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F-16 with live ordinance crashes in Riverside CA.
Today's Headlines
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 2: WoT Background
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Page 3: Non-WoT
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Page 4: Opinion
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Page 6: Politix
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15 17:54 Woodrow [1]
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Africa Subsaharan
At least 17 Niger soldiers killed in ambush: Government spokesman
[AlAhram] Gunmen killed at least 17 Nigerien troops in an ambush near the Malian border, where several jihadist groups are active, and another 11 soldiers are missing, a government front man said on Wednesday.

The attack on Tuesday occurred near the town of Tongo Tongo, where fighters from an 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....
affiliate killed four U.S. special forces and four Nigerien soldiers in an ambush in October 2017, front man Abdourahamane Zakaria told Rooters.

Zakaria did not identify the perpetrators of the attack, which is one of the deadliest against the military in Niger’s west in recent years.

Jihadists, including affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State, have stepped up attacks on military and civilian targets across West Africa’s Sahel region
... North Africa's answer to the Pak tribal areas...
this year, particularly along the mostly non-existent borders between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso
...The country in west Africa that they put where Upper Volta used to be. Its capital is Oogadooga, or something like that. Its president is currently Blaise Compaoré, who took office in 1987 and will leave office feet first, one way or the other...
Niger also faces a threat in its southeast from 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...
and a splinter group affiliated with Islamic State, which are both based in Nigeria but frequently strike in neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon
...a long, narrow country that fills the space between Nigeria and Chad on the northeast, CAR to the southeast. Prior to incursions by Boko Haram nothing ever happened there...
.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
5 Lebanese to be Released, 3 Sentenced in UAE Hizbullah Trial
[AnNahar] A relative says that a Lebanese man held in the United Arab Emirates on charges of terrorism has been sentenced to life in prison, while five others were ordered released.

The relative of Abdul Rahman Shouman, 39, said the sentences were handed down Wednesday in a state security court in the Emirates. The relative, speaking from Leb, refused to be identified for security reasons.

He said Shouman was charged with being one of the leaders of a terrorist cell with links to Leb's Hizbullah
...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory...
group. Shouman has been denied access to his lawyer, the relative said. Two others were sentenced to 10 years while five were acquitted.

The eight men, Shiite and long-time residents of Emirates, were detained over a year ago. Shouman trained Emirati airline staff on security and safety.

"The absence of basic requirements of a fair trial, such as having access to a lawyer, strips today's verdict of any reliability or credibility," said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesia Amnesty International's Middle East research head.

"The eight men were held in solitary confinement for over a year -- this in itself can amount to torture. They were denied access to lawyers during the pre-trial interrogation," she said in a statement.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Hezbollah


Fighting grips Yemen's Hodeidah port, complicating peace moves
[AlAhram] Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ...
fighters and Saudi-backed pro-government forces battled in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah on Wednesday, breaching a ceasefire and potentially complicating a troop withdrawal agreement intended to pave the way for wider peace talks.

Hodeidah port, which has been under Houthi control, is a lifeline for millions of Yemenis threatened by starvation because of the war as it is the main entry point for food imports and aid.

The Houthi withdrawal from Hodeidah and two other Red Sea ports began on Saturday and was the most significant advance yet in efforts to end the four-year-old war.

The United Nations
...a formerly good idea gone bad...
said on Tuesday the ports had been handed over to a coasties and the pullout was going to plan.

But both sides reported renewed festivities on Wednesday, a day after the Iran-aligned Houthi movement grabbed credit for a drone attack that Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
said had hit two of its oil pumping stations.

Houthi-run media said pro-government forces had hit various parts of Hodeidah city, including the airport, with heavy and medium weapons.

It did not say if they were Yemeni troops or members of an international military coalition led by Saudi Arabia which backs President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s Aden-based government

The coalition-backed forces said in a report that Houthi fighters tried to infiltrate Hodeidah and the al-Duraihmi area to its south but pro-government troops foiled them.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a leading member of the coalition, have yet to comment on the Houthi withdrawal.

The coalition has forces massed on Hodeidah’s outskirts and under the withdrawal plan’s first phase, they are supposed to eventually also draw back.

Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said on Wednesday that government forces had killed 97 Houthi fighters in the governorate of al-Dhalea in southwest Yemen. There was no confirmation from the Houthis and Rooters could not immediately verify this.

The Saudi-led coalition, which receives weapons and other support from the West, intervened in Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...
in March 2015 after the Houthi movement ousted Hadi from the capital Sanaa. Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia while his internationally-recognized government based itself in the southern port city of Aden.

The war is seen as part of a wider regional conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, many of them civilians, and aid agencies say the humanitarian crisis is the worst in the world.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Houthis

#1  I get no where this way.
Posted by: newc || 05/16/2019 2:11 Comments || Top||


Britain
Man arrested after bomb threat at Portsmouth vs Sunderland play-off clash
[ChronicleLive] A man has been arrested after allegedly threatening to 'kill 150 fans' at Sunderland's crucial play-off second leg against Portsmouth.

Police confirmed a 22-year-old, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, was arrested in the early hours of this morning on suspicion of making threats to kill and remains in police custody at this time.

A series of threats were posted on Twitter referencing the Manchester Arena bombing which killed 23 people in May 2017.

"I wounder (sic) how many Portsmouth fans I can shoot everyone remember the Manchester arena bombing just imagine fratton park going bang well let's find out tomorrow," read the initial post.

It was followed by: "Bomb bomb fratton park went bang the Portsmouth fans all died Haha going to be fun tomorrow headline news."

The Twitter account has since been suspended with Portsmouth ramping up security at Fratton Park ahead of the League One play-off semi final contest.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 05/16/2019 06:01 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Killing threats aside, this guy has nothing on Croatian / Greek football supporters, who are true psychos.
Posted by: Raj || 05/16/2019 23:11 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
20-year-old AJK student killed in 'unprovoked' firing by Indian troops across LoC
[DAWN] A young student lost his life in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Wednesday after Indian troops resorted to 'unprovoked' ceasefire violation from across the Line of Control (LoC), civil and military officials said.

Umar Subhani, a 20-year-old BSc student, was said to be making preparations for iftar in the courtyard of his house in Danna Baroh village when Indian troops targeted him with small arms fire, said Mubashar Mushtaq, a disaster management officer in Bhimber district.

Danna Baroh village is located in close proximity to the restive LoC in Samahni subdivision of Bhimber district.

"It was yet another incident of targeted firing, something Indian troops have been frequently resorting to from across the dividing line," Mushtaq said.
Posted by: Fred || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistain Proxies


Iraq
Iran poses no threat to US, foreign representatives in Iraq: PM
[Rudaw] Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said on Tuesday that Baghdad has no information "that could constitute a threat to anyone," as tensions continue to flare between the United States and Iran. His comments came just hours before Washington ordered the withdrawal of all non-essential staff from its missions across the country.

Speaking to news hounds at his weekly presser in Baghdad on Tuesday night, the PM said Iraq is working behind the scenes to ease US-Iran tensions.

"We check with all the armed forces, Hashd al-Shaabi, Peshmerga. We check the information that every side has. As of now we haven't recorded serious movements that could constitute a threat to anyone," Abdul-Mahdi told news hounds on Tuesday night.

"Even with that, the government reiterates that its duty is to protect everyone. It doesn't want any assault against whosoever is here, against any component, embassy or anyone who has a contract with Iraq and works in Iraq," he said.

"Iraq isn't the soil of rivalry. Iraq is the land of consensus. We also don't want Iraq to be the launchpad to attack anyone. These two things, these two equations are interlinked. We don't accept Iraq being the soil of transgression," the PM added.

The US State Department ordered all non-essential babus government employees to leave the country on Wednesday. The statement was directed at its embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Erbil. The consulate in Basra implemented similar steps in September.

In his presser, Abdul-Mahdi said Iraq is trying to mediate between its Iranian and American allies to prevent an escalation into open conflict.
The Jerusalem Post adds:
In September, Rooters reported that Iran had transferred ballistic missiles to Shi’ite proxies in Iraq over the course of several months, and that it is developing the capacity to build more there. The missiles that were said to have been transferred include the Fateh-110, Zolfaqar, and Zelzal types, which have ranges of 200-700 km., allowing them to be able to threaten both Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and Israel.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq

#1  Maybe Anthony Weiner's turned on by getting smoke blown up his ass; I'm not.
Posted by: Raj || 05/16/2019 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  they sure do alot of threatening too not be a threat
Posted by: chris || 05/16/2019 6:33 Comments || Top||

#3  between the Pro-Iranian militias and the S-400 deal, I'm thinking we should depart and blow this place to shit on our way out.
Posted by: Frank G || 05/16/2019 7:38 Comments || Top||

#4  ^ Someone please check Herb's airway.
Posted by: Andy Bluetooth1080 || 05/16/2019 8:18 Comments || Top||

#5  Iran is doing typical behavior, just like the Norks. Needs stuff. Threatens. Acts like it can be more moderate with stuff. West gives stuff. West pats itself on the back on easing tensions and averting a conflict. Iran waits until it needs more stuff. Rinse, repeat.
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/16/2019 15:41 Comments || Top||

#6  Perhaps if we give them stuff, make some nice trade deals, praise their rotten leaders and give them more stuff, then they will play nice and we can welcome them into the community of nations.

BWAHAHAHAHA. Just kidding. I'm messing with ya!

Hey, maybe we could invade their country, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. OK, OK, still messing with you. Let's not get anyone spun up.
Posted by: SteveS || 05/16/2019 21:07 Comments || Top||


Civilian killed as PKK-Turkey clashes continue in Kurdistan Region
[Rudaw] The spike in Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)-The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
festivities continues as a civilian was killed in a suspected Ottoman Turkish Arclight airstrike in Sherwan Mazin, Erbil Governorate while looking for rhubarb. In a separate incident, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was allegedly shot down by the PKK in Amedi district, Dohuk Governorate.

A statement by Major Saadun Hawdyani, spokesperson for Soran district police, revealed that a 60-year-old retired Peshmerga named Kazim Ali Faqo from Pendro village went missing in Sherwan Mazin on Tuesday, May 14; he was later confirmed dead.

Hawdyani's statement warned locals to always avoid areas that have seen festivities between the PKK and the Ottoman Turkish army.

Adil Sherwani, a local of the area, said that Lazim left home looking for rhubarb in the morning. Suspicions were raised when he failed to return in the afternoon.

He said it was the PKK that notified locals that Faqo had died due to a Ottoman Turkish airstrike. Locals then went to retrieve the body, found in Kani Milan, near Bote mountain.

Sherwani bore witness to airstrikes that persisted in the area throughout Tuesday morning and afternoon.

He believes Faqo may have wandered into a Kurdish Regional Government-designated prohibited zone. Suspected to contain PKK fighters, civilians are warned to stay away from these areas.

On the same day, a Ottoman Turkish UAV was felled in the town of Qadshe, in the Sarsang sub-district of Amedi district. Footage shared by Roj News shows wreckage of the aerial vehicle, whose downing was suspected to have been conducted by the PKK, according to Nashwan Hussni, mayor of Sarsang.

The action was followed by airstrikes by Ottoman Turkish forces in the area, "creating panic among the civilians of Qadshe", added Hussni.

Today's incidents form part of a recent increase in PKK-Turkey festivities. On May 5, a PKK attack killed three Ottoman Turkish soldiers at an outpost in Sherwan Mazin bordering Turkey's Hakkari province. In response, Turkey began firing into villages from heavy machine guns on helicopter gunships, leaving villagers terrified for their lives.

After decades of conflict, the PKK and Ottoman Turkish state entered peace talks in 2013. However,
denial ain't just a river in Egypt...
it collapsed for various reasons in 2015, resulting in renewed festivities. With the PKK's headquarters located in the Kurdistan Region’s Qandil mountains, fighting spills over the Ottoman Turkish border and into the Kurdistan Region, with Turkey frequently carrying out ground and air offensives on suspected PKK positions. The fighting has forced most of the residents in the Sherwan Mazin region to abandon their villages and move deeper into the Kurdistan Region to avoid being caught up in the conflict.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil has repeatedly called on the PKK to withdraw from the Kurdistan Region in order to protect the civilian population. The Iraqi government in Baghdad has condemned Ottoman Turkish military incursions across the border, but has so far been unable to compel Ankara to stop.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi is making his first official visit to Turkey today, meeting with Ottoman Turkish President Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey...
. At his weekly presser in Baghdad on Tuesday, he said that "not letting its [Iraq's] soil be used to attack neighboring countries" and "what neighboring countries do on Iraqi soil in consultation with Iraq" would be among the topics of discussion with Erdogan, in reference to PKK-Turkey festivities within Iraqi borders.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


Germany suspends training of Iraqi, Peshmerga forces, Netherlands also, France to stay, Brits see no threat
[Rudaw] Germany announced it is suspending its mission training Iraqi and Peshmerga soldiers because of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Pointing to an increased threat from the 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....
(ISIS), a Peshmerga official has appealed for Germany reverse its decision.

"The German army has suspended the training," defence ministry front man Jens Flosdorff said on Wednesday, AFP reported. There was "no concrete threat" at the moment, but Germany made the decision because of "generally heightened alert, awareness" for soldiers deployed in the region, he explained.

There are about 100 German soldiers in Erbil and another 60 in Taji, north of Baghdad.

The Netherlands has also suspended its training, citing similar threats, Dutch media reported. There are more than 50 Dutch soldiers training Peshmerga in Erbil. The Netherlands is keeping its embassy open, however, while the US announced it is pulling out non-emergency consular staff as a safety precaution.

France to continue military training activities in Iraq: Source

[AlAhram] The French army has no plans at this point to suspend military training activities in Iraq, a source close to the French Defence ministry told Rooters on Wednesday.

"There is no change regarding the French engagement at this time," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity
... for fear of being murdered...
La Belle France currently employs 300 military training staff in Iraq.
Rudaw adds:
America's British allies did not share the same concerns, however. Maj. Gen. Chris Ghika, a deputy commander of the international coalition to defeat 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....
(ISIS), told Pentagon news hounds from Baghdad via teleconference on Tuesday: "There has been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria."

The British military has not seen any change in the "posture or lay-down" of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) - Hashd al-Shaabi.

The PMF is a Shiite paramilitia which is officially part of the Iraqi defense apparatus. Many of its components are closely tied to Iran and some fought against US forces during the post-2003 occupation.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) quickly rebuffed the British general, stressing it had solid intelligence indicating an Iranian threat.

"Recent comments from OIR's Deputy Commander run counter to the identified credible threats available to intelligence from US and allies regarding Iranian backed forces in the region," read a CENTCOM statement published May 14.

"US Central Command, in coordination with Operation Inherent Resolve, has increased the force posture level for all service members assigned to OIR in Iraq and Syria."

Operation Inherent Resolve is "at a high level of alert" and is monitoring "credible and possible imminent threats" to US forces in Iraq.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Ah, that NATO camaraderie in action.
Posted by: Phomorong Pelosi5448 || 05/16/2019 7:47 Comments || Top||


Travel Advisory: Level 4-Do not travel to Iraq
[Twitter]


US pulls ‘non-emergency’ staff out of Iraq, warns of kidnapping risk

[Rudaw] The United States has pulled some of its babus government employees out of Iraq, suspended some services at its missions in the country, and warned its nationals about the risk of violence or kidnapping because of an "imminent" threat that is directly tied to Iran on the same day as the chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warns about all-out confrontation with the US.

The US State Department suspended normal visa services at its consulate in Erbil and embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday, additionally ordering "non-emergency" babus government employees to leave.

"The U.S. State Department has ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. Government employees from Iraq, both at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the U.S. Consulate in Erbil," read a statement posted by the embassy on Wednesday.

"Normal visa services at both posts will be temporarily suspended. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Iraq," the statement added.

The State Department also increased its travel advisory to the most extreme level, telling people not to travel to Iraq because of the risk or "terrorism, kidnapping, and armed conflict," on Wednesday.

"U.S. citizens in Iraq are at high risk for violence and kidnapping. Numerous terrorist and holy warrior groups are active in Iraq and regularly attack both Iraqi security forces and civilians. Anti-U.S. sectarian militias may also threaten U.S. citizens and Western companies throughout Iraq. Attacks by improvised bombs (IEDs) occur in many areas of the country, including Baghdad," the State Department warned.

Hundreds of US citizens live in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and some 5,000 American troops are stationed at Iraqi bases at the invitation of Baghdad.

The evacuation order was issued because of an "imminent" threat that was directly linked to Iran, AFP reported, citing senior State Department officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"It is directly linked to Iran, multiple threat streams directly linked to Iran," said one official.

"This is an imminent threat to our personnel," said a second official. "This threat stream, let me tell you, is real... It's IRGC-commanded and controlled Iraqi militias."

Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, the new head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said today that Iran is reaching the apex of an all-out confrontation with the United States that is exerting maximum pressure in an attempt to shake Iran’s resolve.

"This stage of history is considered the most fateful stage of the Islamic revolution because the enemy has stepped into the confrontation theatre with us using all its capabilities," he said, Tasnim news reported.

Iran backs elements within Iraq’s influential Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which officially are answerable to the prime minister, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi said on Tuesday that they have no seen movement that could be deemed threatening.
Posted by: 3dc || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies

#1  So DoS is admitting it has basically been an iranian playground all along?
Posted by: M. Murcek || 05/16/2019 2:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Dammit! Now I have to cancel my July VRBO rental in Mosul
Posted by: Frank G || 05/16/2019 7:10 Comments || Top||

#3  Saddam kept them at bay for nearly ten years, but he's moved on. Evil checkmating evil, where's the profit in that ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 05/16/2019 8:19 Comments || Top||

#4  Dammit! Now I have to cancel my July VRBO rental in Mosul

I hear the Democratic Republic of Congo is nice this time of year. Just don't lick any bats you find on the ground.
Posted by: SteveS || 05/16/2019 9:18 Comments || Top||

#5  Being Congo, I have to ask: animal or wooden club or both?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 05/16/2019 10:46 Comments || Top||

#6  Damn. I'll miss the balmy summer days in Basra. Must they ruin everything?
Posted by: European Conservative || 05/16/2019 21:49 Comments || Top||

#7  They are doing this wrong. Set up a bag limit - maybe 1000 or so - and make it a bounty based system. After 1000, no soup for you! New permit required.
Posted by: Angeng Whomose3161 || 05/16/2019 23:11 Comments || Top||


Iraqi troops apprehend Islamic State militant in Diyala
Diyala (IraqiNews.com) ‐ The Iraqi army announced on Wednesday that its troops placed in durance vile
Book 'im, Mahmoud!
an 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....
terrorist in the eastern province of Diyala.

The terrorist, according to a statement by the Military Intelligence Directorate, had been fighting against Iraqi troops during the military operations to liberate the country’s territory from the Islamic State group.

He was arrested in al-Khalis district in Diyala on terror charges, the statement read, adding that his arrest is pursuant to the fourth article of the anti-terrorism law.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Iraqi security kill 9 Islamic State fighters in Anbar
Anbar (IraqiNews.com) ‐ Iraqi security forces killed on Wednesday nine members of the 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....
holy warrior group during a preemptive operation in Anbar province, a security source was quoted as saying.

Speaking to Almaalomah news website, the source said that counter-terrorism forces in Anbar killed nine Islamic State terrorists, who were planning to launch attacks against security forces deployed in Ar-Rutbah district in western Anbar.

The troops, according to the source, also destroyed several Islamic State tunnels and seized a large cache of the group’s ammunition.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Over 60 Palestinians Wounded In Nakba Day Protests, 9 Fires Near Border
[Jpost] Over 60 Paleostinians were maimed and several fires broke out in the South in protests marking Nakba Day on Wednesday afternoon along the border fence between Gazoo and Israel.

The IDF said around 10,000 Paleostinians in several locations along the fence burned tires and threw stones and bombs toward troops. In addition, a number of attempts by Gazooks to approach the security fence were identified by troops, who used riot control measures against the rioters.

Paleostinian media also reported the IDF firing live bullets, tear gas and skunk spray at protesters trying to damage the border fence with Israel.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:02 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  Ima guessing all this Ramadan fasting just releases a lot of pent-up anger.
Posted by: Raj || 05/16/2019 0:27 Comments || Top||

#2  "The coin toss is 'Tails'. The Paleos have elected to receive. Again"
Posted by: Frank G || 05/16/2019 7:35 Comments || Top||

#3  Their "catastrophe" occurred in the 7th century. They have been avidly living it ever since.
Posted by: M. Murcek || 05/16/2019 7:53 Comments || Top||

#4  I love the "fires broke out".

Is spontaneous combustion a problem over there?
Nothing about who set them?
Posted by: AlanC || 05/16/2019 7:53 Comments || Top||

#5 
Posted by: DarthVader || 05/16/2019 8:43 Comments || Top||


Sri Lanka
Arrests, New Curfews in Sri Lanka after Anti-Muslim Riots
[AnNahar] Sri Lanka's police jugged
Into the paddy wagon wit' yez!
over 100 suspects and reimposed night curfews in violence-prone areas Wednesday after anti-Moslem riots left one man dead and caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and mosques.

Police front man Ruwan Gunasekera said 78 people arrested in the worst-affected North-Western Province (NWP) were remanded in jug Wednesday, while the rest were detained after a manhunt in other areas.

Some 5,500 additional police were deployed in NWP to contain the violence that claimed the life of a Moslem man on Monday. Scores of private homes, Moslem-owned shops and businesses were destroyed, while several mosques were also vandalised.

Moslems in Sri Lanka have been bracing for Dire Revenge attacks since three churches and three luxury hotels were bombed by local Islamist murderous Moslems on April 21, killing 258 people.

Gunasekera said a night curfew was being reimposed in NWP, just north of the capital, as well as the adjoining Gampaha district, which shares a border with Colombo, as a measure to "maintain peace".

However,
Switzerland makes more than cheese...
a top police source said there will be no curfews elsewhere in the country. The entire country was under night curfews for two straight days after the violence escalated.

The night curfew on Tuesday ensured there was no repeat of Monday's violence against Moslems, who make up some 10 percent of Sri Lanka's population of 21 million.

"The situation is now totally under control," said military front man Sumith Atapattu. "There were no incidents of violence overnight and we are arresting groups of people responsible for taking part in mob attacks."

Official sources said police deployed special teams to review CCTV camera footage to identify the perpetrators and carry out more arrests.

More police and army units were seen deployed in the troubled areas as the authorities lifted the nationwide curfew on Wednesday morning.

But Moslems in NWP remained nervous and stayed indoors Wednesday, after sword-wielding rioters killed one man late Monday while vandalising scores of shops and mosques.

In Bingiriya, where some 2,000 people went on the rampage, Moslem holy man M.I.M. Siddeeque said the community was worried.

"Our people are still afraid to go out," he told AFP by telephone.

Government front man Navin Dissanayake said the authorities had identified the leaders of the mobs and they were already in police custody.

- FEAR PERSISTS -
"People feel insecure and I acknowledge that," government minister Dissanayake told news hounds in Colombo. "We have given the armed forces of this country... a complete free hand to tackle the security situation."

Among those detained was Amith Weerasinghe, a man from Sri Lanka's majority Buddhist Sinhalese community and on bail for his role in similar riots in March last year in the central Kandy district.

Another was identified as Namal Kumara, a deserter from both the army and the air force.

The police, meanwhile, also made several changes in the command structure by removing senior officers in the troubled areas after allegations officials did nothing to stop the rioters. The military released CCTV which showed a man in uniform apparently standing by while a mob pelted stones at a home, and sought public help to identify the individual.

A state of emergency has been in place since the Easter bombings and security forces have been given sweeping powers to detain suspects.

Internet service providers said the telecoms regulator on Tuesday extended a social media ban to Twitter.

Earlier, Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube and Instagram had been blocked to prevent the spread of messages inciting violence.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/16/2019 00:02 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  sounds like some pp, may have worn out their welcome.wish it would happen here
Posted by: chris || 05/16/2019 6:32 Comments || Top||

#2  ... Namal Kumara, a deserter from both the army and the air force

EH ?! How does one accomplish that ?
Posted by: Dron66046 || 05/16/2019 9:12 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Syrian Army breaks through jihadist defenses to capture several areas
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) scored a big advance along the Hama-Idlib axis on Tuesday, seizing several areas from the jihadist rebels.

Led by the Tiger Forces and Elite Republican Guard, the Syrian Arab Army began their assault on Tuesdya by breaking through the jihadist defenses at the al-Shari’ah Airfield.

Once the airfield was secured, the Syrian Arab Army seized another nearby town while making their way further northeast towards the Idlib Governorate’s southern border.

This latest advance by the Syrian Arab Army has paved the way for their forces to secure the northern perimeter of the historical town of Qal’at al-Madiq in northwestern Hamal.

In a new video from the Syrian Ministry of Defense, the Syrian Arab Army can be seen advancing around Qal’at al-Madiq:
Posted by: Fred || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: al-Nusra


Syrian Army has plans to retake western Aleppo from jihadist forces
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is currently on the offensive in the northwestern countryside of Hama; however, it does not appear that they will be pushing all the way to Idlib during this operation.
How many I'mgonnas equals one Idid?
Instead, a source from the Syrian military told al-Masdar this morning that the armed forces have plans to clear the western and southern countrysides of Aleppo before making any push towards Idlib.

According to the source, the Syrian military wants to clear the western, northwestern, and southern outskirts of Aleppo city and expel all of the jihaidst groups that have conintuously attacked Syria’s economic capital and its one-million-plus population.

In particular, the Syrian Arab Army is first eyeing the Scientific Research area and al-Zahra’a Association Quarter; these two areas have a large presence of jihadist and Ottoman Turkish-backed rebels.

Once these areas are cleared, the Syrian Army will shift their attention to the outskirts of the city, where jihadist groups in al-Mansoura, Kafr Hamra, Dart Izza, Khan al-Assal, and Rashideen 4 and 5 are constantly launching attacks from.

The source did not say whether or not the Syrian military would push to Saraqib city, which is a bad boy stronghold near the Aleppo Governorate border.

While Saraqib is not under Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham
control, it is a major city along the Aleppo-Latakia Highway. To capture it will be difficult because the Ottoman Turkish military currently has an observation post in the area and the local population favors the rebel groups.

For these reasons and many more, the Syrian military will not likely make any push to capture Saraqib at this time.

Posted by: Fred || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Nusra


Syrian Army launches new attack to advance in southern Idlib
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) began a new push to seize the town of al-Huwayz along the Idlib-Hama axis.

Led by the Tiger Forces, with help from the National Defense Forces (NDF), the Syrian military stormed the jihadist defenses north of al-Hamra in a bid to reenter al-Huwayz.

According to a military source, the Syrian Arab Army is currently engaged in a heavy battle with the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham
and their allies from the Free Syrian Army
... the more palatable version of the Syrian insurgency, heavily influenced by the Moslem Brüderbund...
(FSA).

The Syrian Air Force is also launching Arclight airstrikes over the Idlib-Hama axis in order to help propel the ground troops in this region.

No advances have been made thus far.

Today’s attempted advance comes 24 hours after the Syrian Arab Army attempted to capture al-Huwayz from the jihadist rebels.

The jihadist rebels were ultimately abel to repel the Syrian Armed Forces after the latter briefly entered the town.
Posted by: Fred || 05/16/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: al-Nusra



Who's in the News
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Two weeks of WOT
Thu 2019-05-16
  F-16 with live ordinance crashes in Riverside CA.
Wed 2019-05-15
  Iranian ballistic missile platforms in Basra city directed towards the Gulf, Exxon evacuating, German mil. trainers evacuating
Tue 2019-05-14
  The Latest: Norwegian Tanker's Hull Punctured off UAE Coast
Mon 2019-05-13
  Gunmen kill six during Catholic mass in Burkina Faso
Sun 2019-05-12
  Security guard killed as terrorists storm Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar: ISPR
Sat 2019-05-11
  B-52s in Al Udeid AB Qatar
Fri 2019-05-10
  U.S. revokes citizenship of Portland mosque's imam for ties to ObL
Thu 2019-05-09
  Rotherham abuse scandal: 40 arrests made in last two months
Wed 2019-05-08
  Pompeo suddenly in Iraq
Tue 2019-05-07
  400-strong Christian mob attacks Muslim shops in Sri Lankan town hit by Easter bomb
Mon 2019-05-06
  19 killed in Gaza, four in Israel in Sunday’s escalation, say officials
Sun 2019-05-05
  Iran money man zapped in Gaza
Sat 2019-05-04
  Israel strikes Gaza targets in response to heavy rocket fire Saturday
Fri 2019-05-03
  Taliban militants blow up one of the oldest shrines of Ghazni city
Thu 2019-05-02
  Iran, Turkey criticize US plan to designate Muslim Brotherhood a terror group

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