Chinese warplanes to join Russian air strikes in Syria. Russia gains Iraqi air base
Russia’s military intervention in Syria has expanded radically in two directions. DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report that China sent word to Moscow Friday, Oct. 2, that J-15 fighter bombers would shortly join the Russian air campaign that was launched Wednesday, Sept. 30. Baghdad has moreover offered Moscow an air base for targeting the Islamic […]
Syria conflict: Russia defends air strikes
The Kremlin says it is acting on the request of the Syrian government to help combat IS militants – who have seized parts of Syria and Iraq – and other designated terrorist groups. But the US and its allies fear the strikes have mainly targeted opponents of Russia’s ally, President Assad. Mr Lavrov, speaking at […]
Hollande says air strikes against IS in Syria ‘necessary’
French President Francois Hollande, whose country is carrying out surveillance flights over Syria, said Monday it would be “necessary” to carry out air strikes against Islamic State militants there. “We announced surveillance flights that would allow us to prepare air strikes if they were necessary, and they will be necessary in Syria,” he […]
US official: ‘IS making and using chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria’
There is a growing belief within the US government that the Islamic State militant group is making and using crude chemical weapons in Iraq and Syria, a US official has told the BBC. The US has identified at least four occasions on both sides of the Iraq-Syria border where IS has used mustard agents, […]
Iraqi PM takes steps to combat Christian persecution
Iraq’s elected leader has formed a task force to monitor persecution of the embattled nation’s dwindling Christian population, a step hailed Wednesday by hopeful advocates a world away. Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi appointed the committee as Christians face kidnapping, extortion and murder – even in Baghdad, where ISIS has no established presence. First reported […]
Turkey hunts PKK in Iraq as nationalist violence spreads
Ankara (AFP) – Turkish forces crossed into Iraq to pursue Kurdish militants after dozens were killed in the deadliest attacks for years, as protesters assailed offices of the main pro-Kurdish party in a night of nationalist-tinged violence. Thirteen Turkish police were killed on Tuesday in a new attack by Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants, […]
Greek Island Overwhelmed By Stranded Migrants, Despair
The island of some 100,000 residents has been transformed by the sudden new population of some 20,000 refugees and migrants, mostly from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan – and the strain is pushing everyone to the limit. Fights break out among the migrants as they wait in long lines for hours in the summer heat […]
‘Thank God we are alive’: Iraqi Christians hold on to faith in face of ISIS persecution
Imagine yourself having to leave your home and all your belongings in the dead of night to escape from the hands of extremist militants. Imagine having to endure eight to 10 hours of walking in the dark as you seek refuge. This situation has become prevalent among thousands Iraqi Christians being persecuted and threatened […]
Iraqi PM says defense of refinery town key to defeating IS
Iraqs prime minister says winning the ongoing battle over control of an oil refinery town north of Baghdad is the key to defeating the Islamic State group in Iraq.The military retook the town of Beiji from the extremist group in November, but government forces there have come under mounting pressure in recent weeks from the […]