Latest news with #clans
The Standard
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Standard
Flight cancellations mount as Wipha arrives
US envoy says Syria and Israel agree to ceasefire as Druze minority and Bedouin clans clash in Syria
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is arming Gazan militias and clans an effective tactic?
Relying on a tribal militia or clan in Gaza may work in the short term. However, in the long term it is unlikely to achieve success. On June 5 reports confirmed that Israel has been arming and apparently supporting or working with an armed militias in Gaza. Some reports refer to this group as a 'gang.' Other reports describe the leader of the group, Yasser Abu Shabab, as a member of a large clan in southern Gaza. There may be more clans being activated or encouraged than just the one linked to Yasser Abu Shabab. Shabab is not his real name and his name is a nomme de guerre, meaning the full details about this group continue to be shrouded in some mystery. As the details are shrouded in some fog, it is hard to know if these groups will become an effective anti-Hamas movement. If the groups aregangs that are more well-known for looting and crimes in the past, rather than achieving much, then they will likely not be embraced by the average people. If the groups are made up of clans or even men with links to Bedouin tribes, then it's possible that it will be hard for them to make inroads among other Gazans. It's worth asking whether the new militias in Gaza may be effective and whether history tells us that arming militias is an effective tactic. First, let's look at what we know about Gaza. It's worth noting that Gaza's population is divided into different groups. There are people who came to Gaza as refugees in 1949 1949, fleeing areas in the Negev that became part of Israel. These people likely make up more than half the population of Gaza. Then there are the people in Gaza who trace their heritage to people who lived in Gaza for hundreds of years before 1948. Those people could be called the original Gazans. They are very different than those called 'refugees.' The refugees moved to camps such as Khan Younis, Rafah, Maghazai, Deir al-Balah, Jabaliya, Nuseirat and Shati. The camps became the backbone of the Palestinian political and armed movements. They also became a hotbed of Hamas activity in the 1980s and 1990s, and thus a hotbed of terrorist activity. The Gaza Gazans, who predate 1948, are less inclined toward Hamas. This means that any attempt by the armed militias, gangs or clans will face hurdles in terms of penetrating Gazan society. This is because groups that have roots in one area, may not be popular in others, or they may even alienate people. Back in the 1980s, Gazan families and clans were often involved in violence against one another. This kind of family violence is also common to Arab villages in Israel, where there has been an unprecedented level of gun violence in recent years. This kind of violence means people are often divided and it is hard to unify them, either militarily or politically. What does history tell us about the challenge that militaries or countries have in recruiting or arming tribes, mercenaries, militias or other types of paramilitary groups? In antiquity, it was not uncommon for tribes to play a role as auxiliaries alongside normal military formations. In addition, it was common that when countries were at war they would often bring along a cavalcade of smaller allies. For instance, when Hannibal was fighting Rome, he had to recruit people from Italy because the actual number of Carthaginians in his army began to decline over time. By the 15th and 16th century, mercenaries played a major role in fighting amongst the Italian city states. This was the era of Machiavelli, who wrote that mercenaries were often 'disunited, ambitious, [and] undisciplined.' However, mercenaries continued to be used by European states. The British employed Hessian mercenaries and others during the Revolutionary War. These groups generally did not prove effective. In addition, the British and other colonial powers often relied on alliances with tribes to help during wartime or to keep the peace on the frontier. For instance, at the battle of Isandlwana, the British army fighting the Zulus included a number of local native troops. The native troops of the Natal Native Contingent, for instance, included tribes that had fought the Zulus. Henan Cortes, during his conquest of the Aztec empire, allied with groups that had been suppressed by the Aztecs in the past. In the modern times, many countries have sought to work with tribes and militias. For instance, Lawrence of Arabia worked with tribes that were in revolt against the Ottoman Empire. During the Vietnam war, the US often worked with Montagnard fighters who opposed the Communists. The US also worked with the Hmong people in Laos. Later, during the US occupation in Iraq the US relied on a group called the Sons of Iraq or Sahweh, which were Sunni tribal militias. These were concentrated in Anbar province. Rwanda has long backed groups in eastern Congo who are made up of members of the Tutsi minority. What this history tells us is that there is a long tradition of working with tribal militias, clans, gangs or mercenaries. However, historically these groups do not have a lasting ability to achieve results. Usually, they are used as part of a policy and then they are usually abandoned when a war is over. In other cases, they simply fade away. The Sunni 'awakening' groups in Iraq, for instance, were starved of resources after the US left Iraq in 2011. Some of the tribes that supported the US continued to play a role. During the ISIS invasion of Iraq, a number of tribes near Haditha helped hold off the ISIS attack. These included the Jughayfa tribe and the Albu Nimr tribe. ISIS persecuted tribal groups that resisted. Key Sunni tribes such as the Shammar opposed ISIS and similar extremists. However, most of these tribes are not able to operate on a national level, they can only help secure certain areas. The use of tribes and militias usually enable states to carve out areas of influence in states they are intervening in. When there is a chaotic state on the border or a weak state, countries will often seek to arm local groups to help protect their borders. This can backfire because the groups may end up going on rampages and massacring people, or they may escalate a war in a neighboring country. The Vietnam War, for instance, destabilized Cambodia and Laos and this led to great suffering over the years. Minority groups who were exploited as allies often were betrayed. In other situations states will try to co-opt or even work with drug cartels, which is how Mexico's former PRI appeared to have run the country in the 1980s and 1990s. When this broke down the country fell into a brutal cycle of violence as the cartels had become more powerful than some state governments. Relying on a tribal militia or clan in Gaza may work in the short term. However, in the long term it is unlikely to achieve success. The theory that Israeli soldiers' lives will be saved via this alliance is not necessarily proven by history. Usually, when states think they can provide guns to tribes or militias as a short-term fix, they find out later that they are drawn into more complex wars. For instance, the spillover from the Rwandan genocide has led to fighting in eastern Congo for thirty years. Has the use of proxies and tribes and militias there helped Rwanda or Congo or anyone else in the long term? Probably not. The same can be said for Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia or many other states teetering on failure and civil war. A long civil war in Gaza will likely harm Israel in the long term.
LBCI
26-05-2025
- LBCI
Shooting at wedding in Baalbek leaves one dead, two injured
A young man was killed and two others were wounded in a shootout during a wedding celebration in the town of Bodai, west of Baalbek. The violence erupted following a confrontation between two young men from different clans. According to local reports, tensions flared after one of the men danced with the bride, provoking the other with whom he had a prior dispute. The argument quickly escalated into an exchange of gunfire amid a crowd of wedding guests. The Lebanese army has launched an operation to track down those involved in the shooting.
Geek Vibes Nation
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Vibes Nation
Exploring Rust The Game And The Rise of Community-Driven Platforms Like Rustly
Rust, a multiplayer survival game, released in 2018, has gained immense popularity since its early-access debut in 2013. It has always had a competitive community, praised for its immersive and intense environment. Players are set in a post-apocalyptic world where they begin with a rock and a torch. To survive, they need to craft tools, gather sustenance, build shelters, and defend from wildlife and other players. Known for its unique take on survival simulators, the introduction of Rust has made quite a statement. The game has realistic survival mechanisms and community-based gameplay, which sets it apart in the genre. Strategizing around social dynamics and making real-time decisions are required for success, which has elevated the title to more than solely a survival simulator. The Core Gameplay Experience The most primitive goal in Rust is to stay alive. Players are initiated into a large, unregulated world by themselves with many other players, wild creatures, and the ruins of humanity's past. Initially, they have to focus on surviving, but it has to be dealt with socially. As such, players have the opportunity to team up, form clans, or simply overpower other players through strategic violence or guile. Few games offer a PvP (player versus player) combat system like Rust, which enhances the game's intensity further. One of the highlights of the game is the strategic planning needed for building and reinforcing a base, especially with the risk of it being attacked and rendered useless. Tools, armor, and weapons also have to be constructed, other than the base itself. With the evolution of a player's base, the intricacy also increases, which attracts attention and (risk) from other players. It is vital to manage resources. Not only do food and water need to be collected, but also wood, stone, and metal. Players have the opportunity to create anything from a basic sleeping bag to advanced weaponry and intricate traps. This is in conjunction with the deep crafting system, where numerous methods to achieve long-term reign over the game include vehicles, electrical systems, and farming. The Distinct Culture of the Rust Community What makes Rust different from other games is the lack of traditional quests or missions given to players. While other games tend to be unimaginative by suppressing player activity and forcing players to follow a pre-defined checklist through milestones, Rust allows players to participate in advanced social activities and tell their self-crafted stories. Both sides of aggression or protectiveness can be offered with endless, endless opportunities. Teamwork is improved with real-time voice communication, however, social interactions are also highly volatile. Without any boundaries on players' interactions, the player's population is in a state of continuous flux, offering dynamic experiences unlike any other. Without any given framework, players are given both subtle and clear chances to declare an all-out war on opposing factions. The absence of player-enforced limits on the world has resulted in the creation of unique spaces within the game, such as casino for Rust players, where people wager their precious loot on chance and gamble in these elaborate constructs of gold and silver. In alignment with the game's spirit of mayhem, these actions are akin to the lottery of opening loot boxes or placing bets during the Orcs' fiercely competitive season, introducing more suspense. The amalgamation of social dynamics and brutally unscripted survival is what keeps these players constantly active in Rust. Skins and The Economy Within The Game In transitional stages of the game, an in-game economy reliant on cosmetic features such as clothing has evolved. Weapons, tools, and even clothing can be changed on the basis of visuals through in-game strings. Unlike the styling, however, these skins have also grown to become staples of trade internally and externally to the game, marking a powerful asset within the community. The skin market of Rust has created a need for new gaming sites which allow users to trade, customize, or participate in item trading activities. While the primary focus of the game revolves around survival, there is an additional economy that evolves with the game, increasing the player's interaction and investment. What Rustly Provides for The Community This evolving gaming economy has given rise to multiple platforms such as Rustly, which is not affiliated with Facepunch Studios but is a one-stop engagement hub for players who wish to explore the game's economy in innovative ways. The features provided are centered around Rust skins and gameplay-inspired entertainment, which gamers are sure to enjoy. Rustly is bound to make heady changes in its Case Opening section. This is one of the newest features on the website, where participants can claim virtual crates of random Rust skins dubbed as loot boxes. The gamers have the chance of getting anything from mundane pieces to highly sought-after cosmetics. This system creates a sense of satisfaction and excitement associated with unboxing, staring at the console, playing other popular games, card games, or even engaging in other popular titles that come with built-in mechanics. In addition to the Case Opening feature, we also have Coinflip – another Epic feature that allows players to bet their skins in a do-or-die chance game. This feature is simple and comes with high risk, stimulating extreme emotions where the winner gets everything, causing an unparalleled rush of excitement. Rustly's Roulette mode offers players a more classic gambling option, allowing them to place bets on a virtual wheel that spins to determine winnings. Just like Coinflip, this feature is designed to capture the most engagement, especially from competitive players looking for instant gratification.
