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United States

The United States carried out an airstrike in Syria against a structure belonging to what it claims was an “Iran-backed militia”. This airstrike is the first of its kind under the new Biden administration. The White House stated that the airstrike was in a response to a rocket attack against the United States this week that killed coalition forces in Iraq.

Nigeria

More than 300 young girls were kidnapped by masked gunmen from a Zamafar state school in Nigeria on Friday. The gunmen might have attacked a nearby military base to stop them from interfering with the kidnapping. The attack came less than two weeks after gunmen abducted 42 people from the Government Science College Kagara in Niger State. The gunmen are known to keep the hostages until a ransom has been paid. Neither group of kidnapped school children have yet been released. Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari said that the main objective is to get all the school hostages returned safe, alive and unharmed and urged his state governments to review the terms of the policy they use for negotiations due to the high frequency of these kidnappings.

Yemen

At least 27 people are killed after Houthi rebels and government forces in Yemen were involved in heavy fighting in the oil-rich city of Marib. Attacks in the region have been increasing in the last few weeks as the Biden administration calls on the Saudi government to renew its policy regarding the war on Yemen.

Saudi Arabia

The United States intelligence concluded that Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved Jamal Khashoggi killing. It is unclear what this means for United States and Saudi relations but the White House announced that Biden had his first call with Salman Wednesday night before the report was released.

Iraq

At least 5 people have been killed and 47 have been injured in Nasiriyah city in southern Iraq after thousands of protestors marched demanding the dismissal of Governor Nazem Al-Waeli. Protestors have been dissatisfied with the the government due to its handling of the pandemic health measures. The violence comes a week before a visit by the Pope is due.