A rocket fired amid fighting between Taliban insurgents and Afghan soldiers killed at least 26 people at a nearby wedding party Thursday, authorities said, a grim end to a year that saw the end of the 13-year US-led combat mission there.
The rocket struck a house in southern Helman province's Sangin District, where Afghan security forces have been battling insurgents in the six months since US forces withdrew from the area.
Police spokesman Fareed Ahmad Obaid said the rocket wounded at least 45 people. Bashir Ahmad Shakir, a provincial council member, said the death toll could be up to 30 killed with as many as 60 wounded.
Abdul Haleem, a cousin of the bride who was hosting her wedding, said that nine of his children were missing after the rocket struck his house as guests waited outside for the bride to arrive.
"Nine children of mine are missing; I just collected body parts," he said. "I don't know whether it's my children or someone else."
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Kabul police headquarters confirms that a son of General Deen Mohammad Jurat has been killed in a gun fight with the supporters of Haji Rahim Puri in Kabul.
The gun fight broke out last night after a road accident between the two sides in Lab-e-Jar area of the 15th police district in Kabul city.
Two persons were also injured in the gun fight.
The injured include another son of General Jurat and a supporter of Haji Rahim Puri.
Kabul police headquarters name the killed son of General Jurat as Nadim and the injured Tamim.
General Deen Muhammad Juran and Haji Rahim Puri are well known Jihadist commanders.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/02/2015 19:25 ||
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#1
Dire Revenge™ for the next 600 years
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/02/2015 9:11 Comments ||
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[Khaama (Afghanistan)] A jacket wallah was rubbed out by Afghan national security forces in eastern Khost province ... across the border from Miranshah, within commuting distance of Haqqani hangouts such as Datta Khel and probably within sight of Mordor. Khost is populated by six different tribes of Pashtuns, the largest probably being the Khostwal, from which it takes its name... of Afghanistan.
The provincial government media office said the suicdie bombe was killed in Tani district, before he manage to reach his target.
A statement by the provincial government media office said the suicide bomber was riding a cycle of violence and was rubbed out after he was identified by the security forces.
The anti-government armed hard boy groups have not commented regarding the report so far.
Khost is among the relatively volatile provinces in eastern Afghanistan where anti-government armed murderous Moslems are actively operating in a number of its remote districts and often cary out insurgency activities.
This comes as another suicide bomber who wanted to target the special command of the Afghan Intelligence ‐ National Directorate of Security ...the Afghan national intel agency... (NDS) operatives in Orgun district of Paktika ...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo... province, was rubbed out before he reach to his target on Wednesday.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/02/2015 19:22 ||
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Somalia’s interim Juba administrative forces have carried out security operation in the coastal town of Kismayo, the headquarters of lower Juba region, witnesses said. The crackdown was jointly conducted by Juba forces in Kismayo neighborhoods after deadly fighting took place overnight in town, arresting at least 10 people, allegedly to be Al Shabaab militants.
Somalia’s Juba officials said that all the detainees were captured in street to street security searches which had been launched by its forces, adding that they were taken into custody for questioning.
The tougher operation comes days after insecurity activities, including coordinated attacks and killings against locals and interim Juba officials were reported in the town, Shabelle correspondent reported.
Kismayo, a town is situated 328 miles (528 km) southwest of Mogadishu is under control of Juba soldiers along with Kenyan contingent AU mission in Somalia AMISOM forces.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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Somali National Army forces are reportedly to have clashed with Al Shabaab militants in a town, 40Km away from Bulo-burde, in central Somalia’s Hiran region, official said on Thursday. The deadly battle flared up after heavily armed fighters from Al Shabaab militants launched an ambush attack against pickup trucks with aid food from Jalalaqsi town to Bulo-burde town, few Kilometers from Baladweyne, the HQ of Hiran region.
Gen, Mohamud Mohamed Qafow, told Shabelle Media in Mogadishu that Al Shabab agents ambushed the aid vehicle but said its forces repulsed and the militants off from area.
A witness told Shabelle Media that they heard several thunderous explosions during the fighting between Somali National Army forces are and Al Shabaab militants near Bulo-burde town.
The latest reports from the battle zone indicated that the situation returned back to normal on Thursday after Al Shabab militants fled from the road where Somalia force were passing at the time of the attack.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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At least 2 Somalia journalists were slightly injured on Wednesday night after unknown assailants hurled 2 grenades into Radio station in Galkacyo, capital of the north-central Mudug region of Somalia, a colleague said. The 2 journalists, identified as, Shine Abdi Ahmed and Abdullahi Mohamud Aden, working for Radio Galkacyo. They were slightly injured leg and arms during the attacks, a colleague said.
Awel Mohamed, Radio Galkacyo director, told Shabelle Media stationed in Mogadishu that the injured journalists were immediately rushed clinic Centers in the town for medical assistance.
Somalia’s semioutenamious Puntland security officials told Shabelle Media that, its forces arrested at least 4 people on suspicion of being behind the grenade attacks against the Radio station in the town of Galkacyo.
However, The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemned the double grenade attacks against on the Media and called it ‘barbaric attack’
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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GURIEL, Somalia -- Two protesters died after hundreds staging rally in support of the paramilitary group of Ahlu Sunnah Wal jamea broke into a police compound in Galgaduud region town of Guriel on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.
Guriel Deputy Mayor Ali Bashi told reporters that a young man and a woman died from shots fired by soldiers manning army facilities. He added that investigations have been launched into the deadly incident.
Meanwhile, Guriel hospital Director-General Dr. Ali Omar has confirmed that seven wounded people have been admitted for medical treatment.
Witnesses reported that the protest turned violent after angry crowds threw stones at armored vehicles and stormed Guriel police station.
Militias loyal to Somalia Federal Government dislodged Ahlu Sunnah from Guriel and Dhuusamareeb in mid-December. Ever since, precarious ceasefire brokered by Ugas Hassan Ugas Mohamed Nur has been prevailing.
Following three days of clashes, Somali government forces wrested control of Guri’el without resistance on December 15.
In Late July, a tripartite deal by Ahlu Sunnah, Galmudug authorities and Himan and Heeb local administration cleared the way for the establishment of new federal state in central Somalia.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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[AnNahar] A suicide bomber blew himself up outside an evangelist church in northeast Nigeria on Thursday, injuring several people, witnesses and a rescue worker said.
"There was an explosion outside the ECWA church this morning. A suicide bomber who was restrained from getting into the church blew himself up," said Abubakar Yakubu, who heads the Nigeria Red Cross in Gombe.
"Luckily no one was killed but some people were mildly injured."
A witness said the man arrived during the church service and refused to park his motorcycle outside a security barrier set up by church volunteers.
"He insisted on riding through the barrier," said Dahiru Badamasi.
"It was while he was arguing with the volunteers that his suicide belt exploded."
Another witness heard an explosion and rushed outside.
"I saw a man leading three children with their new dresses stained with blood," said Jummai Maifada.
Northeast Nigeria has seen a relentless string of attacks blamed on Boko Haram militants, increasingly using female suicide bombers.
Gombe, capital of the eponymous state, has until recently been spared the violence that has shaken the neighbouring states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa, where Boko Haram has taken around 20 towns.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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Northern Nigeria was hit by two deadly attacks on Wednesday, when a female suicide bomber was killed as she tried to enter a military barracks and seven died in a bus explosion.
Soldiers opened fire on the woman when she refused to be searched as she approached the barracks in Bolari, in Gombe state, detonating the explosives belt she was wearing, according to eyewitness accounts. The woman, who was wearing a hijab, was killed instantly, witnesses said.
"The woman refused to stop and continued to advance towards the military guards at the gates despite repeated orders from them to stop at a distance," said Shuaibu Nasir, who lives near the gates of the barracks.
"The soldiers opened fire on the woman who quickened her pace towards them and as they fired shots at her she exploded with a loud sound that shook our buildings," Nasir said.
Another resident, Ahmed Baballe, said the would-be bomber was "blown to pieces" by the impact of the explosion.
"The soldiers didn't take chances with the woman and opened fire when she showed no sign of stopping to be searched," Baballe said.
Hours earlier on Wednesday, witnesses said that seven people were killed when a bus exploded in a village close to Potiskum, the commercial capital of northern Yobe state.
"The bus went up in flames from multiple blasts that killed all seven men inside," said Hambali Baidu, a resident of Maiduwa village, which lies some 60 kilometers (40 miles) from the city. No official confirmation of the death toll has been given.
"We heard a series of explosions from the bus which went flying into the air in flames," said Usman Haruna, another resident. "They were no doubt Boko Haram militants on their way to carry out attacks."
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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Cuban artist Tania Bruguera had a plan to test just how tolerant Cuba had become of dissident voices.
She planned a performance at Havana's Revolution Square for Tuesday afternoon. She would provide a microphone and Cubans were encouraged to speak about their vision for the island.
Bruguera's performance would be the first event to really challenge the Castro regime's tight control of political dissidence, since Cuba and the United States announced their intent to normalize diplomatic relations.
Before the performance, Cuba's arts council issued a statement saying that after long conversations with Bruguera, they had decided not to support a performance of Yo también exijo, or I also demand.
The council said the performance was "unacceptable" in such a symbolic space and especially because of the "vast media coverage and the manipulation which the performance has received by counterrevolutionary media."
Ultimately, authorities blocked the performance from ever happening. According to 14ymedio.com, a news site run Cuban dissidents, Bruguera was arrested on Tuesday. The news site reports that the plaza where the performance was going to take place was surrounded by police. One painter, a photographer, a former political prisoner and two journalists with Diario de Cuba were arrested as they made their way to the performance.
Roberta Jacobson, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, said on Twitter that freedom of expression remains at the core of U.S. policy toward Cuba. Jeff Rathke, a State Department spokesperson, said that the U.S. will "press the Cuban government to uphold its international obligations and to respect the rights of Cubans to peacefully assemble and express their ideas and opinions..."
The New York Times editorial board, which has for months called for an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba, lamented Tuesday's events.
Update: Cuba later freed some dissidents after holding them overnight. Among those released on Wednesday was performance artist Tania Bruguera, who organized the demonstration. After about an hour of freedom, she was picked up again by police and lectured for about two-and-a-half hours, she said.
The detentions were typical of how Cuba breaks up opposition protests but took on greater significance coming just two weeks after U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro said they would restore diplomatic ties and end decades of hostility.
#1
There is a tradition with radicals/communists of viewing liberals as useful idiots.
Look for liberals in the U.S. to start carping--well maybe not so much. At least this abuse of dissents in Cuba might create some cognitive dissonance among the intelligentsia in the U.S.
[ARABNEWS] Swedish police were hunting Thursday for at least one suspect following what is believed to be the third arson attack on a mosque in a week.
“Someone threw a firebomb, a Molotov cocktail at the building,” Torsten Hemlin a spokesman for Uppsala police told Swedish news agency TT, adding that the bomb did not set the mosque in eastern Sweden alight.
“They also wrote some vulgar racist words,” he said, adding that no one was in the building at the time of the attack.
Police in Sweden’s fourth largest city Uppsala were alerted by passers-by who reportedly saw a man throw a burning object at the mosque at around 0430 GMT.
“The crime has been classed as attempted arson, vandalism and incitement to hatred,” the police said in a statement appealing for eyewitnesses to come forward.
Thursday’s attack came just three days after a late night blaze at a mosque in Esloev in southern Sweden which police suspect was also arson.
On Christmas Day five people were injured when a petrol bomb was thrown through the window of a mosque in Eskilstuna, east of the capital Stockholm.
The country’s leftist Prime Minister Stefan Loefven called the Christmas attack a spurt of “hateful violence” and said Sweden would “never tolerate this kind of crime.”
According to the anti-racism magazine Expo, there have been more than a dozen attacks on mosques in Sweden in the last year.
The attacks come as debate intensifies in the country over immigration and the integration of asylum seekers in the traditionally tolerant Nordic country.
Last month the far right Sweden Democrats — which doubled its support to 13 percent in September elections — came close to bringing down the left-green government over its liberal refugee policies, further boosting its support in opinion polls.
In Germany, according to a poll, one German in eight would join an anti-Muslim march if a rapidly-growing protest movement organized one in their home towns.
The survey highlighted growing support in Germany, as in other European Union countries including Britain and Sweden, for parties and movements tapping into voter fears that mainstream politicians are too soft on immigration.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/02/2015 18:51 ||
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#1
Many of those immigrants have not, nor will they ever, assimilate into Swedish or European culture.
#3
Assimilation is not the goal. Conquest of existing cultures is the goal. The eugenicist dream of vast pumpkin tree forests will one day be viewed along side the belief's of flat earth followers. Whether decided upon by some higher power, or developed through simple evolution and the laws of nature, geographic assignment was purposed.
The Yuri and the Passé peoples of the Amazon have no longing to migrate to the frozen hunting grounds and waters of the Inuits, Aleuts, Athabaskans, and Gwich’in, nor should they. The forced or voluntary reassignment of these people would result not only in 'cultural suicide' but their extinction as well. Why this fact can be readily accepted whilst other forms of geographic reassignment are enthusiastically embraced with all caution thrown to the wind, remains a mystery.
#4
The country’s leftist Prime Minister Stefan Loefven called the Christmas attack a spurt of “hateful violence” and said Sweden would “never tolerate this kind of crime.
However rape of Swedish women by "immigrants" is merely an "expression of frustration"...
[Hurriyet] An armed man has been detained in front of the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, which also houses a prime ministerial office, after throwing a bomb that failed to explode at police officers, Turkish media reported Jan. 1.
Police officers in their ceremonial costumes were on duty for “the watch of respect” in honor of Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who died in the palace in 1938, when they noticed the suspect.
The man threw a hand grenade at the sentry post, but the bomb did not explode. Officers quickly intervened and handcuffed the assailant.
An automatic weapon and a homemade bomb were found on the suspect.
All security forces in the area were mobilized seconds after the incident. Police blockaded the area and began an investigation, while the suspect was taken to a police station.
The main road in front of the palace has been closed to traffic and a bomb disposal team has been dispatched to the area.
Police head avoids identifying assailant
Istanbul Police Department head Selami Altıok said two grenades were seized from the assailant by police before being defused.
Altıok also avoided giving further information even though police had determined the assailant's identity.
"We know his identity and the links he has, but we don't want to share it now. He served time in prison before,” he said.
Turkish television channels identified the armed attacker as F.Ö., who served jail term for being a member of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C). Meanwhile, an unknown Twitter account named as “İSİMSİZ 111@Fedakar_kisi” (unnamed 111 @sacrificed person) wrote in a Dec. 12, 2014, tweet that DHKP/C had planned an attack and would use Özçelik in the operation.
Documents taken from Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani compound will be used in the trial of a British-based student accused of plotting attacks in the UK, it has been revealed. Abid Naseer, 28, who is Pakistani-born, is alleged to have plotted, along with a group of al-Qaeda operatives, to plant bombs in Manchester, New York and Norway.
The classified documents, which were recovered after Navy Seals killed the terror group leader in a 2013 raid on his Abbottabad hideout, will be used by federal prosecutors in the US in Naseer's February trial in an attempt to prove his guilt. Zainab Ahmad, for the prosecution, said he could not reveal what was detailed in the documents as they were top secret, but that they would be declassified in time for the trial.
The revelation was made at a Brooklyn court hearing where Naseer appeared in relation to charges of “providing and conspiring to provide material support to al-Qaeda” as well as for “conspiracy to use a destructive device in relation to the UK branch of the plot”.
It is the first time that material from the trove of files seized in the raid will have been used in a US courtroom.
Naseer, who originally came to the UK on a student visa, was among 11 men arrested in 2009 in Manchester and Liverpool, accused of making explosives to be used in an attack unspecified targets in Manchester.
No explosives were found in a subsequent raid of his home, but US prosecutors say that Naseer shared an email account with three men in America who have been convicted of plotting to bomb the New York subway. They say that both he and the New York plotters had used the address to communicate in coded language with an al-Qaeda handler in Pakistan named “Ahmad”, who advised on the use of flour and oil to manufacture explosives.
Naseer was extradited to the US in 2013 after losing a case against the Home Office.
Naseer, who is representing himself in court, denies the charges.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
Naseer, who is representing himself in court, denies the charges.
He has a fool for an Attorney? Good
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/02/2015 9:25 Comments ||
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#2
US prosecutors say that Naseer shared an email account with three men in America who have been convicted of plotting to bomb the New York subway.
Sharing an email account is an easy way to 'send' messages without actually sending them across the interwebs where they might be exposed to prying eyes.
#4
Sharing an email account is an easy way to 'send' messages without actually sending them across the interwebs where they might be exposed to prying eyes.
Man, that Al Gore though of everything.
Posted by: Matt ||
01/02/2015 20:01 Comments ||
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Indian border forces killed four Pakistani interior-ministry troops on New Year's Eve, ending a year in which clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours have escalated and hopes for reconciliation faded.
Wednesday's incident, on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, followed the killing earlier in the day of an Indian border guard, a senior officer from India's Border Security Force said.
"We have retaliated effectively ... four Pakistani rangers have been killed along the International Border in Samba sector this evening,” said Rakesh Sharma, BSF inspector general for the Jammu Frontier.
"As Pakistani rangers suffered casualties, they waved white flags, asking BSF to stop the firing so that they can lift the bodies of the dead men. We stopped the firing after their request," Sharma said.
"We will lodge a protest against the ceasefire violations," Sharma said.
He said the firing by Pakistan was an attempt to provide cover fire for 50-60 militants waiting to cross over, and also to "internationalise the Kashmir issue."
A civilian was injured in mortar shelling by Pakistani troops through the night in Samba district, 41 km from Jammu, reports NDTV.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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QUETTA: Security forces on Thursday killed one militant in Balochistan's Zhob district, officials said.
Frontier Corps (FC) spokesman said that forces killed the militant in the aftermath of an attack on a levies checkpost in Murgha Kibzai area of Zhob. The spokesman stated that the dead militant was affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to FC, armed militants attacked the checkpost and snatched arms and wireless sets from the personnel. The attackers then fled on their motorcycles after the incident.
FC personnel were called in the area after incident and pursued the attackers after which one militant was killed. The remaining attackers however fled from the scene. More troops were called in the area to apprehend the other attackers.
The incident has come in the area in the aftermath of recent raids in Zhob, Killa Saifullah and other parts of Balochistan.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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As Sergeant Michael Lair went from base to base in 2011, moving American gear to Kuwait ahead of the US withdrawal from Iraq, it seemed unlikely he would be returning. The United States’ nearly nine-year war in the country was winding down, and the devastating violence that killed tens of thousands of Iraqis was at its lowest level in years.
But three years later, Lair is on his third Iraq deployment, this time as part of a mission to ready Iraqi soldiers for combat against the ISIS group.
“I didn’t think we were coming back,” Lair says, standing on a muddy road lined with sections of concrete blast wall in the massive Taji base complex north of Baghdad, an M4 assault rifle held across his chest.
“We would go up through Iraq to all the FOBs (forward operating bases). We would load up all the equipment and take it to the port in Kuwait... by road,” he says of the run-up to the withdrawal. “It was kind of a big stepping stone,” he says. “We’re taking our stuff with us — it’s a pretty good sign.”
But when he deployed to Kuwait in June this year as ISIS drove south toward Baghdad, it became clear another mission was likely.
“I was just telling myself, hey, get ready to go, ‘cause I guarantee that we’re not just gonna sit by and watch it happen,” he says.
Lair also served in Afghanistan, and arriving back in Iraq was ultimately a return to the life he has known for years.
The base is one of five sites where the US and its allies aim to train 5,000 military personnel every six to eight weeks in “the bare minimum basics that are needed for counter-attacking”, says Major General Dana Pittard.
“It was comfortable, as weird as I guess that sounds,” he says. “This is my fourth deployment, so this is what I’m used to. I don’t know anything different.
“This has become a habit.”
Lair is one of about 180 US military personnel now living at Taji, a number that is set to rise, says Captain Tyler Hitter.
The base is one of five sites where the US and its allies aim to train 5,000 military personnel every six to eight weeks in “the bare minimum basics that are needed for counter-attacking”, says Major General Dana Pittard.
The US spent billions training and equipping Iraqi forces, but that relationship was scaled back after the 2011 withdrawal. American soldiers say Iraq’s troops did not carry out the subsequent training needed to maintain their skills and that, combined with flawed leadership, helped lead to the ISIS debacle.
Much of Taji has been in use by the Iraqi army since US troops departed, but it is still full of signs of the past American presence, from basketball goals to an empty can of Copenhagen dip tobacco — a favourite of US soldiers — still sitting in an empty hanger.
Murals accompanied by unit nicknames cover a wall near rows of empty white housing units, and the 1st cavalry division’s unit patch is painted on a water tower overlooking the base.
Staff sergeant Marlon Daley, another soldier at Taji, who has been sent to Iraq three times did not expect to return after leaving in 2011. He describes the ISIS takeover of Iraq’s second city Mosul, an area where he was twice deployed, as “pretty shocking”.
But “I wanted to come here,” he says. “Most soldiers, that’s what they want to do, is deploy and make a difference.”
Command sergeant major Robert Keith is now on his fifth mission to Iraq — a series that has spanned from 2003 to 2011, and now 2014. “I didn’t think I was gonna come back. Everything was shutting down, everybody was pushing back down into Kuwait,” Keith says of 2011.
Over the years, “I’ve seen a lot of progress and... a lot of changes”, and having that rolled back by ISIS is “frustrating”, he adds.
It’s like “trying to reinvent the wheel, when you establish so much and we come back, it’s like starting over again”, he says.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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Two car bombs went off and seven ISIL terrorists were killed in Anbar. Security source stated to IraqiNews.com "The security forces managed to defuse two car bombs in Horan valley of eastern Haditha were prepared by the ISIL terrorists to target the security forces."
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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The ISIL terrorists executed 15 civilians of Jamilat tribe in Fallujah. Security source stated to IraqiNews.com "The 15 young men refused to join the ISIL terrorists then they were executed in Fallujah."
Either there isn't much more to say and Iraqi News is the model of brevity or we're not getting the full story...
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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The Ministry of Defense confirmed liberating four villages within Makhmour district of southeastern Mosul city from the terrorists of the ISIL.
Statement by the MoD received by IraqiNews.com cited "A force from Iraqi Army/ 19th Division supported by Kurdish Peshmerga forces managed to liberate the villages of Til al-Shaeer, Jwaizat Tahtani, Jwaizat Fuqani and Sultan Abdullah within Makhmour district and raised the Iraqi flag over these villages."
"Military operations are still going on this area," the statement added.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
There is more to this story. The Makhmur district is traditionally part of the Erbil province. It was the only part of Erbil that was not taken over by the Kurds. Al Maliki transferred it to Mosul Province to keep it away from the Kurds. Then Mosul fell to ISIS and the Kurds took over Kirkuk.
What we have here is a 3 way tug of war.
Posted by: frozen al ||
01/02/2015 13:09 Comments ||
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[Ynet] Three Molotov cocktails were thrown at a Jewish home in the Ras al-Amud neighborhood in East Jerusalem on Thursday evening. No injuries or damages were reported. Police are searching for suspects.
[AnNahar] The Lebanese army reportedly targeted on Thursday posts for militants on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal with heavy artillery, the state-run National News Agency said.
NNA reported that troops shelled with heavy artillery armed men who are entrenched on al-Zamarani and al-Ajram areas on the outskirts of the village.
Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) said that fierce battles erupted between the army and gunmen and the military brought reinforcements to the area.
Heavy shelling by Syrian warplanes also targeted the outskirts of Ras Baalbek and its thud can be clearly heard in the northern Bekaa.
Earlier on Thursday, NNA reported that Syrian warplanes staged several raids overnight on posts controlled by gunmen on the outskirts Arsal.
The news agency said that gunmen positions in al-Ajram, Khirbet Daoud, and al-Zamarani were targeted with the raids.
The raids inflicted heavy casualties in the ranks of the armed men, NNA added, without specifying further details.
Arsal's peripheries have come under frequent Syrian raids in recent months. Damascus says the airstrikes are targeting ?terrorists? fleeing the Syrian region of Qalamoun.
The mountainous area has long been a smuggling haven, with multiple routes into Syria that have been used since the conflict began in March 2011 to transport weapons and fighters.
Jihadists from al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group are entrenched on the outskirts of the town on the porous Syrian-Lebanese border.
[Ynet] The United States and its allies staged 29 air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq on Wednesday, the Combined Joint Task Force said on Thursday.
The action in Syria included 17 strikes near the cities of Al Raqqah, Dayr az Zawr and Kobani. A variety of Islamic State buildings, fighting positions and units were hit.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
01/02/2015 00:00 ||
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#1
YPG releases video of urban combat against ISIS. Close quarters air strike, rpg exchanges.
KIRKUK, Kurdistan Region – Some 734 people have been killed and 2,064 others wounded in Kirkuk as a result of violent clashes and bombings in the city, officials said Friday.
“Both the Kurdistan Region authorities and Iraqi health ministry have assisted in medical treatment of the victims,” said Sabah Muhammad, an official with the city’s health ministry at a press conference Friday.
He added that more than 500 of the victims were displaced people who had fled the Islamic State in the neighboring provinces of Nineveh and Anbar.
The report also said that 30 car bombs and 540 roadside mines had targeted the city in the last year. Nine car bombs and 276 roadside explosives had effectively been defused.
The report said 129 mid-range missiles had hit the city, 34 people were kidnapped and 54 bodies were also found in the city in the last year alone.
The oil rich-city with over a million population is among the “disputed territories” outlined in the Iraqi constitution and claimed by Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen.
Kurdish forces have been in charge of its security since 2003, when the former Iraqi army withdrew from the city. Kirkuk is estimated to hold 10 percent of Iraq’s total oil reserves. It currently exports 300,000 barrels per day through Kurdish pipelines.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
At least 2 Somalia journalists were slightly injured on Wednesday night after unknown assailants hurled 2 grenades into Radio station in Galkacyo, capital of the north-central Mudug region of Somalia, a colleague said. The 2 journalists, identified as, Shine Abdi Ahmed and Abdullahi Mohamud Aden, working for Radio Galkacyo. They were slightly injured leg and arms during the attacks, a colleague said.
Documents taken from Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani compound will be used in the trial of a British-based student accused of plotting attacks in the UK, it has been revealed. Abid Naseer, 28, who is Pakistani-born, is alleged to have plotted, along with a group of al-Qaeda operatives, to plant bombs in Manchester, New York and Norway.
QUETTA: Security forces on Thursday killed one militant in Balochistan's Zhob district, officials said.
