US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has plenty of pressing issues as he begins talks with NATO allies on Wednesday. NATO defence ministers are meeting over two days at the alliance’s Brussels headquarters. The talks will also look at efforts to revamp NATO’s command structure to help it better combat the …
Read More »EU to reopen border assistance mission’s bureau in Tripoli
The Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Libya Bettina Muscheidt has revealed in a meeting with the Libyan Foreign Minister of the Government of National Accord Mohammed Sayala that they will reopen the border assistance mission’s bureau in Libya’s capital Tripoli soon, not specifying a date for …
Read More »Mali: PM cancels visit to central town after at least 10 killed
At least 10 people died in attacks in Mali on Monday, as the prime minister cancelled a visit to a central town after a vehicle sent to protect his team hit a landmine. A bus travelling in the restive north was blown up by a mine on Monday, killing at …
Read More »AU force begins troop withdrawal from Somalia
The African Union says it has begun its withdrawal from Somalia and will cut 1 000 troops by the end of this year as security responsibilities start to shift to the local military. The continental body said on Tuesday that the move comes at a critical time, less than a …
Read More »French envoys meet Mali govt over raid deaths
France has sent high-level representatives to talk to the Malian government after a French anti-terror raid killed Malian troops held by the jihadists. Defence Minister Tiena Coulibaly met on October 31 with the French ambassador and the commander of France’s military force in Mali, according to a ministry communique received …
Read More »Middle east events and news
EXCLUSIVE: ISIS Claims Responsibility For New York Terror Attack In the November 3, 2017 issue of its weekly news bulletin Al-Naba’, the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the October 31, 2017 truck ramming in lower Manhattan. EXCLUSIVE: Pro-ISIS Media Group Publishes Article Questioning Authenticity Of Bin Laden Abbottabad Files …
Read More »Iraqi forces to resume ops if handing over control of borders delayed
Iraqi forces threatened on Wednesday to resume operations to capture northern Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-held territory after accusing authorities there of delaying handing over control of Iraq’s borders with Turkey, Iran and Syria. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday declared a pause in an offensive that began on Oct. …
Read More »Iraqi forces liberate al-Qaim
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Friday announced the full liberation of the city of al-Qaim near the border with Syria from the Islamic State (IS) militants. A statement by the premier’s office said Abadi, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of Iraqi forces, “congratulated the people of Iraq for the …
Read More »US calls for dialogue between Erbil, Baghdad
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani had a phone conversation Friday in which they stressed the need for political negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad.
Read More »UN Chief calls on Security Concil to support Sahel Anti-Terror Force
Stressing the urgent need to help Mali and other countries the Sahel address cross-border terrorism and organized crime, Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday invited the United Nations Security Council to “be ambitious” in deciding how the UN supports the region’s newly-established joint force.
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