In a continuation of efforts to disrupt Russia’s war machine, Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Rostov region and a fuel depot in the Belgorod region, according to officials in the targeted areas. The attacks occurred as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, at D-Day commemorations in France on Thursday.

Zelenskyy’s trip to France, where he is also set to meet with French officials on Friday, comes amid Ukraine’s ongoing struggle to hold back a recent Russian offensive in the eastern regions. The conflict, which has been raging for over two years, has seen Ukraine face shortages of ammunition and troops along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line.

The drone attacks on Russian oil facilities follow a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia could provide long-range weapons to other countries, enabling them to strike Western targets. This threat was issued in response to NATO allies’ decision to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to attack Russian territory.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, stated that Putin’s comments signaled a significant shift in Russia’s foreign policy, suggesting that Russian weapons could be provided to anyone who considers the U.S. and its allies as enemies. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that the use of Western weapons against Russia would have consequences.

However, the U.S. military clarified that it does not control the missiles it provides to Ukraine or the targets, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that the alliance has no plans to deploy forces to Ukraine. Instead, NATO is focusing on establishing a stronger framework for long-term financial and institutional support for Ukraine.

The overnight drone attacks on the Novoshakhtinsk refinery in the Rostov region and an oil depot in the Belgorod region caused fires but did not result in any casualties, according to regional governors. These attacks are part of Ukraine’s increasingly sophisticated drone campaign targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure, aiming to deny Moscow revenue and exacerbate the pressure on its energy sector.

Meanwhile, Russia has been attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages in an apparent attempt to sap public morale and affect military manufacturing plants.

As the conflict continues, Zelenskyy’s presence at the D-Day events in France underscores Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to garner Western support in what has become Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.

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An Israeli airstrike early Thursday targeted a school housing displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, resulting in the tragic loss of over 30 lives, including 23 women and children, as reported by local health authorities. The Israeli military asserted that Hamas militants had been operating from within the school premises.

This devastating incident adds to a series of casualties suffered by Palestinians seeking refuge amidst escalating Israeli offensives in the Gaza Strip. Just a day prior, the military had announced a renewed ground and air assault in central Gaza, citing the presence of regrouped Hamas militants in the area. Despite previous invasions by Israeli troops, Hamas continues to demonstrate resilience, complicating Israel’s nearly eight-month campaign in the region.

Witnesses and medical officials confirmed that the pre-dawn airstrike struck the al-Sardi School, administered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), where numerous Palestinians had sought shelter from previous Israeli attacks. Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene, with missiles hitting classrooms where families had taken refuge, resulting in multiple casualties.

The casualties from the school strike overwhelmed the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, which had already been struggling to cope with the influx of patients since the onset of the central Gaza incursion. Videos circulated online depicted wounded individuals being treated on the hospital floor, illustrating the dire situation in Gaza’s medical facilities.

Despite the Israeli military’s claim that it took precautions to minimize civilian harm, including aerial surveillance and intelligence gathering, the scale of the tragedy underscores the challenges faced by civilians amidst the ongoing conflict. UNRWA schools across Gaza have served as shelters for the territory’s displaced population, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the region.

The recent escalation follows previous Israeli strikes near UNRWA facilities, including an incident in Rafah that resulted in a deadly inferno, drawing international condemnation. The mounting civilian casualties have intensified calls for a cease-fire, with the United States endorsing a phased approach outlined by President Joe Biden. However, Israel remains committed to its campaign against Hamas, while the militant group insists on a lasting cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

As the conflict rages on, the civilian population in Gaza continues to bear the brunt of the violence, underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable solution to end the cycle of bloodshed and devastation.

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In the wake of losing its 30-year majority in last week’s election, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) has initiated exploratory talks with five other parties to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition government. Despite remaining the largest party, the ANC faced an election deadlock as no party managed to secure a majority.

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri revealed that the party had engaged in preliminary discussions with the main opposition Democratic Alliance, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters, and three smaller parties. However, she noted that the talks were still in the early stages, and no decisions had been made.

Bhengu-Motsiri also mentioned that the ANC had repeatedly reached out to former President Jacob Zuma’s newly formed MK Party for talks but had received no positive response. Zuma, a former ANC leader, has become a fierce critic of current President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The ANC has framed these discussions as an attempt to form a government of “national unity,” with a formal coalition being just one of the options on the table. The party is open to engaging with any of the more than 50 parties that contested the election to find a solution. Parliament must convene by June 16 to elect a president, with Ramaphosa seeking a second term, and an agreement needs to be in place for that to happen.

In its worst-ever electoral showing, the ANC secured only 159 of the 400 parliamentary seats. The Democratic Alliance followed with 87 seats, the MK Party with 58 seats, the Economic Freedom Fighters with 39 seats, and the Inkatha Freedom Party with 17 seats.

Analysts have cautioned that the ANC risks alienating some of its traditional base by forming a coalition with the three main opposition parties, two of which were formed by leaders who broke away from the ANC in recent years.

The prospect of an ANC-Democratic Alliance coalition is expected to face opposition from some ANC members and alliance partners, including the Congress of South African Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party. Cosatu spokesman Matthew Parks emphasized the importance of a coalition led by the ANC and President Ramaphosa that prioritizes the needs of the working class, defends workers’ rights, grows the economy, creates jobs, tackles crime and corruption, invests in public services, and unites the nation.

Tensions are already apparent between the ANC and the MK Party, with an MK Party spokesman stating that the party would not negotiate with Ramaphosa’s ANC. Some senior ANC members, such as former Defence Minister Siphiwe Nyanda, have publicly warned against a coalition with Zuma’s MK Party, accusing Zuma of trying to destroy the ANC from within.

As coalition talks continue, the future of South Africa’s government hangs in the balance, with the ANC facing the challenge of finding a solution that satisfies its members, alliance partners, and the diverse needs of the nation.

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Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has announced that his country is seeking an agreement with the United States to deport asylum-seekers and migrants directly to their countries of origin, instead of returning them to Mexico. This statement comes in response to US President Joe Biden’s recently unveiled executive action, which would bar people who cross the US-Mexico border illegally from requesting asylum during periods of high illegal crossings.

Under Biden’s proclamation, asylum-seekers who do not meet certain exemptions would be turned away to Mexico or returned to their home countries. The plan, however, still allows for the normal flow of commerce and legal immigration across the border.

When asked about the potential impact of Biden’s plan on Mexican border towns, López Obrador expressed confidence in his country’s ability to handle the situation, stating, “They come to Mexico. We have no problem. We treat them all very well (…) but why not a direct agreement?” He emphasized Mexico’s desire for the US to deport asylum-seekers directly to their countries of origin.

Critics of Biden’s measure argue that it could endanger vulnerable people by effectively closing the border to asylum seekers. Tonatiuh Guillén, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and former commissioner of the National Migration Institute of Mexico, warned that the new rule would create a “virtual wall,” leaving thousands of refugees in Mexico without the possibility of shelter.

However, Mexican authorities have largely downplayed any expected impact on their country. A source at Mexico’s asylum commission COMAR told CNN that the agency is not very concerned about a potential increase in refugee applications, as migrants who reach the northern border of Mexico are generally not interested in seeking asylum there.

López Obrador and Biden held a phone call on Tuesday, which the Mexican president described as “respectful” and “very amicable.” They discussed the need to support Latin American nations, and López Obrador expressed his appreciation for the US’ plan to build three new border bridges, stating that this would greatly help economic and commercial development throughout the region.

As the situation at the US-Mexico border continues to evolve, the two countries will need to work together to find solutions that balance the need for border security with the protection of vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees.

Credit: CNN