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Today: 57 articles and 122 comments as of 12:09.
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Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix   
Saudi Arabia confirms Yemen’s missile strike on Riyadh
Today's Headlines
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Afghanistan
11 civilians killed in an explosion in Logar province
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] At least eleven non-combatants were killed in an kaboom in central Pashtun-infested Logar province of Afghanistan.

According to the local government officials, the incident took place in Mohammad Agha district at around noon time today.

District administrative chief Nasir Amin confirmed the incident and said at least five children and five women were among those killed.

He said the incident took place after a civilian vehicle struck an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), leaving all those on board dead.

Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa Horn
KDF soldier held hostage appears in Al-Shabab video
[SHABELLENEWS] Al-Shabaab
... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
, al Qaeda’s branch in Somalia, overran an AMISOM (African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
Mission in Somalia) base in the town of El Adde.

At sunrise, two vehicle-borne improvised bombs (VBIEDs) cleared the way for hundreds of jihadists to stream into the base. The Kenyan forces manning the facility were quickly outmatched.

The United Nations
...boodling on the grand scale...
later found that "150 Kenyan soldiers were killed during the attack, making it the largest military defeat in Kenyan history."

Not all of the Kenyan soldiers were killed. At least 11 of them, according to the UN, "were captured alive and subsequently held hostage in two separate groups by" Shabaab in the Middle Juba region of southern Somalia.

One of those Kenyan soldiers, Alfred Danyi Kilasi (seen obove), appeared in a Shabaab video released online earlier today ‐ more than 16 months after he was taken captive. The video, along with an English transcript, was produced by al-Kataib Foundation for Media, Shabaab’s propaganda arm.

"My name is Senior Private Alfred Danyi Kilasi," the Kenyan begins. "I was born in 1987 in Western Province, Vihiga County, Vigeena village. I joined the army on 10 October 2010 and after training, I was posted to Nenkea, Moi Barracks."

"On the 15th of January last year," Kilasi continues, "I remember vividly that while we were in El Adde, we were attacked by Al-Shabaab. They infiltrated our camp and took over our defense posts. We lost our comrades and we were captured as prisoners."

Shabaab has Kilasi criticize his own government and plead with the Kenyan people to intercede on his behalf.

"From that time up to now, we have been in captivity and have not received any report from our government," Kilasi says, as the camera zooms in on a "Kenya" patch on his uniform. "We have not received any kind of assistance. We are pleading with the Kenyan public to come together and find a solution for this dilemma that we are faced with. Right now, we have no one else to help us except you."

"I am pleading with the leaders in Kenya," Kilasi adds. "Where are you? We are suffering here in Somalia and are in dire need of your assistance. This is an election year and so we are pleading that before you go for elections, look for any means in which you can save us for we are your brethren."

Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab (AQ)


Kenya nabs 33 Al-Shabaab militants in four months
[SHABELLENEWS] Kenyan police on Thursday announced the arrest of at least 33 al-Shabaab
... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord...
holy warriors between December-March in the ongoing operation Linda Boni in the coastal town of Lamu.

Deputy County Commissioner Michael Kioni said 20 holy warriors were tossed in the slammer
Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit!
along the Lamu-Malindi route while 13 were arrested between Garrisa-Lamu road by Kenya security agents.

Kioni said the suspects were enroute from Somalia to carry out attacks targeting Lamu and parts of northeastern region when they were intercepted by security agents working on intelligence reports.

"We managed to arrest the suspects and thwarted their plans to stage attacks in the country. Majority were Somali nationals and few Kenyans from various parts of the country," Kioni said in Lamu.

Last year, 36 suspected al-Shabaab holy warriors were arrested in Operation Boni that was launched in September 2015. The operation targeted the Jeysh Ayman, a 300-member al-Shabaab cell that operated in the forest.

The vast Boni forest area, along the Kenya Somalia border extends into Somalia to become Lacta Belt that was infiltrated by al-Shabaab operatives.

Head of security operations in the Boni Forest, James ole Serian said the suspects were handed to agencies including the anti-terrorism police unit (ATPU) for profiling and possible prosecution.

Serian said the operation has been successful but that the terror group based in Somalia remains a threat.

It emerged in July 2015 that al-Shabaab holy warriors had set up permanent base in the vast forest and were living there with their families.

The holy warriors and their wives and children hunt game for food and use water from several rivers in the forest. Serian said Lamu will soon be declared a terrorist-free zone following the success of Operation Linda Boni.

Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: al-Shabaab (AQ)


Africa North
Egypt's general prosecutor refers 14 to criminal court over plot to assassinate political, security figures
[AlAhram] Egypt’s general prosecutor referred to criminal court on Friday 14 people charged with forming a terrorist cell that aimed to carry out liquidations on political and security figures, state news agency MENA reported.

General Prosecutor Nabil Sadek referred the men for planning to execute bombings against state apparatuses and security checkpoints.

Investigations were conducted by the Supreme National Security prosecution. The case includes 12 defendants already detained pending investigation and two still on the lam.

The prosecution stressed that leaders of the now banned Muslim Brotherhood provided financial support to the defendants to carry out their plan.
According to investigations, three of the unnamed defendants joined the 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....
terrorist group in Syria, where they received training and planned to carry out attacks upon arrival to Egypt.

The prosecution added that the defendants divided the cell into three units, each responsible for a specific duty. It stressed that leaders of the now banned Moslem Brüderbund provided financial support to the defendants to carry out their plan.

According to the prosecution, the men used an apartment in Cairo’s al-Salam City as a hideout, and made use of the Line freeware app for instant communication free of security monitoring.

The defendants confessed to observing police and several military headquarters, including a New Maadi police checkpoint and a military outlet in Salam city, as well as power stations in Obour, several gold shops owned by Coptic Christians and banks in the area, as well as the Hilton and Movenpick hotels in 6th of October's Media City.

The men are also charged with joining an outlawed group aiming to overthrow the government, prevent state institutions from performing their duties and harm national peace and unity, as well as targeting state institutions and attempting to disrupt the peace through terrorism.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Arabia
Saudi Arabia confirms Yemen’s missile strike on Riyadh
[ALMASDARNEWS] Saudi activists on social media reported hearing sounds of kabooms in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, not so long after Sana’a government forces launched "Burkan-2" ballistic missile towards Riyadh this evening.

Local Yemeni news outlets cited a number of Saudi Twitter activists tweeting in Arabic language. al-Masdar News correspondent in Sana’a translated some of them:

Jassem bin Mohammed, a Saudi activist, posted on his Twitter page, "A huge kaboom shook Riyadh area before Trump’s visit amid panic, fear and rumours that this was a Yemeni ballistic missile, and it comes right before the arrival of the American guest [Trump], and this is the message they wanted to deliver to us."

"We have heard a sound that terrified residents in Riyadh," another columnist wrote. "A huge kaboom rocked the Saudi capital of Riyadh and a giant fire outbroke as result of a ballistic missile strike."

Earlier, Yemeni Army’s missile division based in Sana’a announced the launch of a ballistic missile type "Burkan-2" ("Vulcan-2") on the Saudi capital.

The Saudi-led coalition said later it had downed a 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 ...
missile in the southern Saudi province of Ar Rayn well to the west of Riyadh. The area is open desert and there were no casualties, the official Saudi news agency SPA said.

This comes just hours before US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
is about to begin his international trip to Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
where he is going to meet with more than 37 Arab and Moslem leaders, seeking to form a new alliance to fight what they [Gulf Arab leaders] call "Iranian expansion in the region", and also struggle against terrorism.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: Houthis

#1  Now, whatcha gonna do?
Posted by: chris || 05/20/2017 2:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Try that while Trump's in town. Let's see how that turns out for ya
Posted by: Frank G || 05/20/2017 7:31 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Russian security forces neutralize four jihadists in a special operation in Dagestan
[ALMASDARNEWS] Russian security forces conducted counter-terrorist operation in Buinaksk district of Dagestan
...a formerly inoffensive Caucasus republic currently bedevilled by low-level Islamic insurgency, occasional outbreaks of separatism, ethnic tensions and terrorism, primarily due to its proximity to Chechnya. There are several dozen ethnic groups, most of which speak either Caucasian, Turkic, or Iranian languages. Largest among these ethnic groups are the Avar, Dargin, Kumyk, Lezgin, and Laks. While Russers form less than five percent of the population, Russian remains the primary official language and the lingua franca...
Autonomous Republic on Friday neutralizing four armed hard boys.

A source in National Anti-terrorist Comittee (NAC) told Interfax agency that Death Eaters belonged to remnants of the so-called "Kadar" illegal gang.

According to NAC, the group was responsible for multiple terrorist attacks in the district, including liquidation of the head of Karamakhi village along with other civilians, extortion of large sums of money from local businessmen.

"Kadar" group was mainly liquidated last year when law enforcers eliminated several leaders of the Death Eaters effectively crushing organization’s core.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Europe
Syrian man, 20, convicted in Berlin of passing info to ISIS
[Ynet] A German court convicted a Syrian refugee Friday of membership in ISIS in his homeland and later providing information for a possible attack against "soft targets" in Berlin.

Berlin's criminal court sentenced Shaas al-Mohammad,
...that's fast. We first encountered Mr. al-Mohammad when he went to trial at the beginning of April. But when Germans set themselves to improve efficiency, it gets improved...
20, to five years in prison on 150 counts of membership in a foreign terrorist organization and 149 counts of violating weapons laws.
*blink* A busy boy.
Judges noted the seriousness of the crimes, but applied youth sentencing guidelines because most of them happened before the defendant turned 18.
Expulsion to follow completion of his sentence, one hopes.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  Put him in the right prison population and he won't live to finish his sentence
Posted by: Frank G || 05/20/2017 7:33 Comments || Top||


Home Front: WoT
Man Rushes Cockpit - F-22s Escort Flight
[DailyMail] A man was subdued aboard an American Airlines flight to Honolulu after he tried to break into the cockpit on Friday.

Passengers, American Airlines crew members and an off-duty Honolulu police officer worked together to restrain Anil Uskanil, 25, a Turkish national.

The flight landed safely about 11:35am, escorted by two military fighter jets, and Uskanil was detained.
The American media articles did not know the name or nationality of the "foreign national"
Posted by: Bobby || 05/20/2017 07:50 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Word is "Turkish." One of out "important" allies...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 05/20/2017 9:04 Comments || Top||

#2  I know some people of Turkish extraction. They are civil, nice, and fun to be around. Probably Gulenists
Posted by: Frank G || 05/20/2017 10:43 Comments || Top||

#3  The gate staff let him board even though he had been drinking.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/20/2017 12:14 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Polio team’s police guard escapes attack
[DAWN] CHARSADDA/TANK: A polio
...Poliomyelitis is a disease caused by infection with the poliovirus. Between 1840 and the 1950s, polio was a worldwide epidemic. Since the development of polio vaccines the disease has been largely wiped out in the civilized world. However, since the vaccine is known to make Moslem pee-pees shrink and renders females sterile, bookish, and unsubmissive it is not widely used by the turban and automatic weapons set...
team’s police guard escaped unhurt when unknown miscreants riding a cycle of violence opened fire on him in Shabqadar tehsil, while a polio worker, who was kidnapped from FR Tank, was recovered on Thursday.

According to details, a polio team escorted by police was engaged in administering polio drops to children in Mohallah Mohsin Khan in Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda district when unknown miscreants riding a cycle of violence opened fire on the police guard, but luckily he escaped the attack.

Local people said that the miscreants fled from the scene after the attack. They said the lady health worker had entered a house to administer polio drops to children while the policeman was standing guard outside when the miscreants attacked him. A case has been registered against unknown attackers at Shabqadar cop shoppe.

In Tank, polio in-charge Sanaullah Marwat, who was kidnapped by unknown person from Pang Dewana Baba locality of FR Tank on Tuesday, had been recovered.

The kidnappers were demanding Rs1.2 million as ransom for his release. However,
women are made to be loved, not understood...
assistant political agent Taimoor Afridi called a jirga of Bhittani
...a Pashtun tribe centered on Jandola, in Tank district. They are the hereditary enemies of the Mehsuds, unless there are furriners or infidels around, in which case they share ammunition and targeting data...
rustics and warned them to ensure unconditional recovery of the polio worker within three days or face action under the collective responsibility clause of FCR.

Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Four men convicted by military courts executed
[DAWN] KOHAT: Another four men sentenced to death by military courts for heinous offences -- including killing innocent civilians, destroying communications and electricity infrastructure, destroying educational institutions, and attacking personnel of armed forces and other law enforcement agencies -- have been hanged.

All of them belonged to the Tehrik-e-Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
Pakistain and confessed to having committed the crimes they were charged with, said a statement of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday.

Those executed were: Muhammad Ibrahim (son of Maseen), who was involved in fatal attacks on armed forces personnel; Rizwanullah (son of Taj Mir Khan), who killed a civilian and maimed many armed forces men in an attack; Sardar Ali (son of Muhammad Akram Khan), who attacked army men and destroyed an educational institution; and Sher Muhammad Khan (son of Ahmed Khan), who was involved in attacks that resulted in martyrdom of and injuries to armed forces personnel.

Meanwhile,
...back at the bunker, his Excellency called the chief of staff and complained that the artillery was keeping him awake...
according to a fact sheet released by the Justice Project Pakistain, to date 63 convicts have been executed after being sentenced to death by military courts.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: TTP


PAF jets strike militant hideouts in Khyber Agency
[DAILYTIMES.PK] Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Jet fighters pounded several militant hideouts in Khyber Agency on Friday.

According to security sources, F-16 aircrafts carried out an airstrike at Rajgal area of Khyber Agency due to which three militant hideouts were destroyed.

Security sources further mentioned that terrorists may have been killed in the bombing, however, no confirmed report has so far been received regarding the deaths.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under: TTP


Iraq
‘Caliphate’ in agony: ISIS mines houses in Mosul to prevent civilians from fleeing
[ALMASDARNEWS] Militants of the so-called "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....
" (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIS) are reported to be planting bombs near residents’ front doors in djinn-infested Mosul
... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn...
to prevent them from leaving their homes, as Iraqi forces make their final push against the jihadists after seven months of fighting.

Trapped in a shrinking area of control in the city, the Death Eaters are increasingly using the several hundred thousand civilians under their control as human shields to avoid being targeted. Lieutenant-General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi of the elite Counter Terrorism Services (CTS) said Isis chained civilians by the hands and used them as human shields to move around.

Backed by a US-led coalition, Iraqi forces have made rapid gains since opening a new front in north-west Mosul this month and have now dislodged Islamic State from all but about 12 square km (five square miles) of the city.

The Death Eaters still control the Old City, where they are expected to make their last stand in the densely populated, narrow streets that are impassible for armoured vehicles, forcing Iraqi forces to advance on foot.

The Iraqi government is pushing to declare victory by the holy month of Ramadan ‐ beginning on 27 May ‐ even if pockets of resistance remain in the Old City.

Lieutenant-General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi told state TV his elite Counter Terrorism Services (CTS) were advancing steadily in the Rifaie and Najjar districts, aiming to reach the western bank of Tigris river and complete the Old City’s encirclement. The Death Eaters had deployed 30 suicide boom-mobiles against his troops in Mosul over the past two days, he said.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Iraqi Army liberates another suburb in Mosul, reducing ISIS to its last neighborhoods
[ALMASDARNEWS] Following the capture of two neighborhoods yesterday, the Iraqi Army proceeded to liberate another suburb on Friday morning.

After clearing out the last jihadist sniper nests and ISIS gun positions, the Counter Terrorism Units were able to impose full control over the announce al-Warshan district minutes ago. Sappers have now begun to demine the neighborhood.

Notably, ISIS controls little more than a handful of neighborhoods subject to increasing pressure by the Iraqi Federal Police, Rapid Response Division and Counter Terrorism Units, an Iraqi Army trio which have been tasked with mopping-up operations along the western bank of the Tigris River, eventually qulminating in the total liberation of djinn-infested Mosul
... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn...
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


US airstrike targets pro-government forces near Syrian crossing
[ALMASDARNEWS] The U.S. Coalition carried out another Arclight airstrike against a group of pro-government Iraqi paramilitary fighters near the Syrian border-crossing, Iraq’s Afaq TV reported yesterday.

According to the Afaq report, members of the Iraqi paramilitary unit, Sayyed al-Shuhada Regiment, were attacked, yesterday, by the U.S. Coalition near the Albukamal Border-Crossing in the Deir Ezzor Governorate.

The report added that at least one Sayyed al-Shuhada fighter was killed and another six were badly injured by the U.S. attack near Albukamal.

The Sayyed al-Shuhada Regiment is part of the Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd al-Sha’abi); they have participated in several offensives that have been backed by the U.S. military.

This attack was under reported because of the large strike by the U.S. Coalition on a Syrian military convoy near the Tanf Border-Crossing in southeast Homs.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq

#1  mostly Shia Militia - "The forces brought together a number of Shi'ite militias, most of which receive direct support from Iran."
Posted by: Frank G || 05/20/2017 5:47 Comments || Top||


Western Mosul Reconquest

Iraqi commander killed in western Mosul

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) An Iraqi commander has been killed in western Mosul, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command declared on Thursday.

“The Joint Operations Command mourns Colonel Mohamed Moheil Suleiman al-Jabouri, commander of the third group of the 16th division, who was killed while fulfilling the national duty in western Mosul,” the War Media Cell said in a statement.

Five officers, 12 suicide bombers killed in western Mosul in 24 hours

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Five Iraqi soldiers and 12 Islamic State suicide bombers died in 24 hours of fighting in western Mosul as operations near a total recapture of the city, according to police officers.

BasNews quoted Brig. Gen. Mohamed al-Jubouri, from the Interior Ministry’s Rapid Response forces, saying that the troops repelled a fierce attack by IS militants who used 20 booby-trapped vehicles. Twelve militants were killed in the attack which targeted troops at Tamuz, Mesherfa, Najjar and al-Rifaie neighborhoods.

Mohamed Jassem, a police officer from Mosul, also told BasNews that five police officers were killed and eight others were wounded Thursday when drones guided by Is militants bombed their deployment in al-Marir village, south of the city.

Iraqi forces retake Rawshan area in western Mosul: command

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi command said Friday that government forces recaptured an area in western Mosul as they advanced near the last Islamic State strongholds in the region.

The Joint Operations Command said the army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service recaptured the Rawshan area in northwestern Mosul, raising Iraqi flags at the area.

Two police personnel wounded as mortar missiles fell on eastern Mosul region

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Two police personnel were injured as mortar missiles fell on al-Ghabat region, east of Tigris River, according to a security source.

“Five mortar missiles fell on al-Ghabat region, leaving two Nineveh police personnel wounded,” the source told Alghad Press.

Despite being controlled by Iraqi troops, Ghabat region still faces threats as it faces the Islamic State-held regions located west of Tigris, which runs through the city of Mosul.

Civilians displaced from western Mosul exceeds 526,000: Ministry

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Number of the displaced residents from western Mosul have exceeded 526,000 persons since offensives started in February, according to the Ministry of Migration and Displacement.

“Number of civilians displaced from western Mosul are estimated at 526,233 residents since the beginning of operations to liberate the western side of Mosul,” Minister Jassem al-Jaff said in a statement on Friday. The displaced were distributed among the camps in south, west and east of Mosul.

“The number of displaced residents who returned back to their regions in eastern Mosul surpassed 90 percent out of the total number of eastern Mosul displaced residents, estimated at 176,000 persons,” the minister added.
That's up from the 150,000 who were reported to have returned Wednesday.
“62,000 displaced persons settled at districts of Hawija, Shirqat and Naheyat al-Alam over the past seven months.”

“Centers were established to record number of returnees to the freed regions,” the statement mentioned.

On Thursday, the United Nations said up to 200,000 more people could flee Mosul as fighting intensifies between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants in the city.

“As military operations intensify and move closer to Mosul’s Old City area, we expect that up to 200,000 more people will flee,” Lise Grande, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq said in a statement.

The number of Iraqi refugees displaced in Mosul has reached 670.000 since battles broke out in October, the government said on Wednesday.

Iraqi troops recapture half of biggest western Mosul district

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi troops have gained control on part of the biggest west Mosul district and killed a number of Islamic State militants in an airstrike.

In statements on Friday, the War Media Cell quoted the Nineveh Operations Commander, Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, as saying that the 9th armored division retaken the northern part of 17 Tamuz (July 17) in the western side of Mosul.

In other statements, WMC said dozens of IS fighters were killed in airstrikes in western Mosul.

Iraqi fighter jets launched several airstrikes that destroyed booby-trapping workshop and vehicles and killed dozens of militants on Rifaie district.

“An IS headquarter and booby-trapping workshop were destroyed, while dozens of militants were killed on al-Zanjili district,” the statement added.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


At least 2 policemen killed as police clash with Shia militia in Baghdad
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) At least two coppers were killed late Thursday when a Shia militia engaged in festivities with police forces in Baghdad, a security source was quoted saying.

Clashes broke out between police forces and Asaeb Ahl al-Haq in central Baghdad’s Paleostine street, the source told Sky News Arabia, but added that the reason behind the clash was unknown.

A spokesperson of the militia, Naeem al-Aboudi, said, however, in a statement quoted by Alsumaria News, that the festivities broke out between police and a group of individuals who claimed affiliation with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units). He said the militia supports the rule of law and said an investigation would open into the incident.

Asaeb Ahl al-Haq is part of the Shia-led PMU alliance which was formed by a top Shia clergy edict in 2014 to fight the 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....
alongside the Iraqi government.

Last February, some reports said the group invaded a cop shoppe in the southern province of Basra to free members apprehended by police. Another incident saw the group allegedly kidnapping a police officer in the same province in May 2016.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq


Civilian killed, others injured in southern Baghdad blast


Mosul (IraqiNews.com) A civilian was killed and three others were injured due to a bomb blast that occurred near a market in southern Baghdad, a police source said on Friday.

“An IED placed near a cattle market in Suwayeb region, western Baghdad, exploded on Friday, leaving a civilian killed and three others injured,” the source, who preferred anonymity, told AlSumaria News.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Hundreds of Palestinians riot in West Bank, Gaza
[IsraelTimes] Two Israelis maimed, dozens of demonstrators said hurt as festivities erupt after Hamas, a contraction of the Arabic words for "frothing at the mouth", calls for a ’day of rage’

Israeli security forces faced off against Paleostinian rioters Friday in multiple locations throughout the West Bank and along the Gazoo border, as hundreds took part in the violent demonstrations.

Demonstrators burned tires and hurled rocks at Israeli security forces, who were responding with non-lethal means. On the Gazoo border Paleostinians claimed live fire was used in some instances as rioters approached the border fence.

An Israeli soldier and a Border Policeman were lightly maimed by rock throwers during a riot near the West Bank village of Aboud, north of Ramallah.

The Paleostinian Red Islamic Thingy reported that between 30 and 40 people had been injured throughout the territories, mostly by tear gas and rubber bullets. In Gazoo one man was said to be at death's door and two others reportedly suffered moderate injuries.

Hamas had called for a "day of rage" on Thursday, in an apparent attempt to inflame the Paleostinian streets ahead of US President Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
’s visit next week, as well as a show of solidarity with huner-striking prisoners in Israeli jails.

Earlier Friday a tractor was set ablaze and graffiti reading "Dire Revenge" was sprayed on a wall in a suspected hate crime in a Paleostinian village in the northern West Bank. The suspected "price tag" hate crime attack occurred in the village of Burin, near Nablus, according to a police report. A star of David and the Hebrew word for "Dire Revenge" were sprayed near the destroyed tractor.

Police said they opened an investigation into the incident and were collecting evidence.

Burin is a short distance from the Paleostinian town of Hawara, where an Israeli man whose car was attacked by rioters late Thursday shot up the crowd, shooting dead a Paleostinian man and injuring an News Agency that Dare Not be Named photojournalist.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Hamas

#1  shooting dead a Paleostinian man and injuring an News Agency that Dare Not be Named photojournalist

I don't recall the intrepid agitator AP Photog on the injured list. Wanna bet he was fomenting rioters for "great pics of the resistance"?
Posted by: Frank G || 05/20/2017 5:53 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
27 Syrian soldiers killed by Islamic State attack in eastern Homs: Amaq
[ALMASDARNEWS] According to the ISIS-linked Amaq Agency, a jihadist jacket wallah named Abu Othman al-Tai drove a boom-mobile headlong into a gathering of Syrian troops in eastern Homs on Thursday.

Minutes after the SVBIED detonated its explosives, dozens of 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....
murderous Moslems reportedly overran several unidentified SAA-held positions in the Mannoukh area and seized spoils of war at the newly captured points.

The outlet claimed 27 soldiers of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) were killed-in-action following the attack which targeted a desert area north of the T4 Airbase.

Amaq also underlined that one SAA tank and BMP-1 were destroyed by the subsequent infantry attack. In addition, ISIS supposedly seized a batch of anti-tank missiles and a pickup truck from the government forces.

Al-Masdar News could not independently verify the aforementioned claims. However,
Caliphornia hasn't yet slid into the ocean, no matter how hard it's tried...
military sources said that heavy festivities have occurred in eastern Homs over the past 48 hours.

Since last month, the SAA has liberated a number of villages and key hill tops in eastern Homs, thereby advancing through territory controlled by the self-declared caliphate since 2014.

Amaq Agency also published a series of pictures on Tuesday showing the alleged destruction of two T-72 tanks in the Hama and Homs countryside.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


ISIS tanks, heavy weaponry deployed against the Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor
[ALMASDARNEWS] With looming defeats in djinn-infested Mosul
... the home of a particularly ferocious and hairy djinn...
and Raqqa, the 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....
appears to have turned its attention on Deir Ezzor in a bid to defeat the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) garrison in the besieged eastern city.

Targeting weak points in the SAA’s line of defense, ISIS launched a localized offensive at the mountainous area southwest of Deir Ezzor in a bid to roll back recent government gains en route to the encircled southern airport.

Amaq Agency published photos of the attack which nevertheless yielded zero jihadist gains.

Contrary to virtually all other regions, ISIS still holds the upper hand in Deir Ezzor where SAA contingents have very few disposable armored vehicles, thus preventing rapid government gains that are highly dependent on infantry advances.

Prior to encirclement of Mosul and Tal Afar, the Islamic State withdrew hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles to Syria as these are not suitable for urban warfare.

But ISIS continues to deploy them to deadly effect around Deir Ezzor which also houses the largest percentage of so-called caliphate cubs (child soldiers) compared to all other frontlines.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Over 50 jihadist militants killed as ISIS pays the price for upholding Deir Ezzor siege
[ALMASDARNEWS] On Friday, fierce festivities erupted across the eastern city of Deir Ezzor as ISIS unleashed several attacks on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) which nevertheless punished renewed 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....
aggression by inflicting heavy casualties.

In the morning hours, at least 10 ISIS bandidos bully boyz were killed amid an attack targeting the highly fortified 137th Regiment army base. In addition, the SAA’s 104th Airborne Brigade of the Elite Republican Guard ‐ assisted by the 121st Artillery Regiment ‐ also destroyed a mortar position along with a pickup truck fitted with a 23 mm gun.

A large second jihadist attack also unfolded at newly liberated points in the cemetery area and al-Mowazafeen district where deadly trench warfare resulted in the death of around 30 ISIS bully boyz in the afternoon hours.

Additionally, the SAA and National Defence Forces (NDF) targeted ISIS-held positions in the Huwyqah district and scored several direct hits although a military source debriefing al-Masdar News on the situation could not specify the ISIS corpse count on this axis.

The Russian and Syrian air forces were highly active over Deir Ezzor on Friday, conducting sorties at the cemetary area, Thardah Mountain, Taim Oil Fields and a handful of ISIS-held suburbs inside the thriving provincial capital.

Meanwhile,
...back at the argument, Jane reached into her purse for her .38...
UN-sponsored cargo planes dropped tons of food and supplies to besieged civilians in government-held Deir Ezzor, a residential area home to around 85,000 non-combattants whom are often caught in crossfire.

At 7:00 p.m this evening, a sandstorm swept across Deir Ezzor, thus grounding Russian and Syrian warplanes. ISIS often uses poor weather conditions to launch attacks; therefore, the SAA, NDF and pro-government tribal fighters are on high alert for overnight ISIS raids.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Islamic State insurgents ambushed in southern Damascus by rival jihadist group
[ALMASDARNEWS] On Friday afternoon in the Syrian capital, Jaish al-Islam
...Liwa al-Islam (Brigade of Islam) was established by Zahran Alloush, the son of Saudi-based religious scholar Abdullah Mohammed Alloush, after Syrian authorities released him from prison in mid-2011 where he had been serving time for his Salafist activism. The group claimed responsibility for carrying out the July 2012 Damascus bombing that killed Defense Minister Dawoud Rajiha, Deputy Defense Minister Asef Shawkat, and Assistant Vice President Hassan Turkmani. It was a driving force behind actions in the Damascus region. It cooperated and conducted joint operations with al-Nusra. In Sptember 2013 Saudi Arabia engineered Liwa al-Islam's merger with fifty other more or less Salafist groups as a counterweight to al-Nusra, which the Learned Elders of Islam considered was growing too powereful...
conducted a rare operation behind 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....
lines in the Yarmouk pocket which saw Islamist shock troops raid an Islamic State base in the al-Zain district, located between the larger Yalda and Hajar al-Aswad neighborhoods.

According to a rebel source, the Jaish al-Islam unit snuck into two buildings and rubbed out three ISIS bandidos hard boyz while forcing a fourth combatant to surrender on the spot. The surprise operation also saw Jaish al-Islam seize a batch of weaponry and ammunition from the ISIS garrison which was caught completely off-guard.

Minutes later, Jaish al-Islam withdrew from the strong point after skirmishes erupted with nearby ISIS bandidos hard boyz whom had heard the initial gunfire. Nevertheless, the buildings were demolished by bombs hastily planted by the Saudi-backed Jaish al-Islam before its fighters withdrew from the area.

Recently, nearly 100 bandidos hard boyz from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) agreed to evacuate from the Yarmouk Camp and surrender control of their residential areas to the SAA. Shortly after, ISIS launched an attack on the al-Qaeda linked HTS to prevent the deal from taking place.

Jaish al-Islam, ISIS and several Free Syrian Army
... the more palatable version of the Syrian insurgency, heavily influenced by the Moslem Brüderbund...
(FSA) contingents have not yet agreed to evacuate from the Yarmouk pocket despite persistent enquiries by the SAA leadership which hopes to fully liberate Damascus before the end of the year.

With al-Qaboun and Barzeh virtually under government control, the SAA is likely to deploy its elite 42nd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division to seize control of the Yarmouk pocket by force.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Jihadist commander defects from HTS to Ahrar Al-Sham
[ALMASDARNEWS] The military commander of Jund al-Malahm has defected from the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham coalition to join Harakat Ahrar al-Sham
...a Syria jihadi group made up of Islamists and salafists, not that there's that much difference, formed into a brigade. They make up the main element of the Islamic Front but they don't profess adoration of al-Qaeda and they've been fighting (mainly for survival) against the Islamic State. Their leadership was wiped out at a single blow by a suicide kaboom at a crowded basement meeting in September, 2014...
, the latter jihadist group reported today.

Muhammad ’Alloush (AKA "Abu Sami) defected from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham because he wants to unify the jihadist groups on the ground and to satisfy Allah, which wasn’t possible under HTS.

The recent turmoil between the jihadist groups has caused major setbacks around the country, forcing many to abandon important offensives against the government forces.
Posted by: Fred || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Ahrar al-Sham (Salafists)

#1  "Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham will be awarded a 3rd Round Draft pick in compensation"
Posted by: Frank G || 05/20/2017 7:50 Comments || Top||

#2  Um, I've lost track. What league is this again?

Premier, D league, level 4, what? Is this a relegation?
Posted by: AlanC || 05/20/2017 10:51 Comments || Top||


IS shelling kills, wounds 35 attending wedding in Deiz Azzour: monitor
Deiz Azzour (IraqiNews) Nearly 35 people attending a wedding ceremony were killed late Thursday when 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....
Death Eaters launched missiles targeting Syrian government forces locations in Deir Azzour, a war monitor has reported.

The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the shelling hit Harabesh district, located near the province’s airport.

The organization added that 14 of the casualties were confirmed dead, but more deaths were expected as many sustained serious injuries.
Posted by: trailing wife || 05/20/2017 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State



Who's in the News
25[untagged]
10Islamic State
3TTP
3Govt of Pakistan
2Muslim Brotherhood
2Sublime Porte
2Govt of Iraq
2al-Shabaab (AQ)
1Hamas
1Govt of Iran
1al-Qaeda in North Africa
1Taliban
1Houthis
1Govt of Pakistain Proxies
1Ahrar al-Sham (Salafists)
1Govt of Syria

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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.
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Two weeks of WOT
Sat 2017-05-20
  Saudi Arabia confirms Yemen’s missile strike on Riyadh
Fri 2017-05-19
  ICJ orders Pakistan to stay Jadhav execution
Thu 2017-05-18
  Blasts heard inside Afghan state TV compound in Jalalabad after gunmen attack
Wed 2017-05-17
  Female Bombers Attack NE Nigeria Village, Kill Two
Tue 2017-05-16
  Accused bomber Rahimi seeks reduced charges in New Jersey case
Mon 2017-05-15
  Kurdish forces reach the northern gates of Raqqa after liberating four more villages
Sun 2017-05-14
  Iraq: ISIS leaders killed during ‘meeting’ in al-Qaim
Sat 2017-05-13
  Syrian Army Makes Gains in Rebel Area of Damascus
Fri 2017-05-12
  Turkish court sentences notorious British ISIS member wanted by US, UK
Thu 2017-05-11
  Jakarta’s Christian governor jailed for blasphemy
Wed 2017-05-10
  US ignores Turkey’s objection, approves arming Kurdish forces in Syria
Tue 2017-05-09
  Egypt issues life sentence for Muslim Brotherhood chief
Mon 2017-05-08
  Confirmed: Head of ISIS In Afghanistan Killed In Raid By 50 U.S. Special Ops, 40 Afghan Commandos
Sun 2017-05-07
  Ismail Haniyeh elected new head of Hamas
Sat 2017-05-06
  New Jersey Man Charged With Attempting to Support ISIS, Planning NYC Bombing

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