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Islamic State-linked rebels kill 66 civilians in eastern Congo attack
Fighters with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has ties to IS, killed civilians in the area of Irumu in the east of the country bordering Uganda. The attack comes as eastern Congo may see an end to its ongoing war with M23, a separate rebel group which is backed by Rwanda, another of Congo's neighbors.
Jean Tobie Okala, the spokesperson for the United Nations mission in Ituri in eastern Congo, called the attack a bloodbath."
Around 30 civilians were killed between Thursday and Friday, July 11, in the Walese Vonkutu chiefdom, Irumu territory, in Ituri, said Okala in a statement to the Associated Press. "Based on information from civil society, the death toll has risen from 31 to 66 civilians killed.
The ADF is a Ugandan Islamist group that operates on both sides of the porous border.
All the victims, including women, were killed with machetes, said the president of a local civil society, Marcel Paluku. The number of people taken hostage is unknown.
The attack is suspected to be in response to an escalating bombing campaign by joint Congolese and Ugandan forces that started on Sunday.
The number of ADF fighters in Congo is unclear, but they are a significant presence in the region and regularly attack civilians. The group originated in the late 1990s in neighboring Uganda and became affiliated with IS in 2019. Muslims make up about 10% of the Congolese population, most of them in the east.
In recent years, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces have intensified near Congo's border with Uganda and spread towards Goma, eastern Congo's main city, as well as the neighboring Ituri province. Rights groups and the United Nations have accused the ADF of killing hundreds of people and abducting even more, including a significant number of children.
In December, the ADF killed at least 10 people and abducted several more in another village in North Kivu.
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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Iran is losing its stranglehold over Iraq
HE WAS KILLED by an Israeli air strike in Lebanon last year. Yet the face of Hassan Nasrallah, formerly the boss of Hizbullah, is still plastered on posters all over Baghdad, Iraq's capital. Alongside them are images of other Shia militia leaders from Iraq, Iran and Lebanon. They have one thing in common: their outfits are backed by Iran. The posters are testament to Iran's long-standing influence in Iraq. Yet they also mask a growing dissatisfaction among Iraqis about their country's alignment with its bigger neighbour, particularly among the young. Many dreaded being dragged into Iran's war with Israel and America, and were relieved that their government stayed out of it. The response to calls by the militias to march on the American embassy during the war in June, which ended with a ceasefire after just 12 days, was lacklustre. As its influence wanes across the region, Iran cannot rely on Iraq the way it used to. The relationship between the neighbours, which share a 1,600km-long border, has waxed and waned. Their religious leaders compete for influence among Shia Muslims around the world. In the 1980s they fought a war in which hundreds of thousands of people died. Yet in the years since America toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003 Iraq has been a staging ground for Iran to project power across the region. With extensive Western sanctions in place to stymie Iran's nuclear programme, Iraq's economy has been one of the few lifelines for its beleaguered neighbour. For years the regime in Tehran manipulated the Iraqi central bank's daily dollar auctions to secure hard currency to pay for imports, circumventing sanctions. Only America's blacklisting of Iraqi banks in 2023 slowed the practice. Iraq is also a crucial market for Iranian exports. Iran presses Iraqi government departments and ministries to prioritise Iranian goods over those from elsewhere, according to businesspeople in Baghdad. 'If the Americans occupied Iraq militarily,' says one banker from the region, 'then Iran has done so economically.' Even more important has been Iran's exertion of military influence through militias backed by its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The rise in Iraq of Islamic State (IS), a Sunni extremist group, in 2014 triggered a call to arms from Shia religious authorities in both Iraq and Iran. Iran supported the establishment of a number of Shia armed groups in Iraq. They battled IS and eventually helped to degrade it significantly. But they also provided Iran with a way to control much of Iraq's politics and economy. The militias' unmarked pickup trucks still roam the streets of the capital. Their members have vast business interests and control important ministries, including those in charge of oil and metals exports. Until recently they exerted significant influence over the supreme court. Much of that control was exerted by Qassem Suleimani, who as head of the Quds force, the IRGC's elite arm, helped co-ordinate Iran's foreign-influence activities. But Iran's hold over the militias has diminished since an American drone strike killed Suleimani in 2020. Even as some joined Iran's 'axis of resistance', others turned inward, focusing on domestic affairs. One reason is that Esmail Qaani, Suleimani's successor, lacks his predecessor's deft touch in managing the factions' competing interests, says a veteran Iraqi lawmaker. 'The requests became demands,' he says. Another is that Iran's allies in Iraq have grown rich and now have much to lose from getting dragged into a conflict with America or Israel. Some still believe in Iran's Islamic revolution and the need to fight Israel. But others are increasingly resentful of their country's status as its neighbour's satrap. Perhaps most important, a younger political class that grew out of anti-government protests in 2020 has become increasingly vocal about its opposition to the militias. The armed groups are 'corrupted and have built economic empires', says Muhi Ansari, who heads the Iraqi House foundation, a new civil-society group. 'The concept of resistance [to Israel] is hollow in Iraq,' he says. That sentiment was on full display during Iran's brief war against Israel and America last month. Even Iran's closest allies in Iraq were too wary of retaliation by America or Israel to offer much help. As Abu Meethaq al-Amsari, a political analyst close to Badr, one of the biggest Iran-backed factions, explained on national television on June 21st: 'The brothers in the factions are practising a high degree of self-restraint and rationality.' Israel's decimation of the IRGC's high command during the dozen-day war and America's strike on Iran's nuclear programmes have raised hopes among some Iraqis that Iran's hold over Iraq's politics and economy will diminish. As militias and politicians loyal to Iran find themselves adrift, a space could open up for other, homegrown political forces. 'Whatever they say in public,' says a civil servant, 'we're not sad to see Iran weakened.'
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Won't let Bengal turn into Bangladesh: BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya
West Bengal BJP 's newly-elected state president Samik Bhattacharya , in an exclusive interview with ET, talks about the party's goal to oust Trinamool Congress in the 2026 assembly polls, and prevent Bengal from becoming "West Bangladesh" as Trinamool has allowed a "silent demographic invasion". The Rajya Sabha MP details how his party aims to win over minority (Muslims) and woo the majority (Hindus), projecting BJP as an option for the minority in Bengal (not the infiltrated ones), who will get education and employment opportunities, if BJP is voted to power, replacing "stone pelters" with a "pen". The Bengal BJP is all set for the upcoming assembly elections, Bhattacharya said while detailing the party's vision for the coming days, when assembly polls are just about nine months away. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brought to you by Undo From holding organisational meetings to travelling to districts and meeting the grassroot workers, strengthening the party's booth-level organisation, there are many challenges in front of the new party chief. However, Bhattacharya feels the biggest challenge in front of the people of Bengal is: whether they will oust the Trinamool government or allow "Bengal to turn into Bangladesh". Infiltration Live Events We don't want 'West Bangladesh' in West Bengal with radical forces and fundamentalists entering Bengal. There have been significant demographic changes in Bengal, especially in the bordering districts of North 24 Parganas and other districts. Now in Bangladesh, no one can walk with a photo of Ramakrishna Deb in their hands. Due to religious bigotry and fanaticism, things have changed there. Bangladeshis and Rohingyas have settled in Bengal. It is necessary to stop them for the security of the country. . Our West Bengal has unfenced borders with Bangladesh. India is not a place where anyone can come and stay. Rohingyas are getting themselves enrolled in the voter list. We have also given documents to the ECI. However, Mamata Banerjee wants the people to settle here with fake documents. Migrant Worker issues Most of the Bangladeshis are found with fake Identity cards in even Opposition-ruled states like Tamil Nadu. Most checking is taking place in Tamil Nadu. Our internal security has been threatened by the fake I-card holders. Around 40 lakh migrant Bengalis have been forced to work in other states and they are also in trouble for fake ID holders. BJP resorting to "soft Hindutva" There is no soft or hard Hindutva. Trinamool government is destroying pluralism and multiculturalism in West Bengal because it resorts to politics of hate. Radicalism has no place in West Bengal and will never be accepted. This is the last election for Bengali Hindus and progressive Muslims to prevent West Bengal from becoming "West Bangladesh". Hindi-speaking people, who have come from outside and settled here, cannot be dismissed as Hindi speaking but they are also Bengalis. All those living here from Bengal are Bengalis. On 2026 assembly elections In the upcoming election, poll results are not in the hands of any political party but people. The public has decided that the Trinamool will not come to power again. Every election has its own share of challenges. But this time the challenge lies in the hands of people of Bengal. For the majority Hindus, this is the last election. This is the last election for the educated minorities as well who are originally from Bengal. Trinamool Congress will be defeated. Their 'bisarjan" (offering Durga idols in water on last day of Durga puja) is imminent.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
13th July massacre is Jallianwala Bagh for Kashmiris: CM Omar Abdullah
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday placed restrictions in several parts of Srinagar city and disallowed political parties from visiting Martyrs' Graveyard to commemorate the killing of 22 Kashmiris by Dogra forces on this day in 1931. Chief minister Omar Abdullah said the ' 13th July massacre ' is the Jallianwala Bagh for people of this region and their sacrifices cannot be forgotten. "The people who laid down their lives did so against the British. Kashmir was being ruled by British Paramountcy," said Abdullah adding, "What a shame that the true heroes who fought against British rule in all its forms are today projected as villains only because they were Muslims. We may be denied the opportunity to visit their graves today but we will not forget their sacrifices." Some of the political leaders including legislators from ruling National Conference like Tanvir Sadiq, former CM Mehbooba Mufti , Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Sajad Lone informed through social media platforms that they were placed under house arrest. Some NC activists led by Salman Sagar, MLA from Srinagar, held brief protests against the administration. Several activists of other political parties were detained when they were on their way to Martyrs' Graveyard. The weekly Sunday flea market was shut and police and paramilitary forces were deployed on all major roads leading to Martyrs' Graveyard in Khawaja Bazar of Srinagar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo Will always be our heroes: Mufti "The day you accept our heroes as your own just as Kashmiris have embraced yours - from Mahatma Gandhi to Bhagat Singh - that day, as Prime Minister Modi once said, the 'dil ki doori' will truly end," said Mufti, adding, "When you lay siege to the Martyrs' Graveyard, lock people in their homes to prevent them from visiting Mazar-e-Shuhada, it speaks volumes... They will always be our heroes." PC's Sajad Lone said he doesn't understand why the Centre is so keen to redefine what is sacred for the people of Kashmir. Live Events
