Global Pulse

分类： world

  • Israel ‘approved Lebanon attack’ hours before Hezbollah rocket fire

    Israel ‘approved Lebanon attack’ hours before Hezbollah rocket fire

    Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have escalated dramatically following a series of preemptive military actions, bringing the region to the brink of renewed full-scale conflict. According to intelligence reports from Israel’s Channel 12 News, the Israeli security cabinet approved offensive operations against Lebanon on Sunday night after receiving intelligence indicating imminent Hezbollah attacks. This decision came shortly before Hezbollah launched rocket barrets into Israeli territory, which the group characterized as both retaliatory for recent targeted assassinations and preemptive against anticipated Israeli aggression.

    Sources close to Hezbollah leadership revealed to Middle East Eye that the militant organization detected preparations for significant Israeli military action and opted to strike first to disrupt attack plans and facilitate civilian evacuations from vulnerable areas. The group’s leadership viewed this move as strategically necessary to mitigate potential casualties from an expected Israeli assault.

    In response to Hezbollah’s rocket attacks, Israel has intensified aerial bombardments across southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, particularly targeting the Dahiyeh area. Lebanese health authorities report at least 61 fatalities and 335 injuries resulting from the ongoing military operations. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued stark warnings on social media platform X, declaring that “Hezbollah will pay a heavy price” and threatening further escalation.

    The conflict has triggered massive displacement, with approximately 65,000 Lebanese citizens registering at emergency shelters and an additional 10,000-20,000 believed displaced but not yet registered. Israel’s Northern Command has ordered widespread evacuations south of the Litani River, affecting an estimated 300,000 residents.

    In a significant political development, the Lebanese government has moved to ban Hezbollah’s military and security operations, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam demanding the group surrender its “illegal” weapons. Meanwhile, Israeli military leadership, including Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, has emphasized that operations will continue until Hezbollah’s military capabilities are substantially degraded, asserting that the Lebanese government has failed to adequately disarm the organization.

    Rafi Milo, commander of Israel’s Northern Command, claims Hezbollah has “fallen into a strategic trap” as Israel implements attack plans developed over the past eight months. Israeli forces report striking approximately 250 targets across Lebanon and eliminating several senior Hezbollah commanders. Military officials have vowed to intensify operations in coming days regardless of Hezbollah’s actions, with potential targeting expanding to include major population centers such as Beirut, Tyre, and Sidon.

  • US sub sinks Iranian warship in intl waters near Sri Lanka

    US sub sinks Iranian warship in intl waters near Sri Lanka

    In a significant naval escalation, a United States submarine has sunk an Iranian warship during a military operation in the Indian Ocean. The incident occurred in international waters off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, marking the first torpedo sinking of an enemy vessel by U.S. forces since World War II.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the engagement during a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, stating, “An American submarine sunk an Iranian warship that thought it was safe in international waters. Instead, it was sunk by a torpedo.”

    The targeted vessel was identified as the IRIS Dena, a Soleimani-class frigate of the Iranian navy. According to Sri Lankan officials, the attack resulted in substantial casualties. Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra reported that at least 80 crew members aboard the Iranian frigate were killed in the sinking.

    The incident represents a dramatic escalation in ongoing military operations between the United States and Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) disclosed that American forces have now struck or sunk more than 20 Iranian vessels since joint U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran commenced on Saturday morning.

    Notably, the IRIS Dena had recently participated in multinational naval exercises held in the Bay of Bengal from February 18-25, according to official exercise documentation. The sinking has raised concerns about further regional instability and potential impacts on crucial shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean.

    Recovery operations are underway, with photographs showing bodies of Iranian sailors being transported to the mortuary at Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, Sri Lanka, highlighting the human cost of the confrontation.

  • Millions of Cubans plunged into darkness as fuel crisis deepens

    Millions of Cubans plunged into darkness as fuel crisis deepens

    A catastrophic power failure left millions of Cubans without electricity on Wednesday, marking one of the most severe blackouts in recent history as the nation grapples with an escalating energy crisis. The outage engulfed approximately two-thirds of the island, including the capital Havana, following an unexpected technical failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant located 100km east of Havana.

    This incident represents the latest manifestation of Cuba’s deteriorating energy infrastructure, which has been crippled by chronic fuel shortages exacerbated by intensified U.S. sanctions. The national electricity utility UNE immediately initiated restoration efforts, though the scale of the outage presented significant challenges to recovery operations.

    The current energy crisis has been compounded by multiple factors including aging infrastructure, reduced fuel imports from key ally Venezuela, and stringent U.S. embargo measures. Venezuela had previously supplied approximately 35,000 barrels of oil daily—covering nearly half of Cuba’s requirements—before the U.S. intervention in Venezuelan oil exports earlier this year.

    The repercussions extend beyond household electricity, with critical services including hospital emergency wards, dialysis treatment facilities, and water pumping stations experiencing severe disruptions. The energy shortage has also crippled public transportation systems and garbage collection services, creating secondary public health concerns.

    In a related development, Air France announced the suspension of its Havana services from late March through mid-June, citing insufficient aviation fuel availability. This follows similar decisions by other international carriers, further isolating the island nation and damaging its vital tourism industry.

    The current situation reflects the prolonged geopolitical tensions between the United States and Cuba that have persisted since the 1959 revolution. Recent measures under the Trump administration have explicitly targeted Cuba’s energy imports, threatening tariffs on nations providing oil to the Caribbean nation and actively intercepting fuel shipments destined for Cuban ports.

  • Turkey says Iranian missile over its airspace destroyed by Nato defences

    Turkey says Iranian missile over its airspace destroyed by Nato defences

    Turkish defense authorities confirmed on Wednesday that NATO air defense systems successfully intercepted and destroyed an Iranian ballistic missile transiting toward Turkish airspace. The incident represents a significant escalation in regional tensions and demonstrates NATO’s active defensive posture in the Eastern Mediterranean.

    According to official statements from Ankara, the projectile had traversed Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being neutralized by NATO’s integrated air and missile defense network. Ministry officials reported that missile fragments recovered in Hatay province’s Dortyol district confirmed the successful interception. The incident resulted in no casualties or property damage.

    Turkey’s defense ministry issued a stern warning following the interception, emphasizing the nation’s capability to protect its territorial integrity against any threat regardless of origin. While reaffirming Turkey’s commitment to regional stability, the statement explicitly reserved the right to respond to hostile actions against Turkish sovereignty.

    The incident occurs amid deteriorating regional security conditions following recent military actions against Iranian leadership. Iranian forces have employed a decentralized retaliation strategy, targeting Gulf nations with missile strikes that damaged infrastructure in Dubai and Saudi Arabia while disrupting Qatar’s LNG exports.

    Ankara’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between Washington and Tehran have collapsed following recent military actions. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acknowledged the failure of mediation attempts despite proposing creative solutions to nuclear and ballistic missile disagreements. Fidan emphasized that any successful negotiations would require multilayered engagement given the unpredictable nature of current hostilities.

    Meanwhile, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party criticized external intervention in Iran, arguing that regime change should emerge from internal popular will rather than foreign imposition. The party expressed concern that current military actions fail to address the aspirations of Iran’s diverse ethnic communities while acknowledging the Iranian regime’s history of human rights abuses.

  • At least 200 dead in a Congo coltan mine collapse, authorities say, as rebels dispute toll

    At least 200 dead in a Congo coltan mine collapse, authorities say, as rebels dispute toll

    A catastrophic mine collapse at a coltan mining operation in eastern Congo’s Rubaya region has resulted in massive casualties, with conflicting reports emerging about the actual death toll. Congolese authorities reported at least 200 fatalities from Tuesday’s incident, while the M23 rebel group controlling the mine claims only five deaths occurred.

    The Congolese Ministry of Mines confirmed the collapse occurred at the Rubaya mines, which have been under M23 control since the group seized the town in May 2024. This represents the latest in a series of mining disasters plaguing the mineral-rich but conflict-ridden eastern territories of the Central African nation.

    Fanny Kaj, a senior M23 official, vehemently disputed the government’s account, asserting that the incident resulted from ‘bombings’ rather than a structural collapse. ‘I can confirm that what people are publishing is not true. There was no landslide; there were bombings, and the death toll isn’t what people are saying. It’s simply about five people who died,’ Kaj stated.

    However, firsthand accounts from miners at the site contradict the rebel narrative. Ibrahim Taluseke, a miner who participated in recovery efforts, reported helping retrieve over 200 bodies from the rubble. ‘We are afraid, but these are lives that are in danger,’ Taluseke revealed. ‘The owners of the pits do not accept that the exact number of deaths be revealed.’

    The Rubaya mining region sits at the heart of eastern Congo’s protracted humanitarian crisis, where violence between government forces and various armed groups has displaced over 7 million people, including more than 300,000 since December alone. The M23 rebels, allegedly backed by Rwanda, have intensified the conflict through their recent resurgence.

    Coltan mining represents a critical economic activity for the region, with Congo supplying approximately 40% of global production in 2023 according to U.S. Geological Survey data. The black metallic ore contains tantalum, an essential component in manufacturing smartphones, computers, and aircraft engines. Since capturing Rubaya, M23 rebels have imposed taxes on coltan trade and transport, generating an estimated $800,000 monthly according to UN reports.

    The tragedy occurs amidst ongoing peace negotiations between Congolese and Rwandan governments, brokered by the United States. While the diplomatic process continues, fighting persists across multiple fronts in eastern Congo, resulting in continued civilian and military casualties. The recent agreement also facilitates increased access to critical minerals for U.S. government and American companies.

    This incident follows a similar collapse last month that claimed over 200 lives, highlighting the dangerous working conditions and regulatory challenges in rebel-controlled mining territories.

  • Freed Argentine officer urges release of remaining foreign prisoners in Venezuela

    Freed Argentine officer urges release of remaining foreign prisoners in Venezuela

    BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In his first public appearance since being released from Venezuelan custody, Argentine military police officer Nahuel Gallo made an emotional appeal Wednesday for the international community to secure the freedom of two dozen foreign nationals still detained at the notorious Rodeo I prison in Venezuela.

    Gallo, who endured 448 days of incarceration in a facility outside Caracas before his Sunday release, declared that he cannot truly consider himself free while these detainees remain imprisoned. “My mind is still in prison,” the officer stated during a press conference in the Argentine capital, where he was flanked by high-ranking officials including Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno.

    The Argentine government maintained that Gallo had traveled to Venezuela in December 2024 on personal leave to visit his Venezuelan partner and their son. However, Venezuelan authorities under then-Attorney General Tarek William Saab arrested him on espionage charges, alleging he had attempted “irregular entry” into the country while concealing what they described as a “criminal plan” beneath the pretext of a romantic visit. Saab further accused Gallo of connections to “international far-right groups.”

    Foreign Minister Quirno expressed gratitude to several nations including the United States, Italy, and Israel for their diplomatic efforts in securing Gallo’s release. The development occurs against a backdrop of heightened international scrutiny regarding Venezuela’s judicial system and human rights record.

    In a significant judicial development hours before the press briefing, Argentine Federal Judge Sebastián Ramos summoned Gallo to testify as a witness in an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity attributed to the administration of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. According to the summons obtained by The Associated Press, Gallo potentially possesses knowledge of “events carried out by the Venezuelan state apparatus” that are under examination.

    The recently freed officer declined to address the summons during the conference, instead requesting patience from journalists, indicating he remains unprepared to fully disclose his experiences. “I still can’t talk about the atrocities they committed,” Gallo stated, suggesting deeper revelations may emerge in time.

  • At least 87 killed in US attack on Iranian warship off Sri Lanka’s coast

    At least 87 killed in US attack on Iranian warship off Sri Lanka’s coast

    A devastating naval confrontation has escalated tensions globally after a U.S. submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off the coast of Sri Lanka. The attack resulted in the deaths of at least 87 Iranian sailors, according to statements from the country’s deputy foreign minister on Wednesday.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed American involvement during a Pentagon briefing, starkly declaring that ‘the Iranian navy rests at the bottom of the Persian Gulf’ while presenting visual evidence of the strike. This operation marks the first direct military engagement against Iran’s forces outside the Middle Eastern theater since hostilities began.

    The targeted vessel, the Iranian frigate Iris Dena, carried a complement of 180 personnel when it was struck. Sri Lankan naval authorities immediately launched search and rescue operations, managing to recover 32 survivors who were transported to Karapitiya Hospital in Galle for emergency medical treatment. Tragically, circulating images depicted emergency workers transferring deceased sailors to hospital mortuaries.

    Navy Commander Buddhika Sampath reported that rescue teams arrived to find only an oil slick where the warship had submerged, with no other vessels or aircraft observed in the vicinity. ‘We are hopeful we can rescue more people and will continue operations until we are sure,’ Sampath stated, noting that 61 sailors remain unaccounted for.

    The maritime tragedy occurred following a distress signal received by Sri Lankan forces from the Iranian ship. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed parliament that the rescue mission was initiated promptly upon receiving the emergency communication.

    This naval engagement forms part of the fifth day of intensified military actions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, with reported civilian casualties exceeding 1,000 individuals—including at least 153 schoolgirls according to witness-confirmed local reports. In retaliation for the ongoing offensive, Tehran has launched strikes against Israeli and U.S. military installations throughout the Middle East, significantly raising regional tensions and international concerns about broader conflict escalation.

  • Israel orders civilians in half of southern Lebanon to leave

    Israel orders civilians in half of southern Lebanon to leave

    Israeli military authorities have issued a comprehensive evacuation directive for all residents residing south of Lebanon’s Litani River, signaling a significant escalation in cross-border hostilities. The order, communicated via social media by military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, affects hundreds of square kilometers and represents the most extensive displacement directive since fighting resumed earlier this week.

    The evacuation mandate coincides with confirmed Israeli military advancements into southern Lebanese territory, including the penetration of ground forces into the border town of Khiam approximately six kilometers from the Israeli frontier. This movement follows Tuesday’s authorization by Defense Minister Israel Katz for expanded military operations to secure additional positions in the contested region.

    Current hostilities mark the third day of renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, triggered Monday when the Iranian-backed militia launched retaliatory strikes following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Since then, Israel has conducted extensive aerial and ground operations across southern Lebanon, with particular focus on Beirut’s southern suburbs (Dahiyeh) and eastern regions.

    Lebanese health officials report at least 50 fatalities and 335 injuries from Israeli attacks since Monday, with overnight strikes claiming at least 11 additional lives. Medical infrastructure has sustained significant damage, including Bahman Hospital in Haret Hreik neighborhood which suffered collateral damage from a nearby building strike, injuring several healthcare workers.

    The conflict has expanded beyond traditional conflict zones, with an airstrike hitting a hotel in the predominantly Christian suburb of Hazmieh—marking the first Israeli attack near Beirut’s presidential palace and foreign embassy district. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has continued counterstrikes targeting Israeli military installations including the Haifa naval base and facilities near Ben Gurion Airport.

    Humanitarian concerns are mounting as Lebanon’s social affairs ministry reports approximately 65,000 displaced persons have registered at shelters, with an additional 10,000-20,000 estimated to be in transit or temporarily housed while awaiting formal registration.

  • ‘Isolated’ Iranian forces suspected of firing missile towards Turkey

    ‘Isolated’ Iranian forces suspected of firing missile towards Turkey

    A destabilizing incident occurred on Wednesday when a NATO missile defense system intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading near Turkish airspace. The event took place close to the southern city of Hatay, raising immediate concerns about regional escalation. According to sources speaking with Middle East Eye, the projectile may have been launched by isolated elements within Iran’s military, rather than representing a deliberate act by the central government in Tehran.

    This event is particularly notable as Iran had previously avoided Turkish airspace throughout its ongoing exchanges with the US and Israel. The missile was intercepted approximately 100 kilometers east of Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, a strategic NATO asset, likely by alliance vessels stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean.

    Expert analysis suggests this incident may be a direct consequence of Iran’s ‘Mosaic’ doctrine—a decentralized military command structure designed for resilience. Oral Toga, an analyst at the Ankara-based Centre for Iranian Studies, explained that this system empowers regional commanders to operate autonomously, especially if communications with central command are severed. This decentralization, reportedly activated after recent strikes killed over 40 high-ranking Iranian officials, might have led to rogue elements firing without explicit orders.

    The situation was serious enough to prompt a diplomatic response. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan formally protested to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call, warning Tehran to prevent any actions that could widen the regional conflict. This diplomatic exchange underscores the delicate balance Turkey maintains as a NATO member hosting critical alliance assets, including an early-warning radar station, while navigating its complex relationship with Iran.

    Further compounding the situation, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi had previously acknowledged in an interview that some military units had become ‘independent and somewhat isolated,’ operating on pre-issued general instructions rather than specific orders. This admission, coupled with a separate missile interception report in Syria’s Qamishli on the same day, suggests a pattern of potentially rogue operations that Tehran may not fully control.

  • Russia blames Ukrainian naval drones as tanker sinks in Mediterranean

    Russia blames Ukrainian naval drones as tanker sinks in Mediterranean

    A Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, the Arctic Metagaz, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Malta following a series of explosions and a major fire, according to Libyan port authorities. The incident has ignited a sharp diplomatic confrontation, with Russia directly accusing Ukraine of orchestrating a maritime drone attack from the Libyan coast.

    The tanker was transporting approximately 62,000 metric tonnes of LNG when the blasts occurred approximately 130 nautical miles north of the Libyan port of Sirte. Russia’s transport ministry confirmed that 30 Russian crew members were aboard. All were successfully rescued by Malta’s armed forces and were reported to be ‘safe and sound’ in a lifeboat by Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri.

    Unverified footage circulating on social media, shared by Serhii Sternenko—an adviser to Ukraine’s defence minister—purportedly shows the vessel engulfed in flames. Sternenko claimed the tanker sustained a ‘serious hole in the engine room compartment’ and was beyond repair, though the images’ origin remains unconfirmed.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the incident as a ‘terrorist attack,’ while his transport ministry escalated the rhetoric by labeling it ‘an act of international terrorism and maritime piracy.’ The ministry further accused the European Union of complicity but provided no concrete evidence to substantiate its claim that Ukrainian uncrewed sea drones were responsible.

    Ukraine’s State Security Service (SBU) has maintained official silence on the allegations. However, a Ukrainian government-linked social media account, United24, posted a cryptic tease, suggesting the drones were ‘Definitely. Maybe’ not part of its fleet.

    The Arctic Metagaz is considered part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’—a network of aging, often obscurely insured tankers deployed to circumvent Western sanctions aimed at crippling the oil and gas revenues funding Moscow’s war effort. The vessel was en route from Murmansk, Russia, to Port Said, Egypt, with cargo reportedly cleared under international rules.

    Marine tracking data indicates the tanker had deactivated its automatic identification system prior to the incident, a common tactic for sanctions evasion. While Kyiv has previously targeted Russian energy shipping in the Black Sea with naval drones, a confirmed strike in the distant Mediterranean would mark a significant and unprecedented escalation in its maritime campaign.