West Bank incursion
A dozen Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank as the Israeli regime launches full-scale military offensives across multiple cities there. Described as the largest raid in over two decades, the regime’s attack involved hundreds of troops backed by drones, warplanes and bulldozers. The offensive simultaneously targeted several areas, including Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarm, and Tubas. It was met with Palestinian resistance. Fighters of the al-Quds movement have destroyed an Israeli bulldozer. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia to return to the West Bank amid the Israeli assault. Since the onset of its genocidal war on Gaza, Israel has intensified its crackdown in the West Bank. Over 650 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied territories over the past 10 months.
Israel kills more Palestinians
Israel’s incessant attacks continue to claim more innocent Palestinian lives. At least 8 people have been killed, and many more injured, in the latest Israeli airstrike that targeted a school housing displaced people in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah. In the south, an Israeli attack on a residential building near Khan Younis resulted took the lives of at least five people, including two women. According to Palestinian officials, regime forces have conducted four massacres within the past day, killing at least 58 Palestinians and injuring 131 others. The latest casualties bring the number of those killed since last October to over 40,500. Nearly 94,000 others have also been wounded.
Iran-Turkmenistan relations
As part of its policy to enhance relations with neighboring countries, Iran has penned a series of cooperation agreements with Turkmenistan. Four documents were signed during a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and visiting Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan. In a joint presser, Pezeshkian hailed the discussions as constructive and effective, expressing hope that the new agreements will pave the way for strategic partnership across various sectors, including economy, trade and energy. Berdimuhamedow, for his part, noted that the enhanced collaboration between Tehran and Ashgabat will both serve the interests of both nations and positively affect the region and beyond. This is the first official visit by the Turkmen leader to Iran since the new Iranian administration took office recently.