Middle Orient

French FM says coalition must save Aleppo

The coalition fighting Islamic State must now save Syria’s second city Aleppo as moderate rebels face destruction by attacks from forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and jihadi militants, France’s Foreign Minister said. Laurent Fabius said the city, the “bastion” of the opposition, was almost encircled and abandoning it would …

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Turkish official to discuss peace solutions with Libyan representatives

A Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy is to meet with representatives of Libya’s internationally recognized government in the eastern city of Bayda on Nov. 3, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on the same day. Emrullah İşler, who is a former deputy prime minister, already …

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US, Intl Partners conduct five airstrikes against ISIL

U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria on Sunday and Monday using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct five airstrikes, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced. Separately, U.S. and partner nation military forces conducted nine airstrikes in Iraq on Sunday and Monday using fighter, bomber …

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Turkey does not accept ‘de facto’ borders in Iraq, Syria

Turkey cannot agree to de facto borders in Syria or Iraq, and the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant will not be able to realize such an aim, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said. “Turkey cannot say ‘yes’ to any de facto borders in the Middle East. Steps to be …

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Turkey, France say fight against IS should not be limited to Kobane

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took aim at Western leaders in Paris on Oct. 31 for focusing “too much” on the battle over the Syrian border town of Kobane, drawing nods from his host, President François Hollande, who highlighted Aleppo. “Why are coalition forces continually bombing this town of Kobane?” Erdoğan asked while speaking …

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Lebanese PM calls for intl help on Syrian refugees

Lebanon Prime Minister Tammam Salam hoped on Tuesday that the international community is aware of Lebanon’s huge financial needs to confront the burden of refugees. “The refugees are affecting our economy and security … We call for more funding to confront the repercussions of the refugee crisis,” Salam said at the …

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Turkish jets fly over Iraq to gather intelligence against PKK targets

Turkish army has said its surveillance aircraft have conducted reconnaissance flight in northern Iraq to gather intelligence from camps of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The army said in a statement on Tuesday that four RF-4E surveillance planes flew in northern Iraq to survey “separatist terrorist organization targets,” a …

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150 Peshmerga fighters to join Kobani battle within days

The Kurdish regional government in Iraq plans to send some 150 peshmerga fighters to Kobani through Turkey over the next few days to support Syrian Kurds there defending against ISIL militants. Fuad Hussein, the chief of staff for Kurdish regional president Massoud Barzani, said the fighters would take light weapons …

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US to investigate use of chlorine gas by IS against Iraqi police

Washington is seeking more information on reports that militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) used chlorine gas against Iraqi police officers last month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Oct. 24. The top U.S. diplomat told reporters he could not confirm the reports, but …

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France continues strikes against IS in city of Kirkuk

France’s Rafale fighter jets have struck a training center of the Islamic State (IS) militant group overnight in Iraqi city of Kirkuk, French army’s chief staff Peter de Villiers said on Friday. As part of the coalition military offensive to halt the militants’ advance, French aircraft dropped 70 bombs, of …

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