The death toll from an attack on a Catholic church in eastern Congo, perpetrated by Islamic State-backed rebels, has risen to 34, with a separate attack on a nearby village resulting in at least five more deaths. The attacks, believed to have been carried out by the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) using guns and machetes, targeted civilians in the Ituri province. Attackers stormed the church at around 1 a.m., and reports indicate that several houses and shops were also burned. The ADF, with ties to the Islamic State, has been responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians in eastern Congo in recent years.
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Seventy decapitated bodies were discovered in a Protestant church in Kasanga, DRC. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist group linked to ISIS, is suspected of the massacre, having reportedly held the victims hostage prior to their deaths. Local officials are investigating, though no group has claimed responsibility. The incident highlights the ongoing violence and instability plaguing the eastern DRC, where numerous armed groups operate.
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NATO’s Steadfast Dart 2025 exercises, the alliance’s largest operation this year, showcase a new rapid deployment model across Eastern Europe without direct U.S. involvement. The six-week drills, involving 10,000 troops from nine nations, test the Allied Reaction Force, a newly established, multi-domain force designed for swift deployment within ten days. This evolution reflects a growing European focus on military self-sufficiency and comes amidst heightened tensions with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The exercise underscores NATO’s commitment to reinforcing its eastern flank and deterring future conflict.
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John Q. Hosedrinker