Israeli troops and Hamas fighters battled at dawn in Gaza Jan. 5 amid tank, artillery and air strikes, as the death toll from the offensive passed 510. Israeli forces moved into the outskirts of Gaza City as families fled or remained hidden after a second night of combat. Fierce fighting is reported around the northern towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanun and Jabaliya. The Israeli air force attacked 130 targets in Gaza overnight, a spokesman said. Shelling from naval boats off the coast could also be heard. Tanks have cut off Gaza City and the north from the rest of the Strip. Air-strikes were also reported in the southern border town of Rafah.

From the General Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions in Iraq (GFWCUI), Dec. 13:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the global struggle for workers' rights, peace and justice:

Plans are underway to hold an International Labor Conference in Iraq in February 13 & 14, 2009. We see this as an important and urgent step toward strengthening and unifying the labor movement in Iraq. Only through increased solidarity in Iraq, and with workers in the region and around the world can we hope to impact the fate not only of workers but of all Iraqis.

A female suicide bomber killed at least 35, including women and children, and wounded 65 others in an attack on a religious procession near the holy Kadhimiyah shrine in northern Baghdad Jan. 4. The woman blew herself up at a checkpoint as Shi'ite pilgrims commemorating the Muharram ceremonies converged on the mausoleum of Imam Mousa al-Kadhim, Baghdad's most important Shi'ite site shrine.

Israelis protest Gaza siege" title="Israelis protest Gaza siege" class="image image-thumbnail" width="100" height="75" />Israelis protest Gaza siegeThousands of Israeli troops, backed by tanks and helicopters, entered the Gaza Strip shortly nightfall Jan. 3, following up a night of heavy bombing with the anticipated ground invasion. Israeli forces mostly entered the Strip from the north, and reached the towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in the early hours of Jan. 4. Heavy fighting is also reported at the Rafah border crossing and the Jabaliya refugee camp, and 30 Israeli soldiers are confirmed wounded so far. Israel has barred journalists from the Strip, but Palestinian medical sources say 464 Gaza residents have now been killed since the bombing began a week ago. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called for a halt to the invasion. But an emergency meeting of the Security Council ended without agreeing on a statement on the crisis—largely due to US intransigence. (AlJazeera, BBC World Service, Jan. 4)

Mexican authorities announced Dec. 30 the arrest of Alberto Espinoza Barron AKA "La Fresa" (the Strawberry), reputed head of the "Michoacán Family"—the drug cartel accused of setting off two grenades during an Independence Day celebration in September, killing eight people and wounding more than 100. The federal Special Investigative Sub-prosecutor for Organized Crime (SIEDO) said "La Familia" is believed to be allied with the Gulf Cartel in a turf war for control of Michoacán with the Beltran Leyva crime family based in Sinaloa. (El Universal, Jan. 1; CNN, Dec. 31)

From the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Dec. 28:

Dear President-Elect Obama,

Congratulations on your historic election as the next President of the United States.

Last year, you pledged to "take an active role, and make a personal commitment to do all I can to advance the cause of [Israeli-Palestinian] peace from the start of my Administration." We are eager to work with you to fulfill this goal.

The number of Palestinians killed in the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip reached 434, with at least 2,280 wounded as the air campaign entered its seventh day Jan. 3. Five children were killed in al-Qarara town, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Strip. Two more children were killed at Jabalia in the north, when missiles struck the home of Imad Aqel, a leader of the al-Qassam Brigades, armed wing of Hamas. Civilian casualties were also reported at al-Boreij refugee camp. Schools and civilian vehicles were also hit. (International Middle East Media Center, Jan. 3)

Ethiopia began pulling its military forces out of Somalia at the beginning of the year, having pledged to withdraw from the country by the end of 2008. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's office said the withdrawal would take several days. A convoy of about 30 Ethiopian vehicles loaded with troops and equipment left the Somali capital, Mogadishu, as some 3,400 Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers from the African Union began taking up positions the positions vacated by the Ethiopian forces. Hours before the withdrawal began, a roadside bomb killed two Ethiopian soldiers and a number of civilians died when troops opened fire. (WP, Jan. 3; BBC News, Jan. 2)