TTP militants attack South Waziristan post; Ukrainian conflict records devastating military casualties. Israel linked to deadly explosions in Lebanon as NATO conducts anti-drone drills with Ukraine.
Militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) launched an attack on a security post in South Waziristan, resulting in the deaths of six security personnel and five assailants, as reported by the military. Similarly, in North Waziristan, seven militants attempting an infiltration from
Afghanistan were killed, with substantial ammunition and explosives recovered. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of nurturing the TTP, cautioning that they might evolve into a global terrorist threat soon.
Shifting to Europe, the toll of the Ukrainian conflict is devastating, with the BBC and Mediazona documenting approximately 70,000 Russian military deaths since the invasion, with potentially higher actual figures, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stating 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed. Analysts believe the true numbers are even greater, and the Wall Street Journal revealed the war has resulted in about one million military casualties across both sides, with Western intelligence indicating Russian fatalities could be up to 200,000 and injuries at around 400,000.
Meanwhile, Taiwan and Bulgaria are denying any involvement in the source of pagers that exploded in Lebanon, resulting in 37 deaths and around 3,000 injuries, amidst rising Hezbollah-Israel tensions. Security sources pointed to Israel being behind the incident, though Israel has remained silent, as investigations continue with authorities from Taiwan, Bulgaria, Norway, and Romania participating.
In light of these escalating tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed his departure to New York by a day due to security concerns in northern Israel, particularly clashes with Hezbollah. He aims to address the annual UN General Assembly session during his visit, where recent events include Israel conducting a targeted strike in Beirut, killing a top Hezbollah military leader.
Additionally, the Israeli military is investigating disturbing footage showing soldiers disposing of bodies during a raid in Qabatiya, West Bank. Verified by Reuters, the video shows soldiers dragging and kicking what appear to be dead men from a roof, with Zakaria Zakarneh, an uncle of one of the deceased, confirming the grisly events after witnessing a failed attempt to move the bodies with a bulldozer.
Finally, in the realm of military exercises, Ukraine joined NATO's major anti-drone exercise in the Netherlands for the first time, held from September 10-20, 2024. The drills focused on testing advanced systems for drone detection and countermeasures, critical in the current Ukraine war, culminating in a demonstration highlighting the need for enhanced drone warfare capabilities within NATO.