Latest in Tag: Islamic state Highlight
Latest in Tag: Islamic state
Turkish police clash with ‘Islamic State’ fighters
A police raid of suspected “Islamic State” in southeastern city has turned deadly. The incident comes as Turkish authorities ramp up security measures following the twin bombings in Ankara. Two police officers and four militants were killed in the clashes early Monday. The gun battle occurred after police raided a house in the mostly Kurdish …
Blair apologises for Iraq war ‘mistakes’
The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he is sorry for mistakes around the US-led military invasion of Iraq. Speaking to CNN, he also conceded that the war may have helped bring about the “Islamic State.” Tony Blair apologised for some aspects of the way the case to invade Iraq in 2003 had …
Syrian rebels reject cooperation with Russia, demand end of bombing
Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels have rebuffed cooperation with Russia against the “Islamic State” and holding elections. Their response came after Russia suggested it could work with the rebels
‘Islamic State’ claims responsibility for Bangladesh bombings: monitor
The “Islamic State” terrorist group has said it was responsible for the attack at an annual Shiite celebration, a monitoring group reported. At least one person died and dozens more were injured in the bomb blasts. The so-called “Islamic State” terrorist organization, also known simply as IS, carried out the bomb blasts that went off …
Obama appoints new envoy for anti-IS coalition
President Obama has appointed Brett McGurk as his new coalition envoy against the “Islamic State.” Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Carter said the US plans to conduct more raids against the Sunni jihadist group in Iraq
Sharp decline in reported terrorist attacks in August: TIMEP
Reported counter-terrorism operations witnessed a continued decrease from 191 in July to 177 in August
Car bombs kill dozens across Iraq
Three Iraqi towns have been targeted by deadly bomb blasts, including one in the relatively quiet Basra region, according to officials. The government is struggling to provide security as the fight against IS continues. At least 56 people were killed in three separate car bombings on Monday, targeting busy areas in the towns of al-Khales …
Work on church honouring murdered Egyptian Copts to begin in days
So far EGP 5m of the EGP 10m in construction costs were secured
Hollande: ‘More anti-IS airstrikes soon’
French President Francois Hollande has said more French airstrikes against “Islamic State” targets could take place “in the coming weeks.” The announcement comes amid increased efforts to confront the militant group. At least six French jet fighters targeted and destroyed an “Islamic State” training camp near the Syrian town of Deir Ezzor, French President Francois …
9 killed were militants behind Italian Consulate bombing: Police
Photos circulated across local media show severely injured men who Interior Ministry claims perpetrated Cairo attacks
Army announces second phase of ‘Retribution for the Martyr’
Plan is to enforce security control over Rafah, Sheikh Zuweid and Al-Arish
Cabinet details plan to combat terrorism in Sinai
HRW report on violations coincided cabinet’s statement regarding Sinai security operations
Bitcoin: ‘Islamic State’s online currency venture
Between Bitcoin and gold, the “Islamic State” is experimenting with currency, marking a new step in its state crafting ambitions. But will the latest move further embed it amid international efforts to uproot the group?
Russia takes advantage of Western reluctance in engage in Syria
Russia may soon bolster the Syrian army by deploying ground troops, allowing Moscow to expand its influence on the developments in the Syrian war. Western states are doing less and less to resist Russian policies.
Court upholds 12 death sentences for ‘Islamic State’ affiliation
12 people were referred to Egypt’s Grand Mufti to advise on their death sentences
Bombing people to save them? Western states line up to intervene in Syria
France, Australia and the UK are considering joining a US-led coalition flying air strikes in Syria. They cite the refugee crisis as justification for military intervention, but can bombing put an end to the conflict?
Canadians call on government to bring in more Syrian refugees
Canadian mayors, provincial premiers and federal opposition parties, as well as numerous faith groups and even a retired military general have all jumped head-first into the refugee crisis, with many calling for Canada to increase the numbers it takes in of people displaced by Syria’s four-and-a-half-year-old war
Islamic State take Norwegian and Chinese captive
The two hostages have been identified as 48-year-old Norwegian Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad, and 50-year-old Fan Jinghui, a freelance consultant from Beijing
Army launches new operation in North Sinai, kills 29
Two military dead in first strike of operation “Retribution for the martyr”
Protests break out in southern Syria over ‘IS’-critic’s death
The suicide attack was carried out near the National Hospital in the predominantly Druze stronghold.
Cultural treasures are also victims of war
The “Islamic State” militant group recently smashed several art pieces at the Palmyra UNESCO World Heritage site, in the Syrian city of that name. Even more brutally, they beheaded 82-year-old Khaled Al-Assad, one of Syria’s most respected archaeologists, who had been the keeper of Palmyra for more than 50 years. In Yemen, the damage to three out of …
‘Islamic State’ blows up tower tombs at Syria’s Palmyra
“Islamic State” (“IS”) has blown up three ancient tower tombs in Palmyra. The loss to the UNESCO World Heritage site is the latest in a series of jihadi demolitions. The chief of Syria’s antiquities department, Maamoun Abdelkarim, confirmed the destruction of the tombs on Friday. “They blew up three tower tombs, the best preserved and …
Turkey renews military mandate for Iraq, Syria
Turkish MPs have voted to extend, for a year, the authorisation of troops to Syria and Iraq to fight “Islamic State” (IS) militants. The mandate passed, despite resistance from the pro-Kurdish opposition. The Turkish parliament convened for an extraordinary session to lengthen the current military mandate for another 12 months. The existing directive expires on …
Religion and the senses: Western ‘illuminations’ and IS tactics
I was watching a televised discussion the other day about displaying movies and conducting plays in mosques, in a room extension adjacent to the mosque that is, and the subsequent conflagration that followed between the two clerical discussants. The objective behind this suggestion, typically enough, was modernising and moderating the khitaab al-dini (religious discourse or …
IS in Tripoli claim car-bomb on Eni office day after Egypt gas discovery
Strike targeted a “den of apostates”, IS supporters said
The industrialisation of reconciliation: Iran, Saudi Arabia and IS
I came across a curious news item the other day on Reuters about an industrial development project in Saudi Arabia, and it rang a few bells. The plan is to build a “new industrial city in the south of the al-Ahsa district in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province”, a project helmed by the state-owned oil company …
Another temple in Syria’s Palmyra severely damaged
Activists say the self-styled “Islamic State” has damaged another temple in the Syrian city of Palmyra. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is being systematically razed following occupation by the Islamist militants
Turkey launches first coalition airstrikes against IS
Turkish fighter jets have hit “Islamic State” targets in Syria – for the first time as part of the US-led coalition. Turkey took on a more active role in the fight against IS in July, ending months of indecisiveness
12 death sentences referred to Grand Mufti for ‘Islamic State’ affiliation
Two others were handed three years for spreading extremist ideologies
Turkey ready for anti-IS strikes: Pentagon
Turkish officials have said they are now ready to fully participate in US-led coalition strikes against the “Islamic State” group. The Pentagon said joint strikes may begin within day