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Thursday, August 20, 2026

Why Is Israel Expanding Its Military Footprint In Syria?

Edited by: Martin Kuebler It's been two years, four months, 24 days and five hours, said Syrian man Ahmad Hassan al-Din when asked how long it's been since he last saw his son. In April 2024, Israeli soldiers took Saddam, who had just turned 17, from farmland near the Golan Heights, a part of Syria Israel has occupied since 1967. "Saddam had gone to feed the animals early in the morning," al-Din, who's from the village of Jubata al-Khashab in the Quneitra district near Golan, told DW. "I called him on the phone, and he told me, 'Everything's fine.' But then later we saw with our own eyes how they took the boy, handcuffed and shackled." Al-Din filmed Israeli soldiers marching his son through fields. The video, which he forwarded to DW, has previously been verified by open-source investigators at France24 and by human rights organizations. "They said they took him because he was trespassing on the territory of the state of Israel," al-Din continued. "Even though that area is our farmland and we have a valid UN permit to work there." To enter this buffer area, Syrian farmers and shepherds needed a special pass from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF. The latter was set up to make sure Israeli and Syrian forces kept their distance after a 1974 disengagement agreement. Humanitarian organizations have since discovered Saddam, now 19, is likely in a prison in Israel. DW asked the Israeli military what Saddam had been charged with and under which legal system, and a spokesperson said they would investigate. At the time of writing, there had been no further response. <h2>Israel takes over buffer zone</h2> Since Saddam was taken, the Syrian teenager's story has become one of many similar accounts in this part of southern Syria. After the fall of the country's dictatorial Assad regime in December 2024, Israel took control of the UN-patrolled demilitarized zone. Senior Israeli politicians declared the 1974 agreement void and said troops would be in the area temporarily to protect Israel from cross-border attacks. However, since then Israel's presence in Syria has become more permanent. In November 2025, UNDOF told reporters Israel had set up 10 bases in the area. From these bases, Israeli soldiers are making near-daily incursions into the Syrian provinces of Daraa and Quneitra. "These incursions typically involve armored patrols through populated areas, followed by the establishment of temporary checkpoints on main roads, where all passing Syrian civilians are stopped, searched, questioned, and have their phones examined. In some cases, biometric data is also collected," Syrian consultancy, Karam Shaar Advisory, wrote in January. Israeli soldiers have also raided homes, businesses and schools and fenced off farmland and water sources. Quneitra authorities sent DW a statement claiming Israeli troops had seized more than 200 sheep, destroyed drinking water wells, razed horticultural areas and destroyed buildings. Mousa Khalil, a resident of Quneitra, recounted how his home, a two-story building with four apartments in Hamidiyah village, was completely destroyed by Israeli troops last year. "I am 65 years old," he told DW. "At this age, finding decent work has become extremely difficult, forcing me to accept whatever I can find to provide for my family of eight and to save money to rebuild our home." <h2>Increased Israel incursions</h2> Over the past few months, the number of these kinds of incursions has been rising, and Israeli soldiers have also been moving farther inside Syria. The Sijil Center, based in Syria, documents Israeli violations of Syrian territory. Between August 25 and December 31, 2025, the center recorded 818 incidents, or 45 incidents per week. Since the beginning of this year, the center has counted 1,632 incursions, bringing the average to 48 incidents weekly. The Sijil Center also documents how many Syrians have been detained by Israel and says that, since December 2024, around 200 people have been apprehended. Unlike al-Din's son, most were released within 24 hours after being interrogated. Between 40 and 50 Syrians are thought to remain in Israeli jails, including four or five who were in custody before the change of Syrian government in 2024. Soldiers coming across a border and detaining citizens of another country, then transferring them back to their own prisons, is clearly a breach of international law, experts say. Organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have described Israel's actions in southern Syria as possible war crimes. <h2>Why is Israel doing this?</h2> Since the fall of the previous Syrian government, Israeli politicians have insisted that southern Syria must be a "demilitarized zone." The Israeli military previously told other news outlets that it has "apprehended individuals where there was reasonable suspicion of their involvement in terrorist activity." The army also acknowledged the construction of new military bases to prevent attacks and smuggling. "The area is a playground for terror organizations, armed groups and militias," a senior officer told Israel's Ynet last week. Speaking to media outlet Syria Direct, locals in Quneitra said they weren't sure whether Israel is trying to occupy their towns, or whether it is doing this to pressure the Syrian government. Senior Syrian and Israeli politicians had been involved in talks, with mediation from the US, to potentially reactivate the 1974 disengagement agreement. But talks fell apart late in 2025 and in the intervening months, Israeli incursions into Syria increased. In an analysis this week, Elizabeth Tsurkov, a senior non-resident fellow at the Washington-based New Lines Institute, outlined reasons for Israel's behavior in Syria. "The first factor that drives Israel's Syria approach is the collective trauma of October 7th, which left the Israeli public and security establishment fearing a repeated cross-border invasion," she explained. Other motives include Israel's assumption that the new Syrian government is hostile, even though it has continuously said it doesn't want to fight and has not launched any attacks. "Because Israel reads the government in Damascus as jihadist and subservient to Turkey, its overarching goal is a central government too weak to threaten it," Tsurkov wrote. On Tuesday night this week, Israeli jets bombed the Abu Duhur military air base in northern Syria shortly after a Turkish delegation had visited it. Senior Israeli politicians have recently predicted their next war could be with Syria or Turkey. Following the attack on the airbase Syria's Foreign Minister was interviewed by US news outlet Axios. He said that during year-long negotiations on a security deal, significant progress was made but Israel walked away. "Security cannot be one-sided," he said, noting that Syria was open to further talks. "Just as we take Israeli security concerns into account, Israel must also take Syrian security concerns into account and seriously address our concerns regarding its expansionist policy and military operations inside Syrian territory." In a recent study, Syrian think tank Etana came up with some other reasons for Israel's actions in Syria. Israeli control of Syria's tallest peak, Mount Hermon, also allows Israel to surveil Lebanon, researchers noted. Water security could also play a part, they suggested. "After its post-Assad intervention in Syria, Israel now has direct control of, or indirect access to, most of the areas rich in surface water resources in Quneitra and western Daraa," they wrote. <h2>What happens next?</h2> Recent history shows that Israeli security zones often turn into permanently occupied or annexed territories, said H.A. Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. Locals like Khalil from Hamidiyah have complained that their own government isn't helping them. But in fact, in the face of Israel's military superiority, the Syrians are probably doing the best they can, Hellyer told DW. "They're continuing on the diplomatic track because they know very well that they have no military option here," he said. "All this is part and parcel of what I would describe as Israeli paramountcy," Hellyer added, referring to a concept that describes how powerful states override weaker ones by sheer force of arms. "It basically means they are paramount. They have the ability to do what they want. Nobody has the ability to say no, and laws and rules are out the window, without any consensus building at all," he concluded. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/why-is-israel-expanding-its-military-footprint-in-syria-1863073

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Mohan Bhagwat's US Visit Sparks Criticism As Religious Freedom Body Seeks RSS Sanction

Officials of a US advisory body on religious freedom have called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and urged Washington to withhold diplomatic courtesies and high-level meetings from its leaders. The comments by officials of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) came ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s planned visit to New York on August 29 for the ‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’, organised by American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD). The remarks have added to criticism surrounding Bhagwat’s planned US visit, with rights groups also raising concerns over allegations of attacks on religious minorities involving groups linked to the RSS network. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israeli-minister-s-gaza-comments-draw-condemnation-from-german-mps-1862917">Israeli Minister’s Gaza Comments Draw Condemnation From German MPs</a> <h2>USCIRF Calls For Sanctions Against RSS</h2> In a post on X, the USCIRF shared remarks by Commissioner Gene Mills, who referred to comments by USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a member of the RSS. Mills said groups affiliated with the organisation had been accused of attacks against religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims. Mills also referred to Bhagwat’s planned US visit and said RSS leaders should not receive high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies, even when they have links to the Indian government. He instead called on the US government to consider sanctions against RSS members found responsible for violations of freedom of religion or belief. The advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights has also criticised Bhagwat’s visit, arguing that it cannot be separated from allegations of violence against Muslims and Christians linked to the RSS network. “A celebration of ‘oneness’ cannot conceal the politics of religious supremacy,” the group said in a post on X. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sT2vBgFOrYw?si=TXORBDGZGIlpIwkB" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/imran-khan-s-hospital-transfer-faces-hurdle-pakistan-govt-to-challenge-sc-order-1862899">Imran Khan’s Hospital Transfer Faces Hurdle, Pakistan Govt To Challenge SC Order</a> <h2>India Rejects USCIRF Criticism</h2> The latest remarks come months after the USCIRF released its annual report in March, in which it criticised India over alleged violations of religious freedom and backed “targeted sanctions” against individuals and entities, including the RSS and Research and Analysis Wing. India rejected the commission’s assessment, accusing USCIRF of presenting a “distorted and selective” picture of the country. The Indian government also questioned the sources used by the commission, describing them as “questionable sources and ideological narratives”.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/mohan-bhagwat-new-york-visit-uscirf-calls-for-sanction-against-rss-religious-freedom-index-1862923

US religious freedom body seeks sanctions against RSS, no high-level meetings with its leaders

Washington, Aug 20 (PTI): Officials of a US advisory body on religious freedom have called for sanctions against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and asked the American government not to extend diplomatic courtesies to its leaders or have high-level meetings with them. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) chair Asif Mahmood said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the RSS, which he described as an umbrella organisation whose sub-groups have perpetrated attacks on religious minorities. Mahmood’s remarks came weeks ahead of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s visit to the US to participate in the‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’ organised by the American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD) in New York on August 29. USCIRF Commissioner Gene Mills said RSS leaders, even when affiliated with the Indian government, should not be honoured with high-level meetings or diplomatic courtesies. “Instead, the USG (US Government) should focus on imposing sanctions on RSS members found responsible for FoRB (freedom of religious belief) violations,” Mills said. USCIRF posted the remarks by Mahmood and Mills on its X account. “India’s PM Modi is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an Indian umbrella organisation whose sub-groups have perpetrated attacks on religious minorities, incl. Christians & Muslims. Now the RSS leader, Mohan Bhagwat, plans to visit the US," Mahmood said. Advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights said Bhagwat’s visit cannot be separated from the RSS network’s violence against Muslims and Christians. “A celebration of “oneness” cannot conceal the politics of religious supremacy,” the advocacy group said in a post on X. In March, the USCIRF annual report criticised India for alleged violations of religious freedom and backed “targeted sanctions” on individuals and entities such as the RSS and Research and Analysis Wing, holding them responsible for the matter. India rejected the USCIRF report, saying that the organisation has persistently presented a “distorted and selective” picture of the country that relies on “questionable sources and ideological narratives”. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal, in a statement on March 16, said that instead of persisting with “selective criticism” of India, the USCIRF should reflect on “disturbing incidents of vandalism and attacks on Hindu temples in the US, selective targeting of India, and growing intolerance and intimidation of members of the Indian diaspora in the US, which merit serious attention”. PTI SKU APL APL(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-religious-freedom-body-seeks-sanctions-against-rss-no-high-level-meetings-with-its-leaders-1862919

Israel Opens Criminal Probes Into Deaths Of Hind Rajab, 15 Palestinian Medics In Gaza

Edited by: Saim Du&scaron;an Inayatullah The Israeli military has announced it will open criminal investigations into two high-profile attacks on Palestinians during the Gaza war. In a report published Wednesday, the Israeli military said it had reviewed 150 incidents involving its troops in the Palestinian enclave and had made decisions about five of the cases. The killings of 5-year-old Hind Rajab in 2024 and 15 Palestinian paramedics in 2025 would be subject to a criminal probe, the military said. However, it said it would not take that step in the case of three other attacks in which aid workers from the charities World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) were killed. <h2>The killing of Hind Rajab and 8 others in Gaza City</h2> On January 29, 2024, Israeli forces fired on a car approaching them that was carrying a 5-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, and her relatives in Gaza City, the military said in its report. Five of the passengers were killed, while Rajab and her 15-year-old cousin Layan Hamada survived. Layan called the Palestinian Red Crescent, telling them a tank was approaching and her family members had been killed. According to a Red Crescent recording of the call, gunshots were heard, and Layan went silent. Rajab then stayed on the phone with the Red Crescent for hours, trapped in the car, as they tried to get permission from the military to rescue her, but contact was lost. An ambulance dispatched to the site was also allegedly hit by a shell as it arrived. Twelve days later, the bodies of Hind and seven of her relatives were recovered from the scene, along with two paramedics. The case drew international outrage. "Following review of the findings and due to alleged failures in the coordination of the movement of the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance, it has been decided to initiate a criminal investigation of the incident," the Israeli military said in its report. <h2>15 paramedics killed in Tel al-Sultan</h2> On March 23, 2025, 15 emergency workers from the Red Crescent, Palestinian Civil Defense and the UN were killed when Israeli troops fired on their vehicles in Tel al-Sultan in northern Rafah. Troops shot at a first ambulance that was driving to reach casualties, and then fired on other emergency vehicles that followed, according to phone footage and an account from the sole survivor. The Israeli military said in its report that its troops were staging an early morning ambush against Hamas militants along a central access route and had fired at what they believed to be a Hamas vehicle. They then opened fire on other vehicles that arrived at the scene. The troops then "decided to crush the vehicles and to cover the bodies with metal mesh," the military report said. UN officials said that 15 bodies were recovered from a grave in the sand near vehicles that were wrecked and well-marked. The military report said that "six of those killed were identified as belonging to Hamas." It added that it would launch a criminal probe into the incident, "having found that the firing conducted during the incident raises a reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct." <h2>Which cases won't face a criminal probe?</h2> The military said it would not investigate the airstrikes on a World Central Kitchen convoy in April 2024 that resulted in the deaths of seven of the charity's employees. The case drew international scrutiny, with the aid group saying it had coordinated with the military over the movement of its cars, whose roofs bore the group’s logo visible from the air. The military said in its report that it had mistakenly identified several individuals in the vehicles as Hamas militants and that the convoy deviated from its planned route. It concluded that "the decisions of the commanders did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct." The military also decided not to take criminal action over the killings of four staffers from Doctors Without Borders in two separate incidents in Gaza City in November 2023 and Khan Younis in February 2024. <h2>Reactions</h2> Rajab's grandmother, who is also named Hind Rajab, said the Israeli investigation was not enough. "An international investigation is required to uncover the truth and hold all those responsible accountable," she said in comments to The Associated Press on Wednesday. "We call for justice, not only for Hind, but for all Gaza children." Meanwhile, speaking to Reuters after the report's release, Red Crescent media director Eid Aziz said the deaths should never have happened in the first place. "More important than opening the investigation is that this should have been prevented," he said. "The Palestinian Red Crescent badge is protected by international laws, and the medical staff must be protected, especially as they execute their duties and humanitarian work." <h2>Attacks in Gaza continue despite fragile ceasefire</h2> Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on a police station in Gaza City on Wednesday killed at least nine people and injured more than 20 others, according to Palestinian health authorities. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas commander who it claimed was planning to carry out attacks against Israeli troops in Gaza. Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital reported that a woman and a girl were among the dead. Israel said it had also struck a Hamas commander in the Nuseirat area in the central Gaza Strip who had taken part in the Islamist group's attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack led by Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis and prompted Israel to launch its offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Health Ministry. While fighting has largely died down since a ceasefire agareed in October last year, deadly attacks have continued and a recent US push for a long-term peace plan has stalled. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-opens-criminal-probes-into-deaths-of-hind-rajab-15-palestinian-medics-in-gaza-1862916

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

UAE Halts All Trade, Financial Transactions With Iran After Ballistic Missile Launches

The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday suspended all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran, citing rising regional tensions and concerns over threats to regional and international security. UAE Foreign Ministry communications director Afra Al Hameli said the measures would remain in force “until further notice”. She also rejected allegations about the current status of economic ties between the two countries. The announcement came shortly after the UAE accused Iran of launching two ballistic missiles towards the Gulf. The UAE later said its assessment showed that both missiles had been aimed at “maritime navigation” and fell into the sea. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/uae-detects-missile-threat-issues-brief-alert-residents-told-to-seek-shelter-1862735">Iran Fires 2 Missiles Towards UAE, Residents Warned Amid Rising Tensions</a> <h2>UAE Cites Escalating Regional Tensions</h2> “All trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice,” Al Hameli said. She added that the UAE remained committed to dialogue, cooperation and regional integration as ways of promoting peace and stability. The UAE also reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of the international financial system in accordance with international law and the highest global standards. Earlier, the UAE defence ministry said its air defence systems had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran. One missile fell outside the UAE’s territorial waters, while the other fell within them. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> مديرة الاتصال الإستراتيجي في وزارة الخارجية: وقف جميع الأنشطة والتبادلات التجارية والمعاملات المالية مع إيران Director of the Strategic Communications Department at MoFA: All Trade, Commercial Exchange, and Financial Transactions with Iran Halted <a href="https://t.co/PQczXyDNRX">pic.twitter.com/PQczXyDNRX</a> — MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) <a href="https://ift.tt/gZhKUIo 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/xeC3yLB" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UPQVFgKM6aA?si=NiCmD6Uy80qh0lwa" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>UAE Says Missiles Targeted Maritime Navigation</h2> A subsequent assessment by the UAE defence ministry concluded that both missiles had been directed towards maritime navigation and ultimately fell into the sea. “Assessments carried out showed that the two ballistic missiles detected coming from Iran were targeting maritime navigation and fell into the sea,” the ministry said. Iran had not immediately commented on the UAE’s allegations. Tehran has, however, warned that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until it reaches a peace agreement with the United States. The strategic waterway is a key route for shipping departing from UAE ports and the wider Gulf. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-lie-updates-donald-trump-shares-map-calling-strait-of-hormuz-new-us-territory-iran-hits-back-delusion-1862719">Trump Shares Map Calling Strait Of Hormuz ‘New US Territory’; Iran Hits Back</a> <h2>Tensions Rise In The Region Again</h2> The latest measures represent a sharp escalation in tensions between the UAE and Iran. When the Middle East war began on February 28, the UAE said it had faced nearly 3,000 Iranian missiles and drones, more than any other country in the region. The UAE later reported no attacks after a memorandum of understanding came into effect in June. That arrangement has since expired, while other Gulf states have continued to report attacks.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-attack-on-uae-all-trade-financial-transactions-suspended-after-ballistic-missile-launches-1862751

India reiterates support for negotiated two-state solution in Palestine: MEA Secretary Ranganathan

Jerusalem, Aug 18 (PTI): India on Tuesday reiterated its longstanding support for a "negotiated two-state solution" in Palestine and reaffirmed the country's consistent support for the Palestinian people, Sripriya Ranganathan, a secretary at the External Affairs Ministry, said.Ranganathan, Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs)is on an official visit to Egypt, Palestine and Lebanon from August 16-21.Ranganathan on Tuesday called on Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine and also "conveyed India’s concern over the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza." "Amb Sripriya Ranganathan called on Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Palestine. The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of India-Palestine bilateral relations, including their extensive development cooperation initiatives," the Representative Office of India to Palestine posted on X."India reiterated its longstanding support for a negotiated two-State solution, and underscored the importance of addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza through sustained humanitarian assistance and continued dialogue and diplomacy," the post read.India has been backing a vision of a "two-state" solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognised borders, consistent with international law.Both the leaders discussed the full range of India-Palestine relations, with particular focus on the current situation in Palestine, developments in Gaza, humanitarian needs and India’s longstanding development partnership with the Palestinian people, according to an official statement.Ranganathan reaffirmed "India’s consistent support for the Palestinian people and a negotiated two-State solution," it said.She reiterated "India’s support for efforts towards peace and stability and for a lasting political resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy." Ongoing initiatives spanning health, education and capacity-building were also reviewed during the meeting.Recalling her successful visit to India in January this year, the Palestinian Foreign Minister expressed appreciation for India’s continuing support through development projects, capacity-building programmes, scholarships, humanitarian assistance and contributions to Palestinian institutions and UN agencies, it said. PTI AMS(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/india-reiterates-support-for-negotiated-two-state-solution-in-palestine-mea-secretary-ranganathan-1862748

Rain Aids Firefighters Battling Massive High Fens Wildfire In Belgium

Edited by: Saim Du&scaron;an Inayatullah Belgian firefighters were pushing to encircle and contain the country's largest wildfire in a century. Rain and cooler temperatures provided some natural relief against the blaze on Tuesday but also teamed up with winds to hamper air support and waterbombing operations. The fire expanded to cover an area of around 3,000 hectares — about half the size of Manhattan in New York — by Monday. The High Fens, or Hautes Fagnes, nature reserve is a vast expanse of boggy peatlands, pine forests and hiking trails, with parts of it difficult to access with large machinery, except from above. <h2>What's the latest on the firefighting efforts?</h2> "We are trying to definitively encircle the fire today," regional government spokesman Niolas Yernaux told the AFP news agency on Tuesday. Firefighters worked through the night to try to make a crucial link-up between the eastern and northern fronts, despite difficult access conditions in the hilly and wooded area. "We're talking about one or two kilometers, and we're on the verge of achieving it," Yernaux said. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WC-OJqCU85s?si=H6xt3MB_xUSyTmd_" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> He said that the fire was "under control and contained" in areas where firefighters could operate. However, Yernaux said the hard-to-reach front stretching towards the German border and the town of Monschau remained a concern; much of this area is only really accessible from above. The wind and rain could delay such aerial operations, potentially until Tuesday evening, he warned. <h2>How far from the border is the fire, what's the situation in Monschau?</h2> Residents of Monschau have already been told to leave their homes because of the smoke hazard, with the fire roughly 2.3 kilometers (roughly 1.5 miles) from the border. Yernaux said that "strong winds" were blowing towards the east and the German frontier. "At the moment it's manageable," Monschau fire service spokesman Tobias Schnell told the dpa news agency. Should the winds pick up further, he said that could fan the flames in the town's direction. He said that water tanks and other equipment had already been placed in its potential path in case it is needed. He said around 170 people were working on a three-shift rotation around the clock, and that authorities were working on the assumption the operation would last several more days at least. Smoke has spread dozens of kilometers to the east, with major cities like Cologne and Wuppertal both warning residents of the risk of poor air quality and smoke. "At present the smell of the fire can be perceived throughout the city," Wuppertal's fire department warned, recommending that people close doors and windows. "A health risk cannot be ruled out." ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-lie-updates-donald-trump-shares-map-calling-strait-of-hormuz-new-us-territory-iran-hits-back-delusion-1862719">Trump Shares Map Calling Strait Of Hormuz ‘New US Territory’; Iran Hits Back</a> <h2>Locals start to return, but still urged to limit movements</h2> Villagers in places like Sourbrodt, which was evacuated at the peak of the fire over the weekend, started returning to their homes as the threat subsided on Monday evening. Nevertheless, the local Waimes municipality asked residents to exercise continued caution. "Residents are asked to limit travel within this area to what is strictly necessary and to act with particular vigilance and responsibility," it said. "Despite the return of evacuated residents, operations carried out by the various emergency, security and response services remain a priority and must be able to proceed under the best possible conditions." Two villages in the Bütgenbach municipality, meanwhile, remain cleared, with conditions not yet safe there. Wallonia's Agriculture Ministry also said on Tuesday that it would review compensation for farmers who volunteered to help with the firefighting efforts. This is was "under review — regarding both the substance and the procedure, as well as the legal feasiblity of doing so," Agriculture Minister Anne-Catherine Dalcq's office said on Tuesday. This followed an appeal from the presdient of the Royal Federation of Belgian Firefighters, who demanded reciprocal aid after the farmers' help battling the blaze. "Who will cover the cost of the equipment damaged during this operation? Without them, the situation would be far worse," Marc Gilbert had said in an interview with the Belga news agency. The vast fire gathered pace just after another a few kilometers east across the German border in the Hürtgenwald forest was contained late last week. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/uae-detects-missile-threat-issues-brief-alert-residents-told-to-seek-shelter-1862735">UAE Detects ‘Missile Threat’, Issues Brief Alert; Residents Told To Seek Shelter</a> If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/rain-aids-firefighters-battling-massive-high-fens-wildfire-in-belgium-1862737