[Tolo News] Kabul police chief Hassan Shah Frogh on Monday said Taliban ...the Pashtun equivalent of men... bully boyz had plotted and carried out Saturday night’s attack on a guesthouse in PD7 in Kabul, which resulted in the death of two people and the kidnapping of a Finnish woman.
The statement comes two days after unknown gunnies carried out a raid on the guesthouse in PD7 in Darulaman Road area, killing a security guard and a German woman.
A second woman, a Finnish national, was kidnapped, officials said Sunday.
The Finnish foreign ministry confirmed the kidnapping on Sunday to Finnish media, saying in a statement it demanded "the immediate release of the kidnapped person".
According to Frogh, security agencies had offered the foreign nationals living in the house security, but they had rejected the offer.
He said that police have launched a major investigation into the incident to find out the motive behind it.
"There is a possibility that the Taliban plotted the attack, but why would they (Taliban) resort to such actions, it is clear whenever they suffer major casualties or their commanders and high profile officials are tossed in the clink Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! , then the Taliban resort to such action. They resort to kidnapping of individuals so as to swap them as we witnessed in the past," said Frogh.
The women had been working for a Swedish NGO Operation Mercy ‐ an organization that has been in Afghanistan since 2006.
According to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Operation Mercy spent more than $800,000 USD in the country between 2011 and 2013 to help with basic health training in Afghanistan.
But, the public health ministry Sherlocks say that Operation Mercy never reported on their classes to Afghan officials.
"The kidnapping and murders of foreign nationals have political aspects instead of criminal aspects," said Abdul Khaliq Zazai Watandost, a member of the Kabul provincial council.
However, by candlelight every wench is handsome... the Taliban has not grabbed credit for the attack nor has it commented on it.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
Kabul police chief Hassan Shah Frogh
Before the old Peshawur Gate, where Kurd and Kaffir meet,
The Governor of Kabul dealt the Justice of the Street,
And that was strait as running noose and swift as plunging knife,
Tho' he who held the longer purse might hold the longer life.
[DW] Egyptian authorities referred 48 suspected 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.... " Lion of Islam group to military trial for involvement in three deadly church bombings, Egypt's chief prosecutor Nabil Sadeq said in a statement on Sunday.
At least 75 people have been killed in "Islamic State"-claimed attacks on Coptic churches in December and April, including two in Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday. Sadeq said that 31 of the suspected holy warriors are in jug, but 17 remain on the lam.
According to the prosecutor, the suspects allegedly set up "Islamic State" cells in Cairo and the southern province of Qena. The suspected holy warriors allegedly received training in Syria and Libya.
In the statement, Sadeq also accused the suspects of participating in a separate attack on a checkpoint in Egypt's Western Desert, which left eight law enforcement agents dead.
Egypt's armed forces have struggled to quash an armed insurgency in northern Sinai since President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi led a military coup against the country's first democratically-elected leader, Mohammed Morsi of the Moslem Brüderbund, in 2013.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
And with Egypt, at least as it is today, there's even a possibility that these aren't some 48 random people snatched from the street.
[AnNahar] US forces have carried out a ground raid on an al-Qaeda compound in Yemen, killing seven holy warriors, the Pentagon said late Monday.
The raid took place in Marib Governorate in the early hours of Tuesday local time and was conducted with the support of Yemeni authorities.
"During this operation, US forces killed seven AQAP (al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula ...the latest incarnation of various Qaeda and Qaeda-allied groups, including the now-defunct Aden-Abyan Islamic Army that boomed the USS Cole in 2000... ) bandidosmurderous Moslems through a combination of small arms fire and precision Arclight airstrikes," Centcom, the US military command in the Middle East, said in a statement.
"Raids such as this provide insight into AQAP's disposition, capabilities and intentions, which will allow us to continue to pursue, disrupt, and degrade AQAP."
Posted by: trailing wife ||
05/23/2017 01:19 ||
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[Independent] Isis has claimed responsibility for the Manchester Arena attack, hailing the bomber as a "soldier of the caliphate".
The terrorist group released statements in several languages through its central media body praising the atrocity, claiming more than 100 "crusaders" were killed or wounded at the "shameless" concert.
"With Allah's grace and support, a soldier of the Khilafah [caliphate] managed to place explosive devices in the midst of the gatherings of the crusaders in the British city of Manchester," said the English version.
Posted by: Besoeker ||
05/23/2017 08:54 ||
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Top|| File under: Islamic State
#1
Islam, imo, is the Pit Bull of religions. Generally, if properly monitored, not a problem, but can go crazy unpredictably.
#7
Again. Islam is Not a religion. It is an established code followed by murderers and thieves, supported by un-intelligent self haters, it works for them, too.
BLUF: [Daily Caller] As Gorka observed, the Manchester bombing happened on the fourth anniversary of the public killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby on May 22, 2013. Rigby was walking down a street in southeast London when two radical Islamists, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, ran over him with a car before hacking him to death with knives and a cleaver. The killers, who also attempted to behead Rigby, told bystanders who shot video of the attack:
"The only reason we have killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers. And this British soldier is one ... By Allah, we swear by the almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you until you leave us alone."
#1
The motive? What could have possibly prompted the bastids to act or select this target? Might have been a tea at a neighborhood vicarage, but it wasn't.
Is postulating that a 'POP Concert' with thousands in attendance, might possibly be a 'high value target' for terrorists that difficult ?
Will someone please finally admit we are at war with Islam ?
#2
Is this the young lady who last summer said "I Hate America, I Hate Americans?" Well just maybe she will become a convert to Western values and ideals--we can hope.
Motivation for bombing? We are dealing with rabid, bug nuts jihadists who value death over life.
Update at 1:20 p.m. EDT based on the Telegraph liveblog and everything y'all have added in the comment thread and additional articles here and here:
ISIS claimed it
Suicide bomber informally identified as Salman Abedi, age 22, a known wolf
22 dead, 59 seriously injured, 13 still missing
Attack took place on 4th anniversary of the Fusilier Lee Rigby murder
Suicide bomb filled with nuts and bolts -- shrapnel explains severity of injuries
Abedi was not passed by security into venue, but positioned himself outside exit to train station, exploding as crowd exited
Second, controlled explosion at 1:34 a.m. local time was clothing, not a bomb
A 23 year old man was arrested today in South Manchester in connection with the attack
Abidi's home has been searched, and a controlled explosion done there by police
About Salman Abedi:
* born in Manchester in 1994, the second or third of four children
* parents Libyan refugees during the Khaddafy era
* home is yards from girls high school from where twins Zahra and Salma Halane left for ISIS in Syria
* unconfirmed reports Abedi's parents and sister recently decamped for Libya
The Telegraph's liveblog of events, and the place to add new reports throughout the day. Yesterday's post is here.
[TELEGRAPH.CO.UK]
At least 19 people confirmed dead, 50 more injured
Police state it is a suspected terror attack
Reports that suicide bomber behind the blast
Police warn people to stay away from area
Panic as concert-goers flee the arena
2:03am
Suicide bomber 'suspected to be behind attack'
Two US officials tell Reuters that a suicide bomber is suspected in the Manchester explosion.
1:34am
Controlled explosion carried out
Greater Manchester Police have carried out a "controlled explosion" in the Cathedral Gardens area near Manchester Arena.
1:31am
Reports of 'second device'
Police sources have told @bbc5live there's a second suspected device. Reporters have been moved 200m away:
"Controlled explosion in 3-4 mins"
1:14am
Death toll confirmed as 19 people
Police have confirmed that 19 people have been killed in the Manchester Arena attack. A further 50 people are injured.
1:07am
Reports: 'suicide bomber behind explosion'
Police have not confirmed the reports.
1:00am
'There was carnage everywhere'
A father has described seeing "carnage everywhere" in the wake of an explosion at Manchester Arena that left around 30 people, including children and disabled victims, lying on the floor.
The man, named Andy, said he was blown "about 30ft" by a blast that shook the building as he waited to collect his wife and daughter at the end of a concert by US artist Ariana Grande.
12:57am
Death toll 'in double figures'
The death toll is in double figures, officials reportedly state.
12:54am
Witness saw 20 to 30 people on ground
A witness, speaking to the BBC, saw 20 to 30 people on the ground following the explosion.
12:53am
Police state Manchester Arena explosion is 'possible terrorist incident'
North West Counter Terror Command are treating it as a "possible terrorist incident".
12:48am
Area in lockdown - armed police at scene
12:42am
Hundreds of offers of support from people and companies in the Manchester area
12:38am
Bomb disposal unit 'at the scene'
Sky News reported that a bomb disposal unit was at the scene.
12:32am
Explosion came from foyer of arena
British Transport Police confirmed the blast came from "within the foyer area of the stadium at 10.30pm this evening".
11:57pm
'It was a huge explosion'
"It was a huge explosion - you could feel it in your chest. It was chaotic. Everybody was running and screaming and just trying to get out of the area."
11:56pm
Police establishing 'casualty bureau'
Details of a casualty bureau for incident at Manchester Arena will be shared as soon as available. Please stay away from the area
11:48pm
'Disruption is expected to continue until end of the day'
Manchester's Victoria station, which backs onto the arena, has been evacuated and all trains cancelled. National Rail said in an online statement: "Emergency services are dealing with an incident at Manchester Arena. As Manchester Victoria is located near the arena, the station has been evacuated and all lines closed.
"Trains are currently unable to run to / from Manchester Victoria. Some trains will be cancelled throughout or start / terminate at alternative stations. Disruption is expected to continue until end of the day."
11:43pm
'I think what the injuries have come from is people trying to get out as quickly as possible'
Eyewitness Josh Elliot told the BBC he had seen a "guy covered in blood".
11:33pm
'Reports of blood and people injured'
11:23pm
Several ambulances attend the scene
11:22pm
Panic inside the arena
11:21pm
'Everyone was running away in big crowds'
"The bang was so big I heard it from my room which is at the back of the apartment blocks.
"Currently lots of emergency services going to and from. But can't see anything substantial as of yet except fleeing people and lots of cars."
11:21pm
'A huge bomb-like bang went off'
"Everyone was in a huge state of panic, calling each other as some had gone to the toilet whilst this had gone off, so it was just extremely disturbing for everyone there."
11:19pm
Trains not stopping at Victoria station
Trains are currently not stopping at Victoria station following the security scare.
11:13pm
Schoolchildren 'ushered into one common room'
Boarders at Chetham's Music School next to Victoria Station and very near the arena have reportedly been ushered into one common room amid reports of explosion.
10:58pm
There are some reports the explosion heard could have been part of the act at Manchester Arena
Ariana Grande was performing.
10:56pm
Emergency services rush to scene
10:48pm
Reports of 'massive explosion' in Manchester Arena
Posted by: Fred ||
05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
Europe Travel Alert / US State Department
Last Updated: May 1, 2017. This Travel Alert expires on September 1, 2017.
...Recent, widely-reported incidents in France, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom demonstrate that the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS or Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, and their affiliates have the ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks in Europe.
Extremists continue to focus on tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities as viable targets. In addition, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, high-profile events, educational institutions, airports, and other soft targets remain priority locations for possible attacks. U.S. citizens should exercise additional vigilance in these and similar locations, in particular during the upcoming summer travel season when large crowds may be common.
Terrorists persist in employing a variety of tactics, including firearms, explosives, using vehicles as ramming devices, and sharp-edged weapons that are difficult to detect prior to an attack...
#9
Tragically many of the dead are young and did not have ID's on them, their phones most likely scattered in the explosion area.
In the mean time people are still trying to connect with children many hours later. Chances are they have died and will only be identified via a visit to where their bodies are kept.
#10
The same person above referred to by Bright Pebbles also posted on day prior to the attack the following:
"I am going to bomb infidels at the concert. Big news for my Muslim brothers. Tomorrow night I will go to the Manchester Ariana Grande concert and throw my handmade grenade in there! People will die in the name of Alah! Alah hates you Ariana, and you infidels! Islam will rise in the West and we will behead all of the non muslims!"
#17
Usual platitudes, lots of police standing around. Pontificating about how we need dialogue from the left and ideological counter campaign from the right. If you import the dregs of Islamic countries you get colonies of unemployed, ignorant young men prone to radicalization. Duh! This stops when you deport them or scare the crap out of them. Your choice Europe! Are you paying attention America to what democrat immigration policies will do to replicate this here.
Posted by: Albert Whavins4754 ||
05/23/2017 12:19 Comments ||
Top||
#20
How in the hell could the people of London elect Sadiq Kahn as their mayor?
Londoners, Britains, Americans, Europeans,
You have a mayor who claims incidents like this are "part and parcel of big city life". How in the hell can you be convinced that this is true? What is wrong with you? How can anybody still argue with a straight face that we need to let more Arabs into our countries? If incidents like this don't wake you up there is no hope.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
05/23/2017 13:38 Comments ||
Top||
#21
Neh, these people are eusocial only the gene line matters: that's why they like suicide attacks - like warrior ants or worker bees. You want deterrence - retaliate by wiping out the gene line.
#23
Ok. To facilitate discussion, I've added a summary of what is known as of now about events and our known wolf to the top of the article. Well done, all!
[IsraelTimes] Police arrest man after suspicious package found at Arndale center around noon. Police say this is not believed to be connected to last night's Arena attack.
g(r)omgoru, you forgot to paste the URL in the box. But Wikipedia says:
Eusociality (from Greek εὖ eu "good" and social), the highest level of organization of animal sociality, is defined by the following characteristics: cooperative brood care (including brood care of offspring from other individuals), overlapping generations within a colony of adults, and a division of labor into reproductive and non-reproductive groups. The division of labor creates specialized behavioral groups within an animal society which are sometimes called castes. Eusociality is distinguished from all other social systems because individuals of at least one caste usually lose the ability to perform at least one behavior characteristic of individuals in another caste.
Eusociality exists in certain insects, crustaceans and mammals. It is mostly observed and studied in the Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps) and in the termites. A colony has caste differences: queens and reproductive males take the roles of the sole reproducers, while soldiers and workers work together to create a living situation favorable for the brood. In addition to Hymenoptera and Isoptera, there are two known eusocial vertebrates among rodents: the naked mole-rat and the Damaraland mole-rat. Some shrimps, such as Synalpheus regalis, are also eusocial. E. O. Wilson has claimed that humans are eusocial, but his arguments have been refuted by a large number of evolutionary biologists, who note that humans do not have division of reproductive labor.
The true heros (probably perforated to death by flying nails or liquidated by concussion) of the day were those who slowed down his progress into the arena also who, had the bomb not gone off, would today probably be facing charges of Islamophobia.
[Hurriyet Daily News] A court in the western province of Izmir has sentenced the alleged killer of a Russian jet pilot to five years in jail over "violating the law on firearms" and "keeping a warfare weapon" in a separate case into him.
Alparslan Celik, the alleged killer of a pilot of the Russian SU-24 jet downed by The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... on Nov. 24, 2015, was tried over the charges after several weapons were found on him, his house and vehicle.
Both pilots aboard the downed SU-24 jet ejected and parachuted to the ground on the Syrian side of the border. One of them was killed by gun fire from the ground after ejecting from the plane.
After the downing of the jet, Celik defended the killing of the jet pilot in a video, saying the pilot had dropped bombs on Turkmens.
"That pilot bombed us five minutes [before Turkey downed the Russian jet] and our brothers were killed or maimed by these bombs. There is no place for a person who has bombed civilian Turkmens every day in my conscious," Celik had said.
"Reprisal is the most natural right. There is life in reprisal," he added.
Celik, as well as 17 other suspects, were being tried in Izmir 27th Criminal Court of First Instance after five automatic rifles, four pistols and two walkie-talkies were found in the searches carried out on them, in their houses and their vehicles on March 31, 2016.
Seven suspects were sentenced to five years in prison each over the aforementioned two charges, including Celik. In addition, one was sentenced to 1.5 years, while two were given ten months of prison time, and the others were acquitted.
Celik is currently in jail over charges for another crime.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
Out in a few months. With Paleostinians we call this "capture & release". Lets see what Vlad will do.
[Hurriyet Daily News] Two 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.... of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) gunnies who were killed in a police operation early on May 21 in Ankara had been preparing for potential attacks in the capital, including the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) extraordinary congress, the Ankara governor has stated.
In a police raid on an apartment of the Housing Development Administration of The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... (TOKI) in the Yapracik neighborhood of the Etimesgut district, the two ISIS holy warriors, believed to be aged between 25 and 30, responded by attempting to engage in a shootout but were killed by coppers early on May 21. A search at the address also revealed weapons, hand grenades and high- power improvised bombs (IEDs) as well as digital materials, computers and some sketches.
Speaking at a presser on May 22, Ankara Governor Ercan Topaca said the killed gunnies have not been identified yet but sketches were found on them targeting the AKP’s extraordinary congress at Ankara Sports Complex on May 21 and a non-governmental organization in the Dikmen neighborhood.
"We could not identify those people yet. It is likely that they are foreigners. We could not identified them as they do not have any fingerprints or records," Topaca said.
"Some sketches regarding the area where the AKP extraordinary congress was held yesterday [May 21] have been revealed ... From those sketches we see that they planned to stage an attack that would have an impact and create chaos in the country," he added.
"We put a big focus on the AKP congress that day. We think they probably estimated this fact and planned another attack, from the fact that there were two sketches. They had planned such attack around Dikmen but in the end they could not find the opportunity," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Fourteen army personnel were killed and injured in a suicide attack inside the biggest military base, east of Baquba, a security source from Diyala said.
“Two personnel were killed, while twelve others were wounded as four attackers wearing suicide belts attempted infiltration into Qaraqosh base [45 KM east of Baquba],” the source told Alghad Press on Monday.
Two of the bombers were killed as they blew themselves up, according to the source.
“One of the injured is a senior officer in serious condition. He was transferred to outside Diyala for treatment,” the source added. “Two other attackers are still besieged inside the base.”
[Ynet] The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for an attack Monday on a military training center in Diyala north of Baghdad that killed at least four soldiers and wounded four others, including two officers, according to a statement released by the group and two Iraqi officers.
Six attackers struck the base, according to the Iraqi officers. The IS statement put the number of attackers at four and said "dozens" were killed and wounded. The Iraqi officers said five attackers detonated suicide vests once inside the center and by afternoon the situation was "under control," but five Iraqi military vehicles were torched by the blasts.
The officers spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Diyala (IraqiNews.com) Two civilians were killed in an armed attack that occurred near a village, northeast of Baquba, a local source from Diyala province has said.
“Unknown gunmen opened fire early on Monday against two civilians near abu Taba village [28 KM northeast of Baquba] which left them dead,” the source told AlSumaria News.
A suicide attack took place as Islamic State militants attempted infiltration into Qaraqosh military base, located east of Baquba. Several army personnel were killed and injured.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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Anbar (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State has evacuated its members and leaders after bringing down its flags from one of its main strongholds in western Anbar town of Qaim, on borders with Syria.
“IS militants evacuated its local, Arab and foreign members and leaders from all of the group’s headquarters in Qaim town,” Sputnik quoted a local source from Anbar as saying.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the members and leaders moved to new secret headquarters outside of Qaim and headed toward the Iraqi western desert.
IS, according to the source, “has adopted the new plan after huge losses were inflicted on the group due to airstrikes launched by Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition fighter jets, which targeted its havens, killing and injuring hundreds of members over the past months.”
In April, Qutri al-Obeidi, a leader with the paramilitary al-Hashd al-Shaabi troops said IS members were evacuated from Rawa town towards Qaim after the leaders ordered the fighters, along with their families, to leave due to intensified airstrikes.
Anbar’s western towns of Annah, Qaim and Rawa have been held by the extremist group since 2014, when it emerged to proclaim a self-styled Islamic Caliphate.
Fighter jets from the Iraqi army and the international coalition have also regularly pounded IS locations in the province. The Iraqi government is expected to aim at those strongholds once the Mosul battle is concluded.
Anbar (Iraqinews.com) The number of dispalced families who had been repatriated to their hometowns in Anbar has stood at more than 165.000, according to the Iraqi government.
The Ministry of Migration and Displacement director in Anbar, Mohamed Rasheed, said in a press statement on Monday that while 165.107 families returned to their home areas in the province since mid 2016, there are more than 300.000 families still displaced outside the province.
The war against Islamic State militants in Iraq has displaced more than four million Iraqis since January 2014, according to Iraqi government figures. More than 670.000 were displaced since Iraqi government forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition moved in October to drive the group out of Mosul, its largest urban stronghold in Iraq.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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Samarra (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi security forces killed two suicide bombers on Monday who were heading for an attack on a police unit in the city of Samarra, Salahuddin.
Emad al-Zoheiri, commander of the Samarra Operations force, said in a statement that the bombers were planning to attack a police unit in Gallam, but were trapped inside a barn before they were killed.
He said the incident raises the total of suicide bombers killed by the forces in the province over a month to ten.
Since Iraqi forces launched offensives in October to clear Iraqi regions from militants, Shirqat has seen occasional attacks by Islamic State, leaving casualties among civilians and security forces. Government troops, backed by paramilitary forces, responded with intermittent security operations at the province’s borders with neighboring governorates.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Three civilians were wounded due to an IED blast that took place in western Baghdad, a police source said on Monday.
“A bomb placed near a market in al-Nasr wal Salam region in Abu Ghraib district, western Baghdad, exploded on Monday leaving three civilians injured,” the source told AlSumaria News.
“Security troops headed to the accident spot and transferred the injured to hospital for treatment,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.
How odd. They aren't supposed to be in Mosul at all, but clearing villages around Mosul for exactly this reason.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Pro-Iraqi government paramilitary troops fighting the Islamic State briefly detained and tortured Iraqi men in western Mosul over possible links with the extremist group, Human Rights Watch said in a latest report reviving accusations of human abuses against the Shia-led forces.
“Human Rights Watch interviewed three men from al-Hadar, a village 90 kilometers southwest of west Mosul, who were detained by the Popular Mobilization Forces (known as the PMF or Hashd al-Sha’abi) and two local officials who had knowledge of the detention operations in the area,” said the organization. “The men said the fighters detained them as they fled their homes because of the fighting, and held them for up to 15 days in a school building and in one case a home in an area solely under PMF control,” it added.
HRW revealed that, in two cases, interrogators “ beat them with thick metal cables, before releasing them and a small number of other detainees”.
“Given the previous track records of PMF abuse in the area of screening and detaining local men, Baghdad should treat these findings with the gravest concern,” said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Authorities should do all in their power to ensure that families fleeing the fighting around Mosul are able to get to safety, not tortured in secret facilities.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has regularly and ardently defended mobilization forces against recurrent accusations of human rights abuses, in one occasion threatening to “cut the hands” of whoever insults the force.
Mobilization forces, an alliance of more than 60 Shia militias with presumed backing from Iran, were formed in 2014 in line with an edict from the country’s top Shia clergy to combat Sunni extremist Islamic State fighters. The forces won official recognition as a national force late 2016.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Federal Police forces pounded Islamic State locations in western Mosul’s Old City on Monday preparing for the invasion of the group’s last bastion in that region.
The service’s commander, Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat, said in a press statement that police used heavy artillery and Grad rockets, backed by drones, to strike dozens of targets including command centers, supply stores, artillery and transportation vehicles belonging to the group.
Deputy Federal Police commander, Maj. Gen Jaafar al-Battat, was quoted Sunday saying in statements that the density of the civilian population in the Old City had obliged the delay in the invasion until districts overlooking it from the northwest were retaken.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State members are burning civilians-owned vehicles in western Mosul to blur vision for assaulting fighter jets as the group moves to its last refuge at the Old City area.
Alforat.info quoted sources saying the militants at al-Shifa district, one of the last four districts remaining under their control in western Mosul, had begun to set fire to vehicles to create a smokescreen against fighter jets pounding the group’s locations near the Old City. The sources added that the group began evacuating civilians at gunpoint towards the Old City.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Two civilians were killed on Monday by a mortar missile and a bomb blast in western Mosul district, according to a security source and local residents.
Speaking to Shafaaq News, the residents said a civilian was killed as Islamic State militants fired a mortar missile on the unliberated parts of Hawi al-Kanisa region.
Meanwhile, the source said another civilian “was killed as IS blew up an IED when the civilian attempted escaping toward the Iraqi troops in Hawi al-Kanisa.”
“Iraqi troops are in the process of completing the liberation of Hawi al-Kanisa, west of Mosul,” the source added.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi government forces took over al-Najjar district in western Mosul on Monday, the Defense Ministry War Media Cell said as troops moved one more step towards the Islamic State-held Old City.
The media outlet said Iraqi forces recaptured the district and raised Iraqi flags above its buildings. Al-Najjar was one of a handful of remaining districts Iraqi forces are battling IS in to pave the way towards the ancient Old City, the highly prized target from where IS supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” over large parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Eleven Islamic State militants were killed in an airstrike on Baaj town, in western Mosul, the War Media Cell reported on Monday.
In a statement, the WMC said, “Iraqi fighter jets launched several airstrikes on Baaj, depending on intelligence information.”
“The airstrikes left a fuel store for IS fighters completely destroyed and two members killed,” the statement added.
Moreover, the jets “destroyed the so-called hisbah (vigilantism) office and killed nine other militants, including two Arabs. A weapon stash inside the office was also destroyed,” the media service added.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Seven Islamic State militants were killed Monday when a drone from the U.S.-led coalition targeted their location in western Mosul.
Air force lieutenant Yazan Abdul-Kafi told Rudaw network that the drone pounded a house in Zanjili district which militants occupied. The strike killed all seven and destroyed their truck.
Zanjili is one of the few remaining districts Iraqi forces are sweeping through on their way to the Old City, Islamic State’s last bastion in Mosul.
Meanwhile, Iraqi forces continued preparations to install a floating bridge linking western Mosul with the eastern side. Lt. Abdul-Salam al-Jubouri, from the Iraqi army, told Rudawy the bridge could hopefully facilitate troops movement and the transfer of refugees evacuated from the west to the east.
The five bridges linking Mosul’s flanks above the Tigris River had been destroyed in airstrikes late last year to prevent IS militants from escaping to the west as Iraqi forces retook the eastern region.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Unknown gunmen kidnapped Monday head of Nimrud neighborhood, east of Mosul, along with two others to unknown destination, according to a security source.
“Unknown gunmen attacked house of Nimrud neighborhood chief Khazaal Theyab al-Duleimi,” the source told Shafaaq News.
The kidnappers took Duleimi, along with two other officials from the neighborhood called Mohamed Ahmed al-Duleimi and Youness Ismail al-Duleimi to unknown destination, the source added.
Nimrud was declared to be fully liberated in November.
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05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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[IsraelTimes] Paleostinians are holding a general strike in the West Bank in solidarity with hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails. The strike coincides with the arrival of US President Donald Trump ...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States... for a two-day visit to Israel and the Paleostinian territories.
Hundreds of protesters are blocking roads in cities and towns of the West Bank as the hunger strike entered its 36th day Monday. A Paleostinian advocacy group says several of the hundreds of hunger striking prisoners are hospitalized.
Israel Prisons Service officials said on Sunday that dozens are expected to be hospitalized in the coming days.
Paleostinians say well over 1,000 are on strike, while Israeli officials insist the number is closer to 850. Many of the prisoners were convicted of terror attacks.
Stores and government offices are closed down in Ramallah, public transportation has ground to a halt and main thoroughfares in Paleostinian cities are empty of people and cars.
The Paleostinian prisoners’ affairs committee calls for a "day of rage" on Tuesday, when Trump visits Bethlehem, for "the voice of the prisoners to be heard by the president."
[Ynet] Sixty security prisoners who have been on a hunger strike for the past week have been evacuated to several hospitals after IPS doctors examined them and decided that due to their medical condition, they are in need of medical care. Marwan Barghouti, the leader of the strike, is not among the prisoners who were evacuated.
[IsraelTimes] Border Police officers rubbed out a Paleostinian man as he attempted to stab them at a guard post in the Paleostinian town of Abu Dis, east of Jerusalem, police said Monday.
No officers were reported injured, a police spokesperson said.
The alleged attack outside Jerusalem occurred as US President Donald Trump ...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States... was in the capital for an official state visit with security significantly ramped up in and near the city.
The name of the Paleostinian man has yet to be released, but he was identified as a resident of the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
Some 11,000 police and security forces are taking part in the operation to secure Trump’s visit. On Tuesday, he is slated to travel to Bethlehem.
Paleostinians have taken part in violent protests across the West Bank throughout Monday, clashing with Israeli troops.
According to the Red Islamic Thingy, three Paleostinians were hit by gunfire during protests in the city of Qalandiya, north of Jerusalem, and in the town of Nabi Saleh, north of Ramallah. They were in stable, pH balanced condition.
Another 26 Paleostinians are also receiving treatment for lighter injuries, the Red Islamic Thingy said.
#5
Ah Entropy. I posited in a physical Chemistry class 30 years ago that "Relationships and indeed marriages are Entropic systems, they will increase in disorder unless you put energy into them"
#6
Exactly so, Seeking cure. g(r)omgoru, if you are ever confused by quirky text, click on the headline to see what was actually written originally. That's the other reason we link to all original articles.
DonM, what a charming insight. I can only imagine you are very happily married, indeed.
As-Suwayda (IraqiNews) Syrian regime forces, backed by affiliated militias, managed to impose their control over Dahret Umm Salasel, in eastern As-Suwayda, Qasioun News Agency reported on Monday.
The newely formed militia Labayb Suliman also participated in the offensive on the city of As-Suwayda, south of Syria.
Meanwhile, ...back at the desert island, Irene was indignant at the thought of doing such a thing without benefit of clergy... activists pointed out that government forces raised the Russian flag in the area, to avoid the international coalition air strikes.
Noteworthy, Syrian government forces are trying to reach al-Tanf crossing border with Jordan, where the international coalition aircraft bombarded a military convoy in the area of Kharba al-Shahma, few days ago.
Syrian government forces also managed to recapture al-Zalf area in As-Suwayda, earlier this week.
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05/23/2017 00:31 ||
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Aleppo (IraqiNews) Syrian opposition announced, on Monday, repulsing an attack launched by the Syrian Democratic Forces, in an attempt to advance into al-Homran area, north of Aleppo.
The Syrian opposition also revealed that about 10 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces were either killed or maimed, due to the mutual artillery and rocket shelling.
Meanwhile,festivities broke out, this morning, between the opposition and the regime forces in Anadan Mountain area, while helicopters belonging to the Syrian regime dropped leaflets on villages and cities of the northern countryside of Aleppo, encouraging residents to abandon weapons and terrorism.
Noteworthy, Syrian Democratic Forces tried to advance into areas north of Aleppo, however, suffered material and human losses.
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05/23/2017 00:31 ||
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Raqqa (IraqiNews) Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), last night, managed to recapture several villages in the eastern and western countryside of Raqqa, Qasioun News Agency reported on Monday.
The Syrian Democratic Forces also advanced toward the areas of Chaib el Aaouaj and western Salhabiya, west of Raqqa, after violent battles with the Islamic State group and mutual artillery and rocket shelling.
Furthermore, security forces managed to recapture the villages of al- Nasirah and al- Buwaydah, east of Raqqa, and thus tightening their grip on the city of Raqqa, the main stronghold of the terrorist group in Syria.
Meanwhile, Mansoura City, west of Raqqa, witnessed a mass displacement, due to the bombardment of the international coalition that carried out more than ten air strikes on the area.
Noteworthy, Syrian Democratic Forces managed, recently, to control several areas in Raqqa, backed by the US-led international coalition air force.
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05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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Deir Ezzor (IraqiNews) More than 30 civilians were killed and others, including women and children, were wounded in a Russian air strike on a neighborhood in the city of Deir Ezzor, Qasioun News Agency reported on Monday.
At noon today, Russian warplanes bombarded residential buildings in the Islamic State-held al-Ardi neighborhood, killing 30 civilians and wounding several others, including women and children, in addition to destroying some buildings.
Meanwhile, a civilian was killed and five others were injured, including two children, in a mortar shelling conducted by the Islamic State group on al-Jorah neighborhood, north of Deir Ezzor.
The city of Deir Ezzor is currently witnessing intensified air strikes carried out by the US-led international coalition and Russian Aviation, resulting in the fall of hundreds of casualties.
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State militants executed on Monday nine men from Hawija district and areas in its vicinity over collaboration with security services, security source was quoted as saying.
“IS members shot five men dead and executed four others, who were arrested two days ago over spying for security services and the paramilitary troops,” the source told the German news agency DPA. The executions took place near the Great Zab river in Hawija, a strategic town which has fallen into the hands of IS since mid-2014.
Islamic State has executed hundreds of civilians and security members since it took over large areas in Iraq to proclaim a self-styled “Islamic Caliphate”. The executions of the victims were mainly blamed over accusations of collaboration with the Iraqi security authorities or for attempting to flee areas under its control.
Kirkuk has a mixed population of Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs. The southern and western regions in the province have been under IS control since June 2014.
Iraqi authorities postponed an operation to liberate the town last year, instead they moved onto Mosul, the group’s biggest bastion in Iraq. It is expected to aim at liberating IS-held regions in the province once done with operations in Mosul
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05/23/2017 00:00 ||
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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.
The motive? What could have possibly prompted the bastids to act or select this target? Might have been a tea at a neighborhood vicarage, but it wasn't. 
[Hurriyet Daily News] Two 
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[IsraelTimes] Paleostinians are holding a general strike in the West Bank in solidarity with hunger striking prisoners in Israeli jails. The strike coincides with the arrival of US President 
[IsraelTimes] Border Police officers 
Raqqa (IraqiNews) Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), last night, managed to recapture several villages in the eastern and western countryside of Raqqa, Qasioun News Agency reported on Monday.
