Page 81 - War Conflict
8 'terrorists' killed in Saudi operation
Eight members of a "terrorist" cell have been killed in a security operation in Saudi Arabia's Qatif region, the state media reported.
Sri Lanka: Police arrest Islamic preacher for inciting extremism on social media
A 47-year-old moulavi, an Islamic preacher, was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo on charges of using social media platforms to air extremist views, the police said on Sunday.The suspect, a resident of Vavuniya, was arrested on Saturday morning by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) upon his arrival from Mecca after performing Hajj, The Daily Mirror reported.The police said that the suspect was organising pilgrimage tours to Mecca.The moulavi has been remanded till May 14 after he was produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court a day before.The arrest comes after eight coordinated explosions jolted Sri Lankan cities of Colombo, Negombo, Kochchikede and Batticaloa on April 21 as the Christian community celebrated Easter. Islamic State or Daesh claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks that left 257 people dead and several hundred others injured.In the wake of the attacks, Sri Lankan authorities, last month, banned two local Islamist ...
Clashes near gunfight site in Shopian
Clashes broke out between stone pelting youths and the security forces on Sunday near the site of a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district where two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed earlier in the day, police said.
Saudi forces kill 8 in shootout in mostly Shiite town
Saudi Arabia's security forces killed eight alleged terrorists in a shootout in the predominantly Shiite eastern region of Qatif, a government statement issued late Saturday said. The Interior Ministry said security forces launched a raid against a suspected militant hideout on the island of Tarot off the coast of the kingdom's Eastern Province, a restive region on the Persian Gulf where most of the country's oil reserves are located. The statement described the group as a "terrorist cell" and accused them of planning to attack vital installations and security targets. The Interior Ministry said security forces only opened fire after they were shot at. It did not identify the militants and said an investigation was ongoing. Videos posted on social media by residents of Tarot showed black smoke rising from residential buildings and the sound of heavy gunfire on Saturday. Saudi security forces frequently target and clash with Shiite gunmen in the region of Qatif, which saw large ...
Two soldiers injured in accidental explosion in Kashmir
Two soldiers were injured late Saturday in an accidental explosion in Machil sector in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.
Pak PM condemns Gwadar hotel attack as bid to 'sabotage' economic projects
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday condemned a deadly attack on a luxury hotel in the port city of Gwadar in the troubled Balochistan province, saying the terror strike was an effort to "sabotage" the country's economic projects and prosperity. Three heavily-armed militants on Saturday stormed the Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel in Gwadar and opened random firing, killing a guard. All the three attackers were killed by the security forces. "Such attempts especially in Balochistan are an effort to sabotage our economic projects and prosperity. The government will not allow these agendas to succeed," Khan said in a statement issued by his office. While condemning the attack, Khan appreciated the initial response by security guard and security forces in foiling greater loss to human lives. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility of the attack. Gwadar port is one of the focal points of the USD 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with many ...
Sri Lanka Catholics hold 1st Sunday Mass since attacks
The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has held the first regular Sunday Mass since the Easter suicide bombings of churches and hotels killed more than 250 people. Military forces and police armed with assault rifles are patrolling the streets leading to churches and standing guard outside the compounds. Everyone entering is required to produce identity cards and is body searched. Parking is banned near the churches and officials have requested worshippers to bring along only minimum baggage. Seven suicide bombers struck two Catholic and one Protestant church and three luxury hotels. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, carried out by a local radicalized Muslim group.
Israel reopens Gaza crossings as calm restored
Israel reopened Sunday its crossings with the blockaded Gaza Strip after closing them during a deadly escalation earlier this month, an official said, as a fragile truce held. Both the Erez crossing for people and Kerem Shalom crossing for goods were open and operating, a spokeswoman for COGAT, the defence ministry unit that oversees the crossings, said in a statement. Both had been closed on May 4, when Gaza rulers Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, with the army striking dozens of targets in Gaza in response. Four Israeli civilians and 25 Palestinians, including at least nine militants, were killed in the two-day flare-up, which ended on Monday in a tentative truce. Palestinian officials said Israel had agreed to ease its crippling decade-long blockade of the impoverished enclave in exchange for calm. Israel did not publicly confirm the deal, but on Friday lifted the ban it had imposed on Palestinian fishing boats operating off Gaza. Israel says ...
Two LeT militants killed in Shopian gunfight
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including a former special police officer (SPO), were killed on Sunday in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.
Two terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in J-K
Two terrorists were gunned down on Sunday during an encounter with security forces in Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir police said.Arms and ammunition were found at the site in Hend-Sitapur area where the brief exchange of fire took place, they said. The identity and affiliation of the terrorists are being ascertained."It was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place," the police said.People have been asked not to venture into the encounter site and cooperate with the authorities until the area is completely sanitised and cleared of any explosive material.
8 'terrorist' suspects killed in Saudi Arabia: state media
Eight members of a "terrorist" cell were killed on Saturday in a police raid in Saudi Arabia's eastern Qatif region, a Shiite minority stronghold, state media reported. The recently-formed cell was preparing to carry out "terrorist" activities against the security of the country, the official Saudi Press Agency reported citing a state security spokesman. He said the men were killed after they fired shots at security forces, who had surrounded a residential apartment in the Sanabis neighbourhood. "They were called on to surrender, but they did not respond and opened fire at the security forces... which resulted in their killing," said the spokesman. No civilians or security forces were injured in the operation, he added. Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province -- which includes Qatif -- has seen bouts of unrest since 2011 when protesters emboldened by the Arab Spring uprisings took to the streets. The demonstrators have demanded an end to what they say is discrimination by the Sunni-dominated .
Re-polling begins in Tripura West parliamentary constituency
The re-polling in 168 polling stations under the Tripura West parliamentary constituency bagan amidst heavy security on Sunday, officials said.
2 militants killed in encounter in Shopian
Two militants were Sunday killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, an army official said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Hindsitapur area of Shopian district in south Kashmir following specific information about the presence of militants there, the official said. As the forces were conducting the search operations, the militants fired upon them, which led to a gun battle in which the two militants were killed, he said. Weapons and other materials have been seized from the site of the encounter, the official added. He said the operation is in progress.
Jammu & Kashmir: Two terrorists neutralised in encounter with security forces in Shopian
Two terrorists were neutralized in an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Hind Sita Pora area of Shopian district on Sunday morning.Weapons and a huge cache of ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. The operation is still underway.On May 3, three terrorists were killed after a brief exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces in Shopian.More details are awaited.
Jammu-Kashmir: Two terrorists neutralised in encounter with security forces in Shopian
Two terrorists were neutralized in an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Hind Sita Pora area of Shopian district on Sunday morning.Weapons and a huge cache of ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. The operation is still underway.On May 3, three terrorists were killed after a brief exchange of fire between terrorists and security forces in Shopian.More details are awaited.
Taliban retaking Afghanistan 'real risk' if US troops are withdrawn: Robert Gates
Former US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said that there was a "real risk" that the Taliban could re-take control over Afghanistan if US troops were withdrawn from the country.In an interview with CBS's 'Face the Nation', Gates, who served in the post between 2006 to 2011 in the Barack Obama administration, said that the Donald Trump administration should be completely assured that the Afghan government is stable before the US pulls out the 12,000 soldiers from the war-torn country."I think that the circumstances under which you bring them home matter. And I think trying to give the Afghan government the best possible shot at survival is really important for the future of Afghanistan," The Hill quoted Gates as saying, citing CBS.He warned that a premature withdrawal of US troops could lead to potentially grave consequences, including risks to women's rights in Afghanistan.The US has been leading efforts to pressurise the Taliban to lay down their arms and end the nearly ...
What did Cong do to punish anti-Sikh riots accused when it was in power: Javadekar
Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar Saturday said Rahul Gandhi has asked Sam Pitroda to apologise for his remarks on the anti-Sikh riots, but the Congress president should tell what his party did to punish those guilty of the "genocide" when it was in power. Pitroda, a close aide of Gandhi on Thursday said 'hua to hua' (so what, it happened) about the 1984 riots, kicking up a political storm. "Gandhi has asked him (Pitroda) to apologise. He says (Gandhi) those guilty of genocide must be punished, you were in power for 20 years (since the incident) but you did nothing," he said. Gandhi on Friday said Congress leader Pitroda has said something completely "out of line" and should apologise for his remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Pitroda on his part has accused the BJP of twisting the three words in Hindi on the riots to "distort facts, divide us (Congress) and hide their failures" and said things of the past are not relevant in this election. Javadekar also attacked West Bengal ...
Owaisi reminds PM of Gujarat riots
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Saturday reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the 2002 riots in Gujarat after he reportedly termed the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 as a 'horrendous genocide." Owaisi, in a tweet, said during his tenure as chief minister of Gujarat, Modi had failed in his constitutional duty to protect lives. "Sir @PMOIndia so where the 2002 pogrom which happened under your tenure as CM and you failed in your constitutional oath to protect human beings," Owaisi tweeted. Owaisi, who is seeking re-election from Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, said that the accused in the cases won elections in 1984 & 2002. The AIMIM chief was referring to Modi's attack on Congress over party leader Sam Pitrodas "so what, it happened" comments on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Pitroda had accused the BJP of "distorting the truth" and said that things in the past were not relevant in this election.
Heightened security arrangements in Bengal for sixth phase
A total of 770 companies of central paramilitary forces are being deployed in West Bengal's tribal heartland as well as the seats in Junglemahal, once a hotbed of Maoists, where stringent security arrangements are in place to ensure fool-proof voting in the sixth phase Lok Sabha polls on Sunday, officials said.
Sporadic clashes as 'yellow vests' rally in France
"Yellow vest" protesters gathered in Paris and other French cities Saturday for the 26th straight week of rallies against President Emmanuel Macron, with scattered incidents of violence but overall a marked decline in the size of the crowds. Several hundred people began marching near the Jussieu university in the centre of the capital, chosen to show solidarity with teachers who went on strike this week against an education reform project. "It's going to be a day in support of parents, families and everyone in the education system," Jean-Christophe Valentin, a city hall worker at the rally, told AFP. With protests outlawed on the Champs-Elysees and a large part of central Paris, organisers had called for "national" rallies in the cities of Lyon and Nantes. Around 2,000 to 3,000 people turned out in both cities, AFP journalists estimated, confirming the decline in attendance since the protests began in November, when it hit a high of 282,000 across France. The interior ministry, for ...