Finally home ukraine and pro russian separatists complete a prisoner swap after 5 years of war plus. Busking for a living venezuelans who escaped their countrys economic crisis struggle to build new lives abroad. The u. S. Defense secretary says that hes not ruling out further action off the s. Trikes were carried out on a shia armed group in iraq and syria the iraqi Prime Minister has called them a breach of sovereignty 3 of hezbollahs camps were hit in iraq one of them near al qaim and 2 inside syria at least 25 people were killed the pentagon says its a response to rocket attacks on iraqi bases some of the 14 is in baghdad and says the strikes mark a shift in u. S. Strategy. Well there are quite significant because this is actually the 1st time that the u. S. Actually strikes a target on iraq his soil lets remember not until too long ago the u. S. And the p. M. S. Were fighting against eisel on the same side but of course since then the tensions between the u. S. And iranian backed groups have played a quite a bit and this particular at attack were hearing from a source inside of p. M. S. Has claimed as many as 10 lives with dozens of people injured and of course this particular strike comes at the back of a series of rocket attacks that were aimed at military bases where both of us and iraqi personnel are based in the u. S. Attributed some of these attacks took a type hezbollah the last one happened last friday and for the 1st time it actually claimed the life of one u. S. Contractor and it injured several u. S. Personnel now of course secretary of state my pompei or has said before that any such attack that harm u. S. Troops or their allies would be met with decisive force so this strike is basically a response to that now it does present a departure from the previous stance of the u. S. When it basically tried to urge the Iraqi Government to rein in groups like a type and hezbollah reminding the government that it is responsible for the safety of u. S. Troops because of course they are here at the invitation of the government so this is these strikes represent a departure from the policy in a sign that the u. S. Is now taking matters into its own hands u. S. Secretary of state was blamed to run for attacks on americans inside iraq. What we did was take a decisive response that makes clear what President Trump has said for months and months and months which is that we will not stand for the Islamic Republic of iran to take actions that put american men and women in jeopardy we will always honor that commitment to take decisive wreck action and that takes place and we continue to demand that the Islamic Republic of iran act in a way that is consistent with what i laid back out back in may of 2018 for what it is that we expect iran to do so that it can rejoin the community of nations. Explains from washington the u. S. Went ahead with the strikes despite a request from iraq to desist. This u. S. Action happens against the wishes of the Iraqi Government itself a half an hour before the attacks the defense secretary the u. S. Defense secretary marchesa calls iraqi Prime Minister in photos of him of the imminent attacks of the Prime Minister says no call these attacks off this is against against iraqi sovereignty yet the u. S. Does it anyway so thats one point secondly since july this may have been. May be a shia militia and so on but they have been part of the pm after. The Popular Mission falls which is successfully fought against the Islamic State and since july technically they have been incorporated into the Iraqi Security apparatus the government Security Apparatus so we just seen it on with the u. S. Bombing a u. S. Government military facility that i mean these are the questions that have to be asked especially against the backdrop of the protests that weve been seeing the outpouring of iraqi nationalism where the child is often reported to be neither america nor iran an end to u. S. Foreign interference but i dont know what what could be more interfering from a foreign power than this going against the iraqi Prime Ministers wishes now we await the consequences for that debate but also the consequences for the us iran proxy war in iraq well the difficulty for iraq is that hizbollah is part of a group that helped the government defeat eisel its been brought into a state sanctioned group of bullishness notice the Popular Mobilization forces many of them backed by iran has ballers leda is one of iraqs most powerful man and has in the past force against u. S. Forces the u. S. State Department Says he advises irans revolutionary guards Kenneth Katzman is the author of the warriors of islam irans revolutionary guard and says the question now is how iran will respond to the strikes. Its it was a very targeted strike on certain bases ammunition dumps. Perhaps certain our rocket facilities cuts a hizbollah iran backed militia. The question is what the reaction is going to be on the part of the to kill iran because obviously this was a militia linked to iran and the reaction of the Iraqi Government which already the care tech a Prime Minister atal abdul moxy who has tried to straddle the United States and iran and be friendly with both has. Said it was an strange men of iraqi sovereignty so. The strike could potentially cause problems in the u. S. Iraq relationship residents of several towns in the australian side of victoria ive been told that its not too late to leave as bush nearby temperature is a climb to over 40 degrees celsius and winds of up to 100 kilometers an hour a full cost for the hours ahead around 40000. 00 people were told to evacuate on sunday firefighters working in forests of been pulled out because of unpredictable conditions under christmas victorias Emergency Management commissioner and says the conditions will wasson throughout the afternoon what weve seen up until today is more than 70 new fawas in the station more than 20000 jelling fawaz at the moment. We have got a long way to go were only part way through the dial in terms of the far east to the state and to action. We know the changes start to move through the southwest of the state and we wont see into. About 77. 00 pm this evening and it wont be till closer to midnight they will see the fog. On air force in. The a. B. C. Spoke to us a little earlier from Port Melbourne and says that many holidaymakers are in the evacuation area well until recently the tory has escaped the worst of these bushfires affecting a stray about saying 1000 homes lost and 9 people lose their lives but Authorities Say that today this diet is facing a very serious life threatening fire conditions weve got 3 out of control bush fires burning in the states theyve actually been burning for over a month but all floridians are now extremely concerned that with the deteriorating conditions today which will see temperatures well into the fortys and very high winds that we thought was conditions these fires will Impact Communities and as a result theyve put out a several militancy warnings telling people to leave theyre also extremely concerned about the road several roads have been closed already now despite that region being quite remote it is very popular at this time of year with many families holiday makers going down the course to spend christmas and new years so in that region about 40000 people have been told to leave ahead of todays all full of fire conditions with authorities extremely worried that if the fires are in those areas that their ability to help and decipher people would be extremely limited because of those conditions. Craig lapsley is the former victorian Emergency Management commissioner he says that its a critical day for several communities threatened by fire in the torah and also satisfying says minus of the southern part of the strike its just. 40 degrees in most locations and its not 40 its about 40 degrees and the queens very strong so thats obviously the risk of people far as were obviously. The forests in the grass and in the homes on drugs in far the last couple of days the torah police and the far already very strong to get people out of those environments get them a wife in the bush environment but as you know once you go on holiday sometimes you disconnect from telephones you disconnect from listening to the right youre actually at the to enjoy yourself so its been a real challenge to get the message out to all the people its a challenging period but i think most Community Members of taking the lead of the mornings simply typing alternatives about changing whatever they multiply input of dying up the travelling and the really conscious about their safety and working with the far authorities to get the best outcome. The governments in ukraine and pro russian separatists in the east of completeness of prisoners taken during the 5 year conflicts 200. 00 fighters from both sides were exchanged as the clear gauge reports. An emotional return that for many was a Long Time Coming ukrainian prisoners finally free to leave the territory they fought to keep but still controlled by pro russian separatists they were welcomed by family members and president bolton missile linsky as they landed in kiev a young girl but. She lived there on the main thing is that the people at home we did what we said they will tell a brave new year with their families im happy im sure that too. Security was tight as the Prisoner Exchange began there was disbelief then relief that it was happening and they would be able to return home others though valid to fight on their hands. But these former ukrainian prisoners said they would fight for their country and president ever would while these production separatists said hed been beaten and tortured by Ukrainian Security services. Sundays exchange was the result of direct talks between president still in ski and putin in france earlier this month they great to implement a full ceasefire in a bid to end the war in the donbass region of ukraine. Relations between russia and ukraine soured when protesters in kiev managed to drive out a kremlin backed government in 24 tane russia then seized control of crimea from ukraine and within weeks russian backed separatists took control of the eastern part of ukraine more than 13000 people including civilians have died during 5 years of conflict ukraine wants to join they want your European Union wants to move west so the poles kind of for ukraine and this is a strategic difference a major. Risk as well a Prisoner Exchange there is little will among civilians caught up in fighting for this war to continue this Prisoner Exchange a sign the tensions could be easing nicola gage aljazeera. Well get a weather update next here on aljazeera then stop the crimes against humanity libyas u. N. Backed government calls on the International Community to act against war come before halftime plus. Lets call it what it is these people are domestic terrorists new yorks governor talks of a council of hatred in america after 5 people are stabbed at a jewish celebration. And though there are plenty of cold air in place across much of iran and further to the east across into afghanistan its a little bit of cloud there but really the main activity is still out towards the west or the eastern end of the med particularly impacting turkey for the next couple of days as sunday and monday we have got this system just sitting in the eastern end of the mediterranean some strong gusty winds again some coastal plenty of snow working its way across into turkey now by choose day it does really begin to fall upon still want to showers and still some gusty winds at times but a much better picture certainly than we will see on monday meanwhile to the east we have got clavicles and snow and some rain in the mix but mostly dry into that of the south of that which is how being very nice that in the mid to 20 celsius as some light winds a little bit cool in the evening hours were seeing if you shazam coastal areas of amman we could just see the same as we go through monday and tuesday a sudden cheese day that is more cloud developing but really it will stay mostly dry and sunny feeling pretty warm as well on the touch as of sunday. Across into much of south africa weve got 29 and john is the 25 been both days of house and scott at thunderstorms at the same way the on tuesday and still plenty of rain in north america. Egypt strongman is ruling within a file and faced and the silence from his allies is deafening the u. S. Was perfectly happy to trade off the mark received for security while western leaders turning a blind eye when even the citizens have fallen victim to his repression executions torture or censorship is not acceptable and you want to hear such strong words from lets say berlin or paris or london man in cairo on aljazeera. Again this is 0 lets take a moment to remind you of the main news iraq has called u. S. Strikes against a shia group an unacceptable breach of sovereignty the u. S. Military operation targeted qatif hizbollahs bases in iraq and syria killing 25 people the u. S. Secretary of state says it was a response to attacks on americans by iranian backed groups. Residents of several towns in the australian state of victoria been told that its now too late to leave as bushfire nearby temperatures climb to more than 40 degrees celsius and winds of up to 100 kilometers an hour forecast and ukraines government and pro russian separatists in the east have completed the swap of prisoners taken during the 5 year conflict 200 fighters from both sides were exchanged libyas un recognized government is calling for International Help to stop war Khalifa Haftar is offensive on tripoli hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded since the beginning of a military push in april. The hold up to what had reports from tripoli. The fight for tripoli is collating now the Foreign Ministry is calling on the United Nations and the International Criminal court to intervene the un recognized government accuses forces fighting for warlord flee for hefted of committing crimes against humanity in their campaign to capture the capital and. We are asking the International Community to perform its role after it doesnt have any legitimacy and has been destroying tripoli for the past 8 months yet the International Community has a lot moved to stop him only now as we have a new ally regional and International Powers are rising against us the world on the southern outskirts of tripoli has cost the lives of hundreds of civilians and wanted many more have to the forces repeatedly targeted residential areas and government run facilities with airstrikes and rockets nearly 140000 libyans have fled their homes to seek safety and also under threat are oil revenues which are the backbone of libyas economy the National Oil Corporation is assessing the damage following greece and airstrikes on the oil refinery in the western city of zawiya. And as Government Forces battle to stop the fall of tripoli have to his forces are reported to be getting very enforcement from Russian Military is an advance it weapons supplied by the United Arab Emirates to his troops could soon be joining the conflict. The promised support for forces loyal to the government is being seen by some as crucial to preventing the fall of tripoli because president says parliament will vote next month on a mandate to send troops but does have to advance further into this other neighborhoods and closer to density Populated Areas of the capital the futile for human casualties is growing. More that there were had. To put. The Yemeni Government is blaming who feel rebels for a missile attack on a military Graduation Parade that killed at least 7 people no one has claimed responsibility for the strike in the southern town of dolly the apparent target was Security Belt forces trained and equipped by the saudi u. A. E. Coalition its been fighting against the rebels since 2015 the governor of new york has describes an attack on Orthodox Jews as an act of domestic terrorism 5 people were injured when a man armed with a machete stormed into a rabbis home during hanukkah celebrations in upstate new york its the latest in a series of attacks against the Jewish Community in the u. S. As old as heroes roseland shortened explains. 37 year old Grafton Thomas faces 5 counts of attempted murder after an attack at a Hanukkah Party a month see new york a witness called the attack a terrifying just winning as is the word knife i dont know what it was back and forth that the people descending was crammed after me when they came out here is going to have to be hey you all got you but thats it thats about it so far thomas has not been charged with a hate crime the new york state governor says the suspect should get out and more i think this is an act of terrorism i think these are domestic terrorists they are tr