Tigray forces say Ethiopia’s government has launched its threatened major military offensive against them in an attempt to end a nearly year-old war.

A statement from the Tigray external affairs office alleged hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian “regular and irregular fighters” launched a coordinated assault on several fronts. It blamed Ethiopian forces and those from the country’s Amhara region, where much of the recent fighting has occurred after Tigray forces retook much of their own region in June.

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Syrian air defenses responded to alleged Israeli airstrikes targeting Syria’s T4 airbase near Homs, western Syria on Friday night, Lebanese news site Al-Mayadeen reported.

Hezbollah and Iran hold a notable military presence at the airbase, according to Army Radio.

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Soldiers have set fire to houses in two villages in Sagaing Region’s Pale Township in recent days after junta forces suffered heavy losses during several ambushes in the area, resistance fighters have said.

Thurein, who identified himself as a battalion commander from the Pale People’s Defence Force (PDF), said troops have been stationed at Yaynan Mhaw village since Monday and that they torched five houses in the village from 11am Tuesday.

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Infighting between Nigeria’s two major jihadist factions has left scores dead, raising the possibility of a prolonged internecine conflict between the two forces, civilian and security sources told AFP Tuesday.

Islamic State West Africa Province or ISWAP has emerged as the dominant faction in Nigeria’s conflict, especially after the death of rival Boko Haram commander Abubakar Shekau in May during infighting between the groups.

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More than 140 rebels and pro-government troops have been killed this week as fighting intensifies for Yemen’s strategic northern city of Marib, military and medical sources told AFP Friday.

At least 51 loyalists were killed in the past four days, most of them in clashes in the province of Shabwa and the neighbouring governorate of Marib, multiple military sources said.

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