Category: News

Several people have been shot at a parade in Franklinton, Louisiana, as reported by AZ Intel. Videos from the scene show a lot of chaos and confusion after the shooting happened. Right now, police have not shared any information about what exactly took place or how many people were hurt. This story is still developing, and we will provide more updates as we learn more.

The United States Army announced on Saturday that it conducted a successful airstrike that killed a high-ranking leader of the terrorist group Hurras al-Din in Northwest Syria. This attack happened in February, as confirmed by the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

On February 23, CENTCOM forces targeted Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, the senior military leader of Hurras al-Din, an organization linked to Al-Qaeda. The command explained that this airstrike is part of their ongoing efforts to stop terrorist groups from planning attacks against civilians and military members, including those from the US and its allies.

In a video shared on social media, you can see a car driving in an empty area. The airstrike hit the car directly at the driver’s seat, causing it to stop moving afterward. General Michael Erik Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, stated, “We will keep pursuing these terrorists to protect our homeland and our partners in the region.”

CENTCOM oversees US military operations in the Middle East. Earlier this year, they also announced the elimination of another senior Hurras al-Din leader, Wasim Tahsin Bayraqdar, on February 21 through a similar airstrike.

Interestingly, Hurras al-Din, which the US views as Al-Qaeda’s official group in Syria, announced its dissolution in January. This decision came after the Syrian regime led by President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebel forces in December 2024. The recent strikes against Hurras al-Din leaders occurred even after the group had disbanded.

Israel is facing strong criticism after it stopped sending food and supplies into Gaza. They also warned of “more consequences” for Hamas if a fragile ceasefire is not extended. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar accused Israel of breaking humanitarian laws by using starvation as a weapon.

Hamas rejected Israel’s terms to extend the Gaza ceasefire, calling their actions “a war crime” and an attack on a truce that took a year of hard negotiations to establish in January. During the first phase of the ceasefire, humanitarian aid had increased after months of hunger in Gaza.

The second phase might involve Hamas freeing dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for Israel pulling out of Gaza and agreeing to a lasting ceasefire. This phase’s negotiations should have started a month ago, but they haven’t begun yet.

Israel mentioned a new US proposal to extend the ceasefire through Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, and the Jewish Passover, which ends on April 20. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under this proposal, Hamas would release half of the hostages immediately, and the rest when a permanent ceasefire is reached. Currently, there are 59 hostages, with 35 believed to be dead.

The US did not comment immediately but Netanyahu stated that Israel is working closely with the Trump administration and that ceasefire will continue only if Hamas keeps releasing hostages.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said the ceasefire saved many lives and if things fall apart now, people will suffer again. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called Israel’s action “alarming” because international humanitarian law requires aid to be allowed in. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged everyone involved to work together to keep the peace in Gaza and to let aid flow back in while also releasing all hostages.

Five humanitarian groups asked Israel’s Supreme Court for permission to allow aid back into Gaza, saying stopping it breaks international laws that should not be influenced by politics. The war has made most of Gaza’s 2 million people rely on international aid, and before the recent halt, about 600 aid trucks were delivering supplies every day.

Residents expressed fear that prices will soar due to the closures. Fayza Nassar from the crowded Jabaliya refugee camp said this would worsen the already bad situation. “There will be famine and chaos,” she said.

Hamas warned that if the ceasefire agreement is delayed or canceled, it would have serious humanitarian effects on the hostages. They stated that the only way to free hostages is through the current deal. Families of the hostages stressed the urgency of the situation to the Israeli government, saying negotiations shouldn’t be postponed.

Throughout the war, Israel has been accused of blocking aid, imposing a siege on Gaza early on and facilitating only limited aid under US pressure. UN agencies and charity groups claim Israel has not allowed enough aid for 15 months. The International Criminal Court had previously stated there was reason to believe Israel used starvation as a weapon and even issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

Israel denied these claims, stating they provided enough aid and blamed shortages on problems with the UN’s distribution. They also accused Hamas of misusing aid, a claim repeated by Netanyahu.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed over 48,000 Palestinians, with many being women and children. This brutality began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in around 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.

In the past week, there have been serious clashes in Benin between armed groups and the military, resulting in the deaths of ten people, including one soldier. This West African country is facing an increase in attacks on military positions, especially in the northern region, where poorer communities reside. These attacks are often blamed on jihadist groups from neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Niger.

Recently, the army conducted an operation that reportedly killed nine armed attackers. This action came after a soldier died, and two others were hurt by an explosive device in a nearby area. Although the southern city of Cotonou continues to attract international tourists, the northern parts of Benin have seen more violence.

The violence near the Niger border has become more frequent, raising concerns about safety in the region. A local military officer mentioned successful operations that destroyed an important base used by these armed groups.

For years, regions in Burkina Faso and Niger have faced threats from groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, taking advantage of local tensions and weak government presence. Earlier this year, six Beninese soldiers were killed in an attack, and in January 2022, Benin sent nearly 3,000 soldiers to patrol its borders. The United States and Benin recently signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation between their armed forces.

Experts warn that focusing heavily on military responses may not solve the deeper issues that help these groups recruit members.

On Sunday, Israel decided not to let any goods or supplies enter the Gaza Strip. They warned of “serious consequences” if Hamas, the group controlling Gaza, does not accept a new plan to extend a shaky ceasefire that started in January after many talks. Hamas accused Israel of trying to spoil the peace agreement, saying stopping the aid was “cheap extortion” and against the rules of the truce.

Both sides have not officially said the ceasefire is over yet. The first phase, which included sending more help to Gaza, ended on Saturday. They have not yet talked about what will happen next, where Hamas would release more hostages in return for Israel pulling back and a longer-lasting ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that if the negotiations are not going well, Israel could start fighting again. He stated that Hamas must free hostages if they want the pause in fighting to continue. Israel also said they are working closely with the U.S. government on this issue.

The new U.S. proposal, shared by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, suggests extending the ceasefire through Ramadan (the Muslim holy month that just began) and the Jewish holiday of Passover, which ends on April 20. The plan includes Hamas releasing half of the hostages on the first day and the rest when a complete peace agreement is reached.

Hamas warned that delaying or canceling the ceasefire could harm the hostages and said the only way to free them was by sticking to the original deal. This deal didn’t mention when all hostages would be released.

During the first ceasefire phase, Hamas freed 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. However, the truce has faced many problems, with both sides accusing each other of breaking the rules. Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of many Palestinians, with claims that some were in areas they shouldn’t have been.

International aid to Gaza has been a concern, as earlier, Israel completely closed off supplies during the war. Even with some easing due to U.S. pressure, there have been criticisms about not enough aid being sent. The situation in Gaza is very serious, with many people facing hunger.

The war started after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Currently, 59 hostages are still held captive, with many of them believed to be dead. On the other hand, reports say that more than 48,000 Palestinians have died due to Israel’s military operations, many of them women and children.

The ongoing conflict has left most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people relying heavily on international aid for food and basic needs.