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US and UK Strikes Back Hard. More to Follow.
Global Recap
February 05, 2024 • Read in: 8 minutes
Hi Global Recap readers,
The US and UK were busy during the weekend striking dozens of targets in the Middle East.
Many were killed, with a few civilian casualties too.
The Houthis: Finding themselves on the hit list, they are now signaling an escalation.
The US: It has not ruled out striking Iran directly.
Buckle up, it’s about to get bumpy.
🌐 Around the World
🇨🇳 Blogger’s Fate Sealed
🇸🇻 President Declares Himself
🔥 Chile’s on Fire… Arson?
🇬🇧 Protesting Israel & Hamas
🚀 US and UK Strikes Back Hard. More to Follow.
🇨🇳 Blogger’s Fate Sealed
Yang Hengjun with his wife
Beijing court slaps Australian blogger Yang Hengjun with a suspended death sentence on espionage charges.
What did he do? Blogged about Chinese state affairs.
Verdict: Yang was found guilty of all charges.
Background: Yang, a pro-democracy blogger and critic of Beijing’s politics, was detained in China in 2019.
Australia Reacts: Australia expressed strong disapproval, vowing to respond “in the strongest terms” and continue advocating for Yang’s well-being.
🇸🇻 President Declares Himself
President Bukele with his wife Gabriela de Bukele
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele is on track for another landslide victory, after claiming that he’s won more than 85% of the vote.
Who is he? You might remember him as the person who introduced Bitcoin as a legal tender. This of course drew criticism from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Strategy: Bukele’s success is attributed to his hardline security measures, which significantly dropped the country’s murder rates.
Popularity: Despite concerns about his authoritarian tendencies, Bukele enjoys the support of about 80% of Salvadorans.
Achievements: Bukele has made strides in combating gang violence and rejuvenating the economy since taking office in 2019.
🔥 Chile’s on Fire… Arson?
Chile’s massive wildfires, which started on Sunday, have claimed over 100 lives and hundreds more displaced.
The death toll is expected to climb.
Epicenter: The city of Viña del Mar bore the brunt, with neighborhoods and a historic botanical garden reduced to ashes.
Casualties: At least 1,600 people lost their homes, and 200 are missing.
Suspicions: Authorities suspect arson, as fires started simultaneously at four locations.
🇬🇧 Protesting Israel & Hamas
Pro-Palestine
On Saturday, thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through central London, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
Route: The demonstrators started from BBC Broadcasting House and ended at Parliament.
Message: The protesters waved flags and placards calling for Palestinian freedom and an end to the war.
Reaction: The Met Police said they would deal with anyone who “crossed the line”. The Foreign Secretary said the UK would not rule out recognizing a state of Palestine.
Pro-Israel
On Sunday, dozens of people gathered in London to demand the release of Israeli women held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since October 7.
Accusation: The protesters accused Hamas of using rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war against the captives.
Numbers: According to Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor, between 17 and 20 women and girls are still in captivity.
BBC: The rally was held near the BBC headquarters, which the organizers criticized for not covering the issue enough.
Middle East
🚀 US and UK Strikes Back Hard. More to Follow.
🎯 US Strikes Back. On Friday, the US, under the guidance of National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, launched a series of attacks on Iranian forces and Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria.
This action is a response to a deadly drone attack on a US base in Jordan that claimed the lives of three US soldiers.
More than 85 targets at 7 facilities were struck.
👥 The Human Cost. The strikes have resulted in casualties.
The Iraqi government reported 16 people killed, some of whom were civilians.
23 were killed in Syria, according to Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
🌍 Global Impact. The strikes have had a ripple effect, with the UK joining the US in launching a massive airstrike campaign against the Houthis in Yemen on Saturday.
The US and UK struck 36 Houthi targets in 13 locations in Yemen.
🔮 Possible Repercussions. On Sunday, in response to the strikes, the Houthis have vowed to escalate their actions.
They have promised to continue disrupting regional trade, regardless of the cost.
This could lead to further instability in the region and potential economic repercussions.
💥 Why It Matters. The US and UK’s military actions are significant as they signal a willingness to respond forcefully to attacks on their forces.
On Sunday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan defended the strikes as necessary and effective.
Sullivan also has not ruled out directly hitting targets in Iran.
“I would just say, from the perspective of Tehran, if they chose to respond directly to the United States, they would be met with a swift and forceful response from us.”
“We intend to take additional strikes and additional action to continue to send a clear message that the United States will respond when our forces are attacked, or people are killed.”
🔍 Looking Ahead. The future remains uncertain. While the US and UK have made their stance clear, the response from the Houthis and other groups in the region could shape the course of the conflict. All eyes are now on how the situation will unfold in the coming days and weeks.