Director of Communications & Congressional Liaison
April 29, 2024
Turkey & Iraq Discuss Security, Water
On Monday, April 22, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Baghdad, Iraq for a high-level delegation visit. Erdogan’s trip included meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and President Abdul Latif Rashid, as well as engagements with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani in Erbil.
Erdogan and Sudani reportedly discussed bilateral security coordination, in particular, against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and the two countries signed a 10-year framework agreement regarding the “joint and equitable management of water resources.”
Ongoing: The Gaza War
On Thursday, April 25, Palestinian officials revealed further details regarding the mass graves found around the Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals. Forensic examination showed that, of the 392 bodies, approximately 20 bodies may have been buried alive, some had suffered mutilation and torture, and others displayed indications of field executions. While U.S. officials have called for investigations of the mass graves, Israel dismissed the reports as “fake news.”
Recent developments, including an announcement that the Israeli military called two reserve brigades for duty in Gaza, demonstrate that Israel “may be laying the groundwork” for an invasion of Rafah, where over 1 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety. An Israeli official also stated that the Defence Ministry bought 40,000 10-12 person tents “to house Palestinians relocated from Rafah in advance of an assault.”
On Monday, April 29, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for ceasefire negotiations, after receiving Israel’s latest proposal. Though Hamas is still studying the proposal, the group reportedly has “no major issues” with this version.
UN Warns of Imminent Attack in Sudan
On Friday, April 26, the United Nations warned that Sudan’s “Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are reportedly encircling El Fasher, suggesting that a coordinated move to attack the city may be imminent.” The UN noted that the area is on the brink of famine and that an attack on El Fasher would have devastating humanitarian consequences.
Another alert on Friday cited that the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) had launched indiscriminate mortar shell and rocket attacks in residential districts. In the past two weeks, dozens of people have been killed in and around El Fasher, and concern exists that flee attempts will result in increased fatalities.
On Saturday, April 27, Sudan requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting regarding the UAE’s alleged support for the RSF, a linkage that the UAE has denied.
Iran & Russia Increase Security Ties
On Friday, April 26, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan, Iran and Russia’s defense ministers pledged to increase military and technical cooperation. This announcement comes days after the countries’ national security heads “signed a memorandum of understanding on unspecified security matters.”
The Kazakhstan meeting featured the SCO security grouping, which includes Russia, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Houthis Damage Vessel, Down Drone
On Saturday, April 27, the Iran-backed Houthis, based in Yemen, claimed responsibility for a missile hit on the UK-owned Andromeda Star oil tanker in the Red Sea. The U.S. military confirmed that the Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles, damaging the Andromeda Star and nearing a second vessel, the MV Maisha.
The Houthis also released a video displaying the downing of an American MQ-9 drone. The U.S. has lost three of such models since last November, including the one that crashed near the Yemeni coast this week.
The group’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Al-Ezzi posted on X that “the Houthis were aware that the US was plotting a fresh military campaign against them and pledged to strike back against US interests wherever they may be.”
Also Check Out
Israeli forces kill two Palestinians and arrest 20 during West Bank crackdown.
Of the investigations into UNRWA workers connections to 10/7 attacks, 1 case has been dismissed and 4 are on hold.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs states Sudan war is “a crisis of epic proportions.”
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April 29, 2024
Turkey & Iraq Discuss Security, Water
On Monday, April 22, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Baghdad, Iraq for a high-level delegation visit. Erdogan’s trip included meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and President Abdul Latif Rashid, as well as engagements with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani in Erbil.
Erdogan and Sudani reportedly discussed bilateral security coordination, in particular, against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and the two countries signed a 10-year framework agreement regarding the “joint and equitable management of water resources.”
Ongoing: The Gaza War
On Thursday, April 25, Palestinian officials revealed further details regarding the mass graves found around the Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals. Forensic examination showed that, of the 392 bodies, approximately 20 bodies may have been buried alive, some had suffered mutilation and torture, and others displayed indications of field executions. While U.S. officials have called for investigations of the mass graves, Israel dismissed the reports as “fake news.”
Recent developments, including an announcement that the Israeli military called two reserve brigades for duty in Gaza, demonstrate that Israel “may be laying the groundwork” for an invasion of Rafah, where over 1 million displaced Palestinians have sought safety. An Israeli official also stated that the Defence Ministry bought 40,000 10-12 person tents “to house Palestinians relocated from Rafah in advance of an assault.”
On Monday, April 29, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for ceasefire negotiations, after receiving Israel’s latest proposal. Though Hamas is still studying the proposal, the group reportedly has “no major issues” with this version.
UN Warns of Imminent Attack in Sudan
On Friday, April 26, the United Nations warned that Sudan’s “Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are reportedly encircling El Fasher, suggesting that a coordinated move to attack the city may be imminent.” The UN noted that the area is on the brink of famine and that an attack on El Fasher would have devastating humanitarian consequences.
Another alert on Friday cited that the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) had launched indiscriminate mortar shell and rocket attacks in residential districts. In the past two weeks, dozens of people have been killed in and around El Fasher, and concern exists that flee attempts will result in increased fatalities.
On Saturday, April 27, Sudan requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting regarding the UAE’s alleged support for the RSF, a linkage that the UAE has denied.
Iran & Russia Increase Security Ties
On Friday, April 26, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan, Iran and Russia’s defense ministers pledged to increase military and technical cooperation. This announcement comes days after the countries’ national security heads “signed a memorandum of understanding on unspecified security matters.”
The Kazakhstan meeting featured the SCO security grouping, which includes Russia, India, China, Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Houthis Damage Vessel, Down Drone
On Saturday, April 27, the Iran-backed Houthis, based in Yemen, claimed responsibility for a missile hit on the UK-owned Andromeda Star oil tanker in the Red Sea. The U.S. military confirmed that the Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles, damaging the Andromeda Star and nearing a second vessel, the MV Maisha.
The Houthis also released a video displaying the downing of an American MQ-9 drone. The U.S. has lost three of such models since last November, including the one that crashed near the Yemeni coast this week.
The group’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Al-Ezzi posted on X that “the Houthis were aware that the US was plotting a fresh military campaign against them and pledged to strike back against US interests wherever they may be.”
Also Check Out
Israeli forces kill two Palestinians and arrest 20 during West Bank crackdown.
Of the investigations into UNRWA workers connections to 10/7 attacks, 1 case has been dismissed and 4 are on hold.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs states Sudan war is “a crisis of epic proportions.”