Eurasia

Iraq faces pockets of IS resistance in Mosul

Iraqi forces hit further pockets of resistance from Islamic State militants in Mosul’s Old City on Friday, four days after the prime minister declared victory. Army helicopters flew overhead and explosions could be heard, residents said. “Three mortars landed on our district,” a resident of Faysaliya, just across the Tigris …

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UN chief: dialogue is the solution to Kashmir issue

UN chief Antonio Guterres has reiterated the need for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue through engagement and dialogue, his spokesperson said. Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric’s remarks came when he was asked if the secretary-general is paying attention to the situation in the region …

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India to speed up fighter jets acquisition

Competition between the Swedish Gripen E and American F-16 is likely to heat up soon with the Indian Ministry of Defence planning to expedite the acquisition of warplanes for the Indian Air Force under a $25-billion deal to buy 200 aircraft. The decision to expedite the procurement process has been …

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UN considers new base in South Sudan's troubled Yei region

The United Nations on Thursday said it is considering putting a peacekeeping base in South Sudan’s troubled Yei region, saying the city has “gone through a nightmare” in recent months. It would be the first such expansion since civil war began in 2013. “I can see the prosperity that was …

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US, Somalia forces raid al-Shabaab, kill several

United States and Somali military forces raided a rebel-held village in southern Somalia and killed several al-Shabaab fighters early on Thursday, a senior Somali intelligence official said, as both countries step up efforts against Africa’s deadliest Islamic extremist group. Somali commandos accompanied by US forces in two helicopters raided two …

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NATO soldiers stage exercise in Romania

Some 5,000 NATO soldiers and partner countries conducted training operations in Romania, followed by Romanian president. The exercise runs until July 20th. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and head of the NATO Military Committee, General Petr Pavel, who is a two-day visit to Romania, they were received with military honors prior …

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US air force chief visits Turkey for talks on Syria

Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein held talks in Ankara with his Turkish counterparts. Goldfein met with Commander of the Turkish Air Force Abidin Ünal and other senior military officials in order to discuss ongoing military cooperation in Syria as part of international …

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US military advisors assist local fighters to battle IS in Raqqa

American military advisors are operating inside the city of Raqqa,ISIL’s last major stronghold in Syria, a US official said on Wednesday. The troops, many of them special operations forces, are working in an “advise, assist and accompany” role to support local fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces as they battle …

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EU to announce more humanitarian aid for Iraq

The European Commission announced Wednesday that it is scaling up its response to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq, which will enable the EU to continue supporting emergency relief in newly retaken areas and for newly displaced families. It will also allow to continue emergency medical services, attending injured civilians from …

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Fighting in Mosul still ongoin after victory claimed

IRAQI forces clashed with Islamic State militants holding out in Mosul’s Old City yesterday, more than 36 hours after Baghdad declared victory. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s victory announcement signaled the biggest defeat for the hardline Sunni group since its lightning sweep through northern Iraq three years ago. But pockets of …

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