United News of Bangladesh

Iran is facing its deadliest crackdown on dissent since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, as authorities suppress nationwide protests with lethal force, despite cutting off internet and communication across the country. Cities and towns are filled with smoke, with fire-damaged mosques, government offices, and banks lining the streets. State media reported at least $125 million in damage across more than 20 cities. Activists say the death toll continues to rise, accusing security forces of using long-standing tactics — firing from rooftops, shooting birdshot into crowds, and deploying motorcycle-riding Revolutionary Guard volunteers to beat and detain protesters. “The vast majority of protesters were peaceful,” said Raha Bahreini of Amnesty International. “The authorities have opened fire unlawfully, targeting crowds that included children and families.” Protests began on Dec. 28 at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, and spread nationwide. Violence escalated on Jan. 8 after calls from exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. Deputy Interior Minister Ali Akbar Pourjamshidian said more than 400 cities were affected. Videos show security forces, including the Basij volunteer arm of the Revolutionary Guard, using shotguns, batons, and assault rifles. Many demonstrators suffered severe injuries, including eye wounds consistent with birdshot. Iran’s Farabi Eye Hospital mobilized all available doctors to treat the injured. Casualty reports vary: the Iranian government said 3,117 were killed, including civilians and security personnel, while the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported 5,137 deaths, including 4,834 protesters. State media also reported widespread damage to banks, ATMs, government buildings, and vehicles. Amid fears of U.S. military action, an American aircraft carrier and warships are moving toward the Middle East. Observers warn that Iran could see renewed protests around Feb. 17, the 40-day mourning period for those killed. Satellite images show large numbers of mourners at Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra cemetery, chanting against Iran’s leadership.

Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard has warned the United States that its forces remain on high alert, even as President Donald Trump said Tehran appears willing to enter negotiations. In a statement aired by state television on Thursday, Revolutionary Guard commander Gen Mohammad Pakpour said his forces have their “finger on the trigger,” cautioning both Washington and Israel against what he described as potential miscalculations. He urged the US and Israel to draw lessons from past conflicts, including what he called the “12-day imposed war,” and said the Guard stood fully prepared to carry out any orders from Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite the sharp rhetoric, signs of immediate US military action appeared to ease this week. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the United States had struck Iranian uranium enrichment facilities last year to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. New Israeli settlement Yatziv inaugurated near Beit Sahour “We can’t let that happen,” Trump said, adding that Iran “does want to talk,” and that the US would engage in discussions. At the same time, Iran’s military leadership issued further warnings. Gen Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, head of Iran’s joint command headquarters, said any US attack would make “all US interests, bases and centres of influence” legitimate targets. Earlier this week, Trump had warned Iran’s leaders that the United States would respond decisively if there were any attempt on his life, linking such a scenario to potential retaliation over actions targeting Khamenei. The heightened tensions come as Iran’s leadership deals with the fallout from nationwide protests that erupted in late December. Authorities have since suppressed the unrest through a forceful crackdown, alongside a sweeping internet blackout described by monitoring group NetBlocks as a “national kill-switch,” now in its second week. Hackers disrupt Iran state TV as protest crackdown death toll tops 4,000 On Wednesday, Iranian officials released their first official casualty figures from the protests, saying 3,117 people were killed. #With inputs from Agencies

Israeli settlers on Monday inaugurated a new settlement on a hilltop overlooking the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour in the occupied West Bank, marking the formal recognition of what had until recently been an unauthorised outpost. The settlement, named “Yatziv,” meaning “stable” in Hebrew, was set up with prefabricated homes in November and received official approval last month. The inauguration was held under heavy security, with Israeli soldiers deployed around the site as settlers gathered for the ceremony. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees Israeli settlement policy, attended the event and said the new settlement would be permanent. He has led an expanded programme of settlement construction and legalisation of outposts over the past three years. Settlers have long sought control of the hilltop, citing its location in a chain of settlements surrounding Jerusalem and its historical significance to Jews. The move gained momentum after a deadly stabbing attack on an Israeli at a nearby junction late last year, according to settlement leaders. On Dec 21, Smotrich approved Yatziv along with 18 other outposts, bringing an end to a two-decade campaign by settlers to establish a presence at the site. The international community largely considers Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law. Palestinians say the continued expansion restricts movement and development, undermining prospects for a future Palestinian state. They seek the West Bank, captured by Israel in 1967, as part of such a state. Palestinian officials say the land belongs to families from Beit Sahour. Mayor Elias Isseid said the new settlement is part of a growing ring of Israeli communities around the town, connected by roads that lead directly to Jerusalem while bypassing Palestinian areas. In the past, the site had been discussed as a possible location for a Palestinian children’s hospital with international support, but the project was never implemented and the land was later used as a military base. Yatziv is the latest addition to a series of settlements that have expanded around Beit Sahour in recent years.

Hackers briefly disrupted Iranian state television satellite broadcasts to air footage backing the country’s exiled crown prince and urging security forces not to turn their weapons on the people, according to online videos seen early Monday. The broadcast interference came as activists said the death toll from a sweeping crackdown on nationwide protests had climbed to at least 4,029, with fears the figure could rise further as information continues to emerge from a country still facing internet shutdowns. Footage aired late Sunday on several satellite channels run by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting showed clips of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi along with images of people in what appeared to be police uniforms. A message urged the army and security forces not to target civilians and to stand with the nation. Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guard, quoted state television as saying the signal in some areas had been “momentarily disrupted by an unknown source,” without elaborating on the content that was aired. Pahlavi’s office acknowledged the disruption showing the crown prince but did not comment further. The latest hacking incident follows a series of similar disruptions in recent years, including one in 2022 that aired footage of exiled opposition leaders and messages critical of Iran’s top leadership. Meanwhile, tensions between Tehran and Washington remain high over the crackdown. President Donald Trump has warned Iran against killing peaceful protesters or carrying out mass executions following the demonstrations. Ship-tracking data reviewed by the AP showed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and several US warships passing through the Strait of Malacca after leaving Singapore, putting them on a route that could take them to the Middle East. US media, citing unnamed officials, reported the carrier was heading toward the region. Diplomatic pressure on Tehran also mounted as the World Economic Forum withdrew an invitation for Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to speak at its annual meeting in Davos, citing the loss of civilian lives in Iran. The Munich Security Conference also cancelled invitations for Iranian officials. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 4,029 people have been killed since protests erupted on Dec 28 over Iran’s struggling economy. The group said most of the dead were demonstrators, along with members of the security forces, children and bystanders. It also reported more than 26,000 arrests. Iranian authorities have not released an official death toll. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said the unrest had left “several thousand” people dead and blamed the United States for the violence.

The Syrian government on Sunday announced a ceasefire agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), paving the way for Damascus to regain control over much of the country’s northeast after more than a decade. The deal follows weeks of escalating tensions that erupted into clashes earlier this month, prompting a major military advance by government forces toward the east. The SDF has since largely withdrawn from key front-line positions in eastern Aleppo province. SDF commander Mazloum Abdi confirmed the agreement in a video message, saying his forces had accepted the deal and would pull out of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces “to stop the bloodshed.” “We will explain the terms of the agreement to our people in the coming days,” Abdi said. Syria’s Defence Ministry said it had ordered all fighting to stop along the front lines following the announcement. Since the fall of former president Bashar Assad in December 2024, Syria’s new leadership has struggled to fully assert authority over the war-battered country. A previous agreement in March to integrate the SDF into the state structure failed after both sides accused each other of violating its terms. Following the latest military push, government forces have effectively taken control of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour provinces, which are strategically vital due to their oil and gas fields, Euphrates river dams and key border crossings. State media showed President Ahmad al-Sharaa signing the agreement in Damascus. Although Abdi was not present due to bad weather, his signature appeared on the document. Al-Sharaa said Abdi is expected to visit Damascus on Monday. “This is a victory for all Syrians, regardless of background,” al-Sharaa told journalists. “We hope Syria will move from division toward unity and progress.” Both the Syrian government and the SDF are allies of Washington. US envoy Tom Barrack met al-Sharaa on Sunday as government forces advanced into Raqqa and across Deir el-Zour province, with Abdi reportedly joining the talks by phone. Barrack welcomed the agreement, saying it marked a turning point toward “renewed dialogue and cooperation for a unified Syria.” Under the deal, the SDF will be dismantled and its fighters integrated into Syria’s military and security forces. Senior SDF officials are expected to take up senior roles in state institutions. The group will hand over Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, both Arab-majority provinces, along with border crossings and energy facilities. In Hassakah province, the Kurdish heartland, only the civilian administration will return to Damascus, while Kurdish-run agencies overseeing prisons and camps holding Islamic State detainees will also be transferred to government control. There is no clear timeline for implementation. Al-Sharaa said the process would be gradual, beginning with a halt to hostilities. Clashes earlier this month had briefly subsided after Abdi announced his forces would withdraw east of the Euphrates River. However, fighting resumed when Syrian troops seized Tabqa and pushed deeper into Raqqa province. By Sunday evening, government convoys had entered Raqqa city, where residents welcomed them with celebrations, waving Syrian flags and setting off fireworks. Crowds gathered in the streets chanting and firing shots into the air. “Today, everyone is born anew,” said local resident Yahya Al Ahmad. Meanwhile, thousands of Kurdish families fled toward the SDF-held city of Qamishli, where temporary shelters were set up. Many residents there expressed cautious hope about the agreement, alongside lingering mistrust. Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said the deal marked a turning point. “This is a moment for Syrians to put aside their differences and move forward. It is a victory for Syria,” he said.

The Syrian government has announced an immediate nationwide ceasefire with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), ending nearly two weeks of fighting and paving the way for the reintegration of the group into Syria’s military and state institutions. Syrian state media said the ceasefire is part of a broader 14-point agreement that will see the SDF integrated into national structures, effectively restoring Damascus’s control over most of the country. Speaking in Damascus, President Ahmed al-Sharaa said the deal would allow Syrian state institutions to reassert authority over three key eastern and northern governorates al-Hasakah, Deir Ezzor and Raqqa. The announcement followed a meeting between al-Sharaa and the US special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, who welcomed the agreement as a step toward a “unified Syria.” Syrian forces seize key town and oil fields from Kurdish-led SDF in eastward offensive SDF commander Mazloum Abdi was expected to attend the meeting but was unable to travel due to weather conditions. His visit has been postponed until Monday, al-Sharaa said. Kurdish-led forces established an autonomous administration during Syria’s civil war nearly a decade ago, with strong backing from the United States, which armed and trained the SDF as its main local partner in the fight against the Islamic State group. With US military support, the SDF drove Islamic State from much of northeastern Syria and later governed both Kurdish- and Arab-majority areas. Under the new agreement, signed by al-Sharaa and Abdi, Syrian authorities will take control of civilian institutions, border crossings, and oil and gas fields that formed the backbone of Kurdish self-rule. SDF military and security personnel will be integrated into Syria’s defence and interior ministries after a vetting process, while Damascus will assume responsibility for prisons and detention camps holding tens of thousands of foreign Islamic State fighters and their families. The government also reaffirmed its pledge to recognise Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights, including granting Kurdish official language status and recognising the Kurdish New Year as a national holiday — the first formal recognition of Kurdish rights since Syria gained independence from France in 1946. US conducts retaliatory strike in Syria, kills leader linked to deadly IS ambush The agreement also confirms Syria’s continued participation in the US-led coalition against Islamic State. The deal follows months of stalled negotiations after a previous integration attempt failed and comes after Syrian government forces moved into Raqqa and nearby oil facilities following an SDF withdrawal earlier on Sunday. Al-Sharaa said last week it was unacceptable for a militia to control a quarter of the country and hold its main oil and commodity resources. #With inputs from BBC

Syrian government forces on Sunday seized a strategic town and several oil fields in northeastern Syria as part of an ongoing military push against Kurdish-led forces east of the Euphrates River. The advance into Tabqa, in Raqqa province, follows renewed tensions between Damascus and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which erupted earlier this month and led to deadly clashes. During the fighting, government troops also took control of three neighbourhoods in Aleppo previously held by Kurdish fighters. The operation in Tabqa is seen as highly significant due to the presence of a major dam regulating water flow to southern regions under SDF control, as well as a military air base in the town. Associated Press journalists reported seeing residents emerge from their homes to welcome Syrian troops, waving national flags. Government forces were also seen in control of oil fields in Raqqa province that had previously been held by the SDF. Since toppling longtime President Bashar Assad in December 2024, Syria’s new leader President Ahmad al-Sharaa has struggled to consolidate authority nationwide and reassure minority groups wary of the country’s new Islamist-led leadership. The government and the SDF have exchanged accusations of breaching a March agreement aimed at reintegrating northeastern Syria and Kurdish forces into the state. US conducts retaliatory strike in Syria, kills leader linked to deadly IS ambush For years, the SDF controlled large parts of northeastern Syria, including key oil fields, and served as Washington’s main partner in the fight against the Islamic State group. However, since Assad’s removal, the United States has strengthened its ties with Damascus and sought to reduce tensions between the two sides. Washington had called for calm after clashes in Aleppo this month left at least 23 people dead and displaced tens of thousands. Following a ceasefire, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi said on Friday that the group would withdraw its forces east of the Euphrates after al-Sharaa announced steps to strengthen Kurdish rights in Syria. Last week, Syria’s Defence Ministry declared a disputed zone in eastern Aleppo a military area. Government forces now appear to be advancing deeper toward Raqqa, one of the most important SDF-controlled cities in the northeast. Tabqa is the latest mostly Arab-majority area in Raqqa province to fall to government troops. It remains unclear how far the Syrian military intends to push into Kurdish heartland. Syrian state media SANA reported that Kurdish forces blew up a bridge in the city in an apparent attempt to slow the government’s advance. The Syrian government also accused the SDF of executing prisoners in Tabqa before withdrawing. The SDF denied the claim, saying detainees had been transferred elsewhere and accusing government forces of firing on the prison. It released a video showing armed men in civilian clothes inside the facility, though no bodies were visible. An AP reporter who visited two prisons in Tabqa found them empty and saw no bodies inside. However, three bodies in civilian clothing were found at a nearby school. The SDF captured Tabqa from Islamic State militants in 2017 during the campaign to dismantle the group’s self-declared caliphate. Syrian troops move into northern towns after Kurdish fighters pull back Further east, the governor of Deir el-Zour province urged residents to remain indoors following reports of clashes with the SDF. The area, home to the Al-Omar oil field and Conoco gas plant near US troop positions, has long seen tensions between Kurdish authorities and Arab tribes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government forces have taken control of more than a dozen towns and villages in eastern Deir el-Zour after SDF fighters withdrew.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused actors linked to the United States and Israel of being responsible for the killing of “several thousands” of people during weeks of antigovernment protests across the country. “Those linked to Israel and US caused massive damages and killed several thousands” during the protests that shook Iran for more than two weeks, Khamenei said on Saturday. He alleged direct involvement by the two countries in the violence and described US President Donald Trump as a “criminal”. “The latest anti-Iran sedition was different in that the US president personally became involved,” Iranian state media quoted him as saying. Iranian authorities have increasingly blamed foreign powers for the unrest, accusing long-time geopolitical rivals, particularly Israel and the United States, of fuelling instability and directing operations inside the country. Khamenei warned that while Iran would avoid escalating tensions beyond its borders, those it considers responsible would face consequences. “We will not drag the country into war, but we will not let domestic or international criminals go unpunished,” he said. Reporting from Tehran via satellite, Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar Atas said Khamenei’s remarks largely echoed Iran’s long-held position but also introduced a new claim about the scale of casualties. Read More: Iran’s supreme leader warns of harsh response as protests continue Khamenei alleged a deeper level of US involvement than in previous unrest. “He said that in previous protests there was a low level of intervention of the Americans, but this time the president of the United States was a central figure in this international plot against Iran,” Atas added. What stood out, however, was the size of the alleged death toll. “One thing that is new in his speech is that for the first time he is actually giving a sense of the numbers of people killed,” Atas said. “He is saying that the violent protesters have killed thousands of people.” There is still no confirmed death toll, though US-based rights group HRANA says a further 3,000 have been killed in the protests. Until now, Iranian officials had publicly acknowledged hundreds of deaths, including members of the security forces. Khamenei’s statement marks the first time Iran’s top authority has spoken of casualties in the thousands. Atas noted that the claim partly aligns with assessments by some international human rights organisations. “They have been saying that the death toll is much higher than what is being publicly announced by the officials,” he said. Iranian officials also say around 3,000 people have been arrested in connection with the protests. Read More: Iran signals swift trials, executions despite Trump warning Khamenei further accused protesters of widespread destruction, “including burning more than 250 mosque and medical facilities”, Atas said. According to Iran’s official account, demonstrations initially began peacefully over rising prices and economic hardship on December 28 in several cities. “The government was acknowledging their demands and the hardships that they are facing,” Atas said, adding that authorities now argue the protests were later “hijacked by the violent protests who were receiving orders from the outside powers”. Iranian officials claim those involved were “equipped, financed, and trained” by foreign actors, with Khamenei placing Trump “in the centre of this plot”. The semiofficial Fars News Agency reported on Saturday that authorities had restored the short messaging service (SMS) nationwide as part of a phased plan following eight days of near-total internet disruption.

U.S. retaliatory strike in northwest Syria on Friday killed an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader tied to the Islamic State member responsible for a December ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and one civilian interpreter, officials said. The U.S. Central Command identified the deceased as Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, describing him as an “experienced terrorist leader” who directly coordinated the Dec. 13 attack that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. “The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces,” CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper said. “There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you.” The strike was the third in a series of operations under “Hawkeye Strike,” a broader U.S.-led campaign launched after the ambush to target Islamic State infrastructure and leaders attempting to regroup following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad. CENTCOM said U.S. forces, alongside partners such as Jordan and Syria, have targeted more than 100 ISIS sites, including weapons caches and infrastructure. President Donald Trump emphasized that Syrian authorities were cooperating with American forces and that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the December attack. The operation underscores the U.S. military’s continued commitment to hunting terrorists in Syria and its regional partners while responding to threats against American personnel.  

US President Donald Trump is moving forward with his “Board of Peace,” initially designed to help implement a Gaza ceasefire, with ambitions to expand its mandate to other global conflicts, potentially creating a parallel to the United Nations. In letters sent Friday, Trump invited world leaders—including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Paraguay’s Santiago Peña, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—to serve as founding members. Trump described the board as “the most impressive and consequential board ever assembled,” envisioning it as an international organization and transitional governing body. Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, serves as the framework for the Board of Peace, but letters suggest the body could extend beyond Gaza to address other global crises. A senior U.S. official said an expanded role is “aspirational” and aimed at addressing frustrations with the United Nations’ bureaucracy, though the board is not intended to formally replace the U.N. Critics argue the initiative could undermine established international norms. Daniel Forti of the International Crisis Group said it allows the U.S. to sidestep traditional mechanisms for sovereignty and territorial integrity, potentially shaping global conflicts to Washington’s interests. An executive committee overseeing Gaza already includes U.S. officials, business leaders, and former international figures such as Tony Blair and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Israel has objected, saying the board’s plans were not coordinated with its government. The White House plans a formal announcement of the board and its members next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, amid questions over its potential impact on the post-World War II international order.