How Iran is shifting proxy warfare in Europe by recruiting criminal networks

Lina SinjabMiddle East CorrespondentBBCOn the morning of 8 December 2024, I waited anxiously at the Lebanese border, hoping to get into Syria as soon as the crossing opened, not knowing what to expect.Bashar al-Assad, the president of 24 years, was gone. Opposition fighters had advanced towards Damascus, taking major cities including Aleppo. I couldn't believe what I was seeing: Syria was free.Like many Syrians, I'd only ever known the country under the rule of Assad...

The leak and subsequent report by The New York Times is considered "one of the most dangerous leaks in Israel's history," according to an Israeli official. The report revealed that Israel contemplated attacking Iran's nuclear program with US support after Iran's missile attack on October 1, though officials were hesitant to proceed without US approval. Critics, including former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of leaking the story to deflect criticism for his...

SummaryThe UN Secretary-General’s special representative for Libya, Hannah Tetteh, emphasized the “volatile” security situation in Libya during a Security Council meeting, urging for a political will to resolve the ongoing crisis. She highlighted the necessity of a consensual roadmap that integrates elections into a broader political framework to promote state-building and strengthen institutions, attributing the political crises to competition for economic resources. Although the 2020 ceasefire agreement is largely holding, the security situation remains precarious...

SummaryHamas has rejected Israel's recent truce proposal, demanding a comprehensive agreement to end the ongoing war, amid Israeli airstrikes that have killed at least 40 people in Gaza. The proposal included a 45-day ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the disarming of Hamas, which the group refuses, seeking instead a full prisoner exchange and reconstruction efforts. As the humanitarian crisis worsens, with over half a million displaced and severe shortages of essentials, Hamas accused Israel...

Since March 18, nearly half a million Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza due to Israel's renewed bombing campaign, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The ongoing conflict has worsened the humanitarian crisis, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies and acute malnutrition among children, while Israeli restrictions hindered humanitarian access. OCHA highlighted the dire situation, stating that the Israeli occupation's actions appear to aim at clearing Gaza of...

More than 2 million people are currently trapped in the Gaza Strip, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who highlighted the increasing stress levels, particularly among children, due to ongoing hostilities and diminishing aid supplies. Humanitarian supplies are nearing depletion following Israel's full closure of cargo entry, including aid, since March 2, severely impacting the water sector, with nearly 90% of water assets affected. Since March, approximately 500,000 Palestinians have been displaced within Gaza, exacerbating...