Page 414 - War Conflict
SPO who decamped with weapons had terror links: J&K Police chief
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief Dilbag Singh said on Saturday the Special Police Officer (SPO) who decamped with eight firearms on Friday was in touch with militants.
Surgical strikes anniversary: Parrikar praises soldiers
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Saturday congratulated soldiers on the second anniversary of the surgical strikes carried out in 2016 to smash terror camps operating from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Parrikar, who is currently in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment, tweeted that such military actions were necessary for national security. "There are times when military actions are necessary for national security. The Indian Armed Forces possess strong capabilities to execute missions in tough terrains. I salute our brave soldiers who are always ready to protect the country," Parrikar tweeted Saturday. On September 29, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on seven terrorist launchpads across the LoC in retaliation to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. The Centre had announced last week that various events will be held from September 28 to 30, as part of Parakram Parv, to ...
Surgical strikes second anniversary observed in Meghalaya
Parakram Parv was observed Saturday here to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army across the LoC in 2016. Various types of equipment, weapons and emergency medical support system used by the army were displayed for the visitors at a function organised on the occasion. Gorkha Training Centre and Assam Regimental Centre displayed their band performance for the visitors which included former Army personnel, school students and civilians. Inaugurating the function, Brigadier Ajay Tewari, (Sena Medal) said that such programme is for the youths to get inspired and join the forces. It will also give motivation to the public and get a sense of pride that the armed forces are capable of many more things than just protecting the country, he added. He said that the diverse communities of the North East has been an integral part of the defense forces and have contributed so much for the country. The Brigadier said the day is observed the ..
WWI allies celebrate first armistice in Greece
Envoys from five Allied countries marked Saturday the first armistice of World War 1 in Thessaloniki, 100 years after Bulgaria's defeat hastened the end of the "Great War". The Allies' first triumph "led progressively to the final victory", French state secretary Genevieve Darrieussecq noted during a ceremony at the Zeitenlik military cemetary in northern Greece. Representatives from Britain, France, Italy, Russia and Serbia attended the event, which celebrated the armistice of September 29, 1918 at the final resting place of 20,000 Allied soldiers. The unsung victory came almost three years after a Balkans front was launched to support Serb forces against Bulgaria, a German partner, with Allied troops forced to battle malaria and overcome logistic nightmares and inter-Balkan conflicts. Just six weeks later, the remaining Central Powers, Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottoman Empire, capitulated and the "War to End all Wars" ended after some 10 million soldiers had died.
Wanted Maoist arrested in Pakur
A wanted Maoist, who carried a reward of Rs one lakh on his head, was arrested following an encounter with the police in Jharkhand's Pakur district, police said Saturday. A police team led by superintendent of police Shailendra Prasad Burnwal had gone to Babban Pokhar village under Maheshpur police station in the district on Friday following a tip off. The Maoist Sunil Murmu had fired at the police team, who retaliated and cornered and arrested him. Murmu had demanded "levy" of Rs 80 lakh from a contractor setting up a school for tribals in the area and was also involved in an encounter at Dumarghati village under the same police station with a team of the force headed by Burnwal six months ago. The Maoist had fled but his accomplice had been killed in the encounter then, Burnwal said. Several cases including murder, loot were registered against him, the SP added.
Palestinians ask UN court to revoke US Jerusalem embassy move
Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki said Saturday the Palestinians have petitioned the UN's top court, alleging that the US inauguration of an embassy in Jerusalem was illegal. The Palestinians have filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) "for violating international law by moving its embassy in Israel to the occupied city of Jerusalem", he said, quoted by the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. In December, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite Palestinian claims on part of the city and breaking with longstanding US policy. Palestinians have since refused all contact with the Trump administration. The US embassy was transferred from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on May 14, a day marked by mass protest in the Gaza Strip, where about 60 Palestinian protesters were killed by Israeli fire in border clashes. Israel occupied east Jerusalem along with the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War and later declared the entire city ..
Army gets 3 new commanders as present ones retire tomorrow
Three Lieutenant General-level officers will take charge as the new Army Commanders after the retirement of three Army commanders tomorrow.Sources informed that Lt Gen SK Saini is slated to head the Pune-based Southern Command, taking over from Lt Gen DR Soni.Lt Gen PS Thimayya will be the new head of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) at Shimla. Lt Gen MM Naravane has been appointed as the new Eastern Army Commander head quartered at Kolkata where the previous Army Commander Lt Gen Abhay Krishna, has been moved the Lucknow based Central Army Command as the new army commander.Also, Lt Gen PS Rajeshwar will be taking charge as the new Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee as incumbent CISC Lt Gen SK Dua will retire on October 31.Indian army is 1.3 million strong and is organised into 7 independent commands.
Afghan policeman kills 2 officers in latest 'insider attack'
Two Afghan police officers were gunned down by a fellow policeman in southern Kandahar province, the latest in so-called "insider" attacks in the war-battered country, a spokesman said Saturday. According to Aziz Ahmad Azizi, the provincial governor's spokesman, three other policemen were wounded in the attack late on Friday night. The incident took place at a remote police outpost in Raghistan district. Azizi said the attacker, who had joined the police force around a year ago, was able to flee the area. A police investigation has been launched into the attack. No militant group immediately claimed responsibility but blame is likely to fall on the Taliban. In the past, perpetrators of insider attacks either members of the Afghan forces or assailants wearing uniforms of various Afghan troops would turn the gun on their fellow soldiers or policemen and would later flee the scene of the attack to join the Taliban. In other developments, six Afghan soldiers were injured when a military
Chad troops kill 17 jihadists after 6 die in Lake Chad attacks
Six people, including two soldiers, died in an overnight Boko Haram attacks near Lake Chad, security and army sources said on Saturday, saying Chadian troops had killed 17 assailants in a counter-offensive. Three forestry officials and a customs officer and two soldiers were killed in attacks on Moussarom and Ngueleya located in the Lake Chad region, south of Baga Sola, a security source told AFP. "The attackers were later repelled," the source said. Chadian army spokesman Colonel Azam said "17 Boko Haram members have been killed" although he put the civilian death toll at three instead of four. The last Boko Haram attack on the Chadian side of the lake happened on July 22 in which 18 people were killed in a village south of Daboua near the border with Niger. Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency has devastated the region since it took up arms in 2009 in Nigeria, leaving at least 20,000 people dead, displacing more than two million others and triggering a humanitarian crisis. Chad, ...
Joint Indo-US army exercise concludes in Uttarakhand
The fortnight-long 14th Indo-US joint army exercise in 'Yudh Abhyas' series, at Chaubattia in Uttarakhand's Almora district saw one infantry battalion -- 350 soldiers -- each carrying out field training drills under a joint brigade headquarters, an Indian Army spokesperson said.
BSF jawan's killing: Rajnath hints India retaliated strongly
Union Home Minister has indicated that Indian forces struck hard at Pakistan recently, retaliating to the killing of a BSF jawan at the International Border earlier this month. The minister said he would not reveal the nature of the action by the armed forces but asked people at an event here Friday to trust him on this. Hua hai, theek-thak hua hai. Vishwas rakhna, bohot theek-thak hua hai do-teen din pehle. (Something has happened, something substantial has happened. Believe me, something very substantial has happened a couple of days back), he said. He added such Indian action will take place in the future as well. The warning comes as the government marks the second anniversary of the surgical strikes across the Line of Control. The minister made the comment while referring to the killing of BSF jawan Narendra Singh on September 18. The jawan was shot and then his throat slit. Days after this killing in Ramgarh sector in the Jammu region, Army chief Bipin Rawat had said stern ...
Indo-US military drill 'Yudh Abhyas' concludes
The 14th edition of the joint Indo-US military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' culminated at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand on Saturday, the Indian Army said in a statement. The exercise, which saw participation of an Infantry Battalion of the Indian Army and the 1stBattalion 23 Infantry Regiment of the US Army, had commenced on September 16. The Yudh Abhyas started in 2004 under the US Army Pacific Partnership Programme. It is being hosted alternately by the two countries since then. "Exercise Yudh Abhyas strengthens and broadens interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and the US armies. It is the fourth Indian-US Army exercise at Chaubattia and complements number of other exchanges and exercises between the forces," the statement said. Over the years, the two countries have decided to progressively increase the scope and content of the combined exercise and 'Yudh Abhyas 2018' witnessed a division headquarter-based command post exercise and one infantry battalion each carrying out field
7,000 civilians joined Parakram Parv in Jammu: IAF
Nearly 7,000 civilian visitors thronged the Indian Air Force station here which organised a two-day static display of military assets here to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes, a defence spokesperson said Saturday. The enthusiastic civilians participated in the 86th anniversary celebrations of the IAF along with the second anniversary of the surgical strikes carried out by the Army across the Line of Control, the spokesperson said. The two days event "Parakram Parv" started with inauguration by group captain N K Choubey, officiating Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Air Force station, Jammu on Friday and culminated Saturday evening. "The event witnessed a huge turnover of nearly 7,000 enthusiastic visitors comprising of students of various age groups and civilians of Jammu. The visitors were amused with the special display MI-17 helicopter, Air Force Garud commandos with their state-of-art weapons, and various other activities," the spokesman said. He said a selfie point
Armed forces tackled insurgencies, calamities in Manipur: CM
Armed forces have always come to the rescue of people during emergency situations - be it insurgency or natural calamities, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said Saturday. The CM appreciated the paramilitary forces for their relief work during the recent floods in the state. "The military men have tackled insurgency and calamities in Manipur, time and again. Several people trapped during floods in July were rescued by the armed forces," Singh said here at a programme organized to mark the second anniversary of the 'surgical strike'. The state has produced many Army officers over the years, the CM said. "We have given two Lieutenant Generals to the Army. Every Manipuri is proud of them," he said. Singh asserted that India has always advocated for discussions and dialogue before resorting to force. "If the country's patience is tested, it would be forced to show its power and capacity to the world," he said, referring to the Uri attacks on September 18, 2016. Major ...
Iran lawmaker says negligence led to parade attack
A prominent Iranian lawmaker said an attack on a military parade in the southwestern city of Ahvaz that killed 24 people was the result of negligence by security forces, semi-official ISNA news agency reported Saturday. The report quoted the head of Iran's parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, as saying a video shot by the Intelligence Ministry and the Army makes this clear. "The cameraman begged a sniper to shoot the attackers, but the sniper waited for his commander's order," he said, describing the video. Ninety-two lawmakers and the intelligence and interior ministers reviewed the video of last Saturday's attack. "There were eight or nine snipers who were easily able to kill the terrorists in 30 seconds," Falahatpisheh said. He said one sniper did not at first believe an attack was taking place, but when he saw people were being killed he still did not shoot, saying he didn't get an order to fire. Falahatpisheh said some of ...
Syria transport ministry says trade crossing with Jordan open
Syria's transport ministry said Saturday the main border crossing with Jordan had reopened to trade for the first time in three years, although there was no immediate confirmation from Amman. "The Syrian transport ministry announces the opening of the Nasib border crossing, with trucks and transit vehicles beginning to cross the Syrian-Jordanian border," the ministry announced on its Facebook page. Government troops retook the Syrian side of the crossing in July under a deal with rebel fighters brokered by Damascus ally Moscow. It had been sealed completely since rebels overran it in April 2015, choking off one of the most important trade routes for the government. The crossing was a key link not only for direct trade between the neighbouring countries but also for longer-distance transit trade between Lebanon and the Gulf which was a signficant source of revenue. There was immediate word from Jordan on the reopening of the crossing, which is known there as Jaber. Earlier this week, ..
2 police officers killed in an insider attack in Afghanistan
An Afghan official says at least two police officers were gunned down by a fellow officer in the country's latest "insider" attack in southern Kandahar province. Aziz Ahmad Azizi, provincial governor's spokesman, says three other police were wounded in the attack late Friday night. The incident took place at a remote police outpost in Raghistan district. Azizi says the attacker, who had joined police around a year ago, was able to flee the area. A police investigation was begun to find out the motive behind this attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Libya seeks UN 'security' support
After a month of militia clashes that left more than 100 people dead, Libya's UN-backed foreign minister on Friday called for the country's UN political mission to transform into a "security and stability" support role. Mohamed Siala, foreign minister of the UN-backed Libyan unity government, did not specify if he had in mind a UN peacekeeping mission. "Priority must be given to security, to stability," he told the United Nations General Assembly. "We call for conversion of UNSMIL, which is a special political mission, into a mission of support for Libya's security and stability," he said without providing further detail. The United Nations Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL), led by Ghassan Salame, was set up in 2011 to assist the country's new authorities after the NATO-backed revolution which ousted Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi. UNSMIL has focused on fostering political dialogue to help the North African country's transition to democracy. Under a UN-brokered agreement, the unity ..
US military F-35B fighter conducts first-ever airstrike
The US military's F-35B joint strike fighter jet conducted its first-ever airstrike on Thursday.According to the US Marine Corps and three US defense officials, the strike took place against a fixed Taliban target in Afghanistan.According to CNN, the strike was confirmed in a statement by the Marines. "During this mission the F-35B conducted an air strike in support of ground clearance operations, and the strike was deemed successful by the ground force commander," read the statement.Referred as the most expensive weapon system in the history, F-35 stealth jet's development was troubled by multiple delays before it was considered combat ready.The aircraft is a favorite of the US President Donald Trump, who has praised it for being "invisible".However, it is not really invisible but has reduced capability to be seen by enemies' radars.
Seven Palestinians killed in new border clashes: Gaza ministry
Seven Palestinians, including two boys aged 12 and 14, were killed in clashes with Israeli forces along the Gaza border, the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled strip said. Nasser Mosabih, 12, was shot in the head in clashes along the frontier east of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza Friday, ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP, on what was one of the bloodiest days since protests began on March 30. Fourteen-year-old Mohammed al-Houm, was shot dead "by live ammunition from the (Israeli) occupation forces" east of Al-Bureij in central Gaza, Qudra said. Five adult men were also killed in widespread clashes along the border, with a further 210 people hospitalised, the spokesman added. The Israeli army said some 20,000 "rioters" had gathered at multiple sites along the border. It said the protestors hurled "grenades and explosive devices in several different locations". It said troops were firing "in accordance with standard operating procedures." The army declined to comment on the