Six Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers were killed and eight wounded in a drone attack on a UN base in Sudan, with the Sudanese government blaming the RSF paramilitary group. The attack has escalated tensions amid ongoing civil war and a severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which has seen tens of thousands killed and millions displaced since April 2023. Bangladesh and international leaders have condemned the attack, calling for urgent support and efforts to resolve the conflict.
A drone attack on a UN base in Kadugli, Sudan, killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and wounded eight, with the Sudanese military blaming the RSF. UN Secretary-General Guterres condemned the attack and called for accountability and an immediate ceasefire to address the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
The article reflects on the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed despite the town being a UN-protected 'safe area,' highlighting the failures of international intervention and the enduring scars of the Bosnian War, with lessons on the dangers of nationalism and the importance of timely action.
The article reflects on the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, where 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed despite the town being a UN-protected 'safe area,' highlighting the failures of Western intervention and the lasting trauma and lessons from the Bosnian War.
Four Italian UN peacekeepers were injured in a rocket attack on a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon, likely launched by Hezbollah or its affiliates. This marks the third attack on the base in a week amid ongoing cross-border tensions between Hezbollah and Israel. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack, calling it unacceptable. UNIFIL has faced increasing attacks since Israel's ground incursion into southern Lebanon, with both Hezbollah and Israel trading fire since October 2023. UNIFIL has refused to withdraw, urging all parties to cease attacks on its bases.
Israel plans to maintain a security role in Gaza after the war, aiming for a demilitarized and de-radicalized territory run by local civil administrators. Israeli officials express skepticism about the effectiveness of UN peacekeepers, citing past experiences in Lebanon and Gaza. The Arab League has proposed deploying UN peacekeepers, but Israel doubts their ability to ensure security. The future governance of Gaza remains contentious, with differing views from Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and international stakeholders.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has condemned an attack on one of its patrols by Israeli gunfire near the Lebanon-Israel border. No peacekeepers were injured, but the vehicle was damaged. The incident occurred during a period of relative calm along the border, which has seen increasing exchanges of fire between Israel, Hezbollah, and Palestinian groups. A four-day truce between Israel and Hamas has begun, and UNIFIL urges parties to protect peacekeepers and avoid putting them at risk.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations have signed agreements to end the presence of UN peacekeepers in the country after more than two decades. The Congolese president has called for an accelerated withdrawal, but no firm timeline has been announced. The conflict in the country's east, where armed groups have been vying for control of resources, has taken center stage. Frustrated Congolese have protested against the UN mission, accusing it of failing to protect them from rebel attacks.
Skirmishes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants escalated along Israel's northern border, with a rocket striking the United Nations peacekeepers' headquarters in southern Lebanon. No peacekeepers were injured, and the origin of the rocket is yet to be confirmed. The UN mission expressed disappointment in its efforts to de-escalate the situation and called for a ceasefire. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate against Israel if a ground offensive is launched in Gaza.
Colonel Mike Mikombe, the former commander of the elite Republican Guard in Goma city, has been sentenced to death by a military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo for his involvement in the killing of over 50 anti-UN protesters. The protesters were demanding the withdrawal of UN troops, accusing them of failing to protect civilians from rebel attacks. Mikombe's lawyers plan to appeal the ruling. This was the highest number of deaths in a crackdown on protests against UN peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo.
Fierce fighting has erupted in northern Mali as Tuareg rebels claim to have taken control of the town of Bamba from the army, following their announcement of killing over 80 soldiers in the central region. The violence comes as UN peacekeepers withdraw from Mali on the orders of the junta. The upsurge in hostilities coincides with the collapse of a 2015 peace deal and the increasing violence from Islamist militant groups. The Tuareg rebels, who seek independence for northern Mali, oppose the army's control of bases vacated by departing UN troops. The ongoing insurgency and growing jihadist attacks have led to instability and insecurity in civilian areas throughout the country.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned an assault by Turkish Cypriot security forces against UN peacekeepers in Cyprus. The peacekeepers were injured and UN vehicles were damaged while preventing unauthorized construction work in the buffer zone. The tensions arose from a plan by Turkish Cypriot authorities to build a new road in an area under UN control. Guterres called on the Turkish Cypriot side to respect the authority of the UN peacekeeping force and withdraw personnel and machinery from the buffer zone, urging constructive engagement to find a mutually agreeable solution.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with the UK, France, and the US, condemned the assault on UN peacekeepers in Cyprus by Turkish Cypriots. The incident occurred when Turkish Cypriot construction workers encroached on the UN-enforced buffer zone, resulting in clashes and damage to UN vehicles. The UN mission to Cyprus stated that such threats and damage are unacceptable and will be prosecuted under international law. Von der Leyen called on the Turkish Cypriot side to respect the UN mission's mandate and urged the cessation of construction in the buffer zone, while the UK, France, and US called for the resumption of negotiations between the Turkish and Greek sides.
The United States, France, and the United Kingdom have condemned the assault on UN peacekeepers by Turkish Cypriot forces, labeling it a "serious crime under international law." The peacekeepers were attacked while obstructing the construction of a road that would connect a Turkish Cypriot village with a mixed Greek Cypriot-Turkish Cypriot village. The three countries called the assaults "completely unacceptable" and urged the Turkish Cypriot authorities to cease any further violence against the peacekeepers and respect the UN's peacekeeping mandate. Turkish Cypriot authorities, however, blamed the peacekeepers for the altercation and dismissed the UN's statement as "unfounded allegations."
Scuffles broke out between United Nations peacekeepers and Turkish Cypriot security forces in the buffer zone of ethnically split Cyprus over unauthorized construction work. Turkish Cypriot authorities planned to build a road in an area under UN control, which the UN says disturbs the zone's status quo. Three peacekeepers were seriously injured in the clash, prompting condemnation from the US, UK, and France. The UN mission called on the Turkish Cypriot side to respect its authority, withdraw personnel and machinery from the buffer zone, and refrain from escalating tensions further.
