Page 479 - War Conflict
First all-woman SWAT team set to take on terrorists
Ahead of the Independence Day, the Delhi Police inducted India's first all-woman Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team for anti-terrorist operations.After rigorous training of around 15 months from specialists all across India and abroad, 36 women commandos from the northeastern states have been inducted into this squad. While 13 members are from Assam, rest of them hail from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Manipur.Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, who was behind the idea of the SWAT team, said, "The team is ready to take on hostage crises and terror strikes in urban areas. The members of this all-women SWAT team received better ratings at the Police Training College in Jharoda Kalan than their male counterparts."Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who formally inducted the unit on Friday, said that the women commandos will be deployed at Red Fort and India Gate during Independence Day celebrations.Armed with MP5 submachine guns and Glock 21 pistols, all the members of the force are .
68 pilgrims leave for Amarnath Yatra
A small batch of 68 pilgrims on Saturday left Jammu for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley, police said.
Man kills 8 relatives in Albania
Eight persons were killed on Friday afternoon at Resulaj Village in Albania, where a 24-year-old man opened fire at his relatives over a property dispute, police said.
Nearly 30 civilians dead in heavy bombing on north Syria: monitor
Heavy bombardment killed nearly 30 civilians across northern Syria today, a monitor said, in some of the fiercest shelling of rebel-held areas there in months. The air strikes and barrel bombs targeted the key opposition-held province of Idlib in Syria's northwest and a rebel town in the adjacent province of Aleppo. Idlib is the largest chunk of territory still in rebel hands, and President Bashar al-Assad has warned it would be his next target. The province's southwest was shelled heavily on Thursday and the bombing the next day "moved further east," leaving 11 civilians dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Air strikes by Russian warplanes and barrel bombs from Syrian helicopters hit southern parts of Idlib province today in very heavy shelling," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said today. "It's the most intense bombing since Idlib was declared a de-escalation zone last year," he told AFP. The shelling left eight civilians dead in the main town of Khan ...
Man killed as two groups clash in Greater Noida village
A 23-year-old man was killed after a clash broke out between two groups at a village in Greater Noida here, police said today. According to the police, the matter was reported from Bodaki village under Dadri police station limits late last night. The two groups, from the same community, had a dispute around two months ago. The deceased, Sumit, had then thrashed a person from the other side, the police said. Yesterday, a clash broke out between the groups again. Heated arguments ensued and the two sides came to blows and attacked each other using sticks, they said. "Sumit got hurt in the fight and was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to the injuries this morning," a police official said. An FIR was registered at the Dadri police station and Indian Penal Code sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with armed weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) were invoked, among others, the official said. After Sumit's demise ...
Afghan forces search for Taliban fighters after major attack
Afghan forces launched a clearing operation today, searching for Taliban fighters following a major assault on the southeastern city of Ghazni, after US air strikes targeted insurgents trying to overrun the city. Afghan special forces were deployed to Ghazni after the latest attempt by the Taliban to capture an urban centre, with the assault coming as pressure builds on the insurgents to enter peace talks. Ghazni -- less than two hours by road from Kabul -- has been under threat from massing Taliban fighters for months, with residents saying the complex nature of the attacks was unprecedented in its scale. A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan said the fighting had "ceased" as of today morning, hours after the insurgents began the assault late yesterday from several positions around the city. However, sporadic gunfire continued to echo into the afternoon amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes as scattered Taliban fighters roamed the ...
Rajasthan government to organise human chain along Pak border
: On the eve of Independence Day, the Rajasthan government will organise a human chain along the 650-km-long Pakistan border under a programme, 'Shahadat ko Salam,' said Chief minister Vasundhara Raje in Udaipur on Friday.
Army organises weapon and equipment display for students in Jammu
The Army organised a weapon and equipment display for students and youth at the Zorawar auditorium here today. The display organised by the Tiger Division was attended by a large number of visitors from across all age groups, a defence spokesperson said. Besides the weapons display, a stall showcasing various options for the youth to join the armed forces attracted much attention, he added. Military display of weapons has been a methodology to instil a sense of pride and faith in the custodians of national security in the heart and minds of the local populace, he added. The Tiger Division is stationed in and around some of the most thickly populated regions of the state and regularly conducts events that bolster public support, which has time and again proved to be a crucial force multiplier.
Pak Navy's maritime security ship 'Kashmir' to visit Colombo Port
Pakistan Navy's sophisticated maritime security ship 'Kashmir' will arrive at Sri Lanka's Colombo Port on a four-day goodwill visit from Monday, it was announced here today. During their stay at Colombo, the officers and men of the ship will take part in various professional activities with Sri Lankan Navy. Pakistan Navy ships frequently pay port calls to Sri Lanka, as both countries enjoy warm diplomatic and strong military ties, the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement. "Such interactions also demonstrate both navies' resolve to contribute towards achieving a more secure and conducive maritime environment which is essential for the regional peace, prosperity and harmony," it said. The 1,500-tonne PMSS Kashmir, a 94-metre multipurpose patrol vessel is capable of undertaking multifarious missions such as surveillance, policing, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations, security and law-enforcement patrolling in maritime zones. It is the fourth in a series of six ...
16 killed as Taliban attack Afghanistan's Ghazni city
At least 16 people were killed as the Taliban launched a brazen attack on the strategic Afghan city of Ghazni in the early hours of Friday, seizing a number of key buildings and trading fire with security forces.
US launches airstrikes as Taliban attack Afghan city
US forces launched airstrikes today to counter a major Taliban assault on an Afghan provincial capital, where terrified residents cowered in their homes amid explosions and gunfire as security forces fought to beat the insurgents back. Officials said Afghan special forces were also being deployed to the southeastern city of Ghazni after the latest attempt by the Taliban to capture an urban centre, with the assault coming as pressure builds on the insurgents to enter peace talks. Ghazni -- less than two hours by road from Kabul -- has been under threat from massing Taliban fighters for months, with residents saying the complex nature of the attacks was unprecedented in its scale. A spokesman for US Forces in Afghanistan said the fighting had "ceased" as of today morning, hours after the insurgents began the assault late yesterday from several positions around the city. Sporadic gunfire continued to echo amid intermittent clashes, with officials telling residents to stay in their homes .
UAE to build oil pipeline between Ethiopia and Eritrea: media
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will build a pipeline connecting Ethiopia to the Eritrean port of Assab, state media reported today. The agreement was reportedly made during discussions in Addis Ababa between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and UAE Minister of International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy. The state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate did not provide details on the agreement. Landlocked Ethiopia used an oil refinery located in Assab port for its domestic oil needs before a two-year war over the demarcation of the border broke out between the two countries in 1998, leaving some 80,000 dead before settling into a bitter cold war. In a surprise move in June, Ethiopia's new reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced he would finally accept a 2002 United Nations-backed border demarcation, paving the way for peace between the two nations. Reciprocal visits by the two nations' leaders led to the resumption of flights between their capitals as well as the opening of ...
India, Nepal agree to enhance cooperation on border issues
India and Nepal have agreed to enhance cooperation and coordination between their border guarding forces and emphasised timely sharing of information between their forces on trans-border crime and criminal activities, a statement from Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) said on Friday.
Greece lashes out at Russia's expulsion of Greek diplomats
Greece lashed out today at Russia's expulsion of Greek diplomats from Moscow this week, as a spat between the two traditionally friendly countries grew more acrimonious. The foreign ministry issued a statement describing the Russian move as "arbitrary and vengeful, and not based on any evidence." Russia said Monday it was responding quid pro quo to Greece's expulsion of two Russian diplomats last month, which it described as "unfriendly actions." Athens expelled the two, who were based at the Russian Embassy, in July amid allegations they helped fund protests against a deal between Greece and its northern neighbour Macedonia that would pave the way for Macedonia to join NATO. Russia has strongly opposed NATO expansion to countries that once were under Moscow's influence. "The decision by the Russian Foreign Ministry was not based on evidence, as was that of the Greek side," the statement said, adding Athens had acted based on "specific evidence of illegal and irregular activity by ...
Rafiabad encounter had LeT footprints
Arms and ammunition recovered from the five terrorists who were killed in an encounter in Rafiabad, Baramulla district, on Thursday suggested that the group belonged to the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), said Brig. DR Rai of the Rashtriya Rifles.Brig. Rai said, "Analysis of recovered items suggest that the group belonged to the Lashkar-e-Tayyiba tanzeem. They had probably infiltrated recently across the Line of Control from Pakistan."At least four AK-47s, a pistol and other items including ammunition and rations were recovered from them.Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Sopore Javed Iqbal had confirmed yesterday gunning down of five terrorists in the encounter which was underway for three-four days. Five terrorists were spotted by security forces and they were engaged in firing with the security forces. All five were killed later, Iqbal said.
Two civilians injured in clash with security forces
Two civilians were injured in a clash with security forces during a cordon and search operation against militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district today, police said. Security forces launched a operation at Tangwari Tukra village early this morning after receiving information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. As they started the search operation, a large number of people assembled and started hurling stones at them, he said. He said they used force to disperse the protestors during which two people - Fayaz Ahmad Padder and Jehangir Ahmad Bhat - were injured. Padder was shifted to SKIMS hospital after he received injury in his chest, they said.
Afghanistan: Taliban launches attack on Ghazni
The Taliban launched a major attack on Afghanistan's Ghazni city on Friday.In a statement, the terrorist group said that it entered the city from "different sides". There were heavy clashes between the terrorists and government forces during the assault, TOLOnews reported.Ghazni Police Chief Farid Ahmad Mashal said that the skirmishes were reported in Khogyani, Khwaja Omari, and Zanakhan areas-- all of them situated on Ghazni's outskirts.In response, the US forces launched a drone strike, and later said that the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces had controlled all government centers in the city.Lt. Col. Martin L. O'Donnell, the spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan was quoted by TOLOnews as saying, "US forces responded (to the attack) with close-air support (US attack helicopters) and conducted one strike (drone). In addition, US aircraft conducted a show of presence."The Kabul-Ghazni highway was out of bounds for traffic and civilians during the clashes between the ...
10 killed in botched bank heists: Nigeria police
Armed robbers killed at least 10 people, including a policeman, when they raided a police station and two banks in southern Nigeria, police said today. The incident, which took place on Thursday in Igarra in Edo state, was the latest in a string of such robberies in which the assailants have first attacked a police station to seize weapons before going on to raid a bank. "Ten people were killed in total. The gunmen first attacked a police station where they killed three people, including two detainees and a policeman," a senior police officer told AFP. Three people near the police station also died after being hit by stray bullets, he said, adding that a police vehicle at the scene had been torched. "The robbers attacked two banks but could not break into the vaults," he said. He said four people, including customers, were shot dead at the two banks. Edo state police spokesman Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the incident but declined to give details. Community leader Folorunsho Dania also ...
Dozens killed as Taliban storm Afghanistan's Ghazni city
The Taliban launched a massive offensive in Afghanistan's Ghazni city on Friday amid reports of multiple casualties even as heavy fighting continued between the government forces and militants.
Officials: Taliban try to take Afghan city, kill at least 14
Taliban fighters tried to overrun a provincial capital in Afghanistan early today, hiding inside homes before slipping into city streets in the night to attack security forces and killing at least 14 policemen before being pushed back, officials said. The overnight attack in the southeastern city of Ghazni, the capital of a province with the same name, also wounded at least 20 members of the security forces, said Baz Mohammad Hemat, the administrator of the Ghazni city hospital. Another Taliban attack, this one last night in western Herat province, left six policemen dead in the district of Obe, according to the governor's spokesman, Gelani Farhad. The brazen assaults by the Taliban, who have been gaining more ground in their annual spring offensive and who have shrugged off the government's latest offers of a cease-fire and negotiations, underscore the difficulties Afghan forces face in battling the relentless insurgency on their own in efforts to end the nearly 17-year war. In ...