Morning Briefing: Feb. 3, 2024

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Saturday, including US retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)-Quds Force and Iranian-backed militias, Belgium summoning the Israeli ambassador for bombing Belgian development agency in Gaza, and UN chief being 'extremely' concerned about the possible expansion of Israeli offensive to Rafah.

TOP STORIES

• US begins retaliatory airstrikes in Iraq, Syria after 3 American troops killed

The US began to carry out a wave of airstrikes against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)-Quds Force and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria after a suicide drone attack killed three American troops in Jordan.

The strikes were conducted with numerous aircraft, including long-range bombers launched from the US, Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement. In all, more than 85 targets were hit with more than 125 precision munitions.

Facilities that were hit include command and control and intelligence centers; rocket, missile and drone storage areas; and "logistics and munition supply chain facilities of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces," said CENTCOM.

• Belgium summons Israeli ambassador for bombing of Belgian development agency in Gaza

Belgium summoned the Israeli ambassador for Israeli forces’ bombing of the Belgian Development Agency in the Gaza Strip.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, summoned the Israeli Ambassador to Belgium, H.E. Idit Rosenzweig-Abu, to the Foreign Affairs Cabinet. The meeting took place in the presence of the Minister of Development Cooperation, Caroline Gennez,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“On behalf of Belgium, the ministers strongly condemned the bombing and destruction of the offices of Enabel, the Belgian development agency, in Gaza,” it added.

• UN chief 'extremely' concerned about possible expansion of Israeli offensive to Rafah

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "extremely" concerned about the possible expansion of the Israeli military offensive to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, said his spokesman.

"We've already seen the impact on civilians with the actions in Khan Younis, not only impact but also the impact of on our own facility when our compound was hit.

"Obviously, since the beginning of the ground operations, there's been movement of people to the south," Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• UNICEF said that amid the carnage from daily attacks in Gaza and the fog of war, tens of thousands of minors are unaccompanied or separated from their families.
• More than 8,000 people in the Gaza Strip need medical evacuation and the vast majority of them have war-related injuries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
• At least 112 Palestinians were killed and 148 injured in the last 24 hours as Israel continues its onslaught on the besieged Gaza Strip, the enclave’s Health Ministry said.
• Amid Israeli allegations and funding cuts, UN experts condemned in the "strongest possible terms any efforts to delegitimise" the UN Agency for Palestinians, or UNRWA, as a whole.
• Malaysia reduced by half the sentence of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was handed a 12-year prison term for corruption, state news agency Bernama reported.
• Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi urged “consistency” with respect to international law when it comes to the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
• The Indian Navy said it foiled an attempted piracy attempt along the east coast of Somalia and rescued 19 crew members from a fishing vessel who were held captive by pirates.
• Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said the EU requested that Italy take on the “tactical command" of the Aspides mission which the EU will establish to ensure the navigation safety of commercial ships in the Red Sea.
• Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said a pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip may not apply to fighting Hezbollah on the Lebanese-Israeli border.
• The Biden administration is weighing options that some believe will send a clear message to Iran-backed proxy groups to "stop the attacks,” according to a report that cited a US official.
• US attacks in western Iraq violate the country’s sovereignty, the Iraqi government said Saturday.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will leave Sunday for the Middle East on his fifth trip since Oct. 7, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank.
• The US, Qatar and Egypt are carrying out "sensitive" diplomatic engagements to secure the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, the American envoy to the UN said.
• The Turkish president and Swedish prime minister discussed relations and regional and global matters, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
  

SPORTS

• NBA announces 2024 All-Star Game reserves

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game reserves, including Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, were announced.

The reserves will join the starters who were announced last week at the 73rd All-Star Game in Indianapolis on Feb. 18.

The league announced seven reserves for the Eastern and Western conferences that were selected by 30 head coaches.

• Democratic Republic of Congo beat Guinea to advance to Africa Cup of Nations semifinals

The Democratic Republic of Congo defeated Guinea 3-1 to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals.

Guinea's only goal came from Mohamed Bayo in the 20th minute at Abidjan's Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara.

Congo found three goals with Chancel Mbemba in the 27th minute, Yoane Wissa on a penalty kick in minute 65 and Arthur Masuaku in the 82nd minute.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Türkiye appoints new central bank governor

Türkiye appointed Fatih Karahan as the new governor of the central bank after Hafize Gaye Erkan resigned.

Karahan, 42, was deputy governor of the bank since July 28.

He graduated from the mathematics and industrial engineering department at Türkiye's Bogazici University and has a doctoral degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

• US adds 353,000 jobs in January, much higher than estimates

The US economy added 353,000 jobs in January, much higher than estimates, according to the Labor Department.

The expectation for nonfarm payrolls was to show a gain of 187,000 last month.

Job additions for December, meanwhile, were significantly revised up by 117,000 from 216,000 to 333,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.