January 31, 2013:
Syria claims that Israeli fighter jets purposefully bombed a military research center in Jamraya, which is north-west of Damascus. While Israel remains silent, a US official stated that the actual target was a convoy carrying surface-to-air missiles. There has been some discord over what the target was and what the intention behind the attack was. In any case, US deputy national security adviser issued a warning to Syria to not further destabilize the region by transferring weapons to Hezbollah. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21281923
Recent air strikes by French forces have scattered al-Qaeda insurgents in Mali, signifying a turning-point in the intervention. The last major town seized by the insurgents was retaken and is now being secured by French troops. The next step in the intervention will be to have African Union-backed International Support Mission to Mali find and push out any al-Qaeda linked insurgents hiding in the desert and the northern mountains. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21274518
Despite the initiation of a new round of peace talks, there have been clashes between Farc rebels and the Columbian government. So far, five rebels and four government soldiers have been killed in separate clashes, one in the north and one in the south. The peace talks continue unabated – they have in fact begun to speed up as the two opposing parties hope to bring an end to the five decades long conflict. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21284071
February 1, 2013:
There have been continuing clashes between protestors and Egyptian police that have left a reported 60 dead. The protestors claim that Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi betrayed the 2011 uprising and demonstrations have called for him to leave office. During all of this violent conflict, sexual violence against women in the capital city has risen to a level that alarms human rights officials. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21289729
A suicide bomber, not attached to any particular group so far, attacked the US embassy in the Turkish capitol of Ankara. A guard was killed and a Turkish citizen was wounded. The bomber has been identified as Ecevit Sanli, a member of the terrorist group DHKP-C. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21293598