Global Responses to the US-Israeli War Against Iran and Lebanon

Mass demonstrations have occurred internationally while other imperialist states have expressed reluctance and even rejection of becoming embroiled in the genocidal onslaught in West Asia due to the economic shocks and security concerns

By Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Thursday March 12, 2026

Geostrategic Review

A United Nations Security Council resolution (2817) condemning Iran for its attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states since the beginning of the United States and Israeli war against the Islamic Republic was presented by the Kingdom of Bahrain.

This resolution passed in a 13-0 vote with the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China having abstained.

The UNSC resolution encapsulates the contradictions prevailing within the international community surrounding the role of the U.S. and the State of Israel and the failure to reign in these governments which have historically acted with impunity. Since February 28, Tel Aviv and Washington have killed several thousand people in Iran and Lebanon, yet the UNSC has done absolutely nothing to condemn the imperialists and zionists and sanction them for initiating these aggressions which have displaced hundreds of thousands in Lebanon and Iran.

After the passage of the UNSC resolution condemning Iran for its strikes against imperialist bases and economic structures in the Persian Gulf Arab Monarchies propped up by the U.S., the same council rejected a comprehensive resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities throughout the region. These actions by the UNSC did not halt the military operations of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which continued to launch attacks on the occupied territories and numerous imperialist-controlled outlets in West Asia.

Xinhua News Agency said of the second vote: 

“The UN Security Council on Wednesday failed to pass a draft resolution urging all parties to immediately stop their military activities and refrain from further escalation in the Middle East and beyond and condemning all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. The council rejected the draft resolution, sponsored by Russia, with four votes in favor, two against and nine abstentions. Russia, China, Pakistan and Somalia voted for the draft resolution, while the United States and Latvia voted against it.” (https://english.news.cn/20260312/34fb210428b042c59db939b59360b38c/c.html)

Consequently, the defensive operations of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its allies continue unrelentingly. Targets deep inside the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been hit in Tel Aviv, Haifa and other areas. These missile strikes are coming from both the Islamic Republic of Iran and neighboring Lebanon.  

On the first day of the latest round of aggression, the U.S. launched tomahawk missiles which struck a primary school in the southern city of Minab killing approximately 175 girls and other personnel. Since February 28, spokespersons for the Trump administration and the Pentagon have not accepted responsibility for the execution of these children, teachers and administrators at the school. 

In response, the Iranian authorities have strongly denounced this massacre. People throughout the international community have criticized the U.S. and Israeli actions overall due to their indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure, residential areas, businesses, schools, media outlets, oil depots and government buildings.  

Although members of the Trump administration said during the first days of their war of aggression and attempted regime-change that the bombing would not take long to reach their “objectives”, as the fighting continued more Pentagon personnel have been negatively impacted. Official claims from the Pentagon said that seven soldiers have died since February 28. However, the White House stated on March 10 that 140 U.S. soldiers have been injured since the beginning of what the imperialists call “Operation Epic Fury.” 

Iran has pledged to continue the war saying the fighting would not end until its own objectives were met. One leading academic in Iran said that the days of access to cheap oil while the people in the Islamic Republic were suffering, are over. 

Despite going to the UNSC, the Arab Monarchies as represented by Bahrain and Qatar and the other members of their Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), have no reinforced protections to continue their collaboration with U.S. imperialism and zionism. These partners in the capitalist exploitation of their people and many others throughout the region are starting to realize that Washington, Tel Aviv and Brussels cannot guarantee their security. 

Economic Impact on Energy and Financial Markets

With the emergence of a new leader to replace the martyred Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, represents the continuity of the Iranian administration. Those leaders which have emerged in the aftermath of the early days of the war when many high-ranking political and military officials were killed, are taking a hardline against U.S. imperialism and zionism. 

The new Supreme Leader in an address on March 12 called for the expulsion of U.S. military forces from the Persian Gulf. Mojtaba Khamenei expressed the desire to maintain good relations with the Gulf Monarchies while he insisted that their territory should not be utilized by imperialism against the Islamic Republic.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a leading U.S. corporate media outlet that the Iranian government was not asking for a ceasefire. President Masoud Pezeshkian in a post on X gave three conditions for the ending of the war on March 11: the payment of reparations for the damage done by the U.S. and Israel; assurances that Iran will not be attacked in the future; and guarantees to respect the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic. (https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iran-israel-us-war-iran-outlines-3-conditions-to-end-war-with-us-israel-11203516)

IRGC soldiers have shut down the Straits of Hormuz where an estimated 20 percent of the world’s oil and other energy resources travel. Numerous vessels were hit on March 11-12 while traveling off the coast of Iraq. 

The economic impact of the escalation of the war has been described by the London-based Financial Times on March 12, emphasizing:

“Oil prices jumped on Thursday after a new wave of attacks on energy infrastructure in the Gulf reignited fears of prolonged disruption to global supply and briefly sent Brent crude back above $100 a barrel. In a sign of the heightened volatility in energy markets, Brent crude, the international benchmark, shot up as much as 10 per cent to $101.59 before giving up some of the gains to trade up 5 per cent at $96.35. As the war entered its 13th day, two oil tankers were on fire off the coast of Basra in Iraq following suspected Iranian strikes and a container vessel was struck near Dubai’s Jebel Ali. In Bahrain, fuel tanks at an oil storage facility in Muharraq were set ablaze, with the government blaming ‘Iranian aggression’. The renewed attacks came just a day after the International Energy Agency launched a record release of its oil reserves in an attempt to ease the severe global energy shock sparked by the conflict.” (https://www.ft.com/content/524462de-174c-4f0e-a0c7-e7bfaf647867)

Trump announced that he would send naval ships to escort vessels from imperialist-allied states through the Straits of Hormuz. However, this had not materialized after nearly two weeks of the war.

Inside the U.S., there has been much trepidation over the foreign policy of the Trump administration. They were dealt a legal blow when the Supreme Court struck down his tariffs project in a 6-3 decision. 

During the first week of March, statistics revealed that 92,000 jobs had been lost in the U.S. labor market. In the auto industry, the Stellantis corporation said it did not have enough money to issue profit sharing checks to its hourly employees. Overall small and medium-sized businesses are closing while the cost of living continues to rise.

Hostility Grows Against the U.S. and Israel Internationally

Even prior to the latest round of imperialist warmongering in West Asia, anger towards the U.S. and the State of Israel had risen sharply. The genocide in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 70,000 Palestinians as mass demonstrations and other forms of protests have spread globally.

The existing imperialist regional order for West Asia and North Africa is being brought into serious question. If the apartheid occupation regime in Tel Aviv along with the Pentagon and the CIA cannot guarantee the security of oil, natural gas, commercial, banking and tourist industries to extract profits, the economic and geostrategic impact could prove disastrous to the Group of 7 states. 

People in the U.S. and Europe have already expressed their opposition to the unprovoked and genocidal war against Iran. The imperatives for the antiwar, anti-imperialist, peace and social justice movements operating within the western capitalist states is to not only end the war on Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, they must also remove the capacity of Washington and Wall Street to fund and coordinate these failed military operations.

Congo-Brazzaville Heads into March 15 Vote as Turnout Looms

President Denis Sassou Nguesso, 82, is widely considered the favorite

Days before Congo's presidential election on Sunday, its streets were filled with campaign posters and banners urging the country’s 2.6 million registered voters to head to the polls.

The Republic of Congo, home to 6 million people and one of Africa’s major oil producers, continues to face persistent economic challenges, including a youth unemployment rate of 40% and a low standard of living for much of the population.

President Denis Sassou Nguesso, 82, is widely seen as the frontrunner. In power since 1997, he is seeking another term against six other candidates. Few voters expect any major surprise, and many believe the head of state could win outright in the first round.

In Brazzaville’s markets and working class neighborhoods, the election is generating little enthusiasm. Residents interviewed cite the same priorities, creating jobs for young people, reviving the economy, and improving living conditions in a country where many households struggle to make ends meet.

“Many young people are unemployed," said Gédéon, a resident of Brazzaville. "Young people (with degrees) drive motorcycle taxis."

For observers, the main issue is not the outcome of the vote but voter turnout. About 2.6 million people are registered for this election, and their participation will determine the perceived credibility of the process in a context where the ruling power has been firmly established for nearly three decades.

“The entire administration is campaigning (for the incumbent candidate), claiming that their candidate must win the election in the first round," said Dr. Etanislas Ngodi, a political analyst and Professor at the University of Brazzaville. "Opposite them, we see that we have candidates, some of whom are considered outsiders...but who have achieved well-known results."

As voting day approaches, the streets shine with electoral promises. The question now is whether Congolese voters will show up in large numbers to turn those promises into a political choice.

Thousands of Boer South Africans Repatriate as US Safety Fears Grow

Thousands of white South Africans are returning home after years abroad, reversing a long-standing trend of emigration. Many are reclaiming citizenship through a government portal launched after the repeal of a 1995 law that had stripped citizenship from some expatriates.

Part of the migration story is shaped by the United States. The Trump administration launched a program offering refuge to white South Africans, particularly Afrikaners, citing concerns over crime and alleged persecution, claims that South African authorities deny.

While some took advantage of the US program, growing worries about mass shootings, immigration enforcement, and political instability in the US have prompted many to reconsider and return home.

Improvements in infrastructure, like the near-end of daily power outages, and enhanced private security, have boosted confidence among those moving back.

Analysts say the trend reflects both practical and economic considerations. Remote work has made it easier for professionals to live in South Africa while keeping jobs abroad. Many see South Africa as offering a safer, more affordable, and more stable environment than some countries they have lived in, including the United States.

Mine Collapse in Central African Republic Kills 8

By JEAN FERNAND KOENA

12:38 PM EDT, March 12, 2026

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — An artisanal mine collapsed in the Central African Republic on Thursday morning, killing eight people, according to miners who are at the scene.

The collapse, which also injured five other people, happened in a mining town in Nourroum, the capital of Ouham-Péndé prefecture in the northwestern region.

“The victims were deep inside the mine, digging, when the collapse happened. We were speechless and helpless,” Alban Moussa Yakata, a mine operator in Nourroum, told The Associated Press.

The Ministry of Mines and Geology did not respond to a request for comment.

Artisanal mine collapses are common in the Central African Republic, where several thousand people work in small-scale extraction mining. The work is risky as miners do not have enough protection. The government issues licenses to mining cooperatives to run the mines.

Senegal is the Latest African Government to Legally Persecute the LGBTQ+ Communities

By BABACAR DIONE

9:48 AM EDT, March 12, 2026

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal ‘s parliament has approved a new bill that toughens punishment for homosexuality in the largely Muslim West African nation, the latest African country to impose harsh penalties against the LGBTQ+ community.

The new bill, which was introduced to parliament last month by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, describes homosexual acts as being “against nature.” It doubles the punishment for those convicted from prison sentences of one to five years to between five and 10 years.

Nearly all lawmakers voted in favor of the bill during Wednesday’s plenary, with no opposition and three abstentions. It needs presidential assent before becoming a law, with Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye widely expected to sign it.

In another change, the proposed law punishes what it calls the “promotion” or “financing” of homosexuality, an attempt to crack down on organizations that support sexual and gender minorities.

The fines for the offense were also raised to a maximum of 10 million CFA ($17,609), but the bill retains the offense as a misdemeanor rather than a crime. During the parliamentary session, ministers argued that the previous 1966 law was too lenient.

The proposed law classifies homosexuality along with necrophilia and bestiality under the “acts against nature” offenses. But it also punishes anyone who accuses a person of homosexual acts “without proof.”

Laws proscribing homosexuality are common across Africa: more than 30 of the 54 countries criminalize same-sex sexual acts. Senegal has joined countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, where penalties can include 10 or more years of imprisonment. In Somalia, Uganda, and Mauritania, the offense can carry the death penalty.

Rallies in support of the new legal measure have been organized in recent weeks by groups promoting Islamic values, and the police have cracked down on alleged gay people and arrested at least a dozen people.

The proposed law fulfills a campaign promise of the prime minister, who had tried but failed to introduce it when he was in the opposition.

At Least 50 People Killed and 125 Others Reported Missing After Landslides Sweep Ethiopia

7:18 AM EDT, March 12, 2026

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — At least 50 people have died and 125 others are missing after landslides hit three districts in southern Ethiopia following a week of heavy rains, a local official said Thursday.

The landslides happened in Gamo Zone and affected the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District and Bonke District, according to Gamo Zone director of disaster response Mesfin Manuqa.

Manuqa said that one person was pulled out of the mud alive during the rescue operation.

The Gacho Baba District communication chief, Abebe Agena, said most of those who died were found buried in the mud. It is not yet clear how many households were affected.

Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed his sorrow over the disaster and urged residents to move to higher ground as rains continue.

“Given that it is the rainy season and these types of disasters could happen again, I am calling on communities living in the highlands and flood-prone areas to take the necessary precautions,” he said.

Mudslides and floods caused by heavy rainfall are common in Ethiopia, especially during the rainy season.

In July 2024, a deadly mudslide caused by heavy rain claimed the lives of 229 people in southern Ethiopia.

Russia, China Lambast Adoption of Unilateral Resolution Against Iran at UNSC Amid US-Israeli Aggression

Thursday, 12 March 2026 6:32 AM

Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in West Asia at the United Nations headquarters on March 11, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by AFP)

Russia and China have lambasted the adoption of a unilateral resolution against Iran at the United Nations Security Council, as an unprovoked war of aggression by a US-Israeli military coalition on the Islamic Republic enters its 13th day.

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution by Bahrain, representing the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which condemned Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US military bases in Jordan and the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, demanding that Tehran immediately halt such aerial attacks.

Thirteen members of the UNSC voted in favor while the two remaining members – Russia and China – abstained.

The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and top military commanders, while Washington and Tehran were involved in indirect nuclear negotiations.

The aggressors have also killed more than 1,300 civilians, including children, and attacked non-military sites, among them schools and hospitals.

Iran’s retaliatory attacks have successfully targeted many locations in the Israeli-occupied territories, insisting that it has exercised restraint since the onset of the imposed war by limiting its attacks to US military bases and assets particularly in the Arab States of the Persian Gulf.

During the UNSC session on Wednesday, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said that a UNSC resolution condemning the Islamic Republic would not help bring peace to West Asia.

“The adopted resolution is incapable of achieving peace in [West Asia]. It will only exacerbate disagreements between key players in the region,” Nebenzya told the council, arguing that the document ignores the “unprovoked” nature of the ongoing “aggression” by the US and Israel.

‘Unjust, unlawful’: Iran doesn’t recognize UNSC resolution on US-Israeli aggression

Iran’s UN ambassador says the country does not recognize the “unjust and unlawful” resolution passed by the Security Council regarding the US-Israeli aggression.

“A positive decision by the council on this document could be interpreted by unscrupulous players, and above all by those who unleashed this war, as a ‘blessing’ for continued aggressive actions against Iran,” the Russian envoy stressed.

Nebenzya further emphasized that the so-called resolution disrupts the relation between cause and effect so much so that if one who is not familiar enough with international affairs reads the document, he may wrongly believe that Tehran, on its own initiative and out of hostility, has launched unprovoked attacks against its Arab neighbors.

China’s Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun also told the council that the conflict had “neither legitimacy nor legal basis” and that the US and Israel must halt their attacks to prevent further deterioration of the regional situation.

Both Nebenzya and Zhang stressed that they tried to convince Bahrain and the US to add a part to the draft specifying the US and Israel as those that waged the war, but all to no avail.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, emphasized that “Only bases from which attacks are launched against our soil will be targeted, within the framework of legitimate self-defense.”

In First Address, Iran’s New Leader Stresses Defense, Need to Keep Hormuz Closed

Thursday, 12 March 2026 3:34 PM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei

New Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has issued his first message, stressing unity and the Iranian people's "determined and regret-inducing" defense efforts and asserting that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed.

“The will of the people is to continue effective defense, and their presence on the scene must be maintained. The Strait of Hormuz must remain closed,” Ayatollah Khamenei said on Thursday.

Ayatollah Khamenei began his address with a prayer for the return of the Awaited Imam, followed by an expression of deep sympathy for the martyrdom of the “great leader of the revolution,” Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

He extended his condolences to the Iranian people and the global Muslim community, particularly to those affected by the recent US-Israeli war on Iran, including the families of martyrs and the survivors of the Islamic movement.

In a section directed to the people of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei stated: "I, Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, learned the result of the Assembly of Experts' vote through the Islamic Republic's media, just like all of you."

Reflecting on the gravity of assuming leadership after such monumental figures as Imam Khomeini and his own predecessor, Ayatollah Khamenei, he acknowledged the daunting task before him.

“Sitting in a position once occupied by two great leaders, Imam Khomeini and Martyr Khamenei, is a daunting task,” he said.

“This seat once belonged to a person who, after more than 60 years of struggle for God and sacrificing all kinds of pleasures and comforts, became a shining gem and an exceptional figure, not only in our time but in the history of this country’s rulers.

“Both his life and the manner of his death were intertwined with dignity and honor, rooted in his reliance on the truth,” he added.

Ayatollah Khamenei reflected on his visit to the late Leader’s body, describing it as a “mountain of steadfastness” and emphasized that while the aspects of his predecessor’s character would be discussed by experts in the future, for now, he would keep it brief.

"This is why taking on the leadership after such a figure is a heavy responsibility. Bridging this gap is only possible with the help of God and with the support of the people," he said.

People’s role in national defense

Ayatollah Khamenei also devoted significant attention to the role of the Iranian people in the ongoing defense of the country.

He stressed that one of the defining characteristics of the late revolutionary leader and his predecessor was their deep trust in the people.

“One of the great qualities of the martyred leader and his predecessor was involving the people in all aspects of life, continuously educating them, and relying on their strength in practice,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.

“He brought the true meaning of a republic and popular governance to life and was deeply committed to it.”

Referring to the recent days when Iran was without a leader and commander-in-chief, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the resilience of the people.

“The insight, intelligence, and resilience of the great Iranian people during this time impressed friends and astonished foes. It was you, the people, who led the country and ensured its power.”

He noted that if the people’s strength were absent, the leadership and institutions would lack the effectiveness needed to serve them properly.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated that the key to the nation’s success lies in unity and trust in God.

"If your strength does not appear on the scene, neither leadership nor any of the institutions, whose true purpose is to serve the people, will function properly," he added.

He also reminded the people that unity must be maintained even during times of adversity and called for their continued presence in national matters.

He emphasized the importance of participating in events like the upcoming Quds Day procession on the last Friday of the fasting month of Ramadan, which he described as a “focus for all.”

Call for national resilience

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the importance of mutual assistance. "Do not hesitate to assist one another," he urged, highlighting the generosity of the Iranian people.

He encouraged service organizations to fully support the needs of those who have suffered most, particularly in these challenging times of terrorism by the US and the Israeli regime against the Iranian people.

“In this regard, I urge all service organizations to offer their full support to those in need and to the people’s volunteer relief structures.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also spoke about the path to national glory and victory, stating that if these principles are upheld, victory over the enemy will be within reach.

“The nearest example of this is, God willing, victory over the enemy in the current war,” he said.

Tribute to Armed Forces and Resistance Front

Ayatollah Khamenei then addressed the Iranian military forces, praising their efforts in the face of global imperialism.

"Our brave soldiers, who have bravely halted the enemy’s advance with their crushing blows, dispelling any illusions the enemy had of controlling our homeland or possibly fragmenting it,” he said.

He added that the people’s demand is for “continued effective and regret-inducing defense,” reiterating that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz remained a priority.

He also acknowledged the vital role played by the resistance front, particularly Hezbollah, Yemen, and Iraq.

“We consider the countries of the resistance front to be our best friends,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.

“The cause of resistance is an inseparable part of the values of the Islamic Revolution. The solidarity of these countries makes the path to breaking the Zionist plot shorter."

Vengeance for martyrs

In another significant section, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his sympathy for those affected by the ongoing war of aggression against Iran, particularly those who have lost loved ones or suffered injuries.

“I express my deep sympathy to the families of the martyrs,” he said, mentioning his own personal losses, including his wife, sister, niece, and brother-in-law.

“What makes enduring these hardships possible, even easier, is the belief in God’s guaranteed reward for those who are patient,” he added.

The Leader also pledged that Iran will never abandon its pursuit of justice for the blood of martyrs, particularly emphasizing that the revenge is not limited to the martyrdom of the revolutionary leader, but extended to every member of the nation killed by the enemy.

He assured the wounded that they will receive the necessary medical care and benefits.

"Furthermore, I assure everyone that we will not abandon the pursuit of justice for the blood of our martyrs," he declared.

“The revenge we seek is not limited to the martyrdom of the great leader of the revolution but extends to every member of the nation who is killed by the enemy."

Confronting regional challenges

Ayatollah Khamenei also addressed the leadership in neighboring countries, urging them to reconsider their relations with foreign powers using their territories to launch attacks against Iran.

“We share borders with 15 countries, both land and sea, and have always sought warm and constructive relations with them,” he said, adding that the enemy has established military and financial bases in some of these nations.

He made it clear that while Iran will continue to target these foreign bases, it remains committed to good relations with its neighbors, provided they stop hosting such foreign military installations.

In the final part of his message, Ayatollah Khamenei paid a heartfelt tribute to his predecessor.

"O Leader, your departure has left a heavy sorrow upon the hearts of all," he said. "You always longed for this end, and indeed, God granted it to you while you were reciting the Qur’an on the morning of the 10th of Ramadan."

He spoke of his predecessor’s perseverance and patience throughout the years, noting that many have failed to fully understand his true worth.

“It may take time before all the veils are lifted and the many aspects of your greatness are fully understood,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.

Ayatollah Khamenei also pledged to continue his predecessor's mission, saying, "We pledge to you that we will strive with all our might to elevate the banner that you raised—the banner of truth and the ultimate goals of your blessed mission."

Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his gratitude to all those who have supported him, including religious leaders, political figures, and ordinary citizens.

"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the distinguished individuals who have supported me," he said, acknowledging the support of the three branches of government and the provisional leadership council.

He prayed for divine blessings to be bestowed upon all the people of Iran and all Muslims and oppressed peoples worldwide during these challenging times.

United States and Israel Widens Regional War

Although the Trump administration and its settler-colonial proxy in Tel Aviv have exacted extensive damage on the Islamic Republic of Iran and Lebanon, Tehran and Hezbollah are striking back with a vengeance which has disrupted energy markets and brought into question the capacity of imperialism to control the West Asia region

By Abayomi Azikiwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire

Tuesday March 10, 2026

Geostrategic Analysis

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a war of attempted regime-change in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed along with other leading members of the Islamic Republic and their families in targeted assassinations.

These attacks occurred despite the negotiations which were taking place in Oman between envoys of the administration of President Donald Trump and representatives of the Iranian government. Two days before the recent round of attacks against Iran, media reports coming out of the negotiations suggested that progress was being made to prevent the resumption of the 12-day war which occurred during June 2025. 

After three days of relentless bombing, the U.S. administration was bragging and boasting about its killing of Iranians and the destruction of its national resources. Trump and his cabinet members have stated multiple objectives in their war on Iran. Despite these contradictory pronouncements it is quite obvious that the war objectives are designed to destroy the Islamic Republic, the replacement of the government with a pro-imperialist regime and to strengthen the military positions of the State of Israel along with the Pentagon.

In statements made to the press on March 9, Trump said the war was nearly finished. This was done in order to reassure the transnational corporations that the war would not go on indefinitely. The slump in the stock markets began to rebound although reports indicate that since February 28, $6 trillion in corporate wealth has been eliminated. 

The U.S. economy is declining under the current administration. The entire basis of the Trump program is doomed for failure. Hundreds of thousands of workers are losing their jobs under the flawed enactment of tariffs and trade restrictions as was recently announced against Spain for no other reason than they would not endorse the war on Iran.

Yet, after ten days, the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, announced during a press briefing that March 10 would witness the most intense bombing of the Iranian people. Massive bombing of Iran has resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 people including over 175 schoolgirls at a building destroyed by Pentagon tomahawk missiles. 

Iran Missiles Strike Occupied Palestine and Regional U.S. Bases in the Persian Gulf Arab Monarchies

The Islamic Republic, although suffering human losses and mounting property damage, has launched waves of missiles which have hit critical Israeli infrastructure and security outlets since February 28. The Iranians have framed their response to the U.S. and Israeli bombings as a continuation of their attacks on the occupation regime bases in Tel Aviv which took place during June 2025.

Nonetheless, the scope of the attacks emanating from the Islamic Republic have expanded into striking Pentagon military bases, radar stations, energy infrastructure and commercial institutions in numerous Gulf states and Jordan which are aligned with Washington and Wall Street. States such as Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates UAE) have Pentagon bases and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives. 

These military bases and CIA spy operations are there to protect the energy and real estate interests of the transnational corporations. All of these Gulf Arab monarchies and Jordan are propped up by the military and intelligence apparatus functioning in the West Asia region. 

A report on the latest phase of the war published by Al Mayadeen on March 10, notes:

“Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday that the launch of strategic missiles in the 34th wave of Operation True Promise 4 has pushed the war with US and Israeli forces into a new phase. Qadr, Emad, Fattah and also Kheybar missiles were launched in this wave. In a statement, the IRGC warned that ‘unconventional, illegitimate, and unlawful actions’ by US and Israeli aggressors would not go unanswered, adding that Iran's target bank for striking US and Israeli military assets across the region is 10 times larger than targets currently engaged. The IRGC said Aerospace Force missiles and drones effectively struck gatherings of US soldiers at Abu Dhabi's Al Dhafra and Bahrain's Al Juffair bases.” (https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/true-promise-wave-34--regional-security-for-all-or-for-none)

The impact of these strikes by Iran have been subjected to extreme censorship by the Israeli and U.S. state and corporate media agencies. Reporters working for Al Jazeera have stated on the air that they are being prevented from revealing the extent of the damage being carried out by missile strikes from Iran and neighboring Southern Lebanon. 

Although the Israeli Air Force have struck the Iranian state media, the networks have continued broadcasting, presenting the Islamic Republic’s view on the developing political and security situations. Questions are being raised from various quarters of the region and internationally regarding the actual objectives of U.S. imperialism and zionism while casualties rise among the Iranian people, Pentagon troops and others in the West Asia region.

Since the resumption of attacks by Washington and Tel Aviv, there appears to be broad support among the masses for the government in defending Iran from destruction by the imperialists and their surrogates. Huge demonstrations occur daily in defense of the country from the massive bombings and a concerted disinformation campaign aimed at distorting the actual situation inside the country.

Iran is a majority Shiite Islamic state, yet a group of Sunni scholars based in the South of the country held a meeting several days after the attacks began. They called for the closing ranks among the Iranian people to quash any attempt at subversion.

Al Mayadeen covered this development saying:

“A group of 660 Sunni scholars in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province issued a statement on Thursday condemning the ongoing US-Israeli aggression and calling for resistance against it. The scholars stated that the religious and historical duty requires not remaining silent in the face of what they described as the aggression against the country. They further issued a religious ruling declaring that ‘jihad against the criminal Zionist entity and its arrogant backers is a major obligation.’ The statement also urged residents of the province to remain vigilant and not fall prey to what the scholars described as plots and sedition by hostile groups and supporters of the Pahlavi path, while announcing full support for Iran’s armed forces and the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps in defending the country’s security.” (https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/sunni-scholars-in-se-iran-declare-jihad-against-zionists)

Demonstrations against the U.S. and the State of Israel are taking place in various regions of the world. In Pakistan, protesters stormed the U.S. embassy attempting to shut down the building.

In London, 50,000 rallied and marched against the war on March 7. Britain has a large Palestine solidarity movement which has been very active since the worsening genocide in Gaza in the aftermath of the Al Aqsa Flood of October 7, 2023. 

Various U.S. cities have reported demonstrations in New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Detroit, among other municipalities. A failed war powers resolution in both the Senate and the House of Representatives has set the stage for another disastrous imperialist war which can only bring death and destruction in West Asia and around the world.

Disinformation and Its Ineffectiveness

In framing a rationale for waging war on Iran, the Trump administration and its backers in the corporate media created a narrative which advances a false notion that the Islamic Republic poses an imminent threat. It was the settler-colonial regime in Tel Aviv and their backers in Washington who initiated the 12-day war of June 2025 and February 28.

By claiming that Iran represents a negative force in the global situation which must be destroyed, this opens the way for the justification of bombing school children, hospitals, oil depots, etc. There is no mention of the role of U.S. imperialism in sponsoring the Shah whose regime was overthrown in a mass uprising and revolutionary seizure of power in early 1979. 

Over the last 47 years, Iran has become a political force in the region as well as internationally. The government and people are by no means isolated among the peoples of the Global South.

Inside the U.S. itself, the majority of people are opposed to the bombing of Iran. A New York Times article reported on various polls which indicated support levels as low as 27 percent among people in the U.S. (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/10/us/politics/polls-wars-us-support.html)

Obviously, the war is designed to expand the control of the West Asia region by imperialism and zionism. Consequently, opposition to the war must be taken to the streets, the campuses and workplaces to end the genocidal onslaught and to eradicate imperialist interference in the affairs of Iran and its neighboring states.

ANC Rejects US Pressure Over South Africa Foreign Policy

By Al Mayadeen English

11 Mar 2026 15:49

South Africa pushes back against US pressure, saying its foreign policy will not be dictated by Washington as tensions rise over its ties with Russia, China, and Iran.

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has rejected attempts by Washington to influence the country’s international relations, saying Pretoria will determine its own foreign policy without external pressure.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula made the remarks after US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell warned that Washington was “running out of patience” with Pretoria and called on the country to return to a more non-aligned diplomatic stance.

“We must make it clear to all whom we welcome in our beautiful country, including the new US ambassador, that South Africa’s international relations policy will not be dictated to by anyone else but South Africans and their government,” Mbalula wrote on social media platform X.

Dispute over diplomatic alignment

The tensions follow comments by Bozell suggesting that Washington expects South Africa to distance itself from closer ties with countries such as Russia, China, and Iran.

Mbalula dismissed as “unfounded” warnings from US officials that major American corporations might withdraw from South Africa in response to the government’s foreign policy orientation.

US-based technology and financial firms, including Amazon, Google, Visa, and Microsoft, have previously been mentioned in discussions about potential economic pressure.

“South Africa is open for business and is a safe destination for global companies to do business,” Mbalula said.

He added that Pretoria supports the development of a multipolar international system based on respect for international law and multilateral institutions.

“We reiterate that South Africa believes in a multipolar world which respects international law and international institutions that support a system of multilateralism,” he said.

Washington envoy sparks diplomatic friction

Bozell formally assumed his role as US ambassador to South Africa in late February after presenting his credentials at the country’s foreign ministry.

Even before his appointment was confirmed in October 2025, he had stated that he intended to challenge South Africa’s growing political and economic cooperation with Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran.

South Africa has, in recent years, deepened its participation in multilateral groupings such as BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, while maintaining diplomatic engagement with Iran and other countries in the Global South.

Wider geopolitical tensions

The dispute comes amid broader geopolitical tensions as the United States seeks to maintain its influence across Africa while rival powers expand their political and economic presence on the continent.

The debate over South Africa’s diplomatic alignment is unfolding as international divisions deepen over the escalating conflict in West Asia following the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Several countries in the Global South have criticized Western military actions and warned against attempts by Washington to pressure states into aligning with its foreign policy positions.

Analysts say Pretoria’s emphasis on multipolarity reflects a growing push among emerging economies for a more balanced international order, particularly as global tensions and economic disruptions linked to the war continue to reshape diplomatic relations worldwide.

Hezbollah Strikes Nahariya, Glilot, Meron Bases in Fresh Strikes

By Al Mayadeen English

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon carried out a series of operations targeting Israeli occupation military bases and troop gatherings deep inside occupied Palestine, including strikes on the Glilot intelligence base and the Meron airbase.

The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, Hezbollah, announced early on Thursday that its fighters carried out multiple operations targeting Israeli occupation military sites under Operation Devoured Straw, as part of ongoing retaliatory operations to the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

The Resistance confirmed that the Ya'ra barracks were targeted using a swarm of attack drones, striking a military site used by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) near the border with the occupied Palestinian territory.

These operations targeted military bases, troop gatherings, and settlements deep inside occupied Palestine, including key intelligence and monitoring facilities.

Operations against Nahariya settlement

Within the framework of warnings issued by the Islamic Resistance to the settlement of Nahariya, Hezbollah fighters launched multiple attacks against the settlement.

At 12:10 am, a swarm of attack drones targeted Nahariya.

At 12:45 am, the settlement was targeted for the second time with a rocket barrage and a swarm of attack drones.

Drone strike damages Meron airbase radar

At 5:15 am, Hezbollah fighters targeted the Meron base, responsible for monitoring and managing Israeli air operations in northern occupied Palestine.

The attack was carried out using a swarm of attack drones, resulting in damage to one of the radar systems at the base, according to the Resistance.

Operations targeting Israeli military bases

At 12:30 am, Hezbollah fighters launched a barrage of precision missiles targeting the Beit Lid base, a military base hosting training camps for the Nahal Brigade and the Paratroopers Brigade.

At 12:30 am, the Resistance targeted Glilot base, located near Tel Aviv and serving as the headquarters of Israeli Military Intelligence Unit 8200, approximately 110 kilometers from the Lebanese-Palestinian border, with a barrage of precision missiles.

Border operations against Israeli occupation forces

At 1:15 am, Hezbollah fighters targeted the Ya'ra barracks using a swarm of attack drones.

At 1:15 am, the Resistance shelled a gathering of Israeli occupation forces at the newly established Markaba site using artillery shells.

Hezbollah fighters are also defending border towns from continuous Israeli attempts to advance into Lebanese territory. 

Iranian Drones and Missiles Straining US Military

By Al Mayadeen English

Iran’s large arsenal of low-cost drones and ballistic missiles is placing unprecedented strain on US military defenses and munitions stockpiles as the war enters its third week.

As the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its third week, Washington’s military campaign is facing unprecedented pressure from Iran’s extensive arsenal of drones and ballistic missiles.

Despite Iran’s military budget being far smaller than that of the United States, its stockpile of missiles and drones has proven capable of challenging US air defenses and exhausting expensive interceptor systems, analysts say.

US forces have relied heavily on high-cost defensive missiles, including Patriot PAC-3 interceptors, to counter Iran’s ongoing barrage of attacks across the region. Military analysts warn that the war has become a race of munitions inventories, raising questions about which side may run out first.

Since the war began on February 28, Iran has carried out repeated retaliatory attacks on US bases, military installations, and energy infrastructure across West Asia. Strikes have targeted locations in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and the Strait of Hormuz, while missiles and drones have also struck oil facilities and strategic infrastructure.

The headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain has reportedly been targeted by missiles and drones, while a THAAD missile defense radar in Jordan was also damaged.

Iran’s strategy appears aimed partly at disrupting global energy markets, as attacks on oil infrastructure have driven crude prices to their highest levels in four years.

Cheap drones force costly defenses

One of Iran’s most effective weapons has been the Shahed-136 drone, a relatively inexpensive loitering munition estimated to cost $20,000–$50,000.

In contrast, the Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles used to destroy them can cost around $4 million each, forcing US and allied forces to expend expensive defenses against low-cost weapons. More than 2,100 Shahed drones have reportedly been launched during the war so far.

The imbalance has raised concerns among military planners that air defense systems are being depleted faster than they can be replenished.

US munitions stockpiles under pressure

Heavy use of precision weapons and missile interceptors has placed a significant strain on US munitions inventories, according to defense analysts.

Factories producing interceptor missiles and long-range precision weapons have limited manufacturing capacity, meaning it could take years to replenish stocks.

Some analysts warn that if the war continues at its current intensity, the US may need to shift missile defenses and weapons from other regions, potentially affecting military readiness elsewhere.

While US officials say Iranian missile attacks have decreased in recent days, Tehran continues launching daily strikes across the region.

US President Donald Trump has hinted that the war could end soon, offering some reassurance to global markets. However, the Pentagon has also signaled that more intense strikes inside Iran are being prepared, suggesting the war may continue to escalate.

Analysts say Washington may eventually face a strategic choice: escalate further, potentially including ground operations, or pursue negotiations to end the war.

Pentagon Probe Points to U.S. Missile Hitting Iranian School

March 11, 20265:07 PM ET 

By Tom Bowman

Kat Lonsdorf

Geoff Brumfiel

NPR Staff

This picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency shows the site of a strike on a girls' school in Minab, in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, on February 28, 2026.

Ali Najafii/ISNA/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. has launched a formal investigation into a missile strike on an Iranian girls' school that killed at least 165 civilians, many of them children, after a preliminary assessment determined the U.S. was at fault, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. The investigation is expected to take months and will include interviews with all those involved, from planners and commanders to those who carried out the strike.

If the U.S. role in the attack is confirmed, it would rank among the military's most deadly incidents involving civilians in decades. Congress created a special Pentagon office to prevent the accidental targeting of civilians but it was dramatically scaled back by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth soon after he took office last year.

"This investigation is ongoing. As we have said, unlike the terrorist Iranian regime, the United States does not target civilians," said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.

At a press conference shortly after the war began, Hegseth criticized "stupid rules of engagement," and said such rules interfere with winning.

NPR was the first news organization to report that the strike on the school appeared to be part of an attack involving precision weapons. Subsequent video of the strike released by Iranian state media gave visual indications that Tomahawk missiles struck a compound that included the school. Iranian state media also released pictures of Tomahawk missile components on a table in front of the school.

Screenshots of a cruise missile hitting a compound where an Iranian girls school was struck killing around 175.

NPR previously reported that the girls' school was once part of what had been an Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval base and may have been shown on outdated U.S. target lists as a military building.

The school was walled off from the base sometime between 2013 and 2016, according to historical satellite imagery reviewed by NPR. A public health clinic on the base was also struck. Satellite images show that clinic was walled off from the base around 2024, and opened in 2025 according to local media reports. Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander-in-chief Hossein Salami cut the ribbon for the clinic's opening. He was assassinated by Israel later that year.

At a press conference this week, President Trump suggested that Iran or another country fired the missile, calling the U.S.-made Tomahawks "very generic" weapons. But several military analysts told NPR this week that no Iranian missile resembled the one in the video.

"Tomahawks are only used and operated by a very small number of nations," said N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, a technical intelligence consultancy that provides munitions analysis to governments and NGOs. He noted that the U.S. is the only country in the conflict that uses them.

"I think it's pretty clear from the emerging information that it's likely a strike that's gone wrong," he said. "The most likely scenario at this point is that somewhere along the way in the targeting process, there was an intelligence failure."

After a series of fatal strikes involving civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress directed the Pentagon to reduce civilian casualties as part of a 2019 law. During the Biden administration, the Defense Department created the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response initiative.

The civilian mitigation teams – cut by 90% by Hegseth – work with military commanders on target planning, and making sure that targets are actually military sites. The teams help come up with "no strike" lists, including religious and cultural sites and schools. They have provided details on whether potential target areas have high concentrations of civilians. They have also suggested using precision munitions, or smaller weapons to mitigate harm.

"At every level, civilian protection has been deprioritized," said Oona Hathaway, a professor of International Law at Yale Law School and the director of its Center for Global Legal Challenges. "A modern army has to fight according to the law, and the law requires that you protect civilians."

The U.S. official told NPR that Hegseth's decision to scale back those efforts meant that the U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, had only one staffer assigned to civilian casualty mitigation operations. The official also said that due to Hegseth's decision to cut Defense Department funding to prevent civilian casualties, military commands were paying out of their own budget for analysts to do the work that had once been centrally planned.

Three Cargo Ships Struck Off Iran’s Coast, UK Says, Including One in Strait of Hormuz

Wed, Mar 11 20262:06 PM EDT

Sam Meredith

Key Points

Three cargo ships were struck by suspected projectiles off the coast of Iran on Wednesday morning, according to the UKMTO.

The incidents mark the latest in a string of reported attacks in or near to the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

Iran has retaliated by targeting ships trying to pass through the strategically vital waterway.

The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz, March 11, 2026.

Reuters

Three vessels off Iran’s coast have been struck by projectiles, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said on Wednesday, the latest in a flurry of incidents reported in or near the Strait of Hormuz.

One of the ships reported it had been struck 11 nautical miles north of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire onboard and forcing the crew to evacuate, the UKMTO said, without identifying the vessels.

Two other incidents were also reported on Wednesday morning, with one vessel struck by a projectile about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and another sustaining damage off the coast of the UAE.

The UKMTO urged vessels in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity while authorities continue to investigate.

Thailand’s navy said a Thailand-flagged container ship with 23 people onboard had been attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters. Photos showed black smoke billowing from the Mayuree Naree vessel.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later said they had fired on the vessel in the waterway, Reuters reported, citing the semiofficial Tasnim news agency.

Shipping traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has ground to a near standstill since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Iran has retaliated by targeting ships trying to pass through the strait, with several incidents reported in recent days.

The waterway is a narrow maritime corridor that connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Roughly 20% of global oil and gas typically passes through it.

U.S. forces sank several Iranian ships on Tuesday, including 16 minelayers, near the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command.

The update followed an earlier announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump that said if Iran had put any mines in the waterway, “we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!”

The UKMTO said it had received 17 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman between Feb. 28, when the war began, and March 11. These include 13 attack reports and four reports of suspicious activity.

“Iran’s rapid and extensive retaliation against shipping and regional energy, port and economic infrastructure has severed a vital artery in global supply chains, as the flow of oil, refined products, LNG and chemicals grinds to a near halt,” Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said Wednesday in a note.

“Additional attacks against ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz overnight underscore that Iran still presents a very real threat to shipping,” he added.

A Drone Strike Hits School and Medical Center in Southern Sudan, Killing 17, Mostly Schoolgirls

This is a locator map for Sudan with its capital, Khartoum. (AP Photo)

By SAMY MAGDY

11:36 AM EDT, March 11, 2026

CAIRO (AP) — An explosive-laden drone blamed on Sudanese paramilitaries struck a secondary school and a health care center in southern Sudan Wednesday, killing at least 17 people, mostly schoolgirls, a hospital official and a medical group said.

At least 10 people were wounded in the strike in the village of Shukeiri in the White Nile province, according to Dr. Musa al-Majeri, director of the Douiem Hospital, the nearest major medical facility to the village.

Al-Majeri told The Associated Press three girls suffered serious injuries; two of them underwent surgeries at the hospital while the third was evacuated to the capital, Khartoum.

The war-tracking Sudan Doctors Network reported the strike first, saying those killed included two teachers and a health care worker. The group said there was no military presence in the village.

Both the medical group and al-Majeri blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces for the strike. The RSF didn’t respond to a request for comment.

“This horrific crime represents a continuation of the violations committed by the RSF in the White Nile,” said Dr. Razan Al-Mahdi, a spokeswoman for the medical group, adding that the paramilitaries attacked several civilian facilities in the past two days, including a student dormitory and a power station.

The strike in the village of Shukeiri in the White Nile province was the latest deadly attack in Sudan’s nearly three-year war.

Sudan slid into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country.

The devastating war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to U.N. figures, but aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher.

The fighting has centered in the sprawling Kordofan region, where deadly attacks, mostly by drones, were reported daily.

The war has been marked by atrocities including mass killings, gang rapes and other crimes, investigated by the International Criminal Court as potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The most recent atrocities happened in October when the RSF and its Janjweed allies overran the Darfur city of el-Fasher. The RSF attack there bore “ hallmarks of genocide,” according to United Nations-commissioned experts.

At least 6,000 people were killed in three days in October in el-Fasher, the U.N.’s Human Rights Office said.

Jihadis Intensify Attacks Against Nigeria’s Military, Killing Officers and Carting Away Weapons

By CHINEDU ASADU

1:50 PM EDT, March 10, 2026

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Jihadi extremist groups, including Boko Haram and one of its factions, have been blamed for intensified attacks targeting Nigeria’s military bases in the northeast of the country in the last week.

At least two officers and several soldiers have been killed in the attacks, which analysts say shows a remarkable level of coordination.

Over the weekend, Islamic extremists launched at least six attacks in Borno and Yobe states and in the wider Lake Chad region, spiriting away trucks and military hardware from the bases, according to security analysts and security reports.

The Nigerian military said in a statement that the latest attacks between Sunday and Monday were an “attempt by the terrorists to overwhelm troop positions.”

Military spokesman Sani Uba said late Monday that the troops lost an unspecified number of soldiers and a military officer, without providing further details. It adds to a death toll of several soldiers and at least one officer in the past week. Security analysts estimate at least four military officers have been killed in that period.

Africa’s most populous country has long struggled to contain the jihadi violence in its northeast. After launching an insurgency in 2009, Boko Haram has grown into different factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, which is backed by the Islamic State group. The crisis has overstretched the Nigerian military, which also battles other security crises across the conflict-battered north.

What’s inspiring the attacks

The attacks have angered Nigerians, with many accusing President Bola Tinubu’s government and the ruling party of prioritizing next year’s presidential election in which Tinubu is expected to seek reelection.

While ISWAP has staged a growing number of attacks against the military in recent months, observers say this is the first time in recent history that the group has successfully launched simultaneous attacks of this scale in the region.

The attacks show “a remarkable level of coordination” from the group, according to Vincent Foucher, senior research fellow with France’s National Center for Scientific Research who has extensive knowledge of the conflict.

Videos published by ISWAP showed massive weaponry and ammunition, as well as dozens of motorcycles and vehicles that the extremists said were captured during the raids. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the details of the video.

A key goal of the jihadis is to restock their weapons arsenal, said Taiwo Adebayo with the Africa-focused Institute for Security Studies.

“When they hit those camps, they strip the base of weapons, burn it down and retreat into the forests,” Adebayo said.

Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher with Good Governance Africa, said that “as long as military bases remain vulnerable to being overrun, ISWAP does not need to spend money buying arms.”

U.S. involvement

The attacks are happening despite a boost from the United States, which has deployed at least 100 troops to support the Nigerian military with training and logistics. That deployment is part of a new security partnership between Nigeria and U.S. that came after U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria’s security crisis.

Since the U.S. began to intervene in the security crisis in December last year, its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or ISR, flights have helped the Nigerian military to intensify aerial bombardment of jihadi hideouts, officials have said.

However, ISWAP continues to mount coordinated attacks, which highlight their sophistication and show how dominant they’ve become, Adebayo said.

A major challenge in the region remains the limited presence of security forces and the government in conflict hot spots.

Despite its successes against jihadi groups in the region, the Nigerian military lacks the capacity for sustained operations and quickly moves on to other hot spots, Adebayo said.

“So the (armed) groups are quickly regrouping and delivering attacks elsewhere,” he said.

South Africa Summons New US Ambassador Over Criticism as Rift Deepens

By MICHELLE GUMEDE and GERALD IMRAY

5:09 PM EDT, March 11, 2026

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The new U.S. ambassador to South Africa has been summoned to explain his criticism, the country’s foreign minister said Wednesday, as a diplomatic rift continues over foreign policy that the Trump administration describes as anti-American and domestic policies it calls anti-white.

Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III was summoned after speaking at a meeting of business leaders on Tuesday, where he challenged the South African government over its diplomatic ties with Iran and its affirmative action laws that advance opportunities for Black people ahead of other races.

The rift has grown between the former allies since President Donald Trump returned to office. Ties have plunged to their lowest point since the end of apartheid, or white minority rule, in 1994. Trump has been critical of South Africa’s Black-led government.

Bozell, a conservative activist appointed by Trump, took up his role in Pretoria last month.

In his first detailed public comments on U.S.-South Africa ties since arriving, Bozell said South Africa should change some of its affirmative action laws that were designed to redress the inequalities of South Africa’s decades of racial segregation under apartheid. He compared the laws to race laws that oppressed Black people during apartheid.

Bozell also called for changing a land law that allows the South African government to expropriate land without compensation in some circumstances.

“While South Africa welcomes active public diplomacy and the strengthening of bilateral ties, we emphasize that such engagements must remain consistent with established diplomatic etiquette and international protocols,” Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told a press conference. “In this regard, we have called in the ambassador of the United States, Ambassador Bozell, to explain his undiplomatic remarks.”

Foreign ministry director-general Zane Dangor said Bozell met with South African officials and the ambassador “apologized and expressed regret.”

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. government.

Trump’s central allegation against the South African government is his baseless claim that minority white farmers are being targeted in a campaign of violence and killings. Even some conservative white Afrikaner groups denied the Trump administration’s claims.

Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with those claims at a dramatic White House meeting last year that underlined the strained relationship.

Bozell did backtrack on one comment earlier Wednesday. At the meeting of business leaders, he criticized a South African court ruling that decided an apartheid-era chant repeated by a far-left opposition political party was not hate speech, despite it having the phrase “kill the Boer.” Boer refers to a white farmer in South Africa.

The Trump administration has branded the chant as anti-white hate speech. Bozell reiterated that view Tuesday: “I am sorry, I don’t care what your courts say, it’s hate speech.” He said in an X post Wednesday his comment reflected his personal view and “the U.S. government respects the independence and findings of South Africa’s judiciary.”

The Trump administration has taken other extraordinary steps against South Africa — its biggest trading partner in Africa — including expelling its ambassador to Washington last year and barring South Africa from meetings of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations in the U.S. this year.

Bozell said he hadn’t come to “to pick a fight” but the U.S. had presented five requests to the South African government around a year ago to improve ties: distance itself from Iran, change parts of its affirmative action laws affecting American companies operating in South Africa, outlaw any expropriation of land without compensation, declare rural crime a priority and publicly condemn the “kill the Boer” chant.

Bozell said the U.S. was frustrated it had not received any reply from South Africa on those requests.

___

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa.

Drone Strike Kills UN Aid Worker in the Eastern DR Congo City of Goma

By RUTH ALONGA

12:42 PM EDT, March 11, 2026

GOMA, Congo (AP) — A series of explosions attributed to drones killed at least one person, a U.N. aid worker, as the attack on the Wednesday rocked downtown Goma in eastern Congo, according to the M23 rebel group and local residents.

The drone strikes hit Lake Kivu and a private residence located about 50 meters (164 feet) from the home of former Congo President Joseph Kabila Kabange.

M23 blamed the government for the attack. The government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The rebel group said that the attack killed three people, but the number couldn’t be immediately confirmed. Residents said they only had seen a single body.

Karine Buisset, a French national and a UNICEF employee, was in the residence and killed in the attack, M23 and residents said.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell confirmed Buisset’s death in a post on X.

“All of us at UNICEF are devastated and outraged by the killing,” Russell said. “Civilians, including aid workers, must never be targeted.”

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed condolences to the victim’s family.

“I call for respect for humanitarian law and for the personnel on the ground who are committed to saving lives,” he wrote on X.

Since January 2025, conflicts have flared between the Congolese armed forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 after the group swept through the eastern region in lightning attacks and seized key cities. A drone strike in February killed a spokesperson and senior official deeply involved in the operations of the rebel group.

The conflict, which has raged on despite a truce brokered by the United States and Qatar, has sparked a huge humanitarian crisis, with at least 7 million people displaced.

A Senegal Boarding School That Drew Students From the US is at the Center of an Abuse Investigation

Children play outside the American Dara Academy, a Quranic boarding school, being investigating for alleged physical abuses, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Keur Massar, Senegal. (AP Photo/Sylvain Cherkaoui)

By MARK BANCHEREAU

2:03 AM EDT, March 11, 2026

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The American Dara Academy in Senegal marketed itself to families in the United States as an affordable boarding school where their children could study the Quran alongside an American curriculum. Parents and families — many with West African roots — sent their children to the school believing it would be a rigorous and affordable religious education.

But the school is being investigated for alleged physical abuses, with hundreds of students withdrawing from the academy and one of two campuses — where most of the alleged abuses took place — now closed, according to an official close to the case.

In accounts shared with The Associated Press, students alleged that supervisors beat disobedient pupils repeatedly in a so-called “magic room.” The schoolchildren said they were sometimes ordered to strip to their underwear or be naked and told to squat with their arms extended, gripping heavy rocks. If the rocks fell, the beatings grew worse.

The authorities in Senegal confirmed to the AP that an investigation is underway. The country’s gendarmerie, its child protective services and the Ministry of Justice are involved in the inquiry, according to an official close to the case.

In late January, the school’s director and three administrators were arrested, according to parents and a person with direct knowledge of the arrests and investigations. They said the director was released and placed under house arrest.

Senegal’s child protective services, known by its French acronym AEMO, did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the gendarmerie, Ibrahima Ndiaye, confirmed that the force was notified about the abuses but said the investigation is now with the Ministry of Justice.

The school director and administrators who were arrested told the AP they could not speak on the matter due to the ongoing investigation. The exact charges have not been announced.

“The children are in the care of authorities, and charges will be filed against anyone found responsible,” Aminata Diagne, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, said of the ongoing investigations into the abuses.

Students said they were beaten with sticks

The American Dara Academy enrolled 311 students — including 120 U.S. citizens — across two campuses in Senegal. Most students were children of West African origin born in the United States, some from European countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. Only a few were from West Africa.

According to a Jan. 12 written complaint sent by the U.S. Embassy in Dakar to Senegalese authorities, several American students reported severe corporal punishment. The minors, according to the letter, identified the school’s director, who is a dual American-Guinean citizen, and three other administrators, as responsible for the abuses.

The AP has verified the authenticity of the complaint letter and its claims about abuses by speaking with dozens of parents and officials close to the case. The parents and officials who agreed to be interviewed did so without attribution to protect their children and because they were not authorized to speak about the issue.

In their accounts, the students described administrators beating them with sticks on their legs, backs, and genitals while being forced to maintain stress positions.

Some students said steel rods were sometimes used on areas that would not leave visible marks. At times, the blows landed on their heads, they said.

It is unclear whether any injuries required hospitalization, but some students reported receiving scars on multiple parts of their bodies.

The students were warned by their abusers not to speak to U.S. Embassy officials or to the police, or their parents in the United States could be arrested by immigration authorities and deported, according to the embassy’s complaint letter and a person familiar with the case.

The ministry and other relevant agencies have released few details about the case or potential charges.

‘I really thought I was leaving them in a safer place’

Some parents told the AP they chose the American Dara Academy for its combination of religious instruction and a U.S. curriculum at a relatively low cost, of about $300 per month, including tuition, housing, and meals.

The school ran two campuses, one in the capital, Dakar, and the second in Toubab Dialaw, a coastal village 55 kilometers (34 miles) from the capital.

Before its closure, the high school campus in Toubab Dialaw — where most of the alleged abuse took place — consisted largely of a construction site with trailers, no running water, frequent power outages, and makeshift zinc latrines. Students, however, were being taught in the facility, according an official with direct knowledge of the investigation.

After the embassy contacted families, about two-thirds of the students — roughly 250 children, including around 100 Americans — withdrew from the school and returned to their home countries, according to parents and a person familiar with the investigation. The remaining students were transferred to the Dakar campus, which is in better condition.

The AP spoke to dozens of parents, many of them saying they were contacted by the U.S. embassy about the alleged abuses. None said their children told them about the abuses.

One parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity to protect their child’s privacy, said they have withdrawn their children and are waiting for them to be brought back to the U.S. They said their children were not among those said to have been abused.

“When I first visited the school, I stayed with them for a week,” the parent said. “I really thought I was leaving them in a safer place.”

Corporal punishment

In Senegal, corporal punishment remains lawful in homes under the country’s family law, which gives those with paternal authority a “right of correction,” though criminal statutes punish violence that causes severe injuries.

While corporal punishment is prohibited in schools for children under 14, the law does not explicitly extend to children outside that age range, private schools, or religious schools, where the “right of correction” can still potentially apply.

United Nations and children’s rights organization reports note that corporal punishment continues in practice.

It remains unclear whether prosecutors will file charges or what further actions are being considered.

For now, the investigation continues, and the children who once filled its dormitories are scattered — some back home, others still in the school waiting for answers.

The school building in Dakar is under tight security, with police guarding the site.

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Associated Press writer Babacar Dione in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report.