🇺🇸 🇷🇺 #UnitedStates State Department Issues Terrorism Alert in #Moscow:

The United States State Department has issued an urgent security alert warning that the American Embassy in #Russia is monitoring potential terrorist attacks in Moscow over the coming days.

They have advised all U.S. citizens to avoid large gatherings. Russia is currently classified at a level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory by the State Department.

According to the advisory statement: “The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”

https://theatlasnews.co/brief/2024/03/07/us-state-department-issues-terrorism-alert-in-moscow/

https://ru.usembassy.gov/security-alert-avoid-large-gatherings-over-the-next-48-hours/

🇺🇸 🇵🇸 #UnitedStates to Construct Aid Port in #Gaza:

US officials have stated that US President Joe Biden will be announcing the construction of an aid port on the Gazan coastline of #Palestine in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the strip by sea. The announcement is to come during the State of the Union address today, March 7th.

The announcement comes after a series of airdrops of aid carried out by the US, #France, #Jordan, and #Egypt over Gaza over the last week, following increased reports of famine throughout Gaza, particularly in the north, where the #UNRWA has halted aid deliveries due to the untenable security situation, as well as a lack of supplies.

Notably, the US is moving ahead with the plan to build the port without waiting for any sort of Israeli approval of the plan. They did specify that no US military personnel would be deployed to Gaza, leaving it unclear at this moment who will be in charge of facilitating the delivery of aid through the port. It is the US’ hope that the operation will move from a military operation to a commercial operation.

“We're not waiting on the Israeli's. This is a moment for U.S leadershp.” -U.S. Officials Statement

Although they are moving ahead regardless of Israeli approval, the US has stated they will coordinate with Israel on security issues for the port. The port is estimated to bring in “hundreds of additional truckloads” of aid per day into Gaza. Regarding aid delivery, the US stated they would coordinate with the UN and other aid groups which “understand the distribution of assistance within Gaza.”

There has been no established timeline for when the port will finish construction and be operational, with the US stating the full plan would “take a number of weeks to plan and execute.”

Aid entering Gaza in February was half of that in January, representing a dire situation for humanitarian operations that were already hanging on by a thread.

Full article: https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/03/07/u-s-to-construct-aid-port-in-gaza/

🇦🇲 🇪🇺 #Armenia Considering Applying to the #EU: https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/03/11/armenia-considering-applying-to-the-eu/

Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, has stated that Armenia is considering applying to become a member of the European Union, in yet another move by Armenia to be closer to the west.

The Foreign Minister made the claim during an interview with the Turkish state media Anadolu Agency, amidst a wider diplomatic forum being held in Turkey.

🇵🇸 🇮🇱 Ramadan Begins in #Gaza, Ceasefire Talks Stall as Fighting and Crisis Continue:

As Palestinians begin to observe Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims often known for the observation of fasting from sunrise to sunset, bombardment from Israeli strikes and nutritional deficiency due to a lack of meals per day and lack of caloric-rich food continue to heavily impact millions of those living in Gaza, #Palestine. Hunger conditions have been reported as continuing to worsen, according to NGO and humanitarian groups. At least 25 people, including 16 premature babies, a 15-year-old, and a 72-year-old man, have been recorded as dying of malnutrition and dehydration in northern Gaza, according to one of the senior doctors at the Emirati Hospital in Rafah, who spoke to The Associated Press.

Ceasefire talks have continued to largely stall as both the #Israeli government and #Hamas militant leaders have reached an impasse in brokering the release of hostages and prisoners. Middleman countries such as the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, which have all sought to negotiate terms between the two sides, have been unable to secure a ceasefire during the holiday period so far, despite efforts made to do so.

Read more: https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/03/12/ramadan-begins-in-gaza-ceasefire-talks-stall-as-fighting-and-crisis-continue/

🇷🇼 🇨🇩 🇦🇴 #Rwanda and the #DRC to Meet Once Again:

Rwandan President Paul Kagame
has again agreed to meet with the President of the Democratic Republic of the #Congo (DRC), Felix Tshisekedi. President Kagame agreed to the meeting during dialogue with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in the Angolan capital of Luanda.

#Angola has arisen as one of the primary mediators between Rwanda and the DRC, two nations which are rivals to each other.

Read more: https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/03/12/rwanda-and-the-drc-to-meet-once-again/

🇭🇹 #Haitian Prime Minister Resigns:

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned after a week of a State of Emergency being declared within #Haiti. The PM had faced extensive pressure, both domestically and internationally, in order to resign.

Last week, a state of emergency was declared after the nations gangs, in particular the G9 headed by Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, launched a wave of attacks throughout the country, primarily in the capital of Port-au-Prince in an attempt to force PM Henry’s resignation.

Read more: https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/03/12/haitian-prime-minister-resigns/

🇷🇺 🇺🇦 Freedom of #Russia Legion, Siberian Battalion Claim Raids into Russia’s #Belgorod and #Kursk: https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/03/12/freedom-of-russia-legion-siberian-battalion-claim-raids-into-russias-belgorod-and-kursk/

The ethnic-Russian paramilitary units Freedom of Russia Legion and Siberian Battalion, which serve under the Ukrainian Foreign Legion, have claimed responsibility for a series of raids launched into border areas of Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk Oblasts.

So far, the groups have claimed that some areas along the border are under their control, while the Russian media and officials have claimed that their attacks have been repelled. Footage shows substantial vehicle losses.

🇺🇸 🇾🇪 The #UnitedStates Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that strikes last night targeting #Houthi positions destroyed an unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) and 18 anti-ship ballistic missiles in western #Yemen.

These strikes followed an attack attempt against the Liberian-flagged, Singapore-owned container vessel M/V Pinocchio in the Red Sea just hours prior.

As with most CENTCOM statement on strikes, it stated that the missile sites “presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region” and that “these actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy and merchant vessels.” Via theatlasnews.co

🇷🇺 🇲🇱 #Wagner Group PMCs seen with a Toyota Land Cruiser and Mi-24 attack helicopter, likely in eastern #Mali amid continued operations against AQ/JNIM-affiliated militants or Tuareg separatists of the CMA.

Wagner Group continues to be paid over $100 million a year to provide security and support the Malian junta, which is largely subsidized by taxes on international mining companies operating in the country. Via theatlasnews.co

🇨🇳 #China Unveils New Baseline for Territorial Waters in Gulf of Tonkin: https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/03/18/china-unveils-new-baseline-for-territorial-waters-in-gulf-of-tonkin/

SITREP: Transnistria Drone Attack: https://theatlasnews.co/latest/2024/03/17/sitrep-transnistria-drone-attack/

🇰🇵 #NorthKorea Conducted Two Missile Launches Along Eastern Coast: https://theatlasnews.co/brief/2024/03/17/north-korea-conducted-two-missile-launches-along-eastern-coast/

🇳🇪 🇺🇸 🇷🇺 #Niger Cuts Military Ties with #UnitedStates:

On Saturday, Niger’s military junta announced it would immediately sever military cooperation with the UnitedStates and ordered the removal of #American forces stationed in the country for counter-terrorism operations, signaling another shift away from western powers as the junta seeks greater support from #Russia.

A Nigerien military spokesman, Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, announced during a press conference on March 17th his country’s intention to cut military ties with the United States with ‘immediate effect.’ In a televised address, Abdramane stated that the U.S. delegation failed to follow diplomatic protocol and did not inform the Nigerien government of its agenda: “The Nigerien government, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides in any case to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of U.S. military personnel and civilian employees of the US Department of Defense on the territory of the Republic of Niger. A diplomatic correspondence will be addressed to the US party to this effect.” “Also, the government of Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people,” said Abdramane.

The announcement comes just days after AFRICOM Commander Michael Langley and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee visited Junta leadership.

Despite the decision, AFRICOM confirmed to Stars and Stripes that American forces are still in country, largely located at the Air Base 201 near Agadez, which has been a hub for counter-terrorism drone operations in the Sahel, which has been a growing hotbed for jihadism in recent years.

Following a coup led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, which deposed Niger’s elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, the U.S. military, which previously had around 1,100 personnel in the country, reduced its force to an estimated 648. These remaining forces were concentrated Airbase 201, which cost around $100 million to build, although operations were significantly reduced after Tchiani took power. Both MQ-9 Reaper armed drones and C-17 Globemaster III transport planes operate out of the airbase.

Since taking power during a coup in July 2023, the junta has ended military cooperation with #France as junta officials continue to meet with Russia for greater military and economic cooperation. Via theatlasnews.co