Page 694 - War Conflict
Afghanistan: Security forces kill 63 militants in 24 hours
At least 63 militants including 14 belonging to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) had been killed in operations by the Afghan security forces in the past 24 hours.Tolo News quoted Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence (MoD) as saying that the operations were launched in Nangarhar, Uruzgan, Farah, Kandahar and Paktia provinces on Saturday.Afghan forces also discovered several weapons and explosive devices during the operations, MoD Deputy Spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said.No insurgent group has commented on the incident so far.
France pays tribute to victims of jihadist attack
Mourners in a rural French town rocked by a deadly Islamist attack will hold a mass today to pay tribute to the victims, including a policeman hailed a hero for offering himself in place of a hostage. Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Beltrame, 44, was shot and stabbed after taking the place of a woman whom Radouane Lakdim had been using as a human shield during his attack Friday on a supermarket in the small town of Trebes. A national tribute will be held at a later date for Beltrane, who President Emmanuel Macron said had "died a hero" and deserved "the respect and admiration of the whole nation". Following the worst jihadist attack of his presidency, Macron has called a meeting later this week of the security services responsible for monitoring individuals suspected of radicalisation. Meanwhile, a mass will be held at 10:30 am (local time) today in Trebes, where Lakdim carried out his final attack on a supermarket. The bishop of Carcassonne and Narbonne will celebrate mass in the Church of
Obama: North Korea's isolation means less leverage in talks
Former President Barack Obama said today that negotiations with North Korea on its nuclear weapons programme are difficult, partly because the country's isolation minimises possible leverage, such as trade and travel sanctions against Pyongyang. "North Korea is an example of a country that is so far out of the international norms and so disconnected with the rest of the world," Obama told a packed hall in Tokyo. He stressed the effort to get North Korea to give up nuclear weapons remains difficult, but countries working together, including China as well as South Korea and Japan, to combine pressure on North Korea will be better than nations working alone. He noted that past US efforts on Iran's nuclear weapons were more successful because there was more leverage, but there's little commerce and travel with North Korea to being with. "That makes them less subject to these kinds of negotiations," he said of North Korea. Obama was speaking at an event sponsored by a Japanese nonprofit ...
Militant killed in gunfight in Kashmir
A militant was killed and a woman injured on Sunday during a gunfight between security forces and the militants in central Kashmir's Badgam district, officials said.
Syrian child footballer killed by shells on Damascus: state media
Rockets fired by rebels on the outskirts of Damascus killed a young Syrian footballer and wounded seven others today as they were training in the capital, state media said. SANA said the rockets hit a sports club in the capital's Mazraa neighbourhood, which also hosts the Russian embassy. Mohsen Abbas, the president of the Syrian army's football team, named the young victim as 12-year-old Samir Mohamad Massoud. "They hit the Al-Fayhaa sports centre with a shell, which took the life of a child and wounded seven others as they were training," said Abbas. He said Massoud played on the Syria army football team's youth league and had been training at Al-Fayhaa. "He was one of the most prominent youth players and had high morals," Abbas added. SANA said several other players on the U-15 team were being treated at hospitals in the capital. Al-Fayhaa is the capital's most well-known gym and the country's national teams train there. It has been hit several times by rebels based on the ...
1 militant killed in encounter in Budgam
An unidentified militant was killed today in an encounter with security forces in central Kashmir's Budgam district, police said. A woman was also injured in the incident, they said. Acting on specific information about the presence of militants in Khan Mohalla of Arizal in Beerwah area of the district, security forces launched a cordon and search operation during the night, a police official said. The militants, trying to flee, came out of the house and began firing indiscriminately, he said. The forces retaliated, killing one militant, he added. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site, the official said, adding that the identity of the slain militant and his group affiliation was being ascertained. The police promptly took the injured woman to a hospital and her condition is now reported to be stable, the official said. "The area is under cordon and searches are being conducted," he said.
Egypt blast: Death toll rises
The death toll in Saturday's explosion in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria has risen to two, the country's interior ministry confirmed.The second policeman who was rushed to a local hospital succumbed to his injuries.Earlier, a policeman lost his life and four others were injured in an explosion that took place as a convoy containing the city's security chief passed by, The Guardian reported.General Mostafa al-Nimr, who was travelling in the convoy survived the explosion, as per a local TV footage.The explosion occurred in the vicinity of a police station in Alexandria city's central Roshdi district.The Egyptian interior ministry said in a statement, "The explosive device had been placed under a car and it had detonated as the convoy passed. The public prosecutor has ordered an investigation."No terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.The incident comes after the Egyptian presidential election is scheduled to take place between March 26 to 28, where ruling
Second stage of Eastern Ghouta evacuation begins
The first batch of the Failaq al-Rahman rebels and their families evacuated Syria's Eastern Ghouta area on Saturday evening, media reports said.
8 cops killed in IS ambush in Iraq
At least eight police officers were killed in a suspected ambush by the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) at the Baghdad-Kirkuk highway on Saturday, according to a local police officer.Diyala Police Captain Habib al-Shammari told Anadolu Agency that the group ambushed the vehicle of the policemen, where they were later taken to a hill and shot dead.Lieutenant Semir al-Hamidi added that the federal police and Hashd al-Shaabi forces have been sent to the area for an investigation following the incident.Established in 2014, Hashd al-Shaabi is an umbrella group of pro-government Shia militias formed for tackling the IS.In December last year, the Iraqi government declared that the group was completely "eliminated and decimated" from the country.However, it appears that the IS maintains "sleeper cells" in parts of Iraq and Syria.
Egypt: Car bomb in Alexandria kills 2 policemen
A bomb placed under a nearby car exploded in the coastal city of Alexandria as the city security chief's convoy passed by, killing two policemen and wounding four others, the Interior Ministry said. Local media reports said General Mostafa al-Nimr survived yesterday's explosion and was seen on a local TV channel in good condition while inspecting the area of the blast shortly after it took place. The Interior Ministry had earlier reported only one policeman killed in the blast which occurred in the vicinity of a police station in the city's central Roshdi district. Health Ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed told The Associated Press that two policemen were killed and four others wounded in today's explosion, adding that one civilian was also wounded. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack comes just days ahead of Egypt's presidential election, in which President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is virtually certain to be re-elected. It also comes during a massive ...
Clashes in Brazil slum leave 7 dead
At least seven people died on Saturday in clashes between police and suspected drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro, where the military was put in charge of security more than a month ago.
7 Naxals involved in last week attack on CRPF in C'garh arrested: Police
Seven Naxals, allegedly involved in the Kistaram mine protected vehicle (MPV) attack last week in which nine CRPF personnel were killed, were arrested today from Chhattigsarh's Sukma district, police said. They were arrested during a search operation in the forests of Kistaram, around 500 km from state capital Raipur, Superintendent of Police (SP), Sukma, Abhishek Meena told PTI. Personnel from the district police, District Reserve Group, Special Task Force, CRPF and the paramilitary force's elite CoBRA unit were involved in the operation, he said. The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) is the CRPF's elite anti-naxal unit. The SP said that the operation was launched after information about the presence of ultras in the forest. "The cadres were rounded up on Saturday from an area under the Kistaram police station by a joint team of the security forces," Meena said. On March, nine CRPF personnel were killed and two others injured after Maoists triggered a powerful landmine ..
7 killed in Rio favela police operation: Brazil military
Seven people were killed during a police operation this morning in the violent Rio de Janeiro favela of Rocinha, authorities said. The military police, currently operating across Rio de Janeiro state, said troops were patrolling two areas in the south and southeast of the favela when "they entered into a confrontation with criminals." The force, which gave no more details, initially said on Twitter that six suspected criminals were wounded and taken to a local hospital. It later confirmed they died of their injuries and added a seventh fatality. After the incident police said a rifle, seven pistols and two grenades were seized. Around 100,000 people live in the Rocinha favela, mostly in unsanitary conditions. Since September, it has seen several confrontations during an ongoing turf war between narco gangs seeking control of drug trafficking in the area. Public security in the state of Rio has since last month been under controversial military control ordered by President Michel ...
French shooting: Gendarmerie succumbs to injury
The Gendarmerie who suffered injuries in the Friday's French supermarket shooting breathed his last on Saturday bringing the total death toll to five.France's Interior Minister, Gerard Collomb, announced the death of Lt Col Arnaud Beltrame who had bravely offered himself to the deceased gunman Redouane Lakdim in place of a lady hostage."We will never forget his heroism, his bravery, his sacrifice. With a heavy heart, I send the support of the entire country to his family, friends and colleagues of the gendarmerie of the Aude," The Guardian quoted Collomb as saying.Later President Emmanuel Macron issued an official statement saying he was "deeply moved" to learn of the officer's death from his injuries.Beltrame was shot in the throat at the end of a four-hour supermarket siege in the quiet town of Trebes, near Carcassonne, in southern France on Friday.He hijacked a car, killed its driver and attempted to mow down four police officers while opening fire at them. One policeman got ...
Trump condemns 'horrible attack' in France
United States President Donald Trump on Saturday denounced the French Supermarket attack which left five people dead.President Trump took to his Twitter account to offer his condolences to those who lost their lives in the shooting attack on Friday.He tweeted, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrible attack in France yesterday, and we grieve the nation's loss. We also condemn the violent actions of the attacker and anyone who would provide him support. We are with you".The deceased gunman Redouane Lakdim on Friday conducted the entire terror operation at 'Super U' market near Trebes, Carcassonne, in southern France.He hijacked a car, killed its driver and attempted to mow down four police officers while opening fire at them. One policeman got injured in the incident while he was jogging at a park.He later drove the car to the supermarket and immediately opened fire upon people, killing two before taking several others as hostages.Later on Friday, the gunman ...
5 policemen injured in IED blast carried out by Naxals in C'garh
Five District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, suspected to be carried out by the Naxals, in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district today, police said. The incident comes 10 days after nine CRPF personnels were killed in a blast in the district on March 13. The blast took place around 3 pm in a forest near Sirsetti village under Fulbagdi police station limits when a police DRG team was returning after an anti-Naxal operation, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Sundarraj P told PTI. Fulbagdi is around 500 km from state capital Raipur. The DIG said after detonating the Improvised Explosive Device (IED), the Naxals opened fire on the DRG team, which led to a gun-battle. However, the ultras fled after a brief exchange of fire, he said. "Assistant constables Padam Muya, Nurum Dula, Sodhi Deva, Kartam Pandu and constable Kichhe Naga were injured in the blast," he said. Soon after getting information about the incident, reinforcement was ...
Protesters clash with police in J&K's Nowshera; Dy Commissioner among over 30 injured
Protesters demanding that the Nowshera town be made a district today clashed with police, resulting in injuries to more than 30 people, including a deputy commissioner and about 10 policemen. The protesters threw stones at the police, who used batons and tear gas shells to disperse them. Protests have been going on in the Nowshera town in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district for the last one and a half months demanding that the Nowshera, Kalakote and Sunderbani towns in the border belt be made districts. The protest turned violent a day after the J&K government announced appointment of additional deputy commissioners in the three towns. A large number of protesters took out a rally in the Nowshera town. A clash broke out when the police tried to stop them. The mob hurled stones at the men in uniform and vehicles. The police used batons and tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. More than 30 people were injured in the incident, the police said. Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal
Afghanistan: 3 wounded in sticky bomb blast in Kabul
An Afghan official says at least three people have been wounded after a sticky bomb detonated in the capital Kabul. Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the interior ministry, said that the blast occurred in the Chaman-e-Hozoori area in the 8th police district of the city, near a tent set up by members of the Afghan civil society in support of Pashtuns against atrocities in Pakistan. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Taliban and the local affiliate of the Islamic State group have recently stepped up their attack in the capital and other parts of country as well.
Chad soldier, 20 Boko Haram fighters killed in clash: army source
A Chadian soldier and 20 Boko Haram members were killed in a clash in the restive Lake Chad region near Nigeria, a Chadian military officer said today. The incident occurred yesterday on an islet named Tchoukou Hadje, the officer said, adding that five soldiers were wounded. "Twenty Boko Haram members were killed and a large amount of weapons was recovered," he told AFP. "The Chadian army lost one member." Two Chadian soldiers including a captain were killed in an ambush in the area a month ago in the first attack by the Nigerian jihadist group on Chadian soil since May last year in which nine soldiers died. Boko Haram, a militant movement opposed to Western influence and seeking an Islamic state based on Sharia law, has caused the deaths of at least 20,000 people since it took up arms in 2009 in Nigeria. Neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger have all joined the military effort by Nigeria to crush Boko Haram.
Syrian Army takes town in Eastern Ghouta
The Syrian Army on Saturday announced it had taken full control of Harasta town in Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus, following the surrender of Islamist fighters.