Page 747 - War Conflict
IS kills 27 Iraq pro-government fighters: paramilitary force
The Islamic State group killed 27 pro-government fighters in an ambush in Iraq, their paramilitary group said Monday, underlining the threat still posed by the jihadists despite Baghdads declaration of victory. IS members, disguised as soldiers, attacked a Hashed al-Shaabi unit in the Hawija region about 300 kilometres (185 miles) north of Baghdad on Sunday evening, the auxiliary force said in a statement. "The attackers were dressed in military uniforms and during the fighting 27 of our heroes were martyred," added the Hashed, a key partner of the government in the battle against IS. The paramilitary unit was conducting operations to "arrest terrorists and dismantle sleeping cells" around the city, in the province of Kirkuk. A Hashed official who asked to remain anonymous told AFP the jihadists had set up a checkpoint close to Hawija. They asked the Hashed paramilitaries to stop, get out of their vehicles and stand beside the road, on the pretext of conducting a search. They then ...
Pak troops violate ceasefire along LoC in Uri sector, injure 3 civilians
Pakistani troops violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, injuring three civilians, police said today. "Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing in Churanda in the Silikote area of Hajipeer sector of Uri," a police official said. Three civilians sustained injuries in the firing, he said, adding that they were rushed to a hospital.
Naxals torch JCB machines at road construction site in C'garh
Naxals today set ablaze two JCB machines engaged in road construction work in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district, police said. Noone was reported to be hurt in the incident, they said. The incident took place at Vardeltong village under Polampalli police station limits, a local police official told PTI. A road is being constructed in the area, which is around 500 km from the state capital Raipur, under the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY). Two JCB machines were torched by a group of armed rebels, the official said. Yesterday, Naxals had killed an employee of a road contractor at a road construction site in Sukma's Bhejji area. Besides, two policemen were killed and six others injured in an encounter with Naxals in the same area yesterday.
Army foils BAT attack on LoC, intruder killed
A Border Action Team (BAT) attack from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district has been foiled and one intruder killed while two Indian soldiers were injured, defence sources on Monday.
Poland demands answers over swastikas on embassy
Poland's Foreign Minister on Monday demanded an explanation from Israeli authorities on how someone was able to deface the gates outside the Polish consulate in Tel Aviv with crudely-drawn swastikas and slurs.
Robbery reported in Kalyan tehsil
Robbers struck at Manda village in Kalyan tehsil in the district two days ago, looting a family of valuables worth Rs 1.26 lakh, police said today. No arrests have been made in the case yet. Hemant Bhoir, the complainant in the case, told police that four unidentified men broke into his house around 4 on Saturday morning, and looted jewellery and other valuables at knife-point. The robbers also burgled a neighbouring apartment, he said.
IS ambushes Iraqi Shiite-led force, killing 27 fighters
Islamic State militants have ambushed a group of Iraq's Shiite-led paramilitary fighters, killing at least 27. The Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly Shiite militias, said today that the attack took place the previous night in the al-Saadounya area, southwest of the northern city of Kirkuk, when the paramilitaries were conducting overnight raids. The PMF says the attackers were disguised in army uniforms. It says clashes lasted for at least two hours and that some of the militants were killed while others fled the area. Brig Gen Yahya Rasool, a spokesman for Iraqi military, blamed IS "sleeper cells" and said Iraqi forces were searching the area to find the perpetrators. IS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its Aamaq news agency.
Three Egyptian soldiers killed in Sinai campaign
Egypt said today three of its soldiers had been killed in the Sinai Peninsula during a wide-ranging operation against the local branch of the Islamic State group. Four "extremists" were also killed, the military said in a statement. It was the first military death toll announced since the army started its campaign on February 9. It says it has killed about 60 jihadists and arrested hundreds of suspects since the operation began. It launched the offensive after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gave his army commander a three month deadline in November to quash a jihadist insurgency which has killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen. The ultimatum came after suspected IS gunmen massacred more than 300 worshippers at a mosque in northern Sinai the same month. The group has also targeted Christians, killing more than 100 in suicide bombings and attacks since December 2016. On Thursday, IS used its al-Nabaa propaganda newsletter to threaten further attacks on Christians and ...
Myanmar seizes drugs and equipment worth $7 mn in lab raid
Myanmar troops seized $7 million worth of narcotics, precursors and equipment in a raid on drug labs in the restive north, the army said today, as it continues a war against ethnic rebels accused of profiting from the drug trade. Soldiers and local officials found 259 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 120 kg of opium in a sweep of the illicit drugs factory spread across 34 buildings near Lwalkhan, a village in war-hit Shan state near the Chinese border. The army statement, posted on the commander-in-chiefs Facebook page, also listed in rare detail the seized drug-producing equipment and precursors, including hundreds of barrels of acid and diesel, 750 bags of caustic soda, 22 freezers, 12 generators and huge caches of caffeine and other chemicals. "The Tatmadaw (military) seized the drugs in the raid and cooperated with the drug enforcement police team. The legal process is still ongoing," a senior police officer from the anti-drug department told AFP on the condition of ...
Pak forces kill 2 Taliban suicide bombers
Pakistani security forces today killed two Afghan-based Tehreek-e-Taliban suicide bombers who were planning to carry out an attack in the country's restive Bajaur agency bordering Afghanistan, the army said. The terrorists entered Bajaur Agency via the Kagha Pass. They were tracked down by security forces and surrounded by a cordon near the Ghatki Kaga area, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The militants were killed when they attempted to escape. One of the militants opened fire at the personnel and was shot dead in retaliatory action, while another blew himself up. Suicide jackets, anti-tank mines, magnetic mines, prepared remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Devices, remote-controlled receivers, detonators and communications equipment "bearing (an) Afghan mobile company's signature" were recovered from them, the statement said. It said the security forces foiled a major terror bid in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas
Couple looted
A couple was allegedly looted at gunpoint by two armed men here, police said today. The incident took place yesterday, they said, adding that the men looted all the valuables from the couple. An FIR has been registered against the accused, they added.
1 injured in firing in wedding ceremony
A youth was injured after a clash broke out between villagers in a wedding ceremony here, police said today. The incident occurred in Harsinghpur village yesterday when one Sonu along with others fired at Savnish, the police said, adding the injured was rushed to a nearby hospital. A case has been registered against the accused, they said.
Pak forces thwart terror attack, kill two suicide bombers
Pakistani security forces today shot dead two suicide bombers who were planning to carry out an attack in the country's restive Bajaur agency bordering Afghanistan, officials said. The militants were trying to enter Tehsil Gatki but were killed in the exchange of fire during a raid by the security personnel, officials said. One of the militants opened fire at the personnel and was shot dead in retaliatory action, while another blew himself up, they said. A huge cache of arms and explosives were seized from them, the officials added. The bodies of the militants were moved to Headquarters Hospital in Khar. The security has been tightened at all the entry and exit points to the area. Bajaur is an agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. It is the smallest of the agencies in FATA. According to Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, FATA has been the country's worst hit region due to terrorist attacks in the last four years. A total of 3,062 people have ...
Afghan official: Bodies found of 9 people abducted last year
An Afghan official says that bodies of nine civilians abducted by militants early last year have been found in the countrys eastern province of Nangarhar. A district governor says the bodies, including three of tribal leaders, were found dumped in a common grave over the weekend. Sayed Rahman Mohmand of Kot district says the locals found the bodies in neighboring Achin district. The nine were abducted by militants in early 2017 in Kot and nothing was known about their fate till now. Mohmand says the Islamic State group was behind the abduction and the killings, though the militant group has not claimed responsibility for the deaths. Both the Taliban and IS are active in eastern Afghanistan.
More than 20 Naxals killed in Sukma encounter: Special DG
Special Director General, anti-Naxal operations, D.M. Awasthi on Monday said that more than 20 Naxals were killed in an encounter which took place yesterday in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.Speaking to ANI, DG Awasthi said that the security forces gave a befitting reply to the Naxals during the encounter which lasted for around 5 hours."For more than 5 hours, our forces endured heavy firing from Naxals in which two of our soldiers died. We also gave a befitting reply to their attack. More than 20 Naxals were killed in the firing," he said.Two assistant constables and a civilian were killed in an encounter with Naxals in Sukma district.Heavy exchange of fire between the troops of a 202nd battalion of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Naxals took place near Elarmadgu village which falls under the purview of Bhejji police station.
Unidentified man killed after he tried entering Budgam Air Force Station
The security forces at the Budgam Air Force station in Jammu and Kashmir shot dead an unidentified individual when he crossed the security fence and came close to the perimeter wall.The incident took place yesterday when the person crossed the security fence even after repeated warnings from the sentry.The initial information reveals that the individual was mentally unstable, as he had no footwears, identity card and was without proper winter clothes.The police is trying to identify the man, who seemed to be around 50-55 years old.A case has been registered and an investigation is underway.
Swastikas drawn on Polish embassy in Israel
Swastikas were drawn on the gates of Poland's embassy in the Israeli capital Tel Aviv, a day after Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Jews were among perpetrators of the Holocaust, the media reported.
Boko Haram leader wanted 'dead or alive'
Nigeria has ordered its military to capture the leader of terrorist organisation Boko Haram "dead or alive".According to the local media reports, Nigeria's Army Chief Tukur Buratai ordered the troops on Sunday to capture Abubakar Shekau, dead or alive, who is both the spiritual head and supreme commander of the terror group."We must move across to wherever this criminal, Shekau, is and catch him red-handed. I want you to get him," the army chief charged the troops in Camp Zairo, previously the largest camp of Boko Haram in the northern state of Borno.On Thursday, a bounty of USD 8,310 was announced on Shekau's head.According to a report by the Adamawa State chapter of Muslim Council, up to 5,247 Muslims have been killed in the Boko Haram violence in seven local government areas of Adamawa town in northern Nigeria between 2013 and 2017.The Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009 when the militants staged an armed rebellion against the government of Nigeria.Suicide attacks carried out by ...
Israel foils assassination of Defense Minister
Israeli security agency Shin Bet on Sunday said it thwarted a plot by Palestinian militants to carry out a bombing attack against Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
2 policemen killed, six injured in Naxal ambush in C'garh
Two policemen were killed and six others were injured in a fierce gun-battle with Naxals after the rebels ambushed a police team in a dense forest in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district today, a top official said. The skirmish started around 11 am near a rivulet in the forest between Elarmadgu and Bhejji under Bhejji police station limits, when a joint team of security forces was out on an "area domination operation", Deputy Inspector General of Police (south Bastar range) Sundarraj P told PTI. "Assistant constables Madkam Handa and Mukesh Kadthi, belonging to DRG (District Reserve Guard of police), were killed and six other jawans suffered injuries in the encounter," he said. Of the injured, four are DRG personnel and other two belong to the Special Task Force (STF) of the state police. Soon after information about the ambush came, reinforcement was rushed and injured personnel and bodies of the policemen were taken out, he said. The injured personnel were airlifted to