New Post Africa

Category: Middle East

  • Saudi Arabia reports another Houthi airport attack as Israel calls urgent security meeting 

    Saudi Arabia reports another Houthi airport attack as Israel calls urgent security meeting 

    RIYAD, Saudi Arabia (NPA) —  Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has reported an attack targeting King Fahd International Airport in Dammam amid rising regional tensions and continued attacks on civil aviation facilities in the kingdom.

    In a statement issued on Sunday, October 11, 2026, GACA said damage assessments and safety inspections were underway in coordination with the relevant authorities.

    The authority did not provide details about the nature of the attack, the extent of the damage or whether there were any casualties.

    The incident comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to chair an urgent security meeting to discuss developments in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran.

    Israel has remained on heightened alert in recent days amid concerns about a possible escalation. The Pentagon has also reportedly directed US Central Command to complete preparations for a possible resumption of large-scale military operations against Iran.

    No date has been set for any such operation, and US President Donald Trump has not made a final decision.

    Tensions have also escalated between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement, with reports of repeated Houthi attacks on targets in the kingdom, including airports and energy infrastructure.

    Saudi Arabia has intensified its strikes on Yemen in response, raising concerns about a wider regional escalation.

  • Netanyahu condemns Houthi’s missile strike on Riyadh Airport as death toll reaches 12

    Netanyahu condemns Houthi’s missile strike on Riyadh Airport as death toll reaches 12

    JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA)  — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned what he described as a horrific terrorist attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following reports of casualties from a Houthi missile strike.

    In a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, Netanyahu expressed condolences to the families of those reportedly killed and wished the injured a full recovery.

    “On behalf of the people of Israel, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of those murdered and our wishes for a full recovery to the injured,” he said.

    Netanyahu added that terrorism targets innocent people and seeks to spread fear and instability, stressing that it must be confronted with resolve.

    He also said Israel looked forward to a stronger Middle East united against threats, protecting its people and building a future of security, cooperation and prosperity for the region’s population.

    According to casualty figures circulating in reports, 12 people were killed and 309 injured in the alleged strike. The reported fatalities included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one person each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and Palestine.

    The casualty figures and circumstances of the reported strike have not been independently verified by Newpost Africa as more information about the strike is being awaited.

  • Rubio says US will never forget October 7 Hamas barbaric attack on Israel

    Rubio says US will never forget October 7 Hamas barbaric attack on Israel

    Washington D.C., US (NPA) —US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States will never forget the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, as Israelis mark the third anniversary of the assault that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

    In a statement marking the anniversary on Wednesday, Rubio said Hamas fighters had killed about 1,200 people and abducted hundreds of others during the attack.

    “Three years ago today, Hamas terrorists tortured, mutilated, and murdered 1,200 innocent civilians in Israel,” Rubio said, adding that the victims included babies, people with disabilities and elderly people.

    “Among those slain were men, women, and children — including dozens of Americans. We will never forget this act of barbarism against an ally and recommit ourselves to the defense of civilization,” he added.

    The October 7 attack, which involved Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups entering southern Israel from Gaza, killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages, according to current figures cited by Reuters.

    Israel declared war on Hamas in response and launched a sustained military campaign in Gaza with the stated objective of dismantling the group’s military and governing capabilities and preventing another attack.

    Three years later, however, the conflict remains unresolved. Hamas continues to operate in parts of Gaza, while Israel maintains control over large areas of the enclave and military operations have continued despite a ceasefire framework.

    The war has also widened beyond Gaza, with Israel confronting armed groups allied with Hamas, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, while tensions involving Iran have further complicated the regional security situation.

    The October 7 anniversary comes as Israelis remember those killed in the attack and the hostages taken into Gaza, while Palestinians in the enclave continue to grapple with the destruction and humanitarian consequences of the war.

    The anniversary has also renewed international attention on the unresolved questions surrounding Gaza’s future, including the disarmament of Hamas, Israeli military withdrawal, governance of the territory and reconstruction as key elements of the post-war framework remain stalled.

  • COCIN leader visits Bethlehem, prays for Nigeria and persecuted Christians

    COCIN leader visits Bethlehem, prays for Nigeria and persecuted Christians

    JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA) — Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, Regional Leader of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), has visited Bethlehem as part of his ongoing trip to Israel, where he said he prayed for Nigeria, persecuted Christians and families affected by violence.

    Dachomo, who has been at the forefront of raising international awareness about the persecution and killings of Christians in Nigeria, visited the Church of the Nativity, traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

    Reflecting on the visit, he said the experience was deeply emotional and prompted him to remember the biblical account of Christ’s birth.

    He said his visit was not politically motivated but was intended as an opportunity to pray for Nigeria and those facing hardship and persecution.

    “As I stood in this holy place, I did not come with a political agenda. I came with a heavy heart. I came carrying the cries, tears, pain and hopes of my people before God,” Dachomo said.

    He said he prayed for persecuted Christians, widows and orphans, families who had lost loved ones and Nigerians facing difficult circumstances.

    “I came to pray for Nigeria. I came to pray for the persecuted, for widows and orphans, for families who have lost loved ones, and for everyone crying silently and asking God, ‘When will my story change?’” he said.

    Dachomo said he believed his visit to Bethlehem could serve as a point of prayer and divine intervention for people trusting God for answers to their challenges.

    He urged Nigerians and Christians to remain steadfast in prayer and faith, saying he believed that Nigeria’s current challenges would eventually give way to peace and renewed hope.

    “My visit here is not about politics. It is not about seeking recognition. I came seeking God. I came crying for the liberation of my people. I came believing that one day, the tears of Nigeria will become tears of joy,” he said.

    Dachomo also prayed for Nigerian families, asking God to heal the country, bring peace, comfort those affected by violence and hardship, and turn mourning into joy.

    He said he remained hopeful in the power of prayer and divine intervention.

    “I believe in miracles. I believe in the power of prayer. And I believe that God is not finished with Nigeria,” he said.

    Dachomo’s visit to Bethlehem comes as he continues his engagements in Israel, including plans for an audience with the Israeli Prime Minister.

  • Netanyahu hails Indian pilot after stabbing aboard Israel-bound Flydubai flight

    Netanyahu hails Indian pilot after stabbing aboard Israel-bound Flydubai flight

    JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot who was stabbed by his co-pilot aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv, after the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

    Netanyahu, in a statement on Wednesday, hailed Machchhar’s bravery, saying the captain managed to fight back and open the cockpit door despite being seriously injured, enabling passengers and crew members to overpower the attacker.

    “My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said.

    “Despite being stabbed and seriously injured, he fought back, resisted, opened the cockpit door, and enabled passengers and crew to overpower the attacker — preventing a catastrophic mid-air disaster.”

    Netanyahu said Machchhar’s actions helped save the lives of the 174 people on board, including Israeli citizens and other nationals, and wished him a speedy recovery.

    “He is a true hero,” the Israeli prime minister said.

    The incident occurred aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft reportedly entered a sharp descent after a confrontation in the cockpit before passengers and crew intervened. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was subsequently diverted to Tabuk, where both pilots received medical treatment.

    The co-pilot, reportedly an Omani national, has been arrested. Israeli authorities have described the incident as a possible terrorist attack, while the motive remains under investigation and authorities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are investigating the circumstances.

    Netanyahu also praised passenger Yonatan Haim, who was among those who entered the cockpit and helped subdue the attacker.

    Machchhar remains in hospital in Tabuk after sustaining serious injuries in the cockpit attack. Reports say he underwent surgery and is in stable condition.

    Flydubai has suspended flights to and from Israel while investigations continue and has urged against premature speculation about the incident.

  • Yemen parliament approves general mobilisation against Houthis

    Yemen parliament approves general mobilisation against Houthis

    SANAA, Yemen (NPA) — Yemen’s internationally recognised government has moved to mobilise the population against the Houthis after the group made significant territorial gains along the country’s western coast.

    The Yemeni House of Representatives on Monday, September 28, approved a request by President of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi to declare a general mobilisation in response to the escalation by the Houthis.

    The decision followed a nationwide call to arms by al-Alimi on September 25, when he urged Yemenis to rally around the armed and security forces and join their ranks through official channels.

    He also offered a pathway for Houthi members who abandon the group and stop fighting or working for it to return safely to the government side, with an amnesty to be issued in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures.

    The parliamentary decision came amid intensified fighting in Yemen, particularly in Taiz and along the western Red Sea coast. Recent Houthi advances have included the capture of Mocha and Mayyun Island, strengthening the group’s position around the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

    The government has said the mobilisation is intended to counter the Houthi escalation, protect civilians, defend the republican system and constitutional legitimacy, and safeguard Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    The renewed fighting follows the collapse of a period of relative calm under a 2022 truce. Recent clashes have also displaced more than 130,000 people, according to a report by The Guardian.

    The conflict has also heightened concerns over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The Houthis have expanded attacks and declared a blockade targeting Saudi shipping, while Saudi Arabia has continued to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

    The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, emerged from Yemen’s Zaidi Shia community and took control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The group has since remained a major actor in Yemen’s prolonged civil war and is widely reported to receive support from Iran, although Tehran denies directing the group.

    The latest mobilisation marks a significant escalation in the government’s effort to rebuild its military position and counter the Houthis’ recent territorial advances.

  • BREAKING: Iran proposes seven-day plan to end war, reopen Strait of Hormuz

    BREAKING: Iran proposes seven-day plan to end war, reopen Strait of Hormuz

    NEW YORK, United States (NPA) — Iran has proposed a seven-day plan to the United States aimed at ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restarting negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said.

    Araghchi, who is in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly, said the proposal was conveyed to Washington through intermediaries and would take effect if certain conditions were met.

    “We have introduced a plan to the United States through the intermediators that if certain conditions are met, the Strait of Hormuz would be open on the end of the seventh day and talks would restart,” Araghchi said on Thursday.

    He said the proposal was based on the terms of a memorandum of understanding reached between Iran and the US in June, which subsequently collapsed.

    According to Araghchi, the plan would involve a seven-day cessation of hostilities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, followed by the reopening of the strategic waterway.

    He also said Iran was seeking the release of frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil and an end to the US naval blockade as part of the conditions for the proposed arrangement.

    Araghchi said Tehran was awaiting Washington’s response and that China supported the proposal.

    The Iranian foreign minister also held talks with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, with the meeting focused on Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

    Iranian officials have previously outlined conditions for reopening the waterway, including the lifting of the US naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian funds and an end to hostilities on all fronts.

    The latest proposal follows renewed diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran during the UN General Assembly. The two sides held indirect talks on Sept. 23, although no publicly announced agreement or concessions emerged from the discussions.

    Iran has also maintained that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until its conditions for ending the conflict are met.

    The strategic waterway is a major route for global energy shipments, making its status a key concern for oil markets and international trade.

    The proposal comes amid continuing military tensions in the Middle East and efforts by international actors to find a diplomatic path towards ending the conflict.

  • JUST IN: Netanyahu mourns two Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza

    JUST IN: Netanyahu mourns two Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza

    JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mourned the death of two Israeli soldiers who were killed in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

    The deceased, Sgt. Maj. (res.) Nadav Klei and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Ofer Ariel, died in what Netanyahu described as a tragic incident in Gaza.

    Netanyahu said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) was investigating the incident, stressing the need to draw all necessary lessons and implement them to ensure the safety and security of its soldiers.

    In a statement issued personally on Friday, Netanyahu said:

    “Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I mourn the fall of Sgt. Maj. (res.) Nadav Klei and Sgt. Maj. (res.) Ofer Ariel in the tragic incident yesterday in Gaza.

    “Nadav and Ofer, may their memory be a blessing, were brave reservist fighters who defended Israel’s security. We embrace their families in their time of hardship and send them condolences from the depths of our hearts.

    “The IDF is investigating the incident, and it is essential to draw all the necessary lessons and implement them to ensure the safety and security of IDF soldiers.”

    The Israeli military said the two reservists were killed in a drone explosion incident in Gaza.

    As of Sept. 25, 2026, the Israeli army reported that 970 soldiers had been killed in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, including the two reservists killed in the latest incident.

  • Netanyahu says security forces hunt gunman after deadly West Bank attack

    Netanyahu says security forces hunt gunman after deadly West Bank attack

    JERUSALEM, Israel (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said security forces are pursuing a Palestinian gunman who carried out a deadly shooting attack in the Binyamin region of the West Bank near Neve Tzuf (Halamish) on September 20, 2026.

    The attack occurred as Israelis were preparing for Yom Kippur, with the gunman opening fire at a natural spring. One man in his 30s was killed and others were wounded before the attacker fled, according to reports.

    Netanyahu said Israeli security forces were pursuing the attacker and vowed that those responsible for the attack, as well as anyone who assisted them, would be held accountable.

    “No terrorist is immune, nor are those who aided them — we will hold them all accountable — in Gaza, in Lebanon, and in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said.

    He also said Israeli forces had killed another person whom he described as a terrorist after an attempted attack in the northern West Bank.

    “In parallel, our heroic fighters eliminated a terrorist who attempted to carry out an attack in the Shomron,” he said.

    Netanyahu said he had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet to deploy additional forces in Israeli settlements, impose closures and conduct what he described as offensive operations and arrests to protect Israeli citizens.

    He also ordered the immediate demolition of the suspected attacker’s home.

    Netanyahu expressed condolences to the family of the man killed in the attack.

    “On behalf of all Israeli citizens, my wife and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim murdered in the attack and share in their profound grief,” he said.

  • Israeli military says airstrikes kill senior Hamas commanders in Gaza

    Israeli military says airstrikes kill senior Hamas commanders in Gaza

    GAZA, Palestine (NPA) — The Israeli military says its air force has killed two senior Hamas commanders in separate strikes in the southern Gaza Strip, including the commander of the Rafah Brigade and another alleged member of the group’s Nukhba forces.

    The military said in a statement that an airstrike carried out on Tuesday evening in southern Gaza, guided by the Shin Bet security agency, killed Na’al Abu Obeid, whom it identified as commander of Hamas’ Rafah Brigade and head of its operations.

    According to the Israeli military, Abu Obeid was appointed to the position following the killing of Muhammad Shabana. It said he had previously served as deputy commander of the Rafah Brigade and commander of the Tel Sultan and Yebna battalions.

    The military described Abu Obeid as a senior Hamas figure and alleged that he was responsible for directing the brigade’s activities and advancing attacks against Israeli forces and civilians.

    It also said Abu Obeid had been involved in efforts to rebuild the brigade’s capabilities, which the military said had been significantly degraded during the war.

    In a separate operation, the Israeli Air Force said it struck the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza last Thursday and killed Jihad Smeikh Mahmoud Ismail, whom it identified as the head of a Nukhba cell in Hamas’ military wing.

    The military alleged that Ismail infiltrated southern Israel during the October 7, 2023 attack and participated in a clash involving Israeli armoured forces.

    It further alleged that he was involved in the abduction of Capt. (res.) Omar Naotrah, Sgt. Maj. (res.) Oz Daniel and Sgt. Nimrod Cohen. The Israeli military said Sgt. Shakad Dahari, the tank driver involved in the clash, was wounded.

    The claims about the individuals’ roles and activities were made by the Israeli military and were not independently verified by New Post Africa.

    The Israeli military said forces under the Southern Command remained deployed in the area in accordance with the existing agreement and would continue operations to remove what it described as immediate threats.