WORLD ROUNDUPU.K. Police Braced for Further Disorder | Hope Alongside Further Tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and more
· U.K. Police Braced for Further Disorder as Far-Right Plan Rallies
After two nights of protests fueled by false rumors spread online, the prime minister announced crackdown on ‘far-right thugs’
· A Hezbollah War Would Be Israel’s Biggest Challenge in Decades
The militant group is experienced, well-armed, and prepared
· The Red Sea Crisis has Consolidated Houthi Control over Yemen
Houthi behavior has led to increased dependence on Iran and less hope for an end to Yemen’s decade-long civil war
· Water Wars: Glimmers of Hope Alongside Further Tensions in the Indo-Pacific
China and Philippines agree on resupply missions; Philippines builds more runways; Western powers deepen security engagement with Asian partners; and more
U.K. Police Braced for Further Disorder as Far-Right Plan Rallies (Fiona Hamilton, Shayma Bakht, Steven Swinford, Aubrey Allegretti, The Times)
Police are preparing for more violent disorder this weekend as far-right activists plan to hold weekend rallies in at least eight towns and cities across the UK.
Posters shared on Telegram, the encrypted messaging app, and other social media channels call for “patriots” to take action, saying “enough is enough”.
Flyers are being circulated online for rallies in Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Belfast, Bristol and Hull. Some of them are urging people to congregate outside mosques.
Hundreds of rioters have already taken to the streets in London, Hartlepool and Manchester, fueled by disinformation about the incident and the suspect that was shared on social media. Several of the events were publicized by figures linked to Patriotic Alternative – which was last year accused by Michael Gove of promoting neo-Nazi ideology.
There has been widespread disorder after three girls — Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine — died after being stabbed while they were attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. Two adults were seriously injured and eight other children suffered stab wounds, five of whom are in a critical condition.
A Hezbollah War Would Be Israel’s Biggest Challenge in Decades (Daniel Byman and Seth G. Jones, Foreign Policy)
Since the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, Hezbollah has launched thousands of rockets and missiles into Israel as well as fired anti-tank guided missiles at targets along the border. Israel has responded with air and artillery strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as by assassinating Hezbollah commanders. The death toll is around 350 Hezbollah fighters and 100 Lebanese civilians, along with 23 Israeli soldiers and 17 civilians. The near-constant fighting has displaced 60,000 Israelis from northern Israel and almost 100,000 people from the Lebanese side of the border.
If the conflict broadens, Hezbollah’s massive rocket and missile arsenal and hardened military forces would pose a major threat to Israel, with the disruption likely to be far more massive than Israel has experienced in decades, even including the Oct. 7 attack. The Israeli military, however, has long prepared for this war, and its campaign would likely be both skilled and savage, devastating Lebanon as well as Hezbollah.
A war might also spread to nearby Syria and Iraq, both of which have Iranian partner forces that
