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Sisi Says Seeks to Boost Egyptian-European Cooperation in War on Terrorism

President of the European Council Charles Michel and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meeting at the Council's headquarters in Brussels (Egyptian Presidency)
President of the European Council Charles Michel and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meeting at the Council's headquarters in Brussels (Egyptian Presidency)
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Sisi Says Seeks to Boost Egyptian-European Cooperation in War on Terrorism

President of the European Council Charles Michel and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meeting at the Council's headquarters in Brussels (Egyptian Presidency)
President of the European Council Charles Michel and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi meeting at the Council's headquarters in Brussels (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi affirmed that Egypt looks forward to boosting cooperation with the European Union in the fight against terrorism and extremism based on a comprehensive approach.

Sisi headed to Brussels to participate in the sixth European Union-African Union Summit, held on Feb 17 and 18, under the theme "Africa and Europe: Two Continents with a Shared Vision until 2030."

On the summit's sidelines, Sisi met with President of the European Council Charles Michel at the Council's headquarters in Brussels.

Presidential spokesman Ambassador Bassam Rady said that Michel welcomed the first historic visit of the President.

He lauded the outstanding relations between the EU and Egypt, stressing the EU's interest to further enhance these relations across various levels, particularly in light of Cairo's status as the link between the Arab and European worlds and its political leverage internationally and regionally.

The President of the European Council lauded Egypt's commitment to combating illegal migration, reiterating EU's appreciation for these efforts, mainly as Cairo is seen as a successful model in the region under the Sis's decisive and wise leadership.

Sisi emphasized that Egypt looks forward to strengthening cooperation with the EU in the fight against terrorism and extremism, in line with a comprehensive approach that addresses the significant root causes of terrorism and extremism.

Sisi also met King Philippe of Belgium at the Royal Palace in Brussels as part of his visit.

King Philippe welcomed the Egyptian President and praised the extended historical relations between the two friendly countries at the official and popular levels, stressing his country's keenness to develop them in various fields.

Later, Sisi received the CEO of John Cockerill, Jean-Luc Maurange, at the President's residence in Brussels.

John Cockerill is a Belgian group operating in the field of defense industries.

The President affirmed that Egypt takes pride in the extended and fruitful cooperation with Belgium on various levels.

In this regard, Sisi hoped to promote cooperation between the two friendly countries, especially in light of the company's distinguished production in defense industries which supports Egypt's capabilities in this area.

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Arab World

Yemen Army Pursues Houthis Southeast of Hodeidah

Houthi drones downed by government forces. (Saba)
Houthi drones downed by government forces. (Saba)
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Yemen Army Pursues Houthis Southeast of Hodeidah

Houthi drones downed by government forces. (Saba)
Houthi drones downed by government forces. (Saba)

The escalation by the Houthi group on Yemen’s west coast and Taiz entered its fourth day on Sunday, as government forces shifted from containing the attack to pursuing the group’s operatives in southeastern Hodeidah, following the complete liberation of the Hays district.

Meanwhile, battles continued in western Taiz and amid attempts to reclaim positions where the Houthis have made advances.

Field sources said the Yemeni armed forces have captured dozens of Houthis during the fighting. Many are underage. The forces also continued to advance north of Hays towards the al-Garrahi district.

The military is also assessing its positions on the fronts in western Taiz, especially al-Kadha where the Houthi advance is threatening to cut the main supply route between Taiz and al-Mokha cities.

On Saturday, government and joint forces announced the complete liberation of the Hays district. The achievement follows the reclamation of rural areas that had remained under Houthi control for years, despite the initial liberation of the district's center back in 2018. The complete liberation of Hays followed a counteroffensive launched by government forces.

Al-Garrahi

The government advance on al-Garrahi is significant because capturing the district will pave the way for the forces to move on Houthi-held Hodeidah and cut the route connecting the province with Ibb and the Tihamah regions.

The Houthis have been regrouping to counter the government advance from Hays towards southeastern Hodeidah, said the field sources.

In western Taiz, fighting continued on the Jabal Habashi front, particularly in the al-Kadha area where the Houthis managed to achieve a field breakthrough during the offensive, a development that now threatens the main road connecting Taiz city and the coastal city of Mokha.

Government forces are working to reassess the situation in preparation of pursuing the Houthis and reclaiming the positions they captured, while also stabilizing defensive lines and preventing the group from expanding the scope of its advance.

The forces had made advances in the Haifan front in southeastern Taiz on Saturday. The area overlooks Houthi supply routes leading to northwestern Lahj and southern Taiz.

On Sunday, the Houthi fired three ballistic missiles on civilian facilities. No casualties were reported, said local sources.

The militants also continued their sniper attacks in residential areas in western Taiz, wounding a woman and three children in the al-Kadha and Rahba areas.

Arab World

Germany Seeks to Quash Gaza Genocide Case at Top UN Court

An overview of the court during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) filed by Nicaragua against Germany over the financial and military aid that the European country provides to Israel and the lifting of subsidies to the aid organization UNRWA, in the Hague on April 8, 2024. Robin Van Lonkhuijsen, AFP
An overview of the court during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) filed by Nicaragua against Germany over the financial and military aid that the European country provides to Israel and the lifting of subsidies to the aid organization UNRWA, in the Hague on April 8, 2024. Robin Van Lonkhuijsen, AFP
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Germany Seeks to Quash Gaza Genocide Case at Top UN Court

An overview of the court during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) filed by Nicaragua against Germany over the financial and military aid that the European country provides to Israel and the lifting of subsidies to the aid organization UNRWA, in the Hague on April 8, 2024. Robin Van Lonkhuijsen, AFP
An overview of the court during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) filed by Nicaragua against Germany over the financial and military aid that the European country provides to Israel and the lifting of subsidies to the aid organization UNRWA, in the Hague on April 8, 2024. Robin Van Lonkhuijsen, AFP

Germany will Monday ask the top United Nations court to toss out a case brought against it by Nicaragua, which has accused Berlin of "facilitating genocide" with its support of Israel.

Lawyers for Germany will kick off four days of hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the court based in The Hague that rules on disputes between countries, reported AFP.

The case dates back to 2024, following the start of Israel's offensive in Gaza. Nicaragua urged ICJ judges to impose emergency measures to force Berlin to halt all aid to Israel, in particular military equipment.

The court threw out Nicaragua's request in April of that year, saying "the circumstances, as they now present themselves" did not justify emergency orders.

The case is nevertheless ongoing and Germany is now seeking to have it removed, either by persuading judges they do not have the power to rule in the case or that Nicaragua's argument does not stack up.

Berlin has filed so-called "preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the Court and to the admissibility of certain claims" presented by Nicaragua, according to an ICJ statement.

The detail of Berlin's case has not yet been made public.

- Genocide claim -

After Germany presents its case on Monday, Nicaragua will respond before both countries get another chance to address the court on Wednesday and Thursday.

It takes on average six months for the court to hand down a ruling in such cases.

The court could either side with Germany and throw out the case completely or rule against Berlin, meaning the case would then be considered "on the merits" in more detail.

During hearings at the court in April 2024, Nicaragua said Germany was "pathetic" to provide aid to Gaza while also simultaneously furnishing Israel with weapons.

Nicaragua's ambassador to the Netherlands, Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, told the court: "Germany seems not to be able to differentiate between self-defense and genocide."

Germany retorted that Nicaragua's case was "grossly biased", strongly denying the accusations that it was in breach of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in response to the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks against it by Hamas militants.

Due to its Nazi past, Germany has placed Israel's security "at the core" of its foreign policy, its representative told the court in the 2024 hearings.

Germany said its arms trade with Israel was subject to "detailed scrutiny... that far exceeds the requirements of international law".

This procedure is separate from a high-profile case also before the ICJ, in which South Africa has accused Israel of perpetrating genocide in Gaza, which Israel denies.

The ICJ's rulings are binding but it has no power to enforce them.

For example, it has ordered Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine, a demand that has fallen on deaf ears in the Kremlin.

Arab World

Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanese Town Kill 11

Smoke and flames rise as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Smoke and flames rise as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
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Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanese Town Kill 11

Smoke and flames rise as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Smoke and flames rise as Israeli forces demolish homes in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, southern Lebanon, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

Israeli strikes ‌on a southern Lebanese town early on Monday killed at least 11 people including two children and two medics, Lebanon's state news agency said. 

Israel has intensified its bombardment of south Lebanon in recent days despite a June ceasefire that was meant to halt fighting between the Israeli military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. At least seven people were killed in Israeli strikes on Sunday. 

Just after midnight, Israeli warplanes hit a residential building ‌in the ‌town of Kfar Rumman in ‌southern ⁠Lebanon, killing nine people including ⁠two children, and wounding five more, Lebanon's National News Agency reported. 

A separate Israeli drone strike on a civilian vehicle in the town killed two medics inside the car, it said. 

The strikes on the town came without an online evacuation warning from the ⁠Israeli military. The Israeli military did ‌not immediately respond to Reuters' ‌questions on the strikes, including whether it was aware of ‌the presence of medics and children at the strike ‌locations and why no evacuation warning was issued. 

A spokesperson for the Israeli military issued a separate evacuation warning just after 2:00 a.m. local time (2300 GMT on Sunday) for areas ‌around a building in another town in southern Lebanon where it said it ⁠would strike ⁠Hezbollah facilities. 

Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 4,300 people since Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel on March 2 — two days after the start of US and Israeli strikes on Iran — triggering an Israeli air and ground offensive. 

The ceasefire saw violence decrease dramatically, but Israeli troops occupying swathes of southern Lebanon have continued razing villages in the self-declared security zone. Israel's military has continued carrying out strikes both within the zone and to its north, mostly without evacuation warnings.