Page 450 - War Conflict
US general assumes NATO command in Afghanistan
US Army Gen. Austin Miller has assumed command of the 41-nation NATO mission in Afghanistan following a handover ceremony. Miller took over Sunday from Gen. John Nicholson, who held the post for more than two years, at a ceremony attended by senior Afghan officials and foreign ambassadors. The handover comes at a time when Afghan forces are struggling to contain a resurgent Taliban and an increasingly powerful Islamic State affiliate. The Taliban control several districts across Afghanistan, and both groups have launched a relentless wave of attacks in recent months. The NATO mission began with the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks. The U.S. and NATO formally ended their combat mission in 2014 but still routinely come to the aid of Afghan forces.
CISF trains MP women jail police personnel in special skills
A select contingent of over 150 women police personnel from Madhya Pradesh prison police are being provided specialised training by the CISF in handling weapons and frisking of visitors, an official said on Sunday. He said the women force, called 'jail prahari', have been sent to the central paramilitary forces' training centre in Barwaha (Khargone district) in Madhya Pradesh recently, apart from the about 2,600 more personnel from another unit of the state police and that of the Uttar Pradesh Police. "Over 2,700 police personnel from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are being trained by our master trainers at various centres across the country at present," CISF spokesperson Assistant Inspector General Hemendra Singh said. He added that a contingent of 159 personnel of women jail police personnel are being trained as part of this task in various subjects of building/infrastructure security and weapon handling. The about 1.81-lakh personnel strong Central Industrial Security Force is ..
Suicide car bomber kills three in Somali capital
A suicide car bomb killed three security guards and injured several more people in the heart of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday, authorities said. Islamist extremists of the Al-Shabaab movement immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. "There was a car bomb blast targeting the district administration offices and three people died and several others wounded," Mogadishu administration spokesman Salah Hassan Omar told reporters at the scene. He said the dead were security guards at the building's main entrance where the blast occurred. Witnesses said the explosion destroyed the building. "The blast was very huge, it affected several nearby buildings including a Koranic school and a mosque," said witness Abdukadir Dahir. "Eight people were wounded among them several students who stayed at a nearby madrasa," he added. The militants' claim came in a brief statement posted on a pro-Shabaab website. "The Mujahedeen attacked the headquarter of the apostate administration... ...
3 killed, 14 injured in Somalia blast
Three soldiers were killed and 14 persons injured after a suicide bomber attacked a government office here on Sunday, police said.
Suicide car bombing in Somalia's capital wounds at least 4
A Somali police officer says at least four people are wounded after a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle outside the compound of a district headquarters in Somalia's capital. Capt Mohamed Hussein says the bomber tried to speed through a checkpoint but was stopped by security forces, prompting him to detonate the vehicle near the gate of Howlwadag district headquarters. He says the wounded are mostly young students at a nearby Islamic school. Officials warn there could be more casualties as the blast pulled down nearby buildings including a mosque. There is no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, which shattered a period of calm in seaside Mogadishu. The al-Shabab extremist group often targets the capital.
5 dead due to asphyxiation in Odisha
Five people died of asphyxiation inside a septic tank in Odisha's Rayagada district on Sunday, police said.
Search operations underway in Shopian
Security forces Sunday launched a cordon and search operation in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir following a brief exchange of fire with militants, the police said. Security forces were in the process of laying cordon in Imamsahib area of Shopian following information about presence of militants when the ultras opened fire at them, a police official said. He said the security forces retaliated, leading to a brief exchange of fire. "Search operations have been launched and the cordon strengthened in the are but there has been no fresh firing reported so far," the official said.
Search operation in J&K following gunfight
Security forces launched a search operation on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district following a brief gunfight with militants, police said.
UN chief condemns escalating violence in Libya
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres Saturday called for an end to violence in Libya in accordance with a UN-brokered ceasefire agreement. According to a health ministry toll at least 39 people have been killed and some 100 injured in five days of clashes among rival militias, which broke out Monday in suburbs south of Tripoli. "The Secretary-General condemns the continued escalation of violence in and around Libya's capital and, in particular, the use by armed groups of indiscriminate shelling leading to the death and injury of civilians, including children," a statement from Guterres' office said. "The Secretary-General calls on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and abide by the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United Nations and the Reconciliation Committees." In a joint statement Britain, France, Italy and the United States have said they "warn those who tamper with security in Tripoli or elsewhere in Libya that they will be held accountable for any such ...
Pentagon cuts off financial aid to Pakistan
The United States military has decided to cancel the financial aid worth 300 million USD to Pakistan due to the growing concerns regarding the latter's failure to tackle the militants, according to an exclusive report by Reuters.Authored by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, the Reuters report further revealed that United States President Donald Trump's administration has accused Pakistan of providing a safe haven to the insurgents, who are responsible for the "a 17-year-old war in neighbouring Afghanistan". However, Pakistan has denied any such charges.The Reuters quoted a US official as saying that United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis would have authorised the 300 million USD in Coalition Support Funds (CSF) only if Pakistan took actions against the militants and rising insurgency, but he chose not to.CSF was part of a broader suspension in aid to Pakistan, announced by President Trump earlier this year.The report by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali quoted Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant ..
Saudi-led coalition admits wrongdoing in Saada attack
Saudi-led coalition involved in a Yemen war Saturday admitted the wrongdoing in an airstrike that targeted Yemeni city Saada, pledging to hold those responsible accountable, Al Arabiya reported.
Russia accuses US of training militants in Syria for terror attacks
Russian Defence Ministry on Saturday accused the United States of training militants near its base in Syria and instructed them to launch terrorist attacks.
Three militants, soldier killed in Bandipora forest operation
Three militants and an army soldier were killed in a gunfight on Saturday in an anti-militancy operation by the army in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district.
Romeo Force in J-K celebrates 20th Raising Day
The Romeo Force, a division of the Rashtriya Rifles dealing with anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir which has neutralised 1,458 militants so far, celebrated its 20th Raising Day on Saturday. The Romeo Force, whose 308 personnel, including 37 officers, sacrificed their lives since its formation, celebrated its 20th raising day in Rajouri, a Defence spokesman said. The force operating in Rajouri-Poonch border districts, has neutralized 1,458 terrorists and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition and war-like stores, the spokesman said. For the last 19 years, the Romeo Force has been one of the prime engines of the Northern Command for attrition against terrorism and stability in the hinterland of the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, he said. The force was raised on September 1, 1999 at the Rajouri Fort. The short but glorious history of the force has been a saga unparallel bravery, courage, sacrifices and unconditional devotion to the duty by all ranks of the ...
Saudi-led coalition admits 'mistakes' in deadly Yemen bus strike
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen admitted Saturday that "mistakes" had been made in an August air strike on Yemen that killed 51 people including 40 children. An official said an investigation by the coalition had found "mistakes" were made in the strike on a crowded market in northern rebel-held Yemen, adding that those responsible must be "punished".
3 smugglers apprehended
The BSF has apprehended three people for trying to smuggle drugs from across the border with Pakistan here, officials said Saturday. The three people were apprehended On Friday Three mobile phones, one Pakistani SIM and an Indian SIM, and a vehicle has been seized from them. Besides this, Indian currency worth Rs 6,954, Nepali currency worth Rs 25, US currency worth $1 have also been seized from them. According to an official, an information regarding some suspicious movement in Sri Ganganagar sector was obtained. "On this information, a special operation was launched by 91 Battalion of BSF in Sri Karanpur area and one person identified as Gurmeet Singh from Jalandhar was apprehended near 350 metres from the International Border," the official said. On his interrogation, two more persons, identified as Attar Singh and Surendra Singh, both from Sri Ganganagar, were apprehended with a Bolero vehicle. During detailed interrogation of the trio, they confessed to have been planning to ...
Three militants killed in encounter in J-K's Bandipora
Three militants were killed Saturday in an encounter with security forces in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said here. "Three terrorists were killed in an operation in Danna in Bandipora district of north Kashmir," Srinagar-based defence spokesman, Col Rajesh Kalia, said. He said weapons and other war-like stores were recovered from the operation site. The operation is over, the spokesman said, adding further details were awaited.
30 Nigerian soldiers killed in Boko Haram raid: military sources
At least 30 Nigerian soldiers died in combat with Boko Haram jihadists who overran a military base in the northeast near the border with Niger, two military sources told AFP on Saturday. Scores of jihadists in trucks stormed the base at Zari village in northern Borno state late Thursday and briefly seized it after a fierce battle, they said. "They came in large numbers in trucks and carrying heavy weapons and engaged soldiers in a battle that lasted for an hour," a military officer said. "We lost at least 30 men," the officer said, adding that the attack took place at around 4:00 pm. "They overwhelmed the troops who were forced to temporarily withdraw before reinforcements arrived," said the officer who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak. Boko Haram has intensified attacks on military targets in recent months. The attacks appear to undermine repeated claims by the military that Boko Haram had been defeated. The militants took weapons and military equipment .
'Pro-Russian separatist leader's death may inflame Ukraine tensions'
The death of a pro-Russian separatist leader in the conflict-ridden eastern Ukraine could serve to escalate tensions in the region and impede the so-called Minsk peace process, a Kremlin spokesperson said on Saturday.
Three militants killed in Bandipora forest operation
Three militants were killed in a gunfight on Saturday in an anti-militancy operation by the Army in north Kashmir's Bandipora district.