Morning Briefing: Jan. 16, 2024

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA)- Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday, including Iran’s airstrikes in Syria and Iraq, Donald Trump winning the 2024 Iowa Republican caucus according to media projections, and death of two Israeli hostages in Gaza bombardment.

TOP STORIES

• Iran says it struck 'terrorist' sites in Syria, Iraq with barrage of missiles

Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at positions of "terrorist groups" in Syria and Iraq late Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement.

The IRGC said a "spy headquarters" and a "gathering of anti-Iran terrorist groups" in Syria were destroyed with ballistic missiles, as cited by state media.

The statement noted that the attack came in response to "recent terrorist crimes" of anti-Iran groups, referring to twin bombings in the southeastern city of Kerman earlier this month and an attack on a police station in Sistan-Baluchestan province in December.

• Trump wins 2024 Iowa Republican caucus: US media projections

US presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump won the Republican party's Iowa caucus on Monday according to media projections, which marked the beginning of the 2024 presidential contest.

The victory, projected by several US media outlets including, The AP, CNN and CBS, is the first step of a process to choose the Republican candidate for the November election.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley are competing for second place.

Trump's margin was not immediately clear.

• Hamas says 2 Israeli hostages killed in Gaza bombardment

Hamas said Monday that two Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian group were killed in Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip.

The group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, released a video showing three hostages appealing to the Israeli government to end the Gaza war and secure their release.

Two of the hostages appeared dead at the end of the video, without any details about the circumstances leading to their deaths.

Hamas is believed to be holding nearly 137 Israeli hostages following its cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Turkish airstrikes on Monday destroyed 23 terror targets near its southern border, in northern Iraq and Syria, with a great many terrorists "neutralized," according to Türkiye's National Defense Ministry.

• Keeping its pledge to retaliate against last week’s US and UK airstrikes, Yemeni Houthis on Monday announced they had targeted a US-owned ship with naval rockets off the Yemeni coast.

• No US personnel or facilities were targeted in missile attacks by Iran impacting northern Iraq and northern Syria late Monday, according to the White House.

• Israel’s high-intensify ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip has ended, said the nation’s defense chief on Monday.

• UK Home Secretary James Cleverly on Monday said the Hizb ut-Tahrir should be banned and labeled as a "terrorist" organization.

• Switzerland will support Ukraine's proposed peace process, Swiss Confederation President Viola Amherd said on Monday, a day after the Ukrainian president reiterated a peace formula he first laid out in November 2022.

• At least 14 Israelis were injured on Monday in a car-ramming and stabbing incident in the central Israeli city of Ra'anana.

• At least 24,100 Palestinians have been killed and 60,834 others injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the besieged Palestinian enclave said Monday.

• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday defended last week's airstrikes on targets linked to Yemen’s Houthi group, saying they were "proportionate" and in "self-defense.

• Extreme cold and snowstorms impacting parts of the US have disrupted daily life and impeded air transportation across the country, according to reports Monday.

SPORTS

• Lionel Messi named FIFA Best Men's Footballer of 2023

Inter Miami's Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was named the FIFA Best Men's Footballer while Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati was named the FIFA Best Women's Footballer in the 2023 Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony held on Monday in London.

Manchester City's treble-winning Spanish manager Pep Guardiola bagged the 2023 FIFA Best Men's Coach of the Year award.

• Senegal beat Gambia in Africa Cup of Nations

Senegal beat Gambia 3-0 in a Group C match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday.

Midfielder Pape Gueye brought the lead early to Senegal in the fourth minute. Senegalese midfielder, Lamine Camara, netted twice in the 52nd and 86th minutes.

Gambia midfielder Ebou Adams was sent off with a red card in the 53rd minute of the match.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• China agrees to provide visa-free entry for Swiss citizens

China announced Monday that it will grant Switzerland unilateral visa-free treatment as Premier Li Qiang led a delegation in the first high-level meeting between the two countries since the COVID pandemic.

Beijing has agreed to provide visa-free entry for Swiss citizens while the Swiss said they will “provide more visa facilitation” for Chinese citizens as well as Chinese enterprises investing in Switzerland, the two sides said after talks between Li and Viola Amherd, the president of the Swiss Confederation.

• With surge in air traffic, Turkish airspace in 2023 saw 1 flight every 15 seconds

Türkiye has seen a rise in the number of planes passing through its airspace in recent years, as it saw 2.1 million flights in total in 2023, or about one airplane every 15 seconds, according to new official figures.

The number of flights, including transit overflights, in Turkish airspace jumped 14.9% year-on-year in 2023, rising from 1.8 million to 2.1 million, said a source at the State Airports Authority Directorate General (DMHI).