Posts
In lieu of bringing all the geopolitical headlines here is the latest news available from RT
RT News - January 17, 2016 (17:00 MSK)
US Treasury imposes new ballistic missile sanctions on Iran
US sanction illegal as American arms used against Palestinians, Yemenis - Iranian FM
Islamic
State jihadists have reportedly slaughtered up to 280 people in the
Deir ez-Zor province, killing “whole families” for alleged
cooperation with the Syrian troops. The killings are said to have
taken place a day after Russian humanitarian aid was airdropped in
the region.
Local
residents told Sputnik news agency the massacre happened in
al-Bagilya settlement, an area which received Russian airlifted aid
earlier.
“The
horrific massacre carried out today by ISIL militants in al-Bagilya
in Deir ez-Zor. 280 victims, including women, children and old
people. Reason – cooperation with the Syrian army,” a Sputnik
source said.
Islamic
State (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL) militants reportedly carried out
executions of “whole families.”
Previously,
reports indicated that IS fighters were moving their way up to the
northern part of the Deir ez-Zor province.
The
massacre appears to be one of the worst daily mass killings that took
place over the five years of the Syrian conflict.
Syrian
state media reports that all the people killed were civilians. But
local monitoring groups say dozens of government troops were killed
as well.
Syrian
state news agency SANA initially reported that IS fighters murdered
dozens of civilians, without providing any further details.
Meanwhile, the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV said that 280 people were
killed, including children and women. The TV channel added that the
dead bodies were dumped in the Euphrates River, while 400 survivors
were taken hostage.
Reuters
also reported at least 250 people dead in Bagilya settlement, citing
a source close to the government. Some of the victims were beheaded,
according to the source.
Hours
after the attack was reported, the governor of Deir ez-Zor province,
Mohammad Qaddur Ajnyyja, told Sputnik that Syrian army has
successfully freed the settlement from Islamic State control.
“ISIL
militants entered in the village of al-Bagilya… last night and
perpetrated a massacre of whole families. For this reason the army
headed to this region to save the population. There were clashes with
ISIL militants, they suffered significant casualties, the rest
succeeded to flee to the neighboring areas controlled by ISIL,”
Ajnyyja said
Iranian
banks received the opportunity to reconnect to SWIFT international
payment system amid substantial relief of international sanctions
imposed on Tehran in response to its nuclear program, SWIFT said in a
statement
YEMEN: HOUTHI FORCES DEVASTATE THE SAUDI ARMY
The
Saudi Royal Army has not fared well against the Houthis and the
Yemeni Army’s Republican Guard inside Saudi Arabia’s southern
countryside; this has become evident with their lack of progress in
the Jizan Region and the cities of Najran and Al-Rabou’ah.
On
Saturday morning, the situation did not get any better for the Saudi
Royal Army, as they were devastated by the Houthis and Republican
Guard forces at the cities of Al-Rabou’ah and Najran.
Read
more at AlMasdarNews
3 U.S. citizens kidnapped in Baghdad
On
Sunday morning, 3 U.S. citizens were reportedly kidnapped by unknown
assailants in the Al-Dourah Neighborhood of southern Baghdad.
According
to the Iraqi Minister of Information, the 3 U.S. citizens are of
Iraqi origin and were only visiting the country temporarily before
they were kidnapped.
The
3 U.S. citizens were on their way to the Baghdad International
Airport before a number of assailants halted their vehicle in the
Al-Dourah Neighborhood.
Iraqi
security officials are currently working to rescue the kidnapped
Americans.
As
a result of this kidnapping, the U.S. State Department has issued a
warning to all U.S. citizens about traveling to Iraq.
Saudi and Blackwater Forces suffer heavy losses in northern Yemen
Saudi and Blackwater Forces suffer heavy losses in northern Yemen
On
Sunday morning, the Yemeni Army’s Republican Guard – in
coordination with Saleh loyalists and the Houthis – carried out a
powerful assault on the Saudi Royal Army’s defensive positions at
the Al-Bayrak Camp in the Mar’eb Governorate, resulting in heavy
casualties and the destruction of the base’s
western fortifications.
According
to the Yemeni Army, their forces struck the Saudi Royal Army’s
positions at the western perimeter of the Al-Bayrak Camp with a
toshka missile; this caused a large explosion that resulted in the
death of several soldiers form the Saudi Army, the Blackwater Group,
and the Emirati Army.
In
addition to destroying the western fortifications, the Yemeni
Army’s Republican Guard, the Saleh Loyalsits, and the Houthis also
destroyed a well-developed “spying system” inside the base.
The
Al-Bayrak Camp is located near the provincial capital of the Mar’eb
Governorate in northern Yemen; this province is currently contested
by the Saudi-led Coalition and the Yemeni Army.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.