War and violent conflict
Democracies are put to test in how they respond to wars and conflicts. Media needs to build resilient frameworks to report fair and neutrally as war and violent conflict threatens EU and beyond.
How Balochistan attacks threaten Pakistan’s promises to China, Trump
the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched one of its largest coordinated assaults across Balochistan, resulting in 145 deaths. The violence threatens key projects of the
Drone strikes in Ethiopia’s Tigray kill one amid fears of renewed conflict
Recent drone strikes in Ethiopia’s Tigray region killed one person and injured another, signaling a dangerous escalation in tensions between regional and federal forces. The
Dozens killed in RSF drone attack in war-torn Sudan’s South Kordofan
A drone attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed dozens of people in Dilling, a strategic town in Sudan’s South Kordofan state.
‘This is a fake election’: Polls close in Myanmar but voters have little doubt junta proxy will prevail
Polls closed in an election held by the Myanmar military junta. The military’s proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, is on course for
US envoys urge Netanyahu to move into Gaza ceasefire’s second phase
Top U.S. envoys met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push for advancing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, urging movement toward reopening
Israel agrees to ‘limited reopening’ of Gaza’s Rafah crossing once operation to locate hostage completed
Israel has launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza to locate the remains of Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, who is believed to be the final
Earlier posts:
At least three Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli attacks on Gaza
At least three Palestinians were killed and nine others wounded during overnight Israeli attacks across various areas of the Gaza Strip. The strikes targeted a displacement camp in Gaza City and other residential locations, marking a significant violation of the fragile ceasefire that had been in place since October. These latest hostilities occur alongside a deepening humanitarian crisis, with extreme winter weather and a lack of medical supplies further endangering the lives of displaced residents.
Date: January 11, 2026. Source: aljazeera.com
Israel to ban dozens of aid agencies from Gaza as 10 nations warn about suffering
Israel has announced a 36-hour deadline for dozens of humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières and ActionAid, to cease operations in Gaza for failing to provide personal data on their staff. Officials claim the new registration requirements are necessary to prevent links to terrorism, but NGOs argue the demands violate data protection laws and jeopardize staff safety. The move comes as foreign ministers from 10 nations, including Britain and Canada, warn of a “catastrophic” humanitarian situation exacerbated by severe winter storms and collapsed infrastructure. Despite international pressure, Israel maintains that the ban will not significantly impact aid volumes, while aid groups fear a further dismantling of the territory’s fragile support system.
Date: December 30, 2025. Source: theguardian.com
Israel kills two people in new attack on southern Lebanon
An Israeli drone strike killed two people in a car near the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil. The Israeli military stated that the attack targeted a Hezbollah member, accusing the group of failing to adhere to a ceasefire that was established in late 2024. This incident is part of a series of ongoing truce violations that have resulted in over 300 deaths in Lebanon, including 127 civilians, since the agreement began. Despite international pressure for disarmament, Hezbollah has refused to give up its weapons, leaving the Lebanese government in a difficult position as regional tensions continue to escalate.
Date: January 4, 2026. Source: aljazeera.com
Months in planning, over in two and a half hours: how the US snatched Maduro
In a swift military operation on January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas and transported them to New York to face narco-terrorism charges. The raid utilized elite Delta Force teams and over 150 aircraft to neutralize Venezuelan air defenses and achieve total air dominance in just two and a half hours. Intelligence gathered over months, including data from a human source within the Venezuelan government, allowed the US to pinpoint Maduro’s exact location at the Fuerte Tiuna compound.
Date: January 4, 2026. Source: theguardian.com
Trump says US will ‘run’ Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro captured and taken to New York
In a dramatic january 2026 operation, US Special Forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and transported him to New York to face narco-terrorism charges. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would “run” Venezuela temporarily, specifically targeting the country’s massive oil infrastructure for repair and management by major US companies. While Trump claims the occupation will be self-funded by oil revenue, the intervention has drawn sharp international condemnation as an act of “rank imperialism” from leaders in Latin America and US Democrats. Despite Maduro’s capture, the political situation remains volatile as Venezuelan officials, including Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez, have vowed defiance and refuse to recognize the US-imposed authority.
Date: January 4, 2026. Source: theguardian.com
Sudan sources say South Sudanese among captured RSF members as war rages
Sudanese military forces captured several South Sudanese nationals fighting for the RSF in North Kordofan, planning to present this evidence to Juba. In a separate strike, a government drone killed a high-ranking RSF security adviser in Central Darfur, marking a significant blow to the paramilitary group. The intensifying conflict across the Kordofan and Darfur regions continues to drive a massive humanitarian crisis and widespread displacement. As fighting escalates, thousands of families are fleeing to overcrowded camps where international aid remains critically insufficient.
Date: January 3, 2026. Source: aljazeera.com
North Korea fires missiles towards sea as South Korean leader visits China
On January 4, 2026, North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, marking its first weapons test of the new year. The launches coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s arrival in Beijing for a high-profile four-day state visit to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Japanese officials reported that the missiles traveled distances of up to 950 kilometers (590 miles).
Date: January 4, 2026. Source: aljazeera.com
Trump news at a glance: Nigeria says it provided intelligence for US airstrikes as Hegseth warns of more attacks
On Christmas Day 2025, the U.S. conducted airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, an operation supported by intelligence from the Nigerian government. While President Donald Trump framed the strikes as a response to the targeting of Christians, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar clarified that the mission focused on terrorists harming all Nigerians regardless of religion. Tuggar emphasized that the timing was based on strategic readiness rather than religious symbolism, though he did not rule out future strikes.
Date: December 26, 2025. Source:theguardian.com
Two killed in stabbing and suspected car-ramming in northern Israel
Two people were killed in a suspected terror attack in northern Israel involving a car-ramming and stabbing. The assailant, identified as a Palestinian man from the West Bank town of Qabatiya, was shot at the scene. In response, the Israeli Defense Minister ordered a forceful military operation in the attacker’s hometown, further heightening tensions in the occupied West Bank.
Date: December 26, 2025. Source: theguardian.com
Russia strikes Ukraine’s capital and kills at least 1 person a day before Zelenskyy-Trump meeting
Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least one person and damaging infrastructure just a day before a high-stakes meeting between President Zelenskyy and U.S. The strikes targeted energy infrastructure and residential buildings, resulting in reported casualties and damage across several city districts. Kyiv’s air defenses intercepted a large portion of the barrage, but the timing is widely viewed as a move by Moscow to exert pressure ahead of diplomatic talks. This escalation underscores the volatile environment as world leaders prepare to discuss potential paths toward ending the conflict.
Date: December 28, 2025. Source: apnews.com
Zelensky unveils new US-backed, 20-point plan to end the war in Ukraine
France 24 reports that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a US‑Ukraine “20‑point” framework and said it was sent to Moscow for feedback. Key elements described include a monitoring mechanism, security guarantees, and proposals around demilitarised arrangements, while the toughest questions—especially territory—remain unresolved.
Date: December 24, 2025. Source: france24.com
Day Laborers, Trapped in a Complex War Between M25 Rebels and the DRC, Return Home
In late December 2025, hundreds of Burundian laborers were finally able to return home after being trapped in the DRC by M23 rebel offensives. The workers were stranded for weeks as the Rwandan-backed rebels seized strategic border areas, cutting off vital transit routes. This escalating conflict has overwhelmed local infrastructure and prompted the UN to extend its regional peacekeeping mandate into 2026. While these laborers found temporary relief, the broader humanitarian crisis persists with hundreds of thousands still displaced across eastern Congo.
Date: December 22, 2025. Source: ipsnews.net
What is the new peace initiative proposed by Sudan’s PM Kamil Idris?
Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris presented a new peace proposal to the UN Security Council aimed at ending the country’s devastating civil war. The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from cities, but the RSF has rejected the initiative. .
Date: December 24, 2025. Source: aljazeera.com
Drone attacks kill over 100 civilians across war-torn Sudan’s Kordofan
Recent drone strikes in Sudan’s Kordofan region have killed at least 104 civilians, including 63 children, during an attack on a kindergarten and a hospital. The United Nations warned that the escalating violence between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is turning the region into a new epicenter of atrocities. In a separate incident, six UN peacekeepers were killed in a drone strike on a logistics base, an act condemned as a potential war crime. Humanitarian groups are now calling for an immediate ceasefire as the conflict pushes the country toward a total infrastructure collapse and mass famine.
Date: December 17, 2025. Source: aljazeera.com
Ukraine drones kill 3 in Russia’s Rostov as EU debates war funding for Kyiv
Ukrainian drone strikes in Russia’s Rostov region killed three people as Kyiv continues targeting infrastructure deep within Russian borders. Simultaneously, President Zelenskyy is pressuring EU leaders to release €210 billion in frozen Russian assets to sustain Ukraine’s war effort through 2027. The funding plan remains stalled due to legal concerns from Belgium and opposition from Russia-friendly members like Hungary. While U.S. and Russian negotiators prepare to discuss peace plans in Miami, both nations remain deadlocked over territorial disputes.
Date: December 18, 2025. Source: aljazeera.com
Myanmar: Rakhine state in dire straits as conflict rages on
The humanitarian situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State is at a breaking point as fighting between the military junta and the Arakan Army intensifies. This ongoing conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands, leaving them without access to food, water, or medicine due to severe blockades. International aid groups warn of a looming famine as trade routes close and local agricultural production collapses. Despite global concerns, persistent violence and restricted access continue to prevent the delivery of life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations.
Date: December 16, 2025. Source: dw.com
Deadly border clashes with Thailand displace more than 500,000 Cambodians
Violent border clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces have displaced over 500,000 people in Cambodia’s northern provinces. The conflict, sparked by long-standing territorial disputes near ancient temple sites, has caused heavy artillery damage to local villages. International leaders are now urging both nations to cease fire and return to negotiations to prevent further regional instability.
Date: December 21, 2025. Source: france24.com
Drone incidents escalate as Turkey finds three UAVs in five days
Turkey shot down a drone that penetrated its airspace from the Black Sea and found two others crashed near Istanbul and Balıkesir, incidents Ankara links to spillover from the Russia–Ukraine war. The events raised questions about air‑defense readiness and regional risk as unmanned systems proliferate around the conflict zone.
Date: December 20, 2025. Source: euronews.com
Russia wants to drain Europe’s investigative resources with its sabotage campaign, officials say
Western officials describe at least 145 incidents across Europe—rail attacks, cyber intrusions, arson—that they attribute to a Kremlin‑directed hybrid campaign meant to sap police and intelligence bandwidth and erode support for Ukraine. Poland recently deployed 10,000 troops to protect critical infrastructure after blasts on rail lines, underscoring how relatively low‑cost operations can force costly defensive measures.
Date: December 18, 2025. Source: apnews.com
Israel says its military killed Hamas commander Raed Saed in Gaza City strike
The Israeli military announced it had killed Raed Saed, a senior Hamas commander described as the head of the group’s weapons manufacturing, in an airstrike on Gaza City. The attack reportedly killed four people and injured at least 25, marking the most significant assassination of a Hamas figure since the recent ceasefire began. Israel stated the strike was ordered in response to a Hamas explosive device that wounded Israeli soldiers.
Date: December 13, 2025. Source: theguardian.com
Ukraine war briefing: ‘Terrorist’ attack kills serviceman in Kyiv and injures four
A “terrorist” attack involving two improvised explosive devices in Kyiv killed one national guard serviceman and wounded four others, including police officers. On the front lines, Ukrainian forces struck two chemical plants in Russia’s Novgorod and Smolensk regions using drones, targeting facilities producing explosives components. The incidents highlight the continued intensity of the war both on the battlefield and within Ukrainian territory.
Date: December 12, 2025. Source: theguardian.com
Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan faces pitfalls in a complicated second phase
The first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza is nearing completion, but the transition to the second phase faces significant challenges. Unresolved issues include the formation of an international stabilization force, the disarmament of Hamas, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops. The plan aims for a demilitarized Gaza and reconstruction, but deep disagreements between Israel and Hamas threaten to stall progress.
Date: December 9, 2025. Source: apnews.com
DRC fighting forces 200,000 people to flee as M23 advances, dozens killed
Around 200,000 civilians fled eastern DRC as Rwanda‑backed M23 rebels advanced into Uvira amid heavy fighting. At least 74 people were killed according to UN sources, despite a recent U.S.-brokered peace agreement intended to halt hostilities. M23 fighters captured several strongholds, taking advantage of the weakened Congolese forces who retreated toward Burundi. Residents reported gunfire and chaos as government troops evacuated key administrative centers.
Date: December 10, 2025. Source: aljazeera.com
Drone strike on UN facility in war-torn Sudan leaves six peacekeepers dead
A drone strike targeted a United Nations peacekeeping logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, killing six peacekeepers and wounding eight others. The Sudanese military accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out the attack, which UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned as “unjustifiable” and a potential war crime. The incident underscores the escalating violence in the region particularly in Kordofan.
Date: December 13, 2025. Source: theguardian.com
What’s changed in Sudan after the Rapid Support Forces’ control of Heglig?
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized control of the Heglig oilfield, a critical economic asset, cutting off a major source of revenue for the Sudanese army. This strategic loss severely hampers the central government’s ability to finance its operations and suggests the conflict is shifting towards a long-term division of the country. Analysts warn this development raises the cost of the war and complicates potential peace negotiations.
Date: December 9, 2025. Source: aljazeera.com
UN Security Council delegation visits Syria for first time since 1945
A delegation from the UN Security Council has visited Damascus for the first time in 80 years to assess the country’s transition following the ousting of the Assad regime. The diplomats met with officials to discuss the drafting of a new constitution and the importance of an inclusive political process. The historic visit signals renewed international engagement with Syria as it attempts to stabilize after over a decade of war.
Date: December 4, 2025. Source: apnews.com
Hamas official says the group ready to discuss ‘freezing or storing’ its weapons
A senior Hamas official has stated the group is open to “freezing or storing” its weapons as part of a long-term truce, a potential breakthrough in the stalled US-brokered peace negotiations. The comments offer a possible resolution to the demand for disarmament, suggesting a shift toward a political track for Palestinian statehood. However, the group emphasized that any such move would require security guarantees and would not mean immediate surrender.
Date: December 7, 2025. Source: independent.co
Surge in Myanmar opium poppy farming as conflict pushes farmers into illicit trade
Opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar has risen to its highest level in a decade, increasing by 17% as the ongoing civil war drives farmers towards illicit crops for survival. The UN reports that the sharpest rises were in Shan and Chin states, areas heavily impacted by fighting between the military junta and armed resistance groups. The surge highlights how the protracted conflict is fueling a narcotics economy in the absence of stability.
Date: December 3, 2025. Source: theguardian.com
Gravel, rotten wood and no bricks: Palestinians struggle to rebuild homes in the ruins of Gaza City
As the ceasefire in Gaza enters a critical phase, residents in Gaza City are resorting to desperate measures to rebuild homes using rubble and rotten wood due to a blockade on construction materials. With winter approaching, the lack of adequate shelter is creating a secondary humanitarian crisis for millions of displaced Palestinians. The grassroots reconstruction efforts highlight the slow pace of the official recovery plan overseen by international mediators.
Date: December 6, 2025. Source: independent.co
Decisive action’ needed to end Israel-Palestine stalemate
The President of the UN General Assembly and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock urged for “decisive action” to end the Israel-Palestine stalemate and consolidate the fragile Gaza ceasefire into a permanent cessation of hostilities. They stressed that lasting peace requires the two-State solution, with the continuation of settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank undermining these efforts. The General Assembly was called upon to uphold international law and ensure that humanitarian aid, including through UNRWA, is delivered safely and unhindered throughout the Gaza Strip. The immense devastation and suffering in Gaza after two years of war were described as a “darkest chapter” in the conflict.
Dec 2, 2025. news.un
From War to Winter: Gaza Couple Wait to Welcome Baby in Flooded Tent
A Palestinian couple in the Gaza Strip, Samar and Abdulrahman, are struggling to survive as they await the imminent birth of their baby in a severely flooded tent. Torrents of rain ruined their few possessions and all the preparations they had made for their newborn daughter in the Deir el-Balah displacement camp. Displaced from their home in Gaza City, the parents described the rain as the “final blow” following months of intense fighting and severe shortages of food and shelter. The family is now pleading for basic humanitarian aid and dignified shelter to protect their three young children and the incoming baby.
December 1, 2025. aljazeera.com
Whistleblower accuses Foreign Office of ‘censoring’ warning of Sudan genocide
A whistleblower has publicly accused UK Foreign Office officials of deliberately “censoring” warnings about the risk of genocide in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region. The analyst claims the term “genocide” was prohibited from internal risk assessments shortly after the civil war erupted in 2023. This alleged suppression may have been intended to shield the UAE, a UK ally accused of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), from scrutiny. The RSF recently seized El Fasher, the last major city in North Darfur, raising international alarm about mass killings and the potential for systematic atrocities.
December 3, 2025. theguardian.com
Land and security are the main sticking points as Russia and Ukraine mull Trump’s peace proposal
Diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war have intensified with a new U.S.-led peace proposal being discussed by both Kyiv and Moscow. Ukrainian officials met with U.S. counterparts, and President Zelenskyy called the revised plan “workable,” while Russian President Putin also referred to it as a possible “basis” for a future deal. However, Putin continues to demand that Ukrainian troops withdraw from all four illegally annexed regions as a condition for a ceasefire, a maximalist stance that Kyiv views as unacceptable. These opposing views on territorial integrity highlight the core obstacles facing the international diplomatic push.
December 1, 2025. apnews.com
Hundreds of Israeli soldiers raid Palestinian town in West Bank
Hundreds of Israeli soldiers, supported by armored vehicles, conducted a major “counter-terrorism operation” in the occupied West Bank town of Tubas, near Nablus. This operation was the biggest such deployment in the West Bank since the Gaza ceasefire came into effect last month. The Israeli military distributed leaflets informing residents that the area had “become a haven for terrorism.” Violence in the West Bank has dramatically increased since the Gaza war began, with the UN noting that Israeli forces or settlers have killed over 1,000 Palestinians in the occupied territory since October 2023. Human Rights Watch also recently accused the Israeli government of war crimes due to the forced displacement of West Bank refugee camp populations earlier in 2025.
November 26, 2025. theguardian.com
Russian air strikes kill 26 in devastating attack on Ukraine’s Ternopil
A devastating Russian aerial assault on the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil killed at least 26 people, including three children, and wounded dozens more. The massive overnight attack involved 476 drones and 48 missiles, striking both residential buildings and vital energy infrastructure. The bombardment coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s diplomatic mission to Turkiye to revive peace talks. Damage to energy grids across seven Ukrainian regions forced nationwide emergency power cut-offs during freezing weather. Russia justified the strikes as retaliation for Ukrainian military actions on its own territory.
Nov 20, 2025. aljazeera.com
Israeli airstrikes kill 33 people in Gaza in escalation of post-ceasefire attacks
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed 33 people and injured many more in one of the most significant escalations of violence since the US-backed ceasefire took effect last month. The casualties included five women and seven children, killed in strikes targeting displaced people’s tents in Khan Younis and two attacks in Gaza City. Qatar, a key mediator, condemned the “brutal” Israeli strikes, warning they could undermine the ceasefire agreement. Palestinians in Gaza stated that the “war never stopped,” with over 300 deaths reported by the Health Ministry since the ceasefire began.
Nov 20, 2025. theguardian.com
Zelenskyy to negotiate with Trump over US-Russia peace deal requiring painful concessions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed he would negotiate with Donald Trump on a US-backed peace plan to end the conflict with Russia. The draft plan reportedly requires Ukraine to make painful concessions, closely resembling demands previously made by Moscow. These concessions include limiting the Ukrainian army and agreeing to never join the NATO military alliance. The cautious response from the presidency followed angry denouncements from other Ukrainian officials who called the sweeping proposal “absurd” and unacceptable, suggesting it amounts to capitulation.
Nov 20, 2025. theguardian.com
Sudan’s RSF committing war crimes in Darfur, says Amnesty
Amnesty International released a new report accusing Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing extensive war crimes and crimes against humanity in the western region of Darfur. The report details deliberate and widespread ethnic killings of civilians, along with systematic sexual violence, primarily targeting non-Arab communities. These alleged atrocities are exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis and displacement catastrophe. The findings were released shortly after the RSF declared a unilateral truce, a move which rights groups met with deep skepticism. Amnesty is urgently calling for the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo and establish robust mechanisms to protect civilians in the conflict zone.
November 25, 2025 https://www.aljazeera.com
RSF announces unilateral three-month ‘humanitarian truce’ in Sudan
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unilaterally announced a three-month humanitarian truce, claiming the action was intended to facilitate the secure delivery of critical aid to vulnerable civilians. The unexpected declaration follows weeks of intense fighting and increasing international pressure to address the catastrophic humanitarian situation across the country. The move, however, was immediately met with suspicion by the rival Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which dismissed the truce as a non-binding publicity stunt. Aid organizations remain cautious, fearing the pause is a strategic maneuver rather than a genuine commitment to ending hostilities.
Nov 24, 2025 https://www.aljazeera.com/news
Obscure organization flies Palestinians out of Gaza, facing ‘forcible transfer’ claims
An organization named Al-Majd Europe has been facilitating charter flights for Palestinians to leave Gaza for third countries, including a recent flight to South Africa. While Al-Majd claims it is helping with voluntary emigration, human rights organizations are expressing concern that these movements amount to “forcible transfer.” These groups argue that given the current “unlivable” conditions in Gaza, any choice to leave cannot be truly voluntary, especially as Israel refuses to guarantee the right of return.
Nov 18, 2025 dw.com