By Matt Dupee  NATO officials announced the beginning of a joint security operation with Afghan army units in northern Helmand province. Dubbed Operation Achilles, nearly 4,500 NATO and 1,000 ANA troops will be eventually used to subdue the violence ridden areas of northern Helmand.

 Iran’s First Vice-President Parviz Dawoodi is due to leave for Syria on Thursday.

We are still in need of Iran’s aids and support for the Palestinian nation and government, specially in removing the political and economic embargo imposed on Palestine, Director of the Political Office of the Palestinian Hamas Movement Khaled Mashal said here in Tehran on Tuesday.