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Israel Rejects Trump Gaza Plan as Middle East Tensions Rise

By
Emmanuel Paul
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Israel has rejected a U.S. backed proposal for ending the war in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying Israeli forces will not withdraw from the territory until Hamas gives up its weapons.

The rejection came as fighting and diplomatic tensions continued across the Middle East, including attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a government controlled port and a reported strike on an oil facility in Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu made his position clear Sunday during a Cabinet meeting, rejecting a 15 point proposal promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump for the future of Gaza.

“Israel rejects the 15 point document,” Netanyahu said.

He said the Israeli military would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas had been fully disarmed.

“The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed,” Netanyahu said. “And when I say Hamas must be disarmed, I mean the heavy weapons, the less heavy weapons, all weapons.”

Netanyahu said Israel was continuing discussions with Washington over the proposal but indicated that the two governments still disagreed on important elements of the plan.

“Some of them are acceptable to us and some are unacceptable to us,” he said.

The Israeli leader also said his government was prepared to resist pressure from even its closest allies when he believes Israel’s security is at stake.

“I have great appreciation for President Trump,” Netanyahu said. “He is a great friend of ours in the White House.”

Netanyahu said Israel would continue to oppose Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, regardless of whether a diplomatic agreement is reached.

“With an agreement or without an agreement, as long as I am prime minister, Iran will not possess nuclear weapons,” he said.

The White House did not immediately issue a response to Netanyahu’s rejection.

The disagreement places another obstacle in the way of efforts to establish a postwar arrangement for Gaza. Hamas has indicated support for the broader roadmap but has avoided explicitly accepting language requiring it to surrender its weapons.

Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hamas could use the negotiations to prevent a renewed Israeli military offensive without actually giving up its military capabilities.

The Times of Israel reported that Israeli officials have described Hamas’ position as a possible attempt to delay or prevent further military action.

Israel’s security Cabinet previously approved the entry of an international force into Gaza to help disarm Hamas and assume security responsibilities in the territory.

But Israeli ministers have continued to press Netanyahu to reject any arrangement that would require Israeli troops to withdraw before Hamas is dismantled.

Far right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich backed Netanyahu’s position.

“We went to war with a central goal: the destruction of Hamas,” Smotrich said.

He said Gaza should not begin reconstruction until Hamas has been completely dismantled and disarmed.

Former senior Palestinian official Mohammed Dahlan took the opposite view, accusing Netanyahu of challenging the Trump administration.

Dahlan said Netanyahu’s decision represented a rejection of the American effort to establish a political and security framework for Gaza.

He said mediators increasingly viewed Netanyahu as an obstacle to reaching a broader settlement.

Dahlan has been involved in discussions over the future administration of Gaza and has been consulted by Trump envoy Jared Kushner, according to The Times of Israel.

The dispute comes as the fragile ceasefire that followed the Hamas led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, remains under strain.

That attack triggered the war in Gaza, which has devastated much of the territory and displaced large numbers of Palestinians.

Israel currently controls more than half of Gaza, according to the supplied reports, leaving any Israeli withdrawal a central issue in negotiations over the territory’s future.

Elsewhere in the region, Yemen’s Iranian backed Houthi rebels attacked the government controlled port city of Mocha on Sunday night.

It was the second attack on the Red Sea port in less than a day.

A Houthi military source said the group targeted weapons storage sites and Saudi military personnel.

The Yemeni government said residential areas were also struck by missiles and drones. Its forces said some of the incoming drones were intercepted.

The earlier attack killed at least seven people, including four government aligned troops and three civilians, while 15 civilians were wounded, the National Resistance Forces said.

The strikes also damaged port facilities, including buildings, piers and commercial supplies, said Fayed al Noman, an official in Yemen’s information ministry.

Mocha is controlled by Yemen’s internationally recognized government and has been developed as an alternative shipping point to the Houthi controlled port of Hodeida.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree also said the group attacked an oil facility operated by Aramco in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities confirmed that a fire occurred at a facility connected to the Aramco refinery but said there were no casualties. They did not immediately identify the cause of the fire.

The attacks have raised fresh concerns about the stability of Yemen’s long running conflict and the security of shipping routes around the Red Sea.

The fighting also comes against the backdrop of wider regional tensions involving Israel, Iran and their respective allies.

The Houthi movement has received support from Iran and has previously used missiles and drones against regional targets. Its attacks have also threatened commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important maritime corridors.

The latest violence could make efforts to prevent a return to full scale conflict in Yemen more difficult.

Netanyahu also addressed Israel’s military activity in Lebanon, saying Israeli forces had carried out operations against militants there in recent days.

He did not provide details, saying the operation remained sensitive.

“The security of all Israel’s citizens is not up for negotiation,” Netanyahu said.

The Israeli prime minister also rejected the creation of a Palestinian state in Gaza or the West Bank, adding another major obstacle to any broader political settlement.

The immediate dispute over the Gaza proposal is likely to focus on the sequencing of Hamas disarmament and an Israeli military withdrawal.

Trump’s plan calls for Hamas to surrender its weapons while Israeli forces withdraw as the disarmament process advances. Netanyahu’s position is that withdrawal cannot begin until Hamas has been genuinely disarmed.

That difference could determine whether the proposed framework moves toward implementation or becomes another failed diplomatic initiative.

For now, Israel and the United States remain engaged in discussions, but Netanyahu’s public rejection makes clear that Washington has not secured Israeli agreement to the proposed Gaza roadmap.

The continued fighting in Yemen and the unresolved disputes involving Iran, Israel and regional allies add further pressure to an already unstable Middle East.

British Prime Minister Says Infantino Is Wrong Man to Lead FIFA

By
Simeon Bateren
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British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Sunday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino is not the right leader for world soccer, deepening the fallout from an abandoned plan to sell stakes in World Cup competitions to private investors.

“I do not believe that he is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage,” Burnham said, calling the proposal offensive to football people around the world and saying it could not simply be forgotten.

Burnham’s comments came a day after UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership, a statement that could open the door to a challenge against Infantino’s presidency. CONCACAF, the governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer, said FIFA leadership had stopped putting football first.

What We Know So Far

Infantino withdrew the proposal after opposition mounted from three of football’s regional confederations. UEFA’s 55 member nations voted Thursday to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions if the plan proceeded, and CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation both announced their opposition the same day.

The plan would have created a commercial subsidiary called the FIFA Forward Enterprise to run FIFA’s major tournaments, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, with outside investors allowed to buy minority stakes. A document prepared by JP Morgan for FIFA projected the plan would raise member association payouts to an estimated 24 million euros per cycle between 2035 and 2039, though it made no mention of the women’s game. FIFA had indicated the American venture capital firm Thrive Eternal, founded by Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump son in law Jared Kushner, was expected to lead the investor group.

The Asian Football Confederation said in a statement that any proposal risking the unity of the World Cup needed to be reconsidered, adding that FIFA’s failure to consult member associations had exposed weaknesses in its decision making process. FIFA’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance, Carlos Cordeiro, resigned shortly afterward, writing that the plan amounted to a bad deal for football and would mortgage the sport’s future. FIFA’s chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, also left amid the fallout, reportedly describing the plan as the work of one person.

Infantino confirmed the plan’s withdrawal in a statement, saying it had become clear the proposal had created divisions that no longer served football’s shared purpose.

What Authorities Are Saying

UEFA described the abandoned proposal as a secretive, back room deal and said current FIFA leadership had lost the confidence of much of the football world. The confederation said no option should be off the table as it works with other confederations to prevent a similar plan from emerging again.

Not every confederation has taken as hard a line. Rogers Byamukama of the Ugandan Football Federation said nations that depend on FIFA funding for infrastructure and grassroots programs have reason to consider any plan that could bring in additional resources, noting that wealthier European associations are less reliant on FIFA support than federations elsewhere.

The governing bodies for South American, African and Oceania soccer have yet to take a formal position, with the African and Oceania confederations expected to discuss the plan in August.

Why This Matters

The controversy exposes a widening rift between FIFA’s leadership and its most powerful regional confederations, with UEFA and CONCACAF both threatening boycotts that would have made the World Cup impossible to stage without European and North American participation. FIFA’s one nation, one vote structure means Infantino could theoretically have secured support from smaller federations, some of which remain reliant on FIFA funding and have stayed publicly supportive, including Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup.

The episode also reflects growing scrutiny of Infantino’s closeness to American political figures, given the investment plan’s ties to a fund founded by a Trump family relation. That association has fueled broader criticism of decisions made during his tenure, including disciplinary rulings affecting high profile players and ticket pricing for this year’s World Cup.

FIFA has already expanded the men’s World Cup to 48 teams for the 2026 tournament and is now examining a further expansion to 64 teams for 2030, with an independent agency expected to submit proposals in early August and a FIFA decision expected shortly after.

Editorial commentary from The Independent argued that Infantino’s handling of the investment plan will likely define the final chapter of his presidency, contrasting his early reform minded reputation, including expanded attention to the women’s game and grassroots development in Africa, with a more recent drift toward closer ties with wealth and political influence. The editorial contended that Infantino misjudged the willingness of UEFA and CONCACAF to accept a deal negotiated without their full involvement, and suggested his standing within FIFA’s council may still allow him to avoid immediate removal despite the breadth of opposition.

This assessment reflects the newspaper’s own editorial judgment rather than reported fact, and other outlets have not independently verified claims about Infantino’s broader motivations.

What Happens Next

FIFA’s next presidential election is scheduled for March in Rabat, Morocco, with the deadline for candidates to enter the race set for November 18, four months ahead of the vote. UEFA has said it intends to work with other confederations on a broader governance review in the coming weeks, though no timeline has been set for concluding that process.

Whether Infantino faces a formal internal challenge before the March election remains unclear, and his ability to retain support will likely depend on how federations in Africa, South America and Oceania respond once they formally weigh in on the plan later this year.

Reporting drawn from the Associated Press, Goal.com, the BBC and Newswave, citing statements from Andy Burnham, UEFA, CONCACAF, the Asian Football Confederation, Carlos Cordeiro and Gianni Infantino. Commentary referenced from an editorial published by The Independent.

2 Killed as Firefighting Helicopters Collide Near Athens Wildfire

By
Zipporah Njoki
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Two firefighting helicopters collided in midair Sunday while battling a wind driven wildfire west of Athens, killing two crew members and sending one aircraft crashing to the ground, officials said.

The Danish pilot and a Greek fire service coordinator aboard the downed helicopter died in the crash. A British pilot and a second Greek coordinator aboard the other aircraft survived with injuries after an emergency landing and were taken to a hospital in Athens.

The collision occurred over the Psatha area of western Attica as both helicopters supported operations against a fast moving blaze that has destroyed more than 100 homes and forced fresh evacuations.

What We Know So Far

Both aircraft were Bell helicopters, each carrying a two person crew, according to officials. Video from the scene showed one helicopter striking the other before it went down in flames.

The helicopters belonged to the Australian firm McDermott Aviation, company founder John McDermott confirmed. He said the company has operated in Greece for seven years and had deployed 15 aircraft for this year’s fire season. Foreign crews are frequently brought in to support Greek firefighting efforts during the country’s hot, dry summer months.

Greek authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the collision. All Bell helicopters were temporarily grounded as a precaution following the crash, though other firefighting aircraft continued operating.

Strong winds pushed the fire deeper toward communities and an industrial district west of Athens, and the same gusts prevented aircraft from drawing water from the sea to fight the flames.

What Authorities Are Saying

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed sorrow over the crash and offered condolences to the victims’ families. “The loss of the Greek coordinator and the Danish pilot fills us all with grief,” Mitsotakis said in a statement.

McDermott said the company’s thoughts were with the families, friends and colleagues affected by the crash, noting that both crews had been engaged in critical work to protect nearby communities.

Why This Matters

The crash underscores the risks facing aircrews at what has become the most volatile front in a wildfire emergency spreading across southern Europe this summer. It also revives painful memories in a region scarred by the 2018 wildfire in Mati, which killed 104 people and remains the deadliest blaze in Europe this century.

The Athens area fire is unfolding alongside major blazes elsewhere on the continent. In France, firefighters have held the country’s largest wildfire within its perimeter after it forced roughly 224,000 people to flee, in what may rank as the largest civilian evacuation in the country’s history outside wartime. Hot spots continue to burn within a scorched area of about 162 square miles, and nearly 3,000 firefighters remain deployed against that fire and a second, still uncontained blaze in Provence.

In Spain, major wildfires have stopped advancing, offering a measure of relief even as recovery remains distant. Combined, the fires in France and Spain have displaced roughly a third of a million people from homes and vacation destinations at the height of the summer travel season, straining emergency services that are now managing multiple large scale disasters simultaneously.

The reliance on foreign aircrews, evident in the deaths of a Danish pilot and the involvement of an Australian aviation company, illustrates how thinly stretched national firefighting resources have become as wildfires intensify across the region. Climate scientists have linked the increasing frequency and severity of such fires to prolonged heat waves and drought conditions affecting southern Europe.

What Happens Next

Greek investigators are working to determine what caused the two helicopters to collide, with the outcome likely to influence safety protocols for coordinating multiple aircraft over active fire zones. The temporary grounding of Bell helicopters signals authorities are treating the incident as a potential systemic risk rather than an isolated failure.

Firefighting operations in Greece, France and Spain are expected to continue as long as strong winds and dry conditions persist, with authorities in all three countries balancing containment efforts against the ongoing threat of new outbreaks during what remains a volatile stretch of the European summer.

Reporting drawn from the Associated Press and Greek City Times, citing Greek government officials, McDermott Aviation and Greek fire service accounts.

Nigerian Catholic Diocese Buries 27 Victims of Village Attack That Killed at Least 30

By
Simeon Bateren
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 The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan held a mass burial Saturday for 27 people killed in an attack on Naridon village in southern Kaduna state, church officials said. The remaining three victims had already been buried in the days before the ceremony.

Gunmen stormed the farming community late Sunday night, killing at least 30 people, including children, according to residents and local officials. The attackers set homes on fire and abducted an unspecified number of people while many residents slept.

News outlets gave differing accounts of the village’s exact location. Some reports placed Naridon in Kaura council area of Kaduna state, while others described it as sitting along the border between Kaduna and neighboring Plateau state. The discrepancy had not been clarified as of Saturday.

What We Know So Far

The Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Julius Yakubu Kundi, presided over the burial, which drew grieving families, clergy and community members. He said he asked for the coffins to be arranged side by side deliberately, to stand as evidence of a collective failure to protect the victims.

“They should not have died now,” Kundi said, addressing mourners at the ceremony.

Raphael Joshua, a resident who helped tend to the injured following the attack, said victims’ bodies were taken to a nearby hospital while burial arrangements were made. Derek Christopher, chairman of the civil society group Southern Kaduna Peace and Security Network, said the same community had been attacked around the same time last year.

Sule Shuaibu, Kaduna state’s commissioner for home affairs and internal security, said he had not been briefed on the attack. No group has claimed responsibility, and security agencies had not announced any arrests as of the latest reporting.

What Authorities Are Saying

Bishop Kundi told mourners the tragedy reflected a broader failure to safeguard vulnerable communities, singling out the grief of mothers who lost children in the attack as especially difficult to bear.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu condemned the killings and directed security agencies to arrest those responsible. He extended condolences to the Kaduna state government and to victims’ families, describing the attack as heinous and unacceptable.

Why This Matters

The assault adds to a pattern of recurring violence in Nigeria’s northwest and north central regions, where armed groups commonly referred to as bandits carry out raids and kidnappings for ransom. Authorities have said many of these groups originated among herders who took up arms following disputes with farming communities over land and resources strained by population growth and climate pressures.

Christopher’s remark that the same village was attacked around the same time last year points to a recurring vulnerability that repeated condolences and arrest orders have so far failed to resolve. Authorities’ slow acknowledgment of the attack, reflected in the state security commissioner’s admission that he had not been briefed, echoes a broader pattern critics say has allowed violence to escalate in the region in recent years.

The attack also lands amid heightened international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security record. Over the past year, the United States has accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities, a dispute that strained diplomatic relations and preceded a U.S. strike against suspected Islamic State fighters on Nigerian soil in December, carried out with the Nigerian government’s cooperation. Nigeria separately faces an ongoing insurgency from Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province, concentrated mainly in the northeast, distinct from the banditry driving attacks like the one in Naridon.

What Happens Next

Security agencies have not announced arrests, and it remains unclear whether investigators have identified those responsible for the attack. Tinubu’s directive to pursue the attackers will likely face scrutiny given the state’s acknowledged delay in responding to the incident.

Community advocates are likely to continue pressing for sustained security deployment in southern Kaduna, given the area’s history of repeated attacks in the same season in consecutive years. Whether the latest burial and presidential condemnation translate into concrete protective measures for the region remains to be seen.

Reporting drawn from Daily Post Nigeria, Vanguard Nigeria, ABC News and PBS News, citing the Associated Press, the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, the Southern Kaduna Peace and Security Network and Kaduna state officials.

Russian Missile and Drone Barrage Kills 9 People in Kyiv

By
Emmanuel Paul
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Russia launched a heavy overnight barrage of ballistic missiles and drones into Ukraine’s capital early Saturday, killing multiple people and wounding dozens, authorities said.

Ukrainian officials gave differing death tolls following the attack. Kyiv city authorities said at least nine people were killed and 33 wounded, while Ukrainian prosecutors put the citywide count at nine deaths across two districts, and Reuters reported a toll of 10 based on official figures. The final count had not been settled as of Saturday.

The strikes followed a separate large scale attack two days earlier that killed at least 10 people and wounded more than 50 across the country, continuing a pattern Ukrainian officials say Russia is using to exploit gaps in the country’s air defenses.

What We Know So Far

Ukrainian prosecutors said seven people were killed in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district on the left bank of the Dnipro River, while two more died in the Solomianskyi district on the right bank. A five story residential building in Solomianskyi was struck by falling debris and caught fire, and rescue workers evacuated 35 people from its upper floors, Ukraine’s state emergency service said. Eight people were injured in that incident, including two children.

In Darnytskyi, the strikes sparked fires and damaged houses, vehicles and administrative buildings, injuring another 14 people, emergency officials said. One additional person was killed in the surrounding Kyiv region, where the attack damaged several warehouses, regional officials said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said fires broke out across the city and that 18 residential buildings, a school, the Lithuanian Embassy and various infrastructure sites sustained damage. Lithuania’s foreign minister confirmed the country’s embassy was damaged when missiles struck nearby. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said damage was recorded across seven districts of Kyiv, a city of roughly 3 million people.

Zelenskyy said Russia fired 35 missiles, including 27 ballistic missiles, along with 185 drones during the assault. He said only one ballistic missile was intercepted because Ukraine has run out of interceptors for its American made Patriot air defense system.

Nadiia Komarova, 68, a concierge at a Kyiv apartment building, said she was already in bed when air raid sirens sounded around 1:30 a.m., followed almost immediately by explosions. “Our ceilings have started to crumble,” Komarova said, describing shattered windows and debris scattered through her apartment.

Russia’s defense ministry said it carried out what it called a massive strike targeting Ukrainian military industrial facilities and logistics centers in Kyiv.

Attacks Reported Across the Country

Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 109 of 133 drones Russia launched overnight, including Shahed type attack drones. Twenty four drones struck 19 separate locations, and debris from intercepted drones fell in three additional areas, the air force said.

Regional officials reported casualties well beyond the capital. A Russian drone strike hit a warehouse belonging to online retailer Rozetka in Brovary, in the Kyiv region, killing one employee and injuring seven others, the company’s cofounder said. A strike on a passenger bus near Nikopol injured eight people, including a teenager, according to the regional governor.

Officials in Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk and Kherson regions each reported additional casualties from separate strikes over the same 24 hour period, with tolls ranging from single injuries to multiple deaths depending on the region. In Kherson, a Russian strike targeted 35 settlements and killed one person while injuring 31 others, including three children, the regional governor said. In Russian occupied Crimea, the Moscow appointed head of Sevastopol said a drone attack killed a 60 year old woman and injured two others.

What Authorities Are Saying

Zelenskyy has repeatedly pressed the United States and other Western partners for additional Patriot interceptor missiles to counter Russian ballistic strikes. “Every package of ballistic missile interceptors saves the lives of our people,” Zelenskyy said, adding that each night without them brings more casualties.

Zelenskyy said he spoke with U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Friday and described an earlier meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington as positive and productive. At a NATO summit in Ankara in July, Trump said the United States would license Ukraine to produce Patriot systems domestically, though he appeared to step back from that commitment during a Cabinet meeting Friday, saying no final decision had been made.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha renewed calls for urgent air defense support, saying the battle for the skies will determine the war’s trajectory. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the city is working to build additional shelters as attacks intensify.

Why This Matters

Saturday’s strike was the second major attack on Kyiv within a week, following a Thursday assault that killed nine people, including six members of one family near a village outside Kryvyi Rih, and a suspected Russian cruise missile that landed in Poland. The recurrence underscores how difficult it has become for Ukraine to sustain full protection of its capital as its stock of Patriot interceptors runs low.

Officials have said supplies of interceptor missiles once earmarked for Ukraine have been diverted toward American forces and allies in the Persian Gulf amid the separate conflict involving Iran, a shift that has left Kyiv more exposed even as Russian strikes intensify. Resident Liudmyla Nakonechna, 64, said the pace of attacks has worsened noticeably. “It’s getting worse by the day,” she said, describing daily strikes where before they came roughly once a week.

Ukraine has responded by expanding its own long range strikes on Russian territory. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones hit three oil refineries in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, nearly 1,000 miles from Ukraine, describing the facilities as processing millions of tons of oil annually. A Russian online outlet reported a fire at a refinery in Ufa, the regional capital, while local officials described only smoke at an unnamed industrial site. Zelenskyy also said a sanctioned Russian container ship sank in the Black Sea after being struck by Ukrainian drones, a vessel he described as supporting Russia’s war effort. Russia’s state nuclear energy company said the ship had been carrying civilian goods.

The dueling long range campaigns, Russian missiles striking Kyiv and Ukrainian drones striking deep inside Russia, illustrate how both sides have shifted toward hitting infrastructure far from the front line as the ground war has slowed. Russian territorial advances have fallen by more than half this year even as fighting continues along roughly 750 miles of front line, complicating prospects for a near term diplomatic resolution to the more than four year war.

What Happens Next

Ukrainian officials are expected to continue pressing Western governments for additional Patriot interceptors as the gap in air defense capacity leaves Kyiv and other cities more vulnerable to future strikes. Whether the United States moves forward with licensing Ukraine to produce its own Patriot systems remains unresolved following Trump’s comments Friday.

Both Moscow and Kyiv continue to deny deliberately targeting civilians, even as casualty figures from strikes on residential areas mount on both sides of the conflict. With diplomatic momentum limited, further exchanges of long range strikes appear likely in the near term.

Reporting drawn from the Associated Press, Reuters and the Kyiv Independent, citing Ukraine’s state emergency service, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office, Ukraine’s air force, regional governors and Kyiv city officials.

Ukraine Drone Strike Kills 8, Sparks Massive Wildberries Warehouse Fire in Russia

By
Omonigho Daibo
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Ukrainian drone attacks killed at least eight people across several Russian regions overnight and into Sunday, while also setting fire to a warehouse operated by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, officials in both countries said.

The latest wave of long range strikes reached deep inside Russian territory, targeting industrial facilities, logistics infrastructure and areas linked to Moscow’s military operations as Ukraine expanded its campaign beyond the battlefield.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defense systems intercepted 635 Ukrainian drones overnight over multiple regions, including occupied Crimea and the Black and Azov Seas. The ministry did not disclose how many drones reached their intended targets.

One of the attacks struck a Wildberries distribution warehouse in the Samara region, roughly 800 kilometers from the nearest Ukrainian front line. Regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said the strike sparked a fire, though no injuries were reported. Firefighters later brought the blaze under control.

The warehouse is the latest Wildberries facility hit since mid July as Ukraine intensifies attacks on logistics centers viewed as supporting Russia’s wartime economy.

Elsewhere, a drone strike hit a residential building in the city of Engels in the Saratov region, killing two people and damaging civilian infrastructure, Governor Roman Busargin said. Nearby Saratov also sustained damage during the overnight attacks.

Engels hosts one of Russia’s strategic military air bases, while Saratov is home to a major oil refinery that has repeatedly been targeted since the war began.

Ukraine’s General Staff later said its forces struck the Engels air base, igniting a fire, and also targeted the Saratov oil refinery together with the Lyudinovskaya oil depot in Russia’s Kaluga region. Military officials did not specify the extent of the damage.

The refinery processes about seven million metric tons of crude oil each year and is considered an important supplier to Russia’s military industrial sector.

Further east, authorities in Russia’s Udmurtia region said three civilians were killed and two others were injured during another drone strike. Acting regional head Olga Abramova said air defenses intercepted additional drones before they reached other targets.

In Russia’s Belgorod border region, local officials said three more people died and five others were wounded during separate Ukrainian attacks.

Meanwhile, officials in Bashkortostan said air defense units intercepted drones approaching industrial facilities in the regional capital of Ufa. A fire broke out after debris fell into an industrial area, though authorities reported no immediate casualties.

Russia also announced new military strikes inside Ukraine.

The Defense Ministry said Russian forces attacked military infrastructure in the southern port city of Mykolaiv and struck vessels carrying military cargo in the Black Sea.

In southeastern Ukraine, regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said Russian glide bombs struck residential areas in Zaporizhzhia, killing one person and injuring at least 21 others. Authorities in Kharkiv also reported another civilian death after a separate Russian attack ignited a fire at a postal terminal.

Ukraine Expands Campaign Against Russian Logistics and Energy Network

Ukraine has intensified its campaign against logistics hubs, fuel facilities and military infrastructure inside Russia, broadening a strategy designed to weaken Moscow’s ability to sustain its invasion.

Among the latest targets was Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace. Since July 18, Ukrainian drones have struck more than a dozen of the company’s warehouses and distribution centers across western and southern Russia, as well as Russian controlled Crimea, officials and media outlets said.

The retailer occupies a key position in Russia’s consumer supply chain. European Union sanctions imposed in July on the company’s banking division cited its financial contribution to Russia’s state budget.

Russian authorities confirmed the latest warehouse fire in the town of Novosemeykino in the Samara region after drones entered the area. Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said regional airspace was temporarily closed during the attack.

Ukraine has not publicly commented on every strike against the company, but military officials have increasingly focused on disrupting infrastructure that supports Russia’s wartime economy rather than limiting operations to frontline positions.

The overnight operation also reached several strategic military facilities.

Ukraine’s General Staff said forces struck an installation at the Engels air base, home to Tu 95MS and Tu 160 strategic bombers that have repeatedly launched long range missile attacks against Ukrainian cities.

Military officials also announced strikes on the Saratov oil refinery and the Lyudinovskaya oil depot in Russia’s Kaluga region. The refinery ranks among the largest processing facilities in the Volga region and supplies fuel used by Russia’s military and industrial sectors.

In another operation, Ukraine said it targeted a drone facility near Navlya in Bryansk region that was used to store, prepare and launch unmanned aircraft.

The military did not immediately release detailed damage assessments for those locations.

Russian officials confirmed casualties in Saratov but did not verify Ukraine’s claims regarding damage to military facilities or energy infrastructure.

The latest attacks follow several recent long range operations inside Russia.

Late last week, fires erupted at a petrochemical complex in the Republic of Tatarstan after reported drone strikes. Ukrainian officials also acknowledged separate operations targeting an oil refinery in Volgograd region and an aircraft manufacturing facility in Yevpatoriia in Russian controlled Crimea.

While both sides continue to release battlefield claims, some details surrounding the latest attacks remain independently unverified.

Russia, meanwhile, continued aerial attacks across Ukraine overnight.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 133 drones, with 24 reaching their intended targets despite air defense efforts. Local officials said the strikes damaged civilian infrastructure in several regions and caused additional casualties.

The exchange of long range drone attacks reflects a growing phase of the war in which both countries increasingly target economic assets, fuel supplies and military logistics far beyond the front lines.

Why This Matters

The latest cross border attacks highlight how the war is increasingly focused on economic infrastructure as well as military targets.

Ukraine has steadily expanded long range drone operations beyond the battlefield, striking oil refineries, fuel depots, logistics hubs and air bases that support Russia’s military campaign. The latest attacks on Wildberries warehouses fit into that broader strategy of disrupting supply chains and raising the economic cost of the war.

Wildberries has become one of the most prominent commercial targets in recent weeks. While the company primarily operates as Russia’s largest online marketplace, Ukrainian strikes suggest Kyiv views parts of its logistics network as strategically significant because of its nationwide distribution system. European Union sanctions imposed on the company’s banking arm in July have further increased international attention on its financial links to Russia’s economy.

The attacks also demonstrate the growing reach of Ukrainian drone technology.

Facilities hundreds of kilometers from the front lines, including strategic military air bases and major energy installations, are increasingly vulnerable. That trend has forced Russia to devote additional air defense resources to protecting infrastructure far from active combat zones.

At the same time, Russia continues its own long range aerial campaign against Ukraine.

Moscow’s strikes on Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv underscore that civilian areas remain exposed despite both countries investing heavily in air defense systems. The continuing exchange of drone and missile attacks suggests neither side is prepared to reduce military operations.

What Authorities Are Saying

Russian officials blamed Ukraine for the overnight attacks that killed civilians, damaged residential buildings and ignited fires at industrial facilities across several regions.

Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces successfully struck military infrastructure, including the Engels air base, the Saratov oil refinery, the Lyudinovskaya oil depot in Kaluga region and a drone operations site in Bryansk region. Military officials said the strikes were aimed at reducing Russia’s ability to sustain its invasion.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defense network intercepted 635 Ukrainian drones overnight but did not specify how many penetrated defenses or reached their intended objectives.

Officials in Ukraine, meanwhile, said Russia launched 133 drones during the same period, with dozens reaching targets and causing civilian casualties and damage in several regions.

What Happens Next

Both countries are expected to continue expanding their use of long range drones as each seeks to weaken the other’s military and industrial capacity.

Ukraine is likely to maintain pressure on fuel infrastructure, logistics centers and strategic air bases inside Russia, while Moscow is expected to continue targeting Ukrainian cities, energy facilities and transportation networks.

Military analysts believe attacks against infrastructure supporting wartime production will remain a defining feature of the conflict as both sides attempt to erode each other’s operational capabilities without major territorial advances.

With neither government indicating any willingness to scale back military operations, further exchanges involving drones, missiles and long range precision strikes are expected in the coming weeks.

The latest strikes illustrate an important evolution in the conflict.

Earlier phases of the war largely centered on territorial gains and battlefield engagements. Increasingly, however, both Ukraine and Russia are directing resources toward degrading each other’s economic resilience and military supply systems.

Ukraine’s emphasis on refineries, logistics hubs and strategic air bases reflects a broader effort to reduce Russia’s capacity to finance and sustain prolonged military operations. Rather than concentrating exclusively on troop positions, Kyiv is targeting assets that support production, transportation and long range strike capabilities.

Russia, meanwhile, continues employing large scale drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities while attempting to intercept growing numbers of Ukrainian drones entering its airspace. The Defense Ministry’s claim of intercepting hundreds of drones underscores the scale of these operations, even as several aircraft reached important targets.

The repeated attacks on Wildberries also signal that commercial infrastructure may increasingly become part of the broader strategic contest. Although the company remains a civilian retailer, its nationwide logistics network and economic importance have made it a recurring target in Ukraine’s campaign to disrupt Russian commerce.

As both sides expand long range strike capabilities, military analysts expect the conflict to place greater emphasis on infrastructure, logistics and industrial production rather than solely on frontline combat. That evolution is likely to have broader economic consequences while increasing risks for civilian communities located far from active battlefields.

Story sources: Reuters, The Associated Press (AP) and Kyiv Independent. The article also incorporates official statements from Russia’s Defense Ministry, Ukraine’s General Staff and regional authorities cited by those news organizations.

Prince William and Kate Bring All Three Children to Commonwealth Games in Rare Family Outing

By
Zipporah Njoki
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The Prince and Princess of Wales brought all three of their children to the Commonwealth Games on Saturday, marking a rare public appearance for the full family.

William and Kate, both 44, paused their summer break to attend the event with Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8. The outing gave the children their first official public appearance in Scotland, according to British outlets The Telegraph and GB News.

The family was photographed in the stands for the netball semifinals, appearing engaged throughout the match.

What We Know So Far

Charlotte was seen turning to speak with her mother several times during the game, pointing toward the court. George, who turned 13 last week, mirrored his father’s posture, leaning forward with his arms clasped as he watched.

Louis sat between his siblings, alternating between resting his head in his hands and reacting animatedly to the action on the court, a pattern consistent with his reputation for lively expressions at public events.

The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a photo from the outing on Instagram, describing the atmosphere at the Games as incredible and thanking organizers for what they called a wonderful day.

William and Kate, who go by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay while in Scotland, also spent time in Glasgow with Team Wales athletes and their families. The couple visited SportsAid, a charity supporting young athletes for which Kate has served as patron since 2013.

What Authorities Are Saying

King Charles and Queen Camilla opened the Games on July 23 at Glasgow’s Hydro Stadium, stepping onto the stage from a replica of the time traveling police box featured in the British science fiction series Doctor Who, as a youth choir performed the national anthem.

In his opening remarks, Charles praised Commonwealth communities for preparing for the Games with generosity and pride through a 500 day relay carrying the ceremonial baton across member nations. He thanked Glasgow, athletes, organizers and volunteers for making the event possible.

Why This Matters

Public appearances involving all five members of the immediate Wales family remain uncommon. George and Charlotte attended the Wimbledon men’s singles final last month without their younger brother, and the family’s last full outing together came in early July, when Kate completed a 23 mile trek across the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland in support of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

The family also appeared together at Trooping the Colour in June. Saturday’s appearance continues a pattern in which William and Kate largely shield their children from public life during the school break while allowing occasional joint appearances at high profile events.

The Wales family’s attendance follows a broader pattern of royal involvement in this year’s Games. Princess Anne and Prince Edward attended earlier in the week with their respective spouses, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, marking a rare joint outing between the royal siblings.

This year’s competition looks different from past editions. A late shift in hosting moved the Games from Victoria, Australia, to Scotland, producing a scaled back schedule with athletes from all 74 Commonwealth nations competing across ten sports, including netball, swimming, track cycling and boxing, several of which also feature adaptive sport competitions.

The Wales children have a history with the event. Charlotte made her first solo royal outing with her parents at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, when she was 7 and later said gymnastics was her favorite sport to watch.

What Happens Next

The royal family’s summer typically continues with time away from public view, including stays at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the family traditionally gathers in late summer. Kate has previously shared glimpses of the family’s time outdoors during the break, including a photo last week showing the children relaxing in the grass together.

Further public appearances from the Wales family are not expected until royal engagements resume later in the year, following the family’s established pattern of stepping back from the spotlight during the children’s school holidays.

Reporting drawn from People.com, Page Six, The Telegraph and GB News.

Trump Says US Will Suspend Planned Iran Strike as New Peace Framework Emerges

By
Omonigho Daibo
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 President Donald Trump said Saturday night he would order American forces to pause planned strikes on Iran after regional allies reached what he called the outline of a deal to end the five month conflict.

Trump said the emerging agreement would require Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end what he described as its nuclear threat. He announced the decision in a post on his social media platform.

“I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” Trump wrote.

What We Know So Far

A regional official involved in mediation said the proposal would send American and Iranian negotiators back to the table to work through issues that have repeatedly stalled progress. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the talks publicly, said the plan calls for reopening the strait and halting attacks across the region, including those carried out by Iran backed militias against Gulf countries and Jordan.

In exchange, the official said, the United States would lift its naval blockade on Iran and allow Tehran to resume oil exports under the terms of an earlier ceasefire framework. No final agreement has been reached, the official said, though mediation efforts are continuing.

Trump said Israel had joined his commitment to end the war through the ceasefire framework. Israeli officials did not comment publicly on the announcement, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has previously distanced itself from earlier agreements Trump announced on Iran, including a memorandum of understanding that later collapsed.

Trump’s announcement came shortly after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with him by phone Saturday. A person briefed on the call said the crown prince raised concerns that Iran could retaliate against Saudi and Gulf energy infrastructure if the United States expanded its strikes. A White House official confirmed the call took place but did not describe its substance.

Iran’s defense minister wrote on social media that the country remained alert to what he called concrete threats from Washington, adding that Tehran was neither surprised nor passive following Trump’s statement.

Kuwait’s military said Saturday it shot down drones it said Iran launched at facilities in the country’s north, including a government site and a company property on Bubiyan Island. Falling debris caused property damage but no injuries, the Kuwaiti military said. Britain’s maritime trade agency separately reported two incidents near Oman, including a tanker struck in its engine room by an unidentified projectile.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, told counterparts in Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia that any strikes by the United States or Israel, or participation by other countries in such action, would draw what he called a proportionate response. An outlet affiliated with Iran’s top security body said strikes on Iranian energy sites would prompt retaliation against oil fields in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and gas fields in Qatar and Israel.

What Authorities Are Saying

Trump described American forces as fully prepared to strike Iran before announcing the pause, writing that the country was ready to act with force not seen since World War Two. He said Iran and other governments in the region had asked him to hold off given the progress reached on a deal framework.

“Get to work, everybody, and get it DONE,” Trump wrote, closing his post with a call for negotiators to finalize terms quickly.

The State Department issued new security guidance Saturday urging Americans in the region to prepare for flight cancellations and possible airspace closures. The alert covered Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Why This Matters

Trump has announced pauses in strikes on Iran on multiple occasions since the United States and Israel first attacked the country in late February, only for fighting to resume each time. That pattern raises questions about how durable Saturday’s announcement will prove, particularly given the absence of a signed agreement and the involvement of parties, including Israel, that have not confirmed the terms publicly.

The reported Saudi phone call adds a notable dimension to the story. Riyadh has positioned itself as a mediator seeking to prevent the conflict from spreading to Gulf energy infrastructure, even as it joined the United States earlier in the week in striking militia targets in Iraq. Saudi Arabia’s dual role, participating in strikes while also pressing Washington toward restraint, illustrates the delicate position Gulf states occupy between alliance commitments to the United States and fears of Iranian retaliation against their own oil and gas facilities.

The attacks reported by Kuwait and near Oman underscore how the conflict has already begun affecting shipping and infrastructure well beyond Iran and Israel, raising the stakes for any breakdown in the emerging framework. A wider escalation targeting energy infrastructure could disrupt global oil markets given the region’s role in global supply.

What Happens Next

Mediators are continuing talks aimed at converting the framework into a signed agreement, though officials cautioned no deal has been finalized. The Trump administration has said any renewed negotiations depend on Iran first agreeing to a ceasefire and ending attacks on American forces, commercial shipping and Gulf allies, while insisting the Strait of Hormuz remain open and that Iran abandon its nuclear program.

Given the repeated collapse of earlier pauses, the coming days are likely to test whether this framework holds longer than previous attempts, particularly as Israel’s public silence on the announcement leaves open the possibility of renewed friction between Washington and Jerusalem over how to proceed.

Gaza Strikes Kill Eight, Including Two Children

Separately, Israeli strikes across Gaza early Sunday killed at least eight Palestinians, including two children, and wounded more than a dozen others, local health officials said.

A strike on a residential building in southern Gaza killed three family members, including a four year old child, according to Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were taken. Another strike on an apartment in Gaza City killed three family members, including a child, and wounded others, health officials at Shifa Hospital said. The mother in that household was six months pregnant, the hospital said.

In central Gaza, a man and his wife were killed in a separate strike that wounded four other people, according to the main hospital serving the area. Israel’s military said the overnight strikes targeted Hamas operatives but did not provide further detail.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 1,222 Palestinians, including at least 260 children, have been killed since a ceasefire began in October. Five Israeli soldiers have died in that period. Hamas and Israel continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire’s terms.

Reporting drawn from the Associated Press, the New York Post, Fox News, The Guardian, Reuters, Agence France Presse, Axios and CBS News

At Least 3 Dead in Twin Falls, Idaho Restaurant Shooting, Suspect Killed

By
Zipporah Njoki
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0

A shooting at an In N Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls left at least three people dead and several others injured Saturday afternoon, police said.

The suspected shooter was among those killed, Police Chief Matthew Hicks said at an evening news conference. He said officers believe the threat to the community has ended.

Officers from city, county, state and federal agencies responded to reports of gunfire at the restaurant on Blue Lakes Boulevard North around 2:30 p.m., Hicks said.

What We Know So Far

Hicks said he could not yet confirm exact numbers for those killed or wounded, and officials were still notifying next of kin Saturday evening. A city spokesperson, Josh Palmer, said at least two people were hurt and that the number was expected to rise.

Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke said Sheriff Jack Johnson told him five people had been injured. The competing figures from local officials had not been reconciled as of Saturday night.

The identity and motive of the suspected shooter remained under investigation, Hicks said. It was not immediately clear whether the gunman was included in the official death count.

Witness Lane Koehn, 34, said he was stopped at a nearby traffic light when he saw a man carrying a rifle come out of the restaurant’s drive through lane. Koehn said a separate man carrying a handgun then opened fire on the gunman.

Koehn said he watched an employee in an In N Out uniform drag a wounded coworker across the parking lot before paramedics arrived. “She was pretty bad off,” Koehn said, adding that he did not know her condition afterward.

Police temporarily ordered people in the area to shelter in place before lifting the order later Saturday and reopening nearby roads, Palmer said. A Chick fil A location near the scene closed for the rest of the day as a precaution, and the nearby Magic Valley Mall was also closed with people inside told to remain in place.

What Authorities Are Saying

Hicks described the scene as chaotic, given the restaurant’s location near a busy retail area that also includes a movie theater complex. He said hundreds of potential witnesses were expected to be interviewed.

“We believe the threat to the community is over,” Hicks said, adding that the suspected shooter is deceased.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little asked residents for prayers as law enforcement and first responders worked the scene, according to a statement he posted on social media. The FBI said it was aware of the situation and had offered assistance to local investigators, an agency spokesperson said.

St. Luke’s Magic Valley, a nearby medical center, said in a statement that it was coordinating closely with law enforcement and emergency crews as they responded.

In N Out’s chief operating officer, Denny Warnick, said the company was heartbroken and that its thoughts were with customers, employees and their families. The Irvine, California based chain said it was assisting Twin Falls police with the investigation.

Why This Matters

The restaurant involved in Saturday’s shooting is the fourth In N Out location in Idaho and had opened less than a week earlier, on July 24, according to the company. Its location in a heavily trafficked shopping corridor, near a mall, a movie theater and other major retailers, meant the potential exposure to the public was significant, a factor Hicks emphasized in describing the scene as exceptionally chaotic.

Twin Falls, a city of roughly 56,000 people about 130 miles southeast of Boise and 75 miles north of the Nevada border, is not a place that typically sees this scale of violence, and the shooting is likely to prompt broader conversations locally about security at retail and dining locations that draw large weekend crowds.

The presence of an armed bystander who confronted the gunman, as described by witness Lane Koehn, adds a detail investigators will likely scrutinize closely as they reconstruct the sequence of the shooting and determine how the confrontation unfolded.

What Happens Next

Investigators are continuing to interview witnesses and are asking anyone with information to come forward. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims or the suspected shooter, and next of kin notifications were ongoing as of Saturday evening.

Police have not said when they expect to release an official casualty count or details on a possible motive. The FBI’s involvement suggests the investigation could expand beyond local jurisdiction depending on what investigators find in the coming days.

Reporting drawn from NBC News, the Associated Press and ABC News

13 Killed as Tourist Plane Crashes Near Peru’s Nazca Lines

By
Zipporah Njoki
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0

A small plane carrying tourists to view Peru’s famed Nazca Lines crashed and burst into flames Saturday afternoon, killing all 13 people on board, authorities said.

The aircraft went down in an agricultural field near the town of Pueblo Viejo, about four miles from the city of Nazca, shortly after 1 p.m. local time. Police said there were no survivors.

Eleven passengers and two crew members were aboard the plane when it crashed, Police Major Jorge Andrade said at the scene.

What We Know So Far

The aircraft was a Cessna Grand Caravan operated by the Peruvian sightseeing company Aerodiana, according to Nazca’s municipal government. The plane had been flying tourists over the Nazca Lines, a series of enormous figures etched into the desert by Peru’s Indigenous inhabitants hundreds of years ago.

Officials gave differing accounts of where the flight originated. Nazca’s police and several news outlets said the plane departed from Pisco Airport, while Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism and Nazca’s municipal government said it left from the nearby city of Ica. Local authorities have not resolved the discrepancy.

Peru’s state news agency Andina reported that the passengers included two tourists from Germany, two from Spain and seven from Italy, along with the two crew members. Firefighter Cesar Martinez said the bodies recovered from the wreckage were badly burned.

Local outlet RPP reported that the plane lost contact with air traffic control minutes after takeoff. Officials with Peru’s civil aviation authority said the crash site was sealed off and that investigators from Lima were being sent to examine the wreckage.

Aerodiana says on its website that it has offered scenic flights over the Nazca Lines for 14 years. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

What Authorities Are Saying

Andrade told reporters at the scene that the crash left no survivors given its severity. He said four bodies had been recovered as of Saturday afternoon, with recovery efforts continuing.

Nazca’s municipal government confirmed the death toll in a statement and said the cause of the crash remained under investigation. Peru’s tourism ministry said all 11 passengers were foreign visitors, while officials have not yet released the identities of those killed.

Why This Matters

The Nazca Lines are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for their scale and cultural significance since their designation. UNESCO describes the geoglyphs, which include depictions of monkeys, hummingbirds and other animals alongside geometric shapes, as one of archaeology’s enduring mysteries because of their size and number.

Because the figures span distances too great to make out from the ground, tour flights like Saturday’s have become the primary way visitors experience the site. Peru drew more than 4.1 million international visitors in 2025, according to the country’s tourism ministry, with the Nazca Lines ranking among its most visited attractions alongside Machu Picchu and the archaeological sites of Cusco.

Saturday’s crash was not the first involving a sightseeing flight over the Lines. A 2022 crash killed seven people, including two Chilean and three Dutch nationals. A separate crash in 2010 killed four British tourists and two Peruvian crew members. The recurrence of fatal incidents is likely to renew scrutiny of safety oversight for the small aircraft operators that run scenic flights over the site, several of which rely on aging single engine planes to reach the remote viewing routes.

What Happens Next

Peruvian investigators are expected to examine the wreckage and flight data to determine what caused the plane to lose contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff. Authorities have not given a timeline for the investigation’s conclusion.

Officials have not said whether Saturday’s crash will prompt new safety reviews of tour operators flying over the Nazca Lines. Aerodiana’s fleet and safety record are likely to face renewed attention as the inquiry proceeds, and further details on the victims are expected to be released once families have been notified.

Reporting drawn from NBC News, Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, Deutsche Welle and Peru’s state news agency Andina, citing Peru’s National Police, Nazca’s municipal government, Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism and Peru’s civil aviation authority.

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