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Ukrainian drones strike Moscow region, killing three in largest attack since 2022

Ukraine launched a major wave of long-range drones at Moscow and surrounding areas, leaving three people dead and damaging residential buildings. The strike underscores Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia and signals a potential escalation in the cross-border drone war.

Source: Washington Post


W.H.O. declares Ebola outbreak a global health emergency

The World Health Organization designated the new Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern after cases appeared in the capitals of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo just a day after the outbreak was announced. With no approved vaccine for this strain, the declaration aims to accelerate international support, surveillance, and containment measures.

Source: New York Times


U.S.-Nigerian raid kills senior ISIS commander, Trump says

President Trump announced a joint U.S.-Nigerian operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as a top ISIS leader. Nigerian officials said the raid occurred in the Lake Chad basin, a region where jihadist networks have exploited porous borders and local insurgencies.

Source: Washington Post


Israel targets top Hamas military figure in Gaza despite fragile ceasefire

Israeli strikes in Gaza City targeted Izz al-Din al-Haddad, identified by Israel as Hamas’s most senior military leader in the enclave, killing at least seven people and injuring more than 50. The operation, conducted despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, risks unraveling tenuous de-escalation efforts.

Source: Egypt Independent


Israel ran covert outposts in Iraq for months to support operations against Iran

Israel covertly prepared and operated a site in Iraq for over a year to support strikes against Iran, with Iraqi officials later confirming the existence of a second base. The revelations highlight the depth of regional shadow conflict and raise new questions about Iraqi sovereignty and the risk of broader escalation.

Source: New York Times


Qatar’s economy buckles under Iran war, as gas exports and diversification plans stall

Iranian attacks have crippled Qatar’s liquefied natural gas shipments, disrupting a cornerstone of the country’s economy and imperiling its post-energy growth strategy centered on tourism and business services. The shock illustrates how the regional war is radiating through global energy markets and supply chains.

Source: New York Times


Russia eases citizenship for Transnistria residents, stoking tensions with Moldova

The Kremlin signed a decree simplifying Russian citizenship for residents of Moldova’s breakaway Transnistria region, a move Moscow casts as humanitarian but which Chisinau views as a sovereignty challenge. The step could deepen Russia’s leverage in a long-frozen conflict zone bordering the EU and Ukraine.

Source: TASS


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World affairs — May 17, 2026 | Briefing24