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(NEW YORK) — Over 100 Israelis have died and more than 900 were injured after rockets were fired from Gaza by Hamas militants, Israeli officials said Saturday.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 198 were killed in Gaza and at least 1,610 were injured Saturday in retaliatory attacks from Israel.

“We are at war. We will win,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.

The Israeli Defense Forces earlier declared “a state of alert for war,” according to a statement issued by the IDF.

“Over the past hour, the Hamas terrorist organization launched massive barrages of rockets from Gaza into Israel, and its terrorist operatives have infiltrated into Israel in a number of different locations in the south,” the IDF said early Saturday.

“Civilians in southern and central Israel must remain near shelters, and in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, inside shelters,” the IDF continued. “The Chief of the General staff is currently conducting a situational assessment and approving plans for the IDF’s continued activity. The Hamas terrorist organization is responsible for these attacks and will face consequences for them.”

Palestinian militants fired at least 2,200 rockets toward Israel, the IDF said. Meanwhile, Hamas claimed at least 5,000 rockets were fired, all landing in southern and central Israel.

Air raid sirens began sounding in Jerusalem at 8:15 a.m. local time warning citizens of the attack.

Netanyahu released a video statement Saturday, making his first comments in Hebrew.

“This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours. I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered – first of all – to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists,” Netanyahu said. “This currently is being carried out. At the same time, I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. In the meantime, I call on the citizens of Israel to strictly adhere to the directives of the IDF and Home Front Command. We are at war and we will win it.”

Elsewhere, the IDF confirmed that they are striking Hamas targets in Gaza as a result of the incursion, according to a statement on social media.

In a statement issued Saturday, President Joe Biden said he spoke with Netanyahu, telling him that the U.S. “condemns” Hamas’ assault on Israel.

“I made clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel. Terrorism is never justified. Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation. My Administration’s support for Israel’s security is rock solid and unwavering,” Biden said in the statement.

https://x.com/IDF/status/1710562933770469547?s=20

The U.S. embassy in Israel earlier said that it is “closely monitoring” the security situation.

“The U.S. Embassy is aware that there have been casualties as a result of these incidents. U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire, often take place without warning,” the embassy said in the statement announcing the security alert.

U.S. Embassy personnel are currently sheltering in place and the ambassador condemned the attack in a message on social media, saying “I condemn the indiscriminate rocket fire by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. I am in contact with Israeli officials, and fully support Israel’s right to defend itself from such terrorist acts.”

“The United States unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism,” read a statement from National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, condemning the attacks against Israel. “We stand firmly with the Government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has spoken to Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and we remain in close contact with our Israeli partners.”

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in a statement said he is ‘closely monitoring” the situation and said the Department of Defense “will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism.”

A U.S. defense official told ABC News that Austin had a call with his team this morning including U.S. Centcom Commander Gen. Eric Kurilla – Israel falls under Centcom’s area of responsibility.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the U.S. supports Israel’s right to defend itself and “unequivocally condemns the appalling attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel, including civilians and civilian communities.”

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says his people have the right to defend themselves against the “terror of settlers and occupation troops,” according to Reuters.

Today marks the day that 50 years ago in 1973 when the Yom Kippur War — or the Arab/Israeli War — began.

ABC News’ Joseph Simonetti contributed to this report.

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(LONDON) — Italian Luxury fashion house Prada has announced it is to partner with Axiom Space to design and develop NASA’s next generation lunar spacesuits for the upcoming 2025 Artemis III Moon mission.

In a joint statement, the luxury fashion house announced its engineers are to work alongside Axiom’s Space Systems team to design and develop the new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit.

“The constantly forward-thinking ethos of Prada for humanity has broadened to his desire of adventure and to brave new horizons: space,” said Prada Group’s Marketing Director, Lorenzo Bertelli. “We are honoured to be a part of this historic mission with Axiom Space.”

“Our decades of experimentation, cutting-edge technology, and design know-how – which started back in the ‘90s with Luna Rossa challenging for the America’s cup – will now be applied to the design of a spacesuit for the Artemis era. It is a true celebration of the power of human creativity and innovation to advance civilization,” he continued.

The next-generation spacesuits have been described as a revolutionary and “significant milestone” in space exploration, opening a new frontier for luxury fashion brands.

Coach, Heron Preston and Balenciaga have recently collaborated with NASA on space collections, now Prada is set to break new ground, stepping beyond design.

“Prada’s technical expertise with raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts will bring advanced technologies instrumental in ensuring not only the comfort of astronauts on the lunar surface, but also the much-needed human factors considerations absent from legacy spacesuits,” said Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space.

The next-generation spacesuits are being designed to protect crew members from the “unique challenge of space and the lunar environment,” as well as provide “increased flexibility” and “greater protection” to withstand the harsh lunar environment.

“Using innovative technologies and design, these spacesuits will enable greater exploration of the lunar surface than ever before,” said Axiom Space.

The 2025 Artemis III Moon Mission is set to be the first moon landing mission since 1971, with NASA aiming to land the “first woman and first person of colour” on the surface of the moon.

They are set to spend a week on the moon before returning to earth.

“Artemis III will be the culmination of the rigorous testing and more than two million miles accumulated in space on NASA’s deep space transportation systems during Artemis I and II,” says NASA. “Orion and its crew of four will once again travel to the Moon – this time to make history with the first woman and next man to walk on its surface.”

Prior to the 2025 departure of Artemis III, Artemis II is set to take four crew members — Victor Glover, Christina Hammoch Koch, Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen — on a mission to “venture around the moon,” NASA has announced. It includes Christina Hammock Koch, the first woman, and Victor Glover, the first person of color, who will eventually go on to step foot on the lunar surface.

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(LONDON) — Satellite images confirm that multiple ships in the Russian Black Sea fleet, which analysts and Ukrainian navy sources tell ABC News would usually be kept in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, have been moved to the Russian port of Novorossiysk.

This comes after sustained Ukrainian attacks on Sevastopol over the last few weeks.

The images, provided by Planet Labs, were taken Oct. 1 and they show the protected port on Russia’s Black Sea coast with a variety of military vessels visible, including landing ships, frigates and patrol ships.

Dmitry Gorenburg, Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Naval Analyses, tells ABC News that at least eight of the ships visible “were definitely previously based in Sevastopol.”

Gorenburg does add, however, that some of the ships in the port have previously been based in Novorossiysk, and the submarines seen up close in these images have spent time moving between Sevastopol and Novorossiysk.

Therefore, he says he, “would be cautious about attributing their relocation to these recent attacks.”

Overall though, he says the timing is auspicious.

“While it is difficult to attribute the move with 100% certainty, the timing and scale of the relocation are highly suggestive of it being caused by the perception that Sevastopol is highly vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes.”

Sevastopol has been a key port for Russia in the Black Sea since they annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

The Russian Black Sea fleet has been active in the war against Ukraine and is headquartered in Sevastopol.

However, Ukraine has successfully attacked the port multiple times over the last several weeks. On Sept. 22 , they targeted the Black Sea Fleet Headquarter building with storm shadow missiles provided by the U.K. and France.

Dmitry Gorenburg says all this has likely all factored into Russia’s decision to move the ships.

“I would expect the move to be long-term, until the Russian military determines at some future point that the danger has passed.”

The Ukrainian Navy also confirmed to ABC News that Russia has “pulled most of the warships” from Sevastopol.

They note that while Russia is always moving ships between several ports to avoid them becoming targets, this transfer appears to be larger than usual.

Ukraine has struck the port of Novorossiysk before using sea drones but it is hampered from using the kinds of cruise missiles used in attacks on Sevastopol because these are supplied by international partners.

The missiles are provided with the requirement that they only be used within the borders of Ukraine.

Russia may even be looking to move the fleet even farther from Ukraine.

The leader of the Georgian breakaway republic of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, claimed in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia, that he had signed an agreement with Russia for a new permanent base in the south of Abkhazia.

The precautions appear to be pervasive across Russian activities in the Black Sea.

Samir Madani, an open-source analyst who tracks oil tankers in the Black Sea also adds that it isn’t just military ships taking precautions.

He tells ABC News that “there are a number of Russian-affiliated oil tankers that have shut off their AIS transponders upon entering the Black Sea as of late. We have seen them load oil both at port and out at sea from other vessels via transshipment.”

He believes they are behaving this way for the same reasons the military ships have been moved to Novorossiysk.

“This is likely due to the looming security threat imposed by Ukraine.”

ABC News’ Layla Ferris and Chris Looft contributed to this report.

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(KYIV and LONDON) — At least 51 people, including a child, were killed Thursday in a Russian missile strike on a village in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, officials said.

A 6-year-old boy and 62-year-old woman were among those killed in the attack, which targeted a building that housed a cafe and a shop in the village of Groza in the Kupyansk district. Six others were wounded and all of the casualties were civilians, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Three people also remain missing, the press service of the police of the Kharkiv region reported.

A memorial service for a slain Ukrainian soldier was taking place in the cafe when the missile struck. Only civilians were attending the event, the regional prosecutor’s office told ABC News.

The missile used in the strike was an Iskander-M missile. This type of missile could only be intercepted by a small number of air defense systems, the prosecutor’s office said.

It’s the deadliest strike to occur in the Kharkiv region since the start of Russia’s invasion, according to the local government. It’s also one of the deadliest attacks to take place in all of Ukraine in recent months.

Russian troops launched a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022. In June of this year, Ukrainian forces launched a counteroffensive in an effort to reclaim occupied territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced Thursday’s attack as a “demonstrably brutal Russian crime” and “a completely deliberate act of terrorism.” He urged Western allies to help strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, saying that “Russian terror must be stopped.”

“Russia needs this and similar terrorist attacks for only one thing: to make its genocidal aggression the new norm for the whole world,” Zelenskyy said Thursday. “Now we are talking with European leaders, in particular, about strengthening our air defense, strengthening our soldiers, giving our country protection from terror. And we will respond to the terrorists.”

Earlier on Thursday, Zelenskyy asked more than 40 European leaders gathered in Spain for their continued assistance and more weapons to help his country fight against Russian aggression.

In an emotional speech before the European Political Community Summit in Granada, Zelenskyy said schoolchildren in eastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv region were having to learn remotely or attend classes underground in subway stations due to air raids.

“Until there is a fully effective air defense system, children cannot attend school,” the Ukrainian president said Thursday, warning that “there will be a lot of Russian attacks in [the] winter.”

Last winter, Russian missiles and drones targeted Ukraine’s energy system and other vital infrastructure, causing continuous power outages across the eastern European country.

Zelenskyy confirmed that Spain has agreed to provide Ukraine with air defense capabilities in a new aid package.

The Ukrainian president also voiced confidence in continued support from the United States, despite what he called a “political storm” in Washington, D.C., after aid for Ukraine did not make the cut for a last-minute deal by American lawmakers to avoid a government shutdown.

“I am confident in America,” he said. “They are strong people with strong institutions and a strong democracy.”

Zelenskyy warned that one of the scenarios Russia is considering in the conflict is to freeze the war until 2028 to replenish its reserves. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin should not be allowed to beef up his military or else Russia could attack beyond Ukraine by 2028.

“Let only Putin’s ambitions be a ruin, not our countries, not our cities,” Zelenskyy said. “Children of every country deserve to be safe. Everywhere in the country, not just in the subway, not just in underground shelters, but everywhere. We must make it possible. We must ensure that Ukraine wins.”

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(NEW YORK) — Major cities around the world have experienced alarming temperature increases in recent years, new research shows.

Average temperatures in several major cities in OECD countries have risen by more than 10% since 2019 alone, which could indicate amplified effects of climate change in the last decade, according to the Global Temperature Index report by Utility Bidder, a U.K.-based energy consulting firm.

The report found “exemplified changing weather patterns that are the prime example of global warming,” James Longley, managing director at Utility Bidder, said in an emailed statement to ABC News.

Ankara, Turkey, saw the highest change in average temperatures at 18.24%, the researchers found. In 2019, average temperatures in Ankara were 22.4 degrees Celsius, or 72.32 degrees Fahrenheit. But by 2023, average temperatures had jumped to 26.4 degrees Celsius, or 79.52 degrees Fahrenheit.

The urban areas in Ankara contribute “significantly” to air pollution levels, according to the study.

Tallinn, Estonia, saw a 15.8% rise in average temperatures; Helsinki, Finland, experienced a 14.93% increase in temperatures; and Seoul, South Korea, saw a 10.03% change in average temperatures, according to the study.

Also included in the 10 cities with the highest rise in average temperatures were Reykjavik, Iceland; Canberra, Australia; Athens, Greece; Tokyo, London and Madrid.

The last two decades have also shown significant increases in average temperatures in some cities, the study found. The city with the largest change in average temperatures since 2004 was Ottawa, Canada, increasing by 31.35%. Seoul has seen a 20% increase since 2014, according to the research.

Research shows that large cities around the world will bear the brunt of climate change, with increased heat being one of the biggest impacts, according to experts.

Abundance of concrete, lack of greenery and air pollution from heavy traffic all contribute to urban heat islands.

The year 2023 is on track to become the hottest year on record, especially following a record-breaking summer and several high-temperature anomalies that occurred in September, according to a report released Wednesday by Copernicus, Europe’s climate change service.

“Our research into global temperatures was inspired by alarming climate changes that were demonstrated in 2022, as the year went down as the sixth warmest on record,” Longley said. “Furthermore, 2023 has been no different, and much of Europe especially has seen extreme heat waves throughout the summer months.”

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(NEW YORK) — A U.S. fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone armed with air-to-surface missiles that was flying extensively in the area of U.S. ground troops in northeast Syria on Thursday, according to a U.S. official.

An F-16 shot the drone down after a dozen unheeded calls to Turkish military officials stating American forces were in the area and the U.S. would engage in self-defense if it didn’t leave, according to the official.

The shootdown of the Turkish drone comes days after Turkey conducted retaliatory airstrikes in northern Iraq against locations related to the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), the militant Kurdish group that claimed responsibility for recent bomb attacks in Ankara.

Reuters reported Thursday that the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a statement that the drone did not belong to the Turkish armed forces.

Both the United States and Turkey are members of the NATO alliance, and Thursday’s shootdown will likely increase the tensions between the two countries, which had previously been at odds over Turkey’s refusal to allow Sweden to join the alliance.

There are about 900 U.S. troops based in eastern Syria who continue to work with Syrian Kurdish forces to prevent a resurgence by the Islamic State. Known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Turkey has repeatedly claimed the SDF and the PKK are the same organization.

The U.S. has previously criticized Turkish airstrikes inside Syria that targeted Kurdish forces operating in close proximity to American forces.

Last November, U.S. officials said one Turkish airstrike came within 130 meters of American military personnel.

“These strikes put our troops at risk. They also risk the continuation of the defeat ISIS mission,” a U.S. Central Command spokesman said at the time.

That airstrike came at a time when the Turkish military was conducting a ground operation against SDF forces in northern Syria that led the Kurdish group to suspend its military operations with the U.S. military.

 

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Bell Biv DeVoe joined forces with Rev Run for a fresh new single full of throwback ’90s vibes. 

Co-written by Rev Run, BBD and fellow ’90s hip-hop legend LL Cool J, “Act Like You Know” marks the group’s first single in six years.

“‘Act Like You Know’ celebrates the brotherhood and history between us and Run that’s been 40 years in the making,” Michael Bivins of BBD said. “We hope the fans enjoy this track as much as we did getting together to make it.”

The celebratory track arrives on the heels of the cable debut of The Hustle of @617MikeBiv, the WE tv docufilm exploring the life and career of Bivins, the Grammy-winning artist and founder of BBD and New Edition.

The Hustle of @617MikeBiv first released August 24 on ALLBlk, AMC’s destination for all things Black TV and entertainment. The movie is described as “an inspiring story of triumph and resilience” that traces Bivins’ dreams of “being an NBA player to becoming one of R&B and hip hop’s most influential figures.” Featured in the film are all the members of BBD as well as Snoop Dogg, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Doug E. Fresh, Sean “Puffy” Combs and more. 

Along with the docufilm’s WE tv release on October 5 at 9 p.m. ET, viewers will be able to enjoy the premiere of the song’s official music video. 

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(KYIV, Ukraine) — At least 49 people, including a 6-year-old boy, were killed Thursday in Russian missile strikes on a village in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine, officials said.

At least seven others were wounded in the attack, which targeted a building that housed a cafe and a shop in the village of Groza in the Kupyansk district, according to the local prosecutor’s office.

Story developing…

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(NEW YORK) — Australia is voting in a landmark referendum to decide whether it will permanently recognize Indigenous Australians in the Constitution and set up a body to advise on policies impacting their communities.

More than 17.6 million Australians are called on to cast their ballots in the compulsory vote on Oct. 14.

The proposal would see an advisory body elected by and made up of Indigenous Australians. It would have no veto power to make laws but would be able to directly consult parliament and the government.

“For as long as this continent has been colonized, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been fighting to assert and reassert the right to determine their own futures in this place,” said Sana Nakata, Principal Research Fellow at the Indigenous Education and Research Centre at James Cook University.

“So this vote has been a long time in the making. It won’t come again,” said Professor Nakata.

Views towards “the voice” are mixed, even within Indigenous communities where some are skeptical about how much change it could actually bring about; however, polling shows 80% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians support it.

“Like in any community, not all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people agree, “ said Professor Nakata. “There are prominent Aboriginal people arguing against the Voice to Parliament process on conservative grounds, and others who argue against the Voice to Parliament out of preference for treaty or to demand greater law-making power than the Voice enables.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is campaigning for a “yes” vote, although government opposition and the right National party are mostly arguing against.

Generally, the “no” side is leading the opinion polls.

Either way, there’s no doubt the referendum is igniting fierce debate in Australia over where the country is as a nation on reconciliation and forcing Australia to confront ghosts of the past.

Indigenous Australians remain one of the most disadvantaged groups in Australia, with low life expectancy, high rates of suicide and some of the highest incarceration rates in the world.

“Yes” advocates say that official recognition by way of a constitutional change is a step towards reconciling the pain of the past and closing the gap between indigenous Australians and the rest of the population.

They argue it will drive practical progress in the hardships faced by indigenous Aussies in areas such as health and infant mortality, education and employment.

However, those in the “no” camp say such an advisory body would create additional layers of bureaucracy, potentially leading to filibustering or ineffectiveness. They also say the proposal is too vague.

Professor Nakata disagrees that it will impede on government or parliamentary efficiency, saying, “all in all, the Voice offers an opportunity to hold the existing bureaucracy more accountable to the communities that they govern and does so in a way that allows ‘the Voice’ to determine for itself what are priority issues to guide its work.”

For the proposal to pass, there needs to be a double majority — which means both a majority of Aussie voters and at least four out of six states need the majority vote.

Other countries have enshrined the rights of Indigenous people, including Canada which recognizes the rights of its Indigenous people under the Constitution Act 1982.

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(LONDON) — An ecstatic couple slow danced surrounded by their loved ones in an opulently decorated wedding hall flanked by pyrotechnics.

Within an hour, over 200 of their closest friends and family suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation. More than half did not survive.

Videos verified by ABC News and reviewed by a fire investigator reveal the hazards that turned the venue, Al-Haitham Hall in Hamdaniya, Iraq, into what the investigator described as a “firetrap.”

The deadly fire in late September sparked a speedy government investigation that placed the blame on the venue’s owners but has also revealed broader cleavages within Iraqi society.

Pyrotechnics

A report issued by Iraq’s Interior Ministry four days after the fire highlights four pyrotechnic devices in the center of the wedding hall as responsible for the start of the fire. Sparks reached four meters in height, according to the report.

The judgement prompted ire among some observers, who claimed the devices were “cold” pyrotechnics that did not emit live flames. Several TikTok videos showed users placing their hands into the showers of sparks emitted by the devices in an effort to demonstrate their perceived lack of risk.

In security footage from less than a minute before the fire began, a videographer can be seen stepping through the sparks, but experts say the devices may not be without their risks. ABC News consulted a person with knowledge of cold pyrotechnics who said they can still be hazardous if safe distances are not observed and the sparks come into contact with flammable material.

Captain Walter Godfrey, president of Fire/Reconstruction Consultants Inc., which is based in Florida, reviewed the video and said the four “cold” pyrotechnic devices were the “central ignition source” and in turn led to the fire spreading to the hall’s “highly flammable” central ceiling fixture.

Flammable decorations

Drone video obtained from wedding videographers shows the hall’s elaborately decorated central ceiling fixture.

Godfrey identified the brown material as the first to be ignited.

“Being leafy in design it allowed sufficient oxygen around the individual leaves to support combustion and depending on their chemical make-up supports rapid flame spread throughout the venue,” he said.

Godfrey identified this same material falling from the ceiling in the video, moments after the fire began.

Godfrey believes the flaming decorations then acted as a catalyst, spreading to the white fabric drapes acting as light diffusers and gold hanging decorations, before falling on vinyl covered tables and chairs and in turn igniting them.

Security video released by Iraqi’s interior ministry shows thick smoke billowing down from this same central ceiling fixture. Godfrey believes the smoke was circulated by air conditioning units located close to the active fire, further adding to confusion and obscuring vision in the first few minutes.

Blackout

Gandhi Bashar Abdul Ahad, a musician at the wedding, told ABC News that women and children started screaming as they noticed the fire dropping from the ceiling.

“All the lights went out inside the hall, and it became very dark, and people started bumping into chairs and tables and people falling on top of each other,” he said.

The government investigation claimed the hall’s owner, thinking that a short circuit had started the fire, had cut the electricity and plunged the room into darkness. Godfrey suggests instead the fire could have caused the circuits in the ceiling area to short out, pop the breakers, and cut out the lights.

Fire exits

ABC News spoke with two attendees who confirmed that there were only two exit routes; the main entrance and a second exit route via the kitchen.

Godfrey deems the lack of exits on a building of this size as “criminal,” highlighting how the table layout acted as a barrier, trapping guests on one half of the room with no exit route.

When the fire broke out Ghandi was sitting with the band on stage. He said, along with the bride and groom, he managed to escape through the kitchen door.

“I went to the main door to help the families, but I was unable to enter due to the intensity of the fire inside. No one could enter the hall to save the families because everyone who entered would die,” he said.

Graphic videos taken by videographer Ghali Kasko at 11:36 p.m. show gaping holes in the external walls that Ghali claims were made by desperate civilians using bulldozers to reach people trapped inside the building.

Failure to enforce regulations

Nineb Lamassu, a Peacebuilding Advisor for an NGO based in Mosul, told ABC News the scale of the deadly fire was the result of negligence on the part of the proprietor.

However, the interior ministry’s recommendation in its report that six regional officials be fired for their failure to enforce safety regulations has angered many in the often-neglected region of Ninevah, who believe administrators from the local Christian community are being unequally scapegoated.

Speaking to ABC News from Baghdad, Abbas Kadhim, director of the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative, said the government report’s fast turnaround was the result of political pressures as Iraq’s government faces the approaching anniversary of opposition protests.

“This is a time when the atmosphere is very tense,” Kadhim said.

“It’s very hard to expect the government to reform this situation because it is associated with the wider problem of corruption which is rampant in the country. Enforcement is next to nil,” Kadhim said.

“Many feel it didn’t handle the root causes of the problems,” he said.

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