USA

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a fresh message that centred on reducing American influence in the Middle East and promoting a new regional order.

The statement came through Iran’s state television. Khamenei has not appeared publicly on video since he became the country’s supreme leader.

In his latest remarks, Khamenei said countries in the Middle East would no longer serve as “a shield” for American military installations. He also declared that the United States would no longer enjoy a “safe haven” in the region.

The comments reflect one of Tehran’s long-standing positions during the conflict in the region. Iranian authorities have repeatedly argued that the American military presence in the Middle East should come to an end. Iran has also maintained that it would respond to any threat it identifies against its interests.

Khamenei also praised what he described as the success of the “axis of resistance”, which includes groups allied with Iran in countries such as Lebanon. According to him, Iranian-backed forces have delivered lessons to both the United States and the “Zionist entity”.

He further urged Muslim nations and other countries to build partnerships that would influence the future political and economic direction of the region and the wider world.

“With sincerity and purity, I invite all Islamic countries and governments to friendship and cooperation for the common good,” Khamenei stated.

The message strongly emphasised Iran’s desire for a new balance of power in the Middle East that would reduce Washington’s role in regional affairs.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States military has confirmed fresh strikes on targets in southern Iran despite ongoing diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran in Qatar.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted what it described as threats against American troops in the region. The strikes happened while senior Iranian officials were in Doha for negotiations aimed at securing a broader peace agreement.

CENTCOM described the operation as “self-defence strikes”.

“Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines,” Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said in a statement to Al Jazeera late on Monday.

“US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire.”

The US military did not release additional details about the operation.

Iranian sources told Al Jazeera that members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had earlier targeted a vessel at sea before the US response. The sources also claimed that several IRGC personnel died in the attacks.

The latest military action comes even though a ceasefire between the United States and Iran has officially remained in effect since April 8.

Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, DC, said the incident could affect ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israel conflict involving Iran. He noted that President Donald Trump appeared eager to secure an agreement.

“There have been a number of skirmishes like this, particularly just after the start of the ceasefire. At the time, Trump said he didn’t consider these to be a breach of the ceasefire,” Fisher said.

“There is very limited information coming from the US side; we don’t know the extent of the operation,” he said.

“It’s hard to say whether this skirmish is unusual.”

Earlier on Monday, a senior Iranian delegation arrived in Doha to address obstacles delaying a permanent peace agreement. The delegation included Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Trump later said negotiations were “proceeding nicely”, although he stressed that Washington would only accept a major agreement.

“It will only be a Great Deal for all or, no Deal at all — Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before — And nobody wants that!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The US president also linked the talks to efforts aimed at persuading more Muslim-majority countries to establish formal relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

“It may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing so, and that will be accepted, but most should be ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would, otherwise, be,” Trump wrote.

The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 during Trump’s first term, led to diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Sudan also agreed to normalise relations with Israel, although the agreement has not yet received formal approval.

In another social media post, Trump said he expected Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile to either be handed over to the United States or “destroyed in place or, at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, being witness to this process and event”.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged that progress had been made in discussions with Washington, but officials insisted that a final agreement was still some distance away.

“To say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion would be correct. However, to say that this means an agreement is on the verge of being signed is not something anyone can claim,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Baghaei also told reporters in Tehran that the current discussions were focused on ending the conflict rather than Iran’s nuclear activities, which he said were not under discussion “at this stage”.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Five people lost their lives on Monday after two teenage shooters opened fire at the Islamic Centre of San Diego in California, United States, authorities said.

The incident, which investigators believe may have been motivated by hate, claimed the lives of three victims and the two teenage suspects.

Police identified the attackers as youths aged 17 and 18. Authorities said they arrived at the mosque complex around 11:40 am local time. A security guard and two other men outside the worship centre were shot dead during the attack.

Officials later discovered the two suspects dead inside a vehicle. Investigators believe they died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The Islamic Centre of San Diego is considered the largest mosque in San Diego County.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl disclosed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local security agencies had launched a hate crime investigation into the shooting.

According to police, the mother of one of the suspects contacted authorities about two hours before the attack. She reportedly informed officers that her son, whom she described as suicidal, had left home with three firearms and her vehicle.

Authorities said the teenager was with another youth, and both suspects wore camouflage clothing.

Wahl explained that officers had already started searching for the pair near a shopping mall and the suspect’s high school before emergency reports emerged from the mosque.

Investigators also recovered a note from the teenager’s residence, although police declined to disclose its contents.

“We have never experienced a tragedy like this before,” the mosque’s imam and director, Taha Hassane, told reporters.

“It is extremely outrageous to target a place of worship,” he added.

Authorities stated that dozens of officers responded to the active shooter alert within minutes. Television footage showed armed tactical teams surrounding the mosque complex as helicopters monitored the area from above.

Police confirmed that officers did not discharge their weapons during the operation.

Investigators linked the mosque attack to another nearby shooting in which a landscaper survived after a bullet reportedly struck his safety helmet.

Children at the Bright Horizon Academy, an Islamic school located within the mosque complex, were evacuated safely. Authorities confirmed that no students were harmed.

The shooting happened only days before Muslims around the world prepare to observe Eid al-Adha and embark on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Prominent Islamic cleric and peace advocate, Dr. Ahmad Gumi, has strongly warned against any move to invite foreign military interventio, particularly from the United States, to address Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.

In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, Gumi argued that involving the U.S. military would turn Nigeria into a “new arena” for international terror networks, which he said would inevitably escalate violence. He also accused some Nigerians of having a “slave mentality” for allegedly supporting the idea of surrendering national sovereignty to foreign powers.

The Failure of the ‘Kinetic Approach’

Reflecting on the 17-year insurgency involving Boko Haram, which began after the extrajudicial killing of the group’s founder, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009, Gumi criticized the military’s heavy reliance on force.

He attributed the “gross failure” of this kinetic approach to a lack of moral discipline among security personnel, noting that civilian casualties have significantly undermined the war effort.

“Until innocent people are safe from our excesses in the application of the kinetic approach… the war is going to erode our sovereignty, which it has already,” Gumi stated.

He added that the military is fully capable of addressing the situation internally, provided that the rules of engagement are “free from prejudices and deception, both in the application of force and finances.”

Allegations Against Foreign Actors

To support his opposition to Western involvement, the cleric referenced historical and recent controversies involving U.S. officials.

Gumi questioned the silence of former American envoy Russell Hanks regarding his alleged involvement in the 1995 bombing of a bookshop at the Durbar Hotel in Kaduna.

He also cited allegations made in February 2025 by U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, who claimed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had inadvertently funded terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, ISIS, and Al-Qaeda.

Denial of Military Restraint

Gumi dismissed claims that the Nigerian military has been restricted from attacking bandits or Boko Haram insurgents due to peace talks or amnesty arrangements.

He described such claims as “false and malicious,” insisting that the military has never stopped operations against unrepentant terrorists. According to him, the only blanket amnesty in Nigeria’s recent history was granted to Niger Delta militants under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

“Our sovereignty is a red line!” Gumi declared, urging Nigerians to resist what he described as foreign subjugation. He also offered prayers for the continued stability of the country and the strength of its armed forces.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Taiwan on Saturday declared that it remains an independent nation after United States President Donald Trump cautioned the island against making a formal declaration of independence.

Trump issued the warning shortly after concluding a state visit to Beijing on Friday. During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the American leader not to support Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of Chinese territory.

Taiwan relies heavily on support from the United States to discourage China from carrying out its repeated threat to take control of the island by force.

In response to Trump’s remarks, Taiwan’s foreign ministry stated that the island’s status was clear.

“Taiwan is a sovereign and independent democratic nation, and is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China,” the ministry said.

The ministry also defended continued American weapons sales to Taiwan. It said such sales remain part of Washington’s security obligations to the island.

Trump, during an interview with Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier”, said he did not want Taiwan to move toward formal independence.

“I’m not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we’re supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I’m not looking for that,” he said.

“I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down,” Trump added.

“We’re not looking to have wars, and if you kept it the way it is, I think China’s going to be OK with that.”

The United States officially recognises Beijing rather than Taipei. Washington does not support a formal declaration of independence by Taiwan. However, the US has traditionally avoided openly stating that it opposes such a move.

American law also requires Washington to provide defensive weapons to Taiwan, although the US has remained unclear about whether its military would directly defend the island in the event of a conflict.

Xi reportedly raised concerns over Taiwan during his discussions with Trump in Beijing. The Chinese president warned that mistakes on the issue could trigger “conflict”.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te considers Taiwan already independent, which means a formal declaration is unnecessary.

Taiwan’s Presidential Office on Saturday pointed to what it described as continued support from Washington.

The office cited “multiple reaffirmations from the US side, including President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, that the consistent US policy and position toward Taiwan remain unchanged”.

Presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo also stressed the importance of cooperation between Taipei and Washington.

“Taiwan-US cooperation has always been demonstrated through action,” she said.

“Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work with the US under the firm commitments of the Taiwan Relations Act.”

Ahead of the Beijing summit, Trump said he planned to discuss US weapons sales to Taiwan with Xi. His comments marked a shift from Washington’s earlier position that it would not consult China on the issue.

Taiwan’s parliament recently approved a defence spending package worth $25 billion. Lawmakers said part of the money would cover almost $9 billion from an $11.1 billion US arms package announced in December.

Officials also disclosed plans for another phase of weapons purchases valued at more than $15 billion, although the package has yet to receive approval from Washington.

Speaking to reporters while travelling to Washington on Friday, Trump said he would soon decide on the issue of arms sales.

“I’ll make a determination over the next fairly short period of time,” he said.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry later described the arms sales as “not only a US security commitment to Taiwan clearly stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act, but also a form of joint deterrence against regional threats”.

China has continued to increase military pressure on Taiwan in recent years and has repeatedly vowed to bring the island under its control, including through the possible use of force.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The presidency has said reports circulated in 2024 about the death of Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, the second-in-command of ISIS, were based on mistaken identity.

The clarification followed Saturday’s announcement by United States President Donald Trump that Al-Manuki had been killed during a joint military operation involving Nigerian and American troops. President Bola Tinubu also confirmed the operation.

After the announcement, several online users revisited claims that the insurgent leader had already been declared dead by the Nigerian military in 2024.

In response, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said security agencies explained that the earlier report connected to a military operation in Kaduna State was inaccurate.

According to Onanuga, Al-Manuki, who is also known as Abu-Mainok or Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, had appeared on a list of suspected ISWAP commanders reportedly killed during military operations around the Birnin Gwari forest area.

“It is acknowledged within military and intelligence circles that Al-Manuki’s name had appeared among lists of suspected ISWAP/Boko Haram commanders reportedly killed in 2024 during operations around the Birnin Gwari forest axis in Kaduna State,” the statement reads.

“However, security officials now clarify that the earlier listing was a case of mistaken identity or misattribution in the fog of sustained counterinsurgency operations.”

The presidential aide said intelligence findings later showed that Birnin Gwari was not part of Al-Manuki’s area of operation. He said that discovery raised questions about the earlier claim.

Onanuga also stated that the latest mission against the ISIS commander came after several months of intelligence work carried out by Nigerian and American operatives. He said the operation involved surveillance, phone interceptions, and human intelligence tracking.

He added that intelligence agencies began monitoring Al-Manuki in December 2025 and tracked his movements across different locations in northern Nigeria, including Abuja and Maiduguri.

“Security officials said efforts were initially aimed at capturing him alive before the final operation was carried out,” he said.

“Unlike the previous report, security authorities insist that the latest strike was executed with a significantly higher degree of precision, target validation, and multi-source intelligence confirmation.”

Onanuga said security agencies carried out several layers of verification before approving the final operation.

“In their assessment, ‘this time, there is no ambiguity,’” he said.

The presidential spokesperson also defended public communication about counterterrorism operations. He noted that similar mistaken reports had occurred in international campaigns against terrorism, including cases involving former Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau and ex-ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

“Such cases highlight not failure but rather the evolving, often imperfect nature of intelligence gathering in asymmetric warfare,” he added.

He warned that dismissing joint counterterrorism efforts involving Nigerian authorities and foreign partners could affect public confidence and military morale.

“While public scrutiny remains an essential part of democratic accountability, security experts caution that premature dismissal of military claims can inadvertently undermine operational morale and strategic messaging,” the presidential spokesperson said.

“For now, military authorities remain firm in their position: The latest operation that targeted Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki represents a validated, intelligence-driven success against a senior figure of the Islamic State network. And in their words, this time, they are “100 per cent certain.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Sierra Leone has agreed to receive hundreds of West African migrants deported from the United States as President Donald Trump’s administration steps up actions against undocumented migrants.

According to Reuters, the first batch of deportees is expected to arrive in Sierra Leone on May 20. The group will reportedly include 25 citizens from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Guinea.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timothy Kabba, confirmed the arrangement in an interview with Reuters.

“Sierra Leone signed a Third Country National Agreement with the U.S. to accept 300 ECOWAS citizens from the U.S. per year with a ⁠maximum of 25 a month,” Kabba said.

However, the minister did not disclose what Sierra Leone would gain from the agreement. There is also uncertainty over whether the deportees will be permitted to remain in the country after arrival.

The United States reached a similar agreement with Ghana last year. Under that arrangement, only West African nationals could be transferred to the country.

Some deportees sent to Ghana, including four Nigerians, later filed complaints. They accused authorities of unlawful detention and human rights abuses.

In recent years, the US has deported third-country migrants to several African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Eswatini. The policy has attracted criticism from rights groups and legal experts, who questioned the legality of the transfers and raised concerns about the treatment of deportees sent to countries where they are not citizens.

Nigeria was previously approached over the issue. Yusuf Tuggar, who was then Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, said the federal government would not accept third-country deportees because of security and economic concerns.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Chinese President Xi Jinping has cautioned United States President Donald Trump that any wrong move on the Taiwan issue could damage ties between both countries and possibly trigger conflict.

The warning came on Thursday as the two leaders met in Beijing for a high-profile summit that focused on trade, security and regional tensions.

Trump arrived in China with warm remarks for his host. He described Xi as a “great leader” and “friend”. The American president also invited the Chinese leader to visit the White House in September.

Despite the cordial atmosphere at the start of the meeting, Xi made it clear that Taiwan remains Beijing’s top concern in relations with Washington.

“The Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations,” Xi said, according to remarks released by Chinese state media after the talks began.

“If mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict, pushing the entire China-US relationship into a highly perilous situation,” he added.

The discussions between both leaders reportedly lasted for two hours and 15 minutes at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi also urged both nations to maintain cooperation instead of rivalry. He said China and the United States “should be partners and not rivals”.

Trump, who is facing domestic pressure over the ongoing conflict involving Iran, described the summit as highly significant.

“There are those who say this may be the biggest summit ever,” Trump said during brief remarks after a welcoming ceremony in Beijing.

The ceremony featured an honour guard and children waving flowers and flags to welcome the American delegation.

According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xi told Trump that earlier negotiations between Chinese and American economic officials in South Korea produced “balanced and positive outcomes”.

Al Jazeera correspondent Katrina Yu, who reported from Beijing, said Chinese authorities appeared willing to manage disagreements with Washington on several issues, including trade, Iran and technology.

However, she noted that Taiwan remains a red line for Beijing.

“But there is one issue China and President Xi cannot be flexible on. That is Taiwan,” Yu said.

“And everything that Beijing has offered in the last few hours – niceties, friendliness, reaching out a hand to cooperate more closely – is not free and is conditional on one thing: Washington accepts that there is only one China and that Beijing is very serious about getting Taiwan under its control.”

By Anwar Usman

The Islamic republic of Iran on Monday said it had executed a man by hanging convicted of spying for Israel and the United States, the latest in a wave of executions during the war with the two foes.

“Erfan Shakourzadeh… was hanged for collaborating with the US intelligence service and the Mossad spy service,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.

Iran did not specify when he was executed or when he was arrested, but said he worked at one of Iran’s “scientific organisations active in the satellite field”.

Recall that, Iran has long faced Western accusations that its satellite programme is being used to advance ballistic missile capabilities.

Mizan said Shakourzadeh had “knowingly and willingly” passed classified information to the CIA and Mossad.

Iran is the world’s second-most prolific executioner after China, according to rights groups.

Norway-based group Iran Human Rights says the Islamic republic executed at least 1,500 people last year, one of the highest numbers worldwide.

Iran has been at war with Israel and the United States since late February, with a ceasefire in place since April 8.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has carried out executions, particularly in cases involving alleged espionage or security-related charges.

Last week, three men were executed in Tehran convicted of involvement in anti-government protests that rocked the country in December and January.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States has said it is not seeking a confrontation with Iran over tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, but made it clear it would respond forcefully if provoked.

Speaking on Tuesday, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that any attack by Iran on vessels operating in the strategic waterway would attract a “devastating” reaction from the US.

“We’re not looking for a fight. But Iran also cannot be allowed to block innocent countries and their goods from an international waterway,” Hegseth told reporters.

He added, “If you attack American troops or innocent commercial shipping, you will face overwhelming and devastating American firepower.”

In a related development, General Dan Caine, a top US military official, said American forces are fully prepared to return to large-scale combat operations if directed.

Caine, who spoke with journalists, stressed that Washington’s current posture should not be interpreted as weakness.

According to him, US Central Command and other military units remain on standby for possible action.

“No adversary should mistake our current restraint with a lack of resolve,” he said.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping route, and rising tensions in the area have continued to draw international attention.