza and supplying Israel with intelligence. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the International Development Committee on Wednesday that he was 'very certain' no weapons were being used against civilians and aid workers in Gaza. Corbyn said the tribunal would hear from expert witnesses including Palestinians in Gaza, journalists, and health and aid workers who have worked in the territory. Legal experts and UN officials will also be called upon to provide evidence. The tribunal will begin by outlining the scale of human suffering in Gaza, where more than 58,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. It will go on to outline Britain's legal responsibilities under domestic and international law, and then probe Britain's role in the campaign. The British government has come under increasing pressure from MPs, including many from its own Labour Party, to take a tougher line against Israel. Last week, almost 60 Labour MPs sent a letter to Lammy demanding the UK immediately recognize Palestine as a state.
Leaders
29 minutes ago
- Leaders
Israel to Increase Defense Spending amid Ongoing Deadly War in Gaza
Israeli Finance and Defense Ministries announced that the government will increase defense spending by 42 billion shekels ($12.5 billion) in 2025 and 2026, according to Reuters. Both ministers added that the budget agreement will allow the Defense Ministry to 'advance urgent and essential procurement deals critical to national security.' Crucially, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the new budget 'fully covers the intense fighting in Gaza, alongside comprehensive security preparations for all threats — from the south, the north, and more distant arenas.' Since the beginning of Gaza War, Israeli military costs have witnessed unprecedented growth. Along with the deadly war in Gaza, Israel has also been in war with Hezbollah in Lebanon and with Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. Moreover, Israel launched several airstrikes in Syria this week after pledging to destroy government forces that attack Druze minority in southern Syria. Apart from this, Israel's missile defense systems have been intercepting almost daily missiles fired by Hezbollah, Iran and Houthis in Yemen. Currently, the Israeli government's defense spending is 110 billion shekels – approximately 9% of gross domestic product – out of a total 2025 budget of 756 billion shekels. Director General of the Defense Ministry, Amir Baram, said that the extra budgetary funding 'will allow the Defense Ministry to immediately sign procurement deals for the weapons and ammunition required to replenish depleted stocks and support the IDF's ongoing operations.' Baram also added that the funding will also enable the defense establishment to set development programs to elevate the Israel Defense Forces' qualitative edge for future systems. Related Topics: Trump, Qatari PM to Discuss Gaza Deal at White House Gaza Talks Stalled as Hamas, Israel Trade Blame UN: Nearly 800 Killed Seeking Aid in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Talks Short link : Post Views: 18
