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Singer Amjad Sabri gunned down in Karachi
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 2: WoT Background
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4 15:17 USN, Ret. [336099]
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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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2 13:37 Ebbang Uluque6305 [336074]
11 20:27 49 Pan [336096]
Good morning
Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336091 views] Top|| File under:

#1  A beetle-browed gal of San Pablo
Was seized by an imp or diablo
That called itself "Kahlo"
And loved alcohol...
Oh, and posed for a Lutheran retablo.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 06/23/2016 2:18 Comments || Top||

#2  The Search of British Women Agents of Vera Atkins, F Section, MIA During WWII (wikipedia.com)

After the liberation of France and the allied victory in Europe, Atkins went to both France, and later, for just four days, Germany, where she was determined to uncover the fates of the fifty-one still unaccounted for F Section agents, of the 118 who had disappeared in enemy territory (117 of whom she was to confirm had died in German captivity). Originally she received little support and some opposition in Whitehall, but as the horrors of Nazi atrocities were revealed, and the popular demand for war crimes trials grew, it was decided to give official support for her quest to find out what had happened to the British agents, and to bring those who has perpetrated crimes against them to justice.
At the end of 1945 SOE was wound-up, but in January 1946 Atkins, now funded on the establishment of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), arrived in Germany as a newly promoted Squadron Officer in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force to begin her search for the missing agents, including 14 women. She was attached to the war crimes unit of the Judge Advocate-General's department of the British Army HQ at Bad Oeynhausen, which was under the command of Group Captain Tony Somerhaugh.[23]
Until her return to England in October 1946, Atkins searched for the missing SOE agents and other intelligence service personnel who had gone missing behind enemy lines, carried out interrogations of Nazi war crimes suspects, including Rudolf Hoess, ex-commandant of Auschwitz-Birkenau,[24] and testified as a prosecution witness in subsequent trials. In November 1946 Atkins' commission was extended so that she could return to Germany to assist the prosecution in the Ravensbrück trial which lasted into January 1947. She used this opportunity to complete her search for Noor Inayat Khan, who she now knew had not died at Natzweiler-Struthof, as she had originally concluded in April 1946, but at Dachau.
As well as tracing 117 of the 118 missing F Section agents, Atkins established the circumstances of the deaths of all 14 of the women, twelve of whom had been murdered in concentration camps: Andrée Borrel, Vera Leigh, Sonya Olschanezky (whom Atkins did not identify until 1947, but knew as the fourth woman to be killed) and Diana Rowden executed at Natzweiler-Struthof by lethal injection on 6 July 1944; Yolande Beekman, Madeleine Damerment, Noor Inayat Khan and Eliane Plewman executed at Dachau on 13 September 1944; Denise Bloch, Lilian Rolfe and Violette Szabo executed by shooting at Ravensbrück on 5 February 1945, and Cecily Lefort murdered in the gas chamber at the Uckermark Youth Camp adjacent to Ravensbrück sometime in February 1945. Yvonne Rudellat died of typhus on 23 April 1945, eight days after the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, and Muriel Byck had died of meningitis in hospital in Romorantin, France, on 25 May 1944. She had also persuaded the War Office that the twelve women, technically regarded as civilians, who had been executed, were not treated as having died in prison, as had been originally intended, but were recorded as killed in action.
Atkins' efforts in looking for her missing "girls" meant not only did each now have a place of death, but by detailing their bravery before and after capture, she also helped to ensure that each (except Sonya Olschanezky, unknown to Atkins until 1947) received official recognition by the British Government, including the award of a posthumous George Cross to both Violette Szabo in 1946 and, especially due to Atkins's efforts, Noor Inayat Khan in 1949[25] (Odette Sansom, who survived Ravensbrück, also received the GC in 1946). However, when she did confirm that Sonya Olschanezky had been murdered at Natzweiler-Struthof, she failed to pass the information to Sonya's family.
Despite her stern manner on first meeting, Atkins became well-liked by her colleagues in Germany, and enjoyed relaxing, drinking and smoking in the officers' mess.

(She was one hell of a stern interrogator of NAZI officers, breaking many of them in only a few hours.)
Posted by: Percy McCoy7690 || 06/23/2016 2:28 Comments || Top||

#3  The above picture reminded me of the stories of one tough, controversial Vera Adkins of WWII British Agent legend.
Posted by: Percy McCoy7690 || 06/23/2016 2:30 Comments || Top||

#4  You see a girl with an attitude like that and you run, do NOT walk, away from her.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/23/2016 12:38 Comments || Top||

#5  Sixty days for disorderly hairdo. Plus an additional 15 days for the eyebrows.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 06/23/2016 12:39 Comments || Top||

#6  Found on the Internet:

1967: Bonnie Jean Werner was arrested and charged with animal cruelty after an eyebrow mishap inspired her to staple live tadpoles to her forehead. Her unwitting accomplice, Sharon A. Lipke was charged with possession of frog spawn with the intent to sell it for cosmetic purposes.
Posted by: Spinesing Gray3122 || 06/23/2016 13:30 Comments || Top||

#7  Cute, Spinesing Gray3122.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/23/2016 18:52 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
Police Chief investigated over Taliban Spy Boss
Video report at the link
Khalil Andarabi, the Wardak Police chief, is being officially investigated over the transfer of the Taliban's designated spy chief in Baghlan Qari Zahir in a police vehicle earlier this week.

Government sources have said that President Ghani has appointed a task team to investigate Andarabi. The team will report its findings directly to the President. No official comment on the matter has been made by the government.

Qari Zahir was recently wounded in military action by security forces in the province. He was caught on Sunday when he wanted to travel in a Khalil Andarabi, Wardak police vehicle to the country's capital and then on to Pakistan. Some of the police chief's relatives were also in the vehicle.

A source said Andarabi is in Kabul for the investigation and has already been questioned several times.

While neither the Presidential Palace nor the Ministry of Interior want to talk about the matter, analysts have strong views of the issue.

"The presence of opposition members inside the state apparatus will break the government's back. In fact, it means that the opposition has captured the house from inside the house," said Attiqullah Amarkhail, a military analyst.

"The issue must be investigated carefully and the outcome shared with the media and people," said Mirza Mohammad Yarmand another analyst.

The transfer of insurgents in the north of the country, using government vehicles, has raised many question over a long time.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336072 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Insurgent Attacks On Highways a Major Threat to Transport
Video report at the link
New dangers on insecure highways have are a major threat to transportation in the country, the Ministry of Transport warned on Wednesday.

Provincial police commanders have also warned that armed opposition have, in response to recent government forces military operations, been attacking civilians.

Because of Taliban activity, Gen. Abdul Raziq Achakzai Kandahar police Chief, has advised foreigners not to use the roads in their own interests.

"By targeting civilians, insurgents want to strengthen their own moral and try to prove that they were are still active," said Qasim Jangal Bagh Kunduz police Chief.

The Ministry of Transport linked all traffic incidents to the lack of security on the roads. As a result, drivers are operating in fear, especially in dangerous remote areas.

"The lack of security on the roads is weakening drivers' moral. They want to pass the through insecure areas at high speed," said Hekmatullah Qawanch, spokesman for the Ministry of Transport.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has warned about new tactics used by highway attackers. "They will wear fake military uniforms in areas where security forces have less control or are delayed in getting to incidents," said spokesman Sediq Sediqi.

Passengers and drivers have raised serious concerns their safety due to the increase of insecurity on the highways.

"Security of the highways only better around the capital of Baghlan province and that is all," said Shokrullah a driver.

"The roads are dangerous and the traffic levels have dropped," said Barez another driver.

In recent months providing security of the highways has become a major headache for the security forces. The have now set specific times the passenger vehicles to use the highways.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336089 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Infighting among Taliban in Herat leaves scores of militants dead
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] At least 24 Talibs have reportedly been killed in the latest infighting among the rival groups in western Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
province which ended late on Tuesday.

According to the local government officials, the incident took place in Pashtoon Zarghoon district after the supporters of Taliban Chief Mawlavi Haibatullah Akhundzada
...Deputy to Taliban supremo Mullah Akhtar Mansour...
clashed with the dissident Taliban leader Mullah Rasool.

Provincial governor’s front man Jilani Farhad said they are aware regarding the latest infighting among the rival Taliban groups.

He said preliminary reports suggest at least 7 supporters of Mawlavi Akhundzada have been killed in the infighting and 6 others were maimed.

Farhad further added that 11 supporters of Mullah Rasool have also been killed or maimed during the clash.

This comes as at least 18 Talibs were killed during an infighting in southern Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province of Afghanistan earlier last month.

Mullah Rasool was an arch rival to the self-declared Taliban supreme leader Mullah Mansoor who who was killed in an Arclight airstrike in Pakistain last month.

He also opposes with the appointment of Mawlavi Akhundzada as the new leader of the Taliban group.

Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336115 views] Top|| File under: Taliban

#1  A score equals 20 therefore "scores" implies at least 40. According to the story, I'm owed at least 4 more dead Talibunnies.
Posted by: Elmereth Hatfield7315 || 06/23/2016 14:56 Comments || Top||

#2  And don't forget interest payments. ;-)
Posted by: gorb || 06/23/2016 15:39 Comments || Top||


20 passengers released after kidnapped by Taliban in Helmand
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] At least 20 passengers kidnapped by the Talibs have been released hours after they were taken hostage from a highway in Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
province.

According to the local security officials, the 20 passengers were among 43 people kidnapped from a highway in Greshk district on Tuesday.

The 215th Maiwand Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces said at least 18 of the passengers were released shortly after they were kidnapped and 20 others were released later on that day.

The source further added that the Talibs are still holding 5 passengers as hostage in their custody and efforts are underway for their release.
An Nahar adds:
"The five last hostages were released this morning after tribal elders intervened," Aqa Noor Kentoz police chief of Helmand told Agence La Belle France Presse.

The majority of the hostages had been released Tuesday evening, Omar Zwak, front man for the governor of Helmand, told AFP earlier, with an army statement saying they were freed in an operation in Marja district.

But the Taliban denied the claim, with front man Qari Yousuf Ahmadi telling AFP they decided to free the hostages after they were found to be "innocent".
Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336081 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Key Taliban Oberstürmführer Gul Khan killed in drone strike in Kunduz
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] A key commander of the anti-government armed bully boyz was killed in a drone strike in the restive northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan.

According to the local security officials, Gul Khan also well known as Khanjar was killed along with four of his fighters in the Arclight airstrike.

The officials further added that the Arclight airstrike was carried out in the vicinity of Imam Sahib district where the anti-government armed bully boyz are actively operating.

The officials also added that the Arclight airstrike did not incur any casualties to the local residents.
Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Afghan soldier kill 4 comrades in an insider attack in Badghis province
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier has killed at least four of his comrades in an insider attack in the northwestern Badghis province.

According to the local officials, the incident took place in Jund district on Tuesday evening after an Afghan soldier opened fire on his comrades.

A member of the provincial council said another soldier was also maimed in the attack and the assailant was also killed after the other soldiers responded to his fire.

Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


5 soldiers martyred, 29 militants killed in counterterrorism operations
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] At least 29 anti-government armed Lions of Islam were killed and 10 others were maimed in the latest counter-terrorism operations in the past 24 hours.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) in a statement said Wednesday that the operations were jointly conducted by the Afghan cops.

The statement further added that 21 suspects were placed in durance vile
I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece!
and a would-be jacket wallah was among those held by the Afghan forces.

The majority of the Lions of Islam were killed in northern Kunduz province, MoD said, adding that 8 bad boy including the group’s commander identified as Abu Bakar was killed.

In another operation in Paktika
...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo...
province, 6 Lions of Islam were killed, while 6 Lions of Islam affiliated with 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....
of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group were killed in Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
province.

MoD also added that 6 Lions of Islam were killed in another operation in Tagab district of northeastern Badakhshan province, while 3 Lions of Islam were killed, 4 were maimed in Ghani and Helmand
...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan...
provinces.

According to MoD, at least 5 soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces also bit the dust during the operations.

Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336071 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa North
Police sergeant shot dead in Egypt's North Sinai
[AlAhram] A police sergeant was rubbed out and a low-ranking policeman injured Wednesday afternoon in the North Sinai governorate capital Al-Arish, Egypt's interior ministry announced.

In a short statement, the interior ministry said that the two police personnel working in in Al-Arish city were shot by an unknown assailant driving in a car.

The two police personnel were shot outside of a cop shoppe.

The assailants are still on the lam.

Earlier this week, two police personnel, including a police captain, were killed and others injured in two different attacks against security forces in North Sinai.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336081 views] Top|| File under: Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (IS)


How IS is surrounded in Sirte
Salem Taleb focuses on the Ouagadougou Centre with his binoculars. The Islamic State HQ in Sirte is three kilometres away but IS fighters are closer, about 1.5 kilometres, hiding in three buildings ahead of the checkpoint held by the Third Military Forces. It is a Misrati brigade and Salem Taleb belongs to it.

“They have rockets, snipers and they use suicide cars. They currently attack at night because it’s a full moon,” Taleb told Libya Herald.

The checkpoint is south of Sirte, on the main road to Benghazi. Every 12 hours, a new team of a dozen men with machine guns change shift to control the area. The mission is very clear and simple: don’t move ahead and make sure no IS fighters escape.

“IS is trapped in a 25-square-kilometre area in Sirte. They can’t leave. We’ve decided to lay siege to them until they run out of ammunition,” a commander in the Bunyan Marsous operations room, said.

The IS zone is downtown between coastal districts nos. 1, 2 and 3 in the north to Ouagadougou centre in the south. Mohamed (he doesn’t want to give his real name) is in charge of intelligence. He updates a Google Earth map with IS fighters’ positions in the buildings in the city center with blue pins. “This strategy will cost less lives and less destruction than launching a massive offensive with airstrikes”, he explains.

Ibrahim Beitalmal, head of Misrata military council, estimates that around 500 IS fighters are left in Sirte out of the 2,500 there previously. Other militaries sources say between 800 and 1,000 have been killed, while the others managed to flee before the Bunyan Marsous forces surrounded the town. East of Sirte, in Harawa and Nuflyia, the military operation launched by Faiez Serraj’s internationally-recognised government, has drawn in the Petroleum Facilities Guards (PFG) led by Ibrahim Jedhran and Colonel Bashir Budafira from the Ajdabiya-Sirte operations room. Offshore, the sea access is protected by coast guards from the central sector.

“We have two tugboats with machine guns on them, a 16-metre boat with light weapons and two Zodiac boats to protect the port. We have no help from other Libyan cities, not even from Tripoli”, Reda Essa, the local commander of the coast guards, says.

The plan is to destroy the Islamic State in Sirte within a month. So far the offensive, which started on 12 May, has killed about more than 200 of its fighters and wounded more than 500. “The Bunyan Marsous operation gathers brigades from western Libya towns and cities such as Misrata Tripoli, Janzour, Nalut, Zliten, Tajoura, the Wershefana area, and more,” Colonel Mohamed Gasri, spokesman for the operations room says. “Anyone can join us.”

He adds that even Khalifa Haftar is welcome if he recognises Faiez Serraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA). It may be a joke. Several other leading military figures like Ibrahim Baitalmal and Reda Essa told this newspaper that they would never accept Haftar among them.

Officially, a report is sent daily to the Presidency Council about the military situation in Sirte. But on the front, the brigade are more or less free to do what they want but they feel abandoned.

“It’s me who decides who can leave the frontline for a while. I don’t have to refer to anyone regarding my brigade”, Rami Ragou, the chief of a brigade from Nalut, says. His men are in charge to protect the Zaafran roundabout, which is the west entrance of Sirte and well known as the place IS used to crucify “misbelievers”.

Rami Ragou complains that his group will run out of ammunition soon. “I haven’t received anything. We’ll have to go back to Nalut for ammunition.” All of his men and most of the fighters this newspaper had seen were without any basic military equipment such as helmets or bullet-proof jackets.

But the Bunyan Marsous operations room is allegedly receiving help from 15 to 20 advisers from British and American special forces. “They help us to locate the IS fighters”, Mohamed Gasri said.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336087 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  "We're not surrounded. We have achieved interior mobility!"
Posted by: SteveS || 06/23/2016 14:10 Comments || Top||


LNA claims control of Garyounis
Following a new offensive in Benghazi today, a top Libyan National Army (LNA) commander who asked not to be named told the Libya Herald that it now has “complete control” of the entire Garyounis district. This followed air strikes in the area today. Reports also speak of there having fierce fighting in the district and elsewhere involving 106 infantry brigade, 309 Tobruk brigade and Battalion 21.

There were, however, continued clashes in Gwarsha as well as Suq Al-Hout and Sabri, the commander said, adding that there had been a lot of damage in Garyounis.

He also added that he anticipated the liberation of the city to be declared by Eid and that, once announced, Benina airport would open immediately.

Repeated declarations of an imminent announcement of the liberation of Benghazi have been made by LNA officials, including Khalifa Hafter, over the past two years.

Despite the statement about all of Garyounis being taken, the LNA is officially reported saying today that it now has 90 percent of it. In other advances, however, it is said to have taken most of the tourist village at Ganfouda.

It reports four soldiers killed and says four soldiers were killed and ten others wounded in today’s fighting.

Throughout much of the day, as yesterday, the sound of what appeared to be drones flying over head could be heard in the city.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336070 views] Top|| File under:


Arabia
Coalition stops missile aimed at Marib
The Command of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen has announced that it has intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemeni territories towards Marib city, where it was destroyed without causing any damage.

The Command said in a statement that the Air Force responded immediately to destroy the missile launch platform, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SAP).
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336069 views] Top|| File under:


Europe
Attack at German cinema leaves 25 injured
[CNN] An attack at a cinema in Viernheim, Germany, has left at least 25 people injured, German public TV reported Thursday.

The suspect entered the cinema, apparently heavily armed, around 3 p.m. local time, authorities said. The attacker has been killed, a state interior minister told a local newspaper, according to Rooters. It's not clear if any of the injured were shot, or were maimed in other ways.

Police said they won't release any more details until the operation is over.

The cinema is part of a major shopping center, home to more than 100 businesses. The complex hosts 20,000 visitors daily, according to its website. Viernheim is in western Germany, near Frankfurt.

Mass shootings are rare in Germany. But in 2002, a gunman shot up a high school in Erfurt, killing 16 people -- 13 staff members, two students and a police officer.

In 2009, a gunman dressed in military gear killed 15 people in a rampage that started at a school and spanned two small towns near Stuttgart.

While the motive for Thursday's attack remains unclear, police have repeatedly warned that Germany could be a target by ISIS. Germany absorbed more than 1 million refugees last year, and there have been concerns about the possibility of ISIS cells in the country.
Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 11:41 || Comments || Link || [336125 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Details about the attacker might help narrow down motive. Let's start with was he Aryan or not?
Posted by: rjschwarz || 06/23/2016 14:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Doesn't Germany practice Full Body Gun Control???
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 06/23/2016 14:53 Comments || Top||

#3  There's been some pretty bad reporting coming out of this incident.
Posted by: Rex Mundi || 06/23/2016 14:58 Comments || Top||

#4  The Local.de (Germany) reports

Special forces have shot a man dead who stormed a cinema in western Germany, authorities have confirmed. Security officials say terror is an unlikely motive.

Hesse's interior minister Peter Beuth told DPA that the man was shot dead in a struggle with police after he took hostages inside a cinema in Viernheim western Germany on Thursday afternoon.

No patrons of the cinema complex were injured and all have been released, Beuth told AFP.

Security officials also told DPA that they do not currently suspect that there was a terrorist motive, and that the man was psychologically disturbed.

Another police spokeswoman told AFP they were investigating what type of weapon the assailant used, adding that it was possible it fired blanks.


This matches closely to the article and link Darth Vader posted below.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/23/2016 19:24 Comments || Top||


Gunman in Viernheim, Germany, Opens Fire in Movie Theater
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/23/2016 11:09 || Comments || Link || [336111 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Early stages, no reports of deaths just wounds. No indication of muzzie gunman. Non-WOT for now.

And don't they ban "Assault Rifles" in Germany so they should have these types of shootings, right?
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/23/2016 11:11 Comments || Top||

#2  Gunman is now reported as having been killed by police.

Glad they didn't wait 5 hours....
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/23/2016 11:25 Comments || Top||

#3  Good articles, DarthVader, thank you.

The Local.de (Germany) reports the police say the miscreant was psychologically disturbed, which could mean anything from drunk or drugged to a number of conditions. It does not rule out him being Muslim as well, and unfortunately there is no guarantee that the German authorities or German news media would share that information.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/23/2016 19:34 Comments || Top||


Swiss arrest suspected extremist upon return from Turkey
[Ynet] The Swiss federal prosecutor's office says authorities have detained a Swiss national in Zurich upon his return from The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
on suspicion of links to jihadi groups in Syria and Iraq.

Spokesman Andre Marty said the man, identified only as a 21-year-old from the French-speaking part of Switzerland
...home of the Helvetians, famous for cheese, watches, yodeling, and William Tell...
, was detained at the Zurich airport on June 8 and has been placed in pre-trial detention.

Swiss authorities had opened criminal proceedings against the suspect already in February.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/23/2016 00:00:00 || Comments || Link || [336086 views] Top|| File under:


The Grand Turk
Turkish warbirds hit Kurd Kommies
Turkish warplanes hit Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey overnight on Wednesday and authorities carried out further curfews in rural areas by the time the army and police continue to battle insurgents, security sources said.

Noting that, these new curfews show a shift to rural areas away from cities, where much of the fighting since a ceasefire collapsed last July has taken place.

The fighting came a day after Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said operations in the mainly Kurdish southeast were over, obviously referring to the months-long clashes in some urban centers, and added the government would focus on reconstruction.

The air strikes in Kurdish-run northern Iraq led to the destruction of targets that belong to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), including but not limited to shelters and weapon stores.

The jets also targeted sites near the Turkish towns of Lice, northeast of the regional capital of Diyarbakir, and Semdinli, further east near the Iraqi border, sources said.

The three-decade conflict with the PKK reignited last year after a two-year ceasefire collapsed, and fighting has been at its most intense since the peak of the insurgency in the 1990s.

On Wednesday, new curfews were imposed in villages in Mus and Bingol provinces and near the town of Beytussebap, where three police officers were hurt in a gunfight, security sources said.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336074 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


One soldier killed in PKK attack in Turkey’s southeast
One soldier was killed and another two were wounded on June 22 in an outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attack in the southeastern province of Şırnak, the Turkish General Staff has announced.

PKK militants attacked the Elmalı Peak Military Post in Şırnak, initially wounding three soldiers, according to a statement by the General Staff. One of the soldiers subsequently succumbed to his injuries at hospital at 11.55 a.m., the statement added.

Security forces are still continuing detailed efforts to remove barricades and destroy explosives placed in various points in the region.
Posted by: Steve White || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336079 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


Home Front: WoT
U.S. Court Convicts Two of Conspiring to Join IS
[AnNahar] A U.S. court on Tuesday convicted two men of attempting to help 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....
group in Iraq and Syria, with one attempting to travel to the Middle East.

A jury found Nader Elhuzayel and Muhanad Badawi, both 25, guilty of conspiring to provide material support to the jihadist group, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.
The report of the arrest, such as it is, is here.
Both men, from Anaheim, Caliphornia, an impregnable bastion of the Democratic Party,, were tossed in the calaboose
... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not...
in May last year, when Elhuzayel was about to board a plane from Los Angeles to The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
to join the IS group.

They had "used social media to discuss ISIS and terrorist attacks, expressed a desire to die as deaders, and made arrangements for Elhuzayel to leave the United States to join ISIS," the statement said, using a term for the IS group.

Badawi had bought a one-way ticket for Elhuzayel to travel to Israel with a layover in Istanbul, it added.

In recorded conversations, Badawi and Elhuzayel "discussed how it would be a blessing to fight for the cause of Allah, and to die in the battlefield."

The two also recorded a video in which Elhuzayel swore allegiance to IS group leader His Supreme Immensity, Caliph of the Faithful and Galactic Overlord, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
...formerly merely the head of ISIL and a veteran of the Bagram jailhouse. Looks like a new messiah to bajillions of Moslems, like just another dead-eyed mass murder to the rest of us...
and vowed to travel to Syria to join the group, the statement said.

The jury also found Elhuzayel guilty of 26 counts of bank fraud, for which he faces up to 100 years in prison.

It found Badawi guilty of fraudulent use of federal funds, for which he faces up to 35 years in prison.

Elhuzayel obtained money for his travel by depositing stolen checks into his personal checking accounts before withdrawing cash from three banks.

Badawi used federal financial aid to purchase Elhuzayel's plane ticket.

In her opening remarks, prosecutor Deirdre Eliot told the jury that the two men had shared pictures of beheadings on social media.

Badawi's lawyer argued that although his client's behavior could be perceived as "un-American" and "repulsive," he did not intend to carry out an attack.

Elhuzayel's lawyer Pal Lengyel-Leahu argued his client's comments on social media were merely provocative opinions that should be protected under the right to freedom of speech.

Elhuzayel has Israeli citizenship, he argued, saying his client planned to travel to Israel to get married. Elhuzayel would have difficulty joining the IS group with an Israeli passport, he told news hounds after the verdict.

The pair will be sentenced in September.

U.S. authorities have arrested several other young people attempting to join the IS group in recent years, including a 22-year-old sentenced to 12 years in prison in June.
The Los Angeles Times has more, including that Mr. Elhuzayel's mother describes the family as Palestinian, not Israeli, and said he was going to visit relatives in the West Bank.
Posted by: trailing wife || 06/23/2016 01:01 || Comments || Link || [336093 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  Badawi had bought a one-way ticket for Elhuzayel to travel to Israel with a layover in Istanbul, it added.

My understanding is most countries require you to show a return ticket before you clear immigration at the airport. I guess Turkey is an exception, or is it Israel?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/23/2016 11:42 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Suicide jacket seized from private van
[DAWN] Police on Tuesday claimed to have seized a suicide jacket containing about three kilos of kaboom from a private van which was checked upon its arrival at a fuel station on Saghar Road. The van was detained and its driver placed in durance vile
Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please!
, they said.

Sakrand DSP Anwar Durrani told journalists in his office that the van (GF 6774) was kept under watch after a tip-off. When it arrived at the fuel station, he along with a team of the Balu Ja Quba cop shoppe raided it. During a search of the vehicle, the jacket with explosives stuffed in its pockets was found.

The bomb disposal squad was called out which examined the jacket. Safdar Shah, a member of the squad, confirmed that it contained about three kilos of kaboom. The arrested suspect’s identity was not disclosed.
Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336078 views] Top|| File under:


Famed singer Amjad Sabri gunned down in Karachi
[DAWN] Renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri was rubbed out in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
Wednesday afternoon, after unknown assailants fired at his vehicle in the city's Liaquatabad area.

Qari Saifullah Mehsud, spokesperson for the TTP Hakimullah Mehsud group, has claimed the credit for the attack.

Additional Inspector General Mushtaq Mehar told Dawn that two men riding a cycle of violence fired shots at the car, terming the incident as "assassination'>assassination
." He said the motive of the killing is unknown as of now.

Sabri, 45, and an associate were travelling in a car in Liaquatabad 10 area, when unidentified gunnies fired at their vehicle, critically injuring him. The two were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed hospital immediately, where Sabri departed this vale of tears.

"Two riders used 30-bore pistols to shoot Sabri five times, the bullet to the head took the qawwal's life. The attackers took the Hassan Square route to escape," said DIG West.

"We have cordoned off the area and will arrest the culprits using all our resources," added the DIG.

Police officials recovered five 30-bore casings from the scene of the attack, which have been sent for forensics.

Both front side windows were shattered and three bullet holes could be seen on the front screen.

Ghulam Ahmed, an eye witness told SAMAA TV he saw two cycle of violence riding men fire shots at one side of the car. "Then they turned and fired four shots on the other side of the car."

Additional police surgeon Dr Rohina Hasan confirmed Sabri's demise. He was shot thrice ‐ twice in the head and once in the leg ‐ police sources said.

Senior Director Health Services Abbasi Shaheed Hospital also confirmed that Sabri was declared dead on arrival.

Fakhre Alam, Chairman of Sindh Censor Board, has claimed in a tweet that Sabri had earlier submitted an application for security, but the home department did not act on it.

However,
nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits...
an official source claimed the home department had received no such request. SSP Central also stated he is not aware of any such request.

Amjad Sabri was one of the country’s finest qawwals, known for his soul-stirring renditions of mystic poetry. He enthralled music aficionados with his brand of spirituality, mysticism and ecstasy for years. He was not only well-versed with the structure and aesthetics of qawwali but also knew how to make it adaptive to the contemporary music keeping its essence alive.
Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336111 views] Top|| File under: TTP

#1  ISIS long ago declared war on Sufis. They have been targeted in Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Libya. Ironically, Hasan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood was a Sufi adept and protected the movement as long as he lived.
Posted by: Ulusoque Speaking for Boskone3139 || 06/23/2016 13:02 Comments || Top||

#2  The stars of the Sufi Ole Opry
(Like ours, but a little bit coppery)
Were all melancholy
To see their qawwali
Shot down by damn Taliban snobbery.

Snark of the day.
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220 || 06/23/2016 14:34 Comments || Top||


Iraq
The Beatings Will Continue: Iraqi Edtion
[ARA News] DUHOK – The Islamic State radical group (ISIS) on Wednesday executed four of its own jihadis in the city of Mosul in Iraq’s northwestern Nineveh province on treason charges.

The four ISIS fighters were accused of “high treason” for escaping the battlefront of Mosul, where the group has been engaged in heavy fighting with the Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi army forces.

The ISIS military leadership ordered the immediate execution of the deserters.

“The four fighters were hanged to death in the Muallimin square in central Mosul,” local media activist Ahmed al-Muthanna told ARA News. “Hundreds of ISIS members and civilians witnessed the execution.”

“ISIS leadership accused the four men of high treason for evacuating their post at the battlefront near Mosul without permission. The group considered them deserters and publicly hanged them to death,” the source said.

Speaking to ARA News, head of Nineveh media centre Raafat al-Zarari said: “By publicly executing its own militants for escaping the fighting frontline, ISIS is trying to send a message to all of its jihadi fighters that anyone who would refuse orders will be punished by death.”

“The group is torturing and killing its own fighters. The recent wave of dissidence that hit ISIS’ ranks reflects the gradual collapse of the group’s power,” he said.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336073 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Iraqi Jailhouse Stories: 30 detained
(IraqiNews.com) Babel – A source in Babel police said on Wednesday, that the security forces managed to arrest 30 people wanted on criminal charges during security operations in different areas of the province.

According to information shared by the source, and obtained by Iraqi News, it was mentioned, “Detachments belonging to the different departments of Babel Police arrested 30 wanted people during a number of raid and search operations in different areas of the province.”

The information added, “The detentions were made based on arrest warrants issued by the judicial authorities.”

Share this:
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336075 views] Top|| File under:


Salahuddin Combat Courier
ISIS destroys power transmission lines near Tikrit

(IraqiNews.com) Salahuddin – A source from the Salahuddin province informed on Wednesday, that ISIS blew up five (5) power transmission towers in eastern Tikrit.

Informing about another incident of carnage carried out by the ISIS, the source said, “Today, ISIS blew up five power transmission towers in Albu Khudu at southern al-Daur, 25 km east of Tikrit.”

“The explosion was carried out by using IEDs that wear planted near the towers,” the source added.

Iraqi forces raid Sheikh Ali

(IraqiNews.com) Salahuddin – Media officials with the Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday, that the security forces raided Sheikh Ali village, south of Sharqat in northern Salahuddin.

In an official statement the officials said, “Today, detachments of the Anti-Terrorism Directorate, Ninth Armored Division and Salahuddin Operations stormed into the Sheikh Ali village, south of Sharqat and raised the Iraqi flag over it after inflicting loss of lives and equipment of the enemy.”
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336078 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


2 wounded in artillery attack near Babubah
(IraqiNews.com) Diyala – A local source in Diyala province said on Wednesday that two people were injured in mortar shelling fall near a village, northeast of Baqubah.

According to information shared by the source, “Several mortar shells landed today in groves surrounding Makhisa village (27 km north east of Baqubah). Two persons were injured due to this and number of houses were also damaged. The incident is now being investigated upon by the security authorities.”
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336077 views] Top|| File under:


Ninevah Nightmares: 13 die
216 Virgins get new dates, courtesy Iraqi artillery

(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – A source from the Nineveh Liberation Command announced on Wednesday that three (3) senior leaders of ISIS were killed in an artillery shelling carried out by the Iraqi army on ISIS headquarters at south of Mosul.

According to information shared by the source it was stated, “Army’s 9th artillery brigade shelled ISIS headquarters at Zanaweer village in Qayyarah, south of Mosul.”

Adding further the source informed, “The shelling resulted in the death of three senior ISIS leaders, who were later identified as Mohamed al-Mady, Mohamed al-Agas and Odai al-Ali al-Malali.”

10 ISIS Miscreants Toes Up in airstrike near Mosul

(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – On Wednesday, a source in Nineveh Operations announced, that ten (10) ISIS militants were killed in an aerial bombardment carried out by the international coalition aviation on the organization’s headquarters in al-Qayyarah vicinity south of Mosul.

According to information shared by the source and received by Iraqi News, it was stated, “The international coalition aviation bombarded, today, a hideout belonging to ISIS in Albu Wawi village in al-Qayyarah vicinity.”

“The bombardment resulted in the killing 10 ISIS members and the destruction of one of their tunnels,” the information added.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336074 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Anbar Antics: 50+ die

Iraqi forces capture al-Agariya

(IraqiNews.com) al-Anbar – Anbar Operations Command announced on Wednesday liberating the area located between the village of al-Agariya and the Euphrates River south of Fallujah.

Commander of Anbar Operations, Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Mahalawi, said in a press statement obtained by Iraqi News, “The army’s 8th Brigade managed to liberate the area located between the village of al-Agariya and the Euphrates River, south of Fallujah, from ISIS,” adding that, “The liberation came following the detonation of three booby-trapped vehicles driven by suicide bombers and the destruction of four sand berms.”

Iraqi forces capture Zankoura and al-Halabesa


(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – Anbar Police Command announced on Wednesday liberating the areas of Zankoura and al-Halabesa northwest of Ramadi from the ISIS control, while pointed out to the killing of dozens of ISIS members and the destruction of two booby-trapped vehicles.

Anbar Police Chief Major General Hadi Rezeeg said in a statement obtained by Iraqi News, “Security forces belonging to the [Iraqi] Army, Tactical Regiment and the Special Forces of Anbar police managed to liberate the areas of Zankoura and al-Halabesa, as well as destroying two booby-trapped vehicles that were prepared to target the combat troops.”

Rezeeg added, “The security forces started to search all houses, buildings and shops in the liberated areas, while dismantled the improvised explosive devices and booby-trapped houses.”

50 ISIS Bad Guys join the Choir Invisible near Ramadi

(IraqiNews.com) al-Anbar – The commander of Anbar Operations Maj. Gen. Ismail Mahlawi announced on Wednesday killing 50 “terrorists” during an aerial bombing by the international coalition north of the city of Ramadi.

Mahlawi said in a press statement followed by Iraqi News, “The international coalition aviation, in coordination with Anbar Operations, managed to bomb a number of targets and gatherings of ISIS elements in the area of Zankoura north of Ramadi, killing 50 [ISIS] terrorists.”

He added, “The coalition aviation also managed to destroy two warehouses of weapons and gear, in addition to destructing two vehicles that had carried machine guns and rockets in the same area.”

Iraqi Sturmoviki hit 5 ISIS targets on Khalidiya Island

(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – Media officials with the Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday, that a large number of ISIS members were either killed or wounded during air strikes conducted by Iraqi Sukhoi aircraft in which also five (5) hideouts belonging to ISIS were destructed in eastern Ramadi.

The officials said in a press statement, a copy of which was received by Iraqi News, “Iraqi Sukhoi warplanes conducted, at noon today, air strikes targeting a gathering of ISIS members in Khalidiya Island (20 km east of Ramadi), resulting in the killing of a large number of ISIS members and the wounding of others.”

The statement added, “The bombardment also resulted in the destruction of five hideouts, three vehicles and two motorcycles.”
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336079 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Baghdad Bomb and Bullet Bulletin: 2 die

Kop dies in bombing attack in al-Mashahda

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – On Wednesday, a source in the Ministry of Interior said, that five (5) elements of the police had been either killed or wounded in the explosion of an improvised explosive device that targeted their patrol in northern Baghdad.

“This morning, an improvised explosive device exploded targeting a police patrol while it was passing in al-Mashahda vicinity in Tarmiyah District in northern Baghdad, killing one of the patrol’s members and wounding four others, as well as causing material damage to the vehicle,” this was stated according to information shared by the source.

The information added, “Ambulances rushed to the area of incident and transferred the wounded to a hospital for [medical] treatment and the dead body to the forensic medicine department.”

1 dead in bombing at al-Shaliekh

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – A source in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior said on Wednesday, that six (6) people were either killed or wounded in a bomb blast in northern Baghdad.

According to information shared by the source and followed by Iraqi News, it was stated, “An improvised explosive device exploded, at noon today, near shops on al-Shaliekh area in northern Baghdad, killing one person and wounding five others.”

The information added, “A security force rushed to the area and evacuated the wounded to a nearby hospital to receive treatment and the dead body to the forensic medicine department, while imposed a security cordon around the area of the incident and barred approaching it.”

4 wounded in bombing in al-Taji district

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – An Iraqi police source on Wednesday said that four civilians were injured in a bomb blast at north Baghdad.

Revealing details about the event, the source informed, “This afternoon an improvised explosive device that was placed on side of the road at al-Hamamiyat, al-Taji district in the north of Baghdad exploded, injuring four civilians.”

“Security forces arrived in the blast area and transferred the injured to a nearby hospital for medical treatment,” added the source.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336077 views] Top|| File under:


Science & Technology
Palantir Corp. to sue Army over ground intelligence network contract
[Wash Times] The Army has a new adversary in its battle to build a ground intelligence network the way it wants.

Palantir Corp., whose data processor has won praises for reliability and ease of use from troops in the field, has given written notice to the Army that it plans to file a protest lawsuit.

The Silicon Valley tech firm accuses the Army of illegally excluding its off-the-shelf software from an ongoing project to build the next version of the Distributed Common Ground System, known as Increment 2.

With millions of dollars at stake, Palantir asserts that the solicitation is written in a way to accept only newly developed systems from Army contractors.

"The solicitations refuses to solicit or accept bids from any offerers who have already built a data management platform as a commercial product and could begin immediately fielding it to soldiers in harm's way," Palantir says. "Instead the solicitation seeks to begin another costly and risk-prone major software development project while....
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2016 00:18 || Comments || Link || [336096 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I can't get a clear picture on it. Some said it has great capabilities. Others said it was a dog in the field.
Posted by: newc || 06/23/2016 1:39 Comments || Top||

#2  Certainly no dog, in my opinion anyway. Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) is or was a heavily contractor supported proprietary system that copied capabilities from other tools rather than buying licenses and opening the door to tools. DCGS was not soldier friendly, but due to the sunken costs and contractor tail, is very Pentagon friendly.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2016 6:49 Comments || Top||

#3  This should be an interesting discussion.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/23/2016 8:25 Comments || Top||

#4  "DCGS was not soldier friendly, but due to the sunken costs and contractor tail, is very Pentagon friendly."

You put it a better way.
Posted by: newc || 06/23/2016 12:14 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Air raids kill 25 civilians in Syria
Warplanes have bombed Daesh's de facto Syrian capital Raqa, killing at least 25 civilians, after the militants drove pro-government forces out of their bastion northern province.

Twin offensives aimed at severing the militants' supply line from the Turkish border to Raqa city appear to have largely stalled as Daesh mounts a fierce defence using suicide bombers.

Six children were among the 25 civilians killed in bombing raids on Raqa city late Tuesday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

"Dozens more were wounded, some of them critically," said the British-based monitoring group, which was not immediately able to determine who had carried out the raids.

The Syrian government, its longtime ally Russia and a US-led coalition have all carried out air strikes against Daesh in Raqa.

The Observatory said there were fresh air strikes - apparently by the coalition - on the city on Wednesday, one of which hit the town hall.

Raqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) - an anti-Daesh activist group which gathers news on atrocities in the city - posted photos of what it said were the aftermath of Tuesday's strikes.

They show a concrete balcony hanging off the damaged facade of a residential building as a large fire engulfs a white minivan.

The group has accused Daesh of preventing civilians from leaving the city in order to use them as human shields.

RBSS activist Abu Mohammad told AFP that the wounded were struggling to get proper medical treatment as Daesh has recruited most doctors in the city to treat its own fighters.

'Disastrous' retreat

Raqa city was seized by Daesh in early 2014 and regime forces were expelled from the entire province that year.

Backed by Russian air power, government troops re-entered the province this month as part of an offensive to retake the town of Tabqa, a key stop on Daesh's supply route from Turkey to Raqa city.

But after advancing to within seven kilometres (four miles) of Tabqa airbase, they were driven back an estimated 20 kilometres late Monday.

More than 40 troops and militia were killed in a militant counterattack.

Al-Masdar, a news website close to Syria's regime, said on Wednesday the lightning Daesh offensive had led to a 'disastrous turn of events' and "a disorganised retreat that left behind weapons and several soldiers."

Syria analyst Fabrice Balanche said the pullback could be attributed to a lack of "elite forces" engaged in the battle.

"At the first suicide attacks, they retreated," the Washington-based expert told AFP. "The Syrian forces were spread too thin to be defendable."

Further west in the adjacent province of Aleppo, another assault aimed at blocking Daesh supplies has stalled.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces encircled the militant-held town of Manbij on June 10 but have since faced a barrage of Daesh suicide attacks, including three on Tuesday, the Observatory said.

'Civilians are starving'

Syria's conflict began in 2011 as protests demanding political reform and the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

But a brutal regime crackdown and the rise of militant groups have transformed it into a multi-front civil war that has killed more than 280,000 people.

Peace efforts have failed to put an end to the violence, and a truce brokered by the US and Russia has all but collapsed.

UN mediator Staffan de Mistura said Tuesday he hoped peace talks could resume in July, but warned they could not proceed "while hostilities are escalating and civilians are starving."

Negotiations could restart if the truce is reinforced, humanitarian aid is increased, and a "common understanding of a political transition" is reached, he told the General Assembly via video link.

"Then we can have, hopefully in July, inter-Syrian talks that are not about principles but about concrete steps to a political transition," he said.

The main Syrian opposition body - the High Negotiations Committee - has called for a transitional government body without Assad.

But Syria's regime says Assad is a "red line" and it would only be willing to broaden the government structure to accommodate some opposition figures.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336077 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Kurds make life miserable for ISIS
[ARA News] MANBIJ – Since the start of the battle for Manbij border pocket in northern Syria on 31 May, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have reportedly killed a number of prominent jihadis from the Islamic State group (ISIS).

Manbij Governer Osama Al-Tounsi

Last week, the US-backed SDF fighters attacked a convoy for the radical group of Islamic State (ISIS) while trying to escape the city of Manbij in Syria’s northern Aleppo province. At least ten ISIS militants were killed in the SDF shelling, including the ISIS governor of Manbij Osama al-Tounsi.

“Al-Tounsi was trying to escape Manbij along with his family and a number of his escorts. Their convoy was hit with several artillery shells. They were all killed in the attack,” local media activist Nasir Taljbini told ARA News.

The convoy, consisting of three cars, was exiting the western gate of Manbij heading towards al-Bab city when the SDF forces bombed them.

“The operation was conducted after we received information that ISIS governor of Manbij Osama al-Tounsi is trying to flee the city,” a spokesman for the SDF told ARA News in Manbij.

According to the official, the death of al-Tounsi while trying to escape Manbij indicates the collapse of ISIS in the city under the ongoing operation by the western-backed SDF troops.

ISIS Prince Al-Hussein

One day after the death of al-Tunsi, another top jihadi commander in the ranks of the Islamic State (ISIS) was reportedly killed in clashes with Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northern Aleppo province, military sources reported on Saturday.

Fierce clashes took place between the western-backed SDF troops and ISIS militants in the Um Mayyal village on the road between Aleppo and Manbij in northern Syria, leading to casualties on both sides. The SDF was able to retake the village after ISIS withdrawal.

“Subsequent to heavy fighting on Saturday, our forces liberated Um Mayyal in the western countryside of Manbij on the Aleppo highway,” SDF officer Habun Osman told ARA News. “We have collected corpses of 24 ISIS militants who were killed in the clashes, including their commander Dahham al-Hussein,” the official said, adding that five SDF fighters lost their lives in the fighting and a dozen more were injured.

Al-Hussein was appointed by ISIS as an Emir [prince] in Um Mayyal village and he was in charge of the group’s military operations in western Manbij.

Abu Hamza Al-Ansari

The US-led coalition launched several airstrikes on headquarters of the Islamic State (ISIS) radical group in northern Syria last Sunday, killing and wounding a number of jihadis. The airstrikes targeted ISIS positions in the city of Manbij, near the Turkish border, local sources told ARA News.

At least nine ISIS jihadis were killed, including ISIS senior leader Abu Hamza al-Ansari, and dozens were wounded in the coalition raids on Sunday.

“Al-Ansari was killed along with three of his escorts after one of the airstrikes hit a building where they’ve been hiding in Manbij city,” local media activist Nasser Taljbini told ARA News.

“Another raid targeted an ISIS security centre in Manbij and killed at least five militants and wounded 12 others,” the source reported.

In the meantime, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) advanced towards the ISIS-held city.

Speaking to ARA News, SDF commander in Manbij Adnan Abu Amjad said: “Our forces captured the Al-Kitab square in western Manbij after fierce clashes with ISIS militants.”

The commander added that the international coalition has intensified its airstrikes inside Manbij city to assist the SDF in their ground operations against ISIS.

Chief of Islamic Police Abu al-Hayjaa

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last Wednesday announced the death of the ISIS-led Hisba police in the northern countryside of Aleppo.

Abu al-Hayjaa, head of the Islamic State’s Hisba police force in Manbij city north of Aleppo was killed in clashes with SDF fighters.

The SDF confirmed in a statement, obtained by ARA News, that Abu al-Hayjaa was killed along with dozens of other ISIS militants in an offensive by the SDF-led Manbij Military Council inside the city of Manbij, near the border with Turkey.

“Subsequent to fierce clashes with ISIS militants, our forces captured the Hatabat district in Manbij city on Wednesday,” a spokesman for the SDF told ARA News.

“Al-Hisba chief Abu al-Hayjaa and four of his escorts were killed in the clashes. Also, over 27 other members of ISIS were killed under heavy bombardment by our forces,” the official said.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336076 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  In the future, all jihadis will be emirs for fifteen minutes before something kills them.
Posted by: Charles M. Hagmaier || 06/23/2016 8:28 Comments || Top||


Terror Networks
ISIS fighters should be prosecuted for war crimes against Yezidis
They won't be prosecuted if they win
[ARA News] ERBIL – The Iraqi government and Kurdish government should prosecute ISIS fighters for war crimes against the Yezidi minority, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.

“Yezidi victims of human rights abuses have a right to justice, not just government declarations with no consequences,” said Skye Wheeler, a researcher for HRW’s Women’s Rights Division.

According to HRW, the Iraqi central government and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), hundreds of Yezidis have sought safety, and several ISIS fighters are in custody.

But Human Rights Watch says so far no criminal justice authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan or the rest of Iraq are investigating or prosecuting ISIS members for war crimes or crimes against humanity.

According to HRW, letting grave crimes against Yezidis go unpunished is a stain on the Iraqi government, and countries that vowed to protect groups like the Yezidis against threats of extermination and that have committed themselves to supporting justice for grave abuses whenever and wherever they occur.

A report released on June 16, by the UN-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Syrian Arab Republic, crimes by ISIS against Yezidis after they overrun Sinjar in August 2014 amount to genocide.

Also the Dutch NGO PAX in a report released last week on the situation of Sinjar [Shingal district] after ISIS, called on the Iraqi government to increase the transparency on screening processes, criminal investigations and (military) trials of individuals suspected of ISIS related crimes.

“Multiple crimes, of many different natures, were committed in Sinjar, and must all be addressed through appropriate justice frameworks,” PAX said.

In August 2014, ISIS radicals took over the Yezidi region of Shingal (Sinjar) in northern Iraq, causing a mass displacement of nearly 400,000 people to Duhok and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan. Tens of thousands of Yezidis remained trapped in Mount Sinjar, suffering mass killings, kidnappings and rape cases, according to local and military sources. Also, more than 3000 Yezidi girls have been taken by the radical group as sex slaves.

On November 13, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Iraqi Kurdistan, backed by an air cover from the US-led coalition forces, announced the liberation of the entire Yezidi district of Shingal in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh after fierce battles with ISIS extremists. The Kurdish forces have recently discovered more than five mass graves in the Yezidi region, where hundreds of Yezidi civilians have been summarily executed and buried by ISIS jihadis. Yet, thousands of Yezidi women remain in ISIS captivity after being sold as sex slaves across the group’s territory in Iraq and Syria.
Posted by: badanov || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336078 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  Why the legal process? Kill them on sight.
Posted by: gorb || 06/23/2016 11:34 Comments || Top||

#2  Agree 100%. Kill 'em.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 06/23/2016 14:45 Comments || Top||


Government
DHS analyst 'brought a gun, knife, pepper spray and handcuffs into work to attack senior federal officials'
[DAILYMAIL.CO.UK]
  • Jonathan Wienke was selected for random security screening on June 9 as he made his way into DHS headquarters in Washington DC

  • Officials discovered knife, handcuffs and pepper spray after scanning bag

  • Despite this he was still allowed inside and revolver was only discovered after a follow-up search at his desk an hour and a half later

  • Investigators believe he was plotting to attack senior federal officials

  • Wienke has been placed on leave while the investigation is carried

Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2016 00:00 || Comments || Link || [336112 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Training exercise? /sarc
Posted by: Raj || 06/23/2016 0:29 Comments || Top||

#2  Should have read the whole thing first:

•Wienke has been placed on leave while the investigation is carried

$50 says he gets a promotion. Any takers?
Posted by: Raj || 06/23/2016 0:31 Comments || Top||

#3  The promotion will depend on who was on his senior federal official target list.
Posted by: Airandee || 06/23/2016 6:06 Comments || Top||

#4  A revolver in his pocket? Probably just a extremely paranoid employee.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2016 7:08 Comments || Top||

#5  A revolver in his pocket?

Nah, just really glad to see them.
Posted by: AlanC || 06/23/2016 7:28 Comments || Top||

#6  Don't you know, gun control is only for the peasants. John is about to find out if he's among the inner party or just a prole.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/23/2016 7:53 Comments || Top||

#7  Just a prole. Otherwise we wouldn't be reading about this.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/23/2016 8:09 Comments || Top||

#8  Jonathan Wienke....? Sounds Lutheran. He's finished.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2016 8:15 Comments || Top||

#9  Isn't that inventory standard social wear?
dude takes the train right? Maybe he works late.

I would drop the pepper spray, add my stunner, baton and 2nd chance vest.
Posted by: Skidmark || 06/23/2016 8:29 Comments || Top||

#10  With apologies to Major T.J. "King" Kong, "Shoot, a fellow could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff."
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy || 06/23/2016 8:40 Comments || Top||

#11  Screw pepper spray. Bring wasp spray. That shit shoots a stream 20ft long and burns just as bad.
Posted by: DarthVader || 06/23/2016 9:13 Comments || Top||

#12  And wasp spray ain't illegal.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 06/23/2016 9:37 Comments || Top||

#13  And wasp spray ain't illegal.
Posted by Rambler in Virginia


However, any container in excess of 12 oz is considered an aerosol of war.

Snark of the day, moderator division.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2016 10:48 Comments || Top||

#14  And the winner is comment #14 folks!
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 06/23/2016 14:00 Comments || Top||

#15  Just remember, actually using wasp spray on someone for any reason is a felony. It contains what is essentially a chemical weapon (Nerve agent). It is horribly bad advice to tell someone to use it for self defense. Course, when you're planning to be a democrat operative and slaughter a bunch of people, use whatever the hell you want.
Posted by: Silentbrick || 06/23/2016 16:59 Comments || Top||



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Thu 2016-06-23
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Wed 2016-06-22
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Tue 2016-06-21
  IS group launches counterattacks on US-backed forces and Syrian army
Mon 2016-06-20
  Syrian forces advance on IS-held Taqba air base
Sun 2016-06-19
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Sat 2016-06-18
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Fri 2016-06-17
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Thu 2016-06-16
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Wed 2016-06-15
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Tue 2016-06-14
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Mon 2016-06-13
  Orlando Terrorist Worked For Firm with DHS Contracts
Sun 2016-06-12
  Approx 20 50 dead inside Florida gay nightclub after mass shooting - possible Islamic connection
Sat 2016-06-11
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Fri 2016-06-10
  Rumour: Iraqi news site indicates IS supremo may have been hit by coalition force strike
Thu 2016-06-09
  Daesh blows up ancient monuments in Iraq

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