Tuesday Briefing: Dagestan attacks revive Russian terrorism fears

Israel's military may turn to Hezbollah and spotting deceptively realistic A.I. images

View in browser|nytimes.com June 25, 2024 By Daniel E. Slotnik Good morning. We're covering an attack in southern Russia and a possible change in focus for Israel's military. Plus: Can you spot the A.I. images? A still from a video released by the Russian government said to show damage from the attacks in Dagestan. The National Antiterrorism Committee, via Associated Press Attack revived terrorism fears in Russia At least 20 people were killed on Sunday in a seemingly coordinated assault in the Dagestan region of southern Russia, the deadliest attack in the area in 14 years. The Russian authorities have designated the assault an act of terror, but it was not immediately clear who was responsible. Gunmen targeted a police station as well as synagogues and Orthodox churches. Fifteen of the victims were police officers. One was an Orthodox priest, who was killed in his church. It is not known whether the attackers were specifically targeting members of law enforcement. Five attackers were eventually killed by security forces, officials said. The attack was reminiscent of the intense violence that gripped the Northern Caucasus, a predominantly Muslim region, in the late 1990s and early 2000s. That bloodshed was caused by a combination of Islamic fundamentalism and organized crime. Suppressing it became one of the central bragging points for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, after he came to power in 1999. That legacy is now at risk of being undermined by a resurgence of violence. In March, four gunmen killed 145 people at a concert hall near Moscow. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack. Analysis: The assault on Sunday has put a spotlight on the challenges that Russia faces as the war in Ukraine taxes its economy and security apparatus. Israeli soldiers near the Gaza Strip repairing a tank tread last week. Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Israel said its military focus might shift to Hezbollah Recent remarks by Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its defense minister, Yoav Gallant, suggest that the country may soon mount fewer operations in the Gaza Strip and shift its focus to Hezbollah in Lebanon. In an interview on Sunday, Netanyahu said that after drawing down troops in Gaza, "we will be able to move part of our forces to the north." But Netanyahu stopped well short of announcing an invasion of Lebanon, a move that would most likely result in heavy losses for both sides, and left room for a diplomatic resolution with Hezbollah. Gallant was in Washington yesterday talking to the C.I.A. director and other U.S. officials about Hezbollah and the war in Gaza as the U.S. tries to head off Israel's military push in Lebanon. In Gaza City: A senior official in charge of coordinating ambulance services in the Gaza Strip was killed by an Israeli strike, the enclave's health ministry said. Courts: A lawsuit filed in New York accuses senior officials at the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians of knowing that Hamas siphoned off $1 billion in aid money. The case faces high legal hurdles. A pilgrim in Saudi Arabia being evacuated by medics last week. Fadel Senna/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Hajj deaths raised questions about Saudi preparations More than 1,300 people have died amid extreme heat in Saudi Arabia while making the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca this month, raising questions about the country's preparations. Officials said that most of the dead had not been registered for the hajj. Pilgrims with permits are transported in air-conditioned buses and can rest in cooling tents, while those without permits are left with little protection against temperatures that can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The Saudi government has tried to rein in the effects of the heat by increasing shade and misting pilgrims with cool water. But many relatives of the dead and missing complained that the authorities had not done enough to cool all the pilgrims. It's unclear if the number of deaths this year is higher than in previous years because Saudi Arabia doesn't regularly release those statistics. MORE TOP NEWS Agence France-Presse — Getty Images China: Floods and landslides in Guangdong Province killed at least 47 people. South Korea: At least 22 people died in a fire at a lithium-battery plant near Seoul, officials said. Most of them were migrant laborers from China. Julian Assange: The WikiLeaks founder agreed to plead guilty to a single felony count in exchange for his release from a British prison, ending his long standoff with the U.S. Here's a timeline of his legal ordeal. Britain: Support for the Conservative Party is collapsing before the election next week. These charts show why. Africa: Many countries resent France, a former colonial power. But Rwanda is embracing French culture and investment. Royals: Princess Anne was hospitalized after sustaining a concussion and minor injuries in an unspecified accident. Climate: A new study found that the frequency and intensity of extreme wildfires worldwide more than doubled in the past two decades. Trade: Global shipping prices are soaring, raising fears of product shortages and delays. Technology Apple: The company was charged under a new E.U. law with imposing unfair restrictions for developers in its App Store. East Asia: Tensions within a joint venture that owns the operator of Line, a popular messaging app, could cool the warming relations between South Korea and Japan. Sports News Hockey: The Florida Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers, 2-1, to win the National Hockey League title after the Oilers recovered from a three-game deficit to nearly win the seven-game series and briefly bring hope back to Edmonton sports fans. Professional wrestling: Gabbi Tuft, the first former W.W.E. star to come out as transgender, is set to return to the ring today. France's bitter election: Racial politics and how "the Mbappé effect," named after the soccer star Kylian Mbappé, is shaping the campaign. MORNING READ The New York Times A.I. is rapidly improving at creating lifelike faces and realistic photographs, fooling many. But there are telltale signs that can help you discern real images from fake ones. Do you have the eye? Take our quiz and find out. CONVERSATION STARTERS Bargain boat: Our Frugal Traveler columnist went on a 30-percent-off yacht cruise in Croatia. Was it worth it? Role models: As boys struggle in school, male kindergarten teachers can help. Minor celebrity: A wild flamingo is summering in the Hamptons, an affluent beach enclave outside of New York City. ARTS AND IDEAS A reporter learns his father's past My colleague Edward Wong, who worked in China as a correspondent and later as the Beijing bureau chief for The Times, knew that his father served in China's army. But it wasn't until he was researching his new book, "At the Edge of Empire: A Family's Reckoning With China," that Ed uncovered the full story. Yook Kearn Wong, Ed's father, was stationed in Xinjiang, a region in China's northwest, in 1952. There he would take part in efforts that laid the groundwork for China to rule over that area. Later, after he survived famine, he knew he had to escape China. He reached the U.S. in 1967. "I marvel," Ed writes, "at the ways my family's story has looped like a Möbius strip around multiple generations and around the history of China." We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Armando Rafael for The New York Times Cook: This blackberry dessert doesn't require an oven and takes less than 30 minutes. Travel: Cap Ferret is where Parisians escape to secret beaches. Local residents shared some favorite spots. Play: A remake of Riven, the 1997 sequel to the immersive puzzle game Myst, comes out today. Soothe: A walk can ease back pain. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today. Thank you for reading, and see you tomorrow. — Dan You can reach Dan and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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