Violence Erupts in Ecuador, Sudan, and Syria

Gunmen wearing fake army uniforms attacked a cockfighting ring in rural Ecuador, killing 12 people. Four suspects were arrested and weapons and replica uniforms were seized. The attack is believed to be linked to a criminal gang targeting rivals at the event. Ecuador is a major transit point for cocaine and is home to around 20 criminal gangs vying for control of drug routes.

Gunmen disguised as soldiers opened fire on spectators at a cockfight in rural Ecuador, killing 12 unarmed people and wounding several others. The attackers, believed to be part of the "Los R7" organized crime group, wore replica military uniforms and used automatic rifles. Police detained four people, including a "target of intermediate value," and recovered evidence, including military-style uniforms, guns, and cash. Ecuador is plagued by violence from around 20 criminal gangs involved in trafficking, kidnapping, and extortion, with the country being a major transit point for cocaine shipments to the US and Europe.

Sudan's Zamzam camp, home to 700,000 internally displaced people, was attacked by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last week, resulting in its complete destruction. Thousands of residents, including Fathiya Mohammed and Saadiya Adam, fled on foot to the town of Tawila, carrying what little they could, with many reporting being robbed, injured, or losing family members along the way. The attack has overwhelmed Tawila's hospital, with medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reporting over 20,000 people seeking treatment and more than 170 people with gunshot and blast injuries received since the attack. The RSF has denied reports of atrocities but confirmed taking over the camp, which is strategically significant for their control of western Sudan. Residents like Fathiya Mohammed are calling for an end to the war and peace.

Thousands of armed men stormed the Syrian city of Baniyas, killing over 1,600 civilians, mostly from the Alawite minority, in early March. The violence began when former Assad regime security forces launched a coordinated attack on the new government's troops, prompting a government response and chaos that allowed other gunmen to target Alawites in a sectarian rampage. Witnesses described gunmen going house to house, summarily executing civilians, and opening fire in the streets, with many bodies left uncollected for days. The killings were carried out by armed civilians, former rebel groups, and some government soldiers. The new Syrian government, led by Ahmed al-Shara, has denied that its security forces committed atrocities and said it is investigating, but residents remain fearful, with around 20,000 Syrians fleeing to Lebanon. The violence has highlighted the government's limited control over various armed groups and the deep-seated sectarian tensions in the region.