Suicide Explosion Kills 10, Injures Dozens in Mogadishu

An ambulance transports the victims of the suicide attack to a hospital in Mogadishu (EPA)
An ambulance transports the victims of the suicide attack to a hospital in Mogadishu (EPA)
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Suicide Explosion Kills 10, Injures Dozens in Mogadishu

An ambulance transports the victims of the suicide attack to a hospital in Mogadishu (EPA)
An ambulance transports the victims of the suicide attack to a hospital in Mogadishu (EPA)

A suicide bombing attack by the Al-Shabaab extremist group on a crowded tea shop in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu killed 10 people and wounded dozens, the government said Saturday.

Somali National Army (SNA) said its forces killed 15 al-Shabab militants in a fierce fighting early Sunday in the central part of the country.

“The SNA forces killed 15 al-Shabab fighters and injured others and recovered 10 guns in fighting between Guriel and Dhusamareb towns in Galgaduud region of central Somalia this morning,” SNA spokesman told SNA Radio.

"The horrific and callous attack by al-Shabab terrorists shows they are targeting innocent people which makes it our duty to co-operate together to fight terrorism," Prime Minister Mohamed Roble said in a statement.

“Once again Al Shabaab has proven that their violence has no bounds and will kill indiscriminately,” Somalia’s Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism said in a statement on Saturday.

Al Shabab, the ministry added, strives “to cause pain, destruction, and chaos. These ideals have no place in a free Somalia.”

The extremist Al-Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement saying, “15 elements from the governmental intelligence, police, and militia were killed and 22 others were wounded.”

Sources told AFP that the attack took place just a few hundred meters from the headquarters of the Somali Intelligence Agency.

“The cafe was crowded when the blast occurred,” said a witness.

Al-Shabaab, which is fighting to overthrow the Somali government, regularly attacks government and civilian targets in Mogadishu.

The group controlled the capital until 2011 when it was pushed out by African Union troops, but still holds territory in the countryside.



Iran Turns to Moscow and Beijing to Thwart ‘Snapback’ Sanctions Threat

Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi met in Beijing on July 13 (Reuters)
Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi met in Beijing on July 13 (Reuters)
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Iran Turns to Moscow and Beijing to Thwart ‘Snapback’ Sanctions Threat

Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi met in Beijing on July 13 (Reuters)
Sergei Lavrov and Wang Yi met in Beijing on July 13 (Reuters)

Iran is turning to Russia and China in a bid to head off the potential reimposition of international sanctions, amid escalating tensions over its nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has held talks with his Chinese and Russian counterparts to discuss the future of the nuclear accord and the possibility that the European troika could trigger the “snapback” mechanism.

Iranian state media reported on Monday that Araghchi arrived in Beijing at the head of an official delegation to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s foreign ministers. The trip comes as debate intensifies within Iran over the stances of Moscow and Beijing, particularly in the aftermath of the recent conflict between Iran and Israel.

Speaking at a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei stressed that Gulf security remains a priority for China.

“Araghchi’s visit follows an official invitation from the Chinese Foreign Minister,” he said, adding that the Iranian diplomat will hold bilateral meetings Tuesday on the sidelines of the gathering.

Baghaei emphasized Tehran’s ongoing coordination with both Russia and China, who are parties to the nuclear deal.

“Russia and China have consistently expressed their readiness to play a constructive role in the process related to Iran’s nuclear file, and this continues,” he noted. “We have longstanding, friendly relations with both countries and a strategic partnership.”

Addressing reports that Moscow has privately urged Tehran to halt uranium enrichment, Baghaei said: “We have not received any specific proposal from Russia on this matter.”

In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed Iran’s nuclear issue with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, alongside other bilateral and international topics.

Meanwhile, Moscow on Sunday denounced a report claiming President Vladimir Putin had urged Iran to accept a deal with the United States that would bar it from enriching uranium. Russia’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the claim as “defamation” aimed at inflaming tensions over the Iranian nuclear program.

According to the American outlet Axios, sources familiar with the issue said Putin recently pressed Iran to agree to “zero enrichment.”

But Russia rebuffed the report as baseless, insisting its position is well known: "Invariably and repeatedly, we have emphasized the necessity of resolving the crisis concerning Iran's nuclear program exclusively through political and diplomatic means, and expressed our willingness to help find mutually acceptable solutions," the ministry statement read.

It added that Moscow stands ready to help broker mutually acceptable solutions.

Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has strengthened its ties with Tehran. While publicly backing Iran’s right to enrich uranium, Putin has reportedly adopted a tougher line behind closed doors following the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran.

According to European and Israeli officials, Moscow has encouraged Tehran to accept a “zero enrichment” compromise and shared this position with Israeli authorities. “We know this is what Putin told the Iranians,” a senior Israeli official confirmed.

Last week, Putin is said to have relayed his stance in calls with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.