Egyptian Armed Forces launch a massive military operation in Sinai after deadly militant attacks

Egyptian Armed Forces in Sinai
(Image: The Daily Star)

Egyptian Sinai Peninsula was hit again with the series of deadly attacks committed by the militants against the military and security forces. Eight soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing in Northern Sinai at the beginning of this week, while Friday, 24 October, was marked with two violent attacks happened also in Northern Sinai. These attacks appeared to be the deadliest ones since the ouster of the Islamist backed President Mohamed Morsi.

Russian invasion in Ukraine is increasingly likely amid the continuous separatist and pro-Russian rallies in Eastern Ukraine

Russian military in Ukraine
(Image: Foreign Policy)

Crisis in Eastern Ukraine is deepening with several separatist and terrorist pro-Russian groups seizing the administrative buildings and regional offices in Luhansk, Donetsk and Kharkiv. Tense and worrying events started in these regions since this weekend, as several hundred pro-Russian activists and Russian citizens as well have gathered in the central squares of the aforementioned cities, occupied the regional offices, declared their own “independent” republics (Donetsk People’s Republic, Kharkiv People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic respectively) and declared their willingness to join Russia in a status of federal objects.

Ukraine: situation in Crimea remains tense amid the growing pressure of international powers on Russia and Russian protests as well

Russian soldiers in Crimea, Ukraine
(Image: Jerusalem Post)

Russian occupation of Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula continues since 28 February 2014, despite the demands of Ukrainian government to withdraw the troops and the calls to start the talks and international reaction on Russian military invasion as well.

Crimean cities and Ukrainian military objects remain seized by Russian military troops and paratroopers. Several provocations have been made by Russian military on Saturday night and during Sunday, as Russian soldiers have attacked several Ukrainian military units and bases in Crimea demanding Ukrainian soldiers to give up the weapons and to raise Russian flag instead of Ukrainian. Ukrainian soldiers refuse to do so and declare that they have taken an oath to Ukraine and Ukrainian people and they will stand till the end. Ukrainian central command though didn’t give any direct orders to Crimean soldiers and mariners, the main order remains the same: avoid any confrontations and don’t react on Russian provocations, as Russian side is waiting for the first shot from Ukrainian side, because it will give Russians the reason to use force claiming that situation in Crimea isn’t controlled.

Ukraine: Violent confrontation is ongoing for the second day as EU is ready to impose sanctions

Kyiv Independence Square on fire
(Image: RTR)

Fierce clashes and violent confrontations are ongoing in Ukrainian capital Kyiv and all over Ukraine, as protesters refuse to give up and Yanukovich’s regime continues to kill Ukrainian citizens.

The clashes erupted on Tuesday, 18 February, between the peaceful protesters heading to the building of Parliament, and security forces firing teargas, throwing Molotoc cocktails, shooting birdshots and sound and smoke bombs at the protesters causing chaos and violent clashes. Kyiv downtown and Maidan (Independence Square) have turned into a real battlefield, as dozens of thousands of activists and protesters have been defending Maidan and its barricades despite using of live ammunition and bombs against the protesters. Military vehicles have been deployed to the scene.

Ukraine: The fourth round of negotiations between opposition and authorities ended

Revolutionary Kyiv
(Image: Unian)

Revolution continues in Ukraine, as people still seize and control many administrative buildings and regional offices in several Ukrainian governorates and remain in the street of Kyiv and other cities nationwide, even in some Eastern and Southern cities, such as Dnipropetrivsk, Cherkasy and Zaporizhzhya, where police and so called “titushki” (paid thugs hired by regime to attack and intimidate activists of Euromaidan) have brutally dispersed the protesters.

Three days of national mourning announced in Egypt after bombing in Sinai

Bomb laden in the car killed 11 soldiers in Egypt's Sinai
(Image: Daily Star)

Suicide bomb attack on Wednesday, 20 November, has killed at least 11 soldiers and wounded 35 in Northern Sinai. Terrible bombing happened on the road between El-Arish and Rafaa, close to the borders with Israel and Gaza.

According to the Armed Forces spokesperson, the car laden with explosives has crashed with the bus carrying the off-duty soldiers who were expected to go on their vacations.

MENA news agency in its turn has reported the bomb was laden in the car parked nearby.

Egypt ends its state of emergency

Egypt's soldiers patrolling the streets during the curfew
(Image: Al-Arabiya)

Egypt’s Administrative Court has announced on Tuesday, 12 November, that it orders the end of state of emergency in the country. State of emergency was officially lifted in Egypt on Tuesday at 4 p.m., two days earlier than the previously announced by the government date.

The official spokesperson of Egyptian Cabinet, Sherif Shawky, stated the state of emergency was lifted on Tuesday in accordance with the court’s ruling.

Egypt: State of emergency declared in the country to be prolonged to the next two months

Egypt's army checking the civilians during the curfew

Egypt’s Interim President Adly Mansour has declared the state of emergency will be prolonged in the country for another two months, according to his official statement made on Thursday, 12 September.

The state of emergency was originally declared on 14 August, after the wave of violence sparked with the dispersal of pro-Morsy sit-ins, and was expected to be lifted by the end of September. Egypt’s Interim President in a recent interview has also stated state of emergency wouldn’t be prolonged if the security situation will stabilize and improve in the country.

Egypt: State of emergency declared in the state and curfew imposed in several governorates amid the violent clashes

Egypt's riot police in Cairo

Egypt’s Security Forces have started early on Wednesday, 14 August, the operation in order to disperse two main Muslim Brotherhood’s and pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo, located in Nasr City Rabaa Al-Adaweya Square and in Giza’s Al-Nahda Square.

Violent clashes erupted between the CSF forces and Muslim Brotherhood’s supporters who remained defiant and have been throwing the rocks and stones at the police forces, there have been also reports of the Morsi’s supporters using live ammunitions, birdshots and other weapons as well.

Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy calls for the national dialogue

Mohamed Morsy, Egypt's President

After terrible clashes and unrest in Egypt during several days the country’s President Mohamed Morsy have called for the national dialogue to resolve the current crisis.

He announced about the dialogue during his speech made on Sunday and invited all the political powers of Egypt including opposition to participate in the talks. The national dialogue is the only one way to resolve the crisis and to achieve stability in the country, according to the President.

The invitations have been sent to major political parties, powers and groups calling. The national dialogue hosted by Mohamed Morsy has started on Monday, 28 January.