Latest news with #Zagros
The Guardian
03-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Friendship at 13,000 feet: how climbing in the Swiss Alps is bringing refugees together
At 4,000 metres, conditions can be challenging. The air is thin, movement takes effort, and the ice and snow demand proper gear: warm layers, crampons, an ice axe, ropes for crossing glaciers. Yet a group of refugees in Switzerland – from Afghanistan, Iran, Palestine, Ukraine and elsewhere – say this is exactly where they have found freedom, calm and even respite from the trauma of war, political persecution and imprisonment. 'Mountaineering isn't just a sport. Reaching the summit brings an incredible sense of relief. And it's proof that you can overcome your physical and emotional challenges, even after extreme hardship,' says Soroush Esfandiary, 27, adding that the Alps remind him of growing up near Iran's Zagros mountains, but also of his escape from home. Esfandiary arrived in Switzerland four years ago, initially crossing the mountains from Iran into Turkey on foot. 'I had a high fever and was coughing up blood, but I kept moving. I was so afraid,' he says. After joining the mass protests in Iran in 2019, initially sparked by a sudden surge in fuel prices, Esfandiary was imprisoned and put in solitary confinement for two weeks in Isfahan intelligence prison. When he was released to await his trial, he knew he had to leave. Soon after reaching Switzerland, Esfandiary joined Peaks4All, a Geneva-based non-profit that supports refugee integration through mountaineering. 'It's more than mountaineering though,' he explains. 'We're a group of people from all over the world, connected by what we've been through. We are all here in Switzerland to find peace.' The idea of offering mountaineering to refugees in the Swiss Alps all started with two female mountaineers: 'We came up with it because of our passion for Alpinism and social impact,' says Laëtitia Lam, who co-founded Peaks4All with her friend and fellow mountaineer Clémence Delloye. 'What started as a one-off project with just a handful of people has grown into a community of more than 200 refugees from across the globe, from Nigeria and Sudan, to Mongolia, Turkey and Syria. We also work with 40 volunteers and 30 mountain guides. I'm proud to say that we've also gone from having almost no women refugees in the group to over 40% today,' she says. Since 2022, Peaks4All has made one big climb a year: last year it was Ulrichshorn at 3,925 metres. Another summit is planned for this year. In between, the group regularly offers smaller hikes and other mountain activities such as bouldering and canyoning. Lam, whose father fled from Hong Kong to France for political reasons, says Peaks4All's goal is to bridge the gap between refugees and Swiss communities. 'We realised that many refugees live quite isolated lives and we wanted to open up new possibilities with the courses and training we offer,' she says. 'At the same time, we saw that being together in nature had a big impact. The mountains became a place of peace and happiness for many.' Unlike Esfandiary, many at Peaks4All haven't previously spent much time in the mountains. Diana Lysenko, 39, says: 'I immediately said yes to training for and climbing a 4,000-metre [13,000ft] mountain, but I had no idea what to expect. The highest mountain in Ukraine is barely half the size of some of the Swiss peaks.' Lysenko arrived in Geneva in the summer of 2022, just months after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Sign up to Global Dispatch Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development team after newsletter promotion 'I realised the situation in Ukraine was only going to get worse, and I couldn't handle living in constant fear any more, spending nights in bomb shelters and hoping that it wouldn't be my building getting destroyed,' she says. Lysenko had previously lived in Kyiv and said many of her colleagues were killed when Russia invaded several towns surrounding the Ukrainian capital. 'Integration was initially quite hard in Switzerland, that's why Peaks4All was such a great opportunity. Climbing also helped me discover an inner strength I didn't know I had,' she adds. The use of nature to support trauma recovery and mental wellbeing is gaining momentum and becoming a growing focus of research, including in the UK. Initiatives such as Dose of Nature for example, advocate for the mental health benefits of connecting with nature. Alem Big Qaderi, 26, an Afghan who arrived in Switzerland in 2023, says he felt 'happy, safe, and hopeful for the future' when in nature. Climbing alongside people from around the world, he says, feels like being in a 'global village.' After the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, thousands fled the country. Qaderi had been studying in Turkey at the time, but knew there was no way to return home. In Europe, including in Switzerland, many refugees say they face challenges integrating, especially as politics in many countries have shifted further to the right. 'At Peaks4All, we've created an amazing family. No matter where you are from and what language you speak,' Lam says. 'For me, mountains have no nationality,' says Qaderi. 'The Alps remind me of the mountains of my childhood. They feel like home.'
The Guardian
03-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Friendship at 13,000 feet: how climbing in the Swiss Alps is bringing refugees together
At 4,000 metres, conditions can be challenging. The air is thin, movement takes effort, and the ice and snow demand proper gear: warm layers, crampons, an ice axe, ropes for crossing glaciers. Yet a group of refugees in Switzerland – from Afghanistan, Iran, Palestine, Ukraine and elsewhere – say this is exactly where they have found freedom, calm and even respite from the trauma of war, political persecution and imprisonment. 'Mountaineering isn't just a sport. Reaching the summit brings an incredible sense of relief. And it's proof that you can overcome your physical and emotional challenges, even after extreme hardship,' says Soroush Esfandiary, 27, adding that the Alps remind him of growing up near Iran's Zagros mountains, but also of his escape from home. Esfandiary arrived in Switzerland four years ago, initially crossing the mountains from Iran into Turkey on foot. 'I had a high fever and was coughing up blood, but I kept moving. I was so afraid,' he says. After joining the mass protests in Iran in 2019, initially sparked by a sudden surge in fuel prices, Esfandiary was imprisoned and put in solitary confinement for two weeks in Isfahan intelligence prison. When he was released to await his trial, he knew he had to leave. Soon after reaching Switzerland, Esfandiary joined Peaks4All, a Geneva-based non-profit that supports refugee integration through mountaineering. 'It's more than mountaineering though,' he explains. 'We're a group of people from all over the world, connected by what we've been through. We are all here in Switzerland to find peace.' The idea of offering mountaineering to refugees in the Swiss Alps all started with two female mountaineers: 'We came up with it because of our passion for Alpinism and social impact,' says Laëtitia Lam, who co-founded Peaks4All with her friend and fellow mountaineer Clémence Delloye. 'What started as a one-off project with just a handful of people has grown into a community of more than 200 refugees from across the globe, from Nigeria and Sudan, to Mongolia, Turkey and Syria. We also work with 40 volunteers and 30 mountain guides. I'm proud to say that we've also gone from having almost no women refugees in the group to over 40% today,' she says. Since 2022, Peaks4All has made one big climb a year: last year it was Ulrichshorn at 3,925 metres. Another summit is planned for this year. In between, the group regularly offers smaller hikes and other mountain activities such as bouldering and canyoning. Lam, whose father fled from Hong Kong to France for political reasons, says Peaks4All's goal is to bridge the gap between refugees and Swiss communities. 'We realised that many refugees live quite isolated lives and we wanted to open up new possibilities with the courses and training we offer,' she says. 'At the same time, we saw that being together in nature had a big impact. The mountains became a place of peace and happiness for many.' Unlike Esfandiary, many at Peaks4All haven't previously spent much time in the mountains. Diana Lysenko, 39, says: 'I immediately said yes to training for and climbing a 4,000-metre [13,000ft] mountain, but I had no idea what to expect. The highest mountain in Ukraine is barely half the size of some of the Swiss peaks.' Lysenko arrived in Geneva in the summer of 2022, just months after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Sign up to Global Dispatch Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development team after newsletter promotion 'I realised the situation in Ukraine was only going to get worse, and I couldn't handle living in constant fear any more, spending nights in bomb shelters and hoping that it wouldn't be my building getting destroyed,' she says. Lysenko had previously lived in Kyiv and said many of her colleagues were killed when Russia invaded several towns surrounding the Ukrainian capital. 'Integration was initially quite hard in Switzerland, that's why Peaks4All was such a great opportunity. Climbing also helped me discover an inner strength I didn't know I had,' she adds. The use of nature to support trauma recovery and mental wellbeing is gaining momentum and becoming a growing focus of research, including in the UK. Initiatives such as Dose of Nature for example, advocate for the mental health benefits of connecting with nature. Alem Big Qaderi, 26, an Afghan who arrived in Switzerland in 2023, says he felt 'happy, safe, and hopeful for the future' when in nature. Climbing alongside people from around the world, he says, feels like being in a 'global village.' After the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, thousands fled the country. Qaderi had been studying in Turkey at the time, but knew there was no way to return home. In Europe, including in Switzerland, many refugees say they face challenges integrating, especially as politics in many countries have shifted further to the right. 'At Peaks4All, we've created an amazing family. No matter where you are from and what language you speak,' Lam says. 'For me, mountains have no nationality,' says Qaderi. 'The Alps remind me of the mountains of my childhood. They feel like home.'
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
How strong is Iran's Navy and can it really block the world's oil lifeline?
Amid rising tensions with the U.S., Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route. Despite not being a naval superpower, Iran's navy, divided into IRIN and IRGCN, employs asymmetric warfare strategies. With diverse vessels and strategically located bases, Iran aims to defend its coastlines and disrupt enemy movements, particularly in the Strait. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Iran's Naval Power: Strength in Asymmetry Fleet Composition: Submarines, Frigates, and Drones Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pic credit: Global Firepower Ranking IRGC Navy: The Real Threat in Hormuz Bandar Abbas: Main naval HQ and submarine production center Jask: Iran's front-line base in the Gulf of Oman Chabahar: Southern outpost with access to the Indian Ocean Bandar-e Anzali: Northern base protecting oil assets Imam Ali Base (Chabahar): Offensive and patrol operations hub Kharg Island: Guards Persian Gulf oil infrastructure Amid escalating tensions with the U.S., Iran has once again threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow chokepoint through which nearly 20% of global oil and gas flows. The threat follows Washington's decision to support Israeli military actions against Iran, stoking fears of a broader regional conflict that could disrupt global energy has put Iran's naval power under fresh scrutiny. How capable is Iran's navy, and could it realistically block the world's most critical oil artery?According to Global Firepower's 2024 rankings, Iran's navy stands 37th among 145 countries—positioning it as a mid-tier force with regional reach. Despite lacking the scale of world naval superpowers, Iran has spent decades cultivating a strategy rooted in asymmetric warfare, indigenous technology, and geographic naval forces are divided into two main branches: The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) – the official naval arm with over 18,500 personnel and more than 100 vessels, including submarines, frigates, and destroyers. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) – a separate and agile force focused on fast-attack crafts, mines, and hit-and-run tactics, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. Together, these forces represent a layered defense system built since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, focused heavily on defending Iran's southern coastlines and disrupting enemy movements in nearby waters, according to the per Global Fire Power database, Iran's conventional naval fleet boasts an increasingly diverse arsenal: Destroyers & Frigates: Modern warships like Sahand, Zagros, and Zulfiqar are equipped with precision missile systems and intelligence-gathering tools. The Alvand and Moj-class frigates, some domestically built, support medium-range has 25 submarines including 3 Tareq-class (Kilo-class) diesel-electric subs for mine-laying and missile launches, 2 Fateh-class attack submarines with torpedo and missile capabilities, up to 23 Ghadir-class midget subs for shallow-water operations and special missions, and 1 Nahang-class sub for special forces transport, Euronews IRGC Navy is said to pose the real threat in the Strait of Hormuz. As per the report, it doesn't rely on large ships—it uses speed and surprise. Its fleet includes10 Houdong missile boats, 25 Peykaap II boats, 10 MK13 fast attack crafts, special units for reconnaissance, cyber warfare, and mine tactics focus on swarm attacks, sea mines, drones, and kamikaze-style speedboats, designed to overwhelm larger, slower enemy vessels—particularly in narrow chokepoints like Hormuz, the report has also reportedly strategically located naval bases to protect both its northern (Caspian Sea) and southern (Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman) fronts:Additional IRGC-specific bases, such as Sirik, Tamb al-Kubra, and Abu Musa Island, house missile defense systems and underground bunkers near the Strait of Hormuz—bolstering Iran's control over the region, claimed the report.
Shafaq News
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Zagros: the rare tiger gets International attention
Shafaq News/ A US delegation visited Duhok province on Wednesday to assess the condition of a rare tiger, Zagros, currently housed at the local zoo. 'The delegation's visit is crucial for evaluating the health and well-being of this rare tiger,' said Dr. Suleiman Tamr, head of the Kurdistan Organization for Animal Rights Protection. 'We are working closely with international experts to ensure it receives the best possible care and a suitable environment.' The delegation included Andy Blue, a global expert in zoo development. Their visit focused on assessing the tiger's health, diet, and adaptation to its environment, as well as exploring ways to improve its enclosure and overall living conditions. 'This tiger is an incredibly rare specimen, and it is essential that we provide it with a habitat that meets international standards,' Blue said. 'Our goal is to ensure it thrives, both physically and mentally, in its current environment.' Notably, the Zagros tiger is a rare subspecies of the Persian tiger. Once widespread across Iraq and Iran's forests, these tigers have suffered severe habitat loss and a decline in prey populations, pushing them to the brink of extinction. 'This species is critically endangered, with an estimated global population of only around 1,000 individuals,' Tamr explained. 'Every effort we make to protect and study this tiger is a step toward preserving its kind for future generations.'
