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Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix   
Kurd Arab alliance drives ISIS troops from oil rich area near Raqqa
Today's Headlines
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Page 6: Politix
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Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Ya had me going with the tidal wave, Fred. I was searching the titles, while the little voice is whispering, "Kabul is pretty far inland..."
Posted by: Bobby || 04/01/2016 8:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Getting you going's the whole point on April Fool's Day
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 9:41 Comments || Top||

#3  Given Obama's recent success on stopping the rise of the oceans, I suspect Kabul's safe
Posted by: Frank G || 04/01/2016 11:55 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Troops Struggle To Secure Lashkargah-Sangin Route
Two months ago Afghan security forces started a military operation to reopen the Lashkargah-Sangin highway in southern Helmand province but despite this, the Taliban still has a widespread presence along a large section of the route.

Security officials in the province argued that the pace of the operation is slow because they want to prevent civilian casualties.

But reports have emerged that the Taliban planted land mines under culverts on the route and littered the area with IEDs.

"They [the Taliban] have littered the previous road, which is asphalted, with mines. To reduce casualties we are using another route which is unpaved and is one kilometers away from the main road," said Mohammad Rahim Kohistani, a commander of the Afghanistan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP).

Abdul Hadi Tarin, the deputy commander of 215th Maiwand military corps said that foreign militants, wearing masks, are taking part in the Taliban's attacks on Afghanistan security forces.

Officials at the 215th Maiwand military corps said that their convoys have managed to reach Sangin district without any casualties on two occasions.

Security troops in the area meanwhile said that military convoys reached Sangin district but with much difficulty. They said that after their arrival in Sangin they left the area to the Taliban, due to their strength and the troops' lack of weapons and personnel.

"We are here to ensure safety of the people of Helmand province, but the problem is that we don't have enough equipment," said one of the soldiers in the area.

Reports have emerged that the battles have become less intense in the area, because it is poppy harvesting time.

But locals say the war will intensify after the poppies have been harvested.

Video report at the link
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Key Taliban leader among 48 killed in Afghan clearance operations
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] A key leader of the Taliban group involved in recruitment of Death Eaters for the group has been killed along with 47 others in the latest counter-terrorism operations.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Mawlavi Abdul Wahab was killed along with 9 others and 16 more were maimed during a raid in Marjah district of Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
. A mawlawi outranks a mullah by two pay grades...
According to a statement by MoD, at least 39 others were killed in separate operations conducted in Kunduz, Takhar, Ghani and 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...
s.

The statement further added that 7 Death Eaters were killed in the outskirts of Kunduz city and 3 others were maimed, while 5 Death Eaters were killed in Eshkamish district of Takhar and 3 more were maimed.

MoD further added in its statement that 5 Death Eaters were killed in separate raids in Moqor district of Ghazni and Nader Shah Kot district of Khost province.

According to MoD, at least 2 soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces also bit the dust during the same military operations.

The anti-government armed myrmidon groups including the Taliban murderous Moslems have not commented regarding the reports so far.
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Over 200 Taliban insurgents killed or wounded in ongoing Shindand operations
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] A heavy kaboom rocked the Kurdish-dominated Diyarbakir city of The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
earlier tonight, leaving at least 4 people dead and 20 others maimed.

According to the security officials, the kaboom took place after a vehicle packed with explosives exploded near a bus carrying police personnel.

The officials further added that 4 coppers were killed in the kaboom while civilians and police personnel were among the 20 maimed.

No group has so far grabbed credit behind the incident which comes as Turkey has been hit by a string of attacks during the recent months.

The southeast Turkey where the incident took place this evening has been mainly rocked by waves of violence since a ceasefire between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the government collapsed last July.
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa Horn
Death toll from suicide attack in Galkayo rose to 6
At least six people, including an accounting officer working for Puntland’s finance ministry have been killed in a huge suicide explosion in northern Galkayo town on Thursday morning.

Reports from Galkayo suggest that man with a bomb strapped to his waist blew up himself near the car of the accountant Said Ali Yusuf (Gada-yare) and killed six, including security guards and pedestrians.

The attack occurred near a hotel in the city, with reports that senior other official was among the dead. Local forces cordoned off the scene and launching probe into the blast.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  that's one way to cover up financial irregularities
Posted by: Frank G || 04/01/2016 8:28 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Tunisia border guard wounded in ‘terrorist’ ambush
AFP, Tunis

Thursday, 31 March 2016

A border guard was injured late Wednesday in an ambush by more than a dozen “terrorists” in the Kasserine region near Tunisia’s frontier with Algeria, the interior ministry in Tunis said.

“A group composed of around 15 terrorists ambushed a border guard vehicle and opened fire near Feriana,” the ministry said in a statement.

“Heavy fire erupted, setting the vehicle alight,” the ministry said, adding that one guard had been injured and was taken to the regional hospital in Kasserine.

The ministry said the attackers “fled towards Mount Chaambi” and that army units had been called in to carry out security operations in the area.

Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, has suffered from a wave of militant violence since the 2011 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Kasserine and Mount Chaambi have become the North African nation’s prime militant hideouts.

A raid on the Libyan frontier town of Ben Guerdane, blamed on ISIS, left 20 people dead earlier this month.

ISIS also claimed brazen attacks last year on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis and a beach resort, as well as a November suicide bombing in the capital that killed 59 tourists and 12 presidential guards.

Last week the government extended by three months a state of emergency imposed following jihadist attacks, while the United States on Friday announced a $24.9-million (22-million-euro) project to install an electronic security surveillance system on Tunisia’s border with strife-torn Libya.

Last Update: Thursday, 31 March 2016 KSA 08:07 - GMT 05:07
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Subsaharan
Boko Haram attack in Niger kills six soldiers
[BBC] Six soldiers from Niger's army were killed in an ambush by Boko Haram
... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality...
murderous Moslems, the country's interior ministry said.

The attack happened near the town of Diffa close to the border with Nigeria early on Wednesday.

It comes two weeks after a Boko Haram assault on a military convoy in the same area that left one soldier dead.

The Islamist group is based in Nigeria but is being tackled by a multinational force, including soldiers from Niger.

In the latest attack, three other soldiers were maimed. Niger's military deployed aircraft to try and track those responsible soon afterwards.

Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou has been praised in the West for rallying neighbouring countries to fight Boko Haram.

On Wednesday, the country's constitutional court confirmed the result of the second round of presidential elections, which saw Mr Issoufou re-elected with more than 92% of the vote, a result the opposition dismissed.

Mr Issoufou will be sworn in on Saturday.
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Boko Haram


Arabia
Aden Forces Regain Control over Mansoura
Aden- Pro-legitimacy forces, comprising security forces, the National Army, and the southern Popular Resistance, were capable of regaining complete control over the city of Mansoura, located at the center of Aden.

Mansoura was recovered after launching a security and military campaign backed by the Arab coalition, which enabled pro-legitimacy forces to successfully access and secure several governmental facilities and public markets in the city.

Tens of soldiers dispersed across the city’s vicinity and security forces later on –after securing the region- established checkpoints across city streets and junctions.

Given that security forces were capable of arriving to Mansoura’s central prison, taking control of it, and reviving a whole city, proves that the recovery operation represents a pioneering approach to the ongoing war in Yemen. The operation reached completion after executing restricted frequent offensives.

Sources belonging to the southern Popular Resistance in Mansoura told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the campaign staged by the resistance was supported by military shields and equipment and under maximum coordination with Arab coalition forces.

Security bodies confirmed that 21 suspects were captured after raids over militia hideouts and the confiscation of arms and motorbikes.

Sources added that the arrested suspects, which have perpetrated several assassinations, have been sent for detention at the city’s central prison, which has recently been restored by the authority.

Security forces spread throughout the city, on Wednesday dawn, and erected several checkpoints at which one suspect was arrested. Later on forces raided several militant lairs inside the city, sources added.

Rounds of bullets were exchanged in fierce clashes between pro-legitimacy forces and militant insurgents before authority regained control over the prison.

Security forces warned youngsters of the consequences they will face for driving motorbikes while packing arms and concealing their faces. Those riding bikes armed and/or covering their faces will be arrested.

Yemeni Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, who is also the vice president, had already asserted the importance of effectively employing special security forces in the governorates of Aden, Lahij and others for rehabilitation and appropriate restructuring.

Sources in Bahah’s administration told Asharq Al-Awsat that the vast security campaign includes primary presidential instructions for the security forces’ revitalization process.

Vice President Bahah has already met with several Yemeni political and military officials to discuss developments and the progress in restoring liberated areas.
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Air Strikes Target al Qaeda in Yemen, Troops Capture Aden District
We'll get to the peace talks as soon as we're done here, okay?

A drone strike on Wednesday killed at least four suspected al Qaeda militants in southern Yemen, as unidentified warplanes shelled settlements held by the jihadist group further east, witnesses and local residents said.

The four suspected militants were killed when what was thought to be a U.S. drone fired on a checkpoint at the entrance of the city of Azan in southern Yemen.

It was not immediately possible to confirm the accounts by the residents, who said the militants had seized the city two months ago. The United States has acknowledged using drones but declines to comment on specific attacks.

The heightened air strikes came as forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi conducted a security operation against militants in al-Mansoura district of Aden, attempting to bring to an end a state of chaos that had wrapped up the southern port city where the Yemeni government is temporarily based.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS have taken advantage of the year-old Yemen war between Hadi supporters, who are supported by a Saudi-led alliance, and Iran-allied Houthis to seize parts of the country, including the Hadramout provincial capital in southeastern Yemen.

Residents said unidentified warplanes launched three strikes on a former Yemeni army camp east of Mukalla controlled by al Qaeda late on Wednesday night.

They said the air strikes ignited a fire at the old al-Rayyan air base that could be seen from several miles away. Residents said they believed the attacks have caused casualties, but provided no figures.

The militants captured Mukalla in April last year, a month after a Saudi-led alliance began military operations trying to restore Hadi to power and keep the Houthis from taking over the country.

Last week, U.S. warplanes targeted a training camp run by al Qaeda, killing at least 50 people and wounding more than 30.

A local al Qaeda commander said in an audio recording posted on the Internet on Wednesday that the camp was being used to train tribal volunteers to fight the Houthis.

The authenticity of the recording by the commander, identified as Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, could not immediately be verified.

In Aden, a security official said Yemeni troops loyal to Hadi, backed by local fighters, deployed in the al-Mansoura district which resulted in the capture of at least 21 suspected militants.

Yemeni Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, who is also the vice president, is based in Aden.
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Yemen Army Fires Ballistic Missile in Marib, More Mercenaries Killed in Mede
[ENGLISH.ALMANAR.LB] Yemeni army and popular committees fired a ballistic missile on a gathering of mercenaries in Marib, as the allied forces confronted a new attempt by Saudi-led forces to advance in Hijja.

Yemeni sources said that the allied forces fired a Qaher-1 missile on a gathering of mercenaries near Nakhla military camp, killing and injuring many of them.

Earlier, the sources said that more Saudi-led forces and mercenaries have been killed in a new attempt to advance in Mede desert in the western Yemeni province of Hijja.

Field sources reported that dozens of mercenaries were killed as they tried to get into Mede on Wednesday, noting that the advance attempt is the fourth one in the last few days.

Yemeni army front man, Colonel Sharaf Luqman, confirmed that 378 Saudi-led mercenaries were killed in attempts to enter Mede desert in the last few days.

"About 378 mercenaries were killed when they tried to enter the border area of Mede from Saudi’s Jizan," Luqman said, noting that the "heroes of army and the popular committees thwarted such attempts."

Saudi-led forces tried to enter a Yemeni border town which was liberated by the Yemeni allied forces a month earlier, in a bid to make it a starting point for their advance to Mede, army front man said.

However,
a woman is only as old as she admits...
the Saudi-led advance was failed and Mede along with the border town are under the control of the army and the popular committees, Luqman said.
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Houthis


Europe
Belgian police carry out raid linked to foiled French terror plot
[FRANCE24] Police on Thursday carried out a new raid in northern Belgium in connection with a foiled attack plot in La Belle France whose main suspect Reda Kriket was charged this week with membership of a terrorist organization, prosecutors said.

"A raid is under way in connection with the Kriket case. It is taking place at Marke, in the town of Courtrai" in northwestern Belgium, Eric Van Der Sypt, a front man for the federal prosecutor's office, told AFP.

Soldiers and coppers could be seen taking part in the operation near a busy motorway, according to images from local media.

French national Reda Kriket was jugged
Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw!
near Gay Paree last week. Police found a cache of assault rifles, handguns and TATP, the highly volatile homemade explosive favoured by Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
(IS) group jihadists, at his apartment.

French Prosecutor Francois Molins said Wednesday that "no specific target" had been identified for the foiled attack, but the cache of weapons showed an "imminent" act of "extreme violence" had likely been prevented.

Kriket's arrest came four months after IS group jihadists killed 130 people in the French capital.

Investigators in La Belle France and Belgium have been stepping up efforts to smash a network of IS group-linked Death Eaters blamed for both the November Gay Paree attacks and last week's suicide kabooms on the Brussels airport and metro that killed 32 people.

Belgium has so far charged two suspects -- Abderrahmane Ameroud, 38, and Rabah M, 34 -- over the foiled plot linked to Kriket.
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


The Grand Turk
Six police killed, 23 wounded in bomb attack in Turkey's Diyarbakir
[AlAhram] Six coppers were killed and at least 23 people maimed on Thursday in a kaboom targeting a Turkish police vehicle in the Kurdish-majority southeastern city of Diyarbakir, a security source said.

The attack took place a day before Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, whose government has waged a relentless campaign against Kurdish rebels since last summer, was to make a rare visit to the city.

Speaking to AFP, the source said a remotely-operated boom-mobile went off as a police vehicle drove past the city's main bus terminal. Of the 23 maimed, nine were civilians and the rest police.

Ambulances rushed to the scene, where images showed the police bus reduced to a burnt-out wreck by the force of the blast.
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


India-Pakistan
Lashkar demolishes houses of ‘militants’ in Wana
[DAWN] Seven houses of alleged holy warriors and their controllers were razed to the ground by a lashkar (a group of peace volunteers from Ahmedzai Wazir tribe) in different areas of Wana in South Wazoo agency on Wednesday.

The houses of Ghulam Jan and his relatives were demolished in Shalam Dana and those of Toor Hafiz and Wari Khan in Shin Warsak. The houses of Gul Mir in Tiarza and Sattar Khan and his cousin in Samar Bagh were also razed to the ground.

The "accused terrorists" belonged to the Hakimullah and Maulvi Nazir groups of the banned Tehrik-Taliban Pakistain (TTP).

According to sources, the decision to demolish the houses was taken by a 120-member jirga (an elders’ council) after "proofs" of the suspects’ involvement in terrorist activities were obtained through an investigation. The jirga found that the "holy warriors and their controllers" were part of the TTP and had violated a peace accord with the government.

It investigated the matter on a complaint lodged by the political administration of South Waziristan.

Wana bazaar remained closed during the demolition process in which over 400 volunteers participated, sources said.

The houses were razed to the ground with the help of bulldozers and the debris was set on fire.
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Two TTP terrorists hanged in Kohat jail
[DAWN] Two members of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakis­tan, sentenced to death by a military court last year, were executed in the Kohat district prison on Wednesday morning after rejection of their appeals by the presi­dent. The chief of army staff had earlier signed their death warrants.

The convicts were identified as Mehmood, son of Khwaja Khan of Dela area of Wazoo Agency, and Rab Nawaz, son of Shahi Room of Pir Qillah area of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
.

Their sentence was announced by the Inter-Services Public relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistain Army, on Sep 21, 2015. But the ISPR had not mentioned when and where their trials had been held.

About Mehmood, the ISPR had stated: "The convict was an active member of Tehrik-e-Taliban. He was found involved in attacking law-enforcement agencies using improvised bombs and rocket-launchers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
which resulted in death of 2 soldiers and injuries to 13 soldiers."

It added that the convict had admitted to have committed the offences before a magistrate and trial court.

About Rab Nawaz, the ISPR had said: "The convict was an active member of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain. He was involved in killing of two civilians, possessing firearms and abetting attack on armed forces at Peshawar which resulted in death of 2 soldiers and severe injuries to another."

Before the hangings, law-enforcement agencies had taken adequate security measures to avert any untoward incident. Police carried out a search in area around the prison and strict checking of vehicles and pedestrians continued till Wednesday morning.

The area remained cordoned off before the executions and at the time of handing over of the bodies to the heirs.

A third convict, Fateh Khan of Khyber Agency
... the place to go if you've got an Indiana Jones hat and whip. Chock full of high adventure and treacherous Pathans. You should really train up to it, though...
, was also scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, but a day earlier the Peshawar High Court had stayed his execution on an application filed by his mother.
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Vehicle blast in Lakki Marwat kills five
[DAWN] PESHAWAR: At least five people were killed and several others injured when a blast occurred inside a vehicle on Kashmire Road in Jani Khel area of Lakki Marwat district on Thursday.

Security personnel rushed to the site of blast following the incident and cordoned off the area, DawnNews reported.

DPO Lakki marwat Ali Akbar said the people were travelling from North Wazoo to Lakki Marwat when a blast occurred in their vehicle.

"Initial reports suggest that the bomb was planted on the vehicle," he said. However,
Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried...
the exact nature of the blast is yet to be ascertained.

The casualties were shifted to nearby medical facility.
Posted by: Fred || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Iraq
3 die in bomb attack in Erbil
(IraqiNews.com) The official in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Rashad Klaly, announced on Thursday killing three people and wounding several others in a suicide bombing in front of the government building in the district of Makhmour south of Erbil.

Klaly said in a statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “The suicide bomber blew himself up, this evening, in front of the government building of Makhmour south of Erbil, killing three police officers, charged with protecting the building, and wounding several others.”

Klaly added, “A security force cordoned off the area and transferred the wounded to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and the dead to the forensic medicine [authority].”
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Anbar Antics: Heet District Operation Chronicles: 83+ die
Iraqi forces begin clearing operations in Heet

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – An informed security source announced on Thursday, that the liberation operation of Heet District was started, while emphasized that the Anti-Terrorism forces, Federal Police and tribal fighters are participating in the operation.

The source said in a press statement received by IraqiNews.com, “This morning the joint forces from the Anti-Terrorism Directorate, commandos, Federal Police, Iraqi army and tribal fighters carried out an operation to liberate Heet District from ISIS control.”

The source, who asked anonymity, added, “The security forces are intending to liberate all the areas in Heet and raise the Iraqi flag over the district in the coming hours.”

60 ISIS Bad Guys die in air airstrike near Heet

(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – A security source announced on Thursday, that 60 ISIS militants were killed in an aerial bombing targeted their strongholds in the districts of Sharqat and Heet.

The source said in a press statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “The Iraqi F16 fighter jets bombed ISIS strongholds and gatherings in the districts of Sharqat and Heet, killing 60 ISIS fighters,” pointing out that, “The bombing was carried out based on intelligence information.”

The source, who asked anonymity, added, “The air strikes also destroyed four ISIS hideouts in those areas.”

Earlier today, an informed security source announced, that the security forces started an operation to liberate Heet District west of Ramadi, while emphasized that the Anti-Terrorism forces, Federal Police and tribal fighters are participating in the operation.

2 areas cleared in Heet

(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – On Thursday, Heet District Council in Anbar Province announced cleansing two areas in the district of Heet west of Ramadi, while pointed out to the killing of dozens of ISIS members in the cleansing battles.

The council’s President Mohammed Mohannad al-Hiti said in a press statement received by IraqiNews.com, “The security forces managed to cleanse the train station area in the southern axis and al-Mashtal area in the northern axis of Heet District, as well as killing dozens of ISIS fighters.”

Hiti added, “The security forces are advancing in the other axes, including al-Baghdadi and Kabisa,” pointing out that, “The tribal fighters are participating on the front lines of the battle backed by the coalition aircraft.”

ISIS Top Dawg dies in Heet army air operation

(IraqiNews.com) al-Anbar – The president of Khalediya District Council in Anbar province, Ali Dawood, announced on Thursday killing the ISIS military commander in the regions of Albu Shehab and Albu Shgel east of Ramadi.

Dawood said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “The [army’s] Air Force, in coordination with the intelligence [service], bombarded one of the ISIS headquarters in the area of Albu Shehab in Khalediya Island,” adding that, “The bombardment resulted in killing a number of ISIS elements, including the military commander in the regions and Albu Shehab and Albu Shgel, called Abbas Mohammed Abbas and nicknamed Kenaour.”

Iraqi forces take cop shop and hospital, 22 ISIS troops die

(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – A source in Anbar Operations Command announced on Thursday, that the security forces managed to cleanse Heet Hospital and the police building of the ISIS control west of Ramadi, while pointed out to the killing of 22 ISIS members.

The source reported for IraqiNews.com, “The security forces were able to cleanse the local police station in the district of Heet (70 km west of Ramadi) as well as the District Hospital from the ISIS control.”

The source added, “22 ISIS militants were killed during the battles,” noting that, “The security forces are advancing to storm other regions and open safe havens to evacuate the civilians.”

Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Baghdad Bomb and Bullet Bulletin: 3 die
3 die in bomb attack on market

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – A source in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday, that ten people had been either killed or wounded in a bomb blast in northern Baghdad.

The source said in a statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “This morning, a bomb exploded near a popular market in Falahat area in Tarmiyah District in northern Baghdad, killing three people and wounding seven others.”

The source, who asked anonymity, added, “A security force rushed to the area and transferred the wounded to a nearby hospital for treatment and the dead bodies to the forensic medicine department, while carried out a raid to search for the perpetrators of the bombing.”

1 civilian wounded in attack

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – A source in the Iraqi police said on Thursday, that a civilian was injured in a militant attack that took place in northern Baghdad.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said in a brief statement received by IraqiNews.com, “This evening, unidentified militants opened fire against a civilian in the area of al-Husseiniyah in northern Baghdad, resulting in his injury,” pointing out that, “A force from the police transferred the injured to a nearby hospital, while opened an investigation into the incident to determine the party that stands behind it.”
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Iraqi forces advance towards western town of Hit
Iraq’s counter-terrorism forces backed by army troops and U.S.-led coalition air strikes advanced towards the western town of Hit on March 31, in an attempt to dislodge the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants, the military said.

A senior officer from the counter-terrorism forces, the elite U.S.-trained units which led the recapture of nearby Ramadi three months ago, said his troops were one kilometer from the town center, 130 km west of the capital Baghdad.

The recapture of Hit, strategically located on the Euphrates River near Ain al-Asad air base where several hundred U.S. forces are training Iraqi army troops, would push ISIL further west towards the Syrian border, cutting a connection to the northern town of Samarra and leaving Fallujah their only stronghold near the capital.

Baghdad has had success in pushing back the militants in recent months and has pledged to retake the northern city of Mosul later this year, but progress has often been fitful.

Another officer, on a frontline less than 3 km from Hit, said the operation had begun at early in the morning and was progressing swiftly.

“There are some IEDs along the movement but it’s still good to go and we are moving,” he said by phone.

In a statement announcing the advance, the military said the offensive was backed by airstrikes from the Iraqi army and air force as well as the international coalition fighting ISIL in the areas of Iraq and neighboring Syria where the militants declared a “caliphate” in 2014.

The statement called on civilians in Hit, thought to number in the tens of thousands, to move away from ISIL positions: “Those targets will be destroyed”.
Posted by: Steve White || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Kurd Arab alliance drives ISIS troops from oil rich area near Raqqa
ARA News

QAMISHLI – Kurdish-Arab alliance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported advancement in the oil-rich area between Deir ez-Zor province and Raqqa, northeast Syria, subsequent to clashes with the radical group of Islamic State (ISIS), military sources reported on Thursday.

The western-backed SDF forces have seized the Rweshid oil field after expelling ISIS from the Abu Khashab district west of the town of Margada in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province.

Speaking to ARA News in Hasakah, media activist Suleiman Nabi said that the SDF alliance is still trying to cut the group’s supply lines between the cities of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, through advancing towards the Deir ez-Zor suburbs–connecting Hasakah with ISIS-held Raqqa.

The SDF includes Kurdish forces of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and allied local Arab and Christian factions.

“The SDF forces have passed al-Maliha village toward Ma’dan area, west of the city of Shaddadi in Hasakah province,” a spokesman for the SDF told ARA News, pointing out “the SDF’s goal is to cut ISIS supply lines between Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor in a bid to besiege ISIS jihadis in their de facto capital [Raqqa].”

Under an air cover by the U.S.-led coalition, the SDF forces had seized control of the city of Shaddadi and its countryside nearly two months ago subsequent to fierce battles with ISIS insurgents in the southern suburbs of Hasakah. This progress came after the SDF units cut off a main supply route for the ISIS radical group near Syria’s northeastern border with Iraq.

In February, the SDF alliance had seized control of a key gas facility and main financial resource for the Islamic State (ISIS) radical group in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province last week. The western-backed forces regained control of the Jibisa gas facility, located about 12km east of Shaddadi city in southern Hasakah.

The facility had been used by ISIS for nearly two years as a source to fund its operations. Informed sources told ARA News that ISIS used to produce 5,000 gas cylinders a day in Jibisa to be sold at the black-market. Local sources reported that ISIS has been coordinating with the Syrian regime to sell the gas it used to extract from Jibisa fields, and that the regime’s employees have been working in the facility even during ISIS control.

Jibisa gas facility is considered one of the main gas facilities in northern Syria for its huge production that has been feeding power stations in central Syria. The facility was run by some 500 workers, including specialized engineers, technicians and workers.

The SDF, which includes Kurdish, Arab and Christian units, had earlier liberated more than 240 towns and villages from ISIS militants on the border with Iraq.

Reporting by: Ahmed Shiwesh

Source: ARA News
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


ISIS executes 2 for adultery
ARA News

ALEPPO ــ Militants of the radical group of Islamic State (ISIS) stoned two Syrian civilians to death in Manbij city of Aleppo province on charges of ‘committing adultery’, local sources reported on Thursday.

A man and a woman were arrested on Wednesday under the pretext that they have committed adultery. The two victims were referred to the Sharia Court, which has ordered their immediate execution by publicly stoning them to death.

Speaking to ARA News in Manbij, media activist Nasser Taljbini said that after reciting the conviction, ISIS militants publicly stoned a man and a woman to death near the bridge of Manbij.

“Hundreds of people were watching the chilling scene silently,” an eyewitness told ARA News, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Following the execution, some locals started chanting supportive slogans to the Daesh-led brutal act,” the source said, using an acronym for ISIS.

Also, the group on Monday beheaded a young woman in the city of Manbij on charges of communicating with the Kurdish forces of the People’s Protection Units (YPG)–that are engaged in deadly battles with ISIS across Syria’s north and northeast.

ISIS militants beheaded the young girl near the roundabout of Dalla on the highway to Aleppo. The victim was accused of spying for the Kurdish YPG forces, local activists told ARA News.

Over the past few weeks, the pace of ISIS-led executions against civilians has increased dramatically in the city of Manbij for no clear reasons.

The militant group is currently on alert in a bid to impose its hegemony on civilians, especially with the western-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) making remarkable gains in northern Syria, coinciding with continued U.S. and Russian airstrikes on ISIS positions.

Reporting by: Helin Saeed

Source: ARA News
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


ISIS troops commence attack on Kobane
ARA News

KOBANE ــ Radical group of the Islamic State (ISIS) launched a new offensive on Kobane city in northern Syria, killing and wounding scores of civilians, local sources reported on Thursday.

ISIS militants bombed the western suburb of Kobane, which falls user the control of the Kurdish forces of the People’s Protection Units (YPG). At least four citizens were killed and over a dozen others injured in the bombardment.

Speaking to ARA News in Kobane, rights activist Anas Mohammed said that ISIS shelled areas in western Kobane with homemade rockets, targeting residential buildings in al-Qibba village near the township of Shuyoukh.

“A number of rockets hit houses in the Qibba village, causing the death and the injury of over ten civilians,” he reported.

The casualties included children and women. “Hadlah Mahmoud and her daughter Hala Hussein, 5, lost their lives in the bombing, while Khadija Hussein, and Noor Mohammad, 7, were injured in the attack.” the source said. “Several victims are still stranded under the rubble of destroyed buildings.”

A team of volunteers from the Amal hospital in Kobane continued searching for survivors under the ruins.

This comes as mutual bombardment and clashes continue between the Kurdish YPG fighters–in cooperation with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)– and ISIS militants at several locations near the Euphrates River in western Kobane.

Two weeks ago, Kurdish fighters of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) were able to kill five suicide bombers from the extremist group near Kobane in the Syrian province of Aleppo, according to military sources.

The ISIS-led suicide operations came ahead of celebrations of the Kurdish National Day of “Newroz” where thousands of Syrian Kurds gathered in Kobane and other Kurdish areas in Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. The hardline group was apparently trying to target Kurdish celebrators, according to activists.

The extremist group considers all Newroz celebrators as apostates, and that they must either repent or be brought to a Sharia court for prosecution and punishment.

The Kurdish forces have earlier foiled several attempts by ISIS jihadis to infiltrate into the city of Kobane–which has been liberated from the extremist group in early 2015.

Reporting by: Hozan Mamo

Source: ARA News
Posted by: badanov || 04/01/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Surprisingly, there was no Turkish supporting fire.
Posted by: Pappy || 04/01/2016 10:48 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2016-04-01
  Kurd Arab alliance drives ISIS troops from oil rich area near Raqqa
Thu 2016-03-31
  Gitmo aumnus Mullah Zakir ends rifts with Mullah Akhtar Mansoor
Wed 2016-03-30
  Houthis claim Daesh emir titzup in Taiz, andhis little mufti, too!
Tue 2016-03-29
  Belgium charges three more people with 'terrorist activities'
Mon 2016-03-28
  Two Arrested in Mali over Ivory Coast Resort Attack
Sun 2016-03-27
  Belgium charges suspected Brussels airport bomber, two others
Sat 2016-03-26
  Islamic State second in command likely killed - U.S.
Fri 2016-03-25
  Brussels police nab terror suspect at tram stop; bomb squad dispatched
Thu 2016-03-24
  Paris attacks fugitive Laachraoui named as second Brussels airport bomber
Wed 2016-03-23
  Hamas stages military exercises to test Gaza readiness
Tue 2016-03-22
  IS attacks at Brussels airport, metro, at least 34 dead, 200 injured
Mon 2016-03-21
  Yemen govt, rebels, agree on ceasefire: Officials say
Sun 2016-03-20
  Al-Qaeda claims attack on Algerian gas plant
Sat 2016-03-19
  Suicide bomber attacks shopping area in Istanbul
Fri 2016-03-18
  Kurds preparing to liberate Raqqa

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