In fight for Mosul, an effort to bridge divide with Sunnis

MOSUL, Iraq — The Mosul district of Gogjali was captured from the Islamic State group weeks ago. So the commander of Iraqi troops here was alarmed when a surprise attack by militants sparked an hour-long gunbattle with his forces. None of his men were hurt, but the assault meant IS sleeper cells remained among the […]

Shia mosque attacked by Islamic State in Kabul

A suicide bomber killed at least 30 people and wounded 70 others inside the Baqir-ul-Olum Shia mosque in Kabul.  According to Reuters, the suicide bomber entered the mosque as “worshipers gathered for Arbaeen, a Shi’ite ritual marking the end of a 40-day mourning period for the 7th century death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.” Islamic State claimed […]

Iraqi forces struggle to tell friend from foe in Mosul street battle

A vehicle shielded with metal plates and driven by a suicide attacker turned onto a main road filled with soldiers in eastern Mosul and burst into a ball of fire, causing several casualties. As it careered down the road it was riddled with gunfire as Iraqi forces responded to the latest Islamic State counterattack against […]

Kosovo police say they foiled ISIS attack on Israeli soccer team

Kosovo police said Thursday they prevented simultaneous attacks by the Islamic State group, including on the Israeli national soccer team that played a World Cup qualifier in neighboring Albania. A police statement said plans were in place to attack Saturday’s match in Albania, and at the same time attack another target in Kosovo. Nineteen people […]

Islamic State kills civilians in Mosul to deter support for army

Islamic State has summarily killed 21 civilians in Mosul it accused of collaborating with U.S.-backed security forces, which said their offensive to recapture the city from the jihadists had made further advances. The killings, reported on Tuesday by a medical source, indicate that the ultra-hardline group has maintained its ability to police Mosul, more than […]

Duterte says if Islamic State comes to Philippines, forget human rights

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned on Monday that Islamic State militants driven out of Syria and Iraq could set up in his country, and if that happened he would forego human rights obligations to keep his people safe. Duterte said the southern Philippine province of Mindanao was already a hotbed of rebellion and banditry and […]

Three Minnesota men sentenced for conspiring to join ISIS

Three Minnesota men convicted of plotting to join ISIS received prison sentences Monday ranging from 10 years in jail to time served. U.S. District Judge Michael Davis gave the 10-year sentence to  Zacharia Abdurahman, who pleaded guilty but did not cooperate with the government against the other members of what Davis called a “terrorist cell.” Prosecutors […]

ISIS drones take the IED to Western troops

IEDs, or Improvised Explosive Devices, have been responsible for three out of five combat deaths in Iraq since the start of the Iraq war in 2003.  These bombs come in a variety of forms, often concealed near or beneath driving surfaces to be detonated remotely when poised to do the most possible damage, but recent […]

Men ‘used Syria aid convoys to transport items for terrorists’

Four men used aid convoys bound for Syria to transport items that would be used to commit terrorism offences, a court heard. Syed Hoque, 37, of Stoke-on-Trent, allegedly handed over £3,000 and a further sum of £1,500 on 21 December 2013, to help his nephew, who was fighting against the regime in the war-torn country. […]