Page 559 - War Conflict
Libya militia attacks oil facility in east: military official
A militia opposed to Libya's military strongman Khalifa Haftar today attacked eastern oil sites under his control, setting fire to at least one crude reservoir, a military source said. The attack was carried out by the Benghazi Defence Brigades, including fighters driven from Benghazi city by forces loyal to Haftar, the source said. The fighting took place south of Ras Lanuf and Al-Sedra, two terminals severely damaged in clashes between the two groups in 2016 and 2017. One of the reservoirs was hit by a rocket fired by the attackers, the same military source said. A spokesman for Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army, which controls most of the country's east, said the attack had been repelled. "The army and air force have been tracking down the Benghazi terrorist brigades," who fled the area, the spokesman said. "The attack aimed to reduce pressure on the terrorists in Derna," the LNA spokesman added. The LNA launched an offensive on May 7 to "liberate" the coastal city of ...
Swiss court frees Tamil Tiger bankers
Switzerland's supreme court today ruled that 13 alleged financiers of the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers were not guilty of supporting a criminal organisation and let them walk free. Bringing to an end a nine-year process, the court found that prosecutors had not proved the accused had supported a criminal organisation. It acquitted five of them completely and handed suspended sentences to the others for lower-level financial offences, the ATS news agency reported. The 13 defendants -- 12 Tamils or Swiss citizens of Tamil origin plus one German - stood accused of participating in or supporting a criminal organisation, fraud, forgery, money laundering and extortion. During their eight-week trial, which began in January and closed in March, public prosecutor Juliette Noto had called for jail sentences of up to six and a half years, ATS said. She charged that the World Tamil Coordinating Committee (WTCC), which oversaw a fundraising and money distribution operation, had created a sophisticated .
Naval academy officer undertakes solo cycle expedition
A solo cycle expedition from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to create awareness on 'Armed Forces Flag Day' is being undertaken by lieutenant commander Manoj Gupta of the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala in neighbouring Kannur district. The expedition began at Khardung La in Jammu and Kashmir on June 6 and would end in Kanyakumari on July 16, an INA release said today. The expedition was flagged off by colonel Satish Sharma, commandant of Ladakh scouts regimental training centre, Leh, it said. Technical support to the lieutenant commander, who would visit 40 places, was being provided by TI Cycles of India, Chennai, at its retail outlets en route, the release said. The officer has already traversed through Upshi, Pang, Sarchu, Keylong, Manali, Mandi and Ramshehar, covering a distance of 800 km, before reaching Chandigarh on June 13, the release added.
Clashes kill 39 combatants outside Yemen's Hodeida: medics
Heavy clashes killed 39 combatants outside Yemen's rebel-held port city of Hodeida today, as a Saudi and UAE-backed offensive to retake the key aid hub entered its second day. Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels suffered 30 fatalities in the fighting, which took place two km from Hodeida airport, south of the city, medical sources told AFP. Nine pro-government troops were killed in the same area, the medics said. Military sources said the deaths were caused by mines and snipers. An AFP correspondent behind the government lines in Al Duraihimi witnessed ambulances arriving from the front loaded with dead and wounded. Saudi-led coalition warplanes and Apache helicopters provided "continuous" air support to pro-government forces, striking Huthi positions, military sources said. The Huthis have put up a fierce resistance, however, using snipers to slow the assault, the sources added. The coalition-backed troops have also been slowed by the need for de-mining operations to advance. The ...
Militants snatch rifle of CRPF jawan near railway station in Anantnag
Suspected militants today snatched a rifle from a CRPF constable at GRP barracks, about 400 m from Sadura raiway station in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, officials said. The men pelted stones at the constable and a gun-shot was heard, they said, adding further details were awaited. However, local police said there was no report of any firing.
Saudi-led forces battle Shiite rebels south of Hodeida
Troops in a Saudi-led coalition captured a town south of Yemen's port city of Hodeida today as fierce fighting and airstrikes pounded the area, officials said, on the second day of an offensive to capture the strategic harbour. Soldiers took the town of Nakhila in Yemen's ad-Durayhimi district, some 20 kilometres south of Hodeida International Airport, according to the government-run SABA news agency. Fighters continued to move closer to the airport in fighting today. The Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's exiled government launched an assault on the port city of Hodeida (hoh-DY'-duh) yesterday. The Red Sea port is the main entry for food into a country already on the brink of famine. The biggest offensive of the years-long war in the Arab world's poorest nation has raised warnings from aid agencies that Yemen's humanitarian disaster could deepen. The attack is aimed at driving out Iranian-aligned Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who have held Hodeida since 2015, and break the civil ..
Highlights northern region 5 pm
Following are the top stories from the northern region at 5 pm LUCKNOW DEL28 UP-LD STORM Lucknow: Dust storms hit various parts of Uttar Pradesh, leaving 15 people dead and 28 injured, an official spokesman said today. SRINAGAR DEL22 JK-JAWAN Srinagar: An army jawan, posted in the militant stronghold of Shopian in south Kashmir, was today abducted by militants, police here said. SRINAGAR DES9 KASHMIR-CRPF-BLOOD Srinagar: Two CRPF jawans went beyond their call of duty and broke their Ramzan fast to donate blood to a woman suffering from cancer as part of the forces' 'madadgaar' initiative for locals of the Kashmir valley. JAIPUR DES8 RJ-JAIPUR-FRENCH Jaipur: A 20-year-old French woman, who was on her way to Jaipur after visiting the holy town of Pushkar in Rajasthan, has been missing for nearly two weeks, police said today.
Militants abduct soldier in J&K
Militants in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday abducted an Indian Army soldier from states Shopian district, police said.
Army jawan abducted in Kashmir on Eid eve
An army jawan, posted in the militant stronghold of Shopian in south Kashmir, was today abducted by militants, police here said. Rajouri resident Aurangzeb, who was picked up from Kalampora area in Pulwama, was proceeding on leave for Eid, officials said. He belongs to 4 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and is at present posted with the 44 Rashtriya Rifles camp at Shadimarg in Shopian, they said. At about 9 am today, army men from the unit stopped a car asking the driver to drop Aurangzeb in Shopian, officials said, recounting what had happened. Militants stopped the vehicle as it approached Kalampora and abducted the jawan. Police is investigating the case. The Army is also conducting a inquiry into the incident, they said.
Russian opposition leader Navalny freed ahead of World Cup
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said he had been freed today, the same day the World Cup was due to begin in the country, after serving a 30-day sentence for organising an illegal protest. "I'm with you again after a 30-day business trip. I'm so happy to be free," he wrote on Twitter. The 42-year-old was sentenced a month ago after calling for the demonstrations ahead of President Vladimir Putin's fourth inauguration. Navalny's lawyer and supporters said the trial was politically motivated and the opposition activist said his rights had been violated. The charismatic politician, who was barred from challenging Putin in March's presidential election, had called on Russians to stage rallies across the country on May 5 under the slogan "Not our Tsar". Nearly 1,600 protesters were detained in 27 cities across Russia, according to OVD-Info, an independent monitor that tracks arrests. Navalny himself was grabbed by police and carried away by his arms and legs shortly after ...
Woman, daughter gangraped in Bihar
A woman and her daughter were allegedly gangraped by nearly a dozen youths in Bihar's Gaya district, police said on Thursday.
Militants exploited unilateral ceasefire during Ramzan: Experts
Two defence experts have questioned the need for having a unilateral ceasefire in the Kashmir Valley during the Muslim fasting month of Ramzan, maintaining that this had been fully exploited by militants.Reacting to the death of four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including an assistant commandant-ranked officer, one of them, P.K.Sehgal said it is high time that a free hand was given to the army to tackle the situation."Apparently, the opportunity that came their way by the way of unilateral ceasefire has been fully exploited by militants and separatists for conducting anti-India activities. It is time that security forces should be given free hand to do what they were doing earlier," he said,"Bandipora lays abeam the principal communication artery that connects Srinagar t0 Kargil and border. So, this is one area where every day the convoys are moving up and down. This operation has been going on for the last six days," he added.Another defence expert, Qamar Agha, accused ...
J-K: 1 Army personnel, 2 militants killed in ongoing operation
An Army personnel and two militants have been killed so far in an ongoing encounter at the forest area of north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Thursday.The identity and group affiliation of the two militants is being ascertained, an official said.The army personnel sustained serious bullet wounds during the operation. Later, he was immediately evacuated to a military hospital. However, he succumbed to his injuries."The operation was launched last week when the militants and the government forces exchanged brief gunfight in Raynar forests adjacent to Panar area. The operation with the help of additional reinforcement continued and entered on sixth straight day today," the officer said.He said that during the period, intermittent firing was also reported in the area."Operation is still going on to trace out the other hiding militants," the officer added.This comes after terrorists on Wednesday fired upon a Special Police Officer of Jammu and Kashmir police in Shopian's Katho Halan ...
Two stabbed to death in South Africa mosque, assailant killed
A man stabbed to death two people in an attack at a mosque in South Africa today, before being shot dead by police, police said. Several people were also wounded in the attack in the town of Malmesbury near the southwestern city of Cape Town. "Malmesbury police were called out to a local mosque and found two people dead with stab wounds and several injured," Noliyoso Rwexana, spokesperson for the Western Cape police, told AFP. "The suspect believed to be in his thirties and armed with a knife charged at the police who tried to persuade him to hand himself over. "He ignored the calls and tried to attack police. He was shot dead." Rwexana said police are now "combing the scene for clues". The motive for the attack was not immediately clear. It comes a month after a similar attack at a Shiite mosque in the town of Verulam, on the outskirts of the eastern port city of Durban. Three unidentified assailants killed one man by slitting his throat and injured two others after midday prayers at
Aussie troops criticised for flying Nazi flag in Afghanistan
Australia's prime minister today joined critics of elite Australian Special Forces troops who were photographed more than a decade ago flying a Nazi flag from a vehicle while on patrol in Afghanistan. Australian Broadcasting Corp. published the photograph of the red flag with a black swastika inside a white circle flying from a Land Rover Long Range Patrol Vehicle somewhere in Afghanistan in 2007. The secretive culture of the Australia Special Forces, which comprise the Special Air Service Regiment and Commandos, is being examined by the defense forces inspector general, who is finalising a two-year investigation of allegations of misconduct that include illegal killings in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull described the flag incident as "completely and utterly unacceptable," and said the soldiers involved had been disciplined. "It was absolutely wrong, and their commanders took action at the time," Turnbull told reporters. The Defense Department said the flag was "briefly .
Militants attack CRPF party in Pulwama
Militants today attacked a CRPF party in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. There was no loss of life in the attack. Militants attacked the CRPF party at Gangoo in Pulwama district of south Kashmir by opening fire on the forces, a police official said. A hunt has been launched to nab the militants, the official said.
In Gaza, unpaid government salaries dampen Eid joy
Hani al-Laham sits down to a family dinner after a long day of fasting, but he has little to celebrate as the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches. Despite Laham having a monthly salary of 1,700 shekels (USD475), tied to a job in the security services, the Palestinian government has repeatedly failed to pay him. He is one of nearly 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza on the payroll of the internationally-recognised administration based in the West Bank. More than a decade ago the Palestinian Authority (PA) ordered its employees in the enclave to stay at home, over a dispute with Gaza rulers Hamas, promising to continue paying their salaries. But now the money has been cut back. "This is a disaster, Gaza is collapsing," said Laham, whose financial woes have seen the family evicted from their rented home in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. They have now moved to a homemade shack on the coast near Gaza City, but even that meagre existence is threatened. The local municipality
US arrests Israeli national who coached IS attackers online
US officials have said that a native Israeli woman living in Wisconsin coached potential Islamic State attackers on how to cook up ricin and kept a library of books on making bombs, poisons and suicide vests. The Justice Department charged Waheba Issa Dais with attempting to provide material support to Islamic State after arresting the 45 year old divorcee in Cudahy, Wisconsin yesterday. She was said to be the first person in six months to be arrested on charges of supporting a violent jihadist group. Dais, a legal US resident since 1992, used a number of social media accounts, including accounts hijacked from others, to promote the Islamic State group and facilitate recruitment, according to an indictment. She maintained a digital "library of instructions on how to make bombs, biological weapons, poisons and suicide vests" to assist Islamic State supporters in plotting attacks. She encouraged one person, apparently a law enforcement informant, on how to make the poison ricin and ...
End of US-S Korea war games a win for China
The North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reached Singapore on a Chinese plane for his summit with US President Donald Trump and returned with a prized concession for Beijing, in form of suspension of US-South Korean war games.Trump also hinted at the possibility of withdrawal of American troops from the Korean Peninsula in the near future."It's a huge win for China," CNN quoted Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) as saying.The removal of US military in the region has been China's policy goal for years and the Chinese government has chafed under the web of US alliances that are spread in Japan and South Korea.There are around 28,000 American troops in South Korea and 49,000 in Japan, currently.
FARC dissidents killed in border operation: Colombian army
Sixteen dissident members of Colombian former guerrilla group FARC were killed in a military operation on the border with Venezuela, the army has said. "We will not lower our guard against these criminals," President Juan Manuel Santos wrote on Twitter. The operation was carried out in the municipality of Fortul, in the South American country's department of Arauca, the army statement said yesterday. The statement gave few details of the military action, but Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas told reporters that a prominent rebel commander, Alex Rendon, could be among the dead. The army said the group was responsible for attacks on a local hospital, oil infrastructure and security forces in the area. It said the group had combined with local leaders of the National Liberation Army, or ELN by its Spanish acronym, to try to control drug trafficking in the departments of Arauca, Boyaca and Casanare, as well as coordinate "extortion activities, arms trafficking and the articulation of .