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Monday, May 25, 2026

US Conducts 'Self-Defence' Strikes In Iran, Hits Missile Launch Sites, Mine-Laying Boats

The United States military on Monday said it conducted “self-defence” strikes in southern Iran targeting missile launch sites and boats allegedly attempting to place mines, amid continuing diplomatic negotiations with Tehran. According to the United States Central Command, the strikes were carried out to protect American personnel from threats posed by Iranian forces. “The strikes were done ‘to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces,’” Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said in a statement. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gf7ip44xKII?si=VMuyMV1kJ7SiZCax" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/either-great-meaningful-deal-or-no-deal-donald-trump-says-us-won-t-compromise-on-iran-1846033">‘Either Great & Meaningful Deal Or No Deal’: Trump Says US Won’t Compromise On Iran</a> Hawkins said that the US continued to exercise restraint despite the military action. “US Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” he said. The latest strikes come amid heightened tensions in West Asia and continuing efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire in the region. <h3>Trump Says Negotiations ‘Proceeding Nicely’</h3> The strikes came even as US President Donald Trump indicated that diplomatic engagement with Iran was moving forward positively. In a post on social media, Trump said negotiations were “proceeding nicely,” although no further details were immediately available regarding the status of the talks. Officials have not yet disclosed specific information about the alleged Iranian threats that prompted the military action or how the strikes could affect the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The developments come amid heightened tensions in West Asia and continuing international efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire in the region. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/irgc-linked-operative-mohammad-al-saadi-plot-to-kill-donald-trump-daughter-ivanka-qasem-soleimani-revenge-1845530">Iran-Linked Operative Accused Of Plotting To Kill Ivanka Trump: Report</a> <h3>Trump Pushes Wider Abraham Accords Expansion</h3> Earlier, Trump said that any agreement aimed at ending the Iran conflict should include a requirement for several additional countries to join the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered framework established during his first presidential term to normalise relations with Israel. The proposal emerged as the developing Iran deal faced criticism from Republican leaders and conservatives advocating a tougher stance on Tehran. Trump said countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan should “immediately” sign on to the Abraham Accords. “After all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these Countries, at a minimum, simultaneously, sign onto the Abraham Accords,” Trump wrote. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became the first countries to join the accords in 2020. The proposal could potentially introduce additional diplomatic complexities into negotiations involving Iran and regional powers, particularly amid ongoing discussions surrounding ceasefire arrangements, security guarantees and broader regional stability. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-news-live-news-update-sign-immediately-trump-urges-saudi-arabia-pakistan-qatar-to-join-abraham-accords-1846044">Trump’s Abraham Accords Demand Puts Pakistan’s Peacebroker Role Under Pressure</a>

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Trump administration cites May 23 shootout to make case for White House ballroom

Washington, May 26 (PTI): The US administration has cited the weekend shootout near the White House to urge a federal judge to drop the case against a ballroom being built on the premises of the presidential residence.In a late Sunday court filing, the US Department of Justice described the Saturday shootout near the White House as yet another attempt on the life of President Donald Trump, his family and staff.On Saturday night, May 23, a shooter once again sought to murder the President, his family, and his staff at the historic White House complex, the court filing signed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said.It said this second attack on the President this month underscores the critical need for top level, state of the art security at the White House, including the ballroom, knitted, unified, cohesive part of the East Wing Project, which is vital for national security.He said the ballroom is being constructed to ensure that the President can perform his constitutional duties in a safe and heavily secured facility.Saturday’s attack, in which the US Secret Service killed the shooter, was the second such incident after the April 25 shootout at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner that was attended by Trump, Vice President J D Vance and top Cabinet members.In the court filing, Woodward called the lawsuit against the ballroom "a complete embarrassment to our country".The filing also provided new details of the project's planned security features.The state of the art security features of the ballroom include "a heavy steel, drone-proof roof, missile resistant and drone-proof columns, bullet, ballistic, and blast-proof glass, military grade venting for air conditioning and heating".The filing said the ballroom's roof will include a "drone port and key location for rooftop snipers who will protect the White House and the entire Washington, DC area, as a whole"."Unlike virtually every similar structure in America, the ballroom's rooftop will include no air conditioning, venting, or similar facilities -- it will be hermetically sealed to prevent malign forces from contaminating the circulating air, thereby threatening the lives of those inside," the filing added.While noting how rare it is for the government to publicly disclose planned security features of the White House complex, the Department of Justice said it had been "forced" to reveal several such details "to stave off the court's dangerous injunction".The submission to district court Judge Richard Leon came as both the Department of Justice and the National Trust for Historic Preservation prepared for oral arguments before an appeals court panel on June 5.Three judges of the DC Circuit court will weigh Leon's late March injunction against the ballroom's above-ground construction. That order has been temporarily stayed by the appeals judges, a move that has allowed work to continue. PTI SKU PRK(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.)

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Hunger, Restrictions And Fear: Afghan Women Trapped In Cycle Of Violence

Edited by: Keith Walker The severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where nearly half of the population requires assistance, has pushed many families into survival mode. Hunger, joblessness and collapsing services have tightened dependence within Afghan households. At the same time, wide-ranging restrictions imposed by the Taliban rulers since their return to power in 2021 have narrowed women's options in public life, limiting access to work, education and mobility. Together, these pressures make violence against women in the private sphere harder to escape, more difficult to report and easier to conceal. <h2>Forced Marriage And Dependency</h2> Women's rights advocates and local journalists describe a pattern: Economic desperation drives forced and early marriages, increases women's dependence on husbands or in-laws, and makes domestic abuse less visible. When protection mechanisms fail — or when families see no viable path through the courts — violence can escalate to lethal outcomes. A case from Afghanistan's western Ghor province shows how these dynamics can converge. Farzana was 18 when she died in Ghor's Pasaband district. A local source told DW she was attacked inside the home. A doctor said forensic examinations showed clear traces of beatings and torture, indicating she had been murdered. Farzana had been married off to a man in his 50s, who already had two wives. Amir Mohammadi (name changed), a local government employee, told DW that two of the man's sons were accused of involvement in her killing. Mohammadi said he approached Farzana's relatives, who refused to cooperate, saying they were a poor family and the murderer suspects were rich people. For him, the social imbalance matters as much as the crime itself. "Many girls like Farzana are victims of poverty, forced marriage and child marriage," he told DW, adding that families often marry daughters to older men with money in the hope of stability, but the outcome can be chronic abuse behind closed doors. Reporters say that even when violence is known, it rarely enters the public record. A local journalist in Afghanistan who doesn't want to be named told DW that reporting has become increasingly constrained. "The Taliban have severely restricted journalists and the media, and no one dares to report on these cases," he said. <h2>Justice Stalled By Fear, Power</h2> Social pressure adds another layer: families often avoid filing complaints out of fear, stigma or retaliation. Even when complaints are made, investigations can stall. A Taliban official in Ghor, speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to talk to the media, told DW that a father and two sons accused of killing a young woman had been arrested and were under investigation. Yet the local journalist said he obtained information suggesting suspects in similar cases were later released through the mediation of tribal elders. Such mediation, which often involves financial settlements and "consent" from victims' families, reflects the continued power of informal justice systems, especially in remote areas. <h2>Legal Code Undermines Women's Protection</h2> For rights groups, the legal framework under the Taliban is a central issue. Afghan human rights organization Rawadari raised serious concerns after a criminal procedure document signed by Taliban leader Habatullah Akhundzada was distributed to provincial courts across Afghanistan. Rawadari described the contents of the document as "deeply concerning" and "in clear contradiction to international human rights standards and the fundamental principles of fair trial." According to the rights group's analysis of the Criminal Procedure Code for Courts, "Article 32 states that only if the husband beats the woman with a stick and this act results in severe injury such as 'a wound or bodily bruising', and the woman can prove it before a judge, will the husband be sentenced to 15 days' imprisonment." Rawadari noted that the code does not explicitly prohibit other forms of physical, psychological or sexual violence. <h2>Official Denials, Growing Global Alarm</h2> Taliban officials reject the premise that violence is tolerated. Abdul Hai Zaim, head of the Taliban's information and culture department in Ghor, told DW that authorities had not been informed and had no details about the reported cases in Pasaband. He said the "Islamic Emirate" addresses women's complaints and punishes perpetrators through courts "according to the law," while warning that some people go to the media and "create problems." Zaim also emphasized that killing is forbidden under Islamic law. The gap between official claims and lived reality remains wide, and the humanitarian crisis is deepening it. International observers have framed the broader Taliban system of restrictions as a structural driver of vulnerability. A 2025 report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan describes Taliban rule as creating "an institutionalized system of discrimination" against women and girls. It says women and girls have been "effectively erased from public life" and deprived of fundamental rights such as education, work, and movement. An earlier UN experts' statement warned of "multiple preventable deaths that could amount to femicide." The question now is scale. "When two women are killed in a small district within a few days," the local journalist who wants to stay anonymous told DW, "what will the annual number of femicide cases nationwide be?" In today's Afghanistan, that question remains difficult to answer not because the violence is rare, but because so much of it remains hidden. 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/hunger-restrictions-and-fear-afghan-women-trapped-in-cycle-of-violence-1846056

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Two LNG Vessels, Iraqi Crude Supertanker Exit Hormuz, Head For Pakistan, China

Two tankers carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) bound for Pakistan and China have exited the Strait of Hormuz, while a crude oil supertanker stranded in the Gulf for nearly three months has also resumed its journey to China. The movement comes amid continuing tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which has sharply disrupted commercial shipping through the strategic waterway. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and LNG supplies normally pass. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qQu9UpZWoWg?si=0l8k1cMq_DrAADGo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h3>Qatar LNG Tanker Heads Towards China</h3> The LNG tanker Al Rayyan, owned by QatarEnergy, has successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz after loading cargo at Ras Laffan in Qatar, Reuters reported citing shipping data from LSEG and Kpler. Shipping data showed the vessel was last seen inside the Gulf on May 22 and is now positioned outside the strait between Iran and Oman. The tanker is expected to deliver its cargo to China on June 27. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-live-updates-adios-trump-s-cryptic-warning-to-tehran-comes-as-peace-deal-reaches-final-phase-1845820">‘Adios’: Trump’s Cryptic Warning To Iran Comes As Peace Deal Reaches Final Phase</a> <h3>Iraqi Crude Tanker Resumes Voyage After Months</h3> Separately, the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Eagle Verona exited the strait on Saturday and is expected to arrive at Ningbo port in eastern China on June 12. The Singapore-flagged vessel, chartered by Sinopec’s trading arm Unipec, loaded nearly two million barrels of Basrah crude around February 26, according to shipping records. The tanker had reportedly remained stranded for nearly three months amid escalating regional tensions and restrictions affecting maritime traffic. The Eagle Verona was among seven vessels for which Malaysian authorities had sought transit permission from Iran, according to earlier reports. Of those ships, five have since exited the waterway, while two remain inside the Gulf. Before the conflict escalated, daily vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz averaged between 125 and 140 passages. However, maritime traffic has declined significantly following the outbreak of hostilities on February 28. Industry estimates suggest nearly 20,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard hundreds of vessels inside Gulf waters as shipping operations continue to face uncertainty and delays. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/russia-fires-hypersonic-missile-at-kyiv-in-massive-overnight-attack-several-killed-1845819">Russia Fires Hypersonic Missile At Kyiv In Massive Overnight Attack, Several Killed</a> <h3>Trump Says US Will Not ‘Rush Into’ Iran Deal</h3> The shipping developments come as diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran continues alongside ongoing military tensions. US President <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-news-live-update-trump-says-us-in-no-rush-for-deal-with-iran-warns-there-can-be-no-mistakes-1845824">Donald Trump</a> on Sunday said the United States would not “rush into a deal” with Iran and asserted that the blockade on Iranian ports would remain in effect until a formal agreement is reached. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticised the nuclear agreement negotiated during former President Barack Obama’s administration, calling it “one of the worst deals ever made.” “The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side. The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,” Trump wrote. The US President also stated that relations with Iran were becoming “more professional and productive,” while reiterating that Tehran “cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.” The discussions are being closely watched by global energy markets, as any sustained disruption to Hormuz shipping could significantly impact international crude oil and LNG supplies. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/no-country-relationship-comes-at-india-s-cost-marco-rubio-on-us-pakistan-relations-s-jaishankar-1845795">‘No Country Relationship Comes At India’s Cost’: Marco Rubio On US-Pakistan Relations</a>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/two-lng-vessels-iraqi-vlcc-crude-oil-gulf-exit-strait-of-hormuz-head-to-pakistan-china-us-iran-war-1845847

Saturday, May 23, 2026

White House Locked Down After Firing At Security Checkpoint, Suspect Shot Dead By Secret Service

A man who allegedly opened fire at a security checkpoint near the White House on Saturday evening was shot dead by officers after an exchange of gunfire, according to US federal authorities. The US Secret Service said in a statement that the incident occurred shortly after 6 pm ET when the suspect approached a checkpoint and “removed a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers.” Officers immediately returned fire, striking the suspect. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died, the agency said. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v0et2kas43E?si=dvH_R-Jx_QFcNo9r" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h3>Trump Inside White House During Shooting</h3> President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident, although officials said he was not harmed, Associated Press reported. The Secret Service stated that none of its personnel sustained injuries and confirmed that the president was not “impacted” by the shooting. Authorities also said a bystander was hit during the exchange of fire. However, a law enforcement official noted that investigators were still determining whether the person was struck by bullets fired by the suspect or by return fire from officers, the report said. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-live-updates-mediators-near-60-day-ceasefire-extension-deal-after-rubio-hints-at-progress-1845666">US-Iran Mediators Near 60-Day Ceasefire Extension Deal After Rubio Hints At Progress</a> <h3>Secret Service, FBI Respond</h3> In a post on X, the Secret Service said it was “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW,” an area located roughly one block from the White House, and added that officials were “working to corroborate the information with personnel on the ground.” FBI Director Kash Patel also acknowledged the incident on social media, stating that officers were responding to reports of gunfire and that authorities would “update the public as we're able.” The Metropolitan Police Department advised people to avoid the area while the Secret Service managed the scene. <h3>Journalist Captures Gunfire On Video</h3> Amid the chaos, ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang shared video footage on X showing the moment she said she heard what “sounded like dozens of gunshots.” Wang said she had been recording a routine social media video outside the White House while discussing Trump's comments earlier Saturday regarding a potential Iran deal. The footage shows her abruptly reacting to the sound of gunfire before ducking for cover inside the media tent positioned along the White House driveway, where television broadcasters regularly film reports. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"> I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots. It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now. <a href="https://t.co/iqdQwh4soq">pic.twitter.com/iqdQwh4soq</a> — Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/selinawangtv/status/2058312115098697760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> The clip quickly spread across social media and had garnered millions of views by Saturday evening. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/india/marco-rubio-launches-america-first-visa-schedule-during-india-visit-inaugurates-embassy-annex-in-delhi-1845661">Marco Rubio Launches ‘America First’ Visa Schedule During India Visit</a> <h3>Area Previously Rocked By Violence</h3> The shooting took place near the site of another violent incident last November, when two members of the West Virginia National Guard were ambushed nearby. US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries in that attack, while Andrew Wolfe was critically wounded. Authorities later charged Rahmanullah Lakanwal in connection with the case. Saturday’s incident also comes less than a month after what investigators described as an attempted assassination plot targeting President Trump during the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in Washington. According to authorities, Cole Tomas Allen, a resident of Torrance, California, pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he attempted to kill the president and remains in federal custody. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/pm-modi-holds-key-talks-with-marco-rubio-receives-white-house-invitation-from-trump-1845643">PM Modi Holds Key Talks With Marco Rubio, Receives White House Invitation From Trump</a> <h3>Recent Security Incidents Raise Concerns</h3> Following the earlier assassination scare, Secret Service officers were involved in another shooting near the Washington Monument on May 4 after a suspect allegedly fired at law enforcement personnel. Authorities identified the accused in that case as Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas. A teenage bystander was wounded during that incident, according to court documents filed in US District Court.

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US lawmakers, immigration advocates slam new green card policy, seek reversal

Washington, May 23 (PTI): US lawmakers and immigration advocates have sharply criticised as “reckless and wrong” the Trump administration's new policy that requires green card seekers to make their applications from their home country. Democratic lawmakers said they will pursue every avenue to fight against the "reprehensible decision" of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and push for its reversal. The USCIS did not spell out which groups would be exempted, only suggesting that the policy may not apply to persons seeking asylum. In a statement late on Friday, USCIS spokesperson Zach Kahler said that people who provide an economic benefit or otherwise are in the national interest will likely be able to continue on their current path. It was not immediately clear whether these exceptions would extend to skilled foreign workers on H-1B visas. “This puts 1.2 million Indian Americans and their families in limbo after they followed every law, paid taxes and waited legally for decades,” Ajay Bhutoria, former White House Advisor to President Biden and Immigration Advocate on the Trump administration's new Green Card processing policy, told PTI Videos. Bhutoria said different groups will be filing lawsuits challenging this new policy. The earlier policy allowed foreign workers to change from non-immigrant to immigrant by applying for “adjustment of status” from within the US. “Indian origin immigrants and their families constitute 1.5 per cent of the US population but pay six per cent of the taxes. Sixty per cent of US hotels are owned by Indian immigrants, creating four million jobs. "Indian origin scientists are instrumental in obtaining 10 per cent of all American patents, and our community’s doctors serve 30 per cent of America’s patients,” Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director, Indiaspora, a non-profit organisation, told PTI. He said the new rules will result in increased expenses, temporary family separations and myriad other problems and lead to fewer highly skilled, foreign-born guest workers and their families applying for green cards and embarking on a path to US citizenship. “We understand, respect and support America’s prerogative to create or modify its own immigration rules, but we urge our governmental leaders to do so without impairing our nation’s growth prospects and her standing in the world,” Joshipura said. US lawmakers also slammed the move and asserted that they would seek the reversal of the decision. “This reckless policy shows a stunning disregard for the human cost it will impose on hundreds of thousands of people each year. We will pursue every avenue to fight against this reprehensible decision and push for its reversal,” Congresswoman Grace Meng, chairperson of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said in a statement. “For over 70 years, adjusting your status to a Green Card from within the US has been the standard pathway to achieve permanent legal status. Now Trump wants to change that solely to inflict damage on our immigrants and mixed families by forcing people to wait often years in their home country,” Congressman Dan Goldman from New York said. “This is as stupid as it is cruel. And it solely targets legal immigrants. We won’t let this happen,” he said. “Trump just made legal immigration harder – on purpose. America is able to attract the top researchers, doctors, & engineers because of our worker visa programmes,” Congressman Greg Stanton, a Democrat from Arizona, said on X. "Forcing these immigrants to now leave the US before applying for citizenship will deprive us of their innovation, their tax dollars, & their contributions to our economy,” Stanton said. David J Bier, the Director of Immigration Studies at the Cato Institute, described the policy as illogical, as it will drive talented people to other countries and make America a less competitive place for business. In a blogpost, Bier said most legal immigrants – 56 per cent – since 1980, adjusted status inside the United States and argued that in no sense was this policy reserved for extraordinary situations. The USCIS has said it would grant green cards to people inside the country only in extraordinary circumstances. “There are hundreds of thousands of green card applicants in the US. They are nurses and doctors, teachers and engineers, mechanics and farm workers. The Trump Administration wants to force them out of the country while their cases are heard,” Joaquin Castro, Congressman from Texas, said. “It is reckless and wrong—and it will separate husbands and wives, parents and children, and break apart communities. All to fuel the admin’s mass deportation machine,” said Castro, who is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “The new White House policy requiring green card applicants to apply from outside the US is a capricious attack on legal immigration. It will hurt families, leave us with fewer doctors, teachers and scientists, and hurt American competitiveness in AI,” Andrew Ng, Co-founder of Coursera, said in a post on X. “This new policy will force thousands of LEGAL immigrants, including spouses of US citizens, to leave their homes, families, and jobs for weeks or even months to get their green card outside the US. This is an absurd and cruel policy,” Congressman Chuy García from Illinois said. Pointing out that the majority of people who are approved for green cards each year adjust their status from within the US, “as provided under law since the 1950s,” Todd Schulte, president of immigration advocacy group FWD.us, said, “The Trump administration’s claim that this is a return to the original intent of the law is plainly false.” This process was expressly created by the Congress and has been affirmed a number of times over decades, he said. "This is another abuse of power that they are trying to dictate through a press release rather than going through the legally required process.” Earlier on Friday, USCIS spokesman Kahler said, “From now on, an alien who is in the US temporarily and wants a Green Card must return to their home country to apply, except in extraordinary circumstances.” “Nonimmigrants, like students, temporary workers, or people on tourist visas, come to the US for a short time and for a specific purpose. Our system is designed for them to leave when their visit is over,” the USCIS said. “Their visit should not function as the first step in the Green Card process,” it added. PTI SKU NPK GRS GRS GRS(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-lawmakers-immigration-advocates-slam-new-green-card-policy-seek-reversal-1845676

‘Foreigners Are Not Safe’: Fear Grows As Xenophobic Attacks Rise In South Africa

As attacks on migrants resurface in parts of South Africa, critics are questioning whether the government's response to xenophobia is working. South Africa has faced repeated outbreaks of violence targeting migrants from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Somalia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Zambia. Earlier this month, Nigeria summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner, citing the growing anti-African migrant protests. More than 60 people were killed in anti-immigrant riots in 2008, while similar unrest resurfaced in 2015 and 2016. Armed mobs attacked foreign-owned businesses around the city of Johannesburg in 2019, leaving at least 12 people dead — 10 of them South African citizens. <h2>Migration Blamed For Deeper Crises</h2> The violence is often linked to frustrations over unemployment, crime, overcrowded services and poor living conditions — grievances that are frequently redirected toward migrants. However, Loren Landau, a senior migration researcher at University of the Witwatersrand's (Wits) African Centre for Migration and Society in Johannesburg, argued that the roots run deeper. "The scapegoating and demonisation of migrants merely draw people's attention away from the true source of South Africa's problems and erodes democracy while putting the welfare of many people — both our own citizens and foreigners — at risk," Landau said in an article published by Wits on May 21. "Migrants are not the source of any of South Africa's challenges. There are too few to make a substantial impact on employment or crime," he added. <h2>Government Defends Response To Xenophobia</h2> South Africa's government has said it condemns violence against foreign nationals and is working to strengthen social cohesion and migration management. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola recently warned against civilians taking immigration enforcement into their own hands. "It is not the responsibility of civilians to enforce the law," Lamola told DW. "Where people are told, 'You are not South African, you must go home,' that is xenophobia." Lamola rejected claims that targeting migrants would solve South Africa's economic problems. "The economic challenges and unemployment issues will not be resolved by chasing anyone," Lamola said. "This is not just a security issue, it is an economic and social issue." Cabinet Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni also defended government efforts while condemning vigilantism. "We cannot allow anyone who is not law enforcement to demand people's passports," she said. <h2>Activist groups deepen migration tensions</h2> Groups such as Operation Dudula, which campaigns against undocumented migration, have become increasingly influential in public debate. Supporters argue undocumented migration places pressure on jobs, healthcare and housing. Critics, however, say such movements risk fueling xenophobia and vigilantism. Patrick Mokgalusi, a member of Operation Dudula, defended the movement. "People are in charge now because government has failed us. There's no turning back," he told DW, calling for "mass deportations for illegal foreigners." Vusumuzi Sibanda, chairman of the refugee advocacy group African Diaspora Global Network, warned that some official responses risk worsening tensions. "In some cases the response appears to be worsening the situation," said Sibanda, pointing to allegations that vulnerable people seeking protection during unrest were dispersed with rubber bullets. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has also pushed back against blaming undocumented migrants for South Africa's problems. A quote from Mbeki, which was widely shared on X, argued that "Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa caused high levels of crime and unemployment, not illegal immigrants," referring to his presidential successors. The post added that documented migration existed during his presidency while the economy was growing, and crime was lower. <h2>Fear grows among migrant communities</h2> For many migrants, fear has become part of everyday life. Princess Adjei, a 33-year-old Ghanaian national who has lived in South Africa since she was 13, said tensions are escalating. "It's getting hectic. It feels like a war now. We as foreigners are not safe anywhere," she told DW. "People are frustrated and tensions are escalating. Foreigners are also beginning to respond with force. People could die." Moses Chanda, a Zambian entrepreneur in Johannesburg, said xenophobic violence often begins with rumors and misinformation. "You hear people saying foreigners are taking jobs or running illegal businesses," he said. "Then suddenly shops are looted or people are attacked." Still, some South Africans reject portraying the country solely through the lens of xenophobia. "There are tensions, yes, but many communities work together every day," Johannesburg resident Nomsa Dlamini told DW. "The real issue is poverty and frustration, not ordinary South Africans hating foreigners." For many observers, South Africa faces mounting pressure to balance migration concerns with constitutional protections and regional solidarity. "We are Africans too," said Adjei. "We came here to work and build lives, not to take anything away from anyone." 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/foreigners-are-not-safe-fear-grows-as-xenophobic-attacks-rise-in-south-africa-1845671