The New York Times: Maersk Says Expanded Houthi Attacks Are Forcing More Delays
“Global shipping lines have become increasingly strained as the Houthi militia in Yemen broadens its attacks on cargo vessels, one of the largest companies in the industry warned on Monday. “The risk zone has expanded,” Maersk, the second-largest ocean carrier, said in a note to customers, adding that the stress was causing further delays and higher costs. Since late last year, the Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea, which cargo vessels from Asia have to travel through to reach the Suez Canal. This has forced ocean carriers to avoid the sea and take a much longer route to Europe around the southern tip of Africa. But in recent weeks, the Houthis have been trying to strike ships making that longer journey in the Indian Ocean. Because going around Africa takes longer, shipping companies have had to add more vessels to ensure that they can transport goods on time and without cutting volumes. The threat to vessels in the Indian Ocean has only added to the difficulties. “This has forced our vessels to lengthen their journey further, resulting in additional time and costs to get your cargo to its destination for the time being,” Maersk said.”
Iraqi News: Iraqi President Approves Hanging Of 11 Convicted ISIS Terrorists
“Two security sources told Reuters that Iraq executed 11 people on Monday in a prison in the southern city of Nasiriyah after being convicted of terrorism-related charges. A source in Dhi Qar governorate also mentioned that the Iraqi Ministry of Justice executed 11 terrorists in the Nasiriyah Central Prison, also known as Al-Hout prison, according to Al-Arabiya News. The source said that a team from the Ministry of Justice supervised the implementation of death sentences against 11 people after they were convicted of terrorist crimes and belonging to ISIS, noting that the death sentences were approved by the Iraqi President. According to the source, 11 individuals were given death sentences after being found guilty of terrorist acts and being members of ISIS. He added that the Ministry of Justice oversaw the execution of the death sentences, which were approved by the Iraqi President.”
“The ICC have played down fears of a terrorist threat to next month’s T20 World Cup following reports that Islamic State have encouraged attacks on the tournament, which is being staged jointly by the USA and the West Indies. With reports of the threats circulating on social media, the prime minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Keith Rowley, told Trinidad’s Daily Express: ‘Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism in its many and varied expressions is an ever-present danger in the world of the 21st century. ‘Given the fact that bad actors can choose to misbehave in any way possible it makes it virtually impossible to completely seal off all opportunities. ‘However, in order to ameliorate these dangers, we at the local and regional levels have remained alert to many threats and singularly or together have our intelligence and other security agencies working to protect the population in countries and at venues throughout the tournament.’”
“Turkey has carried out a new round of airstrikes targeting Kurdish militants in neighboring Iraq, the Turkish defense ministry said Monday. Warplanes struck suspected positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, in the regions of Hakurk, Metina and Gara in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, according to the statement. The airstrikes reportedly killed 16 militants, including some commanders, the ministry said. There was no immediate comment from the PKK, a banned separatist group that has waged an insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s. The ministry said it was determined to “rescue Turkey from this problem.” The latest airstrikes came weeks after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid his first visit to Iraq in 12 years, seeking greater cooperation from Baghdad in the fight against the militants. Erdogan had previously announced a major operation against the PKK for this summer with the aim of “permanently” eradicating the threat it poses.”
The Tribune: Dozens Of Major Terrorist Groups Operating From Afghanistan
“Afghanistan has a history of creating problems for Pakistan since 1947 by raising the so-called issue of Pashtunistan and Durand Line. All the insurgencies and sub-nationalist movements in Pakistan are supported and hosted by Afghanistan. India used Afghanistan as a second front to destabilise Pakistan in close coordination with former intelligence agencies of Afghanistan, namely KHAD and NDS. During the tenure of Karzai and Ghani, India had established 66 terrorist camps in Afghanistan for TTP, BLA and BLF. Pakistan has paid a huge price of the US-led war on terror that saw over 80,000 Pakistanis martyred. Nothing has changed after the takeover of Afghanistan by Taliban. Before the Afghan Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, there was 86 per cent reduction in terrorist incidents in Pakistan, but soon after the takeover a surge of 70 per cent was witnessed. The Taliban government has not only provided safe havens to terrorists but also armed them with the weapons left over by the US. The Taliban takeover has also facilitated the re-emergence and strengthening of terrorist groups other than the TTP.”
The Wall Street Journal: The Houthis May Embolden Beijing
“World leaders know that what happens in the Middle East doesn’t stay there. As Israel warns Gazans to evacuate Rafah and negotiators haggle over cease-fire terms, the effect of Middle East hostilities on the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific continues to deepen. First and most directly, the Middle East war is expanding. On May 4, Iranian state media reported that the Shahid Mahdavi, a former container ship converted to carry and launch fixed-wing drones and helicopters and equipped with sophisticated electronic equipment, had crossed the equator in the Indian Ocean. The move came as the Houthis reiterated their threats to target ships from the Red Sea as far south as the Cape of Good Hope. These threats aren’t idle. Houthi drones can hit targets more than 1,200 miles from their bases in Yemen, and on April 26 they struck a container ship more than 300 nautical miles southeast of the Horn of Africa. The damage to the MSC Orion was minor and crew members weren’t injured, but the message was clear. Any ship attempting to reach Europe from the Mideast or Indo-Pacific now risks a Houthi attack.”
Reuters: Hezbollah Says Its Drone Hits Northern Israeli Town, Two Soldiers Killed
“Hezbollah said on Monday it carried out a drone attack on an Israeli military position near the northern Israeli town of Metula. The Israeli military later confirmed two soldiers were killed in the attack. Iran-backed Hezbollah also said it had sent dozens of rockets towards military targets across the border with Israel. Israel and Hezbollah, which has amassed a formidable arsenal since 2006, have been engaged in daily cross-border strikes over the past six months, in parallel with Israel's war in Gaza. dHezbollah has so far restricted its attacks to a strip of northern Israel, seeking to draw Israeli forces away from Gaza.”
“Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge. The foray came after hours of whiplash in the Israel-Hamas war, with the militant group on Monday saying it accepted an Egyptian-Qatari mediated cease-fire proposal. Israel, however, insisted the deal did not meet its core demands. The high-stakes diplomatic moves and military brinkmanship left a glimmer of hope alive — if only barely — for an accord that could bring at least a pause in the 7-month-old war that has devastated the Gaza Strip. The Israeli incursion overnight appeared to be short of the full-fledged offensive into Rafah that Israel has planned, and it was not immediately known if it would be expanded. The looming operation has raised global alarm over the fate of around 1.3 million Palestinians crammed into the city — and threatened to widen a rift between Israel and its main backer, the United States.”
“Police arrested about 125 activists as they broke up a pro-Palestinian demonstration camp at the University of Amsterdam early Tuesday, as protests that have roiled campuses in the United States spread into Europe. Police in the Dutch capital said in a statement on the social media platform X that their action was “necessary to restore order” after protests turned violent. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Video from the scene aired by national broadcaster NOS showed police using a mechanical digger to push down barricades and officers wielding batons and shields moving in to end the demonstration, beating some of the protesters and pulling down tents. Protesters formed barricades from wooden pallets and bicycles, NOS reported. Scores of demonstrators occupied a small island at the university on Monday, urging Amsterdam universities to break academic ties with Israel because of its offensive in Gaza in the aftermath of the deadly Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel.”
India Today: Court Sentences 5 For Promoting Islamic State Ideology, Spreading Terror
“Five people, including two women, were sentenced by a special NIA court in connection with a case related to a conspiracy by the banned Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) group to propagate ISIS ideology and sow terror through violent acts in India. The court has sentenced one of the accused, Jahanzaib Sami, to prison terms ranging from three to 20 years, along with fines, for offences under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Sami was accused of plotting to establish a Caliphate in India and conspiring to carry out 100 IED blasts across the country in a single day. NIA investigations revealed that Sami was also involved in raising, receiving, and providing funds through cryptocurrency to promote ISIS ideology, while also exploiting the sentiments of susceptible youth to fuel anti-CAA/NRC protests.”
“Malaysia will not interfere in business relations between arms manufacturers and other countries, its defense minister said Tuesday, after protesters demanded that the government expel companies that supply weapons to Israel from an international exhibition. More than 1,300 companies from 60 nations are participating in Defense Services Asia and the concurrent National Security Asia exhibitions that started Monday. The events are hosted and co-organized by Malaysia’s Defense Ministry and Home Affairs Ministry. The Solidarity for Palestinian coalition held a brief rally outside the exhibition center on Tuesday to protest the presence of U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin, European missile manufacturer MBDA and others that provide arms to Israel. The coalition accused the manufacturers of being complicit in Israel’s offensive in Gaza.”
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers.
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