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Iran, Belgium Prisoner Exchange Sparks Controversy

Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi after his release from Belgium (Reuters)
Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi after his release from Belgium (Reuters)
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Iran, Belgium Prisoner Exchange Sparks Controversy

Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi after his release from Belgium (Reuters)
Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi after his release from Belgium (Reuters)

The Iranian opposition in Belgium condemned the release of Iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi, who was jailed in Brussels, asserting that it would continue its efforts to ensure he is put to trial in Belgium.

The Omani Foreign Ministry announced Friday that an agreement had been reached between Tehran and Brussels under which Assadi was released in exchange for a Belgian aid worker.

"The release of the terrorist... is a shameful ransom to terrorism and hostage-taking," the Iranian opposition said in a statement, adding it "encourages terrorism and betrays human rights by violating the ruling of the Constitutional Court."

It indicated that Assadi's release came even though the Constitutional Court stipulated in its ruling that the Belgian government must inform the victims' families before the convict is transferred so that they have a chance to return to court.

Tehran released a Belgian aid worker imprisoned in Iran as part of the exchange deal sponsored by Muscat, according to the two sides.

Assadi was convicted in Belgium in 2021 in connection with a foiled bomb plot in France targeting an opposition rally and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was arrested in Germany in 2018 and transferred to Belgium.

Aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele was arrested on a visit to Iran in February 2022 and was sentenced last January to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on various charges, including espionage.

Back then, the Belgian Justice Minister said Vandecasteele was accused based on false evidence, and his trial was in response to the sentence issued for Assadi.

On Friday, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said that Vandecasteele was "currently on his way to Belgium," adding that if "all goes well, he will be with us tonight. Finally, free."

The Prime Minister said in a statement that Vandecasteele was taken to Oman on Thursday evening, where he was received by Belgian soldiers and diplomats, and underwent medical tests on Friday morning.

Iranian state television said Assadi had returned to Tehran, showing footage of him with officials, including spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi.

The spokesman tweeted on Friday that Assadi was innocent and is returning home after five years of illegal detention.

The Omani Foreign Ministry said earlier that an agreement had been reached to release both prisoners and transfer them to Muscat before returning to their respective countries.

"The Omani efforts have resulted in an agreement between the two sides for a mutual exchange deal."

"The Sultanate of Oman appreciated the high positive spirit that prevailed in the talks in Muscat between the Iranian and Belgian sides and their keenness to settle this humanitarian issue."

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said will visit Iran on Sunday for two days.

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World

Japan Fires Missile in Joint Drill with US and Allies in Northern Philippines, Facing South China Sea

US and Philippine troops in a foxhole participate in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Purchase Licensing Rights
US and Philippine troops in a foxhole participate in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Purchase Licensing Rights
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Japan Fires Missile in Joint Drill with US and Allies in Northern Philippines, Facing South China Sea

US and Philippine troops in a foxhole participate in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Purchase Licensing Rights
US and Philippine troops in a foxhole participate in counter-landing live fire exercises during Balikatan, the annual joint military exercises between the US and the Philippines, at Long Point Beach, Brgy. Aporawan, Aborlan, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Purchase Licensing Rights

Japan's Self-Defense Forces fired a Type 88 anti-ship missile during a joint maritime exercise with US, Australian, and Philippine forces on Wednesday, hitting a decommissioned Philippine Navy ship in waters facing the disputed South China Sea.

The drill took place as Manila and Tokyo began talks on a potential defense equipment transfer, made possible by Japan's decision to scrap restrictions on military exports, said Reuters.

Discussions include the possible early transfer of Abukuma class ‌destroyers and TC-90 ‌aircraft to the Philippines, Japan's Defense Minister Shinjiro ‌Koizumi ⁠said.

Philippine Defense Secretary ⁠Gilberto Teodoro and Koizumi witnessed the live missile firing on the ground, while Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watched the exercise from military headquarters in Manila via a live video feed, the president's office said.

"The exercise showcased coordinated maritime strike operations among allied forces and highlighted the AFP's growing capability to operate alongside international partners in promoting regional security and freedom of ⁠navigation," it said in a statement.

The Philippine military said ‌two Type 88 volleys were fired, hitting ‌the BRP Quezon within six minutes of the launch. The strike took ‌place about 75 km (46.6 miles) off the coast of Paoay in the ‌northern Philippines, which faces the South China Sea.

The Philippine Department of National Defense said Japan's Type 88 missile system was "designed to defend coastal areas and deter maritime threats."

"I'm very, very proud and happy that we were able to ‌pull this off for the first time and it will only get larger in scope with more partners," ⁠Teodoro said.

The ⁠live-fire drill was part of the annual war games held by Manila and Washington, known as "Balikatan", or "shoulder-to-shoulder".

Japan, together with Canada, Australia, France and New Zealand, are joining Balikatan as active participants for the first time, highlighting Manila's widening network of security partnerships.

On May 2, Filipino and American troops also deployed the anti-ship missile NMESIS in Batanes province, near Taiwan, as tensions simmer over the self-governed island that China views as its own territory.

More than 17,000 troops are taking part in this year's exercises, including around 1,400 from defense treaty ally Japan and 10,000 from the United States, even though Washington remains heavily engaged in the Middle East.

Beijing routinely criticizes Manila's joint military exercises with allies, saying they heighten regional tensions.

World

London Police Set Up Specialist Jewish Protection Team

Members of the Jewish community ride past a memorial wall, dedicated both to the victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Iranians killed in recent protests in Iran, on Limes Avenue in Golders Green after a suspected arson attack in London, Britain, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Members of the Jewish community ride past a memorial wall, dedicated both to the victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Iranians killed in recent protests in Iran, on Limes Avenue in Golders Green after a suspected arson attack in London, Britain, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville
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London Police Set Up Specialist Jewish Protection Team

Members of the Jewish community ride past a memorial wall, dedicated both to the victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Iranians killed in recent protests in Iran, on Limes Avenue in Golders Green after a suspected arson attack in London, Britain, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville
Members of the Jewish community ride past a memorial wall, dedicated both to the victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel and Iranians killed in recent protests in Iran, on Limes Avenue in Golders Green after a suspected arson attack in London, Britain, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville

British police are setting up a new team of 100 officers including counter terrorism specialists to help protect Jewish communities across London after a series of antisemitic attacks including the stabbing of two men.

The plan announced on Wednesday for a dedicated protection team comes as officers announced more arrests for antisemitism, including detaining a 35-year old man on Saturday after rocks were thrown at an ambulance belonging to the Jewish community, Reuters reported.

London's top police boss ⁠Mark Rowley said ⁠Jewish communities were facing "sustained threats" from hostile state actors as well as extreme right-wing groups, elements of the extreme left and terrorists.

Detectives are examining whether the arson incidents have possible Iranian links, after British security officials warned that Iran ⁠was using criminal proxies to carry out hostile activity.

Since late March, there have been a number of high-profile arson attacks with four Jewish ambulances burned and synagogues targeted. Last week, two Jewish men were also stabbed. Both victims survived the attack.

Over the past four weeks, police said they had arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes and charged eight individuals. On top of ⁠that, ⁠28 arrests have been made as part of investigations alongside counter terrorism policing for arson and other serious incidents.

"This new team will be primarily focused on protecting the Jewish community, which faces some of the highest levels of hate crime alongside significant terrorist and hostile state threats," said a statement from London's Metropolitan Police force.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer convened a meeting on Monday with business, health and cultural leaders aimed at trying to tackle antisemitism.

World

US Military Strike on Alleged Drug Boat Kills 3 in Eastern Pacific

This screen grab from a video posted on the X account of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on May 5, 2026, shows a vessel before being struck at the direction of Commander General Francis L. Donovan on May 5, 2026. (Photo by US Southern Command / AFP)
This screen grab from a video posted on the X account of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on May 5, 2026, shows a vessel before being struck at the direction of Commander General Francis L. Donovan on May 5, 2026. (Photo by US Southern Command / AFP)
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US Military Strike on Alleged Drug Boat Kills 3 in Eastern Pacific

This screen grab from a video posted on the X account of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on May 5, 2026, shows a vessel before being struck at the direction of Commander General Francis L. Donovan on May 5, 2026. (Photo by US Southern Command / AFP)
This screen grab from a video posted on the X account of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on May 5, 2026, shows a vessel before being struck at the direction of Commander General Francis L. Donovan on May 5, 2026. (Photo by US Southern Command / AFP)

The US military launched another strike Tuesday on a vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men.

The attack came a day after US forces struck an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing two people.

The Trump administration’s campaign of blowing up alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters has persisted since early September and killed at least 191 people in total.

Despite the Iran war, the strikes have ramped up again in recent weeks, showing that the administration’s aggressive measures to stop what it calls “narcoterrorism” in the Western Hemisphere are not letting up. The military has not provided evidence that any of the vessels were carrying drugs.

The attacks began as the US built up its largest military presence in the region in generations and came months ahead of the raid in January that captured then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He was brought to New York to face drug trafficking charges and has pleaded not guilty.

In the attack Tuesday, US Southern Command once again said it had targeted the alleged drug traffickers along known smuggling routes. According to The Associated Press, it posted a video on X showing a boat cruising along the water before a huge explosion left the vessel in flames.

President Donald Trump has said the US is in “armed conflict” with cartels in Latin America and has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and fatal overdoses claiming American lives. But his administration has offered little evidence to support its claims of killing “narcoterrorists.”

Critics, meanwhile, have questioned the overall legality of the boat strikes.