Category Archives: security

conflict, humanitarian, Middle East, politics, security

Israeli drone strikes kill five, including children, in southern Lebanon

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An Israeli drone strike killed five people, including three children, in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil on Sunday, Lebanon’s health ministry reported.

Israel has frequently targeted what it calls Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon since a US-brokered truce between Lebanon and Israel took effect in November. This truce followed more than a year of conflict sparked by the war in Gaza.

According to Lebanon’s state news agency, the strike hit a motorbike and a vehicle, wounding two others. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stated that a father and his three children were among the dead, with the mother wounded. He added that the family held US citizenship.

The Israeli military confirmed that it killed a Hezbollah member in the strike but acknowledged that “several uninvolved civilians were killed.” In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expressed regret over any harm caused to uninvolved individuals and said it operates to minimize such harm as much as possible. The incident is currently under review.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the attack in a post on X, describing it as a “blatant crime against civilians and a message of intimidation aimed at our people returning to their villages in the south.”

Lebanon is under pressure from the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Hezbollah’s domestic rivals to disarm the Iranian-backed group. However, Hezbollah has stated that discussing disarmament would be a serious misstep while Israel continues airstrikes on Lebanon and occupies swaths of territory in the south.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/update-2-israeli-drone-strikes-kill-five-including-children-in-southern-lebanon-1809505.html

crime, india, law, security, terrorism

Pahalgam terror attack: NIA court extends custody of accused persons by 45 days

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A special NIA court in Jammu has extended by 45 days — beyond the stipulated 90-day period — the custodial remand of two accused arrested for allegedly harbouring Pakistani terrorists involved in the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April.

Special NIA judge Sandeep Gandotra extended the investigation and remand period of Bashir Ahmad Jothat, who hails from Baisaran in Pahalgam, and Parvaiz Ahmad from Batkote in Pahalgam. The court held a prima facie case in favour of the extension of the remand and investigation, citing the allegations, progress of investigation, and pending forensic and DNA profiling reports.

Accordingly, the court granted a 45-day extension to the investigating officer for the investigation of the case beyond the initial 90-day period, applicable to accused Jothat and Ahmad. The order directed the authorities to complete the investigation as soon as possible and urged the investigating officer to expedite the probe.

The original 90-day remand period for investigation, along with an additional 10 days of judicial remand, was due to expire on Friday. After the expiry of the earlier remand, Jothat and Ahmad were produced virtually before the court on September 18, which then extended their investigation and remand period to enable the NIA to continue its probe, officials confirmed.

The judge observed that the plea for a 90-day extension of the investigation was well-founded and deserving of acceptance, especially as the probe had reached a crucial stage. Several witness statements and forensic reports were still pending, which warranted the extension.

The case, re-registered by the NIA, pertains to the killing of tourists from a particular community at Baisaran meadow, Pahalgam, on April 22, 2025. The accused, Jothat and Ahmad, were arrested on June 22 and have since been held in judicial custody at Amphalla Jail in Jammu.

According to the NIA, the accused disclosed the identities of three armed terrorists involved in the attack, confirming that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated with the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The federal agency alleged that both accused had knowingly harboured these terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) in Hill Park, Pahalgam, prior to the April 22 attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, and left 16 others injured.

*This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed and agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, or accuracy of the information. Mid-day management and mid-day.com reserve the sole right to alter, delete, or remove (without notice) the content at their absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.*
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/pahalgam-terror-attack-nia-court-extends-custody-of-accused-persons-by-45-days-23594914

government, politics, science, security, space

NASA is now a spy agency, thanks to Trump’s order

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**NASA Is Now a Spy Agency, Thanks to Trump’s Executive Order**

*By Akash Pandey | Sep 18, 2025, 06:23 PM*

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**What’s the Story?**

Late last month, the Trump administration quietly issued an executive order redesignating NASA as a national intelligence and security agency. This pivotal change means NASA’s main functions will now officially include “intelligence, counterintelligence, investigative, or national security work.”

The update was first reported by Keith Cowing, founder of NASA Watch and a former NASA scientist. This marks a significant departure for the agency, which has spent the past 67 years primarily focused on space exploration and scientific research.

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**Employee Unrest: Protests Erupt Over Status Change**

The decision to shift NASA’s status has not been met without resistance. Employees have raised concerns, particularly regarding the inclusion of NASA under the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (FSLMRS). This inclusion effectively excludes employees from collective bargaining rights, which many view as an attack on labor protections.

In response, protests have been organized, including a notable demonstration outside NASA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., earlier this week.

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**Budget Impact: Proposed Cuts and the Space Race with China**

Alongside the executive order, the Trump administration has proposed nearly a 25% cut to NASA’s 2026 budget. Funding would fall from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion, with the bulk of the reductions affecting NASA’s science programs.

Despite these cuts, acting NASA chief Sean Duffy has emphasized the administration’s goal of beating China to the Moon and Mars, signaling a focus on competitive space exploration amid rising geopolitical tensions.

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**NASA’s Uncertain Future**

These developments come at a turbulent time for NASA. The White House has threatened to slash the agency’s science budget by up to 50% in the next fiscal year, risking delays or cancellations of dozens of major space missions.

While some lawmakers have suggested revising the proposed budget to ease the impact, NASA faces a critical crossroads as it adapts to the administration’s new direction.

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*Stay tuned for updates on NASA’s evolving role and the broader implications for space exploration and national security.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/nasa-designated-as-national-security-agency-in-trump-executive-order/story

defense, international relations, politics, regional affairs, security

India Studies Implications Of Saudi-Pakistan Mutual Defence Pact, Vows To Safeguard Security

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New Delhi: As Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a strategic mutual defence pact, India said on Thursday it is carefully studying the implications of the agreement for its national security and regional stability, while reiterating its commitment to safeguarding its interests.

The pact was signed in Riyadh by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday. Both sides agreed that an attack on one would be considered an attack on both.

In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement saying, “We have seen reports of the signing of a strategic mutual Defence pact between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The Government was aware that this development, which formalises a long-standing arrangement between the two countries, had been under consideration.”

“We will study the implications of this development for our national security as well as for regional and global stability. The Government remains committed to protecting India’s national interests and ensuring comprehensive national security in all domains,” it added.

The ‘Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement’ marks the most formal expression of a decades-long security relationship that has seen Pakistan training Saudi troops and participating in joint exercises since the 1960s.

A joint statement from Riyadh and Islamabad said the accord aims to “develop aspects of Defence cooperation” and “strengthen joint deterrence against any aggression.”

This development comes shortly after the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed by heavily armed terrorists of The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

In retaliation, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting nine high-value terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Pakistan later responded with counterstrikes, raising tensions further.

India subsequently rolled out ‘Operation Sindoor Outreach’, sending delegations of parliamentarians and officials to friendly nations to highlight Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism. One such delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, visited Saudi Arabia as part of this campaign.

The Defence pact also coincides with a wider climate of instability in the region. Just two days earlier, Arab and Islamic nations convened an extraordinary joint session of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) after Israel’s September 9 airstrike in Doha killed senior Hamas political leaders during ceasefire talks. The strike drew condemnation across Arab capitals.

*(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-studies-implications-of-saudi-pakistan-mutual-defence-pact-vows-to-safeguard-security

conflict, humanitarian, Middle East, politics, security

Hamas reaching ‘breaking point’ as Gaza City evacuation expands, security source says

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Hamas Reaching ‘Breaking Point’ as Gaza City Evacuation Expands, Security Source Says

“Once more than half a million Palestinians have evacuated, criticism of the Hamas leadership will intensify to the point where signs of its collapse may begin to appear,” a security source stated.

Displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, are moving southward following orders from Israeli forces for residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, in the central Gaza Strip, on September 17, 2025.

(Photo credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)

By AMIR BOHBOT

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-867857