A Russian-made SU-24 bomber plunged into Mali’s Niger River on June 13, shortly after taking part in a military operation known as Operation Dougoukoloko. Both pilots survived the crash, according to official statements.

The aircraft belonged to the Africa Corps, a newly established military unit under the Russian Defense Ministry. This group has taken over many of the functions once handled by the Wagner Group, bringing them under more direct state control.

Shortly after the incident, the Azawad Liberation Front claimed responsibility, saying its fighters had hit the plane with ground-to-air fire. They reported that the strike forced the bomber to retreat before it ultimately went down in the river.

The crash highlights growing instability in northern Mali, where armed groups continue to challenge the military-backed government and its international partners, including Russian forces.

Large crowds were seen escaping Tehran on Wednesday, following warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump urging citizens to leave the city. A reliable source revealed that Trump is weighing the possibility of joining Israeli efforts in targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

Fresh waves of missile exchanges broke out between Iran and Israel soon after Trump demanded Tehran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”

Residents of southwestern Tehran were told by Israel to vacate the area to clear the way for strikes on Iranian military targets. Reports indicated severe traffic jams as people rushed out of the city toward the northern provinces.

Fuel purchasing restrictions have been enforced across Iran. Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad assured the public through state TV that these measures are designed to prevent shortages and that fuel availability for civilians remains stable.

Meanwhile, explosions shook Tel Aviv as Israel’s military confirmed that two series of Iranian missiles were launched into its territory early Wednesday.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency shared that armed confrontations broke out between Iranian security forces and unknown attackers in Rey, a city south of Tehran. The report suggested that these assailants might be linked to Israel and were planning “terrorist operations in densely populated areas of the capital”.

Additionally, local Iranian media stated that Israel had launched strikes on a university associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the eastern region and also targeted the Khojir ballistic missile site near Tehran — a location that suffered similar strikes last October.

An Israeli military spokesperson revealed that 50 warplanes hit approximately 20 different targets in Tehran overnight. These sites reportedly included facilities responsible for producing essential materials, components, and systems required for missile production.

Iranian officials have so far confirmed no fewer than 224 deaths, primarily among civilians, though this number has not been revised in recent days. On the other side, Iran has launched about 400 missiles toward Israel since Friday. Around 40 of these penetrated Israeli defenses, killing 24 civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

In response to the escalating conflict, Israel began repatriating citizens stranded in foreign countries on Wednesday. A gradual evacuation by air was put into action after Israel’s unexpected military offensive against Iran left thousands of its nationals unable to return home.

Flight operations to and from Bali faced disruption after a volcano in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province erupted, prompting cancellations and delays of over 20 scheduled trips while three nearby airports were shut down.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki violently spewed ash up to 11 kilometres into the sky on Tuesday, pushing authorities to raise the hazard alert to its maximum level.

The mountain erupted again the next day, releasing another thick ash plume reaching about 1 kilometre high.

A total of 26 flights, both domestic and international, were either delayed or cancelled, impacting more than 14,000 travellers, according to the transport ministry.

Several flights from countries including India, Singapore, and Australia to Bali were among those disrupted.

“Forecasts show the ash cloud is expected to clear by later tonight,” JetStar said in a midday travel bulletin.

Air travel to nearby islands like Lombok and Labuan Bajo was also affected, with several scheduled services either postponed or scrapped.

For safety reasons, three airports, including Fransiskus Xaverius Seda in Maumere, suspended operations from Wednesday until Thursday, transport officials confirmed.

As a precaution, local disaster management teams evacuated dozens of residents from two communities close to the volcano, Avi Hallan from the disaster agency reported.

“Streets in the two villages were filled with thick ash, gravel, and sand,” she said, noting that no injuries or deaths had occurred.

The volcano had previously erupted in May.

Indonesia is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone notorious for frequent volcanic and seismic activity caused by the shifting of tectonic plates.