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World Faces Tensions and Transitions as Ceasefires, Executions, and Diplomatic Maneuvering Dominate Headlines
Global tensions and significant transitions marked the beginning of February 2026, with developments ranging from a ceasefire in Syria to executions in China and critical diplomatic efforts involving Iran. The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt also partially reopened after a prolonged closure.
In northeastern Syria, government forces moved into the city of Hasakah on Monday, February 2, 2026, formerly controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), according to Al Jazeera. This deployment represented a first step towards implementing a US-backed ceasefire deal. A large convoy of trucks was observed entering the city hours after the SDF declared a curfew.
Meanwhile, in China, four individuals were executed for their involvement in a Myanmar-based scam and gambling syndicate, Sky News reported. The individuals were accused of establishing industrial parks that ran gambling and telecom scam operations, which included kidnappings, extortion, forced prostitution, and drug manufacturing and trafficking in Myanmar's Kokang region, bordering China. According to Sky News, the group was responsible for the deaths of six people and ran operations worth more than 4 billion. Five people, including members of the Bai family, had been sentenced to death in November for running the network of scam centers and casinos. The leader of the group, Bai Suocheng, died from an illness.
On the diplomatic front, the coming week was poised to be critical in averting war between Iran and the United States, Sky News reported. The next seven days could either lead to conflict between Iran, the US, and its allies, or mark the beginning of a diplomatic breakthrough. "It's make or break this week for averting war between America and Iran," Dominic Waghorn, International affairs editor for Sky News, stated.
In Europe, Kaja Kallas, European Union foreign policy chief, cautioned against the creation of a separate EU army alongside NATO, Euronews reported. Speaking at a security conference in Norway, Kallas described the idea as "extremely dangerous," arguing that it would blur chains of command in a crisis. She emphasized that maintaining a clear command structure should be the main priority in any military crisis. "On the European level, we have the m," Kallas stated.
Finally, the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on February 2, 2026, after nearly two years of closure, Euronews reported. The reopening allowed limited humanitarian aid and enabled Palestinians to return. State television showed ambulances and microbuses advancing from the Egyptian side as the gates swung open. Officials from Egypt and Israel indicated that the opening was part of the ceasefire process, with approximately 50 people expected to cross in each direction during the initial days. The move followed a pilot phase for the crossing.
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