Page 292 - War Conflict
Boko Haram raids military posts in northeast Nigeria
Boko Haram jihadists have raided at least three military posts and overpowered troops in the latest attacks in northeast Nigeria, sources said Wednesday. Fighters from the IS-affiliated Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) overran the posts in Borno state on Tuesday, military and militia sources told AFP. The Boko Haram faction has in recent months intensified attacks on military targets in Borno and Yobe states, raiding bases and killing dozens of troops. "They first dislodged soldiers at a checkpoint in Kimba in Biu... and then took over another post at Sabon Gari, five kilometres away," said one military officer of the latest attacks. The jihadists launched another attack on a base in nearby Wajirko, according to a militiaman in the area. On Monday, the jihadists had overwhelmed troops in Buni Gari village in neighbouring Yobe state, leading to "some losses", an army officer said. "Troops were outgunned and forced to retreat after heavy fighting with the terrorists," the ...
Syria rebel-jihadist clashes intensify, 50 dead
Clashes between jihadists and rebels in northwestern Syria have killed almost 50 people over two days, a war monitor said Wednesday. Clashes flared Tuesday between Al-Qaeda-linked coalition Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and an alliance of rebel groups in western Aleppo province. On Wednesday the fighting spread to the neighbouring province of Idlib, the country's last opposition bastion, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "The fighting intensified and spread to the north and southeast of Idlib province," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Observatory. He said that 48 people have been killed, updating Tuesday's toll of 19. HTS had on Monday accused rebel group Nureddine al-Zinki of killing five of its fighters, and launched an offensive against rebel positions. Nureddine al-Zinki is a major player in the National Liberation Front (NLF), a Turkish-backed rebel alliance. Abdel Rahman said Wednesday that other NLF factions had now joined the fighting, while the ...
Seven arrested after 37 killed in central Mali: government
Seven people were arrested in central Mali Wednesday, the day after 37 civilians were killed when armed men attacked a village in the region in the latest clash between warring communities, the government said. Following the New Year's Day massacre in the village of Koulogon, in the central Mopti region, "Mali army forces were rushed to the scene", the civil protection ministry said in a statement, adding they "arrested seven suspects" without giving details on those detained. Tuesday's attackers were believed to be traditional Dogon hunters who targeted the village of Fulani herders. The same Mali army mission also went into Bobosso village, near the Burkina Faso border, following arson attacks, killing one suspect and detaining 24 others, the ministry said. France helped Malian forces stave off a jihadist insurgency that took control of large parts of the troubled north in 2012, but since the death in November of Fulani jihadist figure Amadou Koufa, inter-group conflict has ...
IS suicide bombings kill three soldiers in Libya
Tripoli, Jan 3 (IANS/AKI) Three Libyan soldiers were killed and a fourth soldier was injured in two suicide bombings carried out by the Islamic State jihadist group in southern Libya, a spokesman for the United Nations backed government's interior ministry, Ahmed Baraka, said.
Syria regime says Kurdish fighters withdraw from Manbij
The Syrian regime said Wednesday hundreds of Kurdish fighters had withdrawn from Manbij near the border with Turkey, days after the Kurds appealed to Damascus for support against a threatened Turkish offensive. "A convoy of units of Kurdish fighters comprised of more than 30 vehicles left the region of Manbij, heading towards the eastern bank of the Euphrates River," the defence ministry said online. "The information (we have) indicates that nearly 400 Kurdish fighters have left Manbij so far." The People's Protection Units (YPG), the main Kurdish militia in Syria, last week invited regime forces to deploy to the key city following a shock announcement that American troops would leave the country. The YPG seized Manbij from the Islamic State group in 2016 and US forces have continued to support the Kurdish fighters in their battle against the jihadists. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement last month of a swift US withdrawal has left Kurdish fighters exposed to a planned ...
Turkey detains two French IS suspects wanted by Interpol: state media
Turkish authorities detained 12 suspects over alleged links to the Islamic State group including two French women sought by Interpol, state media reported on Wednesday. The suspects, including French, Syrian and Algerian citizens, were taken into custody after anti-terror raids in the northwestern Turkish province of Bursa, state news agency Anadolu said. Among those caught were three women including the two French women who had red and blue Interpol notices issued against them, Anadolu and the private DHA news agency reported. Some of the suspects had been in Syria with the extremist group before moving to Bursa, the agency said, without giving further detail. Another suspect was believed to have been a guard for an IS commander. Five of the suspects have been sent to deportation centres, Anadolu said. Bursa is Turkey's fourth most populous province with more two million residents. There have been a series of raids against IS suspects in Turkey in the past two weeks, especially ahead
Sadeera Samarawickrama included in SL squad for NZ tour
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama on Wednesday was named for both the limited-overs squads for New Zealand tour.The 23-year-old has replaced fellow countryman Angelo Mathews, who was ruled out of the limited-overs leg of New Zealand tour after sustaining a grade-two strain in his left hamstring during the second Test in Christchurch.Samarawickrama, who made his international debut in October 2017, has represented his side in four Tests, six ODIs and five T20Is, so far. He also featured in Sri Lanka's most recent ODI series against England, scoring his first international half-century.Sri Lanka and New Zealand are slated to meet for the first ODI on January 3. The match will be followed by two more ODIs, and a one-off T20I on January 11 at Eden Park.
Latur: Police deny permission for Chandrashekhar Azad's rally
The police in Latur in central Maharashtra denied permission for a rally of Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad Wednesday. The rally, organised by the Yuva Bhim Sena, was to take place at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Park in the city on Wednesday evening. Following the denial of permission, Azad arrived at the spot, paid homage to the statue of Dr Ambedkar and left without making any speech. Earlier, Azad had alleged that Mumbai police had detained him when he arrived in the state last week ahead of January 1 commemoration event at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial in Pune district. Police sources said here that the permission for the rally was denied on the grounds of law and order.
No specific inputs of any 26/11 type attack on India by sea, waterways: Centre
However, there were available inputs that Pakistan-based terrorist organisation had exhorted its cadres for 'Samundari Jihad' against India, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.The Minister further informed that as per the information, Pakistan-based terrorist groups continue to train their cadres for underwater strike capabilities in a bid to infiltrate them into India by sea or waterways.He said the government was better equipped to face any such eventualities.About a decade ago 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists entered the financial capital of India-Mumbai-through a sea route from Pakistan and conducted a series of coordinated shootings and bombing attacks across the city, India has stepped its coastal vigil.On November 26, 2008, multiple attacks took place in Mumbai at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, Cama Hospital, Nariman House business and residential complex, Leopold Cafe, Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower, .
UK stabbing suspect held under mental health law
A 25-year-old knife-wielding man arrested during a New Year's Eve terror attack in Manchester is being detained under the Mental Health Act after an assessment by medical experts, police said on Wednesday. The man stabbed three people - including a police officer - at Manchester Victoria station before being arrested on Monday night. Greater Manchester Police said the counter-terrorism investigation launched in the wake of the attack on Monday night remains ongoing, including a search of a property associated with the suspect in north Manchester. "The 25-year-old man arrested following the incident at Manchester Victoria Station has been assessed by specialist medical staff and detained under the Mental Health Act. The Counter Terrorism investigation remains ongoing," Greater Manchester Police said in a statement. "There is nothing to suggest the involvement of other people in this attack, but confirming this remains a main priority for the investigation," it said. Footage of the ...
Farmers oppose limestone mining in Gujarat; clash with police
Clashes broke out Wednesday between the police and farmers protesting against limestone mining by a private firm near a village in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, leaving several policemen and agitators injured, officials and local residents said. While Bhavnagar Superintendent of Police (SP) P L Mall said four policemen were injured in the clashes, local villagers claimed around 15 people, including women and girls, were wounded. The police lobbed 35 teargas shells and resorted to baton charge to control a large group of farmers demanding that limestone mining by UltraTech Cement Ltd near Bambhor village in Talaja taluka be halted, the SP said. Around 30 villagers were detained, he added. The protesting farmers hailed from 13 villages in the taluka, around 180km from Ahmedabad. Local residents said around 15 people were injured and taken to a nearby hospital in Mahuva town. Villagers joined a protest march and reached near Bambhor, where they tried to disrupt the mining activity, ...
Fighting among rebels in northern Syria kills dozens
Two days of fighting in rebel-held parts of northern Syria killed dozens of people as al-Qaida-linked militants press their offensive against Turkey-backed rebels, a war monitor and activists said Wednesday. The new wave of fighting comes after President Donald Trump's abrupt announcement in mid-December that he was withdrawing 2,000 US troops from Syria and Turkish threats to carry out a military operation against Kurdish fighters. With their offensive, the al-Qaida-linked fighters are trying to cut off Turkey-backed fighters in the northern enclave of Afrin from those in the northwestern province of Idlib, amid concerns that Turkey might make a deal with Russia at the expense of the extremists, said Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "They are trying to say we are present and no one should ignore us," he said of the al-Qaida-linked fighters. The al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee and the Turkey-backed Nour el-Din el-Zinki group
Pak opens fire along LoC in Poonch for 2nd day, shells forward posts
Pakistan army troops opened indiscriminate firing on forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district for the second consecutive day Wednesday, officials said. There were nearly 1,600 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan in 2018 till October-end, the highest recorded in a year so far, they added. Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling and small arms fire on forward posts in Digwar sector of Poonch district Wednesday, the officials said. Indian troops fired in retaliation, they said, adding that no casualty or damage was incurred. On Tuesday, Pakistani troops had resorted to small arms fire along the LoC in Khari Karmara and Gulpur areas in Poonch. Despite repeated calls for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire understanding of 2003, there were 1,591 incidents of unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and the IB by Pakistan last year till October, the officials said.
In counter-insurgency ops no joy in death, whether militant or security personnel: J-K DGP
There is no joy in any death in a counter-insurgency operation, be it of security personnel or a militant, Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh said Wednesday. Addressing an annual press conference here, Singh, who took over as director general of police (DGP) in September last year, said the number of incidents of violence in Kashmir was higher in 2018 compared to the previous year as terror groups in Pakistan kept the pot boiling by pushing in militants from across the border. However, he said any death during counter-insurgency operations, be it of a militant, security force personnel or a civilian, was nothing to boast about. "Despite our efforts, some youth joined the militancy and some were killed also. We feel sad about it, we regret it. It is no source of joy for us. We are in an atmosphere of violence and violence begets violence. "In such circumstances, we have to undertake counter-insurgency operations. Whether a militant, a soldier, a policeman or a civilian gets ..
Army Chief reviews security in militancy-infested south Kashmir
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat Wednesday visited the militancy-infested south Kashmir to review the security situation and counter-insurgency operations in the region, officials said. "Continuing with his visit to the Valley, the Chief of Army Staff Gen Bipin Rawat reviewed the prevailing security situation and strategy for counter terrorist operations in the hinterland," an army official said. Accompanied by the Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Rawat was briefed by the Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen A K Bhatt at Badami Bagh Cantonment on the overall situation and major operational, informational, logistical and administrative aspects pertaining to the Corps, the official said. Rawat visited the formations and units deployed in south Kashmir, where he was briefed by the local Commanders on existing security situation and the measures instituted to ensure close coordination with all government agencies towards maintaining vigil and peace in the Valley, the official ...
2 Iranians among 29 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan
At least 29 Taliban militants, including two Iranians, have been killed in operations and airstrikes by Afghan forces in the country's Faryab province, the military said on Wednesday.
9th All India Police Commando Competition begins in Assam
The ninth All India Police Commando Competition, organised under the aegis of Assam Rifles was inaugurated by Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy at Karbi Anglong Sports Association (KASA) Stadium at Karbi Anglong district headquarters here in Assam, officials said. Speaking on the occasion, Roy said the competition's main aim is to improve the standard of professional performance of the police forces of the country. Appreciating the endeavour of the Assam Riffles for organising the competition, Roy said the country's oldest paramilitary force has lived up to its credo of being 'Friends of the North East'. A total of 22 teams - eight central armed police forces (CAPF) teams and 14 state police force teams are participating in the event, an Assam Rifles official said. A team of 21 paratroopers displayed their skills at the programme, he said. A Traditional Manipuri Musical Band also performed at the programme, he added. The Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous .
Afghan officials say Italian adviser survives rogue attack
Afghan officials say an Italian military adviser escaped unhurt after a rogue border policeman opened fire on his armoured vehicle in western Afghanistan's Herat province, not far from the border with Iran. Gelani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor, says the adviser was inside his armoured vehicle after finishing a meeting Wednesday with Afghan officials when the gunmen opened fire, wounding a female police officer before being shot dead by nearby police. A senior police official who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to discuss the incident, said the adviser was an Italian national. No one has taken responsibility for the attack but Taliban insurgents routinely urge serving Afghan security forces to attack NATO personnel in Afghanistan, mostly as advisers.
Army's Rs 60,000-cr FICV project stuck in procedural delays: official sources
A 10-year-old plan to acquire 2,600 future infantry combat vehicles for the Indian Army at a cost of around Rs 60,000 crore is staring at an uncertain future as it is stuck due "divergent views" among the stakeholders on its implementation, official sources said. They said another ambitious programme to indigenously manufacture a fleet of modern battle tanks, christened as future ready combat vehicle, is also not moving forward due to procedural delays. The sources said a scheduled meeting among top brass of the defence ministry and the Army to discuss ways to take forward the future infantry combat vehicles (FICV) project last month was postponed due to certain differences over the programme. The FICV was first envisaged in October 2009 and the initial process was started months later. However, the process of selection of private companies, which could indigenously manufacture the combat vehicles, was withdrawn in 2012 and a fresh start was made in 2014. Infantry combat vehicles are .
Manchester stabbing suspect detained under mental health law
Police say that the sole suspect in the stabbing of three people in the English city of Manchester on New Year's Eve has been detained under the Mental Health Act. Greater Manchester Police said in a statement late Tuesday night that the 25-year-old man arrested at the scene was assessed by medical staff before the decision was reached. Police are treating as the attack as a terrorist incident. They say the investigation is ongoing, and do not believe others are involved in the attack. Officials say that verifying that the suspect acted alone without a support network is a key objective of the investigation, headed by counterterrorism police. Police are searching the suspect's home in Manchester for evidence. The suspect has not been identified. He is accused of stabbing three people including a British Transport police sergeant at a Manchester rail station Monday night while shouting Islamic extremist slogans. Two of the victims a man and a woman who were on the rail platform when ..