Page 533 - War Conflict
Eight south Syria towns return to regime control under deals: monitor
At least eight battered rebel-held towns in southern Syria today returned to regime control under Russian-brokered deals after nearly two weeks of bombardment, a Britain-based monitor said. Since June 19, the Damascus regime has pressed a deadly bombardment campaign in southern Syria in a bid to retake the strategic area bordering Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The agreements for the eight towns in the southern province of Daraa were reached even as regime air strikes pounded other opposition holdouts nearby, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. "At least eight towns in the northern and eastern Daraa countryside agreed to 'reconciliation' deals after talks in each town between Russian generals as well as local notables and remaining rebels," Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. The deals are the latest in a string of such "reconciliation" agreements across the country that have seen the government retake opposition-held areas, often after deadly ...
7 killed in Syria bombings
At least seven civilians were killed in bombings carried out by the Syrian Army and government forces on several areas in Deraa province, activists reported on Saturday.
CRPF women commandos prepared to deal with stone pelters
The incidents of stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir are on a rise with women too joining the pelters.To tackle the situation, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has prepared a team of lady commandos.These women commandos have been given rigorous training which includes being blindfolded to deal with night-time deployment and repairing weapons in under a minute in case of any malfunction.The security forces have been repeatedly challenged by the incidents of stone pelting across the Valley in recent times.Earlier on May 7, R. Thirumani (22), a tourist from Chennai, died in a hospital after being hit by a stone during clashes in Narbal area.On May 2, a bus carrying school students was attacked by stone-pelters in Zawoora village of Shopian district. Also, seven tourists were injured when stone-throwers targeted vehicles in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 30.
Two BSF personnel mugged at Delhi Railway station
Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were looted of valuables in the waiting room at Old Delhi Railway Station on Saturday.The robbers mugged the clothes, luggage and watches of the jawans.One of the victims, Sudhakar Tiwari told ANI, "We are normally alert, but thought this waiting room is a secure place so relaxed."The Divisional Railway Manager has begun the investigation in the matter.
Afghan forces resume offensive operations after govt ceasefire ends
Afghan security forces resumed offensive operations today after President Ashraf Ghani declared an end to the government's unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban. Ghani said the ceasefire, which lasted 18 days after it was extended once and overlapped with the Taliban's unilateral three-day truce for Eid, had been "98 percent successful". "The ceasefire is over. The Afghan security and defence forces are allowed to restart their military operations," Ghani told reporters. The three days of no fighting were unprecedented in the nearly 17-year conflict and triggered jubilant scenes across the war-weary country. Taliban fighters and security forces spontaneously celebrated the holiday that caps the holy month of Ramadan, hugging each other and taking selfies. The militants were also mobbed by relieved civilians, who have borne the brunt of the war, raising hopes of a renewed push for peace talks. Ghani said the ceasefire had shown that the majority of the insurgents wanted peace and it ..
J-K DGP asks families of Kashmiri militants to urge them to shun violence
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief S P Vaid today urged the families of militants in the Valley to appeal to their sons to leave the path of violence and promised all possible assistance, including rehabilitation for those who leave militant ranks. "Today once again I urge to the families to appeal to their boys who have taken the wrong path to leave the path of violence & (and) come home, the DGP wrote on Twitter. He said the Jammu and Kashmir police will provide all possible assistance to those who shun the path of violence and return to mainstream. "It is highly unfortunate & painful to see loss of life. @JmuKmrPolice promises to provide all possible assistance including rehabilitation (sic)," Vaid said. The DGP had in the past also appealed to the families of Kashmiri militants to urge their sons to leave militancy and return to mainstream. Since last year, more than a dozen militants have laid down their arms in Kashmir when police announced that they will accept offer of ...
Militant's body recovered from J&K gunfight site
The body of a militant who was killed in a gunfight with the security forces a day before in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, was recovered on Saturday, police said
6 killed in grenade attack at African military force HQ
At least six people were killed when unidentified militants rammed into the headquarters of an African military taskforce, hurling explosives in its premises in Sevare town of central Mali on Friday (local time).A spokesperson for the Malian defence ministry was quoted by Al-Jazeera as saying that an unknown number of assailants attacked the compound of the G5 Sahel Force headquarters.The G5 is a task force consisting of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania, which was created last year with an aim to eliminate terror violence in Sahel, a semi-arid region traversing Central and West Africa.Despite the presence of French troops and peacemakers, terrorist attacks are frequent in the impoverished region, wherein groups affiliated to the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda use Mali as a launch pad for plotting such attacks, according to several media reports.Hundreds of people have been killed in various suicide attacks in Africa over the last few years.
Gaza: 2 Palestinians killed in clashes
At least two Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza Strip as part of the "right of return" march, Palestine's Health Ministry said on Friday.The Palestinian ministry spokesman, Ashraf al-Qidra, said two persons - Mohammad Fawzi al Hamaida (24) and a 13-year-old Palestinian boy were shot dead by Israeli soldiers during the demonstrations in southern Gaza, Anadolu News Agency reported.On June 14, a 21-year-old-Palestinian man died after he succumbed to his injuries during the clashes with Israeli troops at the Gaza border, a week after Israeli forces killed four Palestinians and wounded over 600 people.Among the 600, around 120 were injured from live fire and tear gas.On May 15, the Great March of Return rallies culminated to mark the anniversary of 'Nakba' or 'The Catastrophe', the forced removal of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes to clear the way for Israel's establishment in 1948.Prior to that, a large number of Palestinians gathered to protest on the Gaza Strip's ..
Three dead in attack on Mali HQ of G5 Sahel anti-terror force
The Malian headquarters of an international anti-terror task force, the G5 Sahel, were attacked in a car bomb blast, killing two soldiers and a civilian, according to a security source and a local leader. "Shortly after Friday prayers, a suicide bomber in a vehicle painted with UN colours blew up at the entrance to the G5 base in Sevare. It was a huge blast," a military source in the G5 Sahel force told AFP yesterday. The building's entrance wall was destroyed, with the force of the blast throwing the vehicle inside it, according to witnesses and pictures of the scene. It is the first attack on the headquarters of the five-nation force, set up with the backing of France in 2017 to roll back jihadist insurgents and criminal groups in the vast, unstable Sahel region. Two soldiers from the force and a civilian were killed, as well as two attackers, according to a source within the force and the governor of Mopti, the regional capital. A previous toll of six people killed was revised ...
Six dead as Mali HQ of Sahel anti-terror force is attacked
The Malian headquarters of an international anti-terror task force, the G5 Sahel, were attacked today in a car bomb blast, killing six people and leaving many injured, according to a provisional toll. "Shortly after Friday prayers, a suicide bomber in a vehicle painted with UN colours blew up at the entrance to the G5 base in Sevare. It was a huge blast," a military source in the G5 Sahel force told AFP. It is the first attack on the headquarters of the five-nation force, set up in 2017 to roll back jihadist insurgents and criminal groups in the vast, unstable Sahel region. It came three days before a meeting in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott between French President Emmanuel Macron and the heads of the G5 Sahel states to discuss progress made by the force. A local orange seller, Haoussa Haidara, said "there was a huge blast" followed by gunfire which lasted more than an hour. Six people were killed in the attack, according to a hospital and a military source, giving an interim
Two Gazans shot dead in Israel border clashes: ministry
Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians, one in his early teens, in border clashes today in the southern Gaza Strip, the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry said. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told AFP a Palestinian youth aged about 13 was shot in the head near the town of Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, without giving his name or exact age. He added that 24-year-old Mohammed al-Hamayda had died after being hit in the stomach by Israeli fire in a separate incident east of Rafah. The Israeli army gave no immediate comment. Since protests broke out along the Gaza border on March 30, at least 137 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. The majority were involved in protests but others were seeking to breach or damage the border fence. No Israelis have been killed. On Thursday, Abdel Fattah Abu Azoum, 17, was hit in the head by fire from an Israeli tank near Rafah in southern Gaza. The Israeli army said he and a companion were trying to break through the border fence.
Delhi Environment Minister slaps defamation notice on BJP leaders
Delhi Environment Minister and AAP leader Imran Hussain on Friday slapped a defamation notice on BJP legislators Vijender Gupta, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra for allegedly leveling corruption allegations against him over felling of trees matter."The noticees made libellous allegations. For instance, you had protested and published inter-alia that my client has indulged in corruption and he had given permission to cut the trees in Delhi after taking an amount of Rs 23 crore," read the legal notice.The notice further said that "slanderous allegations" charged by the BJP leaders and rebel AAP MLA damaged the reputation of the AAP and Hussain.The Environment Minister also sought an unconditional written apology from the BJP legislators and the rebel AAP MLA or face civil and criminal proceedings to be initiated by Hussain.The issue of felling of trees for the redevelopment of office and residential complex for central government officials in seven colonies in Delhi
Two Naxals held in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh
Police have arrested two Naxals in the insurgency-affected Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh. Sukhram Kowasi was arrested from Jaigur village under Kutru police station limits when a police team, on a combing operation, cordoned off the area, an official told PTI. Kowasi is accused of involvement in incidents of looting and other Naxal-related activities. Naxal militia member Lekam Rama (28) was arrested at Lingagiri village in the district. Rama is accused of involvement in a land-mine blast targeting security forces near Kottaguda village on May 12, the official said.
Indian criminal shot dead in crossfire in Nepal
An Indian national criminal was killed in an exchange of fire between Nepal's Rautahat district police patrol and Indian criminal group, the state news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) reported.The police team and the criminal group had exchanged fire on the embankment area of Bagmati river nearby Gadahiya Dumuriya in Rajdevi municipality-4.The 25-year-old criminal, identified as Indra Jit Giri of Bihar's Muzaffarpur, was gunned down in the cross-fire, police said.The police squad recovered an automated SMG gun, four bullets, one magazine and other substances from his possession, DSP Dani said.The District Police Office, Rautahat had mobilised special police squad on the bordering area along the Bagmati river bank acting on a tip-off that there has been increasing presence and maneuvering of Indian criminals.The motorbike-borne criminals had opened fire at police while undertaking security screening.One of the criminals collapsed from the motorbike in the retaliatory firing of ...
Three militants killed in J&K gunfight, youth also dies
Three militants were killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday, while a youth also died in clashes as protesters pelted the security forces with stones while the operation was underway, police said.
Wanted criminal arrested from Rohtak
A wanted criminal, carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on his head, was today arrested from Rohtak, police said. Devender alias Bichhu, along with his two associates, was arrested, they said. With their arrest, 14 cases including, four of loot and extortion, were solved, a spokesperson of the Police department said. He said that as directed by Director General of Police B S Sandhu, a statewide night domination drive was conducted. During this, intensive night patrolling was carried out to conduct surprise check at various locations in the state during the past few days. Police had seized three country-made pistols, six live cartridges and a car, which they robbed from Delhi, he said. All the accused were produced before a court in Rohtak, which sent them to two days police remand.
2 militants gunned down in Pulwama, youth dies in clashes with security forces at encounter site
Two militants were today gunned down in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir and a youth died in clashes between stone-pelters and security personnel near the encounter site, a police official said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Thumna village after getting information about the presence of militants there, the official said. Three militants were holed up inside a house. The security personnel managed to pinpoint the location of the militants but the operation had to be delayed due to the presence of civilians in the house, he said. A gunfight broke out between the security forces and the militants after all the civilians were evacuated. Two of the three militants were killed, the official said. Meanwhile, a mob started hurling stones at the security forces engaged in the anti-militancy operation. At least five people received pellet or bullet injuries in the security forces action against the protestors, the police official said. He said one of the ...
Police special forces commander gunned down as truce nears
Gunmen shot and killed a senior police special forces commander who was known as a dogged anti-Taliban warrior barely 24 hours before President Ashraf Ghani's unilateral cease-fire was to end at midnight today, the Defence Ministry said. Azizullah Karwan was gunned down as he picnicked with his family in the Afghan capital Kabul, said ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish. Karwan is among dozens of Afghan Security Forces personnel killed in brazen assaults around the country since the Taliban ended their three-day truce two weeks ago, even as Ghani extended the government's cease-fire. The combatants had independently observed a cease-fire to celebrate the Muslim holy day of Eid al-Fitr, which marked the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan when devotees fast from sunrise to sunset. It was the first truce in Afghanistan's brutal 17-year war and both Taliban and government officials embraced the reprieve from fighting with joint celebrations. In cities throughout the country, Taliban ...
Four injured in clashes between security forces, stone-pelters at encounter site
At least four persons were injured in clashes between stone-pelters and security forces today near an encounter site in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where three militants were reportedly trapped. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Thumna village after getting information about presence of militants there, a police official said. He said the security forces managed to pin point the location of the militants but the operation to flush them out was delayed due to presence of some civilians in the house. A gun fight broke out after all the civilians were evacuated, the official said. Director General of Police S P Vaid said three militants were reportedly trapped at the encounter site. Meanwhile, a mob started pelting stones at the security forces engaged in the operation. Four persons received pellet or bullet injuries in the action by security forces against the stone-pelters, the police official said.