HEADLINESNiger airport clashes amid jihadist violenceGaza gangs booby-trap homes, surveil neighborhoodsShin Bet eyed 11 Sinwar killing optionsThe time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good evening. A shifting security landscape across the Middle East and beyond keeps governments, militaries, and communities closely watching for new risks and evolving strategies. In Gaza, tensions continue to pose challenges for civilians and for regional stability as militant and paramilitary formations adapt to changing conditions on the ground. In Africa and Latin America, regional security dynamics and global policy moves underscore how violence, sanctions, and counterterrorism efforts intersect with international diplomacy. In the United States and allied capitals, questions of policy, accountability, and the protection of rights remain central to how events at home and abroad are addressed.In Niger, authorities reported sustained gunfire and loud blasts near Niamey International Airport as violence linked to jihadist groups persists in the Sahel. The clashes come amid long-running pressure from Islamist militant networks in the region, including groups with ties to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which have conducted operations across neighboring countries and displaced millions. While the specifics of the latest incident were not confirmed by the government, the episode fits a broader pattern of instability that has affected governance and civilian safety in parts of West Africa.In Gaza, anti-Hamas gangs have emerged with new tactics that Hamas has described as increasing risk to its own forces and to residents. Reports describe groups operating with names such as Counterterrorism and Popular Forces, moving among Gaza neighborhoods, booby-trapping homes, and using surveillance gear to document operations. Some gangs have publicly claimed to act with direct, sometimes overt cooperation with Israeli security actors, while Hamas has responded by boosting security measures for its members. The broader consequence for civilians is heightened uncertainty, as battles and counter-battles unfold in crowded urban areas.Turning to Israel, new reporting on the period before last year’s critical escalation has drawn attention to how security options were considered at the highest levels. A Channel 12 report cited in multiple outlets quoted a senior defense official as saying Shin Bet proposed as many as 11 opportunities to eliminate Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the months ahead of the October 2023 attacks, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly not authorizing discussions or orders. The Prime Minister’s Office publicly denied the claim, stating that security leadership and legal authorities repeatedly blocked such steps and that Netanyahu consistently aimed to thwart Hamas leadership’s operations. The claims, whether fully accurate or not, illuminate enduring questions about decision-making under pressure and the balance between preventative action and broader strategic risk.Inside Israel, a prominent former Supreme Court president, Aharon Barak, used his platform at a liberal congress to caution that Israel’s liberal democratic norms are under pressure. He argued that the Declaration of Independence, and the social covenant that undergirds Israeli democracy, has been undermined by political competition and controversial policy moves, including legislation on ultra-Orthodox exemptions from military service. Barak’s remarks were met with demonstrations that blocked his vehicle as he left the event, underscoring the volatility that can attend debates over the judiciary’s role and the limits of political power in a country confronting security challenges and domestic political strain.On the security front tied to Iran, a case in the United States underscored the reach of Tehran’s actions against dissidents abroad. Carlisle Rivera, a Brooklyn man, was sentenced to 15 years for taking part in what prosecutors described as an Iran-backed murder-for-hire plot against Masih Alinejad, a prominent Iranian dissident living in the United States. Prosecutors said Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps and its intelligence services were involved. The case highlights continuing concerns about transnational repression and the lengths to which Tehran is prepared to go to silence critics abroad.Iran-related developments also touch communications and technology. Iranian authorities said they confiscated 51 Starlink satellite terminals in the Kurdistan province, part of a broader crackdown on what Tehran calls “anti-security” goods. Iranian officials noted a sharp rise in seizures this year, reflecting a government effort to curb access to uncensored information amid political tensions and domestic unrest. The Starlink activity has been a flashpoint in debates over internet freedom, state control, and the potential impact of new communications networks...
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