The executive branch of the Rivers State government, led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has responded with a measured yet firm stance to the recent initiation of impeachment proceedings by the Rivers State House of Assembly. On March 18, 2025, as tensions escalated following the Assembly's issuance of a notice of gross misconduct against Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, the state government swiftly dismissed claims that the governor had been formally served with an impeachment notice. The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Barrister Joseph Johnson, emphasized that no official communication had been received from the Assembly, casting doubt on the procedural legitimacy of the lawmakers' actions. This response suggests an attempt by the executive to challenge the validity of the process from the outset, potentially setting the stage for a legal or political counteroffensive.

The executive's reaction reflects a broader strategy of de-escalation and resilience amid a politically charged atmosphere. The government has publicly called on the Assembly, particularly the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reconsider its actions in light of their implications for the state's stability. This appeal highlights the executive's awareness of the potential consequences of a collapsed peace process, especially given the backdrop of a protracted political feud between Fubara and Wike. Rather than reacting with overt confrontation, the executive has positioned itself as a stabilizing force, urging dialogue and adherence to constitutional norms.

On March 15, 2025, significant developments emerged regarding the leadership of the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group. Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rifai, widely known by his alias "Abu Khadijah," who served as a prominent leader within ISIS, was killed in a precision airstrike conducted by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces in coordination with Iraqi security forces. The operation took place on March 13, 2025, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, marking a major blow to the extremist organization.

Abu Khadijah held a critical position within ISIS, overseeing the group’s global operations, logistics, and planning. He was also instrumental in directing a significant portion of the organization’s international financing. Described by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world," Abu Khadijah was a key figure in the group’s hierarchy. Reports indicate he served as the "deputy caliph" and was responsible for ISIS operations in Iraq and Syria, as well as external operations targeting regions like Turkey and the broader Levant.

His importance within ISIS was further underscored by U.S. military officials, with General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of CENTCOM, stating, "Abu Khadijah was one of the most important ISIS members in the entire global ISIS organization." His death is seen as a significant disruption to the group's leadership and operational capabilities.

The airstrike occurred on Thursday, March 13, 2025, targeting Abu Khadijah and another ISIS operative in western Iraq. Following the strike, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces secured the site, where they found the two terrorists dead, still wearing unexploded suicide vests and armed with multiple weapons. Abu Khadijah’s identity was confirmed through DNA evidence, which had been collected during a previous raid he narrowly escaped.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation’s success on his Truth Social platform, declaring, "Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed. He was relentlessly hunted down by our intrepid warfighters." Trump emphasized the collaborative effort, noting coordination with the Iraqi government and the Kurdish Regional Government, and framed the operation as a demonstration of "PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH."

The killing of Abu Khadijah is the latest in a series of leadership losses for ISIS, which has struggled to maintain stability since the death of its former leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in 2019. As the emir of ISIS’s Delegated Committee—one of the group’s top decision-making bodies—Abu Khadijah played a pivotal role in sustaining its global network. His elimination is expected to hinder the group’s ability to coordinate attacks and manage finances, though experts caution that ISIS remains a persistent threat through its affiliates and decentralized cells across the Middle East and beyond.

The operation coincided with diplomatic efforts in the region, including a visit by Syria’s interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to Iraq on March 14, 2025. During the visit, both nations pledged to enhance cooperation in combating ISIS remnants, particularly along their shared border. This development reflects ongoing concerns about the group’s potential resurgence amid regional instability.

As of March 15, 2025, the situation regarding whether Ukrainian soldiers have been encircled by Russian troops, particularly in the Kursk region, remains contested and unclear based on available information. There are conflicting reports from various sources, and no definitive consensus has emerged.

On one hand, some reports suggest that Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region, where they launched a surprise incursion in August 2024, are facing significant pressure from Russian counteroffensives. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have claimed that Ukrainian troops are encircled or nearly surrounded, with Putin stating on March 13, 2025, that the situation in Kursk was "completely under our control" and that Ukrainian soldiers were "cut off inside the invasion zone," facing a choice to "surrender or die." Additionally, open-source maps from sources like Deep State, a Ukrainian military blogging resource, indicated on March 7, 2025, that about three-quarters of the Ukrainian force in Kursk was nearly encircled, connected to remaining forces by a narrow corridor that Russian troops were attempting to sever. Reuters and other outlets have reported on Russian advances threatening to cut off Ukrainian supply lines, potentially isolating thousands of troops.

On the other hand, Ukrainian military officials and soldiers on the ground have strongly disputed these claims. The Ukrainian General Staff stated on March 14, 2025, that reports of encirclement in Kursk were "untrue" and "fabricated by the Russians for political purposes and pressure on Ukraine and partners." They emphasized that Ukrainian units had regrouped and withdrawn to more advantageous defensive positions, denying any full operational encirclement. Soldiers like Artem Kariakin, stationed in the region, told POLITICO on March 14, 2025, that while Russian forces were applying pressure, "most of the forces managed to be withdrawn under the threat of the situation," and no strategic encirclement had occurred. Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi also asserted on March 11, 2025, that Moscow’s efforts to cut off Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk had not succeeded, with the border to Ukraine’s Sumy region remaining under Ukrainian control.

Independent analysts and military experts have also cast doubt on the encirclement narrative. Michael Kofman from the Carnegie Endowment described claims of a mass encirclement as "fiction" on March 14, 2025, and some pro-Russian Telegram channels echoed skepticism about visible signs of such an operation. Reports indicate that Ukraine has been conducting a staged withdrawal from Kursk for weeks, though under challenging conditions due to Russian drone and artillery pressure, rather than being fully trapped.

The discrepancy may stem from differing definitions of "encirclement" (operational vs. tactical), propaganda efforts on both sides, or the fluid nature of the battlefield. While Russian forces have made gains and disrupted Ukrainian logistics in Kursk, the evidence does not conclusively support a completed encirclement of Ukrainian troops as of now. The situation remains dynamic, with Ukrainian forces reportedly still able to maneuver, albeit under strain.