Latest news with #militaryoperation
Arab News
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan's KP to hold tribal council meetings from this weekend over concerns amid Bajaur military operation
PESHAWAR: The chief minister of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Ali Amin Gandapur, announced on Wednesday that the provincial government will hold a series of tribal council meetings or jirgas from August 2 to address people's concerns, amid protests over the deteriorating law and order situation amid a fresh military operation in the restive Bajaur district. Located in KP along the Afghan border, the northwestern Bajaur district has long experienced militant violence and multiple military operations, especially during the peak of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgency. Hundreds of protesters, including tribal elders and youth, rallied on Wednesday in Bajaur district to express concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the area, as the military launched an operation against militants that has left at least three civilians dead and seven injured, according to local representatives. Residents say they are opposing the latest offensive out of fear of displacement, as previous operations in the tribal belt, led to evacuations and long-term instability. The unrest erupted following a three-day curfew imposed across 16 villages in Bajaur's Loi Mamund tehsil, where the Pakistan Army began a counterterrorism operation codenamed 'Sarbakaf' on July 29. The curfew, announced in a notification by the district's deputy commissioner, aimed to 'ensure public safety' amid intelligence reports of militant activity. 'I am starting jirgas [tribal councils] and from August 2, god willing, our jirgas will begin,' Gandapur said in a video message released by his office. He added that at first, the jirgas will be held at the division level where all of the province's local elders, political parties, political representatives, and stakeholders will sit together for consultations. 'The purpose of the consultations is to address the reservations and after these jirgas, we will hold a grand jirga in which we will give our policy, our plan and future strategy after sitting with all institutions,' the chief minister added. The Pakistani military's offensive triggered intense clashes with suspected militants, as local residents say the crossfire spilled into civilian areas, forcing many families to flee. 'The situation remains tense, and some families have already relocated to safer areas within the district,' Dr. Hamid ur Rehman, a provincial lawmaker from Bajaur affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told Arab News over the phone while confirming civilian casualties. 'The operation has been paused today, but there's still fear in the air,' he added. He said a provincial assembly session scheduled for August 1 would discuss the crisis. Pakistan's military did not respond to a request for comment from Arab News when this report was filed. Nisar Muhammad, spokesperson for the provincial information department, said the government was 'closely monitoring' the situation and had convened an apex committee meeting to review the security response. 'The curfew will be lifted in phases, depending on the ground situation,' he added. 'Civilian safety is our priority.' The escalation has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders. Aimal Wali Khan, president of the Awami National Party, denounced the violence in a social media statement, saying, 'The bloodshed in Bajaur must end.' Malik Farman Ullah, a tribal elder, voiced frustration over the recurring violence in the region. 'Our people are exhausted from burying the dead,' he said. 'We demand that militants and security forces keep their clashes away from civilian homes.' The Bajaur operation comes amid renewed concerns about the TTP's presence along the Afghan border and a broader uptick in militant violence across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The provincial administration, led by Gandapur, has called for greater provincial involvement in security decisions, emphasizing the need to balance counterterrorism with civilian protections. As tensions rise, the federal and provincial governments face growing pressure to restore stability without repeating past cycles of violence in the tribal belt.
Arab News
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Norwegian aid chief slams Israel's Gaza war as ‘destruction of a civilization'
LONDON: Israel's military operation in Gaza is no longer a war against militants but has become a 'destruction of a civilization,' a top aid official said, warning that time is running out to prevent a 'biblical famine' in the besieged enclave. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said Israel's continued bombardment and restrictions on aid access have left Gaza's civilian population, particularly women and children, to suffer the consequences of a conflict they had no part in. 'What I see is that, as a military conflict, it was all over a long time ago,' Egeland told anchor Bianna Golodryga. 'This is not targeted anti-terrorist warfare, it's the destruction of a civilization now.' The veteran humanitarian said there are no justifications for the war on Gaza, which has killed more than 60,000 people and pushed the enclave's population of 2.2 million to the brink of famine. 'Hamas has a million sins on their conscience … but those dying (and) bleeding have nothing to do with Hamas. These are women and children. They had nothing to do with Oct. 7,' he said, calling for an immediate ceasefire and an urgent and large-scale opening of Gaza's border crossings to allow full access for aid groups. Egeland's remarks come amid growing international pressure on Israel to ease restrictions and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, as malnutrition-related deaths continue to rise. During a Saudi-French conference on Tuesday, UN experts confirmed that large areas of the enclave are now experiencing full-scale famine. Israel has responded with efforts to increase aid deliveries including a temporary pause in military operations, partial openings of humanitarian corridors, and aid airdrops. Egeland, however, said such efforts are not enough 'to avert a biblical famine on our watch,' criticizing the air drops and temporary corridors for offering little relief to a starving population. While he welcomed the shifting stances of US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and other Western leaders who finally recognized the widespread starvation gripping the Palestinian territory, Egeland emphasized that the solution to avert the crisis ultimately rests with them. 'It is Israel and the Western powers that provide the arms to all of this that have to change this. They have the fingerprint all over this catastrophe really. We can change it. It's still possible.' Despite the mounting death toll and near-total collapse of humanitarian infrastructure, Egeland said the international community still has a chance to avert the worst — but only if it acts immediately and decisively. 'It has to be a massive ramp up. And time is running out,' he warned. On Monday, in a meeting with Starmer, Trump acknowledged that there is 'real starvation' in Gaza. The British prime minister announced the following day that the UK will recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes significant steps to end the 'appalling situation' in Gaza and meets other conditions. Egeland said Western leaders were finally acknowledging warnings that aid agencies had been raising for months. 'These capitals have known so, because we told them for many months, I'm glad it's — there is a wakeup call now. It is very late,' he said. Addressing the humanitarian catastrophe, the NRC chief noted the collapse of the food and health sectors, saying that people were dying from preventable disease and lack of water and sanitation. He said his NGO has been finding it impossible to provide the basic services of water, sanitation and shelter due to the total depletion of fuel and continued restrictions. The organization, he noted, is 'still denied access for our water and sanitation hygiene items, our food and our tents.' The aid chief paid tribute to the resilience of his Palestinian colleagues in Gaza, describing them as 'real heroes' who have endured repeated displacement, hunger, and profound personal loss while continuing their humanitarian work. 'If there is anyone I would give the Nobel Peace Prize to, I would give it to my colleagues on the ground, Palestinian, in Gaza, the single mothers who are also aid workers. 'But they're really broken now, after all of these months of starvation, all of these months of having their homes destroyed.'
France 24
3 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Gunmen involved in Indian Kashmir tourist attack killed: minister
The heavily-armed men were killed in a military operation on Monday, more than three months after 26 people were gunned down in a popular resort town of Indian Kashmir on April 22. "I want to tell the parliament (that) those who attacked in Baisaran were three terrorists and all three have been killed," he said. Shah said all three were Pakistani nationals and identified two of them as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan. "Indian security agencies have detailed evidence of their involvement in the attack," he said in a speech in the lower house of parliament. Monday's operation took place in the mountains of Dachigam, around 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the disputed region's main city of Srinagar, the army said in a statement. The attack in April saw gunmen burst out of forests near Pahalgam and rake crowds of visitors with automatic weapons. All those killed were listed as residents of India except one man from Nepal. Survivors said gunmen had separated the men from the women and children and ordered some of the men to recite the Muslim declaration of faith. India accused Pakistan of backing the attackers, a charge Islamabad denied, sparking an intense four-day conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals in May that killed more than 70 people on both sides. Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and the neighbours -- who both claim the region in full -- have fought two wars and several conflicts over its control. Shah said a security meeting was held immediately after the attack and it was decided that the attackers should not be "allowed to leave the country and return to Pakistan". Investigators relied on eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence to establish that the rifles found on the men were the same that were used in the April attack, he said. "It was confirmed that these three rifles were involved in killing of our innocent civilians," said Shah. A shadowy group called The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the April attack. But as public criticism mounted over the killings, the group retracted its claim. Earlier this month, the United States described the TRF as a "front and proxy" of Lashkar-e-Taiba. © 2025 AFP
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Huge military operation locks down Scottish golf course as Donald Trump plays a round after warning 'horrible invasion' of migrants is 'killing Europe'
Donald Trump is enjoying a round of golf at Turnberry after every inch of the course was scoured in a massive military operation. The US President, sporting a white 'USA' baseball cap, teed off at about 10.15am, accompanied by his son, Eric, and a phalanx of Secret Service agents. Mr Trump was filmed striking an iron before receiving a high-five from a caddy - suggesting the shot went as hoped. He touched down at Prestwick Airport on Friday night, where he greeted the media by warning that a 'horrible invasion' of migrants was 'killing' Europe. The private visit has now commandeered almost a third of Police Scotland's manpower and this morning officers in high viz vests were seen swarming over greens, tees and fairways, while snipers overlooked it from watchtowers. Police also have road closures in place, with limited access for locals and members of the media. Amid the search, a few golfers were also spotted at the course, enjoying an early-morning game. Mr Trump is staying at Turnberry for the start of a five-day private visit to Scotland which will see him have talks with both UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. A meeting has also been scheduled for him to talk about trade with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. With no talks apparently scheduled today, the President - a well-known golf enthusiast - is free to enjoy a round. However, protests have been planned, with opponents of Mr Trump expected to gather in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen later on today, with the Stop Trump coalition planning what it has described as being a 'festival of resistance'. As well as visiting Trump Turnberry, Mr Trump will head to Aberdeenshire later in his visit and is expected to open a second course at his golf resort in Balmedie. As he landed in Ayrshire yesterday, the President took questions from journalists, telling Europe to 'get your act together' on immigration, which he said was 'killing' the continent. He also praised Sir Keir, who he described as a 'good man', but added that the UK Prime Minister is 'slightly more liberal than I am'. Today will be the first real test of Police Scotland during the visit as it looks to control the demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as well as any which spring up near to the president's course. The force has asked for support from others around the UK to bolster officer numbers, with both organisations representing senior officers and the rank-and-file claiming there is likely to be an impact on policing across the country for the duration of the visit. Before the visit started, Mr Swinney appealed to Scots to protest 'peacefully and within the law'. At one point, Mr Trump appeared to veer off the fairway and into the rough The visit is expected to require a security operation as big as the arrangements for the late Queen Elizabeth II 's funeral in September 2022 - involving up to 6,000 officers - with taxpayers again facing a bill of more than £3million for policing his stay. On the Prestwick runway Mr Trump renewed his war against the expansion of wind farms, which he previously opposed off the coast of his Menie course in Aberdeenshire. He told reporters: 'I say two things to Europe: stop the windmills, you are ruining your countries. 'I really mean it. It's so sad, you fly over and you see these windmills all over the place ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds and if they are stuck in your oceans ruining your oceans. 'On immigration, you'd better get your act together or you are not going to have Europe any more.' He said he will be meeting with 'numerous executives' and 'a lot of people' at Turnberry and Aberdeen, which he said 'is the oil capital of Europe'. He said his talks with Sir Keir will be a 'celebration' of the US/UK trade deal but played down the prospects of changes, saying 'the deal is concluded'. Mr Trump also talked up the prospect of his Turnberry resort hosting the Open and dismissing concerns that infrastructure must be improved first. He said: 'I don't know, the best course anywhere in the world is Turnberry, the players all want to be at Turnberry, everybody wants to be at Turnberry so we will see how that works out.' As he set off from the White House on Air Force One, President Trump spoke of his love for Scotland and said at the time that he wants to talk about improvements to the US/UK trade deal with Sir Keir. After landing late at Prestwick, he travelled to Trump Turnberry. Business leaders say the trip is a 'huge opportunity' to strengthen Scotland's economic ties with the world's biggest economy and can pave the way for detailed discussions on trade and tariffs. Talking about his plans with Sir Keir before leaving the US, Mr Trump said they will be having dinner at Turnberry then travelling to Aberdeen, which he described as 'the oil capital of Europe' to have lunch. He said: 'We are going to have a good time, the Prime Minister and I get along very well.' On his proposed meeting with Mr Swinney, he said: 'I have a lot of love (for Scotland), my mother was born in Scotland. 'The Scottish leader's a good man, and I look forward to meeting him.' Turning to an aide, he said: 'That's all set up, right?' Scotch whisky chiefs are desperate for the President to reduce or scrap the 10 per cent duty imposed on exports of malts and blends to the US. Asked whether he will be doing any business deals with the UK, he said: 'Yeah I'm going to meet with the Prime Minister right now, we're going to be over there in about six hours, we're meeting with the Prime Minister tonight. 'We're going to be talking about the trade deal that we made and maybe even improve it.' He added that they will discuss 'certain aspects that are good for both countries' and also 'do a little celebrating'. Mr Trump was greeted by Labour's Scottish Secretary Ian Murray at Turnberry, despite the Edinburgh South MP previously backing a House of Commons motion which called for his 2019 State visit to be cancelled and accused him of 'misogynism, racism and xenophobia'. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves yesterday said the President's visit to Scotland is in the 'national interest'. She said: 'It's in Britain's national interest to have strong relations with the US administration and as a result of both that long-term special relationship, but actually more importantly, the work that our Prime Minister Keir Starmer has done in building that relationship with President Trump has meant that we were the first country in the world to secure a trade deal. 'That has a tangible benefit for people here in Scotland, whether it is people working in the Scotch whisky industry or people working in the defence sector like here at Rolls-Royce, that trade deal means lower tariffs than any country in the world on things that we send to the US.' Business leaders hope the visit will pave the way for agreements which can boost the Scottish and UK economies. Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: 'There are £30 billion reasons why the USA matters to Scotland and President Trump's visit is a fantastic platform to showcase the best of Scottish business on a global stage. 'We have a President who understands business, is a deal maker, is personally and financially invested in our nation, and appreciates the value of our world class products and services. 'That's a strong basis for a special relationship and a huge opportunity to strengthen Scotland's economic ties with the world's biggest economy and our largest export market outside the EU.' Ahead of his own talks with the President, Mr Swinney said the meeting will be an opportunity to 'essentially speak out for Scotland' on international issues such as Gaza, as well as trade and the increase of business from the United States in Scotland. He said: 'There are clearly also significant international issues upon which the people of Scotland have a view and want to have that view expressed by their First Minister. 'That relates to the awfulness of the situation in Gaza and the unbearable human suffering that is going on in Gaza. 'I want to make sure that those concerns and those views are expressed to the president of the United States. 'We have that opportunity, and I intend to take that opportunity to make sure that Scotland's voice is heard.' Mr Swinney also urged all of those set to protest against the president's visit to do so 'peacefully and to do so within the law'. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet US President Donald Trump in Scotland on Sunday. Ms von der Leyen made the announcement on X, saying: 'Following a good call with @POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong.'
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
US military says it has killed senior ISIL (ISIS) leader in Syria's Aleppo
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have killed a senior ISIL (ISIS) leader and his two sons affiliated to the group in Syria's Aleppo region, the US military has said. A post on X on Friday said, 'Early this morning in al Bab, Aleppo Governate, Syria, CENTCOM Forces conducted a raid resulting in the death of senior ISIS Leader, Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani.' 'These ISIS individuals posed a threat to US and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government, ' it added. 'We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland,' General Michael Erik Kurilla, US CENTCOM commander, said. In late May, ISIL claimed responsibility for an attack on the Syrian army, representing the armed group's first strike at government forces since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, according to analysts. In a statement regarding that attack, ISIL said its fighters had planted an explosive device that struck a 'vehicle of the apostate regime' in southern Syria. ISIL, which views the new government in Damascus led by President Ahemd al-Sharaa as illegitimate, has so far concentrated its activities against Kurdish forces in the north. The fledgling Syrian government has had to contend with Israeli bombardment and incursions into its territory since al-Assad's overthrow, as well as the eruption of sustained sectarian violence in the southern city of Suwayda in recent weeks. CENTCOM Forces Kill Senior ISIS Leader in Al Bab, Syria Early this morning in al Bab, Aleppo Governate, Syria, CENTCOM Forces conducted a raid resulting in the death of senior ISIS Leader, Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 25, 2025
