WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW – Aug 22nd – 28th 2026

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

6 HUMANITARIAN WORKERS INJURED IN VIOLENT ATTACKS

On August 2026, a series of violent attacks targeting Ebola response efforts began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, injuring 6 humanitarian personnel over 3 days. A Uganda Red Cross Society convoy was attacked in Aru, Ituri province, leaving a team member seriously injured and 2 ambulances vandalized. The following day, on August 18, 2026, 2 volunteers were injured in Malikuti, during a burial. On August 19, 2026, 3 volunteers were violently assaulted in Beni, North-Kivu province, and their equipment was destroyed. These incidents prompted a joint condemnation by the Red Cross of the DRC, the Uganda Red Cross Society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The World Health Organization reported 12 attacks on health centers since the outbreak was declared on May. The epidemic has now spread to 6 provinces and killed over 2,500 people.

DRC AND M23 AGREE ON PEACE NEGOTIATIONS ROADMAP

On August 23, 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-supported M23 armed group agreed on a peace negotiations roadmap following closed-door talks in Switzerland. The negotiations, held from August 17 to August 21, 2026, were facilitated by representatives from Switzerland, the United States, Qatar, the African Union Commission, and Togo, which served as the African Union mediator. The resulting roadmap establishes the sequential steps and timeline for negotiations under the Doha framework agreement. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the agreement to achieve a comprehensive resolution to the conflict, which has plagued the eastern region for over 30 years. The M23 has seized vast areas of the North-Kivu and South-Kivu provinces since 2021. The agreement introduces a standardized methodology for reporting alleged ceasefire violations and creates a mechanism to evaluate progress and address compliance challenges. Additionally, a ceasefire verification mission was scheduled in Minembwe.

PRESIDENT TSHISEKEDI EXCLUDES M23 FROM NATIONAL DIALOGUE PLAN

On August 27, 2026, Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi announced the exclusion of the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group from the upcoming national dialogue. In a TV speech, President Félix Tshisekedi stated that the dialogue is intended to reconcile the nation but will not include the M23 as a political entity, asserting that the Doha process remains the correct forum for such negotiations. However, he proposed a path of reintegration for individual fighters who renounce violence. The dialogue will last a maximum of 3 months, beginning after a preparatory committee is established. It will involve provincial consultations leading to a national meeting in Kinshasa to draft a national pact. This dialogue occurs as the opposition unites against proposed constitutional amendments that could allow President Félix Tshisekedi, who was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, to seek a third term.

OPPOSITION COALITION REJECTS PRESIDENT TSHISEKEDI’S PROPOSED DIALOGUE

On August 28, 2026, the main opposition coalition in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the “64”, officially rejected the national dialogue proposed by President Félix Tshisekedi. The coalition accused President Félix Tshisekedi of using these consultations to extend his rule beyond the constitutional 2 term limit by preparing a referendum to amend the Constitution. The opposition group described the initiative as a manoeuvre to open the way for a 3rd term and called on citizens to participate in a nationwide protest scheduled for September 15, 2026. This political standoff follows a June 12, 2026, opposition rally in Kinshasa that was repressed by police and pro-government supporters, resulting in injuries and at least 1 death.

GUINEA

6 BOUND AND BLINDFOLDED BODIES DISCOVERED IN MASS GRAVE

On August 24, 2026, young people collecting firewood discovered a mass grave containing 6 bound and blindfolded bodies in a forest in southwestern Guinea. The discovery was made in the Allassoyah sub-prefecture, within the Forécariah prefecture of the Low-Guinea region. Local authorities and the public prosecutor visited the site to supervise the exhumation of the 6 male victims. The bodies were subsequently transported to Forécariah hospital to facilitate identification and determine the exact date and circumstances of their burial. A judicial investigation has been launched to investigate this discovery. This incident follows a similar discovery in October 2025, when a mass grave containing 5 bodies was found in the same prefecture of Forécariah, located approximately 100 kilometers south of Conakry. The identities of those 5 victims and the circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unresolved.

MALI / NIGER

60 MALIAN SOLDIERS RELEASED IN NIGER REBEL PRISONER EXCHANGE

On August 27, 2026, about 60 Malian soldiers were transported to Niger and released by the Tuareg-dominated Azawad Liberation Front rebel group. This release was part of a prisoner exchange for Azawad Liberation Front officer Inkinane Ag Attaher, who had been arrested in Niger in April 2025. The negotiation was directly supervised by Nigerien President General Abdourahamane Tiani, whose mediation also secured the release of 12 Nigerien National Guard members and 7 soldiers from Burkina. Azawad Liberation Front spokesperson Mohamed El Maouloud Ramadane publicly welcomed the release of his fellow officer. This exchange is part of a series of prisoner releases following coordinated attacks on April 2026, by the rebel group.

NIGERIA

48 KIDNAPPED CHILDREN RELEASED AFTER RANSOM PAYMENT

On August 25, 2026, a gang began releasing 48 children, aged 7 to 12, who had been kidnapped 3 weeks prior in central Nigeria. Mashegu district traditional leader Abdullahi Sahonrami and a United Nations source confirmed that 40 children were freed on Tuesday night, with the remaining 8 released on Wednesday following a ransom payment. The children were initially abducted on August 5, 2026, while harvesting peanuts in Sabon Rijiya, Niger State. They were held in the Zugurma reserve of Kainji National Park by a gang that released them without ransom after 3 days. However, during their return, they were captured by a second gang linked to the Ansaru jihadist group. During these events, one young girl died in the custody of the first gang.

SOUTH SUDAN

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS DEAD: 49

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS WOUNDED: 35

LOOTING OR DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN PROPRIETIES: YES

LOCALITIES: Pajut (Jonglei State) Machar-Pakuek cattle camp Mading Juer Boma

PERPETRATORS: Unidentified

VICTIMS: UN peacekeepers, UN civilian employees, South Sudanese police, civilian population

2 ETHIOPIAN UN PEACEKEEPERS MURDERED IN JONGLEI AMBUSH

On August 24, 2026, 2 Ethiopian peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan were killed in an ambush in Jonglei State. Unidentified armed individuals attacked a patrol traveling toward Pajut, wounding 3 other peacekeepers, 2 South Sudanese police officers, and 2 United Nations civilian staff members. This violence occurs amid renewed clashes between forces loyal to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and militias allied with former Vice President Riek Machar, who has been under house arrest in Juba since 2025. The political crisis poses a severe risk of widespread violence ahead of the national elections scheduled for December 22, 2026. According to the United Nations, 36 humanitarian workers have been killed in the country since the start of 2026, and over 160 United Nations Mission in South Sudan personnel have died since the mission was established on 2011.

49 PEOPLE KILLED IN CATTLE CAMP AND VILLAGE RAID

On August 27, 2026, armed assailants launched a predawn attack on a cattle camp and a village in northwestern South Sudan, killing at least 49 people and injuring 33 others. The armed group targeted the Machar-Pakuek cattle camp and the village of Mading Juer Boma. Local authorities spokesperson William Wol Mayom Bol reported the casualties and highlighted that the raid occurred just 3 weeks after a similar attack in the area resulted in 60 deaths and 50 injuries. The United Nations estimates that 10 million out of 12 million residents require humanitarian assistance, and more than 7 million face acute food insecurity.

SUDAN

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS DEAD: 12

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS WOUNDED: 7

LOOTING OR DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN PROPRIETIES: YES

LOCALITIES: Adikong area (Chad-Sudane border)

PERPETRATORS: (suspected) Sudanese armed forces

VICTIMS: civilians

US PROPOSES EXPANSION OF ARMS EMBARGO

On August 24, 2026, the United States proposed expanding the United Nations arms embargo to the entire territory of Sudan to prevent the regionalization of the conflict. United States Envoy to Africa Massad Boulos presented a resolution containing 4 key measures, including the nationwide expansion of the embargo, which currently applies only to the Darfur region and is set to expire on September 12, 2026. This proposal comes as the Sudanese army battles the Rapid Support Forces. The army controls the central and eastern regions, including Khartoum, while the Rapid Support Forces hold the western Darfur region and parts of the south. Moscow has warned against any measures that would negatively impact the Sudanese army, suggesting that permanent Security Council members China and Russia might block the resolution. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously described the war as a proxy conflict involving multiple foreign nations, with NGOs and Washington pointing to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

12 CIVILIANS KILLED IN AIRSTRIKE ON CHADIAN BORDER MARKET

On August 27, 2026, an airstrike targeted a market in the Adikong area of Chad near the Sudanese border, killing 12 people and injuring 7 others. A Chadian security source reported that the strike targeted a location where the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces purchase fuel. Chadian media and the United States embassy in Khartoum blamed the Sudanese military for the attack. The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed surprise at the allegations, stating that Sudan respects Chad’s sovereignty and urging that no responsibility be assigned before a professional investigation is completed.

ZAMBIA

OPPOSITION LEADER ARRESTED FOR “TREASON”

On August 27, 2026, Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile surrendered to the police and was placed in custody on treason charges following a contested presidential election. Another member of his party, Makebi Zulu, was also detained after interrogation. These arrests are linked to a police raid on August 14, 2026, targeting the opposition camp, during which 11 members were arrested and former Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot dead. Mundubile, an ally of former President Edgar Lungu, secured 38% of the vote in the August 13, 2026, election, losing to incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema, who obtained 60%. Brian Mundubile announced plans to challenge the results in court. However, the government closed all courts on the final filing day, citing security reasons. Consequently, President Hakainde Hichilema is scheduled to be sworn in on September 1, 2026. Although the Christian Churches Monitoring Group confirmed that the president won a majority, it noted that his official score might have been inflated.

LEBANON

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS DEAD: 1

LOOTING OR DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN PROPRIETIES: YES

LOCALITIES: Houla Maiss al-Jabal Wadi Slouqi Kfar Chouba Khiam Zawtar el-Charqiyé Arab Salim PERPETRATORS: Israeli armed forces

VICTIMS: Lebanese civilians

ISRAELI MILITARY ACCUSED OF DELIBERATE ARSON

On August 26, 2026, Lebanese authorities accused the Israeli military of systematic scorched-earth policy in southern Lebanon. Nabatiyé Civil Defense director Hussein Fakih confirmed that Israeli forces are deliberately deploying cluster munitions, drones, explosive bombs, and phosphorus shells to incinerate forests and agricultural lands. Since hostilities resumed, more than 16,000 hectares have been destroyed, including agricultural land. In Kfar Chouba, mayor Kassim Al-Kadri reported that an Israeli attack on August 5 ignited a fire that destroyed 2 square kilometers of forest, with civil defense teams delayed for days waiting for Israeli authorization. Chadi Abdallah, secretary general of the National Council for Scientific Research in Beirut, used satellite imagery to confirm the systematic destruction of 8,500 hectares during the conflict’s first phase and 7,500 during the second, including the clearing of historic olive trees. The Lebanese National News Agency reported the uprooting of 600 olive trees in Zawtar el-Charqiyé, prompting Environmental Minister Tamara el-Zein to label the systematic destruction an ecocide, while a local environmental group accused Israel of burning a nature reserve in Wadi Slouqi.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE KILLS A WOMAN

On August 27, 2026, an Israeli airstrike killed a woman and injured several other civilians in southern Lebanon, according to the official National News Agency. The state media highlighted that the female victim had been married for only 48 hours before the attack occurred in the town of Arab Salim. The Israeli military stated that the strikes targeted Hezbollah weapons depots and infrastructure in response to 2 explosive drones launched overnight toward soldiers on Ali al-Taher ridge, although this made no Israeli casualties. Israel killed over 4,300 people in Lebanon since the start of the war and established an Israeli-controlled security zone in the south.

SYRIA

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS DEAD: 2

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS WOUNDED: 1

LOCALITIES: Beit Jinn Hassaké

PERPETRATORS: Israeli military (Beit Jinn drone strike), Unidentified actor (Hassaké explosion)

VICTIMS: civilians

ISRAELI DRONE STRIKE INJURES 1 PERSON IN SYRIAN BORDER VILLAGE

On August 22, 2026, an Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle near the occupied Golan Heights, injuring a person in Beit Jinn. Syrian state television confirmed the attack and published a photograph of the damaged truck. The Israeli military claimed its forces fired on an individual preparing terror attacks. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned repeated Israeli attacks as a flagrant violation of international law and national sovereignty. This escalation followed a strike on the Abou Dhouhour airbase, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu implicitly acknowledged was aimed at blocking Turkish military forces. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected subsequent American criticisms on social media, claiming that United States Special Envoy Tom Barrack made inaccurate statements that contradicted President Donald Trump’s policy. Tom Barrack had condemned the airbase strike as an unnecessary escalation and suggested it was an electoral stunt by Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the October 27 legislative elections, while also referring to the Golan Heights as occupied territory. Army chief of staff General Eyal Zamir countered that Israel would continue to monitor the border, where 13 Syrians were killed by Israeli troops in November.

SYRIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER AND MOSSAD HEAD HOLD SECURITY TALKS IN JORDAN

On August 31, 2026, Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Chaibani met with Mossad chief Roman Gofman in Jordan to discuss border security and prevent military clashes in Syria. Diplomatic sources reported that the meeting, held under United States pressure, focused on establishing a joint operations room in Jordan to coordinate border control and prevent clashes, particularly with Turkish forces. This is the first direct negotiation between the two nations in several months, building on a January intelligence-sharing agreement. The United States remains one of the few nations recognizing Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights.

FORMER SYRIAN GRAND MUFTI SENTENCED IN DAMASCUS FOR WAR CRIMES

On August 24, 2026, a court in Damascus sentenced former Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun to life in prison for inciting sectarian hatred, war crimes, and abusing his religious office. Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun, who served under al-Assad for 16 years, was arrested in March 2025 at the airport while attempting to flee. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of his assets and added prison terms up to 20 years for intentional incitement to murder and direct participation in killings. This is the first trial of a religious official under the new authorities.

ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER PLEDGES TO MAINTAIN MILITARY FORCES IN SOUTHERN SYRIA

On August 25, 2026, Israeli Defense Minister Israël Katz visited military forces in southern Syria, pledging to maintain troops in the United Nations buffer zone as long as security threats persist. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the visit, labeling it a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called for international intervention to halt these repeated incursions.

KURDISH COMMANDER ANNOUNCES FORMAL DISSOLUTION OF SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES

On August 25, 2026, Kurdish military commander Mazloum Abdi formally dissolved the Syrian Democratic Forces at the presidential palace in Damascus, following a meeting with President Ahmad al-Chareh. Delivering his speech in Arabic and Kurdish, Mazloum Abdi announced the termination of the group’s mission as an independent military force under a January integration agreement that incorporates all Kurdish structures into the state. Formed in 2015 with United States support, the 100,000-strong force was the primary ground partner in defeating the Islamic State group, which was territorialized and vanquished in 2019. Following the December 2024 overthrow of Bachar al-Assad, President Ahmad al-Chareh has worked to demobilize independent militias to reunify the country. Although this integration dismantles hopes of Kurdish autonomy, Mazloum Abdi vowed to continue the constitutional struggle for Kurdish national rights, including education.

KURDISH WOMEN’S UNITS DISCUSS INTEGRATION INTO SYRIAN ARMED FORCES

On August 27, 2026, the Kurdish Women’s Protection Units announced they met with a delegation from the Syrian Ministry of Interior to negotiate the integration of female fighters into state security forces. This announcement follows the formal dissolution of the Syrian Democratic Forces by commander Mazloum Abdi, in accordance with the January reconciliation agreement signed with President Ahmad al-Chareh. A Kurdish military source stated that approximately 1,500 female combatants will be integrated into a specialized force under the Ministry of Interior, as the regular Syrian army does not currently admit women. The combatants previously fought the Islamic State group and managed security at the Al-Hol and Roj displacement camps. Women historically comprised nearly one third of the Kurdish forces.

PRESIDENT AL-CHAREH APPOINTS KURDISH LEADER AS PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR

On August 28, 2026, Syrian President Ahmed al-Chareh signed a decree appointing former Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi, published as Moustafa Khalil Abdi, as a presidential advisor. The official news agency Sana reported the appointment alongside a Ministry of Education decision authorizing Kurdish language instruction in public and private schools, implementing a presidential decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language. United States Special Envoy Tom Barrack praised the integration as a historic step that reinforces Syrian sovereignty. The Syrian Democratic Forces had controlled oil-rich northern regions before losing territory during clashes in January, prompting Mazloum Abdi to sign the integration agreement as Washington shifted support to the central government.

GRENADE EXPLOSION KILLS 2 PEOPLE IN HASSAKE COURTHOUSE

On August 28, 2026, a grenade explosion in front of the courthouse in Hassaké killed a man and a 13-year-old boy, according to Syrian state media. Hassaké health director Khaled Al-Khaled confirmed the casualties, while a security official cited by the official news agency Sana stated that the blast was caused by a grenade.

PALESTINE

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS DEAD: 18

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS WOUNDED: at least 10

LOOTING OR DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN PROPRIETIES: YES

LOCALITIES: Al-Zawayda, Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, Askar refugee camp, al-Auja, Taybeh, Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis, Al-Bureij refugee camp, Sheikh Radwan, Kafr ‘Aqab (East Jerusalem), Jannātah, Al-Shati refugee camp, Al-Mawasi, Al-Qarara, Gaza City

PERPETRATORS: Israeli military, Israeli settlers, Israeli police, a Palestinian suspect

VICTIMS: Palestinian civilians, UNRWA staff, journalists, peace activists

3 PALESTINIANS KILLED INCLUDING 1 CHILD IN GAZA AIRSTRIKES

On August 23, 2026, Israeli airstrikes in the central Gaza Strip killed 3 Palestinians, including a 4-year-old child named Mohamed Abdel Salam Taha, according to local Civil Defense. The rescue service reported that a drone strike in Al-Zawayda killed 2 people, including the child, and wounded several others who were transported to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah. A separate airstrike killed one person in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp. The Israeli military stated that it targeted a terrorist.

14-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN SHOT TO DEATH IN ASKAR CAMP, AN ISRAELI AND A PALESTINIAN INJURED

On August 23, 2026, Israeli forces shot and killed 14-year-old Palestinian adolescent Islam Ahmad Maher Ajouri during a military raid in the Askar refugee camp near Nablus, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Mohammed Abou Kashk, president of the Askar camp services committee, stated that there were no active clashes or confrontations to justify the shooting of the child. A Palestinian Red Crescent source confirmed that the teenager died from a live bullet wound to the chest at a hospital in Nablus. In a separate incident in al-Auja near Jericho, a 24-year-old Israeli civilian was injured by a Palestinian suspect, according to the Magen David Adom emergency service. The suspect was arrested by the Israeli military several hours later. In a third incident in Taybeh near Ramallah, a Palestinian man who allegedly tried to seize a soldier’s weapon was neutralized and hospitalized with a leg wound.

ISRAEL REFUSES ENTRY TO 2 SWEDISH PARLIAMENT REPRESENTATIVES

On August 24, 2026, Israel denied entry to Swedish Left Party Members of the European Parliament Jonas Sjöstedt and Hanna Gedin, who intended to travel to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar requested the ban, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified by accusing the politicians of holding hostile positions and spreading claims of genocide during the Gaza war. Jonas Sjöstedt stated on Facebook that they were blocked from continuing their journey, which included meeting the non-governmental organization Save the Children, visiting refugee camps, and consulting with local human rights groups. Jonas Sjöstedt noted that European Union and Swedish representatives protested the decision, though Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard stated that while the embassy provided assistance, entry rules remain a sovereign national decision.

5 CIVILIANS KILLED AND VITAL WATER DESALINATION PLANT DESTROYED IN GAZA

On August 24, 2026, Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling killed 5 people, including 2 children, in the Gaza Strip, according to local emergency services. The Civil Defense reported that a dawn bombardment on a tent in Deir el-Balah killed 2 Palestinians. North of Khan Younis, a 10-year-old girl was killed by Israeli artillery fire, and a 4-year-old boy died during an airstrike on the Al-Bureij refugee camp. A 5th victim was killed in a separate strike in Khan Younis. Additionally, Israeli warplanes destroyed a water desalination plant in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City, which was described as an attempt to deny residents survival resources. The Israeli military denied targeting the plant, claiming its strikes hit a Hamas weapons depot hidden inside a nearby mosque and another depot in Deir el-Balah.

ISRAELI POLICE FORCE EVACUATION OF UN BUILDINGS IN EAST JERUSALEM

On August 25, 2026, Israeli police forcibly evacuated a vocational training center managed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Kafr ‘Aqab, East Jerusalem. The agency condemned the action as an unauthorized and deeply concerning incursion, stating that more than 50 armed security personnel and 4 armored vehicles entered the facility without consent, where 20 employees were present. Established in 1952, the center provides vocational training to 340 West Bank Palestinians annually. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the evacuation. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir celebrated the seizure on social media, posting a photo of the Israeli flag raised at the center. The Jerusalem municipality announced it had begun renovations to convert the site into a community and educational complex.

ISRAELI SETTLERS ASSAULT 3 AFP JOURNALISTS IN VIOLENT WEST BANK ATTACK

On August 25, 2026, Israeli settlers attacked 3 Agence France-Presse journalists and several activists in the West Bank village of Jannātah near Bethlehem, injuring at least 5 people. The journalists had traveled to Jannātah to cover a solidarity visit by Israeli activists supporting Palestinians facing settler harassment. After an altercation, the Israeli military ordered the journalists to leave, declaring the location a closed military zone. Following this order, 2 vehicles carrying settlers, including children, arrived and threw stones at the group. One journalist was struck on the chin with a stick, sustaining light injuries. The settlers also slashed tires and broke the windshields of the journalists’ and activists’ parked vehicles. During the clash, an Israeli soldier temporarily confiscated a journalist’s camera before returning it. The Palestinian Red Crescent treated 5 injured individuals. The military reported that a police and military investigation was opened into the incident.

NETANYAHU PLEDGES MORE WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS

On August 26, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to expand Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank despite growing international condemnation, predicting a major wave of immigration to the territory. Speaking at an event in Jerusalem organized by settlement mayors, Benjamin Netanyahu praised the creation and legalization of 104 communities and 160 agricultural farms under his administration. These statements follow European and international condemnation of the E1 settlement project near East Jerusalem, which would isolate the area from the rest of the West Bank by constructing over 1,200 housing units. Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, which includes ministers advocating for the complete annexation of the West Bank, is promoting these construction projects ahead of the October 27 legislative elections.

GAZA CHILDREN ABANDON KITES UNDER INTENSIFIED ISRAELI MILITARY THREATS

On August 26, 2026, children in Gaza were forced to stop flying kites following Israeli military threats to intensify operations if kites and balloons continued to land on its territory. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem confirmed that displacement camp managers were active in discouraging children from flying kites to prevent them from being targeted. Kites with political messages had recently landed in southern Israel.

COURT ACQUITS ISRAELI SUSPECT FOR ASSAULTING A CATHOLIC NUN, SMOTRICH UNVEILS PLAN TO JUDAIZE ARAB LAND

On August 27, 2026, a Jerusalem court acquitted 36-year-old Israeli citizen Yona Simcha Schreiber of assaulting a French Catholic nun, ruling that he was in a psychotic state and not legally responsible for his actions. Yona Simcha Schreiber, a resident of an occupied West Bank settlement, was arrested in April after surveillance footage showed him violently throwing the nun to the ground near David’s Tomb on Mount Sion. Following a psychiatric recommendation, the court ordered his hospitalization in a psychiatric facility. Meanwhile, Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a controversial electoral plan to judaize the Galilee and Negev regions, which have high Arab-Israeli populations. Bezalel Smotrich stated that his party aims to replicate the settlement revolution carried out in the occupied West Bank by establishing 40 new localities, dozens of farms, and industrial zones to bring 1 million additional Jewish residents to these areas. He accused local Arab communities of illegally seizing land and threatening the Jewish presence. The Galilee and Negev are home to many of Israel’s Arab citizens, who represent 21% of the population and frequently report systematic discrimination. Bezalel Smotrich’s party, which advocates for the annexation of the West Bank, published an artificial intelligence-generated video targeting Arab residents.

3 CIVILIANS KILLED IN GAZA STRIKES

On August 27, 2026, Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed 3 Palestinians. The Civil Defense reported that a drone strike on a house in the Al-Shati refugee camp killed a man, another strike on a tent in Al-Mawasi near Khan Younis killed another, and a strike on a bicycle in western Gaza City killed a third victim. The Israeli military confirmed the strikes. Chief of staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir vowed to continue demilitarizing Gaza and disarming Hamas by any necessary means.

5 GAZA CIVILIANS KILLED BY ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES

On August 28, 2026, Israeli airstrikes killed 5 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including 3 members of the same family in Al-Qarara, according to local emergency services. The Civil Defense discovered the bodies of 3 family victims, aged 28, 42, and 42, following strikes in Al-Qarara near Khan Younis, as confirmed by the Nasser Hospital. A separate drone strike killed 2 people near Gaza City. The Israeli military stated it was investigating these reports. Meanwhile, Nikolaï Mladenov, the peace representative of the Peace Council established by Donald Trump to implement his peace plan, criticized the lethal strikes during a United Nations Security Council meeting, warning that force not responding to immediate threats undermines the peace process.

FRANCE COMPLETES EVACUATION OF 44 PALESTINIANS FROM GAZA

On August 28, 2026, France completed the emergency evacuation of 44 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to a diplomatic source. The evacuation, conducted on August 24, included government scholars and laureates of the PAUSE program, an emergency reception initiative managed by the Collège de France since 2017 to support threatened scientists and artists worldwide. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had previously suspended registrations for Gaza residents. In July, several associations and 20 Palestinians had appealed to the State Council, the highest French administrative court, to demand the resumption of visa processing for Gaza applicants.

3 PALESTINIAN FIGHTERS KILLED IN RARE WEST BANK AIRSTRIKE

On August 28, 2026, a rare Israeli military airstrike in Jenin in the occupied West Bank killed 3 Palestinian fighters, including Hamas commander Qaïs Bitawi. The Israeli military identified Qaïs Bitawi as a key member of the Jenin militant network, which had been dismantled during the 2025 military operation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israël Katz congratulated the forces, stating that Israel actively hunts down and neutralizes terrorists. The armed wing of Hamas, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed Qaïs Bitawi was a commander killed alongside his companions, while the Palestinian Islamic Jihad also claimed the 3 men as their fighters. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that Israeli soldiers briefly detained medical teams intervening on the striking area, confiscated equipment, and ordered them to leave.

GULF 

IRAQ POSTPONES WEAPONS SURRENDER FOR PRO-IRANIAN GROUPS

On August 24, 2026, the Iraqi government announced the postponement of the disarmament deadline for pro-Iranian armed groups. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaïdi has committed to disarming factions that emerged after the 2003 American invasion. National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji clarified that September 30 is the departure date for the United States-led international coalition, rather than the weapons surrender deadline. Government spokesperson Haidar al-Aboudi confirmed this postponement, though he had previously stated in June that the groups had until late September to disarm. On August 21, 2026, Haidar al-Aboudi had made a similar announcement to local media. While some factions have agreed, a few pro-Iranian groups like Kataeb Hezbollah refuse, arguing that disarmament serves American and Israeli interests. Several Kataeb Hezbollah commanders have been killed in past American strikes, and Saudi Arabia has accused Iraqi groups of attacking its territory.

HOUTHIS CLAIM BALLISTIC MISSILE STRIKE ON SAUDI TANKER

On August 24, 2026, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the strategic port of Yanbu in the Red Sea. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared that the strike caused an onboard fire and forced other vessels to flee, as part of a maritime blockade against the Saudi fleet. The blockade represents a new phase in the regional conflict triggered on February 28 by a joint Israeli-American offensive against Tehran. Following Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Yanbu became Saudi Arabia’s primary oil export route, while the Bab el-Mandeb strait remains a critical passage. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed the attack occurred west of Yanbu, reporting that the entire crew was safe and no environmental damage was detected.

6 MONTHS OF MARITIME BLOCKADE: 20 KILLED IN 68 INCIDENTS

On August 25, 2026, the International Maritime Organization reported that 6 months of war between Iran, the United States, and Israel resulted in 20 deaths, 35 injuries, and 1 missing person across 68 maritime incidents. Commercial vessels were targeted in the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea roughly once every 2 days and a half. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations classified 47 of these incidents as attacks, with Liberian-flagged vessels being the most affected with 13 incidents, followed by 10 registered in Panama and 10 in the Marshall Islands. Iranian-flagged vessels were involved in 4 incidents. Violence fluctuated during the conflict.

IRAN PLACES 3 FOREIGN MEDIA ON MILITARY TARGET LIST

On August 26, 2026, the Iranian authorities announced that several foreign-based news outlets, including BBC Persian, Iran International, and Radio Farda, had been placed on their military target list. Military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi accused these media organizations of working for the Mossad, the CIA, and other intelligence services, labeling them soldiers of Zionism and the United States. Tehran had previously designated BBC Persian and the London-based Iran International as terrorist organizations in 2022. In mid-August, the government banned a YouTube channel that broadcast interviews on political and social affairs, accusing it of spreading false information, and arrested its resident founder, who was later released on bail.

VESSEL HIT IN HORMUZ

On August 27, 2026, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations announced that a commercial vessel was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering an onboard fire. The maritime agency confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and that the entire crew was safe.

MYANMAR

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS DEAD: 14

LOOTING OR DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN PROPRIETIES: YES

LOCALITIES: Myaung (central Myanmar)

PERPETRATORS: Myanmar military

VICTIMS: Civilians

14 CIVILIANS MURDERED IN MILITARY MONASTERY AIRSTRIKE

On August 21, 2026, the Myanmar military launched a deadly airstrike on a monastery near Myaung, killing 14 elderly civilians during a Buddhist lent meditation retreat. Pro-democracy rebel Nway Oo Myaung, who assisted in evacuating the bodies, confirmed the deaths of 11 men and 3 women aged between 50 and 70. A second anonymous local source reported that the aircraft returned to bomb the site a second time during rescue operation. Despite international marginalization, head of the State Min Aung Hlaing has conducted diplomatic visits to India, China, Laos, and Thailand, as well as Russia and Belarus, to rebuild relations.

UN REPORT REVEALS 8302 CIVILIANS KILLED AND ROHINGYA TORTURE

On August 25, 2026, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk released a report warning that the human rights situation in Myanmar has hit a new low. James Rodehaver, the High Commissioner’s representative for Myanmar, reported that the military has killed over 8,302 civilians, including 2,462 in airstrikes, since the 2021 coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi. The report details systematic abuses against the Rohingya minority by both the State army and the Arakan Army rebel group in Rakhine State. The Arakan Army is accused of forcing children as young as 6 to work, including in a massacre site. Former Rohingya detainees described torture, including beatings, burns, being hung upside down, sexual violence, and having their fingernails pulled out. Furthermore, illicit activities like drug production, human trafficking, online scam centers, and illegal mining feed this conflict. Despite these atrocities, neighboring countries like India, China, Thailand, and Laos have supported or tolerated head of State Min Aung Hlaing.

MALAYSIA DEPORT 1476 MYANMAR NATIONALS AMID HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS

On August 27, 2026, the Malaysian Ministry of Interior announced the upcoming repatriation of 1,476 Myanmar nationals scheduled for September 29, 2026. This represents the first phase of an agreement concluded by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, under which Myanmar accepted the return of 5,000 members of the persecuted Rohingya minority. The operation will use Myanmar navy warships. The ministry noted that 4,008 refugees will be registered this year and 10,388 Myanmar citizens were held in detention centers as of August 15. Although Malaysia hosts over 215,000 refugees registered with the United Nations Refugee Agency, including 126,000 Rohingyas who fled a brutal 2017 military crackdown, the government arrested over 100 Rohingyas protesting in Kuala Lumpur before releasing them. Rohingya rights advocates have urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to halt the program, warning that returnees face severe danger in Myanmar.

EASTERN EUROPE

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS DEAD: 46

PRESUMED CIVILIANS/NON-COMBATANTS WOUNDED: at least 184

LOOTING OR DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN PROPRIETIES: YES

PERPETRATORS: Russian armed forces, Ukrainian armed forces

VICTIMS: Russian civilians, Ukrainian civilians

21 KILLED IN RUSSIAN ATTACKS, 6 DEAD IN UKRAINIAN AIRSTRIKES

On August 22, 2026, Russian airstrikes on Ukraine killed 16 and injured 132, at a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih. Additional Russian ballistic missiles killed 2 people and injured 8 in Boryspil, while 3 people were killed and 15 injured in the Zaporijjia region. Odessa Governor Oleg Kiper reported 3 injuries, including a 16-year-old girl. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Kiev to discuss air defence aid, planning to address the issue with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Meanwhile, Ukrainian counter-strikes killed 6 people in Russia and occupied areas. In Crimea’s Sebastopol, a Ukrainian drone hit a bus, killing 2 people. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratiev reported a drone strike in the Ieïsk district that killed 3 people, including 2 children. Another drone killed 1 person in the Samara region.

PRESIDENT ZELENSKY REJECTS WARTIME ELECTIONS AS INTERNAL POLITICAL RIVALRIES INTENSIFY

On August 23, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected holding wartime elections, warning that a vote would fracture the country. Volodymyr Zelensky, who was elected in 2019, argued that organizing elections under martial law is impossible while Russian President Vladimir Putin remains unwilling to negotiate a ceasefire. The statement follows a controversial video from former Defense Minister Mykhaïlo Fedorov, who was dismissed in July and has publicly denounced corruption while calling for democratic elections. A poll by the Kiev Institute of Sociology showed that only 15% of citizens support holding elections before the war ends, reflecting concerns over practical obstacles. Meanwhile, Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles, from the United States.

2 CHILDREN KILLED IN UKRAINIAN DRONE STRIKE ON RUSSIAN SHELTER

On August 24, 2026, a night Ukrainian drone strike killed 2 children and injured 9 other people when debris struck a children’s shelter in Krasnodar, southern Russia. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratiev confirmed that 2 children died, while 7 children and 2 adults were wounded in the attack, which also ignited a warehouse fire. Additionally, the major Russian e-commerce platform Ozon reported that its warehouses were targeted in Krasnodar, Adygueïsk, Nevinnomyssk, and Makhatchkala, resulting in multiple civilian injuries in Makhatchkala. This incident marked the third consecutive day of strikes against Ozon logistics centers. Kiev has systematically targeted warehouses owned by Ozon and its main competitor Wildberries, asserting that these firms supply electronic components to the Russian military. Moscow condemned these strikes on its civilian infrastructure as Ukraine celebrated the 35th anniversary of its independence and hosted a meeting of the “volunteers coalition”.

KREMLIN CONDEMNS UK FOR AUTHORIZING SCALP MISSILE PRODUCTION IN UKRAINE

On August 24, 2026, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov accused the United Kingdom of blocking any peace progress in Ukraine. This accusation followed the announcement by newly elected British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who made his first foreign trip to Kiev to attend a summit with European allies on the 35th anniversary of Ukrainian independence. Prime Minister Andy Burnham authorized the defense company MBDA to disclose classified technical data to help Ukraine, while France establish local production of the french-british long-range Scalp cruise missile. Dmitri Peskov warned that the Russian military would actively locate and destroy these production facilities. Meanwhile, Kiev continues to seek long-range strike capabilities to target Russia.

2 DEAD IN UKRAINIAN DRONE STRIKES

On August 26, 2026, Ukrainian drone attacks in southwestern Russia killed 2 civilians and ignited a massive fire at a giant e-commerce logistics center. Tambov Governor Evguéni Pervychov reported that a drone strike on a Wildberries warehouse in Kotovsk, located 500 kilometers southeast of Moscow, triggered an inferno covering over 100,000 square meters, injuring 1 employee with concussion. Meanwhile, in the neighboring Lipetsk region, Lipetsk Governor Igor Artamov confirmed that a drone crashed into a house, sparking a fire that killed a man and a 14-year-old child.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE EXCHANGE 20 POW

On August 26, 2026, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Ianna Lantratova announced the return of 10 Russian soldiers following a successful prisoner exchange with Ukraine. This exchange was conducted in response to the release of 10 Ukrainian soldiers on August 24, which had been announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Prisoner exchanges remain one of the very few functioning areas of bilateral cooperation and the sole tangible outcome of diplomatic negotiations between the two warring nations.

9 CIVILIANS KILLED IN UKRAINIAN BUS STRIKE IN OCCUPIED LUHANSK

On August 26, 2026, a Ukrainian strike on a passenger bus in the occupied Lougansk region of eastern Ukraine killed 9 people, according to local Russian-installed authorities. Lougansk Governor Léonid Passetchnik reported that 8 passengers died instantly at the scene, while a 20-year-old woman succumbed to her wounds at the hospital, condemning the strike as a war crime. The attack also injured at least 2 passengers. Léonid Passetchnik specified that the bus was transporting 15 civilians along the road connecting the cities of Lyssytchansk and Stakhanov. While Moscow claims the full annexation and control of the Lougansk region, Ukraine has intensified its drone and artillery attacks.

1 CIVILIAN KILLED IN DAYTIME RUSSIAN BOMBARDMENT, SEVERAL INJURED

On August 27, 2026, Russian daytime drone strikes killed 1 person and injured several others across Ukraine, targeting commercial and civilian infrastructure. The regional prosecutor’s office in Kharkiv confirmed that a drone struck a shopping center, killing a man and injuring multiple people, while Kharkiv Governor Oleg Synegoubov published photographs showing the blackened department store with its roof and wall torn off. In southern Ukraine, strikes wounded 3 people on a municipal bus in Kherson and 3 others in Odessa. In the capital, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported 4 injuries, including 2 hospitalizations, after a drone crashed onto a road. The bombardment also targeted logistics centers near Kiev, destroying a Roshen warehouse in Tchoubynske and a warehouse belonging to the Boudynok Igrachok toy store chain.

KREMLIN DISMISSES US REPORTS OF ATTACK PLAN AGAINST NATO AS ALARMIST FANTASIES

On August 27, 2026, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov dismissed American media reports concerning a secret visit by United States CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow as alarmist stories. The Wall Street Journal and CBS had reported that CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Russia to warn the government against any potential military attack on NATO members. United States President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of this trip, characterizing it as semi-routine and reassuring the public that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention of attacking NATO territory. Russian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergueï Narychkine confirmed his meeting with Ratcliffe, stating such consultations are normal intelligence work. While an anonymous European official confirmed that European intelligence agencies see no immediate risk of a Russian attack, it was noted that Moscow is actively conducting hybrid warfare operations, including sabotage and espionage, against European Union states supporting Ukraine. This statement aligns with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who previously declared that attacking directly NATO would make no sense for Moscow.

KHERSON GOVERNOR URGES CIVILIANS TO EVACUATE

On August 28, 2026, Kherson Governor Oleksandre Prokoudine urged families with children and elderly residents to immediately evacuate the city due to intensifying Russian attacks. Oleksandre Prokoudine warned that devastating strikes on a central heating plant overnight had caused critical damage, risking leaving the city without electricity or heating for a prolonged period before winter. On Friday morning, a Russian drone strike killed a 61-year-old man in Kherson, while additional attacks killed 2 people in the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region. Air raid alerts frequently disrupt people’s daily life, and frontline negotiations remain locked.

INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & RELATIONS

102 DIPLOMATS CONDEMN GAZA DESTRUCTION AND ETHNIC CLEANSING

On August 22, 2026, a group of 102 former French and British ambassadors urged France and the United Kingdom to act together to enforce international law in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The diplomats include French ex-ambassadors Yves Aubin de la Messuzière, Bernard Bajolet, Denis Bauchard, and Frédéric Desagneaux. British signers include former United Nations ambassadors Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, and former consul general Sir Vincent Fean. They accused the Israeli government of systematically undermining the prospect of a Palestinian state, denouncing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and violence in the West Bank. They highlighted that 2 million Palestinians in Gaza are confined to 30 percent of a devastated territory, facing starvation and medical shortages. They recommended suspending trade agreements and military cooperation with Israel.

FEDERAL JUDGE DECLARES TRUMP’S VISA FREEZE ON 75 COUNTRIES ILLEGAL

On August 22, 2026, United States Federal Judge Jeannette Vargas of New York ruled that a visa processing freeze imposed in January on 75 countries was illegal, delivering a legal setback to Trump’s immigration policies. The measure, enacted on January 21, suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals from countries including Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Yemen. Judge Jeannette Vargas ruled that the freeze was contrary to the law and exceeded the legal authority granted to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The State Department had justified the measure by claiming immigrants from these nations presented a high risk of becoming public charges.

POLICE SEARCH FOR ANARCHISTS BEHIND ANTISIONIST PATROL IN GREECE

On August 22, 2026, Greek police launched a search for 6 suspected members of an anarchist group who organized a antisionist patrol in Thessaloniki in late June. Local police confirmed that the public prosecutor’s office identified 5 men and 1 woman, aged 32 to 46, as members of the Rouvikonas collective. Rouvikonas, also known as Rubicon, is an anarchist group founded in Athens during the Greek economic crisis to oppose austerity measures. The 6 suspects face criminal proceedings after organizing the patrol Mavili Square on the night of June 27, subsequently broadcasting videos of their action online. The group stated its action opposed Israeli investments and financial presence in Greece, while expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Central Israelite Council of Greece condemned the patrol, warning that it created a dangerous climate for the Jews. While Greece historically maintains good relations with Arab nations, it has signed numerous security and defense agreements with Israel since 2010.

SOS MEDITERRANEE DENOUNCES VIOLENT LIBYAN HARASSMENT OF RESCUE SHIPS

On August 24, 2026, the non-governmental organization SOS Méditerranée denounced an intensification of threats and harassment in the central Mediterranean targeting migrants and rescue vessels by Libyan actors. The organization, which has performed sea rescues for 10 years, stated that this hostile environment persists because European Union nations have expanded cooperation with Libyan authorities to deter migration. Between June and July, the group documented at least 7 incidents where unidentified Libyan-linked vessels pursued rescue ships at high speed in international waters. The organization also reported a significant rise in armed Libyan speedboats hitting migrant rafts and conducting violent interceptions. The group recalled that 1 year ago, Libyan coast guards fired at their vessel, the Ocean Viking, during a 20-minute attack, and stated that European authorities have remained silent. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration reported that 821 migrants died or disappeared in the central Mediterranean during the first 4 months of 2026, a 111 percent increase compared to 2025, despite a 46 percent drop in total arrivals.

FORMER SYRIAN GRAND MUFTI SENTENCED IN DAMASCUS FOR WAR CRIMES

On August 24, 2026, a court in Damascus sentenced former Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun to life in prison for inciting sectarian hatred, war crimes, and abusing his religious office. Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun, who served under al-Assad for 16 years, was arrested in March 2025 at the airport while attempting to flee. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of his assets and added prison terms up to 20 years for intentional incitement to murder and direct participation in killings. This is the first trial of a religious official under the new authorities.

GREECE DEPLOYS PATRIOT MISSILES TO CRETE

On August 24, 2026, Greek media reported that a battery of Patriot missiles was being transferred from Karpathos island to Crete due to Iranian threats against American military bases in Europe. This redeployment began on Sunday morning under high alert, with military transport trucks carrying the missile batteries from the port of Karpathos. The Patriots are being sent to the Souda military site in Crete, which hosts the largest United States and NATO military base in the eastern Mediterranean sea. This move follows intelligence reports indicating that Iran is evaluating strikes on American installations in the Balkans and Mediterranean sea if President Donald Trump escalates the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. Specific targets include Bezmer airbase in Bulgaria and a British base in Cyprus, which was hit by a drone in March. Greek defense officials had been on alert since reports suggesting that Iran possesses sufficient long-range ballistic missiles capable of targeting southeastern Europe.

US REMOVES SYRIA FROM TERRORISM LIST

On August 24, 2026, the United States officially removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, on which the country had been placed 47 years prior, marking a significant step in the progressive lifting of American sanctions. The Trump administration had announced its intention to lift the designation in early July, nearly 2 years after the December 2024 overthrow of Bachar al-Assad. Washington also removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the former Islamist group led by current Syrian President Ahmad al-Chareh, from its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Additionally, United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the HTS group was removed from the sanctions list, following Trump’s promise to support the Syrian people. Western nations like Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have already lifted sanctions since 2025.

CHINA DEPLOYS OVER 200 VESSELS IN RECORD TAIWAN PRESSURE CAMPAIGN

On August 27, 2026, Taiwanese coast guards accused Beijing of tightening its military grip around Taiwan after detecting a record number of over 200 Chinese vessels, including surveillance and scientific research ships, operating around the island last month. Analysts warn that these maritime activities are aimed at mapping the seabed for potential submarine warfare. While China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and its surrounding waters, Taiwanese officials reject these claims, asserting that the Chinese Communist Party has never governed the island and has no maritime rights there. According to Taipei, China operates over 120 oceanographic research vessels, with 41 actively operating in Taiwanese waters last month. One vessel, the Tong Ji, allegedly ignored formal warnings to leave. While these research vessels belong to civilian institutes, reports suggest that their data is shared with the Chinese navy.

RATKO MLADIC DIES IN PRISON

On August 27, 2026, the death of former Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic in prison in The Hague revived deep historical divisions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where he remains a highly controversial figure. Ratko Mladic, who was arrested in 2011 after 16 years on the run, was sentenced to life in prison in 2017 for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the 1992 to 1995 war, which claimed 100,000 lives. His life sentence was upheld on appeal on June 8, 2021. He was convicted of orchestrating the siege of Sarajevo and the Srebrenica massacre, where 8,000 Muslim boys and men were murdered, the worst mass killing in Europe since World War II. Mladic, who became a soldier early in life, was a key architect of ethnic cleansing alongside politician Slobodan Milosevic and ideologue Radovan Karadzic. Srebrenica survivors expressed mixed reactions of relief and unresolved grief following the death of the criminal. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed regret that Mladic could not spend his final days in Serbia, and Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic promised state and military honors for his funeral. In Belgrade and Zvornik, hundreds of Serb nationalists marched and lit candles to honor his memory, highlighting the deep ethnic divisions that continue to plague the region.

AFRICAN NATIONS LAUNCH TRANSNATIONAL COALITION AGAINST ILLEGAL MINING

On August 27, 2026, African nations launched a transnational coalition to combat illegal gold mining, an initiative spearheaded by Ivory Coast to address the severe environmental, health, and security challenges posed by the practice. The announcement was made during the Cop-17 conference against desertification held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The coalition aims to strengthen cross-border intelligence sharing, harmonize environmental regulations, and mobilize funding to restore degraded ecosystems. Illegal mining severely damages ecosystems and human health through the uncontrolled use of toxic chemicals that contaminate soil and water. Furthermore, it serves as a critical source of funding for armed groups.

GREENLAND RELEASES REPORT INVESTIGATING DENMARK’S FORCED CONTRACEPTION CAMPAIGN

On August 28, 2026, Greenland presented a highly anticipated expert report investigating the historical forced contraception campaign carried out by Denmark against Inuit women between the 1960s and 1990s. The report aims to determine if this policy can be legally classified as a genocide. Greenlandic lawmaker Naaja Nathanielsen, who launched the commission in August 2024 as minister, stated that the investigation is crucial for understanding Greenlandic history. During the campaign, over 4,000 Inuit women, including girls as young as 12, had intrauterine devices fitted, mostly without their consent. This campaign resulted in some victims never being able to bear children. The investigation faced internal disagreements among the 4 experts, who submitted 2 separate reports 6 months behind schedule. Victim Henriette Berthelsen criticized the findings due to the absence of Inuits on the panel and called for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Danish parliament recently approved compensation for the victims after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen officially apologized. This historical reckoning occurs under geopolitical pressure, as Naaja Nathanielsen noted some officials prefer silence to avoid complicating relations given United States interest.

TRUMP NEGOTIATES ACQUISITION OF VENEZUELAN OIL FIELDS

On August 28, 2026, the United States began negotiating a possible stake in several Venezuelan oil fields in exchange for investments by American companies in crude extraction, according to Axios. The targeted fields contain approximately 90 billion barrels of proven reserves, representing a massive deposit. These discussions are ongoing between United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez. Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed office after the capture of Nicolas Maduro by United States military forces in January, has actively sought to open Venezuela to foreign investments, particularly in the energy sector. Recently, the public petroleum company PDVSA concluded agreements with drilling specialist SLB, formerly Schlumberger, and Hunt Oil to explore new deposits in the eastern region of the country.

DUTCH COURT SENTENCES RWANDAN TO LIFE FOR GENOCIDE

On August 28, 2026, a Dutch court in La Haye sentenced 66-year-old Eugène N. to life in prison for his active participation in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The judges found Eugène N. guilty of participating in the massacre of approximately 3,000 Tutsi victims who had sought refuge in a football stadium in Mbazi, southern Rwanda, in April 1994. The prosecution proved that the suspect personally threw a grenade into the crowded stadium filled with men, women, and children. Eugène N. was also convicted of leading a campaign of looting, burning houses, and destroying property. He was, however, acquitted of the charge of incitement to genocide due to a lack of conclusive evidence. Eugène N., who has held Dutch citizenship and resided in the Netherlands since 1998, denied the charges, claiming he was a victim. Dutch investigators opened the case in 2020, interrogating dozens of witnesses under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

EX-DEFENSE UKRAINIAN MINISTER MYKHAILO FEDOROV APPOINTED AS MILITARY ADVISOR IN ITALY

On August 28, 2026, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhaïlo Fedorov announced that he has accepted an offer from Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto to serve as his advisor on defense innovation. In this role, Mykhaïlo Fedorov will assist the Italian government in developing modern military technologies and adapting to global security challenges, while continuing to support defense digitization projects in Ukraine. This appointment occurs as Mykhaïlo Fedorov begins an international tour, with plans to visit the United States, further highlighting his political rivalry with the Ukrainian president.

US MILITARY JUDGE DECLARES CONFESSIONS OF ALLEGED MASTERMIND OF 9/11 NOT ADMISSIBLE IN COURT

On August 28, 2026, United States military judge Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Schrama ruled that the confessions of Khalid Cheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, were inadmissible in court. The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that Khalid Cheikh Mohammed’s statements to the FBI in 2007 were voluntary, concluding they were tainted by the psychological conditioning and severe coercion of his previous CIA custody. Captured in Pakistan in 2003, Khalid Cheikh Mohammed was held in secret CIA black sites in Poland, where he was subjected to severe torture, including being waterboarded 183 times over 4 weeks, before his transfer to Guantanamo in 2006. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on his Guantanamo interrogations, while excluding the black site files. However, the military judge ruled those confessions inadmissible because FBI agents had also failed to inform him of his right to remain silent and to have an attorney. This decision delays the long-awaited trial of Khalid Cheikh Mohammed and 3 other co-defendants, which Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Schrama scheduled for June 5, 2028. The Guantanamo proceedings have been stalled for years over the admissibility of evidence obtained through torture.