Libyan Coast Guard Fires on Humanitarian Rescue Vessel in Mediterranean

A humanitarian rescue ship, the Ocean Viking, operated by the nonprofit SOS Mediterranee, came under fire from Libya’s coast guard while searching for a distressed migrant boat in the Mediterranean Sea, the organization reported on Monday. The incident occurred approximately 40 nautical miles (74km) north of the Libyan coast on Sunday, August 24, 2025, in international waters. No casualties were reported, but the vessel sustained significant damage.

SOS Mediterranee, which partners with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to operate the Norwegian-flagged Ocean Viking, described the attack as one of the most violent encounters between a European rescue ship and the Libyan coast guard. The patrol boat involved was reportedly a 2023 donation from Italy to Libya’s coast guard, part of the European Union’s support for border management programs.

Prior to the attack, the Ocean Viking had rescued 87 people, including many from war-torn Sudan, from two boats and was en route to Italy. While searching for a third distressed vessel, a Libyan patrol boat approached and opened fire for 15 to 20 minutes, according to Angelo Selim, the search-and-rescue coordinator on board. Selim recounted the chaotic scene, noting that the sound of gunfire was initially unclear until windows shattered above him, forcing the crew and rescued migrants to take cover. Some shots appeared to come from automatic weapons. Selim ordered non-essential crew and migrants to a safe room while he and the captain remained on the bridge. Video and photos released by SOS Mediterranee show two armed men on the Libyan vessel aiming weapons at the Ocean Viking, with gunfire audible and visible damage to the ship’s windows and equipment. The Libyan coast guard also issued threats over the radio, warning in Arabic, “If you don’t leave the area, we will come and kill you all,” according to Selim. SOS Mediterranee condemned the incident as “outrageous and unacceptable,” accusing the Libyan coast guard of a pattern of reckless behavior that endangers lives, violates human rights, and disregards international maritime law. The EU’s border protection agency, Frontex, called the incident “deeply concerning” and urged authorities to investigate promptly. Italy, a key supporter of Libya’s coast guard, has yet to comment officially. The government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has prioritized curbing migration across the Mediterranean, implementing tougher measures against human smugglers and pressing allies to address migration flows from Africa.

The Mediterranean crossing from Libya to Europe remains one of the deadliest migration routes, with frequent reports of boat capsizes and loss of life. Rights groups and UN agencies have also documented widespread abuses against migrants in Libya, including torture, rape, and extortion. Earlier this year, Libyan authorities discovered nearly 50 bodies in mass graves in the country’s southeastern desert, highlighting the dangers faced by those attempting to reach Europe.

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Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Hospital Kills Five Journalists, Sparks Global Outrage

Khan Younis, Gaza – An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Monday killed five Palestinian journalists, including Al Jazeera cameraman Mohammad Salama, prompting widespread international condemnation. The attack, described as a "double-tap" strike, involved two missiles hitting the hospital in quick succession, killing 20 people in total, including rescue workers and civilians, as Israel intensifies its offensive to seize Gaza City.

The journalists, working for various outlets including Al Jazeera and Reuters, were targeted in what Al Jazeera Media Network called a “systematic campaign to silence the truth.” The network condemned the strike as a “horrific crime” and a violation of international laws, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting journalists to suppress coverage of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where a famine was declared last week. **Global Reactions** The attack drew sharp criticism from international leaders and organizations. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, labeled the killings a “war crime” and an assault on press freedom. Turkey’s presidential communications directorate called the strikes “another war crime,” accusing Israel of attempting to hide the truth through systematic attacks on journalists. Britain’s Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed horror, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians, healthcare workers, and journalists. Spain’s foreign ministry condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation of humanitarian law,” demanding an investigation. Germany echoed the call for a probe, urging Israel to allow independent foreign media access to Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron described the strikes as “intolerable,” emphasizing that journalists must be free to report. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the attack, with Regional Director Sara Qudah stating, “These murders must end now. The perpetrators must no longer be allowed to act with impunity.” The Foreign Press Association, representing international media in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, demanded an immediate explanation from Israeli authorities, calling the attack a “watershed moment.” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to address the killings and ensure accountability. Reuters, whose contractor Hussam al-Masri was among the victims, expressed devastation and is seeking urgent medical assistance for another injured contractor, Hatem Khaled. The United Nations also condemned the attack, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling for a prompt and impartial investigation. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini and UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani demanded immediate protection for journalists and humanitarian workers, with Shamdasani stating, “Journalists are not a target. Hospitals are not a target.” **Context of the Attack** The strike comes amid Israel’s 23-month military campaign in Gaza, which has barred international media from entering the enclave. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) described the attack as evidence of Israel’s “absolute brutality and sadism,” holding Israel and its allies, particularly the United States, responsible. The attack on Nasser Hospital, a key medical facility in southern Gaza, has intensified concerns about the targeting of protected sites and individuals under international humanitarian law. UN envoy Francesca Albanese urged states to impose sanctions and an arms embargo to stop the “carnage” in Gaza. As the death toll rises and famine grips the enclave, calls for accountability and an end to the violence continue to grow, with the international community urged to act swiftly to protect journalists and civilians caught in the conflict.

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Hezbollah Leader Rejects Disarmament, Demands Israel Honor Ceasefire

Beirut, August 25, 2025 – Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has firmly rejected calls to disarm the group, insisting that Israel must first comply with a November 2024 ceasefire agreement before any discussions on integrating Hezbollah’s weapons into a national defense strategy can proceed. In a televised address from Beirut on Monday, Qassem emphasized that Hezbollah’s arsenal is essential for protecting Lebanon from Israeli “aggression” and safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.

“The resistance will remain a strong barrier preventing Israel from achieving its goals,” Qassem said, dismissing proposals from the Lebanese government and foreign entities to disarm the group. “If you truly want sovereignty, then stop the aggression. We will not abandon the weapons that honor us, nor the weapons that protect us from our enemy.” Qassem’s remarks come amid heightened tensions following the Lebanese Council of Ministers’ approval last month of a resolution tasking the army with developing a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025. The decision aligns with a U.S.-backed initiative that vaguely promises Israel’s withdrawal from occupied parts of southern Lebanon and an end to its daily attacks if Hezbollah disarms. Hezbollah, however, has declared it will ignore the resolution. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel would consider reducing its military presence in southern Lebanon if the Lebanese Armed Forces take steps to disarm Hezbollah. “If the Lebanese Armed Forces implement the disarmament of Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction” of its military presence, the statement said. The Israeli announcement followed a meeting between Netanyahu and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who has been pushing for a plan to disarm Hezbollah and secure Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon. Barrack, speaking in Beirut last week, urged Israel to honor its ceasefire commitments, stating, “The Lebanese government has done their part. Now we need Israel to comply.” Despite the November 2024 U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which required Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon within two months, Israeli forces continue to occupy five positions in the region and conduct near-daily air attacks, violating the truce. On Monday, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported that an Israeli drone strike on a pick-up truck in the Bint Jbeil district killed one person. The Israeli military later claimed it had targeted a Hezbollah member to “remove threats” to its citizens. Hezbollah, the only faction to retain its weapons after Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, has been significantly weakened by last year’s conflict with Israel, which saw the assassination of senior leaders, including former chief Hassan Nasrallah, and the deaths of thousands of fighters and civilians. Tens of thousands, primarily from Shia and other communities, remain displaced due to widespread destruction. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that U.S. deputy envoy Morgan Ortagus arrived in Beirut on Monday for meetings with Lebanese officials, as diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis continue.

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Bangladesh Hosts International Conference on Rohingya Crisis in Cox’s Bazar

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – Bangladesh is hosting a two-day international conference in Cox’s Bazar to address the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis, ahead of a high-level meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The conference, organized by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to find solutions for the 1.5 million Rohingya refugees who fled a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar, widely described as a war crime and genocide.

The event, which began on Sunday, was opened by Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh’s high representative for the Rohingya issue and national security adviser. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government, is expected to attend, alongside foreign ministers, UN agency representatives, international envoys, and officials from Bangladesh’s overseas missions. A delegation led by Rahman will also visit the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, the largest in the world, to engage directly with residents facing severe shortages of food and medicine. “This is the first time in eight years that the Rohingya will have the opportunity to be heard,” said Nay San Lwin, cochairman of the Arakan Rohingya National Council. He emphasized that the conference’s outcomes will feed into a UN high-level meeting on September 30 in New York, with another potential meeting in Qatar in December. “We hope these processes will lead to a permanent solution, allowing us to return to Myanmar with full rights, dignity, and protection,” he told Al Jazeera. The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim minority, have faced decades of persecution in Myanmar, with 90 percent of the estimated 3.5 million Rohingya worldwide living as refugees or undocumented migrants. The UN has called for citizenship, equality, and security for the Rohingya, with spokesman Jeremy Laurence stating, “Ending impunity and ensuring the Rohingya’s rights are essential for breaking the cycle of violence.” The situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, home to many Rohingya, has worsened since November 2023, with both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army accused of committing atrocities. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has urged greater international support for the Rohingya. In Cox’s Bazar, aid cuts have deepened the crisis, with monthly food rations for refugees slashed from $12 to $6, leaving many unable to afford basic nutrition. Temporary aid from the United States has provided some relief, but funding is set to expire in September. “They can’t afford fish or chicken; it’s just pulses and rice,” said Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng, reporting from Cox’s Bazar. Fatema Khatoon, a Rohingya refugee who fled Myanmar in 1978, 1992, and 2018, expressed skepticism about the conference’s impact. “I want to go home with justice, to get back my land and property. How much longer must we suffer?” she told Al Jazeera. Kamal Hossain, chairman of the Forcefully Displaced Myanmar National Representative Committee, called the conference a “step toward solutions,” noting it marks the first direct dialogue in eight years between the Rohingya, international bodies, and the Bangladeshi government. Chief Adviser Yunus emphasized the need to ensure the Rohingya are “not forgotten,” with hopes that the conference will yield concrete steps to address their plight.

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Russia Accuses Ukraine of Drone Attack on Kursk Nuclear Plant

On August 24, 2025, Russia accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in western Russia's Kursk region, near the border with Ukraine’s Sumy region. The attack, which coincided with Ukraine’s 34th Independence Day, caused a fire and damaged an auxiliary transformer, leading to a 50 percent reduction in the operating capacity of reactor number three, according to Russian officials. The fire was quickly extinguished, with no injuries reported, and the plant’s news service confirmed that radiation levels remained normal. Two other reactors at the facility are not generating power, and one is under scheduled maintenance.

Alexander Khinshtein, the acting governor of Kursk, condemned the attack as a threat to nuclear safety and a violation of international conventions. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that radiation levels near the plant were normal. Both Russia and Ukraine have previously accused each other of targeting nuclear facilities, including the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern Ukraine, raising fears of a potential nuclear accident.

In a separate incident, a fire broke out at the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s Leningrad region after debris from intercepted Ukrainian drones sparked a blaze. Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported intercepting 95 Ukrainian drones over its territory overnight. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force said it downed or jammed 48 of the 72 drones and decoys, along with a cruise missile, launched by Russia during the same period. The attacks occurred as Ukraine marked its Independence Day, commemorating its 1991 break from the Soviet Union. In a video address from Kyiv’s Independence Square, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s determination to achieve a “just peace” and build a secure future. He also alluded to recent U.S.-Russia talks in Alaska, expressing concerns that Ukrainian interests might be sidelined. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Zelenskyy for demanding an immediate meeting with President Vladimir Putin and accused Ukraine of attempting to derail peace efforts brokered by Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Lavrov stated that no meeting between the two leaders was currently planned. Amid ongoing diplomatic tensions, fighting continued in eastern Ukraine, with Russia claiming to have captured two villages in the Donetsk region on Saturday. On Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Kyiv to reaffirm Canada’s support, while Norway pledged $695 million in military aid for Ukrainian air defense systems.

This is an ongoing story, with both sides continuing to exchange accusations as the conflict persists.

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Israeli Military Strikes Yemen’s Sanaa in Response to Houthi Attacks

Sanaa, August 24, 2025 – The Israeli military launched airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, targeting an oil facility, a power plant, and a presidential palace, which Israel described as part of a “military complex,” according to Israeli and Yemeni officials. The strikes, which occurred on Sunday, followed a Houthi-claimed missile attack on Israel two days earlier, part of the group’s campaign to pressure Israel to end its military operations and siege in Gaza.

Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reported that the Israeli attacks killed at least two people and injured 35 others. Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed plumes of fire and smoke rising above Sanaa. Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti vowed that the strikes would not deter the group’s support for Palestinians, stating, “The Israeli aggression against Yemen will not discourage us from continuing our support for Gaza, no matter the sacrifices.”

The Israeli military said the strikes were in response to “repeated attacks by the Houthi terrorist regime” against Israel, including surface-to-surface missiles and drones. However, Abed al-Thawr, an official in the Houthi Defence Ministry, dismissed Israel’s claims of targeting military sites, calling the attacks on civilian infrastructure “barbarism.” He noted that the presidential palace struck was long deserted. The Houthi-dominated Government of Change and Reconstruction in Sanaa condemned the attack as a “war crime” aimed at harming Yemenis and creating a “fake victory” for Israel. The group accused Israel, with U.S. support, of waging an “open war against the Arab and Muslim nation.” The strikes follow a pattern of Israeli attacks on Yemeni infrastructure, including power plants and ports, over the past month. On Friday, the Houthis claimed to have launched a hypersonic missile and two drones at Israel, reaffirming their commitment to supporting Palestinians until Israel’s actions in Gaza cease. The escalation comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the Houthis vowing to continue their military operations in solidarity with Gaza, despite Israel’s retaliatory strikes.

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Russia and Ukraine Exchange 146 Prisoners Each in Latest Swap

Moscow, August 24, 2025 – Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange on Sunday, with each side releasing 146 prisoners of war (POWs), according to the Russian Ministry of Defence. The swap, mediated by the United Arab Emirates, is part of a series of exchanges that have freed hundreds of POWs this year.

The Russian Ministry stated that 146 Russian servicemen were returned from Ukrainian-controlled territory and are now in Belarus, receiving medical and psychological care. In exchange, 146 Ukrainian Armed Forces prisoners were transferred to Ukraine. Additionally, eight Russian citizens from the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, were released after being "illegally detained" by Kyiv. This exchange follows three rounds of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul from May to July, with prisoner swaps remaining one of the few areas of cooperation between the two nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. **Drone Attack on Kursk Nuclear Plant** In a separate development, Russia accused Ukraine of launching an overnight drone attack on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant, located 60km (38 miles) from the border. The attack reportedly caused a fire and damaged an auxiliary transformer, forcing a 50 percent reduction in the operating capacity of reactor number three. Russian officials also reported strikes on several power and energy facilities in the region. **US Revokes Permission for Strikes** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Sunday that the United States has withdrawn permission for Ukraine to use US-manufactured weapons for strikes inside Russia. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has recently relied on its own weapons for such operations, without consulting Washington. **Diplomatic Tensions and Independence Day** The prisoner exchange and drone attack coincided with Ukraine’s Independence Day, marking its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Zelenskyy for "obstinately insisting" on a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. US President Donald Trump, who met with Putin in Alaska last week, said on Friday that he expects to know within two weeks whether progress is possible in ending the war. Trump also raised the possibility of imposing sanctions on Moscow. The prisoner exchange and recent developments highlight the ongoing complexity of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with limited cooperation overshadowed by escalating military and diplomatic tensions.

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