SITUATION REPORTS

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Posted: 10/28/09

ISRAEL: Air Force Strikes Gaza Weapons Factory

On Oct. 21, the Israeli Air Force bombed a suspected weapons factory in Gaza City and two smuggling tunnels crossing the Egyptian border. The strikes came in response to a Qassam rocket attack on a kibbutz in western Negev.

YEMEN: Rebels Seize Key Positions

On Oct. 21, Yemeni Shia rebel fighters captured several key governmental positions as the conflict entered week ten. The Houthi rebels claim to have captured an airport, a military base, and a government building in the Razeh district near the Saudi-Yemeni border. Rebel forces report that government troops retreated, leaving behind military equipment and ammunition. The Yemeni Ministry of Defense claims that the rebels were repelled; however, unnamed government sources have admitted the rebels seized the airport and other key positions.

GEORGIA: Blast Derails Fuel Train

On Oct. 21, an explosion derailed a train near the Abkhazia border. No one was injured, but the blast derailed 12 fuel tanker cars, damaged the tracks, and blew out windows in nearby buildings. Georgian authorities claim the incident was an attack and are searching for any signs of sabotage. Several suspected attacks have taken place in recent months against rail lines and roads along the Georgia-Abkhazia border. Abkhazia has been ruled by a separatist government since 1991, and was recognized by Russia after the Russo-Georgian war in 2008.

SUDAN: UNAMID Sees Signs of Military Escalation in Darfur

On Oct. 20, UN peacekeeping force UNAMID identified "a build up in the number of [rebel and Sudanese government] troops, movement of troops, [and] setting up of defensive positions," Reuters reported. This follows the U.S. announcement of a new policy to end violence in Darfur on Oct. 19.