VIJIGISHU '24

Sunday, 31 March 2024

INR | WEST ASIA: Weekly Updates

 

Israel hits Syria in heaviest raid on Iran proxies in months


  • The Syrian army reported that civilians and military personnel were killed as a result of Israeli airstrikes in Aleppo.

  • The strikes targeted military positions in Aleppo province, causing casualties among both civilians and military personnel. However, specific details regarding the extent of the damage and the number of casualties were not immediately provided.

  • This incident follows a pattern of Israeli airstrikes in Syria, often targeting military positions and infrastructure believed to be linked to Iran, Hezbollah, or other groups aligned with the Syrian government.

  • The Israeli strikes in Aleppo contribute to the ongoing tensions in the region, particularly between Israel and Iran, as well as exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Syria, where civilians continue to suffer from the impacts of the conflict.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/civilians-military-killed-after-israeli-strikes-aleppo-syrian-army-says-2024-03-29/


Famine 'quite possibly' in some areas of north Gaza, US official says


  • According to a U.S. official, there is a looming threat of famine in certain areas of northern Gaza due to severe economic hardships and food insecurity exacerbated by conflict and blockade.

  • The situation in Gaza has worsened due to a combination of factors including the long-standing blockade, recent conflicts, and economic challenges, leading to widespread poverty and food shortages.

  • The United States and other international actors are increasingly concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and are considering ways to provide assistance and alleviate suffering in the region.

  • Efforts are underway to address the urgent needs of the population in Gaza, including providing humanitarian aid, facilitating economic development, and working towards a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/famine-is-quite-possibly-some-areas-northern-gaza-us-official-says-2024-03-29/


US: Suspect arrested for shooting 3 students of Palestinian descent in possible 'hate-motivated crime'


  • Three students of Palestinian descent were shot in what is suspected to be a hate crime in the United States.

  • The shooting took place in an area near a school in Sacramento, California. The victims were reportedly targeted while walking along the street.

  • Law enforcement authorities are actively investigating the incident as a potential hate crime. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear at the moment.

  • The shooting has raised concerns within the Palestinian-American community and sparked discussions about the rise of hate crimes and discrimination against marginalised groups in the United States.

https://www.wionews.com/world/us-three-students-of-palestinian-descent-shot-in-suspected-hate-crime-police-investigate-663175


Saudi crown prince says kingdom will obtain nuclear weapon if Iran does so


  • The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, stated that if Iran were to develop nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia would obtain them as well.

  • The Crown Prince's statement comes amid escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, both of which are regional rivals vying for influence in the Middle East.

  • This statement suggests that Saudi Arabia is willing to pursue nuclear weapons if it perceives a threat from Iran's nuclear program, despite being a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

  • The Crown Prince's remarks have raised concerns about the potential for nuclear proliferation in the region and could complicate diplomatic efforts to address Iran's nuclear activities through negotiation and diplomacy.

https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-crown-prince-says-kingdom-will-obtain-nuclear-weapon-if-iran-does-first-638036


Hezbollah chief urges for halt to deadly clashes at Palestinian camp in Lebanon


  • After clashes continued between rival factions at a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon, leaving 11 people dead, terror group Hezbollah has called for a halt to the proceedings. 

  • Hassan Nasrallah, head of the group, in a televised address on Tuesday (August 1) urged the factions to keep aside their differences as the camp residents and their lives were being put in danger. 

  • Ein al-Hilweh, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon which houses over 63,000 people has been the ground zero for clashes, ever since the leader of the Fatah faction and four of his bodyguards were killed by another Palestinian group.


https://www.wionews.com/world/hezbollah-chief-urges-for-halt-to-deadly-clashes-at-palestinian-camp-in-lebanon-621525o


UN observers wounded in explosion while on patrol in southern Lebanon



  • Three United Nations military observers and a Lebanese translator were wounded while patrolling the border in southern Lebanon when a shell exploded near them, the UN peacekeeping mission said.

  • The observers are part of the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), which supports the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL.

  • The wounded were evacuated for medical treatment and are in “stable” condition, she added in a subsequent statement, identifying the observers as a Norwegian, an Australian and a Chilean


https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/30/un-observers-wounded-in-explosion-while-on-patrol-in-southern-lebanon


Australia challenged on ‘moral failure’ of weapons trade with Israel


  • Israel’s continued assault on Gaza has highlighted a hidden yet crucial component of the world’s weapons manufacturing industry – suburban Australia.

  • Tucked away in Melbourne’s industrial north, Heat Treatment Australia (HTA) is an Australian company that plays a vital role in the production of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters; the same model that Israel is using to bomb Gaza.

  • Weekly protests of about 200 people have been taking place for months outside the nondescript factory, where heat treatment is applied to strengthen components for the fighter jet a product of US military giant Lockheed Martin


https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/28/australia-challenged-on-moral-failure-of-weapons-trade-with-israel


‘Transformative’: US Census to add Middle Eastern, North African category


  • Advocates for Arab Americans routinely use one word to describe how diverse communities from the Middle East and North Africa have for decades been categorized in the United States Census: “Invisible”.

  • That is set to change when the next federal census is conducted in 2030, with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announcing Thursday new federal standards on collecting race and ethnicity data

  • For the first time, Americans who trace their ancestral roots to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will have their own category on the decennial survey.


https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/28/transformative-us-census-to-add-middle-eastern-north-african-category


News bits drafted by: 

Jiah Malik (BA IR 1st year)

Collected and published by (region head):

Varsha Das (BA IR 2nd year)







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