At least 15 army recruits have been killed in a suicide bomb attack at a military training camp in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. Army officer Mohamed Adan said the bomber behind Tuesday’s attack was disguised among recruits queueing up outside the General Dhegobadan Military Camp when the explosion occurred. “I have counted about 15 new recruits who have been killed in the blast,” he said, adding that the death toll could […]
Australia has told 13 special forces soldiers that they face dismissal in relation to a report on alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan, the head of the country’s army said on Friday. Lieutenant General Rick Burr, the head of the Australian army, said the soldiers have been issued with “administrative action notices,” which would terminate their service in two weeks unless they successfully appealed. A years-long investigation last week reported that […]
About seven suspected members of Philippine armed group Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) have been killed following an encounter at sea with the military in the country’s southern province of Sulu. The Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command said an “all-out offensive” was launched early on Tuesday against the group of fighters near Sulare Island, which lies west of the ASG’s stronghold on Jolo. AFP Western Command head Lieutenant General […]
Lebanon's parliament has approved a state of emergency that grants sweeping powers to the army, citing the exceptional circumstances in the country following a massive explosion in Beirut last week. The cabinet had declared a two-week state of emergency on August 5, the day after the Beirut blast that left at least 200 dead and some 6,000 injured. Parliament on Thursday voted for the emergency declaration eight days in, as […]
The Israeli army says one of its drones came down in Lebanese territory, following a reinforcement of its presence at its northern frontier near Lebanon. The drone fell "during IDF operational activity" along the border, the army said in a statement on Sunday. "There is no concern that any information was leaked," it said. Israel's Channel 12 reported that the drone crashed after it experienced a technical failure. Tensions have […]
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed Parliament of his decision to extend the deployment of 20 000 soldiers, a drop from 76 000,until September 30 to help enforce COVID-19 restrictions as the country reported its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases. Ramaphosa first deployed 2 820 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) a few days before enforcing a nationwide lockdown in late March. The number was […]
A senior Lebanese army source has denied that the military tortured detainees who said they were beaten with sticks and electrocuted after their arrest during riots last week. The seven detainees in question were arrested by the army intelligence on Wednesday in the southern port city of Sidon. That night, angry protesters took to the streets across the country over the rapid depreciation of the local currency. Some threw rocks […]
A young Palestinian has died from wounded sustained three weeks ago when Israeli military forces opened fire on hundreds of people protesting against encroaching Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. The 22-year-old, identified on Wednesday as Islam Dweikat, was shot on March 11 along the outskirts of Nablus, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, quoted a local official as saying he was shot […]
Several people have been arrested for allegedly disregarding South Africa's lockdown rules that officially kicked in at midnight on Thursday. SABC News reported that the South African Police Service (SAPS) raided taverns and clubs where people were gathering and drinking in the early hours of Friday morning. Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a three-week national shutdown, as part of wide-ranging interventions to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, […]
VOC became the first Muslim radio station in South Africa when a special events license was granted to the station in Ramadan/January 1995. Subsequent temporary broadcast licenses were granted, permitting the station to broadcast for 24 hours.
