Sabti 13 April , 2024 {HMC} Taagerayaal Dumar ah oo soo buuxdhaafiyay garoonka lagu soo gabagabeeyay Ramadaan cup Baladweyne.
Muxuu yahay filimka lagu jilay Soomaaliya ee safka hore ka galay qiimayn lagu sameeyayn Faransiiska?
Sabti 13 April , 2024 {HMC} “Tuulo Janno” waa qisada iyo sumadda uu wato Filimkan lagu jilay Soomaaliya kaas oo soo jiitay culimada Aflaanta kala saarta ee Mahrajaanka CANNES ee dalka Faransiiska.
Filimkan ayaa lagu jilay magaalooyinka Eyl iyo Garoowe ee Puntland, laakiin wuxuu hadda safka hore ka galay ilaa dhowr iyo tobban filim oo loo xushay inay ugu wanaagsan yihiin kuwii la soo bandhigay sanadkan 2024-ka.
Nuux Muuse Berjeeb oo ka mid ah soo saarayasha Filimka am ‘Line Procuder’ ayaa BBCda u sheegay in samaynta iyo hindisaha Filimkuba qaatay muddo ka badan hal sano.
“Magaca aan dooranay iyo jilayaasha ayaa ahaa wax cajiib ah, dabcan sidoo kale deegaanka lagu jilay filimka waxay ahayd wax aan is oran karo waa soo jiitay Mahrajaanka Cannes” ayuu yuru Nuux.
Nuux, wuxuu sheegay in xulashada Filimka uu rumaysan yahay inay sababta ugu weyn tahay sida dunida looga xiisaynayo filimaanta lagu sameeyo Soomaaliya.
“Xilli waxaa jirtay aad adduunka looga jeclaa filimaanta lagu sameeyo bariga dhexe, laakiin hadda filimkan iyo kuwii hore aan samaynay waxay muujinayan xiisaha loo qabo filimaanta lagu sameeyo dhulka Soomaalida iyo qisooyinka ay xambaarsan yihiin” ayuu BBCda u sheegay Nuux Birjeeb.
Samaynta Filimka cusub ee ‘Tuulo Janno’ ayaa la bilaabay samayntiisa bishii June ee sanadkii 2023-kii iyadoo soo saarista filimku qaadatay muddo toddobo bilood ah.
Qisida filimka ayaa ka turjumayo ayaa ah qoys Soomaali ah oo halka ay ku nool yihiin ay dhinacyada ka yaalan dhammaan wixii aadane u baahnaa oo xagga nolosha ah balse iyagu saboolnimo kaga nool.
Sidoo kale Filimka waxaa soo saare ka ahaa Maxamed Harrawe oo ah Soomaali kaalin sare kaga jiray soo saarayasha filimada ee caalamka.
Jilayaasha Filimka
Filimka ‘Tuulo Janno’, Soo saarayaasha iyo jilayaashuba waa Soomaali sida BBCda u sheegay Nuux Muuse Birjeeb oo ka mida soo saaraasha Filimka, wuxuu xusay in tani ka marag furayso sida dad badan dhalinyaro oo hibo leh ay ku dhex habowsan yihiin bulshada.
Nuux, wuxuu sheegay in bandhigyada iyo mahrajaanadu duniddu ay la yaaban sida dhalinyaro yar yar oo ku nool dal soo kabanaya ay u leeyihiin awood jilitaan oo xoog leh iyo sida ay u dhigayaan qisooyinka ay ka turjumayaan ee filimka.
Axmed Faarax, oo ah soo saare Filimo lagu jilay Soomaaliya iyo Kenya ayna jilayaal ka ahaayeen Soomaali, kuwaas oo qabsaday masraxyada filimada ee dunida ayaa BBCda u sheegay in la joogo waqtigii laga faa’iidaysan lahaa soo bandhiga filimo ka turjumaya dhulka,dhaqanka iyo Soomaalida ee loo bandhigo caalamka.
Faarax, wuxuu la qabaa Nuux in laga faa’idaysto hibada ku jirta jilayaasha Soomaalida iyo soo sarayaasha kuwaas oo sida uu xusay cajiib la noqda dadyowga kale markay tagaan bandhigyada filimada caalamka.
Nuux, ayaa qaba in hadda wixii ka danbeeya ay dunida Filimadu arkeen in la heli karo dhalinyaro kaalin jilitaan ka ciyaari kara filimada ay soo saaraan dadka ajnabiga ee qayb ka mida quseeya Soomaalida basle horey ay u jili jireen ajaanib Af-soomaliga jajabinaya.
Cidda ka caawisa dhaqaalaha Filimka ku baxay
Sida uu sheegay Nuuh Muuse, caqabada ugu weyn ee ay la kulmaan dhalinyarada doonaya inay filimo soo saaraan ay tahay dhaqaale inay u helaan maadaama filimadu ku baxdo lacago malaayiin dollar ah.
Filimkan cusub ee ‘THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE’ ama Tuulo Janno’ ayeyey maalgalisay shirkada filimada ee FreibeuterFlim taas oo laga leeyahay dalka Austria.
“Shirkadaha Soomaali kuma baraarugsana in filimaantu yihiin wax la maalgashto oo ay dib ugu heli karaan lacago ka badan kuwii ay ku maalgaliyeen, sidoo kale dowladda Soomalaiya kuma baraarugsana in waxa ay sidan filimada lagu sameeyo Soomaaliya ay yihiin quruxda iyo dhaqanka Soomaalida kuwaas oo beddelaya kuwii hore looga sameyey Soomaalida oo sawir xun ka bixin jiray” ayuu BBCda u sheegay Nuux Muuse.
Filimkan cusub ayaa soconaya muddo hal saac iyo afartan daqiiqo ah waa kii ugu waqtiga dheeraa ee lagu sameeyo Soomaaliya kaas oo si calaami ah u soo jiitay caalamka.
Kooxdan ayaa hore u soo saaray filimo hore oo bilado ka helay bandhigyada iyo mahrajaanada caalamka.
Waxaa soo kordhaya soo saarayasha iyo jilayaasha Soomaalida ee soo saaraya filimada kuwaas oo taageero ka helay dunida.
Gabadhan Soomaaliyeed ee caanka ah ee heshay Cabdigii ay ku maansoon jirtay
Sabti 13 April , 2024 {HMC} Ayaan Axmed Caydiid, oo ku magac dheer Ayaan-kaaba, waa abwaanad caan ah oo aad ku barateen maansooyinkeedii taxanaha ahaa, jacaylka iyo madadaalada ahaa ee aadka ugu dhex faafay Soomaali idilkeed.
Silsiladaha maanseed ee hirgalay ee Kaaba billowday, oo marar kala duwan warbixinno ay ka samaysay BBC du ayaa waxa ka mid ahaa middii la magac-baxday IPHONE, tii kale ee WARDA XAASHI NINKEEDA, iyo qaar kale oo badan.
Kaaba ayaa sidoo kale samaysay maansooyin tiro badan oo ay ku baafinayso calafkeeda mustaqbalka, iyada oo marba ku xusaysa deegaan ka mida kuwa soomaalida oo ay ka dhex goobayso cidda ay nolosha la wadaagi lahayd. Ujeedada ay ka lahayd ayaa ahayd iska madadaalo.
Haddaba tixahaas magaca lamaanaha ay raadinayso ayay marar dhowr ah maansadeeda ugu yeedhay magaca Cabdi. Tixahaas ayaa waxa ka mid aha amid ay ku tidhi:
Inta magac cuddoonee
Cajiibee wanaag badan
Cid kastaana leedahay
Cabdi baan u jecelahay.
Ayaan Axmed Caydiid Ayaan-kaaba ayaa barteeda Facebook laba maalmood ka hor oo ahayd maalinkii iidda waxa ay soo dhigtay sawirro ay ka soo qaadday saddex post oo ay hore u soo dhigtay barteeda facebuug saddex sanno oo kala duwan.
Saddexda post ayaa ahaa saddexduba kuwo maalmo ciideed ay soo qortay oo ay kula hadlayso calafkeeda mustaqbalka oo xilligaa aanay isba aqoon.
Saddexda postiba isku hal magac ayay calafkaas ugu yeedhay, waana Magaca Cabdi.
Agoosto 10, 2019 kii oo imika laga joogo 5 sano ayay soo qortay posti sidan u dhignaa ‘‘Muddaan kali ciidayee kumee Cabdigaygiiyow”.
Misna sannadkii kaa xigay oo ahayd, May 22, 2020 kii oo ahayd maalin ciid ah oo iminka laga joogo afar sannadood ayay barteeda facebuuga ku soo qortay weedhahan hoose oo la mid ah kuwii sannadkii hore uun. ‘‘Muddaan kali ciidayee kumee Cabdigaygiiyow‘‘.
Isla sannadkii kaas midkii ku sii xigay maalin ciid ahayd ayay haddana ku celisay oo ay soo qortay hadal sidii oo kale u dhigan, oo magaca Cabdi uun ay ku baddashay ‘Calaf’. Weedhahaas ayaa iyaguna u qornaa cayn kan ‘‘Muddaan kali ciidayee kumee calafkaygiiyoow‘‘.
Haddaba waxa yaab leh in dalka maraykanka oo ay dhawaan u guurtay Ayaan, ayna halkaa isku barteen iskuna guursadeen wiil magaciisa layiraahdo Cabdi, waa magacii ay sannaddo badan saadaalinaysay, sugaysay, kuna maansoonaysay iyada oo xitaa aqoon.
Ayaan iyo saygeeda ayaa meherkoodu dhacay dhowr bilood uun ka hor oo ahayd 12 Nov ee sannadkii 2023.
Ayaan oo maalintii labaad ee ciidda la hadlay ka dib postiyadii ay soo dhigtay, waxaanu waydiiyay muddadaa dheer ee sannadaha ah ee macaga Cabdi ay maansooyinkeeda ku soo qaadanaysay, iyadoo ku tilmaamaysa calafkeeda mustaqbalka, in ay saygeeda hadda guursaday is yaqaaneen?
‘‘Maya, laakiin magaca Cabdi ayaan waligayba iska jeclaa‘‘
Ayaan oo sii sharaxaysa iyada iyo magaca Cabdi xidhiidhka ka dhexeeya ayaa tidhi
‘‘In aan magacaa iska jeclaa waligayba ka sokow, magaca Cabdi suugaantu way qaban ogtahay, oo waa magaca carrabka bulshada iskaga fudud, sugaantana u sahlan inuu hal qabsi u noqdo. Markaa waxa aan dhihi karaa, magaca Cabdi aniga oo jecel ayaa Cabdina yimi oo ilaahay ayaa isku beegay”.
Ayaan oo aannu waydiinay, ‘‘haddii iidihii hore qoraallada aad soo baahinaysay ahaayeen, muddaan kali ciidayee, kumee Cabdi gaygiiyoow, ciiddan maxaad odhanaysaa‘‘ ayaa ku jawaabtay
‘‘Muddaan kali ciidayee, caawaba Cabdigaygiibaan, farxadda la cawaynayaa‘‘
DF oo sheegtay inaysan marnaba aqbali doonin qorshaha Itoobiya , balse ay mid kale ogolaato haddii laga wadahadalo.
Sabti 13 April , 2024 {HMC} Dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa sheegtay inaysan marnaba aqbali doonin qorshaha ay Itoobiya saldhig ciidamada badda ah uga dhisayso Somaliland, balse ay ka fakari doonto inay u ogolaato dekad ganacsi, haddii laga wadahadalo.
Itoobiya, oo aan bad lahayn, ayaa bishii Janaayo heshiis la gashay maamulka Somaliland ee waqooyiga Soomaaliya, heshiiskaas oo dhigaya in laga kireeyo dhul badeed ay ka sameysato dekad iyo saldhig ciidan, taas beddelkeedna ay Somaliland u aqoonsato dal madax-banaan.
Dowladda Soomaaliya ayaa heshiiska ku tilmaamtay mid sharci-darro ah, oo xadgudub ku ah madax-banaanida, qarannimada iyo midnimada dhuleed ee Soomaaliya.
Si loo qaboojiyo xiisadda, Kenya oo la tashaneysa Jabuuti, ayaa soo jeedisay heshiis badeed sharciyeynaya sida dalalka gobolka ee aan badda lahayn ay ku heli karaan dekado loo marayo heshiis ganacsi, sida uu sheegay sarkaal sare oo Kenyan ah.
Kahor inta aan laga wada-hadlin helitaanka dekad laga heshiiyo, Itoobiya waa inay marka hore nasakhdaa heshiiska Somaliland, waxaa sidaas wakaaladda wararka ee Reuters u sheegay wasiiru dowlaha arrimaha dibedda Soomaaliya Cali Balcad.
“Soomaaliya weligeed ma aqbali doonto saldhig ciidan,” ayuu yiri Cali Balcad. “Soomaaliya waxay diyaar u tahay gelitaanka heshiis ganacsi badeed si waafaqsan sharciga caalamiga ah ee badda.”
Waxa uu intaas ku daray in Soomaaliya ay diyaar u tahay in ay wadahadal ka gasho hindisayaasha haddii ay waafaqayaan danaha dalka oo ah “in la ilaaliyo madax-banaanideena, madax-banaanida siyaasadeed iyo midnimada.”
Afhayeenka wasaaradda arrimaha dibedda Itoobiya ayaa diiday inuu ka hadlo warka cusub ee kasoo baxay Soomaaliya.
Natiijadii kasooo baxday wada-hadalladii Sheekh Shariif uu la yeeshay Xasan Sheekh iyo Qodobada la isku qabtay.
Sabti 13 April , 2024 {HMC} Madaxweynihii hore ee Soomaaliya Shariif Sheekh Axmed ayaa war-saxaafadeed uu soo saaray uga hadlay wadahadallo isaga iyo madaxweyne Xasan Sheekh ay ku yeesheen magaalada Nairobi ee dalka Kenya.
Sheekh Shariif ayaa xaqiijiyey in wadahadallada ay fashilmeen, oo wax xal ah lagu gaari waayey, sida xogtaas ay horay warbaahinta u ogaatay Wuxuu sidoo kale sheegay in saddex qodob diiradda lagu saaray wadahadallada balse dhammaantood lagu isku afgaran waayey. Hoos ka aqriso qoraalka Shariif.
WAR-SAXAAFADEED
Sida ay la socdaan Shacabka Soomaaliyeed, waxaa jirey kulan kadhacay magaalada Nairobi, oo ay ujeeddadiisu ahayd sidii xal looga gaari lahaa arrimaha masiiriga ah ee dalka, kaas oo ay soo qaban-qaabiyeen qaar ka mid ah odayaasha Dhaqanka iyo Waxgarad.
Marka hore, waxaan mahad aan la soo koobi karin u jeedinayaa madax dhaqameedkii iyo waxgaradkii sida hagar la’aanta ah ugu istaagay isku soo dhaweynta aragtiyada kala duwan. Waxaan leeyahay Ilaahay ha idinka abaal mariyo.
Madaxweyne Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud iyo Aniga Odiyaashu waxay noo daayeen wada hadalka iyo xallinta arrimaha jira inaan isla meel dhigno sida uu Madaxweynuhu codsaday, Aniguna Kulankaas waxaan ku tagay niyad wanaag iyo in xal laga gaaro arimaha lagu kala aragtida duwanyahay kuwaasoo kala ah seddexda arrimood ee hoos kuxusan:
1. Arimaha Dastuurka
2. Arimaha Siyaasada iyo Mustaqbalka Dalka
3. Khilaafka DFS iyo Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland
Dood dheer kadib, xal waan ka gaari weynay dhamaan qodobadii aan ka doodney, Waxaan rumeysanahay mabda’a ah in khilaafaadka siyaasadda lagu xalliyo wadahadal iyo is qancin, marxalada adag ee uu maanta dalku maraayana ay tahay lagama maarmaan ilaalinta midnimada iyo wadajirka Dadka iyo Dalka Soomaaliyeed.
Mar kale, waxaan u mahad-celinayaa Waxgaradkii iyo Ganacsatadii dadaalka iyo dhaqaalahaba ku bixiyey in xal laga gaaro khilaafaadka jira.
MAHADSANIDIIN
Diblamaasi muddo 40 sano ah jaajuusayay dowladda Mareykanka oo 15 sano lagu xakumay
Sabti 13 April , 2024 {HMC} Diblamaasi hore oo Mareykan ah ayaa Jimcihi lagu xakumay 15 oo xarig ah, kaddib marki uu qirtay inuu jaajuus u ahaa Dowladda Cuba.
Wasaaradda Caddaaladda Mareykanka ayaa kiiska diblamaasigaasi hore ku tilmaantay, mid ka mid ah jaajuusnimadi ugu heerka-sarreysay uguna waqtiga dheereyd ee lagu sameeyo Dowladda Mareykanka.
Victor Manuel Rocha, oo soo noqday Safiirka Mareykanka ee dalka Bolivia inti u dhaxeysay sannadihi 2000 ilaa 2002-di, ayaa qirtay laba eedeyn oo mid ay aheyd inuu si sharci darro ah wakiil ugu noqday dowlad kale. Bishi December ayaa dacwadi ugu horreysay lagu oogay.
Rocha, oo 73 jir ah, ayaa si qarsoodi ah u taageeray Xisbiga Shuuciga ah ee ka arrimiya Cuba isla markaana mukhaabaraadka dalkaasi ka caawiyay inuu siiyo xogo liddi ku ahaa Dowladda Mareykanka muddo ka badan 40 sannadood.
Dacwad oogaha Dowladda Mareykanka ayaa sheegay, in muddadaasi ay ku jirtay 20 sanno oo uu ahaa sarkaal ka tirsan Wasaaradda Arrimaha Dibadda Mareykanka.
Qareennada Rocha ayaanan wali bixin faah-faahin ku aadan xakunka lagu riday.
Eliud Kipchoge ‘expects’ to win third Olympic Games marathon
Saturday 13 April , 2024 {HMC}Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge is confident he can win a historic third successive Olympic marathon gold medal in Paris this year.
The 39-year-old, who was victorious in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and at the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021, finished 10th in this year’s Tokyo Marathon in March.
Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila (1964) and East Germany’s Waldemar Cierpinski (1980) are the only other men to defend an Olympic marathon title.
“My huge expectation actually is to win the Olympics for the third time,” said Kipchoge.
Last week Kipchoge was named alongside two-time Boston Marathon champion Benson Kipruto, Timothy Kiplagat, Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich and newcomer Alexander Mutiso on Kenya’s marathon shortlist for the Paris Games, which begin on 26 July and end on 11 August.
Kipruto won this year’s Tokyo Marathon in a time of two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds, with Kiplagat and Ngetich completing the podium.
Kipchoge finished over four and a half minutes adrift of Kipruto in Japan, but that result has not made him concerned about his chances in Paris on 10 August.
“I think I just got tired,” he explained.
“I don’t know what happened but it’s life, it’s sport. It’s the beauty of sport.”
On retirement and Olympic prize money
Kipchoge will turn 40 in November and he would not be drawn when asked if he could race at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“In Kenya we say you don’t chase two rabbits at a time, you will miss all of them. You chase one,” he said.
“So the rabbit of the Olympic Games is what I’m chasing now. After that I go back to the drawing board, see what’s in my bucket list and start again to chase the next.”
In the meantime, as questions persist over when he plans to retire, he has reiterated his commitment to inspire people of all levels to be active.
“If you can convince me that the moment I will be crossing the finishing line the whole world has become a running world then I will retire,” he added.
Kipchoge was in the French capital on Thursday as part of Kenya’s kit launch for the Games, and he will also receive a financial reward should he defend his marathon title.
In a first for the Olympics, World Athletics president Lord Coe has announced that all athletics gold medallists in Paris will earn $50,000 (£40,100) in prize money.
Kipchoge believes the development will boost the sport in the long term.
“I don’t run because of money but I run because I want to perform,” Kipchoge said.
“It was a great idea for Seb Coe and World Athletics. For the young generations I think it’s a good idea to develop – it makes sport more interesting.”
SOURCE BBC
Russian troops arrive in Niger as military agreement begins
Saturday 13 April , 2024 {HMC} Dozens of Russian military instructors have arrived in Niger as part of a new agreement with the country’s junta, which has cut links with the West.
State media reported that they arrived along with a state-of-the-art air defence system.
They are expected to install the system and teach Niger’s army how to use it.
The West African country is one several in the Sahel region ruled by military authorities to have recently strengthened ties with Russia.
A spokesperson for Niger’s military government on Friday said the Russians were in the country to train soldiers.
The Russian Defence Ministry’s paramilitary group Africa Corps, also known as the Russian Expeditionary Corps (REK), wrote on Telegram that this was the first group of servicemen and volunteers to go to Niger.
In an attached video, a serviceman of the corps said in French that they were there to “develop military cooperation” between the countries and had brought “various special military equipment” to help with training.
Footage of the Russian instructors unloading a cargo plane full of equipment was broadcast on Niger’s state television.
Ulf Laessing, a specialist in the Sahel region for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, which promotes democracy, told the BBC World Service’s Newsday programme that the military supplies appeared to be part of a “regime survival package”.
Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown last year by the junta, which has since cut military and diplomatic ties with France – the former colonial power – and revoked an agreement with the US.
Mr Laessing said the military government was still concerned about some form of physical interference in Niger by the political and economic alliance of West African states, known as Ecowas.
He added that this is probably the reason for the supply of a Russian air defence system, rather than to help suppress Islamist fighters.
“I don’t have any other explanations because jihadists don’t have planes,” Mr Laessing said.
Kabir Adamu, of the intelligence organisation Beacon Security, said Niger was moving closer to countries outside the Western bloc including Russia, China and Iran. He said he feared the alliance with Russia could encourage the junta to further delay a return to civilian rule, as has happened in neighbouring Mali.
Abdel-Fatau Musa, Ecowas commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, noted that Niger was following in the footsteps of Mali and Burkina Faso – the three countries have formed a military alliance.
Niger had already been suspended from Ecowas – which has been urging the country to return to democratic rule along with Burkina Faso and Mali – but in January, the junta-led countries announced they would quit the bloc.
“Our position is clear. We shall hold the country of origin responsible for any egregious human rights violations.
“We urge countries in the region not to facilitate another cycle of proxy wars in Africa,” Mr Musa told the BBC, although he said sovereign states had a right to choose their international partners.
Niger has been facing increased violence by the Islamic State group, as well as the continuing threat of Boko Haram militants along its border with Nigeria.
Earlier this week, at least six soldiers were killed in a blast in the Tillabery region near the border with Mali.
Niger’s defence ministry, which confirmed the attack, said an army patrol vehicle hit a landmine near the south-western village of Tingara earlier this week, killing some of the soldiers. Others were wounded and were taken to hospital.
The ministry said it had carried out an air strike to neutralise those responsible for planting the homemade landmine.
While the military government cited worsening insecurity in Niger as the reason for the coup, reports indicate that insurgents have continued to carry out attacks in parts of the country – almost on a monthly basis – especially in the Tillabery region.
SOURCE VOA
Hezbollah launches rockets, drones into Israel as US warns Iran
Saturday 13 April , 2024 {HMC} U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a stern, one-word warning to Iran on Friday as the world braced for Tehran to exact revenge for a deadly Israeli airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus, Syria.
“Don’t,” Biden said to reporters following a speech on domestic policy at an event in New York City.
“We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” the president said in response to questions from reporters. “We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”
Biden’s comments followed similar expressions of support from top U.S. defense and diplomatic officials over the past several days and come as the U.S. military takes steps to ensure growing hostilities between Israel and Iran do not engulf the Middle East in a wider war.
“We are moving additional assets to the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts and increase protection for U.S. forces,” a U.S. defense official told VOA Friday. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, declined to share additional details.
Even as U.S. officials warned Iran against seeking revenge, a key Iranian proxy sprang into action.
Lebanese Hezbollah late Friday fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces said it detected about 40 rockets crossing from Lebanon into Israel, some of which were intercepted by air defense systems.
The IDF also said it was able to intercept two explosive drones that Hezbollah militants had used to target Israel earlier Friday.
It is unclear whether the rocket and drone attacks by Hezbollah were part of an effort by Iran to retaliate for the Israeli strike on Iran’s diplomatic compound earlier this month, which killed three senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, including General Ali Reza Zahdi, who led Iran’s elite Quds force.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that Israel “must be punished and will be punished” for the April 1 attack, days after one of his advisers said Israeli embassies are “no longer safe.”
U.S. diplomatic officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, have been reaching out to counterparts in Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia, urging them to make clear to Tehran “that escalation is not in anyone’s interest,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday.
But the U.S. push for de-escalation has been accompanied by expressions of strong support for Israel in the face of potential Iranian aggression.
“We are in constant communication with our Israeli counterparts about making sure that they can defend themselves,” White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters early Friday, describing Iran’s threat to retaliate as “very credible.”
“We take our commitment to helping Israel with their self-defense very seriously,” Kirby said. “It is an ironclad commitment.”
During a call Thursday with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also offered Washington’s backing to Israel.
“Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks,” according to a Pentagon readout of the conversation.
The U.S. statements and the movement of additional resources to deter Iranian aggression, however, have done little so far to ease growing concerns.
“We are very worried about potential escalation in a situation that seems to be escalating on a daily basis,” said United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
“Our message, which has been sent publicly and privately, is to avoid any escalation and work toward de-escalation of the tensions,” Dujarric told reporters Friday.
SOURCE VOA
Israel releases video of aid truck entering Gaza
Saturday 13 April , 2024 {HMC} The Israeli government Friday released video it said showed the first humanitarian aid trucks entering northern Gaza through a newly opened aid corridor.
In posts on the agency’s official X account, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, the Israeli agency for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories — COGAT — displayed video it said showed trucks entering Gaza both late Thursday and Friday.
In its post, COGAT, which oversees supplies moving into Gaza, reported 213 aid trucks had been inspected and moved into Gaza through the crossing.
The statement said the trucks had undergone rigorous checks by security authorities with the Israeli Ministry of Defense Land Crossings Authority at the Kerem Shalom crossing and were accompanied by Israel Defense Forces.
Both the Reuters news agency and the French news agency AFP said they could not confirm the authenticity of the video or the exact location of the newly-opened crossing.
Meanwhile, a team of medical personnel from the World Health Organization, or WHO, reported Friday no building or road had been left intact in Khan Younis, following a tour of the southern Gaza strip this week.
At a briefing in Geneva, WHO released video of three medical facilities the team visited this week — the Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Aqsa and Al-Khair hospitals — following the withdrawal of Israeli troops.
They reported all facilities were found to be completely non-functional, with no oxygen supply, no water, no electricity and no working sewage systems. The Nasser Medical Complex, which WHO officials said had been “the backbone” of the south Gaza health system, is now mostly rubble.
In north Gaza, the Al-Shifa Hospital also revealed a grim scenario. “It was shocking to realize that the hospital’s open spaces were filled with makeshift graves for people that lost their lives there.”
No letup in hostilities
Israeli media reported that Hezbollah militants fired dozens of Katyusha rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel on Friday. No injuries were reported.
Earlier, Palestinian and Israeli media sources reported Israel’s military shot two Palestinians dead early Friday near the West Bank city of Tubas.
Media reports said one man was killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire on his vehicle in Tubas. Another Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli gunfire during a military raid in the al-Fara refugee camp, south of Tubas.
Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the reports.
The latest violence followed the announcement Thursday of what the military called “new and improved measures” to bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including construction of a new land crossing in northern Gaza.
Military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a video statement that the new crossing would “enable more aid to flow directly to civilians in the areas that have been challenging for the trucks to access.”
International humanitarian groups have complained for months about obstacles to bringing aid by truck into Gaza, citing delays imposed by the Israeli military and a lack of safe access to areas such as northern Gaza due to the fighting.
Hagari said Israel expects 50 trucks per day to pass through the new crossing and that the total number of trucks reaching the Gaza Strip each day will gradually rise from 350 to about 500.
The United Nations says about 500 trucks per day were bringing aid to Gaza before the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
In a phone call Wednesday with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States expects Israel to quickly act on its commitments to facilitate more humanitarian aid and to coordinate with aid groups to ensure there is no repeat of the strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy that killed seven aid workers earlier this month.
As of Thursday, more than 250 humanitarian and human rights groups have called for an end to arms transfers to Israel and Palestinian armed groups.
The State Department said Blinken and Gallant also discussed the ongoing talks about a cease-fire agreement that would include the release of hostages held by the Hamas terror group in Gaza.
The United States said Thursday it has restricted its employees in Israel and their family members from personal travel outside the greater areas of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva due to threats from Iran to retaliate against Israel for the April 1 airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus.
SOURCE VOA