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23 Dead, 29 Rescued as Floodwaters Devastate Nairobi; Kenya Red Cross Admits Response Teams Were Unprepared

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23 Dead, 29 Rescued as Floodwaters Devastate Nairobi; Kenya Red Cross Admits Response Teams Were Unprepared

At least 23 people were killed and 29 others rescued after severe flooding swept across parts of Nairobi overnight, police confirmed Saturday, while the Kenya Red Cross Society acknowledged that the scale of the disaster caught emergency responders off guard.

The National Police Service said the deaths followed intense rainfall late Friday that triggered widespread flooding across the Kenyan capital, inundating neighborhoods, blocking major roads and forcing emergency teams into large-scale rescue operations.

Authorities warned that search and rescue teams remain deployed across affected communities and that the number of victims could rise as operations continue.

Police said the torrential rain quickly turned into dangerous floodwaters in several densely populated areas.

The hardest-hit neighborhoods included Mukuru, Kibra, Mathare, Huruma, South B, South C, Pipeline in Embakasi, Roysambu, Kahawa West, Githurai and parts of Westlands, where homes were inundated and residents forced to flee rising waters.

Entire streets were submerged in some locations, particularly in informal settlements built along rivers or in low-lying terrain.

The flooding also paralyzed transportation across large sections of the city.

Major routes including Uhuru Highway, Mombasa Road, Thika Superhighway, Jogoo Road, Enterprise Road and Lang’ata Road were partially underwater, severely restricting traffic and complicating rescue efforts.

In a statement issued Saturday, the National Police Service said emergency crews had successfully rescued 29 people trapped by the rising waters.

“Twenty-nine people were successfully rescued from various locations and are receiving the necessary support,” the police statement said.

Authorities said emergency teams remain fully deployed and continue responding to distress calls from residents in flood-prone areas.

Officials urged motorists and residents to remain cautious as heavy rains persist.

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) acknowledged that the disaster unfolded faster and with greater intensity than anticipated.

KRCS Secretary General Ahmed Idris said the magnitude of the flooding stretched response teams across the capital and slowed rescue operations.

“What we witnessed yesterday was far beyond what we had anticipated in terms of impact,” Idris said during an interview on Citizen Weekend.

According to Idris, one of the biggest challenges was the sudden loss of access to critical roads during the emergency.

“In some cases, it took more than two hours to move from South C to Ngong Road because many routes were completely inaccessible,” he said.

Flooded streets and stalled traffic made it difficult for rescue vehicles to move quickly between affected neighborhoods.

Following the difficult overnight response, the Red Cross said it has adjusted its emergency preparedness strategy.

Idris said three specialized rescue teams have now been placed on standby in Nairobi, equipped with boats and trained water rescue personnel.

“As we speak, we have three teams on standby in Nairobi, including two boats and fully trained aqua rescue teams,” he said.

The organization has also begun distributing emergency supplies to help displaced families.

According to Idris, the Red Cross has pre-positioned temporary shelter materials, kitchen kits and other essential relief items for communities affected by flooding.

He explained that disaster preparedness planning is typically guided by weather forecasts and early warning systems.

“Once we receive the weather forecast, we begin preparations immediately and deploy the proper response mechanisms,” Idris said.

Although Nairobi experienced the most severe destruction, officials said heavy rains have affected several other counties across the country.

Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku said the government has activated a multi-agency emergency response team to coordinate rescue and recovery operations nationwide.

Flood impacts have been recorded in Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Makueni, Nakuru, Migori, Murang’a, Bungoma, Kwale, Kirinyaga and Tharaka Nithi counties, according to the government.

Ruku said approximately 3,500 households in Nairobi have already been affected by the flooding.

In Kisumu County, officials reported that 381 households were impacted after the Sondu-Miriu River burst its banks, flooding communities in Kobala and Kobuya.

The Kenya Red Cross said the nationwide death toll linked to the heavy rains has risen to 28 people, though not all fatalities were caused directly by flooding.

Idris cited a lightning strike in Lamu that killed one person as one example of other weather-related deaths recorded during the same storm system.

“It is important to clarify that not all deaths are a result of flooding,” Idris said. “Some incidents are linked to other weather events such as lightning.”

Kenya’s meteorological department warned that the heavy rains are likely to intensify in the coming days.

Forecasters expect widespread rainfall across Nairobi through Monday, with heavy downpours predicted in areas including Westlands, Dagoretti, Roysambu, Kibra, Embakasi, Makadara, Kamukunji, Lang’ata, Kasarani and Mathare.

Nearby Kiambu County is also expected to receive significant rainfall, particularly in Gatundu North, Gatundu South, Thika Town, Juja, Ruiru, Limuru, Kikuyu and Githunguri.

Parts of Kajiado and Machakos counties may also experience isolated to widespread rainfall, especially in Kajiado North, Masinga, Mavoko, Kathiani and Machakos Town, according to the weather advisory.

The deadly flooding highlights the growing challenge faced by Nairobi and other rapidly expanding African cities as extreme weather events become more frequent.

Urban planners and climate experts have long warned that inadequate drainage systems, rapid population growth and unregulated settlement expansion have made the Kenyan capital increasingly vulnerable to floods.

Many of the hardest-hit neighborhoods — including Mathare, Kibra and Mukuru — consist of informal settlements built along riverbanks or in low-lying areas where drainage is limited.

Climate scientists say East Africa is experiencing more intense rainfall patterns, with storms delivering large volumes of rain over short periods of time.

Combined with aging infrastructure and clogged drainage systems, these storms can quickly overwhelm cities like Nairobi.

The current disaster is likely to intensify calls for long-term investment in flood control infrastructure, improved urban planning and stronger disaster preparedness systems.

Without those changes, experts warn, similar floods could continue to threaten lives and livelihoods across Kenya’s capital during future rainy seasons.

citizen.digital

Tehran Oil Facility Hit as Israel Expands Strikes on Iran; Netanyahu Warns of “Many Surprises” in Escalating War

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Tehran Oil Facility Hit as Israel Expands Strikes on Iran; Netanyahu Warns of “Many Surprises” in Escalating War

(AP) — A massive fire erupted at a fuel storage facility in Tehran late Saturday after Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on the site, marking a dramatic escalation in the week-old war between Iran, Israel and the United States as leaders on all sides signaled the conflict could intensify further.

Columns of flames and smoke rose into the night sky above the Iranian capital following the strike. Video captured by The Associated Press showed the horizon glowing red as emergency crews struggled to contain the blaze.

Israel’s military acknowledged that it had struck fuel storage facilities in Tehran, describing the targets as part of the country’s broader energy infrastructure.

The attack appeared to be the first time since the war began that a civilian industrial site inside the capital had been hit.

Iranian state media attributed the strike to “an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime,” referring to Israel. The facility reportedly supplies fuel to Tehran and several neighboring provinces in northern Iran.

The strike came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the next phase of the conflict could bring unexpected developments.

Netanyahu said Israel had “many surprises” prepared for the coming days of the war, which has rapidly expanded beyond its initial military targets.

The conflict began with a series of coordinated airstrikes by the United States and Israel that killed key members of Iran’s leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian officials.

Since then, Iran has responded with waves of ballistic missiles and drone attacks targeting Israel, U.S. military assets and several countries in the Persian Gulf.

The growing confrontation has exposed tensions within Iran’s political leadership over how to proceed with the conflict.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly apologized Saturday for missile and drone attacks that struck “neighboring countries,” signaling a possible willingness among some leaders to reduce regional escalation.

In a brief message that appeared to have been recorded hastily, Pezeshkian said Iran should avoid further strikes on nearby states unless they directly participate in attacks against Iran.

“Our armed forces should not target neighboring countries or launch missiles toward them unless those nations attack us,” Pezeshkian said.

He added that diplomatic efforts could still provide a path toward resolving the crisis.

Pezeshkian also rejected a demand by U.S. President Donald Trump that Iran surrender unconditionally.

“That’s a dream that they should take to their grave,” he said.

Other members of Iran’s leadership council struck a far more confrontational tone.

Judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, one of the three officials overseeing the country’s leadership after Khamenei’s death, said Iran would continue attacking sites used by its adversaries.

“The geography of some countries in the region — both overtly and covertly — is in the hands of the enemy,” Mohseni-Ejei wrote on X. “Intense attacks on these targets will continue.”

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former commander in the Revolutionary Guard, echoed that message, saying countries hosting U.S. bases would remain at risk while American forces operate in the region.

“As long as the presence of U.S. bases continues, those countries will not enjoy peace,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations later suggested that some strikes on civilian areas in neighboring states may have occurred when U.S. air-defense systems intercepted Iranian weapons, though it provided no evidence.

Late Saturday, Iranian security official Ali Larijani sought to project unity, telling state media that Iran’s leaders were aligned on how to respond to the conflict.

“Our leaders are united on this issue and have no disagreements,” Larijani said.

He also revealed that Iran’s leadership council had asked for preparations to convene the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting the country’s next supreme leader.

President Donald Trump indicated that the United States does not intend to scale back its military campaign against Iran in the near term.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump said the United States was not interested in negotiations at this stage.

“We’re not looking to settle,” Trump said. “They’d like to settle. We’re not looking to settle.”

He warned that Iran could face additional strikes targeting new areas and groups of individuals, though he did not specify potential targets.

Trump described the ongoing U.S. operations as an “excursion,” adding that economic disruptions such as rising energy prices would stabilize once the conflict concludes.

The conflict continued to ripple across the Middle East Saturday.

In Baghdad, three Iraqi security officials told The Associated Press that a missile struck the helicopter landing pad inside the U.S. Embassy complex.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The embassy declined to comment, and there were no immediate reports of casualties.

It was the first known strike to land inside Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone since the war began.

Iraq’s caretaker prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, condemned the attack as a “terrorist act” carried out by what he described as “rogue groups.”

Several U.S. allies in the Gulf also reported incoming attacks.

Authorities in Bahrain activated warning sirens as Iranian missiles targeted the island kingdom.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones heading toward the massive Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts American troops.

In the United Arab Emirates, officials said debris from intercepted aerial weapons fell onto a vehicle and killed an Asian driver. The UAE has now recorded four deaths since the conflict began, all foreign nationals.

Residents in Dubai reported hearing explosions early Saturday morning as air-defense systems engaged incoming threats.

Passengers at Dubai International Airport were directed into underground train tunnels while authorities assessed the situation.

The escalating attacks have left civilians throughout the region on edge.

A university student in western Tehran told The Associated Press that even neighborhoods far from government and military installations were living in fear amid the ongoing bombardment.

“Tehran is under severe bombardment,” the student said, speaking anonymously due to security concerns.

Israel earlier Saturday said it struck an airport in Tehran that it believes has been used to transfer weapons and funding to regional militant groups allied with Iran.

The conflict has already caused significant casualties across the region.

Officials in Iran say at least 1,230 people have been killed there since the war began. Authorities in Lebanon report more than 290 deaths, while Israel has confirmed 11 fatalities.

Six U.S. service members have also been killed during the fighting.

Despite repeated missile alerts across Israel Saturday, authorities reported no additional casualties from the latest wave of Iranian attacks.

The strike on Tehran’s fuel storage facility signals a potentially important shift in the war’s trajectory. By targeting energy infrastructure within the Iranian capital, Israel appears to be expanding its strategy beyond military sites toward assets that could weaken Iran’s economic and logistical capacity.

Such attacks carry major risks. Energy infrastructure is closely tied to global oil markets, and damage to facilities in Iran — one of the world’s major energy producers — could trigger wider economic disruptions.

At the same time, Iran’s divided political response highlights uncertainty within its leadership following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei. The contrasting statements from President Pezeshkian and hard-line figures such as Mohseni-Ejei suggest a struggle between factions advocating restraint and those pushing for continued escalation.

Another significant factor is the growing involvement of regional states. Missile interceptions over Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates illustrate how quickly the conflict has spread beyond its initial participants.

If attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure intensify, the war could evolve into a broader regional confrontation involving multiple governments, global oil markets and major international powers.

For now, both sides appear to be preparing for a prolonged and unpredictable conflict — one that could reshape the security landscape of the Middle East for years to come.

Russian Missile Strike Kills at Least 10 in Kharkiv Apartment Block as Ukraine Faces Widening Drone and Missile Barrage

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Russian Missile Strike Kills at Least 10 in Kharkiv Apartment Block as Ukraine Faces Widening Drone and Missile Barrage

(AP) — A Russian missile strike demolished part of a five-story residential building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv early Saturday, killing at least 10 people — including two children — as Moscow unleashed a sweeping overnight wave of missiles and drones across the country, Ukrainian officials said.

Emergency crews continued combing through shattered concrete and twisted metal hours after the explosion tore through the apartment block in Ukraine’s second-largest city. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescuers searched for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.

Sixteen other people were injured in the strike, local officials confirmed.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said several victims were members of families who were inside their homes when the missile struck the building in a densely populated residential district.

Among those killed were a primary school teacher and her young son, a second-grade student, who died in their apartment, Terekhov said. An eighth-grade girl and her mother were also among the victims.

The attack formed part of a broader wave of aerial assaults launched by Russian forces overnight, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who urged Ukraine’s international partners to respond more forcefully.

Zelenskyy said Russia fired 29 missiles and 480 drones across multiple regions of Ukraine during the overnight operation, targeting energy facilities and infrastructure in the capital region and central parts of the country.

Preliminary military assessments indicate that Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted 19 of the missiles and 453 drones, though several weapons penetrated defenses.

Authorities documented nine missile impacts and 26 drone strikes across 22 locations, Zelenskyy said in a message posted on X.

The attacks caused damage in at least seven additional locations across the country.

In the Kyiv region, falling debris from intercepted drones and missiles damaged structures in three districts, regional officials said.

Further south in the Odesa region, dozens of firefighters were deployed to contain large fires that erupted at infrastructure sites following multiple drone strikes.

Ukraine’s national rail operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, said damage to rail facilities forced officials to reroute several passenger and freight trains traveling through the center-west of the country.

Investigators believe the Kharkiv apartment building was hit by a newly deployed Russian cruise missile.

Ukraine’s regional Prosecutor’s Office indicated the weapon was likely the Izdeliye-30, a subsonic air-launched missile that Russian forces have recently begun deploying in attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Ukrainian military analysts say the missile has an estimated range of about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) and incorporates an upgraded satellite navigation system designed to reduce vulnerability to electronic jamming.

If confirmed, the Kharkiv strike would represent one of the first instances in which the weapon has been used against densely populated civilian areas.

Russia’s Defense Ministry issued a statement asserting that the overnight operation focused on military targets, including factories producing equipment for Ukraine’s armed forces, energy infrastructure and air bases.

Zelenskyy condemned the Kharkiv attack as a deliberate assault on civilian life and appealed to Ukraine’s allies for stronger assistance.

“There must be a response from partners to these savage strikes against life,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.

“Russia has not abandoned its attempts to destroy Ukraine’s residential and critical infrastructure, and therefore support must continue,” he added.

The Ukrainian leader said Kyiv is working with the European Union and other allies to strengthen air defense systems and expand protective measures for civilians.

Russia has relied heavily on Iranian-designed Shahed drones during the conflict, launching tens of thousands since the full-scale invasion began more than four years ago.

Moscow has expanded domestic production of the drones and frequently deploys them in large coordinated waves intended to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses.

Recent attacks have involved hundreds of drones in a single night — far exceeding the number used in some entire months earlier in the war.

The drones have become one of Russia’s primary tools for striking Ukrainian infrastructure, energy networks and military positions.

Iran itself has also used the same type of drone in retaliatory attacks across the Middle East following joint U.S.-Israeli military strikes, Zelenskyy said.

According to the Ukrainian president, the United States recently approached Kyiv seeking assistance in countering those drones.

Zelenskyy said he authorized the transfer of equipment and the deployment of Ukrainian specialists to help partners improve defenses against Shahed drone attacks.

The intensifying conflict in the Middle East has begun drawing international focus away from the war in Ukraine, which remains Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II.

Diplomatic efforts to negotiate a settlement between Moscow and Kyiv have slowed as global attention shifts to the escalating confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

A new round of U.S.-brokered negotiations between Russia and Ukraine had been scheduled for this week but was postponed amid the broader geopolitical tensions.

Despite those diplomatic setbacks, Zelenskyy said Ukraine continues coordinating with Western allies to secure additional military and humanitarian assistance.

While Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities have been frequent throughout the conflict, the scale and technological evolution of recent strikes suggest the war may be entering a new and more dangerous phase.

The deployment of the Izdeliye-30 missile, if confirmed, would indicate Russia is expanding its arsenal of long-range precision weapons capable of bypassing Ukrainian air defenses. Combined with the massive drone swarms launched overnight, the strategy appears designed to overwhelm interception systems through sheer volume and technological diversity.

At the same time, the broader geopolitical environment is shifting in ways that could reshape the conflict. The Middle East crisis has redirected diplomatic attention and military resources, potentially weakening the sustained focus that Western governments have maintained on Ukraine since 2022.

Another emerging factor is the growing global circulation of Iranian drone technology. Originally supplied to Russia for use in Ukraine, the same systems are now appearing in other conflicts, illustrating how modern warfare increasingly spreads across regions through shared weapon systems and strategic partnerships.

Ukraine’s decision to provide expertise in countering these drones to partners in the Middle East reflects the unusual position Kyiv now occupies: a country simultaneously fighting a major war and serving as a testing ground for defense tactics against rapidly evolving technologies.

For civilians in cities like Kharkiv, however, the geopolitical dynamics offer little immediate relief. As rescue crews continue searching through the collapsed apartment building, the attack stands as another reminder of the human toll of a war that shows little sign of ending.

Russia Shared Intelligence With Iran That Could Aid Attacks on U.S. Military Assets, AP Sources Say

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Russia Shared Intelligence With Iran That Could Aid Attacks on U.S. Military Assets, AP Sources Say

 Russia has supplied Iran with intelligence that could help Tehran identify and potentially strike American military assets in the Middle East, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments.

The officials indicated that Moscow passed information capable of assisting Iran in targeting American warships, aircraft and other military resources operating across the region.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive intelligence matters.

Despite the intelligence exchange, U.S. analysts have not determined that Russia is directing Iranian military actions or instructing Tehran on how to use the information as the United States and Israel continue strikes against Iranian targets.

The revelation marks the first indication that Moscow may be seeking to play a more active role in the expanding conflict that began when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran last week.

The White House downplayed the significance of reports suggesting Moscow is sharing intelligence with Tehran.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Friday that the reported cooperation had not altered the course of military operations.

“It clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them,” Leavitt said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the issue during an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes, indicating the Pentagon is closely monitoring communications and intelligence flows between global powers.

“The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who’s talking to who,” Hegseth said.

“And anything that shouldn’t be happening, whether it’s in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly.”

Leavitt declined to comment on whether President Donald Trump had raised the issue directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin or whether Washington was considering consequences for Moscow.

She told reporters that the president would address those questions himself.

Russian officials refrained from confirming or denying the intelligence sharing.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow has not received a request from Iran for direct military assistance related to the conflict.

“We are in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue,” Peskov said Friday.

When pressed on whether Russia had supplied intelligence or military support to Iran since the conflict began, Peskov declined to comment further.

Russia remains one of the few major powers maintaining strong diplomatic ties with Tehran.

Iran has faced years of international sanctions and isolation over its nuclear program and its backing of regional militant groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi movement.

Details about the U.S. intelligence findings were first revealed by The Washington Post.

U.S. officials familiar with the information emphasized that while Russia may have shared intelligence capable of aiding Iranian targeting decisions, analysts have not concluded that Moscow is actively directing Iranian military operations.

The United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran last week, striking leadership targets, missile sites and naval facilities.

Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks aimed at American installations and allied nations in the Persian Gulf.

The intelligence disclosure underscores the growing partnership between Russia and Iran, particularly since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Biden administration previously declassified intelligence indicating that Iran had supplied Russia with Shahed attack drones, which Moscow has used extensively during its war against Ukraine.

U.S. officials also accused Tehran of assisting Russia in building a drone production facility inside Russian territory.

In addition, Washington alleged that Iran transferred short-range ballistic missiles to Moscow for battlefield use in Ukraine.

These developments have deepened concerns among Western officials that military cooperation between Russia and Iran could reshape global security dynamics.

Amid the escalating tensions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the United States and several Middle Eastern allies have shown interest in Ukraine’s experience countering Iranian-made drones.

Tehran has supplied Russia with Shahed drones, which Moscow frequently deploys in nighttime attacks against Ukrainian cities.

Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine has already discussed potential cooperation with countries including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.

“Ukraine knows how to defend against Shahed drone attacks because our cities have faced them almost every night,” said Olga Stefanishyna, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States.

“When our partners are in need, we are always ready to help.”

The intelligence revelation arrives as President Donald Trump continues efforts to navigate multiple international crises simultaneously.

Trump has repeatedly vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, though progress toward negotiations has been inconsistent.

His relationship with Zelenskyy has been strained at times, particularly as Trump has encouraged Kyiv to consider concessions to Russia in order to reach a settlement.

During the same period, the United States has escalated its military campaign against Iran, striking strategic military infrastructure and attempting to degrade Tehran’s missile and naval capabilities.

Trump has said the campaign’s objectives include dismantling Iran’s missile arsenal, destroying its naval capacity and preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The intelligence suggesting Russia may be assisting Iran highlights the emergence of a complex geopolitical triangle involving Moscow, Tehran and Washington.

While Russia and Iran have long maintained diplomatic ties, their cooperation has accelerated dramatically during the Ukraine war. Iran’s drone supplies have helped Russia sustain its military campaign, while Moscow has provided Tehran with political backing and potential technological support.

If intelligence sharing continues, analysts warn it could further complicate the U.S. military posture across the Middle East. American forces operate bases and naval assets throughout the Persian Gulf, making them potential targets if adversaries gain improved situational awareness.

At the same time, Russia’s involvement carries strategic risks for Moscow. Direct participation in a conflict involving the United States could deepen tensions between nuclear powers and widen an already volatile regional war.

For Washington, the situation underscores the interconnected nature of modern conflicts. The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are no longer isolated theaters; instead, they increasingly overlap through alliances, technology transfers and intelligence cooperation.

Whether Russia’s actions remain limited to information sharing or expand into deeper military involvement could shape the trajectory of the conflict in the coming months.

Islamic Militants Kidnap More Than 300 Civilians in Northeastern Nigeria as Insurgency Intensifies

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Islamic Militants Kidnap More Than 300 Civilians in Northeastern Nigeria as Insurgency Intensifies

Islamic militants abducted more than 300 civilians during coordinated raids in northeastern Nigeria, officials said Friday, marking one of the largest mass kidnappings in the region in recent months and highlighting the enduring threat posed by extremist groups operating in the area.

Local authorities indicated that the abductions occurred when heavily armed fighters stormed rural communities in Borno State, a region that has long been the epicenter of Nigeria’s insurgency.

Government officials and security sources said the attackers swept through several villages, rounding up residents and forcing them into trucks and motorcycles before disappearing into remote bushland. The victims include women, children and elderly residents, local authorities said.

Community leaders and security personnel have begun efforts to determine the precise number of abducted people, though preliminary estimates suggest that more than 300 individuals were taken during the raids.

Officials believe the operation was carried out by militants linked to extremist groups that have waged a violent campaign in northeastern Nigeria for more than a decade.

Nigeria’s military and regional officials have not yet formally attributed the attack to a specific faction, but security analysts say the tactics resemble those frequently used by Boko Haram and its splinter group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Both organizations have repeatedly targeted rural communities across northeastern Nigeria, carrying out kidnappings, bombings and assaults on military installations.

Local government officials said the militants arrived in large numbers and surrounded the villages before residents could flee.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as families attempted to escape the attackers.

Some villagers managed to hide in nearby forests while others fled to neighboring communities, but hundreds were unable to escape.

Security forces and local militias have begun search operations in surrounding areas in an effort to locate the abducted civilians.

Military officials said troops have been deployed along key roads and suspected militant routes, though the vast terrain and dense forests in the region make rescue operations particularly challenging.

Local authorities also appealed for calm among residents, urging communities to cooperate with security agencies and provide information that could help locate the captives.

Community leaders in Borno State said many families remain uncertain about the fate of their relatives.

Some villages have been largely emptied as residents fled to nearby towns for safety.

Mass abductions have become a hallmark of the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria.

Militant groups frequently kidnap civilians to use as bargaining chips for ransom, forced labor or recruitment.

The most widely known case occurred in 2014, when Boko Haram abducted 276 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, sparking global outrage and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

Although some of the girls were eventually released, many remain missing.

Since then, numerous similar kidnappings have taken place across Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where security forces have limited presence.

Experts say such attacks are often designed to spread fear among local populations and undermine confidence in government security efforts.

The ongoing insurgency has triggered one of Africa’s largest humanitarian crises.

Millions of people have been displaced across northeastern Nigeria, with many living in crowded camps or informal settlements.

Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that the region faces severe food shortages and limited access to healthcare due to persistent violence.

Humanitarian organizations operating in Borno State say attacks and kidnappings continue to disrupt relief operations and restrict movement in some areas.

The abduction of hundreds of civilians could further worsen the humanitarian situation, particularly if families are forced to flee their homes in fear of additional raids.

The mass kidnapping illustrates the enduring resilience of extremist groups in northeastern Nigeria despite years of military operations aimed at dismantling their networks.

Nigeria’s armed forces, supported by a regional coalition known as the Multinational Joint Task Force, have launched numerous offensives against militant strongholds in recent years.

While those operations have succeeded in recapturing some territory, insurgent groups have adapted by shifting tactics.

Instead of attempting to control large urban areas, militants increasingly focus on asymmetric attacks, including ambushes, suicide bombings and kidnappings in remote communities.

Security experts note that these tactics allow militants to maintain influence even when they face heavy military pressure.

Another factor complicating the conflict is the fragmentation of militant groups.

Boko Haram itself splintered several years ago, producing rival factions that sometimes compete for influence while continuing attacks against government forces and civilians.

This fragmentation has made the insurgency more unpredictable and harder to contain.

The security crisis in northeastern Nigeria has also spilled across borders into Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, creating a regional conflict that affects millions of people.

Militant groups frequently move across these borders to evade security forces, exploiting the vast and difficult terrain around Lake Chad.

Regional governments have attempted to coordinate counterterrorism operations, but limited resources and political challenges have slowed progress.

Analysts warn that unless security conditions improve significantly, extremist groups could continue using mass kidnappings as a strategic tool.

Such operations not only generate ransom revenue but also reinforce militants’ ability to intimidate populations and weaken local governance.

For families whose relatives were taken in the latest abductions, however, the geopolitical analysis offers little comfort.

As search operations continue, communities across northeastern Nigeria remain on edge, hoping that the hundreds of civilians seized during the raids can eventually be brought home safely.

AP

Militants Kill 15 Soldiers in Northern Benin Attack as Jihadist Violence Spreads Across Border Region

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Militants Kill 15 Soldiers in Northern Benin Attack as Jihadist Violence Spreads Across Border Region

Militants killed 15 soldiers and wounded five others in an assault on a military camp in northern Benin this week, the army said Friday, underscoring the growing reach of jihadist groups that have expanded violence across parts of West Africa.

The attack occurred Wednesday in the village of Kofouno, located in Benin’s northern border region, where armed groups have increasingly targeted security forces and rural communities in recent years.

Benin’s armed forces spokesperson, Colonel James Johnson, confirmed the casualties in a statement issued Friday.

“The attack resulted in the loss of 15 of our personnel and five wounded, whose lives are not in danger,” Johnson said.

He added that Beninese troops engaged the assailants during their withdrawal, killing at least four militants and destroying several motorcycles used by the attackers to flee the area.

Johnson also rejected claims by militants that they had seized control of the military position.

The assault was claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a militant network affiliated with al Qaeda that operates across several countries in the Sahel region.

JNIM said the strike targeted the military installation in Kofouno, though the group’s assertion that it had taken control of the camp was disputed by Benin’s military.

Extremist organizations linked to both al Qaeda and the Islamic State have expanded their presence in recent years across West Africa’s northern frontier regions.

Security analysts say fighters have increasingly targeted the tri-border zone between Niger, Benin and Nigeria, an area characterized by vast forests, limited infrastructure and porous borders.

These remote corridors, once used primarily for trade and migration, have gradually become staging grounds for militant operations.

Benin historically remained insulated from the insurgencies that destabilized much of the Sahel, particularly in neighboring countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

However, violence has steadily crept southward in recent years as extremist networks push beyond their traditional strongholds.

Attacks in northern Benin have grown more frequent since 2022, with militants targeting both military patrols and border security installations.

The government rarely discloses detailed information about such incidents, but officials acknowledged a major assault in April of last year in which 54 Beninese soldiers were killed during a raid attributed to JNIM.

That attack marked one of the deadliest assaults on the country’s armed forces in recent memory.

The deteriorating security environment has also contributed to rising tensions within Benin’s military and political establishment.

In December, disgruntled soldiers attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon in what authorities described as a failed coup attempt.

Those involved cited frustration over the worsening security situation in northern regions and expressed anger over what they described as insufficient recognition for soldiers killed in combat.

According to statements attributed to the conspirators, the attempted takeover was motivated by “the deteriorating security situation in northern Benin coupled with the disregard and neglect of our fallen brothers-in-arms.”

The alleged plot collapsed after regional governments, including Nigeria, assisted Benin in maintaining control and securing key institutions.

The attack in Kofouno comes at a politically sensitive moment for Benin.

The country is preparing to hold a presidential election next month that will bring an end to Talon’s time in office.

Security conditions in the north are expected to become a central issue during the transition period, particularly as the government faces mounting pressure to contain militant activity.

Authorities have deployed additional troops to the northern frontier in recent years and strengthened cooperation with neighboring states in an attempt to prevent further infiltration by extremist groups.

The attack highlights how the Sahel’s long-running insurgency is increasingly spilling into coastal West African nations.

For more than a decade, jihadist organizations have entrenched themselves in parts of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, exploiting weak governance, local grievances and difficult terrain to build networks across the region.

As military pressure intensified in those countries, many fighters began shifting operations southward toward the Gulf of Guinea, targeting nations such as Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.

Security experts warn that these coastal states now face a critical challenge: preventing the insurgency from establishing permanent footholds.

Northern Benin’s geography makes that task especially difficult. The area includes large national parks and sparsely populated forests that stretch across international borders.

Militant groups often use motorcycles to navigate these areas quickly, launching attacks and retreating before government forces can respond.

The presence of smuggling routes and limited state infrastructure further complicates counterinsurgency efforts.

Another factor contributing to instability is the complex regional security environment. Political upheaval and military coups in neighboring countries have disrupted longstanding security cooperation arrangements, making coordinated responses more difficult.

Benin, unlike some of its neighbors, has maintained a relatively stable democratic system. Yet the spread of insurgent violence threatens to test the resilience of its institutions.

If attacks continue to intensify, analysts warn that northern Benin could gradually resemble the conflict zones that emerged earlier in parts of the Sahel.

For now, authorities insist that government forces remain in control of the affected regions.

But the assault on the Kofouno military camp demonstrates that militant groups are capable of carrying out deadly operations deep inside Beninese territory — a development that underscores the widening reach of the insurgency across West Africa.

Reuters

Evidence Points to Possible U.S. Airstrike in Deadly Blast at Iranian School That Killed Scores of Students

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Evidence Points to Possible U.S. Airstrike in Deadly Blast at Iranian School That Killed Scores of Students

 (AP) — Satellite imagery, expert assessments and statements from U.S. officials indicate that the devastating explosion that destroyed a school in southern Iran and killed scores of students may have been the result of an American airstrike targeting a nearby compound linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

The Feb. 28 blast struck Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in the coastal city of Minab, located about 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) southeast of Tehran. Iranian state media indicated that more than 165 people died, the majority of them children who were attending classes when the explosion occurred.

The incident represents the deadliest reported civilian event since the current conflict involving Iran and its adversaries escalated earlier this year.

Satellite photographs captured Wednesday and reviewed by The Associated Press reveal extensive destruction at the school site, where most of the structure appears to have been flattened. The images show a distinctive crescent-shaped breach in the roof and debris scattered across the campus.

Experts examining the imagery indicated that the pattern of destruction is consistent with precision air-delivered munitions.

U.S. officials have not acknowledged responsibility for the strike.

During a Pentagon media briefing Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the U.S. military was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“All I can say is that we’re investigating that,” Hegseth said. “We, of course, never target civilian targets. But we’re taking a look and investigating that.”

Iranian authorities have accused both the United States and Israel of carrying out the strike.

Neither country has publicly confirmed involvement.

However, several factors suggest the possibility that U.S. forces may have been responsible.

A U.S. official who spoke with The Associated Press indicated that the strike was likely American. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Another indicator involves the launch of a formal review by the U.S. military. Pentagon guidelines for mitigating civilian harm state that such reviews typically begin after investigators determine there may be a possibility that U.S. operations contributed to civilian casualties.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, declined to discuss details of the case.

“It would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation,” Hawkins told The Associated Press.

At the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated Friday that there were no new updates regarding the inquiry.

The school sits adjacent to a walled complex identified on maps as the Seyyed Al-Shohada Cultural Complex, which is associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Satellite images show extensive damage inside the compound, including multiple buildings that appear to have been struck by munitions.

The photographs reveal blast craters, charred sections of roofing and collapsed structures within the military compound.

Iranian digital mapping platforms also identify living quarters nearby for the Assef Brigades, a unit linked to the 16th Assef Coastal Missile Group within the Revolutionary Guard’s naval forces.

Military analyst Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, indicated that the nearby unit operates under the Guard’s 1st Naval District, which oversees security in the Strait of Hormuz.

The strategic waterway represents one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global oil and natural gas shipments passing through it.

The United States has conducted multiple strikes against naval-related targets in the region during the current conflict and has acknowledged operations within Hormozgan Province, where Minab is located.

American naval forces operating in the Arabian Sea, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, would have the capability to conduct air operations within range of the site.

Israel, meanwhile, has concentrated its military operations closer to its own borders and has not acknowledged strikes south of the city of Isfahan, approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Minab.

Three independent specialists who reviewed the satellite images for The Associated Press indicated that the pattern of damage strongly suggests multiple precision-guided munitions struck the area.

Corey Scher, a researcher who studies satellite imagery and radar data to analyze changes in conflict zones, observed that the damage appeared highly concentrated within the compound.

“All the strikes are clustered within the walled-off compound,” Scher said. “That’s one level of precision at the block level. And then most of the strikes are basically leading to direct hits on buildings.”

Scher noted that the explosions appear to have occurred when the munitions struck surfaces directly rather than detonating in the air.

“It looks like the explosion happened at the time they hit the surface, whether it was the building or the ground,” he explained.

Sean Moorhouse, a former British Army officer and explosive ordnance disposal specialist, indicated that the damage pattern could be consistent with multiple high-explosive warheads weighing roughly 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms).

Such impacts would also undermine theories suggesting that a malfunctioning Iranian missile may have accidentally struck the site, Moorhouse said.

Another weapons specialist, N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, said the strike appeared to involve several near-simultaneous impacts.

“If indeed it is confirmed that an American or Israeli strike hit the school, there are several potential points of failure in the targeting cycle,” Jenzen-Jones said.

He suggested the incident could have stemmed from intelligence failures or outdated targeting data.

The strike has drawn strong criticism from the United Nations and several international human rights organizations.

U.N. Secretary-General officials and human rights advocates have urged transparency regarding the circumstances of the attack.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. Human Rights Office, emphasized that families of the victims deserve clarity.

“The families of the little girls who were killed are entitled to the truth of how this happened,” Shamdasani said.

Legal experts have noted that attacks on schools can constitute violations of international humanitarian law.

Elise Baker, a senior staff lawyer at the Atlantic Council, explained that civilian structures such as schools are protected under the laws governing armed conflict.

“Strikes can only legally target military objectives and combatants,” Baker said. “The school was a civilian object and the students and teachers were civilians.”

Baker added that the presence of a nearby military facility does not automatically justify attacks that place civilians at risk.

The Minab explosion highlights the growing challenges military planners face when conducting precision strikes in areas where military installations and civilian infrastructure exist side by side.

Across many regions of the Middle East, military bases, housing compounds and public institutions often coexist within densely populated urban zones. This overlap significantly increases the risk of civilian casualties even during highly targeted operations.

Modern air forces increasingly rely on precision-guided munitions designed to limit collateral damage. However, those systems still depend heavily on accurate intelligence and up-to-date targeting data.

If a facility previously associated with military operations becomes a civilian site — such as a school or residential complex — outdated information can lead to catastrophic consequences.

Analysts also note that militaries frequently face pressure to act quickly during wartime operations, particularly when targeting mobile missile units or naval assets. Rapid decision-making can sometimes leave little time for thorough verification of nearby civilian activity.

The Minab strike could therefore represent a broader illustration of how intelligence gaps, operational urgency and geographic proximity between military and civilian sites can converge to produce devastating outcomes.

As the investigation continues, the incident is likely to intensify global scrutiny of military operations in the region and the safeguards used to prevent civilian casualties.

For the families of the children who died in the blast, however, the central question remains unchanged: how a school became the site of one of the deadliest events of the conflict.

Justice Department Releases Previously Withheld FBI Records Detailing Sexual Assault Allegations Against Trump

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Justice Department Releases Previously Withheld FBI Records Detailing Sexual Assault Allegations Against Trump

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department disclosed FBI records Thursday summarizing interviews with an unidentified woman who made sexual assault allegations against President Donald Trump connected to an alleged encounter when she was a minor, releasing documents that had been improperly withheld during the department’s court-mandated disclosure of materials from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

FBI agents interviewed the woman four times during 2019 as part of their investigation into accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department had previously released a log confirming those interviews occurred but provided a summary of only one meeting—in which she accused Epstein of molesting her when she was a teenager—while failing to disclose the three additional interview summaries that included allegations against Trump.

The newly disclosed records, posted on the department’s website Thursday, reveal that the woman also claimed Trump attempted to force her to perform oral sex after Epstein introduced her to the future president in New York or New Jersey during the 1980s when she was between 13 and 15 years old. The allegations describe conduct that, if accurate, would constitute serious criminal offenses under federal and state laws prohibiting sexual assault of minors.

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the disclosures. Politico, which first broke the story about the released documents, conveyed that White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the woman’s claims as “completely baseless accusations, backed by zero credible evidence.”

The Justice Department has cautioned that some documents within the massive Epstein file release include “untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump,” suggesting that not all allegations should be accepted as verified facts. Reuters could not independently confirm the accuracy of the woman’s allegations, and FBI records indicate agents ceased communicating with her in 2019 without clear explanation for why the investigative relationship ended.

The Justice Department acknowledged in a post on social media platform X that the records released Thursday were among 15 documents that officials had “incorrectly coded as duplicative” and consequently failed to publish during earlier disclosure rounds. The admission raised questions about whether the misclassification represented innocent bureaucratic error or deliberate concealment of politically sensitive material involving the sitting president.

The disclosure arrives as the Justice Department confronts intensifying congressional scrutiny over its management of documents from the Epstein investigation, which federal law requires the department to make public following passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Democrats have accused the Trump administration of deliberately concealing records related to the president, and a House of Representatives committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi so lawmakers can question her directly about how the government is handling these legally mandated disclosures.

Trump has consistently maintained that his association with Epstein terminated in the mid-2000s and that he remained unaware of the financier’s sexual abuse of minors. However, records previously released by the department demonstrate Trump flew on Epstein’s private aircraft multiple times during the 1990s—a fact Trump has denied despite documentary evidence including flight manifests and pilot testimony.

After the financier first faced accusations of sexual misconduct in the mid-2000s, Trump contacted the police chief in Palm Beach to convey that “everyone has known he’s been doing this,” according to an FBI interview record documenting the conversation. The phone call suggests Trump possessed knowledge of Epstein’s predatory behavior yet failed to report it to authorities or publicly distance himself until media attention made the relationship politically toxic.

In the report documenting the woman’s final interview, conducted in October 2019 during Trump’s first presidency, agents asked whether she would be willing to provide additional information about Trump. In response, the agent wrote, she “asked what the point would be of providing the information at this point in her life when there was a strong possibility nothing could be done about it.”

Her expressed skepticism about whether powerful figures face accountability for sexual misconduct reflects broader patterns in cases involving wealthy, politically connected individuals accused of crimes. The woman’s reluctance to continue cooperating with FBI investigators—particularly during a period when Trump occupied the White House and theoretically could influence Justice Department priorities—illustrates the intimidation and futility victims often experience when accusing powerful men of sexual violence.

The timing of the final interview in October 2019 proved significant. Trump was president, possessing substantial influence over executive branch agencies including the FBI and Justice Department. Whether the woman’s concerns about “nothing could be done about it” reflected general cynicism about justice for sexual assault victims or specific fears about investigating a sitting president remains ambiguous from the FBI summary.

FBI records suggest agents stopped speaking with the woman in 2019 without pursuing the allegations against Trump further. The investigative file provides no clear explanation for why agents discontinued contact, whether prosecutors declined to pursue charges, or whether the woman withdrew cooperation. The opacity surrounding investigative decisions creates space for speculation about whether political considerations influenced how seriously authorities treated her allegations.

The broader context of the Epstein investigation reveals systematic failures by law enforcement and prosecutors to aggressively pursue individuals in the financier’s orbit despite substantial evidence of widespread sexual abuse. Epstein’s 2008 non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors—negotiated when Alexander Acosta served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida—allowed him to plead guilty to state solicitation charges while avoiding federal sex trafficking charges that could have resulted in life imprisonment.

That controversial deal, which was concealed from victims in potential violation of the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, exemplifies the preferential treatment wealthy, connected defendants sometimes receive within the criminal justice system. The agreement’s extraordinarily lenient terms sparked outrage when details became public, ultimately forcing Acosta’s resignation as Trump’s Labor Secretary in 2019.

Epstein faced new federal sex trafficking charges in New York in July 2019 following investigative journalism that exposed the extent of his abuse and the protection he received from law enforcement. However, he died by apparent suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial, eliminating the possibility of courtroom testimony that might have implicated other individuals in his trafficking network.

The suspicious circumstances surrounding Epstein’s death in a federal detention facility—including apparent failures in suicide prevention protocols—fueled conspiracy theories and intensified demands for investigating others who may have participated in or enabled his crimes. The subsequent prosecution and conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell provided some accountability but left unresolved questions about other potential conspirators.

The Justice Department’s document release, mandated by congressional legislation, was intended to provide transparency around federal investigative efforts and potentially expose individuals who escaped accountability. However, the acknowledgment that 15 documents were “incorrectly coded as duplicative”—including FBI interview summaries detailing allegations against the current president—raises serious questions about the reliability of the entire disclosure process.

Congressional Democrats have characterized the withholding of documents related to Trump as evidence of corrupt intent to protect the president from damaging revelations. Republicans have defended the Justice Department’s handling of the disclosure while questioning the credibility of allegations against Trump contained in investigative files.

The committee vote to subpoena Attorney General Bondi reflects Democratic determination to investigate whether political considerations influenced which documents were released, how they were redacted, and whether the “incorrect coding” explanation for missing Trump-related materials represents plausible error or deliberate concealment. Bondi’s testimony before Congress will likely prove contentious as lawmakers from both parties question her about internal Justice Department processes and decision-making regarding the Epstein files.

For victims’ advocates who have consistently demanded comprehensive disclosure of investigative materials, Thursday’s release represents both vindication and frustration. The fact that documents detailing serious allegations against a sitting president were withheld due to purported coding errors undermines confidence that the Justice Department has fully complied with transparency legislation or that all relevant materials have now been disclosed.

The woman whose allegations were finally made public through Thursday’s release joins numerous Epstein victims whose accounts of abuse have been documented in FBI files, court proceedings, and media investigations. Whether her specific allegations against Trump will receive further investigation or simply become part of a historical record of claims that were never criminally prosecuted remains uncertain.

The broader implications of the disclosure extend beyond this individual case to questions about how democratic societies handle allegations against powerful political figures. The apparent cessation of FBI interest in the woman’s allegations during Trump’s first presidency—combined with the subsequent failure to release interview summaries during court-mandated disclosures—creates patterns suggesting that political power provides insulation from accountability for sexual misconduct.

As the controversy over Epstein files continues, the fundamental question persists: whether the Justice Department prioritizes transparency and accountability or protecting politically connected individuals from embarrassing or incriminating revelations. Thursday’s belated disclosure, arriving only after sustained congressional pressure and media scrutiny, suggests that without external oversight, significant materials related to Trump might never have been made public at all.

Cleveland Woman Charged With Murder After Bodies of Two Young Girls Found in Suitcases Near School

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Cleveland Woman Charged With Murder After Bodies of Two Young Girls Found in Suitcases Near School

Authorities in Cleveland have arrested a 28-year-old woman on murder charges after the bodies of two young girls were discovered inside suitcases partially buried in a field near a city school, a case that investigators say has shocked the community and launched a broad search for answers.

Aliyah Henderson was taken into custody Wednesday evening and booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail, officials with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday. She faces multiple charges, including murder and child endangerment, in connection with the deaths.

The grim discovery began earlier this week when a dog walker alerted police to a suspicious suitcase in a field near Ginn Academy, an all-boys public school on Cleveland’s east side. The walker contacted authorities after the dog appeared to detect a strong odor coming from the luggage.

Officers arriving at the scene located the suitcase and soon uncovered a second piece of luggage nearby, investigators said.

Both suitcases had been partially concealed in shallow graves in the field, Cleveland police officials said. Authorities believe the remains had been hidden there for an extended period before they were discovered.

The victims were not dismembered, Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said during a news conference Tuesday.

Investigators determined that both victims were girls under the age of 14.

“They were both juveniles,” Todd said as she described the early findings of the investigation.

Preliminary DNA testing conducted by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed Wednesday that the two victims were half-sisters. Officials have not publicly released their identities as investigators continue efforts to notify relatives and confirm details about the children’s backgrounds.

Medical examiners estimate that one of the girls was between approximately 8½ and 13 years old, while the other appeared to be between about 10½ and 14 years old.

Authorities said the exact causes of death have not yet been determined.

Detectives quickly began piecing together evidence following the discovery.

Using investigative technology and additional strategies, Cleveland police developed information that led them to seek a search warrant for a home located in the 700 block of East 162nd Street, Spectrum 1 News reported.

The search took place Wednesday night.

Within roughly 24 hours of the bodies being discovered, investigators detained a person of interest and recovered what officials described as “substantial evidence” connected to the case.

Authorities have not disclosed what items were collected during the search or how investigators linked Henderson to the deaths.

During the search of the residence, officers also located a child inside the home.

Officials confirmed the child was unharmed and in good health. The youngster has since been placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services, authorities said.

Police leaders acknowledged the emotional impact the case has had on investigators and residents alike.

Chief Todd described the discovery of the children’s bodies as deeply disturbing for both the department and the surrounding neighborhood.

“It is traumatic for everyone,” Todd said during the briefing. “It is traumatic for those who live in the area to know that this was right there at their doorstep.”

The field where the suitcases were found sits near a residential area, adding to the shock felt by people living nearby.

Despite the arrest, investigators continue to work on identifying the victims and understanding the timeline leading to their deaths.

Police officials say they have not located any missing-child reports within the Cleveland area that match the descriptions of the two girls.

As a result, authorities are expanding the scope of the investigation.

Detectives are working with state and federal law-enforcement partners to compare information from missing-persons databases across Ohio and other states in hopes of identifying the children.

Officials have also asked residents to review home surveillance camera footage that may show suspicious activity in the area where the suitcases were discovered.

Authorities emphasized that, based on current evidence, investigators have not identified any immediate threat to the public.

Cases involving unidentified child victims often pose major challenges for investigators, particularly when the victims were not previously reported missing.

In many homicide investigations involving minors, law-enforcement agencies rely on family members, schools, or community organizations to report a child’s disappearance. When those reports never occur, investigators must reconstruct a victim’s identity using forensic science and national databases.

In this case, DNA analysis confirmed the two girls were related, but their identities remain unknown — a rare but troubling situation that can significantly complicate homicide investigations.

Experts say advances in forensic genealogy and digital surveillance have improved authorities’ ability to solve such cases in recent years. DNA databases, phone records, and digital footprints often help investigators build timelines and identify suspects even when victims remain unidentified.

Another key aspect of the investigation will likely involve determining how long the bodies had been buried in the field and establishing the relationship between the suspect and the victims.

Child-death cases frequently rely on forensic pathology to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the deaths, particularly when investigators believe the bodies may have been concealed for an extended period.

For the Cleveland community, the discovery has already left a lasting impact.

The quiet field near Ginn Academy has now become the center of a major homicide investigation, and residents are grappling with the realization that two children’s lives ended in such tragic and mysterious circumstances.

As detectives continue their work, authorities say identifying the girls and determining exactly what happened to them remain the investigation’s top priorities.

The Independent

Trump Says He Must Help Pick Iran’s Next Leader, Rejects Khamenei’s Son as ‘Unacceptable’

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Trump Says He Must Help Pick Iran’s Next Leader, Rejects Khamenei’s Son as ‘Unacceptable’

President Donald Trump declared Thursday that the United States must play a role in determining Iran’s next supreme leader and made clear he would reject the prospect of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son succeeding him, a statement that underscores the widening geopolitical stakes of the ongoing conflict with Tehran.

Trump’s remarks came during an interview with Axios, in which he asserted that Washington should influence the leadership transition in Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during recent U.S.-Israeli military strikes.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” Trump said. “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.” 

The president also indicated he believes the United States should participate directly in shaping Iran’s political future.

“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump told the outlet. “I have to be involved in the appointment.”

His comments represent one of the most explicit statements yet suggesting Washington could attempt to influence the leadership of the Islamic Republic after the removal of its longtime ruler.

Iran is facing a historic moment as it prepares to select a successor to Khamenei, who ruled the country for decades and served as the ultimate authority over its military, judiciary and foreign policy.

The decision falls to Iran’s Assembly of Experts, a powerful clerical body responsible for appointing the supreme leader.

Several Iranian officials have indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei — the late leader’s 56-year-old son — has emerged as a leading contender to inherit the position. 

Mojtaba Khamenei is a conservative cleric who has long maintained influence within Iran’s religious and political establishment, particularly through connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Despite his influence behind the scenes, he has never held elected office or a formal government post.

Trump’s comments signaled strong opposition to that potential outcome.

He argued that installing a successor who continues Khamenei’s political agenda could quickly reignite conflict between Iran and the United States.

Trump warned that allowing a hard-line figure to take power could place the two nations back on a path toward war “in five years.” (Business Today)

The succession crisis comes amid an expanding military confrontation between the United States and Iran.

Khamenei was killed during coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian leadership and military infrastructure earlier in the conflict, an operation that has triggered widespread political upheaval in Tehran.

Trump suggested that several Iranian officials who might have been considered potential successors were also killed during those attacks.

“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” Trump told reporters earlier this week when asked about possible future leaders in Iran. (Axios)

The president’s remarks suggest that the strikes have not only weakened Iran’s military capabilities but also disrupted its political hierarchy.

Iranian authorities have yet to formally announce a new supreme leader, though signals from officials indicate the decision could come soon.

Trump’s comments about influencing Iran’s leadership have complicated the administration’s messaging about the purpose of the ongoing military campaign.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials have insisted that the primary objective of the operation is not regime change but rather the destruction of Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. (Axios)

However, Trump’s statements about choosing Iran’s next leader suggest a broader political goal that goes beyond military deterrence.

The president has repeatedly emphasized that the current conflict represents an opportunity for a transformation of Iran’s leadership.

His remarks echo previous comments in which he suggested that the Iranian people might seize the moment to reshape their government.

Trump’s position has sparked a debate in Washington about the scope of U.S. involvement in Iran’s internal affairs.

Some lawmakers argue that influencing the leadership of a foreign adversary could escalate tensions and prolong the conflict.

Others believe that the death of Khamenei presents a rare strategic opportunity to encourage political change inside Iran.

The war itself has already had far-reaching consequences across the Middle East, including rising oil prices, disruptions to shipping routes and heightened military tensions involving multiple regional actors.

Trump’s assertion that the United States should help determine Iran’s next supreme leader represents a striking departure from traditional diplomatic norms.

Historically, Washington has sought to influence adversaries through sanctions, negotiations and covert pressure rather than openly declaring a role in choosing their leadership.

By publicly stating that he must be involved in the selection process, Trump has signaled a willingness to shape Iran’s political future in a direct and unprecedented way.

The statement also highlights the strategic stakes surrounding Iran’s leadership transition.

The next supreme leader will control the country’s armed forces, intelligence services and foreign policy — decisions that will determine whether Iran moves toward confrontation or de-escalation with the West.

If a hard-line cleric such as Mojtaba Khamenei were to take power, analysts say tensions with Washington and its allies could remain high for years.

Conversely, a more pragmatic or reform-minded figure could potentially open the door to negotiations and a reconfiguration of relations with the international community.

For now, the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s succession process continues to grow, while Trump’s insistence on playing a role in the outcome adds another unpredictable dimension to an already volatile geopolitical crisis.

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