At least 13 people including members of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) forces lost their lives in a suicide attack in northern Parwan province of Afghanistan.
According to local security officials, the target of the suicide bomber was a commander of the ALP forces who survived the attack.
Provincial police chief, Gen. Zaman Mamozai, confirmed that nine civilians and four policemen lost their lives in the attack and seventeen others were wounded.
He said the suicide bomber detonated his explosives in a crowded market in Sia Gerd district and those injured in the attack were immediately shifted to hospital.
The Taliban group claimed responsibility behind the incident saying the attack was carried out by a resident of eastern Paktia province.
Parwan is among the relatively volatile provinces in northern Afghanistan where anti-government armed militants are actively operating in a number of its remote districts and often carry out insurgency activities.
At least 37 militants including Pakistani and Tajik nationals were killed during clearing operations in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.
A statement by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the operations were conducted in the vicinity of Dasht-e-Archi district.
The statement further that two Pakistani nationals and three other belonging to Tajikistan were among those killed and at least 25 others were wounded.
The Afghan armed forces also confiscated various types of weapon and explosives during the same operations, MoD said, adding that three members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces were also martyred.
The anti-government armed militant groups have not commented regaridng the report so far.
Kunduz is among the volatile provinces in northern Afghanistan where anti-government armed militant groups are actively operating in a number of its districts and often carry out insurgency activities.
The provincial capital of Kunduz briefly fell to Taliban control last year and since then certain districts have been witnessing violence on occasional basis.
A hostage was released from the restive Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan with the interference of the Afghan intelligence operatives as the kidnappers demanded a ransom of $1 million for his release.
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said the hostage was kept in Syedabad district after he was kidnapped by the unidentified gunmen.
Identified as Ahmadullah son of Hamidullah, an original resident of Syedabad district, the hostage was kept in a shop in Koh Sandawar district.
NDS said the kidnappers were demanding a ransom of $1 million but was released during an operation by the intelligence operatives and was safely handed over to his family.
No further details were given by NDS if any suspect was arrested in connection to the abduction of Ahmadullah.
Kidnap for ransom cases still continue in parts of the country despite the Afghan intelligence nabbed two MAFIA bosses involved in major kidnappings who were later executed by the government.
The two top MAFIA leaders, Habib Istalif and Raees Khudaidad, were executed late in 2014 and early in 2015 after they were arrested by intelligence operatives
At least three suspected militants were killed in a drone strike along the Durand Line apparently carried out by the US forces in Afghanistan, it has been reported.
According to the local media reports in Pakistan, the airstrike targeted the militants near Kurram Agency, a tribal area in northwest Pakistan, located along the Durand Line.
The reports further added that two militants apparently belonging to the mlitants were also destroyed in the raid.
According to the reports, the latest drone strike was the second of its kind since the beginning of the year, targeting militants inside the Pakistani soil.
There has been a sharp decline in the number of US drone strikes in Pakistan in 2015 and 2016 compared with the previous years.
However, the US forces in Afghanistan have increased air raids in the country amid deteriorating security situation.
According to reports released earlier this month, the U.S. forces in Afghanistan carried out at least 20 airstrikes targeting the loyalists of the Islamic State terror group in Afghanistan during a period of 3 weeks.
At least six anti-government armed militants were killed in joint operations conducted by the Afghan national security forces, involving Afghan Air Force (AAF) in eastern Laghman province of Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the raids were conducted as part of the ongoing Fulad 34 operations to clear parts of Laghman province from the militants activities.
A statement by MoD said at least four suspects were also arrested during the operations and various types of weapons and explosives were confiscated.
The statement further added that the operations were conducted together with the first brigade of 201 Silab corps of the Afghan National Army, Afghan police and Afghan intelligence operatives.
Afghan Air Force (AAF) provided close-air support to the Afghan forces targeting militants in Bibi Hajera, Manjama Gul, Kapri, Moin Qala and Zawya Qala villages from the militants, MoD said.
The statement also added that two guns, 3 hand grenades and various improvised explosive device were confiscated during the operations.
The anti-government armed militant groups have not commented regarding the report so far.
Laghman is among the relatively volatile provinces in eastern Afghanistan where anti-government armed militants are often carrying out insurgency activities in a number of its remote districts.
Afghan government forces have pulled out of a second district in Helmand, officials said on Monday. The Taliban now control most of the northern part of the province after troops withdrew from Musa Qala district last week.
The withdrawals cast doubt on the capability of the Afghan security forces to defeat the Taliban since the departure of international forces in 2014 from most combat operations left them fighting largely alone.
Army and government officials said security forces had left Nawzad district, which is adjacent to Musa Qala, aiming to focus their strength on defending the area surrounding the provincial capital Lashkar Gah and the main highway between Kabul and the western city of Herat.
U.S. officials said that the Taliban group already dominates or threatens around a third of Afghanistan despite their continued failure in taking over any major provincial centers apart from their brief capture of the northern city of Kunduz last year.
The Taliban are seeking to topple the Western-backed government in Kabul and enforce extremist rule 15 years after they were ousted from power.
Helmand, a major center of opium production where thousands of British and American soldiers and marines fought to conquer the Taliban, has been falling out of government control for months as the rebels choke much of the countryside outside a few district centers.
After the latest move, security forces are clinging to the town of Sangin, north of the main Highway One in addition to several other towns and district centers including Gereshk, which lies on the highway and Marjah, close to Lashkar Gah.
“We have withdrawn our forces from Nawzad and Musa Qala based on military plans,” said Mohammad Rasoul Zazai, a spokesman for the 215th army Corps.
“Currently for us Sangin, Marjah, Nad Ali and surrounding areas of Lashkar Gah and Kabul-Herat highway are a priority. And we put all our efforts in these places,” he said.
Helmand governor Merza Khan Rahimi also downplayed the decision to withdraw from the two districts, while affirming the Afghani troops’ ability to take them back at any time.
“It is normal during fighting to move forward or retreat,” he said. “We are not concerned about this.”
Nonetheless, the surprising retreats leave the Taliban poised to advance toward the nearby Kajaki district, the site of a huge hydroelectric dam built with millions of dollars of U.S. aid as part of a drive to provide power to Helmand and neighbouring Kandahar provinces.
U.S. Special Forces units have been in the region to assist in training the Afghan army and hundreds more American troops were recently sent to bolster security for the training mission.
NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Kabul has not commented on the decision to pull the troops out of the two Helmand districts, referring questions to the Afghan defense ministry.
[Tolo News] At least ten holy warriors were killed in a clash with security forces in northern Takhar province on Sunday, local officials said.
In addition, three soldiers were also injured in the clash.
The clash took place in Khwaja Ghar district of the province after a group of holy warriors attacked a military outpost, a front man for Provincial Police Chief, Abdul Khalil Asir said.
"Mullah Shaker, one of the commanders of the Taliban is also among the dead," he said.
However, Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried... he did not provide more details about the clash.
The Taliban has not yet commented about the incident.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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[Tolo News] A rocket hit the Baghlan governor's compound on Monday, killing one and injuring two others, local officials said.
The incident took place at about 11:00am local time after a rocket hit the office of the deputy governor, killing an employee and injuring two others, officials said.
According to them the deputy governor was not hurt in the attack.
The rocket was allegedly fired by the Taliban.
However, there's more than one way to skin a cat... the Taliban has not yet grabbed credit for the attack.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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[Tolo News] Pakistain has allegedly set up checkpoints inside Afghanistan's territory in Bahramcha area of Desho district of southern Helmand ...an Afghan province populated mostly by Pashtuns, adjacent to Injun country in Pak Balochistan... province, said members of Helmand provincial council.
They claim that the check posts have been set up three kilometers inside Afghanistan's border.
"Paks still want to attack our soil. They have set posts in and have built military installations in Bahramcha," said Ataullah Afghan, a member of the council.
Commander of 215 Maiwand Military Corps, Mohammad Moeen Faqir, confirmed that Pakistain has set check posts inside Afghanistan, but said that he had discussed the issue with Pak officials.
"I have discussed the issue with them [Pak officials] and they have said they didn't do this. I told them that both of us should visit the area in a helicopter and if the installations were not built, then I am going to apologize, otherwise you should destroy the installations and if you don't do this, then we are going to destroy them for you," he said.
The army's Deputy Chief of Staff, Gen. Murad Ali Murad, said that such installations have been built and destroyed several times in the past. "We have threatened them that such actions will undermine the environment of trust between the two countries," he said.
Previously, Pakistain had built installations in bordering areas in Paktika ...which coincidentally borders South Wazoo... and Nangarhar The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country.. provinces.
Even though officials constantly say that such issues should be resolved through diplomatic ways, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that they have not received any official letter in this regard so far.
"Although such remarks are being made, the MoFA have not received any fresh reports and details from security organizations recently in this regard," said Shekib Mustaghni, front man for the MoFA.
Pakistain has in the past built military installations in Angor Ada area of Barmal district in Paktika province. This move by Pakistain was faced with a strong reaction from officials in Afghanistan. The MoFA said that they have discussed the issue with Pakistain officials and Paks troops are expected the leave the area soon.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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An Islamic State (IS) unit from Fataieh attempted to a new incursion into Derna this afternoon but was beaten back by the local Mujahideen forces. These were backed up by helicopter support from the Libyan National Army (LNA), despite the fact that the two are, officially, not cooperating.
Following the IS retreat, there were unconfirmed reports that a former Ansar Al-Sharia commander who had switched to IS but still living in the town, Tamim Kilfa, was killed when a bomb exploded in his car. It is not known if he was targeted or was transporting the bomb.
According to a source in the LNA’s Omar Mukhtar Security Room, the fighting started when a number of IS fighters in three trucks moved into the area known as District 400 at the far east end of the town and tried to take over the local Bayat Al-Radwan mosque. They also managed to penetrate as far as the Corniche area.
They were repelled in heavy fighting in which four of the Derna mujahideen were reported killed. A number of IS militants were also killed before they pulled out. Two are said to have been Libyans.
The Operations Room source claims that LNA helicopters took part in the fight, targeting IS in both District 400 and Fataieh.
The Fida oil field south east of Sirte has been attacked and two tanks set on fire, according to the National Oil Corporation. The attack happened on Thursday evening it said in a statement yesterday.
Although the tanks had a capacity of 20,0000 barrels of oil each, NOC noted they contained only 500 barrels at the time.
Blaming the so-called Islamic State (IS), it insisted the authorities had to protect the country’s oil installations. The continuing destruction of the infrastructure by IS would seriously affect Libyan production capacity, it pointed out.
IS set fire to tanks at Sidra and Ras Lanuf last month.
The head of the NOC in Tripoli Mustafa Sanalla late last year expressed fears that IS aimed to destroy Libya’s oil industry so as to cripple the state’s economic independence. Commenting on the latest attack, he said that there would be other attacks, with the entire industry at risk, unless a national unity government was put in place.
National production, he noted, was down to between 360,000 and 370,000 barrels a day.
The Fida oilfield belongs to Zueitina Oil. Ironically the company issued a statement exactly a week ago denying that any of its fields or pipelines had been attacked by anyone.
The field was closed down last March along with the Zueitina and Al-Ghani fields, all three in the Zillah area, when the Misrata-based Central Libya Shield Brigade pulled its forces out following an attack on Ghani by IS. The Central Region Petroleum Facilities Guards run by Ibrahim Jadhran were supposed to take over but failed to do so.
[ALMANAR.LB] A suspected terrorist was killed on Monday in an exchange of fire with security forces in a mountainous area of central Tunisia, a defense ministry front man said.
"For two week, military forces have been tracking a group of faceless myrmidons in the Mount Mghila area,' Belhassan Oueslati told AFP.
"One terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire with a military unit," he said, adding that the operation was ongoing.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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[APS.DZ] Two bunkers used as refuges for Lions of Islam have been destroyed Sunday by a detachment of the People's National Army (ANP) under the operational area of Sidi Bel Abbes, the National Defence Ministry announced Monday in a statement.
"As part of counterterrorism, a detachment of the People's National Army under the operational sector of Sidi Bel Abbes (2nd military region) discovered and destroyed, on 21 February 2016, two (2) bunkers that served as refuges for terrorists," the source said.
In addition and as part of border security and the fight against smuggling and organized crime, a detachment under the operational area of Laghouat (4th military region) "tossed in the clink Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un! eleven (11) people of different nationalities who were trying to reach Libya," the statement added.
In Biskra, another detachment "apprehended two (2) smugglers and seized a truck, a tourist vehicle and 7,200 different beverages units," the ministry said.
Besides, two detachments within the operational areas of In Guezzam and Bordj Badji Mokhtar (6th military region), in coordination with elements of the National Gendarmerie "seized two (2) ATVs, cycle of violence, 1.57 tons of food, metal detector, two (2) pneumatic drills and two (2) generators," the source added.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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[AlAhram] Militants were reportedly targeting security forces on Al-Bahr street, where the victims were passing by
An 18-year-old university student was killed, and seven others were maimed Monday when an bomb detonated on Al-Bahr street in North Sinai's Al-Arish, state news agency MENA reported.
Security sources said the bomb, which was placed by holy warriors, was targeting security forces. The victims happened to be passing by when the bomb went off.
The ages of those injured range from early teens to mid-twenties.
The seven injured sustained fractures and bruises. Five are at the Intensive Care Unit at Al-Arish public hospital where they will undergo surgery.
[APS.DZ] ALGIERS- A terrorist was locked away Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un! Saturday in Illizi by a detachment of the People's National Army while two others surrendered to security forces in the 2nd Military Region, said the Ministry of National Defence in a statement Sunday.
"As part of the fight against terrorism and during a reconnaissance patrol near the borders, a detachment of the People's National Army of the operational area of Illizi (4th Military Region) arrested, on 20 February 2016, a terrorist carrying three hunting rifles with telescopic sight and mobile phones," said the statement.
"In the 2nd Military Region, two holy warriors surrendered to the security forces in possession of two Kalashnikov submachine guns, four homemade bombs, a grenade, 184 bullets, six mobile phones as well as DZD 95,500 and € 500," added the statement.
"As part of the fight against organized crime, a detachment of the operational area of Djelfa (1st Military Region) thwarted in coordination with units of National Police, an attempt to smuggle 57 quintals of cannabis resin and intercepted two narcos in two cars," said the Ministry's statement.
"Detachments of the operational areas of Tamanrasset, Bordj Badji Mokhtar and In Guezzam (6th Military Region) arrested 20 undocumented Democrats and six smugglers, and seized four trucks, six all-terrain vehicles, 24.4 tonnes of foodstuffs, 2,780 litres of cooking oil, 30,200 litres of fuel and 3,840 soap units," added the statement.
"Units of National Gendarmerie of Laghouat (4th Military Region) seized 2,681 bottles of beverages," concluded the statement.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] A gunman killed a senior Yemeni army officer in Aden on Monday, as violence in the southern port city which is the headquarters of the Saudi-backed government showed no let-up, military sources said.
The gunman, who was on the back of a cycle of violence, killed General Abedrabbo Hussein as he was leaving his home in the Sheikh Othman district of the city, the sources said.
Hussein was commander of the 15th Infantry Brigade which operates in Abyan ...a governorate of Yemen. The region was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army terrorist group until it dropped the name and joined al-Qaeda. Its capital is Zinjibar. In March 2011, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula declared the governate an Islamic Emirate after seizing control of the region. The New York Times fastidiously reported that those in control, while Islamic hard boyz, are not in fact al-Qaeda, but something else that looks, tastes, smells, and acts the same. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region when President-for-Life Saleh was tossed and the carnage continues... province, west of Aden, where Al-Qaeda has seized several large towns in recent weeks.
President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's internationally recognized government declared Aden the country's provisional capital last March, after Shiite Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ... rebels and their allies drove it out of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen.
Al-Qaeda and the ISIS group have stepped up attacks in the city despite the efforts of the government and its backers in a Saudi-led coalition to secure it.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: al-Qaeda in Arabia
[ALMANAR.LB] Saudi air strike on Saada Governorate in Yemen ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic... brought around 30 people killed most of whom women and kiddies overnight yesterday, IRNA reported.
Condemning the brutality of Saudis toward Yemenis specially women and kiddies, a news website from Saada requested legal and humanitarian organizations to do their humanitarian duty regarding Saudis' cruelty against Yemeni people.
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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So Europol believes that 5,000 jihadis entered the EU in recent months, but as the countries are not saving identity data, they are untraceable. Goody.
#4
If we'd only known Europe was so welcoming of the arab diaspora we could have avoided this whole Paleo/Israeli issue. Enjoy!
Posted by: regular joe ||
02/23/2016 9:52 Comments ||
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#5
Portugal Wants more Refugees to Help Revive Dwindling Population
Brazil short on population too?
At least the Latin Americans speak a very similar language (easy adaptability), love soccer, and are Catholic. We can have full charter planes standing by in San Diego, Phoenix, and San Antonio to solve your problem. Just say the word.
#6
the study that closed borders reduce GDP assumes that the migrants enter the work force at historic rates and thus reduce production costs (or 'wages' as Trump or Bernie might say) which in turn leads to more production
Posted by: lord garth ||
02/23/2016 15:05 Comments ||
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PESHAWAR: A drone strike, targeting suspected militant hideouts in the Shahidano Dhand area of Lower Kurram Agency near the shared border with Afghanistan and wounding one suspected militant, was reported on Monday.
The drone fired four missiles at militant hideouts, as a result of which, one militant was injured and three hideouts were destroyed, security sources said, adding that vehicles were also damaged in the strikes.
The hideouts which were being used to shelter terrorists facilitated cross-border movement, the security source said.
The identity of the wounded 'militant' is unknown and the details of the drone strike could not be independently verified.
Reports of the drone strike follow news that a curfew has been imposed in Mohmand Agency, also near the border with Afghanistan, as security forces conduct an operation targeting militancy due to the deteriorating security situation in the area.
QUETTA: At least ten Afghan nationals were arrested by Frontier Constabulary (FC) during an operation in various parts of the city.
According to reports, the arrested Afghan national were allegedly involved in travelling on illegal documents. The arrested Afghans have been handed over to local police for further investigation.
Meanwhile, the FC personnel have foiled a bid to smuggle the Iranian diesel illegally and recovered one lac and 15 thousand litres of diesel while taking three oil tankers into custody. The FC spokesperson said that recovered diesel has been handed over to custom officials.
QUETTA: Frontier Corps (FC) arrested 33 suspects including 28 Afghan nationals recovering arms in a search operation from Rindh Garh, area of the provincial capital on Monday.
According to an FC spokesman, acting on a tip off, FC personnel carried out a search operation in the area and apprehended 33 suspects. Arms including three small machine guns, seven rifles, thousands of rounds and other arms were seized in the search operation. Further investigation is underway.
SWAT: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) apprehended a key militant commander during a successful action at Barshor in Tehsil Matta and shifted him to undisclosed location for further interrogation.
According to spokesman of CTD Swat, Militant Commander Chaman Khan who is a resident of Barshor Matta was apprehended when a team of CTD raided his compound at Sharobar, area at Tehsil Matta. The accused was wanted by police for carrying out attacks on law enforcement agencies in 2009, the spokesman added.
KARACHI: At least 12 suspected militants were shot dead in two separate encounters in the metropolis on Monday, police claimed.
Malir SSP Rao Anwar claimed that eight suspected militants were gunned down in Pipri area of the city, while four others were killed in Gadap. Rao said that taking action over the information provided by two under-interrogation terror suspects, Naeem Bukhari and Farooq Bhatti, the police and law enforcement agencies conducted a joint operation in Pipri area of the provincial capital.
During the raid, the extremists hiding in the area started firing at the law enforcers which led to an encounter. In cross-firing, eight terrorists were killed while two policemen sustained bullet wounds. The bodies and injured were moved to the hospital. Weapons, suicide jackets and uniforms of sensitive agencies personnel were also seized from them.
The killed suspects are stated to be hailing from banned Al-Qaeda Subcontinent and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). A few of them were identified as Sohail Chishmatoo, Khalil, Bilal, Talha and Abdul Salam. Arms including five kalashnikovs, three pistols, suicide jackets and uniforms of sensitive agencies were seized from their possession.
Sindh Rangers also arrested several suspected extortionists belonging to banned People’s Amn Committee in a separate raid in the city.
[Daily Excelsior] In one of the longest gun battles in recent years, Army this evening killed three militants in the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building in Pampore area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after 48-hour long intense gun fight.
After night long lull, the residents woke up early this morning to the deafening explosions and rattle of gun fire that continued till 4 p.m. After 48 hours, machine guns fell silent and deafening explosions stopped this evening marking the killing of 3 militants, believed to be of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) who entered the EDI building on Saturday.
Sources said that it was a group of LeT militants who carried out the attack and identified them as Abu Saad, Abu Ukasha and Abu Walid. He said that the group had come to South Kashmir last month from North Kashmir’s Handwara forests to carry out Fidayeen attack. He said that one of the killed militants carried the arms and ammunition inside the EDI building just before the attack on the CRPF convoy on Saturday evening.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
02/23/2016 00:00 ||
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[UPI] ERBIL, Iraq, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Kurdish special forces rescued a Swedish girl held by the Islamic State near Mosul, Iraq, Kurdish officials said Tuesday.
The girl, 16, is believed to be a native of Boras, Sweden, and the missing person who traveled to the Middle East last summer in the company of her boyfriend, 19, who is alleged to have joined an extremist group.
The Kurdistan Region Security Council, the high-ranking security organization for Iraqi Kurdistan, announced it "was called upon by Swedish authorities and members of her family to assist in locating and rescuing her" from IS. The statement added she was rescued near Mosul on Feb. 17, is currently in Kurdistan and will be transferred to Swedish authorities. She will presumably return to Sweden.
#5
Gorb, I don't know about religion at birth. She was pregnant at the time she started her trip. She gave birth so where is the kid? Her boy friend met his timely demise in a drone zap.
She is 16 now so she is/was just a kid.
Posted by: Sven the pelter ||
02/23/2016 14:58 Comments ||
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[Free Beacon] Following an ISIS chemical weapons attack involving the use of chlorine mortar shells Feb. 11 near Sinjar Mountain in Iraq, a dozen seriously wounded Kurdish soldiers were assessed and bundled off on ambulances to a field hospital that had been set up a few days earlier by American volunteers working shoulder to shoulder with the Peshmerga.
The volunteer unit that works as an adjunct of the Peshmerga's 9th Brigade calls itself "Qalubna Makum," which translates from Arabic as "Our Hearts Are with You."
This newly-formed seven person team of U.S. and European combat veterans has been operating in Iraq's Kurdish region since December, and is led by a former U.S. Army officer from Los Angeles whose name is being withheld for his safety.
The Americans are among more than 150 volunteers serving in Iraq with the Peshmerga, according to U.S. government sources.
The tents, diesel generators, hospital beds, and over-the-counter medications for the field hospitals arrived in three large shipping containers by way of Tom Kelly, 65, a retired North Carolina football coach who has made it his mission to send donated hospital equipment to more than a dozen nations in Africa and the former Soviet Union.
Many items for the Kurdish troops were donated by Kurdish-American members of the Tennessee Kurdish Community Council in Nashville. Kelly met with Peshmerga Gen. Zaim Ali, the former U.S. Army officer who leads the team of Americans, and others in mid-January to arrange the distribution of supplies.
Kelly first linked up with the top brass of the Peshmerga in Nov. 2014 during a campaign to reclaim several villages that had been captured by ISIS troops in their blitzkrieg advance across northern Iraq in June of that year. At a battle for Kharbaroot, 22 miles west of Kirkuk, Kelly accompanied Gen. Rasheed Muhsin, a surgeon, as he tried in vain to save the lives of wounded Peshmerga without adequate blood supplies or anti-hemorrhaging tools. He says he was moved by the courage and sacrifice of the Kurdish military and returned to the U.S. with an even greater sense of mission.
(IraqiNews.com) Kirkuk – A security source in Kirkuk Province announced on Monday, that 14 fighters of the so-called ISIS were either killed or wounded in an aerial bombardment launched by the Iraqi Army Aviation on a fuel station used by ISIS in Hawija southwest of Kirkuk.
The source said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “Today the Iraqi warplanes shelled a gathering of ISIS members in a fuel station in Riyad area in Hawija District (45 km south west of Kirkuk), killing five ISIS members and wounding nine others.”
The source, who asked anonymity, added, “The bombardment destroyed a number of vehicles used by ISIS.”
[Rudaw] At least seven Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... (ISIS) gunnies have been captured by the Peshmerga on the western Kirkuk front over the last two weeks, a Kurdish commander told Rudaw on Monday.
"Peshmerga forces managed to capture four ISIS gunnies named Ahmed Raad, Mohammed Khalaf, Saab Ali and Hussein Ali and now they are under police custody," Kamal Kirkuki, commander of the Peshmerga forces on the western Kirkuk front, told Rudaw.
He added that another group of three ISIS gunnies was also "captured by the Peshmerga forces in the village of Ufiya on February 13 and we handed them over to the (Kurdish) Asaish and counter-terror forces."
He revealed that "the captured gunnies had penetrated the area to spy," for the group.
A recently captured ISIS bully boy in Kirkuk was the source of an abundance of intelligence information about the group's current situation. Saad Sulaiman, the captured ISIS bully boy, answering a question by Rudaw about the recent situation of the group in its territories in Iraq, said that "ISIS gunnies in Iraq are cut off from each other and besieged (by the Iraqi and Kurdish forces).
"They are suffering from a lack of weapons and ammunition," he claimed.
(IraqiNews.com) Kirkuk – A security source in Kirkuk announced on Sunday, that 40 vehicles belonging to the Iraqi army crossed Kirkuk toward Makhmour area southeast of Mosul (405 km north of Baghdad) in preparation to liberate the city.
The source said in a press statement received by IraqiNews.com, “40 military vehicles belonging to the army’s 71st brigade coming from Baghdad, crossed Kirkuk on Thursday evening toward Makhmour (120 km south-east of Mosul).”
The source added, on condition of anonymity, “The forty vehicles are loaded with soldiers and military equipment, and headed to the leadership of Nineveh in preparation to liberate Mosul.”
The Ministry of Defense announced earlier on Sunday, that the Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi met the 71st brigade in Taji camp north of Baghdad, before leaving to participate in the liberation operations of Nineveh.
(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – Kurdistan Democratic Party announced on Monday, that 16 members of the so-called ISIS were killed in an aerial bombardment carried out by the coalition aviation in central Mosul (405 km north of Baghdad).
The Kurdistan Democratic Party spokesman in Mosul, Saeed Mamousini, said in a brief statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “Today the international coalition aviation carried out an air strike on the ISIS headquarters in al-Faisalia neighborhood in central Mosul.”
Mmousini added, “The aerial operation killed 16 fighters belonging to ISIS.”
Noteworthy, ISIS imposed its control over the city of Mosul in Nineveh Province in June 2014 and extended its activities to several provinces and regions.
(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – On Monday the Leadership of Nineveh Police announced, that 26 thousand of its members are ready to participate in the liberalization operations of Mosul from the so-called ISIS control.
Nineveh Police Chief Maj. Gen. Bahaa al-Azzawi said in a press statement obtained IraqiNews.com, “26 thousand elements of the local police are ready to participate in liberalization operations of Nineveh Province, after receiving intensive training.”
Azzawi added, “Nineveh Liberation Command and the leadership of the provincial police are coordinating to carry out the upcoming military operations.”
A security source in Kirkuk announced on Sunday, that 40 vehicles belonging to the Iraqi army crossed Kirkuk toward Makhmour area southeast of Mosul in preparation to liberate the city.
(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – The Kurdistan Democratic Party announced on Monday, that more than 100 members of the so-called ISIS escaped from Mosul for not receiving their salaries for more than three months.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party spokesman in Mosul, Saeed Mamousini, said in a statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “102 members belonging to ISIS fled from the city of Mosul, right before the beginning of the liberation operations of the city.”
Mamousini added, “ISIS elements escaped for not receiving their salaries for more than three months.”
Noteworthy, ISIS imposed its control over the city of Mosul in Nineveh Province in June 2014, and extended its activities to several provinces and regions.
(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – A source in Nineveh Province announced on Monday, that the so-called ISIS executed 36 of its fighters by firing squad for refusing to join the confrontations axes against the security forces in southern Mosul (405 north of Baghdad).
The source said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “Today, ISIS executed 36 of its members after refusing to join the combat axes in southern Mosul.”
The source, who asked anonymity, added, “ISIS executed its fighters by firing squad in Ghazlani camp in southern Mosul.”
"There are 102 ISIS bully boyz who beat feet fromdjinn-infested Mosul ... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn... yesterday, including seven commanders," Saeed Mamuzini told Rudaw English, believing that some of them went into Syria.
Around 750 Christians also completed a training course with the Peshmerga last week to participate in the forthcoming offensive.
(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – The commander of Anbar Operations Major General Ismail Al-Mahalawi announced on Monday, that the security forces repulsed ISIS attack on the headquarters of the army’s 76th brigade north of Ramadi.
Mahalawi said in a statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “This morning, ISIS launched an attack on the army’s 76th brigade near Zankoura area north of Ramadi.”
Mahalawi added, “A force from the headquarters guards managed to repulse the attack and killed 15 members of ISIS, while inflicted heavy material and human losses on ISIS.”
(IraqiNews.com) al-Anbar – On Monday the commander of Anbar Operations Command Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Mahalawi announced, that 46 ISIS elements had been killed during violent clashes east of Ramadi.
Mahalawi said in a press statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “This morning, ISIS carried out an offensive on a military headquarters belonging to the Tenth Division in the area of al-Hamediyah on the international highway road east of Ramadi,” noting that, “The attack occurred from the area of Albu Obeid east of al-Hamediyah.”
He also added, “A force from the army’s Tenth Division, with support from the international coalition aviation, managed to repel the attack and kill 46 ISIS terrorists, in addition to inflicting big material and human losses upon [ISIS ranks].”
(IraqiNews.com) Anbar – A security source in Anbar Province announced on Monday, that 21 fighters of the so-called ISIS were killed in the cleansing operations north of Ramadi (110 km west of Baghdad), while pointed out that the security forces were able to detonate 13 explosive devices planted by ISIS east of the city.
The source said in a press statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “The security forces in Anbar Operations Command managed to kill 21 ISIS elements, including two snipers in al-Hamidiya region north of Ramadi,” noting that, “The security forces also found four containers containing explosive material.”
The source, who asked anonymity, added, “The security forces were able to detonate 13 explosive devices planted by ISIS in al-Sijariya area east of Ramadi.”
(IraqiNews.com) al-Anbar – The president of al-Baghdadi District Council, Mallullah al-Obeidi, announced on Monday the arrival of military reinforcements in Ein al-Assad base to participate in the liberation operation of Heet and Kabisa.
Obeidi said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “Military reinforcements from the Anti-Terrorism Directorate and Federal Police as well as Anbar Police arrived, today, at Ein al-Assad base in the district of al-Baghdadi (90 km west of Ramadi),” noting that, “Those forces were equipped with machinery, equipment and all kinds of weapons.”
The president of the district council also added, “The aim of these military reinforcement is to participate in retaking the city of Heet and the district Kabisa,” pointing out that, “Hundreds from the clan sons from Heet and Kabisa will arrive in Ein al-Assad base within the next few hours to participate in liberating their areas from ISIS.”
(IraqiNews.com) al-Anbar – A security source in Anbar province said on Monday, that one of the ISIS judges had been killed by a sniper fire in the area of al-Golan north of Fallujah.
The source, who requested anonymity, reported for IraqiNews.com, “A judge of what is called the ISIS legitimacy court was killed by a sniper during his presence in al-Golan area north of Fallujah,” explaining that, “The sniper was an Iraqi national.”
The source added, “ISIS transferred the body of the judge to an unknown destination,” indicating that, “A massive campaign was carried out by [ISIS] to search for the sniper.”
[ALMANAR.LB] Iraq deployed reinforcements to a military base in Anbar on Monday for an impending operation against the ISIL terrorist group in the western province, a senior officer said.
ISIL overran large parts of Anbar province in 2014, but Iraqi forces recaptured scenic provincial capital Ramadi from the Death Eaters and are now setting their sights on areas farther up the Euphrates river valley.
"Major military reinforcements... arrived today to the Ain al-Asad base," army Major General Ali Ibrahim Daboun said.
The forces from the counter-terrorism service and police will take part in an operation in the coming days to retake the town of Heet and the nearby Kubaisa area, Daboun said.
The Al-Asad base is located northwest of those areas, while Ramadi, where government forces are also deployed, lies to its southeast.
ISIL overran swathes of Iraq in 2014, but its forces have since regained significant ground from the terrorists.
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(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – A source in the Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced on Monday, that ten people had been either killed or wounded in a bomb blast near shops southwest of Baghdad.
The source said in a brief statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “A bomb exploded, at noon today, near shops in Bayaa District southwest of Baghdad, killing two people and wounding eight others.”
The source added, “An ambulance rushed to the area and transferred the wounded to a nearby hospital to receive treatment and the dead bodies to the forensic medicine department, while the security force cordoned off the area of the incident and barred approaching it.”
(IraqiNews.com) Bagdad – The Federal Police Chief Raed Shaker Jawdat announced on Monday, that the security forces arrested a gang specialized in children kidnapping in Baghdad.
Jawdat said in a press statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “The Federal Police arrested a gang of four men and a woman specialized in children kidnapping.”
“The gang kidnapped a number of citizens and released them in exchange for large ransoms,” Jawdat added.
[Inquirer] At least five people, including two soldiers, were killed when Philippine troops clashed with members of what military officials described as a foreign and local terrorist organization in Butig, Lanao del Sur, on February 20. As of Monday, the firefight was still raging.
Col. Roseller Murillo said the clash broke out when the armed militants harassed troops who were manning a patrol base in Barangay Bayabao. After a lull in the fighting, the battle resumed at dawn on February 21.
Murillo did not say how the military established ties with a foreign terror group to the militants led by the Maute brothers. But he said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front had been assisting the military in securing civilians in the area by taking them to safer ground.
Murillo's deputy said more armored tanks and troops had been sent to Butig. The military also used two MG 520 attack helicopters to track down the armed men and conduct air strikes against them. He said, "The MILF continues to assist civilians so they would not be caught in the crossfire."
In Maguindanao, military officials said the operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters was also continuing.
[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] The ISIS group and other Lions of Islam on Monday cut a vital supply route linking the west of Syria's second city Aleppo with other government-held territory, a monitoring group said.
The road between Aleppo and the town of Khanasser to the southeast was the only way regime forces and civilians living in government-controlled neighborhoods of the city could travel to surrounding provinces.
If government forces are unable to recapture the road, it could slow an offensive they launched in the countryside around Aleppo earlier this year.
And it could worsen severe shortages of food and water for civilians.
"Jihadists from the Caucasus and from (China's mainly Muslim region of) Xinjiang, as well as the jihadist group Jund al-Aqsa, cut the route from the south after a surprise attack," said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights chief Rami Abdel Rahman.
"And fighters from IS cut off a different part of the route from the northern side at the same time," Abdel Rahman said.
Thousands of imported muscle have flocked to Syria over the past two years, many of them taking up arms with Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, ISIS or Jund al-Aqsa.
It is not the first time that the government's supply route to Aleppo has been cut.
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HASAKAH – Kurdish-Arab alliance of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seized control of a key gas facility and main financial resource for the Islamic State (ISIS) radical group in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah, military sources confirmed on Monday.
The SDF regained control of the Jibisa gas facility, located about 12km east of Shaddadi city in southern Hasakah.
The facility had been used by ISIS for nearly two years as a source to fund its operations.
Informed sources told ARA News that ISIS used to produce 5,000 gas cylinders a day in Jibisa to be sold at the black-market.
Local sources reported that ISIS has been coordinating with the Syrian regime to sell the gas it used to extract from Jibisa fields, and that the regime’s employees have been working in the facility even during ISIS control.
Speaking to ARA News, a spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces said: “We have controlled the entire gas facility in Jibisa after expelling ISIS militants from the area.”
“The SDF has stormed ISIS headquarters after local people demanded our help to get rid of the terror group,” he said. “Jibisa was one of the main resources for ISIS, and after the SDF recaptured the area this radical group has definitely lost a main resource.”
Jibisa gas facility is considered one of the main gas facilities in northern Syria for its huge production that has been feeding power stations in central Syria. The facility was run by some 500 workers, including specialized engineers, technicians and workers.
[ALMANAR.LB] Hezbollah fighters managed on Monday to inflict heavy losses upon Nusra Front (Qaeda branch in the Levant) faceless myrmidons in Arsal outskirts, after launching an artillery attack on their gatherings in the area.
The Lebanese army enjugged Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! in Arsal the ISIL terrorist Ahmad Ammoun who formed several holy warrior groups and commanded them to launch suicide kabooms across Leb.
Well-informed sources told Al-Manar that Ammoun participated in ambushing and kidnapping Lebanese army soldiers.
The Lebanese army clashed with ISIL faceless myrmidons in Arsal after they attacked one of locals' houses whom the murderous Moslems accused of assisting the military to arrest Ammoun.
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[ALMANAR.LB] The Syrian Arab Army continued on Monday carrying out counter-terrorism operations across the country, killing scores of turbans and destroying their positions and dens.
Homs
A military source told SANA that the Syrian army air force destroyed two positions for al-Nusra ...formally Jabhat an-Nusrah li-Ahli sh-Sham (Support Front for the People of the Levant), also known as al-Qaeda in the Levant. They aim to establish a pan-Arab caliphate. Not the same one as the Islamic State, though .. ... Front (Qaeda branch in the Levant) turbans in Teir Ma'ale, killing and injuring many of them.
The source added that the army air force carried out raids on ISIL terrorists' gatherings and fortifications at Teloul al-Soud and Palmyra vicinity in the countryside of Homs province.
Hama
13 turbans of Jaish al-Fateh killed
In the neighboring province of Hama, the Syrian army air force carried out sorties on the fortifications and positions of the so called "Jaish al-Fateh" terrorist group affiliated to al-Nusra terrorist organization in the northwestern countryside of Hama province.
The air force strikes resulted in killing 13 of Jaish al-Fateh turbans in al-Latamneh town and destroying a number of vehicles some of which equipped with machineguns in Kefr Zeita city, 38km away from Hama city.
Aleppo
Units of the army, in cooperation with popular defense groups, clashed with turbans from ISIL along Athria/Khanaser axis between Aleppo and Hama.
The festivities ended up with destroying 14 vehicles equipped with heavy machine guns and killing many of the mercenaries.
Lattakia
The Syrian army managed on Monday to control Kroum Khassat and Barza Tahta villages in the province's northern countryside.
A military source announced today that the army, in cooperation with popular defense groups, established control on al-Qamou and al-Kafr Sanad Mountains in addition to a number of strategic points to the north-east side of Lattakia after eliminating the last gatherings of turbans in the region.
Deir Ezzor
65 ISIL turbans killed during the last 24 hours
Field sources confirmed the death of 65 turbans from ISIL after fierce festivities that erupted between the army and a group of ISIL in al-Hamideya during the last 24 hours.
Earlier, an army unit destroyed a 40-meter-long tunnel which ISIL' turbans were using to store weapons and ammunition in al-Sinaa neighborhood in Deir Ezzor.
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
At least 13 people including members of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) forces lost their lives in a suicide attack in northern Parwan province of Afghanistan.
At least 37 militants including Pakistani and Tajik nationals were killed during clearing operations in northern Kunduz province of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.
A hostage was released from the restive Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan with the interference of the Afghan intelligence operatives as the kidnappers demanded a ransom of $1 million for his release.
At least three suspected militants were killed in a drone strike along the Durand Line apparently carried out by the US forces in Afghanistan, it has been reported.
[Tolo News] At least ten 
[Tolo News] A rocket hit the Baghlan governor's compound on Monday, killing one and injuring two others, local officials said.
[Tolo News] Pakistain has allegedly set up checkpoints inside Afghanistan's territory in Bahramcha area of Desho district of southern 
An Islamic State (IS) unit from Fataieh attempted to a new incursion into Derna this afternoon but was beaten back by the local Mujahideen forces. These were backed up by helicopter support from the Libyan National Army (LNA), despite the fact that the two are, officially, not cooperating.
[ALMANAR.LB] A suspected terrorist was killed on Monday in an exchange of fire with security forces in a mountainous area of central Tunisia, a defense ministry 
[Daily Excelsior] In one of the longest gun battles in recent years, Army this evening killed three militants in the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building in Pampore area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district after 48-hour long intense gun fight.
[ALMANAR.LB] Hezbollah fighters managed on Monday to inflict heavy losses upon Nusra Front (Qaeda branch in the Levant) 
