Page 708 - War Conflict
68 killed in Syria attacks as more people flee
Syrian government and Russian airstrikes killed at least 46 people in a besieged town outside of Damascus today, while Turkish shelling and attacks on a Kurdish-held town in northern Syria left at least 22 dead there, monitors and officials said. The staggering death toll - at least 68 civilians - killed came a day after Syria passed the seven-year mark in its relentless civil war. In Damascus' rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta, Syrian and Russian jets struck the town of Kafr Batna with cluster bombs, napalm-like incendiary weapons, and conventional explosives, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The assault was part of an indiscriminate campaign by President Bashar Assad's forces to retake the town and the rest of the enclave from the rebels. A medical charity supporting hospitals in the Ghouta region, the Syrian American Medical Society, said doctors in Kafr Batna were treating patients for severe burn wounds. The charity said it recorded 40 casualties on Friday. The ...
Seven US personnel killed in Iraq helicopter crash: official
Seven US military personnel were killed when the helicopter carrying them crashed during a routine transport mission in western Iraq, a defense official said today. "It was a routine troop transport operation going from Iraq to Syria, nothing out of the ordinary," the official said. "There were seven people aboard -- they are all believed to be dead." Another official said that four of those killed in Thursday's crash belonged to the Air Force. A Pentagon statement said the crash involved a Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk and did not appear to be a result of enemy activity. An accompanying US helicopter reported the crash and a quick reaction force comprised of Iraqi Security Forces and US-led coalition members secured the scene. "This tragedy reminds us of the risks our men and women face every day in service of our nations. We are thinking of the loved ones of these service members today," Brigadier General Jonathan Braga said. "We are grateful to the Iraqi security forces for their ...
Bihar: Sub Inspector aspirants protest against paper leak
Aspirants appearing for the Sub Inspector (SI) examinations were lathicharged on Friday by police for staging protest at Patna's Kargil Chowk.The protesting aspirants also demanded to call off the examination.The police lathicharged the protestors to disperse them after they allegedly threw stones at the Bihar police officials.Meanwhile, several vehicles were vandalised in the protest.
Sukma incident was avoidable; MPVs to stay in anti-Naxal ops: CRPF DG
The CRPF chief today said the recent Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, in which 9 troops on-board a mine protected vehicle (MPV) were killed, was very much "avoidable" and ruled out abandoning the armoured vehicles in anti-Maoist operations. CRPF Director General R R Bhatnagar, who came back after visiting the blast site in the Sukma district of the state, said while he would not like to go into the details of the case, he has asked the paramilitary formations in these areas to take "all precautions" and continue their operations. "This was a very unfortunate incident. It was unavoidable. We are now looking into the circumstances as to how the operation was conducted.Whatever corrective steps have to be taken, will be taken. An inquiry is underway," the DG told PTI. Bhatnagar said MPVs have "lot of uses" and are an asset in the anti-Naxal operations theatre. He said, that after the first MPV was blown off by the Naxal trigerred improvised explosive device (IED) on the 5-km ...
Pak forms JIT to probe suicide attack near Nawaz Sharif's home
Pakistan's Punjab government today formed a joint investigation team to probe a suspected Taliban suicide attack near the home of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif here that killed at least 10 people. Five police personnel were among the 10 killed on Wednesday evening when a teenage Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber attacked a police check-post in the Raiwind area on the outskirts of Lahore, the provincial capital. At least 20 others were wounded in the attack which took place near a mosque hosting a religious congregation of some 60,000 people. The JIT includes members of the police and intelligence agencies. The attack happened close to a police check post, a few kilometres from the palatial residence of the Sharif family in Jati Umra. Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on security-related issues today, where authorities submitted the initial investigation report of the blast. Shehbaz, also the interim president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) .
Two militants nabbed with arms from south Kashmir
Security forces today apprehended two suspected militants in separate incidents in south Kashmir, recovering arms and ammunition from their possession, police said. In the first incident, Shahnawaz Ahmad Mir, a resident of Bugam in Kulgam, was apprehended during random checking at a naka point set up at Takia Adijan in the district, a police spokesman said. A chinese pistol, one magazine, five live rounds and Rs 10,000 were recovered from Mir's possession, the spokesman said. Investigation conducted so far has revealed that Mir is involved in subversive activities, he said, adding a case under relevant sections of the law has been registered against the accused person. In another incident, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Dangerpora Padgampora, was held with a hand grenade from national highway near Padgampora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, the spokesman said. Giving the details, he said the police party nabbed him when Bhat was trying to get some object out of his pocket. The ...
Centre for northeast's development: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Centre is giving special attention towards northeastern states for their balanced development.
4 IS militants killed in US drone strike in Afghanistan
At least four Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a United States' airstrike in Kunar province in Afghanistan on Thursday, according to the Afghan military forces.In a statement, the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) said that the US military carried out an airstrike on an IS hideout in the last 24 hours by using an unmanned aerial vehicle, Khaama Press reported.It added that the airstrike was carried out in Lechalam area in Manogi district of Kunar province and four IS militants were confirmed dead by the ANA. One militant was also injured in the airstrike.The ANA said that the airstrike did not affect the local residents and security personnel in the province.The latest round of airstrike comes after 15 Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in an airstrike in Kunar province last week.The airstrike also killed the chief of TTP Mullah Fazullah's son, according to the Afghan military forces.
Ex-spy poisoning: Russia dismisses UK's accusations
Russia on Friday dismissed claims by the British officials regarding the incidence of chemical attack in Salisbury and warned the latter to resort to spreading hysteria.Russian ambassador Alexander Shulgin at the 87th session of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council called the allegations of a chemical attack levied by the British authorities as 'unfounded' and 'absolutely unacceptable'."Our British colleagues should recall that Russia and the United Kingdom are members of the OPCW which is one of the most successful and effective disarmament and non-proliferation mechanisms. We call upon them to abandon the language of ultimatums and threats and return to the legal framework of the chemical convention, which makes it possible to resolve this kind of situation", Shulgin stated at the OPCW session.British Prime Minister Theresa May on 14 March issued a statement to "punish" Russia under its false pretext to allegedly involve the UK in the ...
Vietnam commemorates 50th anniversary of My Lai massacre
More than a thousand people in Vietnam today marked the 50th anniversary of the My Lai massacre, the most notorious episode in modern US military history, with talk of peace and cooperation instead of hatred. On March 16, 1968, American soldiers of Charlie Company were sent on what they were told was a mission to confront a crack outfit of their Vietcong enemies, but met no resistance and over three to four hours killed 504 unarmed civilians, mostly women, children and elderly men in My Lai and a neighbouring community. Speaking at Friday's commemoration, provincial official Dang Ngoc Dung said My Lai was a typical case of "cruel crimes committed by aggressive and hostile forces" during the war. He did not mention the US by name. But Dung said Vietnam wants to set aside the past and befriend other countries to build a better future in which peace and happiness can thrive. The commemoration comes at a time when bilateral relations between the US and Vietnam are the strongest they've ...
Naxal commander carrying cash reward held in Chhattisgarh
A naxal commander, carrying a reward ofRs 1 lakh on his head, was arrested from Kondagaon district in Chhattisgarh, police said today. Acting on a tip-off, Malya alias Malu Kashyap was apprehended last evening by a joint team of security forces from Kudur, his village located under Mardapal police station limits, Kondagaon Additional Superintendent of Police Maheshwar Nag Told PTI. After receiving information about his presence in Kudur, the composite squad of Indo Tibetan Border Police's (ITBP) 41st battalion and district force raided the village, located around 300 kms away from the capital, he said. On spotting the security personnel, he tried to escape, but was caught, the ASP said. "Kashayap was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head. He was active as jan militia commander and was wanted in at least seven naxal-related incidents, including murder, loot and attacks on police party," Nag said.
Militants killed belonged to IS linked group
Two militants killed in a gunfight on the outskirts of Srinagar belonged to an Islamic State (IS) affiliated group, police said on Friday.
Philippines tells UN it will quit ICC
The Philippines said today it had given official notice to exit the treaty that created the International Criminal Court, which is examining President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war. The move comes days after Duterte announced his nation would quit the court over its preliminary inquiry launched last month into allegations his crackdown on narcotics amounts to crimes against humanity. Philippine police say they have killed roughly 4,000 suspects who fought back during arrest, but rights groups say the actual number is three times higher and accuse the authorities of murder. On Thursday the Philippines said in a letter to the United Nations, which oversaw negotiations to found the court, that it was pulling out of the Rome Statute. "The decision to withdraw is the Philippines' principled stand against those who would politicize and weaponize human rights," the letter said. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, speaking from Manila, said the Philippines was quitting due to "the ...
UN chief condemns attack near Sharif's residence in Lahore
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned a suicide attack on a police check-post near the residence of Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. Guterres extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the March 14 attack, a statement from a UN spokesman said adding that the Secretary-General calls for the perpetrators of the attack to be brought to justice. The statement said the UN supports the efforts of the government of Pakistan to fight terrorism with full respect for international human rights norms and obligations. A teenaged suicide bomber blew himself up near the residence of Sharif, killing nine people, including five policemen, police said. The blast took place close to a check post, a few kilometres from the palatial residence of the Sharif family. Around 25 people were also injured in the attack.
ISI still providing covert support to Taliban: US media report
Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI continues to covertly support the Taliban in the border region, a US media report today claimed. The Washington Times' investigate story also provided specific mohallas and neighbourhoods on the Pakistani side that are being used as safe havens by Taliban terrorists. The report alleged that Taliban terrorists from Afghanistan travel freely to a Pakistani army garrison in Quetta where they meet with military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officials. "We believe top Taliban leadership are operating from Pashtunabad, Gulistan and surrounding areas," an unnamed intelligence source was quoted as saying by the daily. Killa Abdullah, a small border district about 44 miles from Quetta, is another area where the Taliban is working with the ISI. Within that district, an area known as Chaman that borders Afghanistan is a Taliban hub, where terrorists operate openly and are known to local residents as Talibs, it said. Taliban fighters have been spotted ...
J-K: 2 terrorists killed in Khanmoh encounter
At least two terrorists were killed in yesterday's encounter with the security forces in Srinagar's Khanmoh area in Jammu and Kashmir."In the said incident, two dead bodies of militants have been recovered so far, whose identities are being ascertained," police said in a release.Moreover, incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were also recovered from their possession.A case has been registered in this regard under relevant sections of law and an investigation is underway.On Thursday, during the initial firing by the terrorists, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel sustained bullet injuries and was shifted to 92 base hospital for treatment. His condition is stable now.
2 terrorists killed after failed weapon-snatching bid in J-K
At least two militants have been killed in an encounter with security forces which broke out after a failed bid to snatch the weapon of the personal security guard (PSO) of a BJP leader. The terrorists yesterday tried to snatch the service rifle of constable Bilal Ahmad, who is the PSO of BJP leader Anwar Khan, at Balhama in Pulwama district. The police personnel accompanying Khan foiled the attempt, during which Ahmad received a bullet injury. "Bodies of two militants have been recovered so far. Their identities are being ascertained," a police spokesman said. "Incriminating materials, which include weapon and ammunition, have been recovered as well," he said. Searches are going on at the encounter site as there were reports of third militant as well at the time of weapon snatching attempt.
US military helicopter crashes in western Iraq
A US military helicopter has crashed in western Iraq with seven service members on board, US officials said today. The officials said that so far there is no indication that the Pave Hawk helicopter was shot down. The helicopter is used by the Air Force for combat search and rescue, and was in transit from one location to another when it went down yesterday near the town of Qaim in Anbar Province Officials said that rescuers were responding to the location, but other details were not yet available. It's not clear if there were any survivors. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of the crash before it was made public. In a short statement, US Central Command said that "rescue teams are responding to the scene of the downed aircraft at this time," adding that an investigation will be started to determine the cause of the incident. The US-led coalition battling Islamic State insurgents in Iraq and Syria have an outpost in Qaim, which is located near the Syrian
UNSC welcomes offer to engage Taliban in peace talks
The UN Security Council has welcomed the Afghan government's offer to engage the Taliban in direct peace talks and called on the Taliban to accept it without preconditions.
'Pakistan providing covert support to Taliban'
Despite the United States pressuring Pakistan, the Islamabad Government is still supporting the Taliban terrorist group in the border region with Afghanistan, revealed United State Army General Joseph L. Votel.According to the Washington Times, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, when asked about the continued Pakistani support to Taliban, Gen. Votel noted, "I cannot tell you that we have seen decisive changes in the areas in which we're working, but I remain very well-engaged with my partner to ensure that we are moving forward on this."On recent increase in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, Votel said, "Having sanctuary in Pakistan or having support from other actors in the region certainly is an aspect of the Taliban's success here."The Washington Times report further quoted an intelligence source close to the Afghan border region as saying that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan is continuing its covert support for the Taliban in the border ..