Page 404 - War Conflict
Russia kept away from disputed islands during military drills: Minister
Moscow has not involved the Kuril Islands that it disputes with Tokyo during a major military drill, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has said.
Afghanistan: At least 15 security personnel die in Taliban attacks
Afghan Taliban recently mounted an attack on a number of security check posts in the Jawzjan province, resulting in the death of at least 15 security personnel.The attack, which took place in Qosh Tepa district of the northern Afghanistan province on Sunday night, also resulted in a further 26 security force personnel being injured, TOLO News cited sources as saying.Authorities have issued warnings that unless air support is provided to aid the forces, the district will be claimed by the Taliban militants. "Clashes are still ongoing in the district," officials were also quoted by TOLO News as saying.However, a security policeman, Kamaluddin Yawar stated that "four security forces were killed in the attack and four others were wounded.""At least 30 Taliban were killed and 19 others including their shadow district governor were wounded in the attack. Two security check posts were also fallen to the Taliban," Yawar added.The Taliban have also confirmed the attack.
Jihadists pull heavy arms from parts of Syria buffer zone: Monitor
Jihadist factions including Syria's former Al-Qaeda branch have pulled heavy weapons from parts of a planned buffer zone in the country's northwest put forward under a Turkey-Russia deal, a monitor said Monday. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham "and other less influential jihadist groups have withdrawn their heavy weapons from large areas of the demilitarised zone" ringing Idlib province, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. HTS has yet to comment on the reported withdrawal, which quietly began "two days ago", according to Abdel Rahman. "Until now, heavy weapons have been removed from northern Hama and eastern Idlib" located in the proposed zone, he said. Last month's agreement between regime ally Moscow and rebel-backer Turkey is to create a 15- to 20-kilometre (9-12 mile) demilitarised area ringing the Idlib region -- the country's last insurgent bastion. Under the deal, all rebels in the buffer zone must withdraw heavy arms by Wednesday, and radical groups ...
Egyptian court sentences four jihadists to death
An Egyptian military court has sentenced four jihadists to death over attacks which killed 20 police officers, a judicial source said Monday. They were found by the court to be members of the Province of Giza, a branch of the Islamic State group, and involved in a series of deadly attacks last year, the source said. Sixteen others received life sentences of 25 years, while 15 were jailed for five to 15 years. "The defendants used arms, explosives and bombs" in the attacks, the head of the military court said, quoted in the government newspaper Akhbar al-Youm. Those convicted have the right to appeal their sentences at the military supreme court, an army official told AFP on the condition of anonymity, confirming the convictions reported in state media. Seventeen defendants were acquitted in the military trial. Since the ousting of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, hundreds of police officers, soldiers and civilians have been killed in jihadist attacks. The Egyptian army ...
Army Commanders' conference to discuss studies to improve internal structures
The Army Commanders' Conference will begin here on Tuesday and discuss operational and administrative issues besides studies done to meet future challenges and to improve the teeth-to-tail ratio to improve the internal structures.
IAF's Garud unit bags 6 gallantry awards for anti-terror ops in Kashmir
A unit of the Indian Air Force's (IAF) elite Garud Commando Force on Monday bagged six gallantry awards for its anti-terror operations in the Kashmir Valley, officials said. Formed in February 2017, unit number 617 received one Ashok Chakra, three Shaurya Chakras and two Vayu Sena medals for the successful operations until now. The unit also received the prestigious Air Force Chief's citation while its Commanding Officer (CO) Squadron Leader Rajiv Chauhan was honoured with the Vayu Sena medal. The Garud is an elite force like the Para Special Forces of the Army and the Marcos of the Navy. Last year, the unit eliminated eight terrorists and lost three of its men in two different operations, Chauhan said in his interaction with reporters here. Describing the two major operations in the Valley, Chauhan, who has been the CO of his team since its inception, said his unit gunned down two terrorists on October 11 last year. A month later on November 18, his team eliminated six terrorists. ...
Ukraine launches large-scale air exercises with NATO countries
Ukraine on Monday began a series of large-scale air force exercises with the United States and other NATO countries, the defence ministry said. The "Clear Sky 2018" war games, which will run until October 19, are being held in western Ukraine. Some 700 troops are taking part, half of them from NATO member countries including the United States, Britain, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania. US aircraft including F-15C Eagle fighter planes and C-130J Super Hercules military transport planes and drones will train with about 30 Ukrainian aircraft, the ministry said. Polish and Romanian aircraft will fly in to work with their Ukrainian counterparts in what will be "the first time" they work together "in the air to protect the airspace," Ukraine air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said. The aim is "to enhance regional capabilities to secure air sovereignty and promote peace and security through cooperation," a US Air Force statement said. In recent years, concerns have risen about Russia's ...
5 held for dacoity and murder in Odisha
Five persons were arrested on Monday for their involvement in a dacoity and killing of a 60-year-old salesman of a liquor shop at Jagadalpur village in Ganjam district, police said. The incident took place under the jurisdiction of Berhampur Sadar police station, on Wednesday, October 3, the police said. The deceased was identified as Bijaya Kumar Dakua (62) and he was a resident of Jagadalpur village, a police officer said, adding, the salesman's body was recovered on Thursday morning. The five accused are also residents of the same village, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Berhampur Sadar, A K Mohanty, said. They looted Rs 20,000 from the liquor shop and killed the salesman before leaving it, Mohanty said. The accused have confessed to their crime, the Inspector-in-Charge (IC) of Berhampur Sadara police station, Siba Shankar Mohapatra, said.
Haryana to set up anti-terror force
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said an anti-terrorist force -- Kavach -- will be set up to further strengthen the security arrangements in the state.
2002 Gujarat riots: SIT report on Army deployment is 'blatant lie', says Lt. General (Retd)
Retired Lt. General Zameer Uddin Shah, who led the Army troops in quelling violence in 2002 Gujarat riots, has described portions of the enquiry report by the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigative Team (SIT), related to the Army movement, as "a blatant lie".
Dutch expulsion of alleged Russian spies a 'misunderstanding': Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday said the expulsion of four alleged Russian agents from the Netherlands in April had been a "misunderstanding", calling their visit a "routine trip". "There was nothing secret about the trip by our specialists to the Netherlands, it was a routine trip. They didn't hide when they checked into the hotel, or when they came to the airport, or when they went to our embassy," Lavrov said during a press conference. "They were detained without explanation... and asked to leave. It looked like a misunderstanding," he said, adding that there had been no diplomatic protests over the incident. The Netherlands said Thursday it had expelled four GRU military intelligence agents in April for plotting a cyber-attack on the world's chemical weapons watchdog in The Hague. The men entered the country on Russian diplomatic passports on April 10 and were caught red-handed on April 13 with a car full of electronic equipment in the Marriott Hotel next to the ..
Cut in excise duty on petrol, diesel was 'jumla', 'loot' by govt continues: Cong on fuel price hike
The Congress Monday termed the recent reduction in petrol and diesel prices as a mere "jumla" (rhetoric) and said the "loot" of the Modi government has been continuing unabated even during the festival season. The opposition party alleged that "looting" people's pockets through taxes on petrol and diesel has become the primary duty of the BJP-led government and reiterated its demand for bringing petrol and diesel under the ambit of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). "The Modi government is continuously looting the public on petrol and diesel. Looting people's pockets is the primary duty of the BJP. In the last three days, prices of petrol have risen by 53 paisa and diesel by 87 paisa in Delhi. The loot of Modi government is continuing unabated during the festivals," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Twitter. Petrol and diesel prices were cut by a minimum Rs 2.50 on October 5 when the government's only second cut in excise duty of Rs 1.50 per litre and state-owned ...
Egypt army says 52 suspected jihadists killed in Sinai
Egyptian security forces pressing a campaign against Islamist militants have killed 52 suspected jihadists in the Sinai Peninsula in operations in which three soldiers also died, the army said Monday. The military launched a sweeping operation in February focused on the Sinai in eastern Egypt aimed at wiping out jihadists, including from the Islamic State (IS) group, who have been waging a bloody insurgency. On Monday, the military said that 53 "takfiris" or Sunni Muslim extremists were killed in two separate operations by security forces in the restive peninsula. Three members of the armed forces were also killed in these operations, it said in a statement, without stating when they took place. The military has regularly reported operations in the Sinai since it launched the campaign. According to official figures, a total of more than 350 suspected jihadists and at least 30 soldiers have been killed in the "Sinai 2018" campaign. Security sources said last week that local IS leader ..
Malegaon blasts: Non-bailable warrants issued against accused
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Monday issued non-bailable warrants against 2008 Malegaon blast accused Ajay Rahirkar and Sudhakar Chaturvedi after they failed to appear before the court. The two accused are currently on bail.On September 4, the apex court had refused to entertain accused Lieutenant Colonel Srikant Prasad Purohit's petition seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into his alleged abduction and torture by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with the case.While pronouncing the orders, the apex court had also asked Purohit to approach the trial court.Six people were killed while more than hundreds got injured in the blast that took place on September 29, 2008 in the Muslim majority town of Malegaon. In November 2008, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 11 people in this connection. In April 2011, the investigation was transferred to the NIA.
Jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh looted in Jharkhand
Unidentified robbers on Monday looted jewellery worth Rs 25 lakh from a businessman in Jharkhand's Ranchi, police said.
Hry govt to set up anti-terrorist 'kavach'
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Monday announced that the Haryana government will set up an anti-terrorist force (ATF) comprising specially trained recruits from the state police, to deal with present day security challenges. "We have decided to set up an anti-terrorist force. This force will be named 'Kavach'. Select Haryana police recruits will be trained by the National Security Guard (NSG). I have already spoken to the NSG in this regard," Khattar told reporters in Gurgaon, adding that some states have already set up such a unit. When asked on the need for such a force, Khattar said the ATF will deal with "security challenges in general which we face in the present day". Clarifying that the decision to form this force had nothing to do with any specific threat being faced by the state, the CM said, "Prevention is better than cure." When attacks in Pathankot and Mumbai occurred no one knew them from before, the idea is to be better prepared (in the future)," he explained. The ...
Israel raids Palestinian village after deadly shooting
Israeli security forces raided the village of a Palestinian suspected of shooting two Israelis dead, the army said Monday, making arrests while the assailant himself remained at large. Ashraf Naalwa, 23, from the northern West Bank village of Shuweika, has been named by the Israeli army as the Palestinian behind Sunday's attack in the occupied West Bank industrial area of Barkan where two Israelis were killed and a third wounded. Soldiers, as well as police and Shin Bet internal security officers "operated in the village of Shuweika, north of Tulkarm, from which the terrorist originated," the military said. It said security forces "arrested" an unspecified number of people "suspected of aiding the terrorist" while a manhunt for the gunman was still underway. A spokesman for the Shin Bet said they had arrested Naalwa's brother, while his sister was "detained, questioned and released", declining to provide further details. Naalwa was employed at the same plant in the northern West Bank .
Taliban calls for boycott of Afghan elections
The Taliban on Monday appealed to the people of Afghanistan to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country, calling them an attempt to legitimise the presence of foreign troops.
16 Naxals arrested in Chhattisgarh
Sixteen Naxals, five of them suspected to be involved in a deadly attack on a CRPF team last year, were arrested from Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said Monday. There were two women among the arrested ultras, they added. The arrests were made Sunday from a hill near Minpa village under the Chintagufa police station limits by a joint team of the Special Task Force (STF), the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the district police, a senior police official told PTI. In view of next month's Assembly polls, the security forces have intensified the patrolling in the interior forests of the Naxal-hit districts to apprehend the lower-rung cadres, who are instrumental in planting explosives to target the police personnel and putting up Maoist posters and banners, he said. Acting on an information about the presence of Naxals, the joint team launched an operation from the Burkapal camp towards Minpa and Tadmetla, located around 500 km from state capital Raipur, and apprehended the ...
Moscow to summon Dutch envoy over cyber-attack claim: Russian news agencies
The Russian foreign ministry was to summon the Dutch ambassador on Monday after the Netherlands said it had foiled a cyber attack by Russians, state news agencies reported. "Due to the campaign of disinformation carried out in The Hague the Dutch ambassador will be summoned to the foreign ministry on Monday," a source in the ministry told RIA Novosti state news agency. The Netherlands said Thursday it had expelled four GRU military intelligence agents in April for an attempt to hack into the headquarters of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. At the time of the alleged plot the OPCW was investigating the March poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the English town of Salisbury. It was also probing allegations of a chemical weapons attack on the Syrian town of Douma by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Moscow. The suspected agents were travelling on Russian diplomatic passports. Moscow last summoned the Dutch .