Ecuador, Israel-Palestine, Syria.
Today's three stories you should know.
Ecuador
Ecuador, once one of the most peaceful countries in Latin America, is in crisis with the government effectively going to war with powerful criminal gangs. Hundreds of soldiers and police today stormed a major prison as the government struggles to take back control of the country’s jails. The prison was the same one from which notorious gang boss Adolfo Macias, also known as “Fito,” escaped last week. The jailbreak prompted a massive crackdown from security forces and then an equally forceful response from the gangs. A public prosecutor was shot dead on Wednesday.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Israel-Palestine
Israeli security forces must stop abusing Palestinian men they have detained and treat them in line with “international humanitarian law norms,” a senior UN human rights official said today. Ajith Sunghay said after a visit to Gaza that there were reports men had been released back into the freezing streets dressed only in diapers after enduring beatings and other forms of mistreatment for weeks. “Unless Israel can demonstrate imperative security grounds for each person remaining in detention, they must be charged or released,” Sunghay, who visited the southern city of Rafah, said.
More from the UN here.
Syria
At least 10 civilians, including children, have been killed in suspected Jordanian air raids on Syria, according to local media and activists who monitor the country’s conflict. Syria has become the source of a huge upsurge in drug smuggling across the Middle East and Jordan frequently targets suspected drug gangs and their facilities.
More from Reuters here.