Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has accused Israel of planning to relocate Palestinians to Somaliland, calling the alleged plan a serious violation of international law. He made the remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera, stating that Somalia had confirmed information about Israel’s intention to transfer Palestinians to the breakaway region. Israel recently recognized Somaliland as an independent state.

Both Israel and Somaliland have denied the accusation. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has not been recognized by the United Nations. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told Israel’s Channel 14 last week that the forced relocation of Palestinians to Somaliland was not part of any agreement between the two sides.

Sa’ar added that Israel and Somaliland have many areas of cooperation, including politics, security, and development, but insisted that population transfer was not among them.

A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and injured three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said on Sunday. Governor Alexander Gusev reported that a young woman died overnight in hospital after debris from a drone fell on a house. More than ten apartment buildings, private homes, and a high school were damaged. Gusev added that air defences shot down 17 drones over the city, describing the incident as one of the heaviest drone attacks since the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

Ukraine did not immediately comment on the Voronezh attack but has previously said it targets sites inside Russia to disrupt Moscow’s war effort and respond to repeated missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The assault followed Russia’s launch of a hypersonic Oreshnik missile on Friday at a site in Ukraine near NATO member Poland, which European allies viewed as an attempt to discourage continued support for Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said negotiations with the United States were ongoing. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff reported that Russia launched 154 drones overnight into Sunday, with 125 intercepted by Ukrainian defences.

Iran has warned that it will target US military bases and naval vessels if the United States launches a new military attack. The warning came from Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who said during a Sunday parliamentary session that any US military action would make American bases and transport centers legitimate targets. His remarks were broadcast on state television, where he also made indirect references to Israel.

Ghalibaf’s statement comes amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iran and heightened regional tensions. Analysts cited in the report view his comments as a strong message to the United States and its allies, suggesting that the situation could escalate further if hostilities continue.

The warning underscores the fragile state of regional security as domestic unrest and international friction converge, raising concerns about potential military escalation in the Middle East.

Jordan’s air force carried out airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria over the weekend as part of a US-led military campaign. The country’s army announced the operation on Sunday, according to a report by AFP. The strikes were conducted on Saturday in coordination with international coalition partners.

According to the Jordanian military statement, the main objective of the operation was to weaken the capabilities of terrorist groups and prevent their efforts to reorganize. The statement emphasized that Jordan remains committed to cooperating in counterterrorism operations to ensure regional and international security.

The announcement underscores Jordan’s ongoing participation in multinational efforts aimed at curbing extremist networks operating in the region, reflecting its continued alignment with coalition strategies against IS.

Israel has placed its security forces on the highest alert amid concerns over a possible United States strike on Iran, according to Israeli sources cited by Reuters. The heightened alert follows widespread anti-government protests in Iran, which have intensified since late December due to the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. US President Donald Trump warned Iran against suppressing protesters, stating on his social media platform that the United States is ready to help.

Sources present at Israel’s weekend security meeting did not specify what the heightened alert measures entail. In June, Israel carried out an attack on Iran, with the United States joining in the final days of a 12-day conflict. On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran during a phone call, though US officials declined to confirm the details of their conversation.

The protests, which began near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on December 28, have since spread to multiple cities across Iran, reflecting deepening public frustration over the country’s economic decline.

Several major international airlines have suspended operations to and from Iran as anti-government protests intensify across the country. On Saturday, January 10, Lufthansa, Flydubai, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Austrian Airlines announced the suspension of their services, citing safety risks. Dubai airport authorities confirmed that Flydubai alone canceled at least 17 flights to Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad, while Emirates and Oman Air also halted operations. Turkish Airlines suspended 17 flights to Tehran and Tabriz, with its subsidiary A-Jet following suit.

The unrest began on December 28 over the devaluation of the Iranian rial and has since evolved into a broader movement demanding government change. Airlines said they are closely monitoring the situation and have taken these measures to ensure passenger safety. Human rights group Iran Human Rights reported that at least 50 protesters, including children, have been killed in security crackdowns, and hundreds have been detained.

Due to ongoing violence, communication disruptions, and instability, international carriers have decided to keep their services to Iran suspended until further notice.

A severe winter storm in Gaza has destroyed or damaged thousands of tents housing Palestinians displaced by two years of conflict with Israel, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense Department. The department warned that the damage has deepened the humanitarian crisis, as strong winds reaching 60 kilometers per hour and heavy rain tore through coastal areas, leaving many families exposed to harsh weather conditions.

Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said the storm’s impact extends beyond weather-related hardship, describing it as a direct result of restrictions on construction materials that have hindered reconstruction. He noted that many displaced families are forced to live in torn tents or unsafe, damaged homes without dignity or protection.

Palestinian meteorologists reported that the storm began on Friday and is expected to continue for several more days. Basal cautioned that large urban areas remain uninhabitable after prolonged Israeli bombardment, forcing many families to set up tents along the coast due to the lack of safer alternatives.

At least six people, including a newlywed couple, were killed when a gas cylinder exploded during a wedding ceremony at a house in Islamabad, Pakistan. Ten others were injured in the blast, which caused the roof to collapse, trapping several people under the debris. The incident was confirmed by Additional Deputy Commissioner General Sahibzada Yusuf, according to The Express Tribune.

The explosion also caused extensive damage to four nearby houses. Rescue teams recovered sixteen people from the rubble, six of whom later died. The injured were taken to a hospital for treatment. Officials stated that all trapped individuals have been rescued and that the operation has been completed.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion, while confirming that no one remains trapped under the debris.

Intense fighting erupted along the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar as clashes between Myanmar’s Arakan Army (AA) and Rohingya rebels continued for four consecutive days. The exchange of gunfire, which lasted until 6 a.m. Sunday, shook the border area. The Arakan Army reportedly carried out several drone strikes targeting Rohingya rebels, forcing them to retreat. Pursuing them, AA fighters crossed into Bangladeshi territory and opened random fire, injuring a nine-year-old girl named Huzayfa Sultana Afnan, who was later hospitalized in critical condition.

According to the latest reports, 53 members of Myanmar’s rebel group were detained by Bangladeshi law enforcement while attempting to flee across the border, with three to four of them suffering gunshot wounds. Security personnel have been deployed at the scene, and the situation is currently calm. Local residents lifted a road blockade following army intervention.

Authorities have not reported further casualties, and the condition of the injured child remains under medical observation.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has declared Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state illegal and strongly condemned the move. The decision was announced during the 22nd session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held on Saturday at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah. The OIC described Israel’s action as a clear violation of the sovereignty, national unity, territorial integrity, and internationally recognized borders of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Following Israel’s December 26 declaration, the OIC convened an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. In his opening address, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha warned that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland set a dangerous precedent, breached international law, and posed a direct threat to regional security and stability in Africa. The meeting also passed two resolutions—one condemning Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and another opposing plans to displace Palestinians from their land.

The OIC reaffirmed its unwavering support for Somalia’s sovereignty and unity, emphasizing that Somaliland remains an integral part of Somalia. It rejected any attempt to separate or recognize Somaliland, calling such actions interference in Somalia’s internal affairs and a direct affront to its sovereignty.

The United States Department of State on Saturday advised its citizens to leave Venezuela immediately, citing the presence of armed militias and the risk of roadside checkpoints targeting individuals suspected of supporting the US. The advisory stated that the security situation in Venezuela remains unstable and unpredictable. It was issued one week after the arrest of Maduro and follows the resumption of international flights, which the department said should be used by Americans to depart the country.

According to the State Department, armed groups have been stopping vehicles at checkpoints to search for US citizens, and routine consular services in Venezuela remain limited. The advisory urged Americans to exercise heightened caution for their personal safety. In contrast, Venezuelan authorities dismissed the warning, asserting that the country’s security situation is stable and calm.

Despite the official rejection, the presence of armed groups and checkpoint activity continues to raise concern about the overall safety environment for foreign nationals in Venezuela.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chief Rashad al-Alimi announced on Saturday that all military and security forces in southern Yemen will now operate under the direct command of the Saudi-led coalition. The decision follows a failed offensive by UAE-backed separatist forces. Al-Alimi said in a televised address that a Supreme Military Committee will be formed under the coalition’s command to oversee the training, arming, and management of all southern forces and armed groups.

The announcement comes after Saudi-backed Yemeni troops regained control of large southern areas from the UAE-supported Southern Transitional Council (STC), which had seized two key provinces in December. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have long been allies in the coalition against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who still control much of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. However, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi now back different factions within the internationally recognized Presidential Council, complicating Yemen’s southern political and military landscape.

The STC’s future remains uncertain after reports of its leader’s departure and conflicting claims over its dissolution. Thousands rallied in Aden in support of the STC despite a ban on gatherings, demanding independence for southern Yemen.

Syrian Kurdish fighters have agreed to withdraw from Aleppo city under a ceasefire following several days of fighting with government forces, according to an AFP report on Sunday. The Syrian military said it had completed operations in the Sheikh Maqsoud district, while state television reported that surrendering Kurdish fighters were being transported by bus to northeastern Syria. The government also announced control over the Ashrafiyah neighborhood, previously held by Kurdish forces.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that an agreement had been reached to implement a ceasefire and evacuate wounded fighters, civilians, and others from the affected districts. However, the SDF initially claimed that its fighters had not been relocated and accused the government of forcibly displacing civilians. The ceasefire was reportedly mediated by international parties to halt attacks on Aleppo’s population.

The clashes, which erupted after talks on Kurdish integration into the new government stalled, have been the most intense since the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. At least 21 civilians were killed, and about 155,000 people fled their homes, according to Aleppo’s governor.

North Korea has demanded a detailed explanation from South Korea over an alleged drone intrusion into its territory. According to North Korean state media cited by AFP, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said a drone launched from South Korea’s Ganghwa County entered the North’s Kaesong city earlier in January. Pyongyang claimed it shot down the drone and released photos of the wreckage.

Seoul has rejected the allegation, with its Defense Ministry stating that the drone described by North Korea does not match any model used by its military. The South Korean military said its investigation found no record of operating any unmanned aircraft at the time in question. President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a joint military and police probe to ensure a swift and impartial investigation, warning that if a civilian was responsible, it would be a serious crime threatening peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.

The dispute comes as former president Yoon Suk Yeol faces trial over allegations of ordering illegal drone operations to provoke Pyongyang and justify emergency military measures.

The United States has carried out a large-scale attack on ISIS bases across Syria, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The operation took place from 12:30 a.m. to dawn on Saturday, following the killing of two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter in Palmyra last month. CENTCOM said the strikes were aimed at ISIS positions throughout Syria but did not confirm any casualties.

Al Jazeera reported that the operation, named “Operation Hawkeye Strike,” was launched in response to the December 13 ambush in Palmyra. Syria’s Interior Ministry said the gunman involved was a member of the country’s security forces who was being dismissed for extremist views. The US military began the operation on December 19, targeting 70 ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites in central Syria.

By December 30, US forces announced that about 25 ISIS fighters had been killed or captured since the start of Operation Hawkeye Strike. The latest strikes mark an escalation in Washington’s campaign against ISIS in Syria.