Sunday, April 20, 2025


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Bangkay ng mag-asawang trader natagpuang nakagapos

Arman B. Cambe
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Bangkay ng mag-asawang trader natagpuang nakagapos

TANAUAN CITY, Batangas. Nagsasagawa ngayon ang pulisya ng masusing imbestigasyon matapos matagpuang patay ang isang mag-asawang negosyante na nakagapos at may tama ng bala sa leeg sa kanilang tahanan sa Barangay Darasa, lungsod na ito, nitong Sabado ng umaga.

Kinilala ng hepe ng Tanauan City Police Station ang mga biktima na sina Allen John Umali, 38-anyos, at ang kanyang asawang si Khegzy, 36, na may shuttle service transport business sa isang industrial company.

Sa ulat, nadiskubre ni Rhaziel Badillo, kapatid ni Khegzy, ang bangkay ng mag-asawa habang magkatabi sa kama dakong alas-7:20 ng umaga sa ground floor ng kanilang bahay sa Ciudad Victoria Homes.

Ayon kay Lt. Col. Apolinario Lunar ng Tanauan City Police, natagpuan ang mag-asawa na parehong nakagapos ng duct tape sa kanilang mga kamay at may tama ng bala sa leeg. Ang babae ay tinakpan ng kumot habang isang caliber .9mm na baril ang narekober sa ulunan ng kanyang mister.

Wala namang “force entry,” at ang mga personal na gamit ng mag-asawa ay “in tact.” Natagpuan din ang limang bala ng .9mm sa loob ng cabinet na pag-aari ni Allen John.

Sa paunang teyorya ng mga imbestigador, maaaring binaril muna ng mister ang kanyang misis bago siya nag-suicide, batay sa nakalap na “circumstantial evidence.”

Philippine government ready to use ‘authority and forces’ to prevent secession, security official warns

Venus L Peñaflor
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Philippine government ready to use ‘authority and forces’ to prevent secession, security official warns

MANILA. In response to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s threats to separate certain southern islands from the Philippines, a security official stated on Sunday that the Philippine government is prepared to employ “authority and forces” to thwart any attempts to divide the nation.

Duterte’s call for the independence of Mindanao, his hometown, from the Philippines comes as his alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr unraveled this week due to disagreements over constitutional amendments. While Marcos argued that amending the 1987 constitution aimed to facilitate foreign investments, Duterte accused him of using constitutional changes to prolong his stay in power.

National security adviser Eduardo Ano issued a statement asserting that any secession attempt, particularly the “recent calls to separate Mindanao,” would face decisive government action. While not explicitly naming Duterte, Ano emphasized that the national government would not hesitate to use its authority and forces to prevent any efforts to dismember the Republic.

Ano highlighted that secessionist movements could jeopardize the gains made through the government’s peace deal with former separatist groups. Mindanao has long been plagued by violence and conflict as the government grappled with insurgents and extremists, hindering investments and leaving many communities in poverty.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the region’s largest rebel group, signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government in 2014, relinquishing their quest for independence in exchange for increased autonomy in the Bangsamoro, a Muslim region.

Bangsamoro chief minister Ahod Ebrahim affirmed his commitment to the peace agreement, while government peace process adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. urged Filipinos to reject any calls to destabilize the country.

Philippine armed forces chief Romeo Brawner, addressing soldiers on Saturday, emphasized the need to “remain united and loyal to the constitution and the chain of command.”

(With inputs from agencies)

DICT: Hacker ng government websites mula sa China!

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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DICT: Hacker ng government websites mula sa China!

Napigilan ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ang tangkang pag-hack sa ilang website ng pamahalaan kabilang dito ang website ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

Ayon kay DICT Undersecretary for Cybersecurity Jeff Ian Dy, napigilan nila ang pagbagsak ng website ng OWWA at natunton ang IP address ng mga attackers na nagmula sa China Unicom, o China United Network Communications Group, isang Chinese state-owned telecommunications company. Kaya’t plano nilang makipag-ugnayan dito.

Nagawa rin aniya ng DICT tuntunin ang command at control center ng mga cyber attackers na nag-o-operate mula sa loob ng China.

Kaagad namang nilinaw ni Dy na maaaring walang direktang kinalaman ang Chinese government sa cyber attack, at ang maari lamang nilang masabi ay nagmula ito sa loob ng Chinese territory.

Posible umano tiniktikan ng grupo ang email address at website ng ilang ahensya ng gobyerno matapos kunin ang impormasyon ng mga administrator nito. Target umano ng mga hacker ang mayroong “gov.ph” na domain.

Kabilang sa mga posibleng tiniktikan ang email address ng Philippine Coast Guard, DICT, DOJ, at website ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Sinabi ng DICT na tatlong grupo ang umatake, kabilang ang Lonelyisland, Meander, at Panda na pinaniniwalaang mga advanced threat group na nag-o-operate sa teritoryo ng China.

Sa ngayon, iniimbestigahan pa ng DICT kung sino ang mga nasa likod nito at ang motibo sa pag-atake.

Tiniyak naman ng DICT na walang nakuhang mahahalagang impormasyon mula sa gobyerno dahil napigilan ang mga pag-atake.

Noong nakaraang taon, inatake rin ang ilang website ng PhilHealth, Philippine Statistics Authority, PNP, at Department of Science and Technology.

Ayon kay Sen. Grace Poe, bagamat napigilan ng DICT ang pinakahuling pagtatangka na i-hack ang isang website ng gobyerno, isa itong paalala na mas nagiging mapanhas ang mga cyber attacks. Sinabi ni Poe na dapat maging babala ito sa iba pang ahensiya ng gobyerno at paigtingin ang kanilang website firewall at sistema.

Sinabi naman ni Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian na dapat palaging magbantay sa mga cyber attackers hindi lamang mula sa China kundi mula sa iba pang bansa.

US warns of additional retaliation if Iran-backed militias continue their attacks

Venus L Peñaflor
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US warns of additional retaliation if Iran-backed militias continue their attacks

JERUSALEM. Following a series of retaliatory strikes over the weekend, the United States issued a stern warning to Iran and the militias it supports. The U.S. cautioned that it would conduct additional attacks if American forces in the Middle East continue to be targeted. However, it emphasized a reluctance for an “open-ended military campaign” across the region.

President Joe Biden’s National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, stated, “We are prepared to deal with anything that any group or any country tries to come at us with.” Sullivan also delivered a message to Iran, indicating that a “swift and forceful response” awaits if Iran directly responds against the U.S., rather than through its proxies.

The warnings were conveyed by Sullivan in a series of interviews with TV news shows after the U.S. and Britain targeted 36 Houthi sites in Yemen on Saturday. These strikes were in response to repeated attacks by Iran-backed militants on American and international interests following the Israel-Hamas war.

The recent air assault in Iraq and Syria on Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was a retaliation for a drone strike that killed three U.S. troops in Jordan. Sullivan acknowledged the potential for future attacks and affirmed the readiness of U.S. forces to respond accordingly.

Attributing the attack on the Tower 22 base in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iranian-backed militias, the U.S. holds Iran responsible. Iran, however, distances itself from the incident, stating that the militias act independently.

While emphasizing that President Biden does not seek a broader war, Sullivan warned of a swift response if Iran escalates directly against the United States. He stated, “We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked or our people are killed.”

The recent U.S. strikes targeted over 85 locations in Iraq and Syria, including command and control headquarters, intelligence centers, and storage sites connected to militias or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

Despite the ongoing tensions, Sullivan clarified that the U.S. military has no confirmation of civilian casualties from the strikes. He stated, “What we do know is that the targets we hit were absolutely valid targets from the point of view of containing the weaponry and the personnel that were attacking American forces.”

Addressing the threat posed by Houthi rebels, U.S. strikes in Yemen targeted six provinces held by the rebels. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree vowed that the attacks would not deter Yemeni forces from supporting Palestinians against the “Zionist occupation.”

Amidst rising tensions, Iran warned the U.S. against potentially targeting two cargo ships suspected of serving as bases for Iranian commandos. The ships, Behshad and Saviz, have long been a source of concern, with Iran cautioning that attacks on them would jeopardize international maritime routes.

The situation remains tense as the U.S. signals its determination to respond to further attacks while Iran issues warnings against actions targeting its interests in the region. The international community closely watches developments in the volatile Middle East.

That week – of hearing P.I. and backbiting – makes one weak

DC Alviar
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That week – of hearing P.I. and backbiting – makes one weak

I heard one say on television that that P.I. is so bad it meant the other way – the scandalous way. But as we know, it is the acronym of people’s initiative, a mode chosen by some for their informally proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution. To make things worse (or worsening the worst?) in just a matter of one week, Marcoses and Dutertes (or Dutertes and Marcoses), the two dynastic political elites that immediately come to the minds of Philippine observers, figured in backbiting to the extreme.

If the faithful promote the saying “seven days without praying makes one weak,” Marcos Jr. and Rodrigo Duterte, post-EDSA presidents, may be out to promote a strong week meant for “bardagulan” which is the slang for aggressively trading insults online. Are the political leaders rallying us to disunite?

The way I see it, the week should have been more about our foreign relations with China and our deep acknowledgment of educational issues raised by no less than EDCOM II and perusing its sharp, urgent recommendations.

What I first heard was: “Merong rally bukas, magpi-pink ako.” What is clear is that wearing pink means one is neither a pro-Marcos nor pro-Duterte. It turned out that there were two rallies, instead of one (hindi kinayang ipaliwanag ng Presidential Communications Office kung bakit nataon pang dalawa; silent lang sila sa isang rally pero todo-pabida sa rally that launched Bagong Pilipinas).

Madali lang talagang gumasta ngayon, or si Vice President Sara Duterte lang, hindi tayo. Dalawa ba naman ang kanyang dinaluhang rallies: Luneta sa araw at Davao City sa gabi. Sabi naman ng iba, normal na pakikipagpaligsahan lang niya iyon kay Marcos Jr dahil ang naunang linggo ay hitik na hitik sa usapin sa pangulo na natuligsa matapos siyang gumamit ng helicopter para makapanood ng concert ng Coldplay samantalang ang mga tao nama’y bumiyahe sa sobrang traffic. Eroplano o helicopter? Pareho. Laging handa ang pinaghihirapang bayarang buwis ng taumbayan pampagasolina sa kanila.

Kailan tayo naging handa to put food on the table sa mga hikahos, sa mga magsasakang walang masaka, walang magamit na teknolohiya, walang pamasahe, sa hinaing ng mga doktor at kanilang mga katuwang? At pinakahuli pero isa sa pinakamahalagang dapat tutukan sa nagdaang linggo: Naghahanda na ba tayo sa mga gastusin para maisulong ang agarang reporma sa edukasyon dahil sa “miseducation” / learning crisis na lumabas sa pag-aaral ng EDCOM II?

Anong usapin meron tayo? Bangayang Marcos-Duterte. Ang layo sa tamang pagtutok sa prayoridad. At lalong napakalayo sa pinangalandakang “pagkakaisa;” kung bakit naman pinaniwalaan ng mga botante ito bilang plataporma sa halip na bahagi lamang o consequential lamang sa matinong courses of action.

Baka mapansin ng ibang readers ang tila hindi pagtutok sa sinundang mga araw kung saan painit nang painit ang hidwaan ng dalawang makakapangyarihang pamilya. Nahagip pa nga ng government-owned TV station ang pag-iwas ni First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos sa limang hakbang na agwat niya kay Vice President Sara Duterte. Maya-maya, kinamayan at inakbayan niya ang Executive Secretary na katabi lamang din ng VP bago sumakay ng eroplano ang Pangulo at First Lady papuntang ibang bansa (ulit).

Magagamit na ba ang milyon/bilyon/trilyong investment pledges? O hindi pa tayo handa sa katotohanang ang pledge ay hindi pera?

Habang pinagre-resign ng kapatid ni VP Sara ang Pangulo at inuungkat na naman ng dating Pangulo ang sariling drug accusations laban sa kasalukuyang Pangulo (kinalauna’y nasundan ng “Fentanyl vs Bangag, Adik” ang helicopter laban sa eroplano), paano pa matututukan ni Sara Duterte ang mga rekomendasyon ng EDCOM II para agad na masimulan ang reporma sa edukasyon? Nasa gabinete siya ni Marcos Jr., kaya sinong mag-aakalang napakadali ng mga bagay-bagay at pakikibagay sa First Family ng babaeng mula sa Davao? Well, tinalakay na natin kamakailan dito sa Inside Academe ang napakahalagang pagbibitiw (nagawa na nga rin ni Marcos Jr sa kanyang Agriculture portfolio) sa tungkuling DepEd Secretary at mas mataas na pagsasaalang-alang na meron talagang tutok na oras sa kapakanan ng mga bata, guro, at buong sektor ng edukasyon.

“7 days w/o praying makes 1 weak? Magpatulong tayo kay Senadora Imee Marcos. Sa paraan ng panalangin, heto ang sabi niya: “Haplusin nawa Ninyo ang puso ng aking kapatid, ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas; buksan po Ninyo ang kanyang mga mata at bigyan N’yo siya ng kaliwanagan ng pag-iisip, gisingin N’yo po siya at ilayo sa mga demonyong nakapaligid sa Palasyo.”

Pero nanawagan ang dalawang kongresistang sina 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan at Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante na magdasal nang taimtim. “The sanctity of our prayers should not be overshadowed or darkened by political agendas,” ani Libanan. Para naman kay Abante: “When we pray, we communicate directly with our Father… It is our direct line to God, a sacred conversation meant for worship, repentance, and genuine supplication.”

Ironically, ang word na “spiritual,” pati “spirituality” na isang “common human phenomenon” (Swinton 2016) ay hindi man lang nabanggit sa 357-page EDCOM II report pero nabanggit naman ang Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities–Accrediting Agency, Inc., Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, at iba’t ibang private and public institutions, at may malalim na pagtalakay na may kinalaman sa Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers, pati ang ethical education. Napakahusay ng dokumentong ito. Mapagkakatiwalaan din ito dahil sa paggamit ng iba’t ibang eksperto sa working committees sa unang taon pa lamang nila ng pagtatrabaho. Sa mga hindi pa nakapagda-download – libre naman – at nakapagbabasa, mangyaring magbasa na nito na may ganitong bibliographic citation: Second Congressional Commission on Education (2024). Miseducation: The failed system of Philippine education, EDCOM II year one report. Second Congressional Commission on Education.

Mapangahas din ang cover art ni Niño Cris Odasis. Walang magagawa sa kapangahasan dahil gumamit lang ng simbolismo ng tunay na kalagayan ng edukasyon si Odasis: pagsasalarawan ng dalawang batang nakatulugan na ang pagod at hirap sa pag-aaral at natatabunan sila ng procurement/TESDA/DepED/CHED/NAT (issues), tarpaulin ng pagbati ni “Mayor Batman” sa pumasa sa board exam (LET) ng mga guro, mga silyang naglulumaan at tinubuan na ng kabute.

Nawa, sa susunod na linggo, makabawi naman tayo – sa panalanging may kaakibat na pagkilos – hinggil sa masinsinang usapin kung paano mapag-aayos ang imahe ng Pilipinas sa ibang bansa matapos (tapos na nga ba?) ang napakalalang iringan ng mga Duterte at Marcos na naibandera rin sa mga pahayagan at media sa ibayong dagat; konkretong solusyon at/o pagtugon sa paglaban sa kahirapan at pagpapataas ng GDP; kawalang trabaho; kagutuman; isyung pangkalusugan; pagkakawatak-watak ng mga partido pero sila naman ang nasa pwesto ng paglilingkod; pagkalustay ng malakihang pondo ng bayan; moro-morong paghahanap ng hustisya; at miseducation.

Interestingly it is “P.I.” when shortened, too. What prayer item do you have?

PCG boys successfully relocated Hawksbill turtle hatchlings in Romblon

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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PCG boys successfully relocated Hawksbill turtle hatchlings in Romblon

The Philippine Coast Guard, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), and Municipal Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of Romblon successfully relocated and released 46 Hawksbill Turtle hatchlings in the Apunan Marine Sanctuary at Brgy. Agpanabat, Romblon, Romblon on February 1, 2024.

The initiative began when the Task Force Wildlife Romblon received information about the presence of turtle hatchlings in Sitio Pagatpat, Brgy. Agnaga, Romblon. Acting swiftly, they reported the matter to the Coast Guard Station Romblon.

Upon verification of the report, a dedicated team from the Task Force, accompanied by the Coast Guard, proceeded to the specified area. The team conducted a thorough assessment and identified potential risks at the current location that could endanger the lives of the hatchlings.

In the interest of their safety, the decision was made to relocate the 46 Hawksbill Turtle hatchlings to the Apunan Marine Sanctuary. Special care was taken during transportation to ensure the well-being of the hatchlings.

The Coast Guard Station Romblon, along with its substations and operational control units, played a crucial role in supporting the Task Force Wildlife Romblon throughout the relocation process. Their joint efforts exemplify a commitment to protecting and conserving the local wildlife.

In the interest of their safety, the decision was made to relocate the 46 Hawksbill Turtle hatchlings to the Apunan Marine Sanctuary. Special care was taken during transportation to ensure the well-being of the hatchlings. (Photo credits: PCG)

Controversial Easter poster of “pretty” Jesus sparks debate in Spain

Venus L Peñaflor
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Controversial Easter poster of “pretty” Jesus sparks debate in Spain

MADRID. A poster in the southern Spanish city of Seville featuring a youthful and handsome Jesus clad only in a loincloth has stirred a social media storm, drawing criticism for its depiction of Christ. Created by internationally acclaimed Seville artist Salustiano García Cruz, the poster portrays a fresh-faced Jesus without the traditional crown of thorns, devoid of a suffering expression, and with minimal wounds on the hands and ribcage. Commissioned and approved by the General Council of Brotherhoods, responsible for organizing the Holy Week processions in Seville, the artwork has ignited a passionate debate over the representation of a resurrected Christ.

The poster, unveiled last week, quickly became the subject of viral criticism on social media, with some considering it disrespectful, excessively attractive, modernist, and deviating from Seville’s Easter tradition. Spain, a predominantly Catholic country, holds religious traditions in high regard, attracting both believers and non-believers to events such as marriages, baptisms, and religious parades. A Change.org campaign urging the withdrawal of the Jesus poster garnered around 14,000 signatures from across the country.

In defense of his work, artist García dismissed the critics as old-fashioned and argued that his painting incorporated elements that have been present in sacred art for centuries. He stated, “There is nothing revolutionary in the painting. There is contemporaneity, but all the elements that I have used are elements that have been used in the last seven centuries in sacred art.”

Responding to accusations from conservative groups that the depiction was “effeminate” or “homoerotic,” García stated, “A gay Christ because he looks sweet and is handsome, come on! We are in the 21st century.”

The artist revealed that he used his son, Horacio, as the model for the controversial poster. Horacio noted the controversy surrounding the model’s attractiveness but emphasized that many compliments and good wishes were also received.

Despite calls to replace the poster before Holy Week at the end of March, the General Council of Brotherhoods has not taken action. Seville Mayor José Luis Sanz dismissed the controversy as “artificial” and expressed his support for the poster, acknowledging that Holy Week posters can vary in style each year. “Some posters are riskier, some more classical, some are more daring,” he commented.

Misis binaril ng mister dahil sa selosan

Arman B. Cambe
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Misis binaril ng mister dahil sa selosan

BAUAN, Batangas. Kritikal ang kalagayan sa ospital ng isang 28-anyos na misis matapos itong barilin sa kanang sentido ng kanyang mister sa Barangay Poblacion, bayang ito.

Kinilala ni Police Col. Nestor Cusi, ang hepe ng pulisya sa Bauan, ang biktima na si Krishna Castro na tinamaan sa ulo ng isang bala mula sa baril na pag-aari ng asawa nito na si Hernan Castro, 32 anyos at residente sa nasabing lugar.

Ayon sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya, selos ang naging dahilan ng pamamaril ni Hernan sa kanyang asawa, dahil sa madalas umanong pagbintang ni Krishna na may ibang babae ang kanyang mister.

Batay sa impormasyon na nakalap ng mga pulis sa mga kapitbahay ng pamilyang Castro, karaniwan ng marinig ang mga pagtatalo ng mag-asawa, lalo na at umuuwi si Hernan mula sa trabaho. Ngunit sa halip na harapin ang mga alitan, mas pinipili raw ng lalaki na umalis na lang upang hindi na umano lumala pa ang sitwasyon.

Noong Biyernes ng gabi, bandang 9:00 ng gabi, nakarinig ang mga kapitbahay ang muling pag-aaway ng mag-asawa. Sa pag-aakala na ito’y pangkaraniwang sigalot lamang, hindi na nila ito pinansin hanggang sa makarinig sila ng putok ng baril.

Agad na tinawagan ng mga kapitbahay ang barangay upang humingi ng tulong. Hindi nagtagal, isinugod sa ospital sa Cabuyao si Krishna ngunit agad namang nakatakas si Hernan.

Sa kasalukuyan, patuloy na iniimbestigahan ng Calabarzon Police Regional Office hinggil sa insidente at iniisa-isa ang mga saksi upang makuha ang buong kwento ng naganap na insidente. Samantalang, naisampa na laban kay Hernan Castro ang mga kaukulang kaso sa tanggapan ng piskalya.

Iraq reports 16 killed in US strikes; Iran-linked groups launch retaliatory attacks

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Iraq reports 16 killed in US strikes; Iran-linked groups launch retaliatory attacks

In response to what Iraq described as a “new US aggression,” at least 16 people, including civilians, lost their lives in US strikes in Iraq, according to government officials. The strikes targeted both civilian and security areas, resulting in 25 people sustaining injuries. The Iraqi government condemned the attacks, citing a violation of its sovereignty, and warned of potential dire consequences in the region.

The United States conducted the strikes in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for an attack that claimed the lives of American soldiers in Jordan amid Israel’s conflict with Gaza. The Iraqi government expressed concern that such aggressive actions would jeopardize security in Iraq and the broader region.

The Iraqi government refuted Washington’s claim of coordinating the air attacks with Baghdad, dismissing it as “false” and aimed at misleading international public opinion. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s office asserted that the presence of the US-led military coalition in the region has become a threat to Iraq’s security and stability.

In response to the situation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the US charge d’affaires in Baghdad to formally protest the actions. Simultaneously, Iran-aligned groups claimed responsibility for attacking US bases in Syria, as well as western and northern Iraq.

Syria’s Ministry of Defence criticized the “aggression of the American occupation forces,” emphasizing that the targeted areas were where the military was engaged in combat against remnants of the ISIS armed group. Reports from Syrian state media indicated casualties in the country’s desert region and border areas with Iraq.

While the strikes did not occur within Iranian territory, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned them as “another adventurous action and another strategic error” by the US government. The ministry predicted that such actions would only intensify instability in the region.

The US National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, stated that the goal of the attacks was to deter Iran-aligned groups’ assaults rather than provoke a war with Iran. President Joe Biden asserted that the strikes would continue at chosen times and places.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) disclosed using bombers and over 125 precision munitions to target more than 85 locations, including command and control operations centers, intelligence centers, and weapons storage facilities of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Tehran-backed armed groups.

Despite Washington’s claim that its targets were supported by the Quds Force command of the IRGC, no Iranian personnel are believed to have been killed. The attacks came nearly a week after the killing of three US soldiers in a drone attack on the Tower 22 base near the Syria-Jordan border. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of forces viewing US troops as “occupying forces,” had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Reporting from Baghdad, Al Jazeera highlighted that the Iraqi resistance, including Iran-aligned groups, conducted retaliatory attacks. Missiles targeted the al-Tanf military base in Syria, housing US personnel, and the Ain al-Assad base in western Iraq. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, despite announcing a suspension of hostile operations against US troops earlier, claimed responsibility for an attack on the Harir base in Erbil, northern Iraq, using unspecified drones. However, security sources contradicted this, stating no attack had been detected on the air base hosting US forces.

US launches airstrikes on militias in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for fatal drone attack

Venus L Peñaflor
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US launches airstrikes on militias in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for fatal drone attack

WASHINGTON. The United States military carried out a significant air assault on multiple sites in Iraq and Syria, targeting Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Friday. This operation marked the initial response to the drone strike that claimed the lives of three U.S. troops in Jordan last weekend.

The extensive series of strikes hit more than 85 targets across seven locations, including command and control headquarters, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, as well as drone and ammunition storage sites. These facilities were linked to either the militias or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, responsible for Tehran’s support and arming of regional militias. President Joe Biden emphasized in a statement that this was only the beginning of the response.

While the strikes focused on militias in Iraq and Syria, there was a deliberate effort to avoid directly targeting Iran or the senior leaders of the Revolutionary Guard Quds Force within Iranian borders. The intention is to prevent further escalation of the conflict. Iran has consistently denied involvement in the Jordan attack.

The impact of the strikes remains uncertain. The warning given by the U.S. in the preceding days may have prompted militia members to scatter and seek refuge. Given the dispersed nature of the groups operating in various countries, achieving a decisive blow appears challenging.

Although Kataib Hezbollah, one of the main Iran-backed militias, announced a suspension of attacks on American troops, other groups pledged to continue their fight, presenting themselves as advocates for the Palestinian cause amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

President Biden asserted, “Our response began today. It will continue at times and places of our choosing.” He cautioned those who pose a threat to Americans, stating, “If you harm an American, we will respond.” U.S. leaders had consistently indicated that the response would be a sustained and “tiered” effort over time.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that the targets were selected carefully to avoid civilian casualties, based on clear evidence connecting them to attacks on U.S. personnel in the region. However, he did not disclose specific details of this evidence.

The strikes, conducted over approximately 30 minutes, targeted three sites in Iraq and four in Syria. Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, director of the Joint Staff, reported that more than 125 precision munitions were deployed, involving various aircraft, including long-range B-1 bombers flown from the United States. Weather conditions played a role in planning to confirm accurate targeting and minimize civilian casualties.

While it is unclear whether militia members were killed, Syrian state media reported casualties without specifying a number. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated that 18 militants were killed in the strikes in Syria.

Iraqi army spokesman Yahya Rasool condemned the airstrikes, considering them a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. He warned of undesirable consequences, asserting that the strikes undermine the efforts of the Iraqi government.

The assault occurred shortly after President Biden, along with top defense leaders, attended the return of the remains of the three Army Reserve soldiers killed in Jordan at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, earlier in the day, reiterated Tehran’s readiness to respond to any U.S. strikes targeting its interests. Kataib Hezbollah’s announcement of suspending military operations did not deter U.S. strike plans, as other groups vowed to continue their activities against U.S. troops.

The U.S. has attributed the attack in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militias. Kataib Hezbollah is considered a prime suspect. The heightened assaults by these groups have followed Israel’s conflict with Hamas, further inflaming tensions in the Middle East.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is a dangerous moment in the Middle East.” He reassured that the U.S. would take all necessary actions to defend its interests and people.

As of Tuesday, Iran-backed militia groups had launched 166 attacks on U.S. military installations since October 18, with 67 in Iraq, 98 in Syria, and one in Jordan. The recent attack in Jordan resulted in the first combat deaths of U.S. troops attributed to Iran-backed militias since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.

The U.S. has reinforced defenses at Tower 22, the base attacked in Jordan, and initiated self-defense strikes in Yemen against Houthi military targets deemed an imminent threat. The situation continues to evolve as regional tensions remain high.

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