Tehran has vowed to retaliate after accusing Israel of carrying out an airstrike on the Iranian consulate building in Syria in which seven members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were killed. Brig-Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the elite Quds Force, and Brig-Gen Mohammad Hadi Haji-Rahimi, his deputy, were named among the dead. Iran and Syria’s governments condemned the attack, which destroyed a building next door to the Iranian embassy in Syria’s capital Damascus. The Israeli military said it did not comment on foreign media reports. But the Israeli government has acknowledged carrying out hundreds of strikes in recent years…

Foreign Ministers wrapped up two days of discussions in Brussels on Thursday, 04 April 2024, culminating in a session of the NATO-Ukraine Council and another gathering with partners from the Indo-Pacific region and the European Union. The day also marked the 75th anniversary of NATO’s establishment and collective defence. Over the past seven decades, NATO has seen its membership nearly triple, now comprising 30 nations within its alliance. Finland’s addition as the 31st member in April 2023 marked the most recent expansion. Sweden’s acceptance as the 32nd member and Hungary’s ongoing ratification of its accession further underscores the alliance’s continued growth.…

The ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats is putting a new strain on UN peacekeeping missions, according to a recent report by the International Peace Institute (IPI). The report, titled “Cybersecurity and UN Peace Operations: Evolving Risks and Opportunities,” paints a concerning picture: UN peacekeepers, particularly those deployed in Africa, are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks launched by sophisticated state actors. These attacks target the vast amount of sensitive data collected by peace operations, including the identities and locations of activists, dissidents, and others. This information makes them prime targets for governments and other groups seeking to silence dissent. The consequences of…

“What is clear is that something is happening to make diplomats ill and I am very surprised given the increasing profile of Havana Syndrome and the length of time it has been suspected that the Americans have not been able to pinpoint a cause.” – Colonel Philip Ingram, Former British Army Intelligence Officer A five-year joint investigation by CBS’s 60 Minutes, Der Spiegel, and The Insider links a mysterious illness with unexplained symptoms including dizziness to a Russian intelligence unit. It is known as Havana Syndrome as it was first reported by diplomats at the US embassy in Cuba in…

In June 2024, the forces from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), including South Africa, are set to withdraw from Mozambique. This country has been under the terror of Islamic insurgents, particularly in the northern Cabo Delgado province. The withdrawal will leave the Mozambican government to fight the insurgents on its own and also poses risks for South Africa, which borders Mozambique. This situation unfolds while South African forces are engaged in a controversial peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kobus Marais, South Africa’s Shadow Minister of Defence from the Democratic Alliance, commented on the withdrawal from…

NSN notes the SANDF press statement of 3 April in response to NSN’s 2 April reporting on SANDF personnel being held in M23’s custody in the DRC. NSN is an independent publication that fact checks its reporting rigorously. NSN’s reporting is in the public interest given the deployment of an ill equipped and ill prepared deployment of a too small number of SANDF personnel in a complex foreign conflict in dangerous terrain with impossible mission objectives that puts SANDF personnel needlessly and recklessly in harms way. This has been confirmed by the official casualties that the SANDF tragically already reported.…

Tensions in the East China Sea have increased after the Taiwan Ministry of National Defence revealed that it detected seven Chinese naval vessels and five of its military aircraft operating around the island. One of the People’s Liberation Army aircraft entered Taiwan’s Southwest Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) leading to the deployment of what the defence ministry said were appropriate forces with which to respond. The presence of Chinese military aircraft and ships close to Taiwan is now becoming an almost daily occurrence.  According to Taiwan News, so far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 301 times and…

Senior East-African government sources have told NSN that several South African soldiers, deployed by the ANC Government into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of an ill equipped and ill prepared force, surrendered to M23 rebels this past week. The soldiers are now being held as hostages by M23, according to these sources. The soldiers are part of a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployed to attack the M23 rebels specifically in the east of the DRC. This follows the withdrawal of an East African Regional Security Force that was led by Kenya that avoided a…

Soraya Harding, University of Portsmouth via The Conversation The UK government has accused China of hacking the UK Electoral Commission, gaining access to information about millions of voters. In the aftermath of the incident, the UK and US governments have sanctioned a company that is a front for the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology, and affiliated individuals for their involvement in the breach and for placing malware in critical infrastructure. The UK and many other countries have growing concerns over cyber operations that target national security, technological innovation and economic interests. China has been…

Somalian pirates are exploiting the crisis in the Red Sea, seeing it as an opportunity to target ships off Somalia’s coast. The World Bank has estimated that pirates operating off the Horn of Africa amassed between $18 billion annually during the period from 2005 to 2012 by holding crews and cargo for ransom. The gravity of the situation prompted a multilateral response from the five members of the UN Security Council, while ship owners and flag states implemented special anti-piracy measures for self-protection. Denys Reva, a maritime expert at the Institute of Strategic Studies, told National Security News in an…

British intelligence chiefs may raise the United Kingdom threat level in the wake of the Moscow terrorist attacks. A rise in the level from Substantial to Severe, the second highest category, is being considered by the Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre which is based in MI5’s London headquarters. France raised its security readiness just hours after the Moscow attack and following the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin who blamed radical Islamists for the attack, but added it was “part of Kyiv regime’s attacks on Russia”. The Moscow concert hall attack, which took place on March 22nd, and left 133 people…

Nestled in the tranquil landscapes of Lower Saxony lies a Lingen factory, now entangled in controversy: 40 uranium shipments approved for transit from Russia’s nuclear giant, Rosatom. The collaboration between Rosatom and France’s state-run Framatome to fuel reactors serving over 100 million Eastern Europeans has set alarm bells ringing across Germany. Amidst whispers of espionage and sabotage, approval of uranium shipments from Russia to this very plant, coupled with Framatome’s ambitious expansion plans, magnifies the gravity of the situation. Despite geopolitical tensions and calls for sanctions, the appeal of nuclear profits seems to have clouded judgment, with business continuing as…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has refuted claims that South Africa is taking sides in the Gaza war and that relations with the United States have soured due to the International Court of Justice case against Israel. The South African Government hauled Israel to the ICJ and alleged genocide in its action against Hamas for the October 7 attack, a move which has drawn widespread criticism from Western leaders. The ICJ issued a ruling at the end of January ordering Israel to “take all measures within its power” to prevent acts of genocide as it wages war against Hamas militants…

By Phumzile van Damme – republished from ISS African Futures How can we safeguard South Africa’s hard-won free and fair elections in the age of disinformation online? Phumzile Van Damme weighs in. On 9 March 2024, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma, shared a video on X, formerly known as Twitter. In it, the former US president Donald Trump is seen saying: Greetings all South Africans. My name is President Donald Trump. I urge all South Africans to vote for uMkhonto WeSizwe on 29 May. The African National Congress of Cyril Ramaphosa has failed all South Africans.…

On Friday, the UN Security Council dismissed a new US draft resolution, calling for an “immediate and sustained cease-fire” in Gaza contingent on the release of the remaining hostages being held by Hamas. The failed resolution comes after China and Russia, permanent members of the council, decided to exercise its veto. The final vote tally showed 11 in favour of the resolution, three against from Russia, China, and Algeria and one abstention by Guyana.  The resolution marked a significant change for the US, which had previously opposed any calls for a cease-fire. However, the proposal linked a cease-fire and humanitarian…

Natasha Lindstaedt, University of Essex via The Conversation With Donald Trump leading in many of the polls for the upcoming US presidential election, his comments about global security and foreign policy have to be taken seriously. In February, Trump flippantly remarked that he would encourage Russia to do whatever it wanted to Nato states that failed to pay their bills. In a follow-up interview on GB News this week he warned allies “not to take advantage” of the US. Nowhere is this causing more concern than for the countries in the Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Not only…

In the wild world of digital content, we’re facing a serious reality check – turns out, we’re pretty terrible at spotting deepfake videos and dodgy audio. Recent research shows that we can only identify deepfakes in videos about half the time, and individuals scored a not-so-impressive 73% in catching fake audio. It’s not just a tech problem; it’s a human one. Think you’re a pro at telling what’s real? Well, think again. Another study shows we’re way too confident in our deepfake-detecting skills. Surprisingly, we’re more likely to believe a deepfake is real than the other way around. The study…

Wagner Group, the infamous Russian private military company, has reignited its recruitment campaign on Facebook, preying on unsuspecting individuals worldwide, to lure them into joining the conflict in Ukraine. The targeted nature of this recruitment drive is clear as the ads specifically target Africans, promising an opportunity to engage in direct dialogue with recruiters. Astonishingly, the ad boasts of hundreds of registrations from various regions, including Africa, Vietnam, and Nepal, insinuating a vast network of potential fighters being lured into the fray. Amidst assurances of legitimacy and a disdain for scams, the ad claims no upfront fees, with the Russian…

The owners of TikTok will need to sell the social media platform or face a total ban in the United States, following a landslide vote in the House of Representatives. The move follows a campaign by Congressman Mike Gallagher, the lead sponsor of the bill, who argued he did not want to “censor speech” but insisted there was a need to ban the app because it’s “becoming the dominant news platform for Americans under 30”. Congressman Gallagher, the Republican chairman of the House select China committee, and the bill’s co-author Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the panel’s top Democrat, introduced legislation to…

While the war in Ukraine continues to dominate headlines, a new battleground is emerging – one far above the clouds. General Stephen Whiting, head of the US Space Command, issued a stark warning: don’t underestimate Russia’s growing space capabilities. Despite facing setbacks on the Ukrainian battlefield, Russia appears to be intensifying its focus on space-based systems and unconventional methods of warfare. This shift has security experts rattled, particularly in light of recent US intelligence reports alleging a chilling development – Russia might be building a space-based nuclear weapon, a “space nuke.” Imagine a weapon so powerful it could cripple entire…

 The United States faces an “increasingly fragile world order,” strained by great power competition, transnational challenges and regional conflicts, intelligence agencies have stated.  The disclosures emerged in the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment report issued by the US Intelligence Community on March 11th.  The document on worldwide threats to US national security cautioned that China, Iran and Russia are challenging the current international rules-based order. Focusing on threats from China and Russia, the report notes the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. It also points at the risk of broader conflict related to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza since the October 7…

In 2024, the global political stage is buzzing with anticipation as national elections are either concluded, scheduled or expected in a staggering 64 countries, including the European Union. This collective represents nearly half of the world’s population, making it the busiest election year on record. Amidst this unprecedented electoral frenzy, a looming force threatens the core of democratic processes—deepfake technology. As elections approach in powerhouse nations like the United States, India, and Russia, the stakes for electoral integrity have never been higher. Enter the National Security News (NSN) project, ‘Deepfakin’ Democracy,’ aiming to unravel the impact of deepfake technology on…

In a technological revelation, researchers from the University of Colorado and esteemed counterparts in China uncovered a novel method to compromise biometric security measures. Dubbed PrintListener, this cutting-edge technique cleverly reconstructs a person’s fingerprints by analysing the sounds produced during the simple act of fingertip swiping on a touchscreen. The implications of this discovery extend beyond the realm of casual smartphone use, impacting biometric security systems employed in various applications, from smartphones to door access locks. While the technical details are complex, the essence of the threat lies in the ability to exploit the sounds generated as fingers traverse a…

Last week, a Russian media source disclosed an audio recording revealing a classified conversation among a group of senior German military officials. The conversation took place while one of the officials, reportedly a brigadier general, was staying at a Singapore hotel during the biennial Singapore Airshow. German authorities confirmed that the call, which took place on the Webex platform, was intercepted by Russian security services who had wiretapped the conversation. The incident, which is being viewed as human error, has raised concerns surrounding the risks of using unsecured networks for official communications. German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, confirmed that one…