An Australian woman charged with joining the Islamic State group appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court seeking bail, with her lawyer saying she has renounced jihad.
Gunfire and explosions were heard near Niamey’s international airport in Niger’s capital early Thursday; casualties and the cause are unclear. The airport houses an air force base and is close to the presidential palace, amid Niger’s ongoing jihadist violence and regional security efforts led by the junta with allies in the Sahel.
Iran’s parliament says attacking Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would trigger a jihad across the Islamic world, as U.S.-Iran tensions rise amid protests and sharp rhetoric from Tehran and President Pezeshkian.
The Hamas terror organization, known for its hostility towards Jews and Israel, also targets Christians and US service organizations such as Rotary and Lions clubs. The group's charter, adopted in 1988, seeks to expand Islam globally and considers non-believers as enemies. The charter accuses these organizations of attempting to "sabotage societies" and "achieve Zionist interests." The FBI has increased investigations into Hamas to disrupt potential attacks on US soil and cut off financial support to the group. Despite the humanitarian work done by these organizations, Hamas views them as part of a "national sin" and a threat to their ideology.