13 Palestinians Killed in Central Gaza Strikes

Smoke rises from a building hit by an Israeli strike in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
Smoke rises from a building hit by an Israeli strike in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
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13 Palestinians Killed in Central Gaza Strikes

Smoke rises from a building hit by an Israeli strike in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)
Smoke rises from a building hit by an Israeli strike in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP)

At least 13 people were killed in three Israeli airstrikes that hit refugee camps in central Gaza overnight into Saturday, according to Palestinians health officials.

Among the dead in Nuseirat Refugee Camp and Bureij Refugee Camp were three children and one woman, according to Palestinian ambulance teams that transported the bodies to the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital.

The 13 corpses were counted by AP journalists at the hospital.

The latest casualties follow a rare moment of hope in war ravaged Gaza, after a medical teams recovered a live baby from a heavily pregnant Palestinian mother killed in an airstrike that hit her home in Nuseirat late Thursday evening.

Heavily pregnant Ola al-Kurd, 25, was killed along with six others in the blast, but was quickly rushed by emergency workers to Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza in the hope of saving the unborn child. Hours later, doctors told The Associated Press that a baby boy had been delivered.

The still-unnamed newborn is stable but has suffered from a shortage of oxygen and has been placed in an incubator, said Dr. Khalil Dajran. The baby boy's father was wounded in the same strike, but survived.

At least 38,919 Palestinians have been killed and 89,622 have been injured in the Israeli military offensive in Gaza since Oct. 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Saturday.



Iraqi Air Force Strikes ISIS Positions in Hamrin Mountains

An Iraqi military force in a previous operation to pursue ISIS in Salahuddin, Diyala, and Samarra (Iraqi News Agency)
An Iraqi military force in a previous operation to pursue ISIS in Salahuddin, Diyala, and Samarra (Iraqi News Agency)
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Iraqi Air Force Strikes ISIS Positions in Hamrin Mountains

An Iraqi military force in a previous operation to pursue ISIS in Salahuddin, Diyala, and Samarra (Iraqi News Agency)
An Iraqi military force in a previous operation to pursue ISIS in Salahuddin, Diyala, and Samarra (Iraqi News Agency)

The Iraqi Security Media Cell reported on Friday that an aerial strike by F-16 aircraft in Mount Hamrin, near the border of Kirkuk and Salahuddin governorates, killed three ISIS militants.

In a statement, the cell said the operation was executed with “high-level coordination” between the Counter-Terrorism Service and the Joint Operations Command.

A force from the Counter-Terrorism Service’s Kirkuk regiment, assisted by technical and reconnaissance support from the Joint Operations Command, proceeded to inspect the site of the strike.

They discovered the bodies of three ISIS militants and seized light weapons, ammunition, explosives, and two explosive belts. They also found several destroyed weapons, equipment, communication devices, and various logistical materials.

This comes at a time when Baha Araji, an Iraqi official, announced that a deal has been reached with Washington to end the US-led international coalition’s operations in Iraq.

The official stated that this decision comes after careful consideration and discussions that have been ongoing since February.

The announcement was made on a televised broadcast, where Araji highlighted the significance of this move, emphasizing the longstanding ties between Iraq and the US.

This decision marks the end of a cooperative phase that began with the coalition’s establishment.

Additionally, it was mentioned that Iraqi forces have taken control of several areas, maintaining security and stability. Araji underscored that this transition reflects Iraq’s growing capabilities and sovereignty.

This development follows the recent interactions between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani and US representatives, aimed at redefining the future relationship between Baghdad and Washington.