Associated Press: Hundreds Of Syrian Refugees Head Home As Anti-Refugee Sentiment Surges In Lebanon

“More than 300 Syrian refugees headed back home to Syria in a convoy on Tuesday, leaving two remote northeastern towns in crisis-stricken Lebanon where anti-refugee sentiment has been surging in recent months. Lebanese officials have long urged the international community to either resettle the refugees in other countries or help them return to Syria. Over the past months, leading Lebanese political parties have become increasingly vocal, demanding that Syrian refugees go back. A country of about 6 million people, Lebanon hosts nearly 780,000 registered Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands who are unregistered — the world’s highest refugee population per capita. In the northeastern town of Arsal, Syrian refugees piled their belongings onto the back of trucks and cars on Tuesday as Lebanese security officers collected their U.N. refugee agency cards and other paperwork before clearing them to leave.”

Associated Press: Harvard Students End Protest As University Agrees To Discuss Middle East Conflict

“Protesters against the war between Israel and Hamas were voluntarily taking down their tents in Harvard Yard on Tuesday after university officials agreed to discuss their questions about the endowment, bringing a peaceful end to the kinds of demonstrations that were broken up by police on other campuses. The student protest group Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine said in a statement that the encampment “outlasted its utility with respect to our demands.” Meanwhile, Harvard University interim President Alan Garber agreed to pursue a meeting between protesters and university officials regarding the students’ questions. Students at many college campuses this spring set up similar encampments, calling for their schools to cut ties with Israel and businesses that support it.”

United States

CBS: NYC's 2024 Pride Month Events May Be Targeted By Terrorists, Security Officials Say. Here's How The NYPD Is Responding.

“The FBI and Homeland Security officials are raising concerns that terrorists may target LGBTQIA+ events and venues in New York City during Pride month. Law enforcement sources tell CBS New York that the NYPD's Head of Intelligence and Counterterrorism is already evaluating information from federal officials about the activities of so-called "foreign terrorist organizations," including ISIS, to prepare a security plan for New York City events. New York City is revving up its security apparatus to protect this year's Pride parade and all the various celebrations after federal officials warned that "foreign terrorist organizations or supporters may seek to exploit increased gatherings associated with the upcoming June 2024 Pride Month." "We take it very serious. You do not take this for granted," Mayor Eric Adams said. The mayor says the NYPD will do whatever it takes to protect Pride events in all five boroughs.”

Associated Press: Biden Administration Is Sending $1 Billion More In Weapons, Ammo To Israel, Congressional Aides Say

“The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it would send more than $1 billion in additional arms and ammunition to Israel, three congressional aides said Tuesday. But it was not immediately known how soon the weapons would be delivered. It’s the first arms shipment to Israel to be revealed since the administration put another arms transfer, consisting of 3,500 bombs of up to 2,000 pounds each, on hold this month. The Biden administration, citing concern for civilian casualties in Gaza, has said it paused that bomb transfer to keep Israel from using those particular munitions in its offensive in the crowded southern Gaza city of Rafah. The package disclosed Tuesday includes about $700 million for tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds, the congressional aides said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an arms transfer that has not yet been made public.”

Associated Press: US Calls On Iran To Halt Unprecedented Weapons Transfers To Yemen’s Houthis For Attacks On Ships

“The United States called on Iran on Monday to halt its transfer of an “unprecedented” amount of weaponry to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, enabling their fighters to carry out “reckless attacks” on ships in the Red Sea and elsewhere. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told the U.N. Security Council that if it wants to make progress toward ending the civil war in Yemen, it should collectively “call Iran out for its destabilizing role and insist that it cannot hide behind the Houthis.” He said there is extensive evidence that Iran is providing advanced weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles, to the Houthis in violation of U.N. sanctions. “To underscore the council’s concern regarding the ongoing violations of the arms embargo, we must do more to strengthen enforcement and deter sanctions violators,” Wood said.”

Iraq

Reuters: Islamic State Claims Attack On Army Post In Northern Iraq

“Islamic State claimed responsibility on Tuesday for an attack on Monday targeting an army post in northern Iraq which security sources said had killed a commanding officer and four soldiers. The attack took place between Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, a rural area that remains a hotbed of activity for militant cells years after Iraq declared final victory over the extremist group in 2017. Security forces repelled the attack, the defence ministry said on Monday in a statement mourning the loss of a colonel and a number of others from the regiment. The security sources said five others had also been wounded. Islamic State said in a statement on Telegram it had targeted the barracks with machine guns and grenades. Iraq has seen relative security stability in recent years after the chaos of the 2003-U.S.-led invasion and years of bloody sectarian conflict that followed.”

Afghanistan

Associated Press: An Afghan Military Helicopter Crash In Western Afghanistan Kills At Least 1 Person, The Taliban Say

“An Afghan military helicopter crashed on Wednesday in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, killing at least one person, the Taliban defense ministry said. The crash of the MI-17 was caused by a technical problem, according to a statement. The helicopter was on a rescue mission after a vehicle carrying civilians plunged into a river near the city of Feroz Koh, the provincial capital of Ghor, the ministry said in post on the social media platform X. Twelve passengers were injured in the crash, according to the statement. The crew tried to make an emergency landing but the helicopter hit a wall and crashed, it added. The statement did not identify the individual who was killed in the accident and it was not clear how many people were on board. Images posted on X show the crash site along a river, where dozens of people gathered to try to help the survivors.”

Reuters: Islamic State Commander Killed In Afghanistan, U.S. Forces Say

“A senior commander of the Islamic State militant group was killed in Afghanistan in a raid, U.S. Forces Afghanistan said on Saturday. Khetab Emir was killed in the raid on Jan 10 in the eastern area of Nangarhar province, said Lt. Ubon Mendie, a spokesman for the U.S. forces based in Afghanistan. Emir, who was known by multiple names, facilitated high-profile attacks and supplied Islamic State fighters with weapons and materials to make explosives, Mendie said in a statement. "His removal helps protect innocent Afghans from future Islamic State violence and weakens their presence in Nangarhar," Mendie said. Islamic State fighters have developed a stronghold in the province on Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan and have become one of the country's most dangerous militant groups. The hardline militant group's local affiliate, known as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has been active since 2015, fighting the Taliban as well as Afghan and foreign forces.”

Yemen

Bloomberg: Yemeni Terrorist Financing Probe Blocks Red Sea Cable Repair

“The Yemeni government is holding back repairs on a key internet cable that’s been damaged in the Red Sea as it conducts a criminal investigation into the cable owners’ alleged ties to the Houthi militia. The Iran-backed Houthis, designated as a terrorist organization by the US and its allies, control much of Yemen’s telecommunications infrastructure, including a branch of the country’s only international carrier, TeleYemen. TeleYemen is part of a consortium of operators that owns the damaged AAE-1 cable, a 25,000-kilometer (15,534-mile) system that connects Europe to Southeast Asia.”

Lebanon

Jewish News Syndicate: IAF Strike Kills Senior Hezbollah Commander In Lebanon

“A senior Hezbollah commander was killed by an Israeli air strike in Southern Lebanon on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday. Hussain Ibrahim Mekky was killed near Tyre on the Mediterranean coast, located around 12 miles north of the Israeli border. He was a senior field commander for the Iranian terrorist proxy on the southern front, who had previously served as commander of Hezbollah forces in the coastal region. Mekky “was responsible for the planning and execution of numerous terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and territory since the start of the war,” according to the IDF. Emergency responders said that two others were wounded in the strike, according to Reuters. Overnight Tuesday, IAF fighter jets intercepted two drones approaching Israeli territory from the east. The aircraft did not enter Israeli airspace, according to the military.”

Middle East

Reuters: Fighting Intensifies Between Israel And Hamas-Led Militants In North And South Gaza

“Gun battles between Israel and militants from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and smaller Palestinian factions intensified overnight into some of the fiercest in months in both northern and southern Gaza, both sides said on Wednesday. Israeli tanks reached densely populated neighborhoods and narrow alleyways of the militant stronghold of Jabalia in the northeast, facing heavy resistance. Residents said the army destroyed clusters of homes there in areas where they had not invaded before. The armed wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said its militants killed and wounded Israeli foot soldiers during fierce clashes in eastern Jabalia, the biggest of eight refugee camps built in Gaza after the 1948 Middle East Arab-Israeli war. "The invaders are trying to destroy the camp. They are bombing houses on top of their inhabitants. We know of many families being trapped inside their homes," said Abu Jehad, a resident of the camp who gave a nickname, fearing reprisals.”

Voice Of America: EU Calls On Israel To Halt Rafah Operation

“The European Union called on Israel to immediately end its military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying Wednesday that the operation is disrupting humanitarian aid operations and bringing more displacement, famine and human suffering. The statement from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell notes Israel’s right to defend itself but says Israel must follow international law and protect civilians. “The European Union is calling on Israel to refrain from further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and reopen the crossing point of Rafah,” Borrell said. “Should Israel continue its military operation in Rafah, it would inevitably put a heavy strain on the EU’s relationship with Israel.” Borrell also called on Hamas to unconditionally release all of the hostages it is holding in Gaza.”

Jordan

Reuters: Jordan Foils Arms Plot As Kingdom Caught In Iran-Israel Shadow War

“Jordan has foiled a suspected Iranian-led plot to smuggle weapons into the U.S.-allied kingdom to help opponents of the ruling monarchy carry out acts of sabotage, according to two Jordanian sources with knowledge of the matter. The weapons were sent by Iranian-backed militias in Syria to a cell of the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan that has links to the military wing of Palestinian group Hamas, the people told Reuters. The cache was seized when members of the cell, Jordanians of Palestinian descent, were arrested in late March, they said. The alleged plot and arrests, reported here for the first time, come at a time of sky-high tensions in the Middle East, with an American-backed Israel at war in Gaza with Hamas, part of Iran's "Axis of Resistance" network of proxy groups built up over decades to oppose Israel. The two Jordanian sources, who requested anonymity to discuss security matters, declined to say what acts of sabotage were allegedly being planned, citing ongoing investigations and covert operations.”

Somalia

Garowe Online: Somalia: Military Court Releases Moroccans Sentenced To Death For Joining ISIS

“The military court in Puntland has released six foreign individuals linked to the Islamic State faction in Somalia, which was founded in late 2015 by a Somali-British ex-Al-Shabaab preacher Abdulkadir Mumin. According to authorities in Puntland, the men, who come from foreign countries, have been training fighters around the Golis mountains, and have often staged attacks around Bosaso, the commercial capital of the state. General Abdifatah Haji Adan, the chairman of the military court, said the Ethiopian and Moroccan nationals surrendered to Puntland after escaping from the Daesh group. The IS-Somalia is affiliated with ISIS militants, who have roots in the Middle East. The court released the six men to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, which was directed to repatriate them to their countries of origin. In addition, the court also released six children who had also been recruited to the ISIS branch in Somalia.”

Africa

Voice Of America: Cameroon Military Frees 300 Boko Haram Captives Along Northern Border 

“Cameroon’s military has moved over 300 civilians rescued from Boko Haram terrorist captivity along the central African states border with Nigeria and Chad this week to a northern Cameroon military post. The country's army says scores of militants of the Nigeria-based insurgent group were neutralized in a border operation called Alpha. Oumar Fatime, 37, tells Cameroon military and senior government officials that she was a successful vegetable farmer in Ngouboua village, until April 17 when heavily armed Boko Haram fighters abducted her and three of her family members. Ngouboua is a village in Chad located near the northeastern shore of Lake Chad, a water body shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Fatime said the abductors took her and several dozen civilians to a bush area near Lake Chad and threatened to kill them if their families failed to pay ransom.”

United Kingdom

BBC: Three In Court Over Alleged Plot To Attack Jewish Community

“Three men have appeared in court charged with terrorism offences over an alleged plan for a gun attack targeting the Jewish community in the north-west of England. Walid Saadaoui, 36, and Amar Hussein, 50, have been charged with the preparation of terrorist acts between 13 December 2023 and 9 May 2024. Mr Saadaoui, of Crankwood Road in Abram, and Mr Hussein, of no fixed address, entered no plea when they appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court. Mr Saadaoui's 35-year-old brother Bilel, of Fairclough Street in Hindley, was tearful as he pleaded not guilty to failing to disclose information about the alleged plans. The court heard Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein had intended to target "the Jewish community in the North West of England and members of both law enforcement and military". The hearing was told the pair were accused of plotting an attack designed to cause "multiple fatalities using automatic weapons".”

Politico: UK’s David Cameron Slams ‘Extremist’ Israeli Attacks On Gaza-Bound Aid

“Israeli “extremists” must stop attacks on convoys carrying aid to Gaza, Britain’s top diplomat warned Tuesday. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he will raise his concerns with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government after protesters were filmed blocking trucks headed for the besieged strip. Video footage showed Israeli protesters on Monday destroying packages of aid after blocking the trucks. Some are seen throwing food packages onto the ground and ripping open bags of grain intended for Gaza, which has been hit by famine. “Attacks by extremists on aid convoys en route to Gaza are appalling,” Cameron posted Tuesday on social network X. “Gazans are at risk of famine and in desperate need of supplies,” he added. The U.N.’s food agency chief has said northern Gaza is experiencing a “full-blown” famine. “Israel must hold attackers to account and do more to allow aid in — I will be raising my concerns with the Israeli government,” Cameron added.”

Germany

BBC: German Far-Right Politician Björn Höcke Guilty Of Using Nazi Slogan

“A prominent far-right German politician has been found guilty of knowingly using a Nazi slogan in a speech. Björn Höcke, who leads the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the state of Thuringia, was on trial for saying the words "Everything for Germany!" at a May 2021 rally. The slogan is associated with the SA stormtroopers, who played a key role in the Nazis' rise to power. Höcke - a former history teacher - had denied knowing the phrase's roots. The court in the eastern city of Halle convicted the 52-year-old of using symbols of a Nazi organisation and fined him €13,000 ($14,000; £11,200). DW News reports that the money will go to a grassroots anti-extremism programme. However, Höcke escaped the maximum sentence of three years in prison and being barred from public office. He can appeal the verdict. During the trial, which started last month, Höcke had argued that he was "completely innocent".”