In the days leading up to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-to-50-killed-in-indian-air-strike-on-pakistans-balakot-italian-journalist-quoting-eyewitness-200787">India's air strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Pakistan's Balakot</a>, intelligence agencies had confirmed the presence of 300 active mobile connections at the facility, the news agency ANI has quoted sources as saying.&nbsp;

ANI reported the sources as saying NTRO (National Technical Research Organisation — a technical intelligence agency which comes under the National Security Adviser) surveillance confirmed the presence of 300 active mobile phone connections at the camp.&nbsp;

The sources added that other intelligence agencies had reported the same findings.&nbsp;

ANI did not say who the sources were.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Sources: NTRO surveillance of JeM Balakot camp in days leading up to air strike by IAF confirmed around 300 active mobile connections in facility <a href="https://t.co/uwyzd0qpHB">pic.twitter.com/uwyzd0qpHB</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1102557673076260866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

India struck the JeM camp in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after the February 14 attack on a Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Pulwama, Kashmir in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The Pulwama attack was claimed by the JeM.&nbsp;

The number of casualties from India's air strike been the biggest sticking point ever since the strike. &nbsp;

After the strike, news reports appearing in the Indian media had said the number of casualties could be as high as 350.&nbsp;

Pakistan has said there were none.&nbsp;

On Sunday, BJP President Amit Shah said 250 cadres of the JeM were killed in the strike.&nbsp;

In the days leading up to India's air strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Pakistan's Balakot, intelligence agencies had confirmed the presence of 300 active mobile connections at the facility, the news agency ANI has quoted sources as saying.

In the days leading up to India's air strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp in Pakistan's Balakot, intelligence agencies had confirmed the presence of 300 active mobile connections at the facility, the news agency ANI has quoted sources as saying. ANI reported the sources as saying NTRO (National Technical Research Organisation — a technical intelligence agency which comes under the National Security Adviser) surveillance confirmed the presence of 300 active mobile phone connections at the camp. The sources added that other intelligence agencies had reported the same findings. ANI did not say who the sources were. Sources: NTRO surveillance of JeM Balakot camp in days leading up to air strike by IAF confirmed around 300 active mobile connections in facility pic.twitter.com/uwyzd0qpHB — ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2019 × India struck the JeM camp in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after the February 14 attack on a Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Pulwama, Kashmir in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed. The Pulwama attack was claimed by the JeM. The number of casualties from India's air strike been the biggest sticking point ever since the strike. After the strike, news reports appearing in the Indian media had said the number of casualties could be as high as 350. Pakistan has said there were none. On Sunday, BJP President Amit Shah said 250 cadres of the JeM were killed in the strike.

Before air strike, Indian intelligence agencies confirmed 300 cellphone connections at JeM terror camp: Sources

India woke up to the news that the Indian Air Force had launched a pre-emptive airstrike across the Line of Control (LOC) early on Tuesday, and destroyed several terror camps set up near the borderline.

Twelve Mirage 2000 fighter jets dropped 1,000 kg bombs on the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed camps.

The airstrike comes just twelve days after the deadliest terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's three-decade of militancy, at Pulwama, in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed.&nbsp;

Following the news, Indian citizens celebrated the reply given to Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists. &nbsp;

Several big sports personalities including Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Mahesh Bhupathi, Saina Nehwal and others also took to Twitter to praise the IAF.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Big salute to our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianAirForce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianAirForce</a> 🙏🇮🇳.... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaStrikesBack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaStrikesBack</a> .. Jai Hind
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) <a href="https://twitter.com/NSaina/status/1100274981974335489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Our niceness should never be comprehended as our weakness. 
I salute the IAF, Jai Hind 🇮🇳
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1100318212846161920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
INDIA 🇮🇳 💪 👊👊👊 <a href="https://twitter.com/IAF_MCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IAF_MCC</a> PROUD OF YOU AS ALWAYS <a href="https://t.co/1eARl98egz">pic.twitter.com/1eARl98egz</a>
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1100329234638217216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Saluting the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianAirForce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianAirForce</a> fighters for their valor, courage and timely action. 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/CNPmH28mnz">https://t.co/CNPmH28mnz</a>
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) <a href="https://twitter.com/SDhawan25/status/1100298585046962176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
My salute to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IAF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IAF</a> for showing great courage in the face of adversity. A fitting reply to cowardice! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaiHind?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaiHind</a> 🇮🇳
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/1100293010443698176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Hats off to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianAirForce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianAirForce</a> for their strike against terror. Every Indian is proud of you! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaStrikesBack?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaStrikesBack</a>
— Kidambi Srikanth (@srikidambi) <a href="https://twitter.com/srikidambi/status/1100284211339059200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Badiyaaaaa <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianAirforce?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianAirforce</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaStrikesAgain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaStrikesAgain</a> 💪😼
— PRANNOY HS (@PRANNOYHSPRI) <a href="https://twitter.com/PRANNOYHSPRI/status/1100291048545366016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

India struck the biggest camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and a "very large number" of terrorists were eliminated, said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

India woke up to the news that the Indian Air Force had launched a pre-emptive airstrike across the Line of Control (LOC) early on Tuesday, and destroyed several terror camps set up near the borderline.

India woke up to the news that the Indian Air Force had launched a pre-emptive airstrike across the Line of Control (LOC) early on Tuesday, and destroyed several terror camps set up near the borderline. Twelve Mirage 2000 fighter jets dropped 1,000 kg bombs on the terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed camps. The airstrike comes just twelve days after the deadliest terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's three-decade of militancy, at Pulwama, in which at least 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Following the news, Indian citizens celebrated the reply given to Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists. Several big sports personalities including Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Mahesh Bhupathi, Saina Nehwal and others also took to Twitter to praise the IAF. Big salute to our #IndianAirForce 🙏🇮🇳.... #IndiaStrikesBack .. Jai Hind — Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) February 26, 2019 × Our niceness should never be comprehended as our weakness. I salute the IAF, Jai Hind 🇮🇳 — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 26, 2019 × INDIA 🇮🇳 💪 👊👊👊 @IAF_MCC PROUD OF YOU AS ALWAYS pic.twitter.com/1eARl98egz — Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 26, 2019 × Saluting the #IndianAirForce fighters for their valor, courage and timely action. 🙏 https://t.co/CNPmH28mnz — Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) February 26, 2019 × My salute to #IAF for showing great courage in the face of adversity. A fitting reply to cowardice! #JaiHind 🇮🇳 — Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) February 26, 2019 × Hats off to the #IndianAirForce for their strike against terror. Every Indian is proud of you! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳#IndiaStrikesBack — Kidambi Srikanth (@srikidambi) February 26, 2019 × Badiyaaaaa #IndianAirforce #IndiaStrikesAgain 💪😼 — PRANNOY HS (@PRANNOYHSPRI) February 26, 2019 × India struck the biggest camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed and a "very large number" of terrorists were eliminated, said Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

Sportspersons salute Indian Air Force after strike on terror camps in Pakistan

Having played cricket for long, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan knows that delivery is called out for a no-ball only when he crosses the crease at the bowler's end in a certain manner as per the rules of the game. The 'Surgical Strike 2.0' launched in the early hours of this Tuesday are such that an international umpire cannot easily raise his hand horizontally and cry out a 'No', because the territory into which a dozen Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jets flew into is arguably blessed by international diplomatic procedures.

The strike on Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistani territory is controversial no doubt, but it appears that India has a case for hot-pursuit as an extension of its defence of Kashmir, including the portion that India describes as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The details of PoK are often not discussed because most of the attention is usually on the Indian side, thanks to terror attacks and political turmoil. Last week, when Khan went on his country's national television to ask for proof after the Pulwama attack that killed dozens of Central Reserve Police Force soldiers and assert that his nation would retaliate if India attacked Pakistan, he was bowling what in his own paceman's terminology would qualify as an in-swinger from outside the off stump.&nbsp;

Islamabad has long played on the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory to score diplomatic points, and India has traditionally been low-key because it has never felt the need to prove anything by raising that point.

What is often lost in this strange mix of noise and studied silence is that the Pakistani side of Kashmir is as disputed by India as the Indian side of the LoC (Line of Control) is challenged by Pakistan.

Now, what happens when - as it did in Pulwama - a Kashmiri youth launches a suicide bomb attack with a big pile of deadly RDX? We all know that without the support of explicitly Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, he could not have brought in that kind of ammunition. We know that such support in terms of logistics and resources cannot be marshalled without institutional support from a body like the Pakistan Army or its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).&nbsp;

Yet, given the fact that it was a Kashmiri who fronted the attack, in diplomatic terms, Islamabad would use that card to claim in international forums that the attack was part of an autonomous struggle of Kashmiris for self-determination (conveniently forgetting that such a logic can also apply to Balochistan in Pakistan). Pakistan's ISI-backed attacks typically come from outside India but move in through the disputed territory - making it a diplomatic in-swinger, as it were.

What has happened this Tuesday is an Indian googly to counter Imran's in-swinger. JeM has been operating out of Bahawalpur in Pakistani Punjab - in a proven manner. If India crosses through to Balakot past the LoC in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the follow-through from PoK, as it has, you could say the response is symmetrical. Also, it is pertinent to remember that US Navy Seals attacked Abbottabad well inside Pakistan to kill Osama Bin Laden of al Qaeda. There is therefore not much that Washington can say or do as India can always cite that as a precedent.

There is no doubt that this week's action is pre-emptive, visible, more daring and more open than the 'Surgical Strike 1.0' that took place after the Uri attack in 2016. In diplomatic terms, this means that just like the Pulwama attack, this is happening broadly as an extension of a disputed region in addition to the fact that it is dealing with terrorism and not a conventional army attack.

There is a shrewd move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in this. You could call it a calculated risk. However, statements from President Donald Trump and support from 48 countries including Germany have clearly signalled support for India to defend its territory and strike against terror.

While glib parallels may be drawn between Israeli attacks on Palestinian territory and India's surgical strikes, it is important to understand that in India's case, there is a much higher legitimacy in international diplomatic terms. It is not surprising therefore that BJP parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy has been quick to claim that "we bombed our own territory."&nbsp;

Ordinary Indians do not know some facts on Kashmir, such as how India "returned" to Pakistan the Haji Pir Pass after their war over the region in 1965. The return is a controversial one for obvious reasons as India's soldiers had captured the pass after a valiant battle to check one of the vital hubs of militant infiltration into Indian territory. Under talks held between Pakistani leaders and then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in January 1966 at Tashkent (just before his sudden and mysterious death), India returned the Haji Pir pass to Pakistan for what military analysts say is a strategic reason, to make the Jammu region safer.

The decision remains controversial as India did not take the pass again in 1971, but the give-and-take pursued by India then gives it a diplomatic lever to show how it did not shy away from talks, except under the shadow of terror.

Events in the 1980s and 1990s, when the territorial war between two armies became restated as a proxy war by Pakistan under military dictator Zia ul-Haq, have totally changed the complexion of the relations between two countries as conventional diplomacy as well as conventional war have less meaning where "non-state" actors like Jaish-e-Mohammed and their movement across the porous LoC are involved.

For India, the military googly bowled on Tuesday remains a calculated risk as Imran Khan is unlikely to take it silently. But this much can be said: in international law and convention, India has a stronger case than some critics think.&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The Zee News. Read the <a href="https://zeenews.india.com/blogs/balakot-airstrike-is-indias-googly-response-to-imran-khans-in-swinger-2183673.html">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Having played cricket for long, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan knows that delivery is called out for a no-ball only when he crosses the crease at the bowler's end in a certain manner as per the rules of the game.

Having played cricket for long, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan knows that delivery is called out for a no-ball only when he crosses the crease at the bowler's end in a certain manner as per the rules of the game. The 'Surgical Strike 2.0' launched in the early hours of this Tuesday are such that an international umpire cannot easily raise his hand horizontally and cry out a 'No', because the territory into which a dozen Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jets flew into is arguably blessed by international diplomatic procedures. The strike on Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistani territory is controversial no doubt, but it appears that India has a case for hot-pursuit as an extension of its defence of Kashmir, including the portion that India describes as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The details of PoK are often not discussed because most of the attention is usually on the Indian side, thanks to terror attacks and political turmoil. Last week, when Khan went on his country's national television to ask for proof after the Pulwama attack that killed dozens of Central Reserve Police Force soldiers and assert that his nation would retaliate if India attacked Pakistan, he was bowling what in his own paceman's terminology would qualify as an in-swinger from outside the off stump. Islamabad has long played on the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory to score diplomatic points, and India has traditionally been low-key because it has never felt the need to prove anything by raising that point. What is often lost in this strange mix of noise and studied silence is that the Pakistani side of Kashmir is as disputed by India as the Indian side of the LoC (Line of Control) is challenged by Pakistan. Now, what happens when - as it did in Pulwama - a Kashmiri youth launches a suicide bomb attack with a big pile of deadly RDX? We all know that without the support of explicitly Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, he could not have brought in that kind of ammunition. We know that such support in terms of logistics and resources cannot be marshalled without institutional support from a body like the Pakistan Army or its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Yet, given the fact that it was a Kashmiri who fronted the attack, in diplomatic terms, Islamabad would use that card to claim in international forums that the attack was part of an autonomous struggle of Kashmiris for self-determination (conveniently forgetting that such a logic can also apply to Balochistan in Pakistan). Pakistan's ISI-backed attacks typically come from outside India but move in through the disputed territory - making it a diplomatic in-swinger, as it were. What has happened this Tuesday is an Indian googly to counter Imran's in-swinger. JeM has been operating out of Bahawalpur in Pakistani Punjab - in a proven manner. If India crosses through to Balakot past the LoC in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the follow-through from PoK, as it has, you could say the response is symmetrical. Also, it is pertinent to remember that US Navy Seals attacked Abbottabad well inside Pakistan to kill Osama Bin Laden of al Qaeda. There is therefore not much that Washington can say or do as India can always cite that as a precedent. There is no doubt that this week's action is pre-emptive, visible, more daring and more open than the 'Surgical Strike 1.0' that took place after the Uri attack in 2016. In diplomatic terms, this means that just like the Pulwama attack, this is happening broadly as an extension of a disputed region in addition to the fact that it is dealing with terrorism and not a conventional army attack. There is a shrewd move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in this. You could call it a calculated risk. However, statements from President Donald Trump and support from 48 countries including Germany have clearly signalled support for India to defend its territory and strike against terror. While glib parallels may be drawn between Israeli attacks on Palestinian territory and India's surgical strikes, it is important to understand that in India's case, there is a much higher legitimacy in international diplomatic terms. It is not surprising therefore that BJP parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy has been quick to claim that "we bombed our own territory." Ordinary Indians do not know some facts on Kashmir, such as how India "returned" to Pakistan the Haji Pir Pass after their war over the region in 1965. The return is a controversial one for obvious reasons as India's soldiers had captured the pass after a valiant battle to check one of the vital hubs of militant infiltration into Indian territory. Under talks held between Pakistani leaders and then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in January 1966 at Tashkent (just before his sudden and mysterious death), India returned the Haji Pir pass to Pakistan for what military analysts say is a strategic reason, to make the Jammu region safer. The decision remains controversial as India did not take the pass again in 1971, but the give-and-take pursued by India then gives it a diplomatic lever to show how it did not shy away from talks, except under the shadow of terror. Events in the 1980s and 1990s, when the territorial war between two armies became restated as a proxy war by Pakistan under military dictator Zia ul-Haq, have totally changed the complexion of the relations between two countries as conventional diplomacy as well as conventional war have less meaning where "non-state" actors like Jaish-e-Mohammed and their movement across the porous LoC are involved. For India, the military googly bowled on Tuesday remains a calculated risk as Imran Khan is unlikely to take it silently. But this much can be said: in international law and convention, India has a stronger case than some critics think. (This article was originally published on The Zee News. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Balakot air strike is India's googly response to Imran Khan's in-swinger

The bombing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist pad in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan, has broken India’s reticence to use Air Force in an unconventional war which it has been subjected to by Pakistan.&nbsp;

India did not use Air Force against China in 1962 out of fear of escalating the war. Even during the Kargil war in 1999, Indian fighter jets&nbsp;not once crossed the LoC.&nbsp;

Last time Indian fighters crossed into Pakistan was in 1971 when India won hands down and Bangladesh was born. 
 
By using nuclear capable and upgraded Mirage 2000, India has called the nuclear bluff of Pakistan. These planes have the proven capability of flying below the radars and can target beyond visual ranges. The fighters can automatically track and target moving targets as well. In 2008, after the Mumbai attack, Mirage 2000 squadron was kept on standby to attack posts inside PoK, but the final call was not taken.

Mumbai did not become the inflexion point despite higher casualties but Pulwama attack did.

The nuclear bluff had deterred Indian military establishment for the past three decades from using air assets. The defence world suffered from caginess when it came to using the Air Force as an option to hit Pakistan. The very idea of the use of the Air Force created the fear of escalation which eventually would go beyond India’s control. Balakot operation has ended the debate. 
 
The air strike has also sent the message to Pakistan that lost cost war, being waged by them in Kashmir, will turn into a high-cost affair if terror activities continue.

Though this strike is no guarantee against a terror attack, but it definitely showcases India’s resolve to use any means including Air Force against Pakistan.&nbsp;

The bottom line is that India has put conventional might back into the game which Pakistan has been dismissing for a long time on a presumption that nuclear nations will not engage in conventional hostility.

The reaction of the Indian government has been restrained so that it doesn't provide anymore provocation to Islamabad.

India categorically stated on Tuesday that it was a preemptive strike to defend itself from the Jihadi elements from across the border. Under the Charter of the United Nations, Article 51 clearly states that countries have the right to self-defence. It is for this reason, India asserted that it was a non-military strike and civilians were not harmed. This time India took a giant leap but silently.

On top of it, lies the importance of Balakot located in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which is Pakistan and not Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). India by hitting the JeM terrorist camp not only demonstrated its technical capability to hit deep inside Pakistan but also created a new military paradigm whereby terrorist targets deep inside Pakistan from now on would be considered legitimate targets by the Indian military.&nbsp;

Balakot also has a history. In 1831, Maharaja Ranjit Singh eliminated Islamic forces of Syed Ahmed. Maulana Masood Azhar set up his camp in Balakot after his release in 2001. It was here that the conspiracy to bomb Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was hatched. Unlike the last time when India conducted surgical strikes inside POK, this time India has signalled broadening of operations all across Pakistan. 
 
Lastly, by hitting out again, India has shown that it will take unilateral action against Pakistan even if the international community has different views on it. This message has gone all across the world. It was long needed but pending as previous political establishment was strategically lazy in dealing with Pak terror. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The bombing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist pad in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan, has broken India’s reticence to use Air Force in an unconventional war which it has been subjected to by Pakistan.

The bombing of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist pad in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan, has broken India’s reticence to use Air Force in an unconventional war which it has been subjected to by Pakistan. India did not use Air Force against China in 1962 out of fear of escalating the war. Even during the Kargil war in 1999, Indian fighter jets not once crossed the LoC. Last time Indian fighters crossed into Pakistan was in 1971 when India won hands down and Bangladesh was born. By using nuclear capable and upgraded Mirage 2000, India has called the nuclear bluff of Pakistan. These planes have the proven capability of flying below the radars and can target beyond visual ranges. The fighters can automatically track and target moving targets as well. In 2008, after the Mumbai attack, Mirage 2000 squadron was kept on standby to attack posts inside PoK, but the final call was not taken. Mumbai did not become the inflexion point despite higher casualties but Pulwama attack did. The nuclear bluff had deterred Indian military establishment for the past three decades from using air assets. The defence world suffered from caginess when it came to using the Air Force as an option to hit Pakistan. The very idea of the use of the Air Force created the fear of escalation which eventually would go beyond India’s control. Balakot operation has ended the debate. The air strike has also sent the message to Pakistan that lost cost war, being waged by them in Kashmir, will turn into a high-cost affair if terror activities continue. Though this strike is no guarantee against a terror attack, but it definitely showcases India’s resolve to use any means including Air Force against Pakistan. The bottom line is that India has put conventional might back into the game which Pakistan has been dismissing for a long time on a presumption that nuclear nations will not engage in conventional hostility. The reaction of the Indian government has been restrained so that it doesn't provide anymore provocation to Islamabad. India categorically stated on Tuesday that it was a preemptive strike to defend itself from the Jihadi elements from across the border. Under the Charter of the United Nations, Article 51 clearly states that countries have the right to self-defence. It is for this reason, India asserted that it was a non-military strike and civilians were not harmed. This time India took a giant leap but silently. On top of it, lies the importance of Balakot located in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which is Pakistan and not Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). India by hitting the JeM terrorist camp not only demonstrated its technical capability to hit deep inside Pakistan but also created a new military paradigm whereby terrorist targets deep inside Pakistan from now on would be considered legitimate targets by the Indian military. Balakot also has a history. In 1831, Maharaja Ranjit Singh eliminated Islamic forces of Syed Ahmed. Maulana Masood Azhar set up his camp in Balakot after his release in 2001. It was here that the conspiracy to bomb Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was hatched. Unlike the last time when India conducted surgical strikes inside POK, this time India has signalled broadening of operations all across Pakistan. Lastly, by hitting out again, India has shown that it will take unilateral action against Pakistan even if the international community has different views on it. This message has gone all across the world. It was long needed but pending as previous political establishment was strategically lazy in dealing with Pak terror. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

IAF operation in Balakot: India calls Pakistan’s nuclear bluff

Afghanistan is investigating reports that at least 16 civilians including women and children were killed in an air strike in southern Helmand province, the defence ministry said in a statement Friday.

The reports come as civilian deaths from air strikes have risen sharply in the past year after the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-may-offer-fta-to-pakistan-to-assist-in-ending-afghan-war-report-192453">Afghan and US forces</a> intensified their aerial bombardment of Taliban and Islamic State group militants.&nbsp;

Afghan forces backed by US air power were conducting counter-terrorism operations in Sangin district late Wednesday when the air strike was carried out, the ministry and NATO said.

"Some reports have been published that civilians were killed and wounded, and the defence ministry formed a delegation to conduct a serious investigation into the civilian casualties," the ministry statement said.

NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said the "large Afghan-led, multi-day operation... supported by US advisors and coalition air strikes" was ongoing, and that it was still looking into the claims.

But the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the reports of civilian casualties, including children, were "credible", and that it was also investigating.

"I have got reports from the residents of the area where the strike took place. Sixteen people -- ten children, four women, two men, all civilians -- were killed," Afghan senator Hashim Alkozay told AFP.

Helmand provincial governor Mohammad Yasin said the strike "also hit an adjacent civilian house".

"A number" of Afghans were killed and wounded, he added.

The strike came as Taliban representatives were meeting with US officials in Qatar this week, with four straight days of discussion raising expectations as both sides seek a way out of the 17-year Afghan conflict.

Civilians continue to pay a disproportionate price in the fighting.

UNAMA says the number of Afghan civilians killed by aerial bombings from January until October 2018 reached a record high of 313, with a further 336 wounded.

The figures represent an increase of 39 per cent compared to the same time period in 2017.&nbsp;

UNAMA data shows that in total, 2,798 civilians were killed and 5,252 wounded in the first ten months of 2018.&nbsp;

The Taliban are responsible for about half of the civilian casualties, with the remaining deaths attributed to the Islamic State group and coalition strikes, according to the report.

UNAMA is due to publish its full-year report on civilian casualties in 2018 next month.

Afghanistan is investigating reports that at least 16 civilians including women and children were killed in an air strike in southern Helmand province, the defence ministry said in a statement Friday.

Afghanistan is investigating reports that at least 16 civilians including women and children were killed in an air strike in southern Helmand province, the defence ministry said in a statement Friday. The reports come as civilian deaths from air strikes have risen sharply in the past year after the Afghan and US forces intensified their aerial bombardment of Taliban and Islamic State group militants. Afghan forces backed by US air power were conducting counter-terrorism operations in Sangin district late Wednesday when the air strike was carried out, the ministry and NATO said. "Some reports have been published that civilians were killed and wounded, and the defence ministry formed a delegation to conduct a serious investigation into the civilian casualties," the ministry statement said. NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said the "large Afghan-led, multi-day operation... supported by US advisors and coalition air strikes" was ongoing, and that it was still looking into the claims. But the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the reports of civilian casualties, including children, were "credible", and that it was also investigating. "I have got reports from the residents of the area where the strike took place. Sixteen people -- ten children, four women, two men, all civilians -- were killed," Afghan senator Hashim Alkozay told AFP. Helmand provincial governor Mohammad Yasin said the strike "also hit an adjacent civilian house". "A number" of Afghans were killed and wounded, he added. The strike came as Taliban representatives were meeting with US officials in Qatar this week, with four straight days of discussion raising expectations as both sides seek a way out of the 17-year Afghan conflict. Civilians continue to pay a disproportionate price in the fighting. UNAMA says the number of Afghan civilians killed by aerial bombings from January until October 2018 reached a record high of 313, with a further 336 wounded. The figures represent an increase of 39 per cent compared to the same time period in 2017. UNAMA data shows that in total, 2,798 civilians were killed and 5,252 wounded in the first ten months of 2018. The Taliban are responsible for about half of the civilian casualties, with the remaining deaths attributed to the Islamic State group and coalition strikes, according to the report. UNAMA is due to publish its full-year report on civilian casualties in 2018 next month.

Afghanistan investigates civilian deaths in air strike in southern province

The number of Afghans killed or wounded by air strikes rose 39 per cent in the first nine months of 2018, the UN said Wednesday, as the overall number of civilian casualties remained at "extreme levels".

Air strikes killed or wounded 649 Afghans, more than any full-year period since the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) began keeping records in 2009, as US and Afghan forces stepped up aerial bombardments.

That figure accounted for eight per cent of overall civilian casualties for the January to September period, which slipped to 8,050 -- 2,798 dead and 5,252 injured -- UNAMA said.

"Every civilian death leaves a family devastated, grieving and struggling to come to terms with the loss, and each civilian injured or maimed causes untold suffering," said Danielle Bell, UNAMA's human rights chief.

International forces accounted for 51 per cent of the civilian casualties caused by air strikes, the report said. Afghan forces made up 38 per cent.

The United States is the only foreign force known to carry out air strikes in Afghanistan.

US and Afghan forces have dramatically increased air offensives against Taliban and Islamic State insurgents in the past year as they try to get the upper hand in the 17-year war. &nbsp;

US forces employed 746 weapons in July, which was the highest monthly total since November 2010, the most recent US Air Forces Central Command data shows.&nbsp;

That is more than double the 350 munitions used in July 2017, a month before US President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for Afghanistan that gave American forces greater leeway to go after militants.&nbsp;

Afghanistan's fledgling air force has also accelerated bombardments as the United States beefs up the country's aerial capability with more aircraft and better weapons.

The latest civilian casualties report follows two air strikes in recent weeks that UNAMA's initial findings show killed more than 20 people from two families.

Improvised explosive devices, including suicide bombs, remained the leading cause of civilian casualties in the first nine months, rising 21 per cent to 3,634, the report said.

UNAMA warned earlier that the increasing number of "deliberate and indiscriminate attacks" against civilians constituted "serious violations of international humanitarian law" that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The majority of civilian casualties were attributed to militants. The Taliban, Afghanistan's largest militant group, were responsible for 35 per cent and the Islamic State group 25 per cent, UNAMA said.

While the IS has fewer fighters than the Taliban, it has carried out most of the devastating suicide attacks in urban areas in recent months.

The eastern province of Nangarhar recorded 1,494 casualties, more than double the same period last year and the highest number for any province.&nbsp;

A record number of civilians were killed in the first half of 2018, underscoring the growing violence that has been a trend since NATO combat forces withdrew from the country in 2014.

The latest figures come as Afghans brace for more violence ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October 20.&nbsp;

The number of Afghans killed or wounded by air strikes rose 39 per cent in the first nine months of 2018, the UN said Wednesday, as the overall number of civilian casualties remained at "extreme levels".

The number of Afghans killed or wounded by air strikes rose 39 per cent in the first nine months of 2018, the UN said Wednesday, as the overall number of civilian casualties remained at "extreme levels". Air strikes killed or wounded 649 Afghans, more than any full-year period since the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) began keeping records in 2009, as US and Afghan forces stepped up aerial bombardments. That figure accounted for eight per cent of overall civilian casualties for the January to September period, which slipped to 8,050 -- 2,798 dead and 5,252 injured -- UNAMA said. "Every civilian death leaves a family devastated, grieving and struggling to come to terms with the loss, and each civilian injured or maimed causes untold suffering," said Danielle Bell, UNAMA's human rights chief. International forces accounted for 51 per cent of the civilian casualties caused by air strikes, the report said. Afghan forces made up 38 per cent. The United States is the only foreign force known to carry out air strikes in Afghanistan. US and Afghan forces have dramatically increased air offensives against Taliban and Islamic State insurgents in the past year as they try to get the upper hand in the 17-year war. US forces employed 746 weapons in July, which was the highest monthly total since November 2010, the most recent US Air Forces Central Command data shows. That is more than double the 350 munitions used in July 2017, a month before US President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for Afghanistan that gave American forces greater leeway to go after militants. Afghanistan's fledgling air force has also accelerated bombardments as the United States beefs up the country's aerial capability with more aircraft and better weapons. The latest civilian casualties report follows two air strikes in recent weeks that UNAMA's initial findings show killed more than 20 people from two families. Improvised explosive devices, including suicide bombs, remained the leading cause of civilian casualties in the first nine months, rising 21 per cent to 3,634, the report said. UNAMA warned earlier that the increasing number of "deliberate and indiscriminate attacks" against civilians constituted "serious violations of international humanitarian law" that could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The majority of civilian casualties were attributed to militants. The Taliban, Afghanistan's largest militant group, were responsible for 35 per cent and the Islamic State group 25 per cent, UNAMA said. While the IS has fewer fighters than the Taliban, it has carried out most of the devastating suicide attacks in urban areas in recent months. The eastern province of Nangarhar recorded 1,494 casualties, more than double the same period last year and the highest number for any province. A record number of civilians were killed in the first half of 2018, underscoring the growing violence that has been a trend since NATO combat forces withdrew from the country in 2014. The latest figures come as Afghans brace for more violence ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October 20.

Afghan casualties from air-strikes up 39%: United Nations

The United Nations said Tuesday it was investigating "credible reports" that nine members of a family had been killed in an air strike in Afghanistan, but US Forces denied the victims were civilians. &nbsp;

Women and children were among those reportedly killed on Saturday after an "aerial ordnance" hit the home of a teacher in Tagab district in the eastern province of Kapisa, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement.

Six other family members were wounded in the attack on Badrab village, UNAMA added, citing "multiple, credible allegations".

"All the victims from the attack were from the same family, including grandparents and children aged between two and 12," it said.&nbsp;

Latif, whose home was one of three damaged in the strike, told AFP on Monday that 15&nbsp;members of a family including three children were killed when a "bomb" hit their house on Saturday night.&nbsp;

But local officials told AFP they had not received any reports of civilian casualties.&nbsp;

US Forces spokesman David Butler said Afghan ground troops involved in a gunbattle had been forced to call in US air support.

The United Nations said Tuesday it was investigating "credible reports" that nine members of a family had been killed in an air strike in Afghanistan, but US Forces denied the victims were civilians.

The United Nations said Tuesday it was investigating "credible reports" that nine members of a family had been killed in an air strike in Afghanistan, but US Forces denied the victims were civilians. Women and children were among those reportedly killed on Saturday after an "aerial ordnance" hit the home of a teacher in Tagab district in the eastern province of Kapisa, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement. Six other family members were wounded in the attack on Badrab village, UNAMA added, citing "multiple, credible allegations". "All the victims from the attack were from the same family, including grandparents and children aged between two and 12," it said. Latif, whose home was one of three damaged in the strike, told AFP on Monday that 15 members of a family including three children were killed when a "bomb" hit their house on Saturday night. But local officials told AFP they had not received any reports of civilian casualties. US Forces spokesman David Butler said Afghan ground troops involved in a gunbattle had been forced to call in US air support.

UN probes 'credible' reports of nine Afghan civilians killed in air strike

United States and allied forces came under attack in Somalia, triggering an air strike which killed 18 Al-Shabaab militants, the US military said on Saturday.

The incident occurred on Friday 50 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Kismayo in the south of the Horn of Africa country where Somali commandos work side-by-side with the American forces that train them.

Air assaults and missile strikes have increased in recent months.

"The US airstrike was conducted against militants after US and partner forces came under attack," US Africa Command said in a statement.

US forces also partner with the United Nations-backed African Union Mission in Somalia, which aims to counter the threat from Al-Shabaab jihadists.

The air strike was conducted "in self-defense," killing 18 militants, Africa Command said.

Two other militants "were killed by Somali forces with small arms fire during the engagement," it added.

In June an American commando was killed during an attack in southern Somalia that also wounded four US military members and a Somali soldier, officials said at the time.

More than 500 American personnel are partnered with African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali national security forces.

Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed Somali government in Mogadishu.

United States and allied forces came under attack in Somalia, triggering an air strike which killed 18 Al-Shabaab militants, the US military said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday 50 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Kismayo in the south of the Horn of Africa country where Somali commandos work side-by-side with the American forces that train them.

United States and allied forces came under attack in Somalia, triggering an air strike which killed 18 Al-Shabaab militants, the US military said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday 50 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Kismayo in the south of the Horn of Africa country where Somali commandos work side-by-side with the American forces that train them. Air assaults and missile strikes have increased in recent months. "The US airstrike was conducted against militants after US and partner forces came under attack," US Africa Command said in a statement. US forces also partner with the United Nations-backed African Union Mission in Somalia, which aims to counter the threat from Al-Shabaab jihadists. The air strike was conducted "in self-defense," killing 18 militants, Africa Command said. Two other militants "were killed by Somali forces with small arms fire during the engagement," it added. In June an American commando was killed during an attack in southern Somalia that also wounded four US military members and a Somali soldier, officials said at the time. More than 500 American personnel are partnered with African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali national security forces. Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed Somali government in Mogadishu.

US, allied forces attacked in Somalia: Pentagon

Air strikes likely by Russia on a village in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province killed at least 44 people overnight, inflicting the highest death toll in a single attack on the region this year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.

"War planes, which are likely Russian, targeted the village of Zardana in northern rural Idlib overnight and caused the highest death toll in a single attack on the region including 11 women and six children," Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Britain-based war monitor said.

The death toll is expected to increase as some of the 60 injured in the strikes were in a critical condition, he said. Rescue workers were still searching under the rubble for survivors.

The northwestern Idlib region remains the largest populated area of Syria in the hands of insurgents fighting the Damascus government.

The death toll is expected to increase as some of the 60 injured in the strikes were in a critical condition

Air strikes likely by Russia on a village in Syria's rebel-held Idlib province killed at least 44 people overnight, inflicting the highest death toll in a single attack on the region this year, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday. "War planes, which are likely Russian, targeted the village of Zardana in northern rural Idlib overnight and caused the highest death toll in a single attack on the region including 11 women and six children," Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Britain-based war monitor said. The death toll is expected to increase as some of the 60 injured in the strikes were in a critical condition, he said. Rescue workers were still searching under the rubble for survivors. The northwestern Idlib region remains the largest populated area of Syria in the hands of insurgents fighting the Damascus government.

Air strikes kill at least 44 in Syria's Idlib: Monitor

At least 38 Houthi militants were killed when a coalition airstrike led by Saudi Arabia targeted the building of Yemen interior ministry in Sanaa in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

The Saudi-led airstrike targeted a high-level meeting of Shiite rebels in Yemen’s capital which also killed two of the group’s leaders.

The raid happened during a meeting organizing the burial of the so-called Supreme Political Council, reports said. The deputy interior minister of the militia government, Abdelhakim al-Khiowani, who is known as Abu al-Karrar, is believed to be among the targets.

The Houthis confirmed an air strike on Sanaa but gave no details.

Earlier on Saturday, Saudi air defences reportedly intercepted four missiles fired by Houthi rebels in Jazan province bordering with Yemen in southern Saudi Arabia.

Continued missile attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen have forced Saudi Arabia to cut off air, sea and land links from its neighbour. Saudi defence forces have also halted Yemen's financial aids and food and fuel imports as well.

Former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed in Sanaa after days of intense fighting between Houthi rebels and his loyalist forces on December 4 last year.

The Saudi-led airstrike targeted a high-level meeting of Shiite rebels in Yemen’s capital which also killed two of the group’s leaders.

At least 38 Houthi militants were killed when a coalition airstrike led by Saudi Arabia targeted the building of Yemen interior ministry in Sanaa in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The Saudi-led airstrike targeted a high-level meeting of Shiite rebels in Yemen’s capital which also killed two of the group’s leaders. The raid happened during a meeting organizing the burial of the so-called Supreme Political Council, reports said. The deputy interior minister of the militia government, Abdelhakim al-Khiowani, who is known as Abu al-Karrar, is believed to be among the targets. The Houthis confirmed an air strike on Sanaa but gave no details. Earlier on Saturday, Saudi air defences reportedly intercepted four missiles fired by Houthi rebels in Jazan province bordering with Yemen in southern Saudi Arabia. Continued missile attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen have forced Saudi Arabia to cut off air, sea and land links from its neighbour. Saudi defence forces have also halted Yemen's financial aids and food and fuel imports as well. Former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed in Sanaa after days of intense fighting between Houthi rebels and his loyalist forces on December 4 last year.

At least 38 Houthis killed in Saudi-led airstrike

Air strikes by a Saudi-led military coalition killed at least 20 people attending a wedding in a village in northwestern Yemen late on Sunday, residents and medical sources said.

The head of Al Jumhouri hospital in Hajjah told Reuters by telephone that the hospital had received 40 bodies, most of them torn to pieces, and that 46 people had been injured, including 30 children, in air strikes that hit a wedding gathering.

Residents and medics told Reuters that 20 people attending the celebration were killed and at least 30 injured.&nbsp

"We take this report very seriously and it will be fully investigated as all reports of this nature are," a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition told Reuters.

Residents of a village called Taiba elsewhere in the province told Reuters that a separate air strike killed a family of four in their house on Sunday night.

The Western-backed alliance has been fighting a war for three years against the armed Houthi movement which controls the area and much of northern Yemen.

It has launched thousands of air strikes in a campaign to restore the internationally recognized government. Errant strikes have killed hundreds of civilians at hospitals, schools and markets.

Al-Masirah, the TV station of the armed Houthi movement which controls the area and much of northern Yemen, said on its Twitter account that 33 people had been killed and 55 wounded.

The coalition says it does not target civilians and has set up an investigation committee into alleged mass casualty air strikes which have mostly cleared the coalition of any blame.

The Yemen war has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced more than 2 million and driven the country to the verge of famine, according to the United Nations.

The head of Al Jumhouri hospital in Hajjah told Reuters by telephone that the hospital had received 40 bodies, most of them torn to pieces, and that 46 people had been injured, including 30 children, in air strikes that hit a wedding gathering

Air strikes by a Saudi-led military coalition killed at least 20 people attending a wedding in a village in northwestern Yemen late on Sunday, residents and medical sources said. The head of Al Jumhouri hospital in Hajjah told Reuters by telephone that the hospital had received 40 bodies, most of them torn to pieces, and that 46 people had been injured, including 30 children, in air strikes that hit a wedding gathering. Residents and medics told Reuters that 20 people attending the celebration were killed and at least 30 injured. "We take this report very seriously and it will be fully investigated as all reports of this nature are," a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition told Reuters. Residents of a village called Taiba elsewhere in the province told Reuters that a separate air strike killed a family of four in their house on Sunday night. The Western-backed alliance has been fighting a war for three years against the armed Houthi movement which controls the area and much of northern Yemen. It has launched thousands of air strikes in a campaign to restore the internationally recognized government. Errant strikes have killed hundreds of civilians at hospitals, schools and markets. Al-Masirah, the TV station of the armed Houthi movement which controls the area and much of northern Yemen, said on its Twitter account that 33 people had been killed and 55 wounded. The coalition says it does not target civilians and has set up an investigation committee into alleged mass casualty air strikes which have mostly cleared the coalition of any blame. The Yemen war has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced more than 2 million and driven the country to the verge of famine, according to the United Nations.

At least 20 dead, 30 injured in Saudi-led air strike at Yemen wedding

Iraq today said that its air strike in Syria on April 19 has killed 36 terrorists from the Islamic State group. Those killed included senior IS members as well.&nbsp

Iraqi warplanes had attacked an Islamic State explosives factory and other positions inside Syria on Thursday, a rare air assault across the border.

The Iraqi raids are believed to have been carried by F-16 fighter jets and targetted a meeting of terrorist leaders near the Hajin town in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor.

Iraqi warplanes had attacked an Islamic State explosives factory and other positions inside Syria on Thursday

Iraq today said that its air strike in Syria on April 19 has killed 36 terrorists from the Islamic State group. Those killed included senior IS members as well. Iraqi warplanes had attacked an Islamic State explosives factory and other positions inside Syria on Thursday, a rare air assault across the border. The Iraqi raids are believed to have been carried by F-16 fighter jets and targetted a meeting of terrorist leaders near the Hajin town in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor.

Iraq's April 19 air strike in Syria killed 36 'IS terrorists'

Western powers will study "options" if Syria's government again uses chemical weapons, but nothing is planned as yet, Britain's foreign minister said on Sunday, after raids on Syrian targets triggered heated debate over their legality and effectiveness.

US, French and British missile attacks struck at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons programme on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack a week ago, although the restrained assault appeared unlikely to halt Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's progress in the seven-year-old civil war.

The bombing, denounced by Damascus and its allies as an illegal act of aggression, was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his powerful ally Russia.

But the three countries said the strikes were limited to Syria's chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war.

Speaking on British television, British Foreign Secretary (Minister) Boris Johnson threw his weight behind Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to take part in the attack, saying it was the right thing to do to deter further use of chemical weapons.

"There is no proposal on the table at the moment for further attacks because so far thank heavens the Assad regime has not been so foolish as to launch another chemical weapons attack," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

"If and when such a thing were to happen, then clearly with allies we would study what the options were."&nbsp;

His comments appeared in line with those of US&nbsp;ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who said at an emergency meeting of the UN&nbsp;Security Council that Trump told her that if Syria uses poisonous gas again, "The United States is locked and loaded."&nbsp;

The Western countries said the strikes were aimed at preventing more Syrian chemical weapons attacks after a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7 killed up to 75 people. They blame Assad's government for the attack.

But British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the legal basis used to support the British role was debatable, adding that he would only support action backed by the United Nations Security Council.

Good mood

"I say to the foreign secretary, I say to the prime minister, where is the legal basis for this?" Corbyn said.

"The legal basis ... would have to be self-defence or the authority of the UN&nbsp;Security Council. The humanitarian intervention is a legally debatable concept at the present time," he said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday.

In Damascus, Assad told a group of visiting Russian lawmakers that Western missile strikes on his country were an act of aggression, Russian news agencies reported.

The agencies quoted the lawmakers as saying Assad was in a "good mood" and had praised the Soviet-era air defence systems used by Syria to help to repel the Western attacks.

Assad accepted an invitation to visit the Siberian region of Khanty-Mansi in Russia. It was not clear when the visit would take place.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump called the operation a success.&nbsp;

He proclaimed on Twitter: "Mission accomplished," echoing former President George W. Bush, whose use of the same phrase in 2003 to describe the US&nbsp;invasion of Iraq was widely ridiculed as violence there dragged on for years.

"We believe that by hitting Barzeh, in particular, we`ve attacked the heart of the Syrian chemicals weapon programme," US&nbsp;Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said at the Pentagon.

Wreckage

However, McKenzie acknowledged elements of the programme remain and he could not guarantee that Syria would be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future.

Syria released video of the wreckage of a bombed-out research lab, but also of Assad arriving at work as usual, with the caption "Morning of resilience".

There were no immediate reports of casualties.&nbsp;

Late on Saturday Syria time, a large explosion was heard in a Syrian government-controlled area in a rural region south of Aleppo, according to the Britain-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory said the cause of the explosion was unknown, as well as its target.

Russian and Iranian military help over the past three years has allowed Assad to crush the rebel threat to topple him.

The United States, Britain and France have all participated in the Syrian conflict for years, arming rebels, bombing Islamic State fighters and deploying troops on the ground to fight that group. But they have refrained from targeting Assad`s government, apart from a volley of US missiles last year.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the strikes were "unacceptable and lawless."

Syrian state media called them a "flagrant violation of international law," while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called it a crime and the Western leaders criminals.&nbsp;

Weapons watchdog&nbsp;

Washington described the strike targets as a centre near Damascus for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weapons a chemical weapons storage site near the city of Homs and another site near Homs that stored chemical weapons equipment and housed a command post.

UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all Security Council members to exercise restraint and avoid an escalation in Syria, but said allegations of chemical weapons use demand an investigation.

Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were due to try to visit Douma to inspect the site of the suspected gas attack. Moscow condemned the Western states for refusing to wait for their findings.

Russia, whose ties with the West have sunk to levels of Cold War-era hostility, denies any gas attack happened in Douma and even said Britain staged it to whip up anti-Russian hysteria.&nbsp;

Syria agreed in 2013 to give up its chemical weapons after a nerve gas attack killed hundreds of people in Douma. Damascus is still permitted to have chlorine for civilian use, although its use as a weapon is banned. Allegations of Assad's chlorine use have been frequent during the war although, unlike nerve agents, chlorine did not produce mass casualties as seen last week.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The bombing, denounced by Damascus and its allies as an illegal act of aggression, was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his powerful ally Russia

Western powers will study "options" if Syria's government again uses chemical weapons, but nothing is planned as yet, Britain's foreign minister said on Sunday, after raids on Syrian targets triggered heated debate over their legality and effectiveness. US, French and British missile attacks struck at the heart of Syria's chemical weapons programme on Saturday in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack a week ago, although the restrained assault appeared unlikely to halt Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's progress in the seven-year-old civil war. The bombing, denounced by Damascus and its allies as an illegal act of aggression, was the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and his powerful ally Russia. But the three countries said the strikes were limited to Syria's chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war. Speaking on British television, British Foreign Secretary (Minister) Boris Johnson threw his weight behind Prime Minister Theresa May's decision to take part in the attack, saying it was the right thing to do to deter further use of chemical weapons. "There is no proposal on the table at the moment for further attacks because so far thank heavens the Assad regime has not been so foolish as to launch another chemical weapons attack," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. "If and when such a thing were to happen, then clearly with allies we would study what the options were." His comments appeared in line with those of US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who said at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that Trump told her that if Syria uses poisonous gas again, "The United States is locked and loaded." The Western countries said the strikes were aimed at preventing more Syrian chemical weapons attacks after a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7 killed up to 75 people. They blame Assad's government for the attack. But British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said that the legal basis used to support the British role was debatable, adding that he would only support action backed by the United Nations Security Council. Good mood "I say to the foreign secretary, I say to the prime minister, where is the legal basis for this?" Corbyn said. "The legal basis ... would have to be self-defence or the authority of the UN Security Council. The humanitarian intervention is a legally debatable concept at the present time," he said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday. In Damascus, Assad told a group of visiting Russian lawmakers that Western missile strikes on his country were an act of aggression, Russian news agencies reported. The agencies quoted the lawmakers as saying Assad was in a "good mood" and had praised the Soviet-era air defence systems used by Syria to help to repel the Western attacks. Assad accepted an invitation to visit the Siberian region of Khanty-Mansi in Russia. It was not clear when the visit would take place. US President Donald Trump called the operation a success. He proclaimed on Twitter: "Mission accomplished," echoing former President George W. Bush, whose use of the same phrase in 2003 to describe the US invasion of Iraq was widely ridiculed as violence there dragged on for years. "We believe that by hitting Barzeh, in particular, we`ve attacked the heart of the Syrian chemicals weapon programme," US Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said at the Pentagon. Wreckage However, McKenzie acknowledged elements of the programme remain and he could not guarantee that Syria would be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future. Syria released video of the wreckage of a bombed-out research lab, but also of Assad arriving at work as usual, with the caption "Morning of resilience". There were no immediate reports of casualties. Late on Saturday Syria time, a large explosion was heard in a Syrian government-controlled area in a rural region south of Aleppo, according to the Britain-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory said the cause of the explosion was unknown, as well as its target. Russian and Iranian military help over the past three years has allowed Assad to crush the rebel threat to topple him. The United States, Britain and France have all participated in the Syrian conflict for years, arming rebels, bombing Islamic State fighters and deploying troops on the ground to fight that group. But they have refrained from targeting Assad`s government, apart from a volley of US missiles last year. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the strikes were "unacceptable and lawless." Syrian state media called them a "flagrant violation of international law," while Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called it a crime and the Western leaders criminals. Weapons watchdog Washington described the strike targets as a centre near Damascus for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weapons a chemical weapons storage site near the city of Homs and another site near Homs that stored chemical weapons equipment and housed a command post. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all Security Council members to exercise restraint and avoid an escalation in Syria, but said allegations of chemical weapons use demand an investigation. Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were due to try to visit Douma to inspect the site of the suspected gas attack. Moscow condemned the Western states for refusing to wait for their findings. Russia, whose ties with the West have sunk to levels of Cold War-era hostility, denies any gas attack happened in Douma and even said Britain staged it to whip up anti-Russian hysteria. Syria agreed in 2013 to give up its chemical weapons after a nerve gas attack killed hundreds of people in Douma. Damascus is still permitted to have chlorine for civilian use, although its use as a weapon is banned. Allegations of Assad's chlorine use have been frequent during the war although, unlike nerve agents, chlorine did not produce mass casualties as seen last week.

Western powers to study options if Syria chemical weapons used again: UK

When Emmanuel Macron called Vladimir Putin on Friday, the day before launching his first major military operation with strikes on Syria, the French president knew the credibility of his foreign policy was at stake.

Less than a year ago, in the ornate Gallery of Battles of the palace of Versailles, he warned the Russian leader in their first meeting that the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be a red line that would result in reprisals.

"I believe this chemical attack took place, I believe my red line was crossed," he told Putin in the Friday morning phone call, according to a close advisor at the Elysee palace.

"The tone was very direct, the two presidents were under no illusion about what was going to happen," the advisor told Reuters on Saturday, soon after the overnight air strikes.

The decision to strike Syrian government targets followed a week of hectic diplomacy and coordination with US&nbsp;and British allies.

Last Sunday evening, Macron sat with a small group of advisors at the Elysee palace to watch numerous graphic images and videos of suffering children following an attack the previous day on Douma, which France and allies say was a chemical attack.

"The president immediately realised the seriousness of these attacks," the first advisor said.

Red line&nbsp;'meant to be respected'&nbsp;

After a first phone call with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump that night, a series of painstaking daily meetings with defence and foreign affairs officials took place to check the authenticity of images and information coming from Syria.

On Thursday, sitting in a primary school in Normandy where he was giving his first TV interview in months, Macron said France now had proof the Syrian government had been involved.

After another series of calls, with Angela Merkel of Germany and again with Trump and Britain's Theresa May, Macron ordered his military to send Rafale warplanes to strike Syria's chemical weapons facilities.

It was in the "Jupiter" command centre of the Elysee palace in the early hours of Saturday morning that the 40-year-old French leader, surrounded by 10 of his diplomatic and defence officials, followed the operation as it unfolded.

Political opponents had criticised Macron for drawing a red line over chemical attacks after the unfortunate precedent set by former US&nbsp;President Barack Obama, who had put himself in a tough spot with a similar ultimatum in 2012.

Obama had to backtrack in the face of congressional opposition, signalling US&nbsp;fatigue in the Middle East and empowering Russia, Western military experts said at the time.

Pointing to the overnight strike, another advisor to Macron said: "This is proof today that the political line he drew at the start of his mandate was meant to be respected."

'I believe this chemical attack took place, I believe my red line was crossed,' Macron told Putin in the Friday morning phone call

When Emmanuel Macron called Vladimir Putin on Friday, the day before launching his first major military operation with strikes on Syria, the French president knew the credibility of his foreign policy was at stake. Less than a year ago, in the ornate Gallery of Battles of the palace of Versailles, he warned the Russian leader in their first meeting that the use of chemical weapons in Syria would be a red line that would result in reprisals. "I believe this chemical attack took place, I believe my red line was crossed," he told Putin in the Friday morning phone call, according to a close advisor at the Elysee palace. "The tone was very direct, the two presidents were under no illusion about what was going to happen," the advisor told Reuters on Saturday, soon after the overnight air strikes. The decision to strike Syrian government targets followed a week of hectic diplomacy and coordination with US and British allies. Last Sunday evening, Macron sat with a small group of advisors at the Elysee palace to watch numerous graphic images and videos of suffering children following an attack the previous day on Douma, which France and allies say was a chemical attack. "The president immediately realised the seriousness of these attacks," the first advisor said. Red line 'meant to be respected' After a first phone call with US President Donald Trump that night, a series of painstaking daily meetings with defence and foreign affairs officials took place to check the authenticity of images and information coming from Syria. On Thursday, sitting in a primary school in Normandy where he was giving his first TV interview in months, Macron said France now had proof the Syrian government had been involved. After another series of calls, with Angela Merkel of Germany and again with Trump and Britain's Theresa May, Macron ordered his military to send Rafale warplanes to strike Syria's chemical weapons facilities. It was in the "Jupiter" command centre of the Elysee palace in the early hours of Saturday morning that the 40-year-old French leader, surrounded by 10 of his diplomatic and defence officials, followed the operation as it unfolded. Political opponents had criticised Macron for drawing a red line over chemical attacks after the unfortunate precedent set by former US President Barack Obama, who had put himself in a tough spot with a similar ultimatum in 2012. Obama had to backtrack in the face of congressional opposition, signalling US fatigue in the Middle East and empowering Russia, Western military experts said at the time. Pointing to the overnight strike, another advisor to Macron said: "This is proof today that the political line he drew at the start of his mandate was meant to be respected."

For France's Macron, Syria red lines were credibility test

Syria and its main ally Russia blamed Israel for carrying out an attack on a Syrian air base near Homs on Monday which followed reports of a poison gas attack by President Bashar al-Assad's forces on a rebel-held town.

Israel, which has struck Syrian army locations many times in the course of its neighbour's seven-year-old civil war, has neither confirmed nor denied mounting the raid.&nbsp

But Israeli officials said the Tiyas, or T-4, air base was being used by troops from Iran and that Israel would not accept such a presence in Syria by its arch foe.

The strike took place after a suspected chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town of Douma which, according to one Syrian aid organisation, killed at least 60 people.

US&nbspPresident Donald Trump warned of a "big price to pay" after the initial reports of the poison gas attack, although the Syrian government and its main ally Russia have denied involvement.

Trump referred in a Tweet to "Animal Assad" and criticised Russia and Iran for backing the Syrian leader, directly naming Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons international watchdog said it had opened an investigation to determine what exactly had happened in Douma.

US&nbspDefence Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday raised the possibility of military action against Syria if it was proved to have carried out a chemical weapons attack.

British Prime Minister Theresa May called it "reprehensible" and said if the Assad government was found to be responsible, it would be held to account.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said such allegations were false and a provocation. Lavrov said the strike on the T-4 base was a dangerous development.

The latest incidents in Douma and Tiyas demonstrated the complex and volatile nature of the Syria war, which started in March 2011 as an anti-Assad uprising and now involves a number of countries and a myriad of insurgent groups.

Red lines

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor, said at least 14 people were killed in Monday's air strike on the T-4 base, including foreign fighters - a reference to Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia members, mostly from Iraq, Lebanon and Iran fighting alongside the Syrian army.

Iran's Fars news agency said three Iranians were killed.

Syrian state TV initially said the United States was suspected of carrying out the attack on T-4. Washington denied this, and France, which in February had said it would strike in the event of a chemical weapons attack on civilians by Syrian government forces, said its forces were not involved.

The Russian military, whose support for Assad turned the war in his favour, said two Israeli F-15 war-planes carried out the strike. Interfax news agency cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying Syrian air defence systems had shot down five of eight missiles fired.

Syrian state news agency SANA, citing a military source, carried a similar report. "The Israeli aggression on the T4 airport was carried out with F-15 planes that fired several missiles from above Lebanese land," it said.&nbsp

The Israeli government had no immediate comment.

Israel has accused Damascus of allowing Iran to set up a complex at the T-4 base to supply arms to its ally, Lebanon's Hezbollah, and in the past its forces have hit convoys and bases of Iranian-backed militias that fight alongside Assad's troops.

Defence analysts say a number of Russian troops are also based there and jets fly regular sorties from T-4.

Israeli opposition lawmaker Yair Lapid told Army Radio: "Israel will not accept an Iranian military presence in Syria and will not accept Iran's creeping entrenchment in Syria and this has costs."

Housing Minister Yoav Galant, while also not confirming that Israel had carried out the attack, said: "We have clear interests in Syria. We laid down red lines there, which said that we would not allow Syrian land to be a springboard for game-changing weaponry to Lebanon, we would not allow the building of an Iranian army in Syria and we would not allow the opening of another front on the Golan Heights.

"In this context we are taking action with all means, over time."

Foam at the month

As international officials worked to try to confirm the suspected chemical attack on Douma, a Syria medical relief group said at least 60 people had been killed there and more than 1,000 injured in several sites.

"The numbers keep rising as relief workers struggle to gain access to the subterranean areas where gas has entered and hundreds of families had sought refuge," said the Union of Medical Care Organizations (UOSSM).

The Syrian opposition blamed the suspected attack on government forces, who launched an air and ground assault on Douma, the last rebel-held town in the eastern Ghouta district, on Friday.

One video shared by activists showed bodies of about a dozen children, women and men, some with foam at the mouth. Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

The United States fired missiles on a Syrian air base a year ago in response to the killing of dozens of civilians in a sarin gas attack in an opposition-held town in northwest Syria, blamed on Assad.

US&nbspgovernment sources said Washington's assessment of Saturday's attack was that chemical weapons were used. The European Union also said evidence pointed to the use of chemical weapons by Assad's forces.

The United Nations Security Council will meet on Monday following rival requests by Russia and the United States.

UN&nbspwar crimes investigators had previously documented 33 chemical attacks in Syria, attributing 27 to the Assad government, which has repeatedly denied using the weapons.

UOSSM said doctors could not determine the origin of Saturday's suspected chemical attack. Dr. Muhammad, a doctor in Ghouta, said patients were coughing blood, a symptom not seen in previous chemical attacks.&nbsp

Despite the potential reprisals, the attack appears to have brought Assad closer to victory in the military campaign for eastern Ghouta launched by his Russian-backed army in February.

The rebel group Jaish al-Islam has given way to a Syrian government demand that it accept safe passage out to rebel-held areas at the Turkish border.

In Washington, Republican US&nbspSenator Lindsey Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, urged Trump and his administration to destroy Assad's air capabilities, enforce safe zones inside Syria, and target Assad directly.

"This president has the chance to do exactly the opposite of (former US&nbspPresident Barack) Obama - send a strong signal that there's a new sheriff in town and America's back," Graham told Fox News in an interview.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied mounting the raid

Syria and its main ally Russia blamed Israel for carrying out an attack on a Syrian air base near Homs on Monday which followed reports of a poison gas attack by President Bashar al-Assad's forces on a rebel-held town. Israel, which has struck Syrian army locations many times in the course of its neighbour's seven-year-old civil war, has neither confirmed nor denied mounting the raid. But Israeli officials said the Tiyas, or T-4, air base was being used by troops from Iran and that Israel would not accept such a presence in Syria by its arch foe. The strike took place after a suspected chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town of Douma which, according to one Syrian aid organisation, killed at least 60 people. US&nbspPresident Donald Trump warned of a "big price to pay" after the initial reports of the poison gas attack, although the Syrian government and its main ally Russia have denied involvement. Trump referred in a Tweet to "Animal Assad" and criticised Russia and Iran for backing the Syrian leader, directly naming Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons international watchdog said it had opened an investigation to determine what exactly had happened in Douma. US&nbspDefence Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday raised the possibility of military action against Syria if it was proved to have carried out a chemical weapons attack. British Prime Minister Theresa May called it "reprehensible" and said if the Assad government was found to be responsible, it would be held to account. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said such allegations were false and a provocation. Lavrov said the strike on the T-4 base was a dangerous development. The latest incidents in Douma and Tiyas demonstrated the complex and volatile nature of the Syria war, which started in March 2011 as an anti-Assad uprising and now involves a number of countries and a myriad of insurgent groups. Red lines The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor, said at least 14 people were killed in Monday's air strike on the T-4 base, including foreign fighters - a reference to Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia members, mostly from Iraq, Lebanon and Iran fighting alongside the Syrian army. Iran's Fars news agency said three Iranians were killed. Syrian state TV initially said the United States was suspected of carrying out the attack on T-4. Washington denied this, and France, which in February had said it would strike in the event of a chemical weapons attack on civilians by Syrian government forces, said its forces were not involved. The Russian military, whose support for Assad turned the war in his favour, said two Israeli F-15 war-planes carried out the strike. Interfax news agency cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying Syrian air defence systems had shot down five of eight missiles fired. Syrian state news agency SANA, citing a military source, carried a similar report. "The Israeli aggression on the T4 airport was carried out with F-15 planes that fired several missiles from above Lebanese land," it said. The Israeli government had no immediate comment. Israel has accused Damascus of allowing Iran to set up a complex at the T-4 base to supply arms to its ally, Lebanon's Hezbollah, and in the past its forces have hit convoys and bases of Iranian-backed militias that fight alongside Assad's troops. Defence analysts say a number of Russian troops are also based there and jets fly regular sorties from T-4. Israeli opposition lawmaker Yair Lapid told Army Radio: "Israel will not accept an Iranian military presence in Syria and will not accept Iran's creeping entrenchment in Syria and this has costs." Housing Minister Yoav Galant, while also not confirming that Israel had carried out the attack, said: "We have clear interests in Syria. We laid down red lines there, which said that we would not allow Syrian land to be a springboard for game-changing weaponry to Lebanon, we would not allow the building of an Iranian army in Syria and we would not allow the opening of another front on the Golan Heights. "In this context we are taking action with all means, over time." Foam at the month As international officials worked to try to confirm the suspected chemical attack on Douma, a Syria medical relief group said at least 60 people had been killed there and more than 1,000 injured in several sites. "The numbers keep rising as relief workers struggle to gain access to the subterranean areas where gas has entered and hundreds of families had sought refuge," said the Union of Medical Care Organizations (UOSSM). The Syrian opposition blamed the suspected attack on government forces, who launched an air and ground assault on Douma, the last rebel-held town in the eastern Ghouta district, on Friday. One video shared by activists showed bodies of about a dozen children, women and men, some with foam at the mouth. Reuters could not independently verify the reports. The United States fired missiles on a Syrian air base a year ago in response to the killing of dozens of civilians in a sarin gas attack in an opposition-held town in northwest Syria, blamed on Assad. US&nbspgovernment sources said Washington's assessment of Saturday's attack was that chemical weapons were used. The European Union also said evidence pointed to the use of chemical weapons by Assad's forces. The United Nations Security Council will meet on Monday following rival requests by Russia and the United States. UN&nbspwar crimes investigators had previously documented 33 chemical attacks in Syria, attributing 27 to the Assad government, which has repeatedly denied using the weapons. UOSSM said doctors could not determine the origin of Saturday's suspected chemical attack. Dr. Muhammad, a doctor in Ghouta, said patients were coughing blood, a symptom not seen in previous chemical attacks. Despite the potential reprisals, the attack appears to have brought Assad closer to victory in the military campaign for eastern Ghouta launched by his Russian-backed army in February. The rebel group Jaish al-Islam has given way to a Syrian government demand that it accept safe passage out to rebel-held areas at the Turkish border. In Washington, Republican US&nbspSenator Lindsey Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, urged Trump and his administration to destroy Assad's air capabilities, enforce safe zones inside Syria, and target Assad directly. "This president has the chance to do exactly the opposite of (former US&nbspPresident Barack) Obama - send a strong signal that there's a new sheriff in town and America's back," Graham told Fox News in an interview.

Syria, Russia accuse Israel over air strike, deny chemical attack

Afghanistan forces killed an important Islamic State (IS) commander in an air strike, one year after he defected from the Taliban and established a new IS foothold in the country, security officials said.

Qari Hekmat was killed in a drone strike on Thursday afternoon in the Darz Aab district of Afghanistan`s northern Jawzjan province, said Hanif Rezaee, spokesman for the Afghan National Army Air Corps.

He said Mawlavi Habib Ur Rahman has been appointed as his IS successor in the north of the country.&nbsp

The militant group, also known as Daesh, established a new foothold in the province last year when Hekmat defected from the Taliban, attracting the attention of US forces.

IS claimed responsibility for suicide bombs last month near Shi`ite mosques in Herat and Kabul. Both the Western-backed government in Kabul and the main Islamist militant group, the Taliban, fight Islamic State.

The militant group first appeared in Afghanistan three years ago. As well as its main stronghold in the eastern province of Nangarhar, on the border with Pakistan, its fighters have been active in northern Afghanistan.&nbsp

While sectarian violence in mainly Sunni Muslim Afghanistan was previously rare, a series of attacks over recent years, many claimed by IS, have killed hundreds of Shi`ites.&nbsp

Qari Hekmat was killed in a drone strike on Thursday afternoon in the Darz Aab district of Afghanistan`s northern Jawzjan province, said Hanif Rezaee, spokesman for the Afghan National Army Air Corps

Afghanistan forces killed an important Islamic State (IS) commander in an air strike, one year after he defected from the Taliban and established a new IS foothold in the country, security officials said. Qari Hekmat was killed in a drone strike on Thursday afternoon in the Darz Aab district of Afghanistan`s northern Jawzjan province, said Hanif Rezaee, spokesman for the Afghan National Army Air Corps. He said Mawlavi Habib Ur Rahman has been appointed as his IS successor in the north of the country. The militant group, also known as Daesh, established a new foothold in the province last year when Hekmat defected from the Taliban, attracting the attention of US forces. IS claimed responsibility for suicide bombs last month near Shi`ite mosques in Herat and Kabul. Both the Western-backed government in Kabul and the main Islamist militant group, the Taliban, fight Islamic State. The militant group first appeared in Afghanistan three years ago. As well as its main stronghold in the eastern province of Nangarhar, on the border with Pakistan, its fighters have been active in northern Afghanistan. While sectarian violence in mainly Sunni Muslim Afghanistan was previously rare, a series of attacks over recent years, many claimed by IS, have killed hundreds of Shi`ites.

Afghan air strike kills Islamic State commander

Villagers in the Afghan province of Kunduz said on Tuesday they had buried dozens of victims of a government air strike in a Taliban-controlled district, in an incident, the United Nations described as "disturbing".

The office of the governor of the northern province said Monday's attack by the government air force on a Taliban meeting had inflicted an unknown number of civilian casualties.

The casualties underlined the risk of greater use of air power under a new US strategy announced last year to try to force the militant group to the negotiating table.&nbsp

Sayed Jaan, a resident of the district of Dasht-i Archi, said he attended two mass funerals of almost 40 people, adding that other burials had taken place.

He said the helicopter attack happened during a religious ceremony, called Dastaar Bandi, to mark young men completing the memorization of the Koran, the Muslim holy book.&nbsp

"There were two mass graves to bury the victims of the bombing and I took part in both burials. In one grave, 16, and in another, 21. Many were young children," Sayed Jaan said.

"There were other burials and people were digging graves."

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a tweet its investigators were in the area looking into "disturbing reports of serious harm" to civilians.&nbsp

A senior Afghan defence ministry official said the air attack happened during a meeting of militants, and killed at least 35 Taliban and wounded many more. He denied reports that civilians were harmed and said two senior Taliban commanders were among those killed.

But provincial government leaders including the governor and police had determined that the strike was against a Taliban meeting but it had also inflicted an undetermined number of civilian casualties, the governor's office said.

The Taliban briefly seized Kunduz city in 2015 and they overran it for the second time the following year. US air strikes destroyed a Kunduz hospital in 2015 killing 42 people, most of the patients and medical staff.

The city has been considered relatively secure over the past year or two but the Taliban control much of the surrounding area.

A video posted online by the Taliban showed at least four bodies of children, wrapped in white shrouds. Other images circulated of children and adults being treated in hospital for injuries, but they could not be verified.

Building up the fledgeling government air force has been a major priority for the NATO-led Resolute Support training and advisory mission.

On Monday, the Taliban said the strike killed 150 religious scholars and civilians and denied that any of their forces had been there.

Last year, more than 10,000 civilians died or were wounded in the war between Afghanistan's Western-backed government and the militants, down 9 per cent from the previous year, UNAMA said in a report in February.

Villagers in the Afghan province of Kunduz said on Tuesday they had buried dozens of victims of a government air strike in a Taliban-controlled district

Villagers in the Afghan province of Kunduz said on Tuesday they had buried dozens of victims of a government air strike in a Taliban-controlled district, in an incident, the United Nations described as "disturbing". The office of the governor of the northern province said Monday's attack by the government air force on a Taliban meeting had inflicted an unknown number of civilian casualties. The casualties underlined the risk of greater use of air power under a new US strategy announced last year to try to force the militant group to the negotiating table. Sayed Jaan, a resident of the district of Dasht-i Archi, said he attended two mass funerals of almost 40 people, adding that other burials had taken place. He said the helicopter attack happened during a religious ceremony, called Dastaar Bandi, to mark young men completing the memorization of the Koran, the Muslim holy book. "There were two mass graves to bury the victims of the bombing and I took part in both burials. In one grave, 16, and in another, 21. Many were young children," Sayed Jaan said. "There were other burials and people were digging graves." The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a tweet its investigators were in the area looking into "disturbing reports of serious harm" to civilians. A senior Afghan defence ministry official said the air attack happened during a meeting of militants, and killed at least 35 Taliban and wounded many more. He denied reports that civilians were harmed and said two senior Taliban commanders were among those killed. But provincial government leaders including the governor and police had determined that the strike was against a Taliban meeting but it had also inflicted an undetermined number of civilian casualties, the governor's office said. The Taliban briefly seized Kunduz city in 2015 and they overran it for the second time the following year. US air strikes destroyed a Kunduz hospital in 2015 killing 42 people, most of the patients and medical staff. The city has been considered relatively secure over the past year or two but the Taliban control much of the surrounding area. A video posted online by the Taliban showed at least four bodies of children, wrapped in white shrouds. Other images circulated of children and adults being treated in hospital for injuries, but they could not be verified. Building up the fledgeling government air force has been a major priority for the NATO-led Resolute Support training and advisory mission. On Monday, the Taliban said the strike killed 150 religious scholars and civilians and denied that any of their forces had been there. Last year, more than 10,000 civilians died or were wounded in the war between Afghanistan's Western-backed government and the militants, down 9 per cent from the previous year, UNAMA said in a report in February.

Afghans bury civilians as UN investigates air strike

An air strike hit near a school in Syria&#39;s northwestern province of Idlib today, killing at least 16 children, a monitoring organisation said.

&quot;Twenty civilians, including 16 children, were killed in an air strike in Kafr Batikh in Idlib province,&quot; the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitor, said the strike hit near a checkpoint held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group that consists largely of ex-members of a former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

It was not clear whether the air strike was carried out by the Syrian regime or its Russian ally.

Abdel Rahman said the strike hit children coming out of a nearby school.

&quot;The oldest among them is 11,&quot; he said.

In Kafr Batikh, the children&#39;s devastated families wrapped the tiny bodies of their children in thick wool blankets.

They adorned their makeshift shrouds with olive branches and other greenery from trees in the village orchard before lowering them into graves deep in the red earth.

A teacher said he was in the school with pupils when a Russian war plane launched strikes.

Abdulrahman al-Omar said the students were hurrying home when more bombing raids hit.

&quot;Some elderly people brought them into a cave to take shelter,&quot; Omar told AFP.

As rescue workers rushed to help the victims and clear away the bodies of the first strike, the warplane hit yet again, he said.

It was the second time in a week that schoolchildren were killed in bombing raids in Syria.

On Friday, an air strike on a school in a rebel-held town outside Damascus killed 15 children and two women who were taking shelter in its basement.

More than 350,000 people have been killed since Syria&#39;s civil war started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protest.&nbsp;

'Twenty civilians, including 16 children, were killed in an air strike in Kafr Batikh in Idlib province,' the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said

An air strike hit near a school in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib today, killing at least 16 children, a monitoring organisation said. "Twenty civilians, including 16 children, were killed in an air strike in Kafr Batikh in Idlib province," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Britain-based monitor, said the strike hit near a checkpoint held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group that consists largely of ex-members of a former Al-Qaeda affiliate. It was not clear whether the air strike was carried out by the Syrian regime or its Russian ally. Abdel Rahman said the strike hit children coming out of a nearby school. "The oldest among them is 11," he said. In Kafr Batikh, the children's devastated families wrapped the tiny bodies of their children in thick wool blankets. They adorned their makeshift shrouds with olive branches and other greenery from trees in the village orchard before lowering them into graves deep in the red earth. A teacher said he was in the school with pupils when a Russian war plane launched strikes. Abdulrahman al-Omar said the students were hurrying home when more bombing raids hit. "Some elderly people brought them into a cave to take shelter," Omar told AFP. As rescue workers rushed to help the victims and clear away the bodies of the first strike, the warplane hit yet again, he said. It was the second time in a week that schoolchildren were killed in bombing raids in Syria. On Friday, an air strike on a school in a rebel-held town outside Damascus killed 15 children and two women who were taking shelter in its basement. More than 350,000 people have been killed since Syria's civil war started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protest.

Strike near school in Syria's Idlib kills 16 children: Monitor

The death toll for the shelling and airstrikes in Syria&rsquo;s Eastern Ghouta has increased to 250 in the last 48-hours, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The death toll included 58 children and 42 women, the group said. More than 1,200 people were wounded by the Syrian regime shelling and airstrikes on the besieged Damascus suburb, which rights activists and residents described as being under &ldquo;constant bombardment.&rdquo;

The monitoring group said the death toll is the highest since the 2013 alleged chemical attack on eastern Ghouta, which activists say killed approximately 1,400 people.

The UN has warned that the situation is &quot;spiralling out of control&quot;.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syria-opposition-condemns-ghouta-bloodbath-33531">Syria opposition condemns Ghouta &#39;bloodbath&#39; </a>

Meanwhile, the Damascus government has sent forces to confront Turkish troops who have crossed the border to push back the Kurds in northern Syria.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-warns-syrian-forces-entering-afrin-face-serious-consequences-33615">Turkey warned </a>on Wednesday that pro-Syrian government forces entering the northwest Afrin region to support a Kurdish militia there will face &quot;serious consequences&quot; and they will be regarded as legitimate targets.

A convoy of some 40-50 vehicles carrying pro-government forces tried to enter Syria&#39;s Afrin on Tuesday, but retreated after artillery fire by Turkish forces, President Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s spokesman said.

On the outskirts of Damascus, air strikes, rockets and artillery fire have been battering the Eastern Ghouta enclave in apparent preparation for a government ground assault.

Bombardment on Tuesday killed 106 civilians, including 19 children, the Britain-based war monitor said.

It was the second straight day that the civilian <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syria-russia-pound-rebel-enclave-over-250-dead-33548">death toll topped </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syria-russia-pound-rebel-enclave-over-250-dead-33548">100</a>, after 127 were killed Monday in Eastern Ghouta&rsquo;s bloodiest day in four years.

The strikes left an important hospital out of action, further limiting the little medical aid that besieged civilians can access.

The Observatory blamed Russian warplanes, saying Moscow carried out its first strikes in three months on Eastern Ghouta.

 
&nbsp;

The death toll included 58 children and 42 women, the group said and more than 1,200 people were wounded

The death toll for the shelling and airstrikes in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta has increased to 250 in the last 48-hours, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The death toll included 58 children and 42 women, the group said. More than 1,200 people were wounded by the Syrian regime shelling and airstrikes on the besieged Damascus suburb, which rights activists and residents described as being under “constant bombardment.” The monitoring group said the death toll is the highest since the 2013 alleged chemical attack on eastern Ghouta, which activists say killed approximately 1,400 people. The UN has warned that the situation is "spiralling out of control". Also read: Syria opposition condemns Ghouta 'bloodbath' Meanwhile, the Damascus government has sent forces to confront Turkish troops who have crossed the border to push back the Kurds in northern Syria. Turkey warned on Wednesday that pro-Syrian government forces entering the northwest Afrin region to support a Kurdish militia there will face "serious consequences" and they will be regarded as legitimate targets. A convoy of some 40-50 vehicles carrying pro-government forces tried to enter Syria's Afrin on Tuesday, but retreated after artillery fire by Turkish forces, President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said. On the outskirts of Damascus, air strikes, rockets and artillery fire have been battering the Eastern Ghouta enclave in apparent preparation for a government ground assault. Bombardment on Tuesday killed 106 civilians, including 19 children, the Britain-based war monitor said. It was the second straight day that the civilian death toll topped 100, after 127 were killed Monday in Eastern Ghouta’s bloodiest day in four years. The strikes left an important hospital out of action, further limiting the little medical aid that besieged civilians can access. The Observatory blamed Russian warplanes, saying Moscow carried out its first strikes in three months on Eastern Ghouta.

Death toll increases to 250 in Syria air strikes

Fire from the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State killed 10 members of the Iraqi security forces and a local official in an air strike west of Baghdad on Saturday, Iraqi officials said.

Early investigations indicated that Iraqi forces had called in an air strike against a local police force in the town of al-Baghdadi, 170 km (106 miles) north-west of Baghdad, assuming that they were militants, military and security officials said.

The local police group hit by the strike had come to the area without coordinating with an Iraqi army detachment that had been sent there to arrest an Islamic State suspect, an Iraqi military spokesman said in a statement.&nbsp;

The strike was called in after the army detachment arrested the suspect and withdrew from the area, he added.&nbsp;

A spokesman of the US-led international coalition said all its air strikes are carried out at the request of the Iraqi security forces.

&quot;Any and all support comes at request/approval of Iraq; NO unilateral coalition operations in Iraq,&quot; said the spokesman, US&nbsp;Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, in a tweet.

The Iraqi government last month declared victory over Islamic State which had declared a &quot;caliphate&quot; over parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The group has morphed back into an underground insurgency and continues to carry out attacks.

Fire from the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State killed 10 members of the Iraqi security forces

Fire from the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State killed 10 members of the Iraqi security forces and a local official in an air strike west of Baghdad on Saturday, Iraqi officials said. Early investigations indicated that Iraqi forces had called in an air strike against a local police force in the town of al-Baghdadi, 170 km (106 miles) north-west of Baghdad, assuming that they were militants, military and security officials said. The local police group hit by the strike had come to the area without coordinating with an Iraqi army detachment that had been sent there to arrest an Islamic State suspect, an Iraqi military spokesman said in a statement. The strike was called in after the army detachment arrested the suspect and withdrew from the area, he added. A spokesman of the US-led international coalition said all its air strikes are carried out at the request of the Iraqi security forces. "Any and all support comes at request/approval of Iraq; NO unilateral coalition operations in Iraq," said the spokesman, US Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, in a tweet. The Iraqi government last month declared victory over Islamic State which had declared a "caliphate" over parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. The group has morphed back into an underground insurgency and continues to carry out attacks.

Fire kills 11 in Iraq air strike: Iraqi security sources

A US drone strike has killed a deputy commander of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan along with three Haqqani network terrorists in in Afghanistan and North Waziristan of Pakistan.

The strike was carried out on Thursday in Pakistan&#39;s Federally Administered Tribal Areas which killed TTP Deputy Commander Khan Said Sajna when two missiles were fired at a compound close to the Afghan border.&nbsp;

Since US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has assumed office, there has been an increase in drone strikes inside Pakistan in the restive mountainous regions bordering Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Earlier in January the United States&nbsp; carried out its first drone strike of the year near border area of the Hangu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming to kill two&nbsp; alleged Taliban commanders.

&nbsp;

The strike was carried out on Thursday in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas which killed TTP Deputy Commander Khan Said Sajna when two missiles were fired at a compound close to the Afghan border.

A US drone strike has killed a deputy commander of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan along with three Haqqani network terrorists in in Afghanistan and North Waziristan of Pakistan. The strike was carried out on Thursday in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas which killed TTP Deputy Commander Khan Said Sajna when two missiles were fired at a compound close to the Afghan border. Since US President Donald Trump has assumed office, there has been an increase in drone strikes inside Pakistan in the restive mountainous regions bordering Afghanistan. Earlier in January the United States carried out its first drone strike of the year near border area of the Hangu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming to kill two alleged Taliban commanders.

US drone strike kills Taliban deputy commander, 3 Haqqani network militants

North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of seeking to aggravate the situation on the divided Korean peninsula by &quot;deploying large nuclear assets&quot; nearby and lay the ground for a possible pre-emptive strike against it.

&quot;In view of the nature and scale of US&nbsp;military reinforcements, they are designed to make a pre-emptive strike against the DPRK,&quot; North Korean diplomat Ju Yong Chol told the UN sponsored Conference on Disarmament, referring to his country&#39;s official name the Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea.

&quot;US officials including the defense secretary and the CIA director repeatedly talked about DPRK nuclear and missile threat to justify their argument for a military option and a new concept of a so-called &#39;bloody nose&#39;, a limited pre-emptive strike on the DPRK is under consideration within the US&nbsp;administration,&quot; Ju said.

North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of seeking to aggravate the situation on the divided Korean peninsula by "deploying large nuclear assets" nearby and lay the ground for a possible pre-emptive strike against it

North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of seeking to aggravate the situation on the divided Korean peninsula by "deploying large nuclear assets" nearby and lay the ground for a possible pre-emptive strike against it. "In view of the nature and scale of US military reinforcements, they are designed to make a pre-emptive strike against the DPRK," North Korean diplomat Ju Yong Chol told the UN sponsored Conference on Disarmament, referring to his country's official name the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "US officials including the defense secretary and the CIA director repeatedly talked about DPRK nuclear and missile threat to justify their argument for a military option and a new concept of a so-called 'bloody nose', a limited pre-emptive strike on the DPRK is under consideration within the US administration," Ju said.

North Korea says US considering limited pre-emptive strike

Israel fired surface-to-surface missiles at a military base near the Syrian city of al-Qiswa, in the southwest region of Damascus, reports said on Saturday.&nbsp;

The warplanes targeted an ammunition installation which belonged to the Syrian army and destroyed the arms depot. Media reports also say that the target was a military base that Iran had been forming.&nbsp;

Reports say that five missiles were fired out of which two were intercepted - loud explosions were heard and &#39;material losses&#39; were reported at the base.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/untitled%20design%20(20)-20171202115713.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Smoke rises at the Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike, as seen from the Israeli side of the border (Reuters)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

The attack happened just three weeks following BBC&#39;s report stating that Iran had been creating a permanent military base in Damascus.&nbsp;

Israel had earlier performed airstrikes in Syrian territory, either claiming to be targeting the militant group Hezbollah or firing back in response to stray projectiles that sometimes cross the border into the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights.

According to the Syrian Observatory, the attack took place near El-Kiswah, a few miles south of Damascus

Israel fired surface-to-surface missiles at a military base near the Syrian city of al-Qiswa, in the southwest region of Damascus, reports said on Saturday. The warplanes targeted an ammunition installation which belonged to the Syrian army and destroyed the arms depot. Media reports also say that the target was a military base that Iran had been forming. Reports say that five missiles were fired out of which two were intercepted - loud explosions were heard and 'material losses' were reported at the base. Smoke rises at the Gaza Strip following an Israeli strike, as seen from the Israeli side of the border (Reuters) × The attack happened just three weeks following BBC's report stating that Iran had been creating a permanent military base in Damascus. Israel had earlier performed airstrikes in Syrian territory, either claiming to be targeting the militant group Hezbollah or firing back in response to stray projectiles that sometimes cross the border into the Israeli-occupied side of the Golan Heights.

Israeli missiles attack Syrian military base near Damascus, destroys arms depot

At least 53 civilians, including 21 children, perished early Sunday morning when Russian air strikes hit &quot;residential buildings&quot; in a village held by the Islamic State group in eastern Syria, a monitor said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes hit the village of Al-Shafah in Deir Ezzor province, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.

The Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria, and says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions used.

The monitor had initially given a death toll of 34 civilians but the number spiked after more bodies were recovered.

&quot;The toll increased after removing the debris in a long day of rescue operation,&quot; Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP, adding the strikes hit &quot;residential buildings&quot;.

At least 18 people were also wounded in the air raids, he added.

Russia is a close ally of Syria&#39;s President Bashar al-Assad, and in September 2015 began a military intervention in support of his government that has gradually helped Damascus regain territory.

Syria&#39;s Deir Ezzor is one of the last places IS jihadists hold territory in the country, after being driven from their major strongholds including their one-time de facto Syrian capital Raqa city.

The oil-rich eastern province that borders Iraq was once almost completely under IS control, but the jihadists now hold just nine percent of Deir Ezzor, according to the Observatory.

They have faced two separate offensives there, one led by the regime with Russian backing and the other by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters.

More than 340,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

The latest strikes come as the United Nations tries to revitalise its flagging efforts to end a six-year civil war that has left Syria devastated and huge swathes of its population refugees.

On Tuesday, the eighth round of UN-brokered talks will kick off.

They have achieved little so far, but may be bolstered by the opposition&#39;s decision to bring a unified delegation to Geneva for the first time.

For progress to happen rival sides will need to overcome the hurdle that has derailed past discussions: the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

He retains Moscow&#39;s support but is loathed by much of Syria&#39;s rebel opposition who want him gone.

Backed by Russia&#39;s decisive military support, Assad&#39;s government has regained control of 55 percent of the country, including major cities Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Hama, and around two-thirds of the population lives in regime-held areas.

The rest is carved up between rebel factions, jihadists and Kurdish forces.

Some experts believe that Russia has clearly put itself in the driver&#39;s seat in recent months, especially as US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration has pulled back from Syrian diplomatic front.

Russia, fellow regime ally Iran and rebel-backer Turkey have hosted negotiations in the Kazakh capital Astana that led to the creation of four &quot;de-escalation zones&quot; which produced a drop in violence, though deadly air strikes and battles continue in some areas.

And this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a &quot;congress&quot; of Syrian regime and opposition figures, a move backed by Ankara and Tehran.&nbsp;

Six Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers hit Islamic State targets in Syria's Deir al-Zor province on Sunday, Russia's Defense Ministry said

At least 53 civilians, including 21 children, perished early Sunday morning when Russian air strikes hit "residential buildings" in a village held by the Islamic State group in eastern Syria, a monitor said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes hit the village of Al-Shafah in Deir Ezzor province, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. The Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria, and says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions used. The monitor had initially given a death toll of 34 civilians but the number spiked after more bodies were recovered. "The toll increased after removing the debris in a long day of rescue operation," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP, adding the strikes hit "residential buildings". At least 18 people were also wounded in the air raids, he added. Russia is a close ally of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, and in September 2015 began a military intervention in support of his government that has gradually helped Damascus regain territory. Syria's Deir Ezzor is one of the last places IS jihadists hold territory in the country, after being driven from their major strongholds including their one-time de facto Syrian capital Raqa city. The oil-rich eastern province that borders Iraq was once almost completely under IS control, but the jihadists now hold just nine percent of Deir Ezzor, according to the Observatory. They have faced two separate offensives there, one led by the regime with Russian backing and the other by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters. More than 340,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests. The latest strikes come as the United Nations tries to revitalise its flagging efforts to end a six-year civil war that has left Syria devastated and huge swathes of its population refugees. On Tuesday, the eighth round of UN-brokered talks will kick off. They have achieved little so far, but may be bolstered by the opposition's decision to bring a unified delegation to Geneva for the first time. For progress to happen rival sides will need to overcome the hurdle that has derailed past discussions: the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He retains Moscow's support but is loathed by much of Syria's rebel opposition who want him gone. Backed by Russia's decisive military support, Assad's government has regained control of 55 percent of the country, including major cities Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Hama, and around two-thirds of the population lives in regime-held areas. The rest is carved up between rebel factions, jihadists and Kurdish forces. Some experts believe that Russia has clearly put itself in the driver's seat in recent months, especially as US President Donald Trump's administration has pulled back from Syrian diplomatic front. Russia, fellow regime ally Iran and rebel-backer Turkey have hosted negotiations in the Kazakh capital Astana that led to the creation of four "de-escalation zones" which produced a drop in violence, though deadly air strikes and battles continue in some areas. And this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a "congress" of Syrian regime and opposition figures, a move backed by Ankara and Tehran.

Russian strikes kill 53 civilians in Syria's Deir Ezzor: Monitor

The US&nbsp;military said it killed more than&nbsp;100&nbsp;Islamist&nbsp;militants&nbsp;in Somalia&nbsp;on Tuesday when it launched an&nbsp;air&nbsp;strike&nbsp;against al Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked insurgent group that wants to topple the UN-backed government.

The military&#39;s Africa Command said the&nbsp;strike&nbsp;was carried out on a camp 125 miles (201 km) northwest of the capital, Mogadishu and that the United States would continue to target&nbsp;militants.

The&nbsp;strike&nbsp;was done in coordination with&nbsp;Somalia&#39;s federal government, the Pentagon said.

US&nbsp;air&nbsp;strikes killing such a large number of&nbsp;militants&nbsp;in&nbsp;Somalia&nbsp;are rare, but not unprecedented. In March 2016, a US&nbsp;air strike&nbsp;killed more than 150 al Shabaab fighters in&nbsp;Somalia.

Somalia&#39;s state news agency SONNA reported late on Tuesday that &quot;about&nbsp;100&nbsp;militants&quot; were killed when US&nbsp;planes and Somali commandos attacked al Shabaab bases in the Bur Elay area of Bay region.

Al Shabaab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab denied the attack. &quot;It is just... propaganda,&quot; he told Reuters in&nbsp;Somalia.

Al Shabaab is fighting to topple&nbsp;Somalia&rsquo;s Western-backed transitional federal government and impose its own rule on the Horn of Africa country.

Earlier this month, the US&nbsp;warned of a threat to its diplomatic staff in Mogadishu and directed all non-essential staff to leave the capital.

Al Shabaab has lost control of most of&nbsp;Somalia&rsquo;s cities and towns since it was pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011. But it retains a strong presence in parts of the south and center and carries out gun and bomb attacks.

&quot;Al-Shabaab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the US&nbsp;and our partners in the region,&quot; the US&nbsp;military statement said.

Al Shabaab aims to topple&nbsp;Somalia&#39;s government, drive out African Union peacekeeping troops and impose its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law.

Earlier this month, the US&nbsp;military also carried out its first&nbsp;strikes against Islamic State&nbsp;militants in&nbsp;Somalia&nbsp;and said it killed &quot;several terrorists.&quot;

The military's Africa Command said the?strike?was carried out on a camp 125 miles (201 km) northwest of the capital, Mogadishu and that the United States would continue to target?militants

The US military said it killed more than 100 Islamist militants in Somalia on Tuesday when it launched an air strike against al Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked insurgent group that wants to topple the UN-backed government. The military's Africa Command said the strike was carried out on a camp 125 miles (201 km) northwest of the capital, Mogadishu and that the United States would continue to target militants. The strike was done in coordination with Somalia's federal government, the Pentagon said. US air strikes killing such a large number of militants in Somalia are rare, but not unprecedented. In March 2016, a US air strike killed more than 150 al Shabaab fighters in Somalia. Somalia's state news agency SONNA reported late on Tuesday that "about 100 militants" were killed when US planes and Somali commandos attacked al Shabaab bases in the Bur Elay area of Bay region. Al Shabaab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab denied the attack. "It is just... propaganda," he told Reuters in Somalia. Al Shabaab is fighting to topple Somalia’s Western-backed transitional federal government and impose its own rule on the Horn of Africa country. Earlier this month, the US warned of a threat to its diplomatic staff in Mogadishu and directed all non-essential staff to leave the capital. Al Shabaab has lost control of most of Somalia’s cities and towns since it was pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011. But it retains a strong presence in parts of the south and center and carries out gun and bomb attacks. "Al-Shabaab has publicly committed to planning and conducting attacks against the US and our partners in the region," the US military statement said. Al Shabaab aims to topple Somalia's government, drive out African Union peacekeeping troops and impose its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law. Earlier this month, the US military also carried out its first strikes against Islamic State militants in Somalia and said it killed "several terrorists."

US says air strike kills over 100 militants in Somalia

A senior Israeli minister on Thursday declined to comment on reports that Israeli aircraft had struck a target in Syria the night before but repeated a threat to hit arms shipments to Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas.

The air strike targeted a factory south of the Syrian city of Homs on Wednesday night and the Syrian army responded by firing a surface to air missile at the aircraft, a commander in a military alliance fighting in support of Damascus said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment but Israel&#39;s Channel 10 said the aircraft was not hit and returned safely to base.

&quot;I can&#39;t, of course, relate to reports about the Israel Defence Forces&nbsp;attack in Syria, but regardless, Israel&#39;s position is clear: Smuggling arms to Hezbollah is a red line in our eyes,&quot; Intelligence Minister Israel Katz told Army Radio.

The Syrian commander told that Israeli planes had hit a copper factory in the industrial town of Hisya, 35 km (21 miles) south of Homs and 112 km (70 miles) north of Damascus. The commander did not give details of any casualties.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based organisation that reports on the war, said the airstrike had targeted a military installation.

&quot;Israel has acted in the past and it will act in the future to prevent arms smuggling to Hezbollah according to intelligence information that we will have,&quot; said Katz, who is a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s inner circle of ministers.

He said Israel&#39;s &quot;red line&quot; was &quot;against arms smuggling, also against Iran&#39;s consolidation in Syria&quot; and that it was &quot;prepared to act to deter against our responses.&quot;

&quot;I think the other side also understands this clearly and actions that took place in the past for which we did take responsibility, were actions that were according to these lines, these red lines,&quot; Katz added.

The Israeli air force says it has struck arms convoys of the Syrian military and its Lebanese ally, the Iran-backed Hezbollah, nearly 100 times in recent years.

Israeli officials have expressed alarm at Iranian influence in Syria, where Iran-backed groups have played a critical role fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad during the conflict that erupted in 2011.

Iran&#39;s Military Chief, General Mohammad Baqeri, warned Israel against breaching Syrian airspace and territory during a visit to Damascus last month.

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which last fought a major conflict in 2006, have escalated this year. Each side has warned it will unleash devastating firepower in the event of a full-scale war.

The air strike targeted a factory south of the Syrian city of Homs

A senior Israeli minister on Thursday declined to comment on reports that Israeli aircraft had struck a target in Syria the night before but repeated a threat to hit arms shipments to Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas. The air strike targeted a factory south of the Syrian city of Homs on Wednesday night and the Syrian army responded by firing a surface to air missile at the aircraft, a commander in a military alliance fighting in support of Damascus said. An Israeli military spokeswoman declined to comment but Israel's Channel 10 said the aircraft was not hit and returned safely to base. "I can't, of course, relate to reports about the Israel Defence Forces attack in Syria, but regardless, Israel's position is clear: Smuggling arms to Hezbollah is a red line in our eyes," Intelligence Minister Israel Katz told Army Radio. The Syrian commander told that Israeli planes had hit a copper factory in the industrial town of Hisya, 35 km (21 miles) south of Homs and 112 km (70 miles) north of Damascus. The commander did not give details of any casualties. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based organisation that reports on the war, said the airstrike had targeted a military installation. "Israel has acted in the past and it will act in the future to prevent arms smuggling to Hezbollah according to intelligence information that we will have," said Katz, who is a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's inner circle of ministers. He said Israel's "red line" was "against arms smuggling, also against Iran's consolidation in Syria" and that it was "prepared to act to deter against our responses." "I think the other side also understands this clearly and actions that took place in the past for which we did take responsibility, were actions that were according to these lines, these red lines," Katz added. The Israeli air force says it has struck arms convoys of the Syrian military and its Lebanese ally, the Iran-backed Hezbollah, nearly 100 times in recent years. Israeli officials have expressed alarm at Iranian influence in Syria, where Iran-backed groups have played a critical role fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad during the conflict that erupted in 2011. Iran's Military Chief, General Mohammad Baqeri, warned Israel against breaching Syrian airspace and territory during a visit to Damascus last month. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which last fought a major conflict in 2006, have escalated this year. Each side has warned it will unleash devastating firepower in the event of a full-scale war.

After air strike, Israeli minister warns against arms shipments to Hezbollah

A<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/air-strike-kills-19-civilians-near-syrias-deir-ezzor-city-syrian-army-reinforcements-arrives-20096" target="_blank"> drone strike </a>targeting a car killed three suspected al-Qaida members, including a leader in the southern Yemen province of Abyan, local officials said Friday.

They said the apparent US strike was carried out late Thursday in the Summa area of the province, with the leader&#39;s body left &quot;incinerated&quot; and his two bodyguards also killed.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/omar-khalid-khorasani-anti-india-terrorist-former-pak-taliban-operative-killed-in-us-drone-strike-22657" target="_blank">Also Read: Omar Khalid Khorasani, anti-India terrorist, former Pak Taliban operative killed in US drone strike</a>

A similar drone strike on Sunday in Marib province, east of the Yemeni capital Sanaa, killed five suspected al-Qaida militants.

The United States, the only government to operate drones over the impoverished country, considers the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to be the radical group&#39;s most dangerous branch.

AQAP has flourished in the chaos of Yemen&#39;s civil war, which pits the Saudi-backed government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi against Shiite rebels.

The local officials said that the apparent US strike was carried out late Thursday in the Summa area of the province killing three suspected al-Qaida members

A drone strike targeting a car killed three suspected al-Qaida members, including a leader in the southern Yemen province of Abyan, local officials said Friday. They said the apparent US strike was carried out late Thursday in the Summa area of the province, with the leader's body left "incinerated" and his two bodyguards also killed. Also Read: Omar Khalid Khorasani, anti-India terrorist, former Pak Taliban operative killed in US drone strike A similar drone strike on Sunday in Marib province, east of the Yemeni capital Sanaa, killed five suspected al-Qaida militants. The United States, the only government to operate drones over the impoverished country, considers the Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to be the radical group's most dangerous branch. AQAP has flourished in the chaos of Yemen's civil war, which pits the Saudi-backed government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi against Shiite rebels.

Drone strike kills 3 al-Qaida suspects in Yemen

Russia launched its heaviest strikes in days on Syria&rsquo;s Aleppo on Tuesday,as a fire started by rebels killed at least five schoolchildren in the war-torn country&rsquo;s south.

The raids killed 25 civilians, a monitor said and caused massive destruction is several residential areas of Aleppo, AFP reported.

Syria&rsquo;s army announced a bid last month to re-capture the city, which has been divided since mid-2012, with rebels holding the eastern sector.

The assault began after the collapse of a short-lived truce brokered by US and Russia,and has seen the besieged east of the city come under fierce aerial assault.

The army said last Wednesday it would reduce its bombardment, after days of attacks that killed hundreds and destroyed the largest remaining hospital in the east.

But according to AFP and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights renewed heavy bombing were reported on Tuesday.

&quot;This is the heaviest Russian bombardment since the Syrian regime announced it would reduce the bombardment&quot; last week, said the monitor&#39;s head Rami Abdel Rahman, AFP reported.

The 25 dead, among them four children, were killed in raids in east Aleppo including in the districts of Bustan al-Qasr and Fardos, the Observatory told AFP.

A Footage by the Aleppo Media Centre activist group showed a toddler, blood smeared across her face, lying on a hospital bed.

An elderly man near her wailed in pain as a team of medics bent over him, calling out instructions to the nurses, AFP reported.

Backed by Russian air raids, government forces have been advancing street by street into rebel-held parts of Aleppo.

More than 300 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by government or Russian fire since the operation began, the Observatory told AFP.

Rebel forces were also firing on western government-held districts of Aleppo on Tuesday. The state news agency, SANA reported four dead and 14 wounded in rebel bombing of Hamdaniyeh district.

SANA also reported an unidentified number of injuries in a mortar shell attack near the famous Umayyad mosque in the Old City of Damascus.

 
&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP

25 civilians were killed in the air raids on Tuesday, that resumed after a brief lull and were reportedly the heaviest in days

Russia launched its heaviest strikes in days on Syria’s Aleppo on Tuesday,as a fire started by rebels killed at least five schoolchildren in the war-torn country’s south. The raids killed 25 civilians, a monitor said and caused massive destruction is several residential areas of Aleppo, AFP reported. Syria’s army announced a bid last month to re-capture the city, which has been divided since mid-2012, with rebels holding the eastern sector. The assault began after the collapse of a short-lived truce brokered by US and Russia,and has seen the besieged east of the city come under fierce aerial assault. The army said last Wednesday it would reduce its bombardment, after days of attacks that killed hundreds and destroyed the largest remaining hospital in the east. But according to AFP and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights renewed heavy bombing were reported on Tuesday. "This is the heaviest Russian bombardment since the Syrian regime announced it would reduce the bombardment" last week, said the monitor's head Rami Abdel Rahman, AFP reported. The 25 dead, among them four children, were killed in raids in east Aleppo including in the districts of Bustan al-Qasr and Fardos, the Observatory told AFP. A Footage by the Aleppo Media Centre activist group showed a toddler, blood smeared across her face, lying on a hospital bed. An elderly man near her wailed in pain as a team of medics bent over him, calling out instructions to the nurses, AFP reported. Backed by Russian air raids, government forces have been advancing street by street into rebel-held parts of Aleppo. More than 300 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by government or Russian fire since the operation began, the Observatory told AFP. Rebel forces were also firing on western government-held districts of Aleppo on Tuesday. The state news agency, SANA reported four dead and 14 wounded in rebel bombing of Hamdaniyeh district. SANA also reported an unidentified number of injuries in a mortar shell attack near the famous Umayyad mosque in the Old City of Damascus. (WION with inputs from AFP

Russia launches heavy air strikes on Syria's Aleppo

The Russian military said on Monday its aircraft operating from an Iranian air base to conduct strikes in Syria had completed their tasks, but left open the possibility of using the Hamadan base again if circumstances warranted. 
 
Iran&#39;s foreign ministry said Russia had stopped using the base for strikes in Syria, bringing an abrupt halt to an unprecedented deployment that was criticised both by the White House and by some Iranian lawmakers. 
 
&quot;Russian military aircraft that took part in the operation of conducting air strikes from Iran&#39;s Hamadan air base on terrorist targets in Syria have successfully completed all tasks,&quot; a Russian defence ministry spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, said in a statement. 
 
&quot;Further use of the Hamadan air base in the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Russian Aerospace Forces will be carried out on the basis of mutual agreements to fight terrorism and depending on the prevailing circumstances in Syria,&quot; Konashenkov said. 
 
Last week, long-range Russian Tupolev-22M3 bombers and Sukhoi-34 fighter-bombers used Nojeh air base, near the city of Hamadan, in north-west Iran to launch air strikes against armed groups in Syria. It was the first time a foreign power had used an Iranian base since World War Two. Russia and Iran are both providing crucial military support to President Bashar al-Assad against rebels and jihadi fighters in Syria&#39;s five-year-old conflict. 
 
Some Iranian lawmakers called the move a breach of Iran&#39;s constitution which forbids &quot;the establishment of any kind of foreign military base in Iran, even for peaceful purposes&quot;. 
 
Iranian defence minister Hossein Dehghan dismissed that criticism but also chided Moscow for publicising the move, describing it as showing off and a &quot;betrayal of trust.&quot; 
 
&quot;We have not given any military base to the Russians and they are not here to stay,&quot; Dehghan was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency late on Sunday. 
 
He said there was &quot;no written agreement&quot; between the two countries and the &quot;operational cooperation&quot; was temporary and limited to refuelling. 
 
The US state department, which last week called the move &quot;unfortunate but not surprising&quot; and said it was studying if it violated a UN Security Council resolution that bars supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran, said that it was unclear if Moscow&#39;s use of the base had &quot;definitively stopped.&quot; 
 
Abrupt end 
 
Yesterday, Iran&#39;s foreign ministry said Russia&#39;s use of the base had ended. 
 
&quot;Russia has no base in Iran and is not stationed here. They did this (operation) and it is finished for now,&quot; Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. 
 
Iran&#39;s defence minister had said last week that Russia would be permitted to use the Nojeh base &quot;for as long as they need&quot;. 
 
While noting that Iran has long supported Assad, a US official said Tehran may not have wanted its involvement to be so public ahead of the 2017 Iranian presidential election. 
 
&quot;The Iranians don&rsquo;t mind helping out quietly. They just don&rsquo;t want the world to know that they are contributing to the deaths of thousands of Syrian civilians,&quot; said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 
 
&quot;It&rsquo;s their elections. Everybody gets squeamish around election time,&quot; he added. 
 
Relations between Iran and Russia, long cordial, appeared to reach a new level last September when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military intervention in Syria in support of Assad. 
 
After some delay, Russia supplied Iran with its S-300 missile air defence system, evidence of a growing partnership that is testing U.S. influence in the Middle East. 
 
Dehghan said that to make up for the delay, Russia had suggested providing Iran with its advanced S-400, but that Tehran was not interested as it is working to advance its own home-made defence system. 
 
Iran unveiled its new missile defence system, Bavar 373, on Monday, a system designed to intercept cruise missiles, drones, combat aircraft and ballistic missiles. Iran&#39;s defence minister also said Tehran has shown interest in buying Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and Moscow&#39;s reply &quot;has not been negative so far.&quot; 
 
The United States has said it would use its veto power in the UN Security Council to block the possible sales of the fighter jets to Iran. 
 
(Reuters)

Iran's foreign ministry said Russia had stopped using the Hamadan air base for strikes in Syria yesterday

The Russian military said on Monday its aircraft operating from an Iranian air base to conduct strikes in Syria had completed their tasks, but left open the possibility of using the Hamadan base again if circumstances warranted. Iran's foreign ministry said Russia had stopped using the base for strikes in Syria, bringing an abrupt halt to an unprecedented deployment that was criticised both by the White House and by some Iranian lawmakers. "Russian military aircraft that took part in the operation of conducting air strikes from Iran's Hamadan air base on terrorist targets in Syria have successfully completed all tasks," a Russian defence ministry spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, said in a statement. "Further use of the Hamadan air base in the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Russian Aerospace Forces will be carried out on the basis of mutual agreements to fight terrorism and depending on the prevailing circumstances in Syria," Konashenkov said. Last week, long-range Russian Tupolev-22M3 bombers and Sukhoi-34 fighter-bombers used Nojeh air base, near the city of Hamadan, in north-west Iran to launch air strikes against armed groups in Syria. It was the first time a foreign power had used an Iranian base since World War Two. Russia and Iran are both providing crucial military support to President Bashar al-Assad against rebels and jihadi fighters in Syria's five-year-old conflict. Some Iranian lawmakers called the move a breach of Iran's constitution which forbids "the establishment of any kind of foreign military base in Iran, even for peaceful purposes". Iranian defence minister Hossein Dehghan dismissed that criticism but also chided Moscow for publicising the move, describing it as showing off and a "betrayal of trust." "We have not given any military base to the Russians and they are not here to stay," Dehghan was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency late on Sunday. He said there was "no written agreement" between the two countries and the "operational cooperation" was temporary and limited to refuelling. The US state department, which last week called the move "unfortunate but not surprising" and said it was studying if it violated a UN Security Council resolution that bars supply, sale and transfer of combat aircraft to Iran, said that it was unclear if Moscow's use of the base had "definitively stopped." Abrupt end Yesterday, Iran's foreign ministry said Russia's use of the base had ended. "Russia has no base in Iran and is not stationed here. They did this (operation) and it is finished for now," Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. Iran's defence minister had said last week that Russia would be permitted to use the Nojeh base "for as long as they need". While noting that Iran has long supported Assad, a US official said Tehran may not have wanted its involvement to be so public ahead of the 2017 Iranian presidential election. "The Iranians don’t mind helping out quietly. They just don’t want the world to know that they are contributing to the deaths of thousands of Syrian civilians," said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It’s their elections. Everybody gets squeamish around election time," he added. Relations between Iran and Russia, long cordial, appeared to reach a new level last September when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military intervention in Syria in support of Assad. After some delay, Russia supplied Iran with its S-300 missile air defence system, evidence of a growing partnership that is testing U.S. influence in the Middle East. Dehghan said that to make up for the delay, Russia had suggested providing Iran with its advanced S-400, but that Tehran was not interested as it is working to advance its own home-made defence system. Iran unveiled its new missile defence system, Bavar 373, on Monday, a system designed to intercept cruise missiles, drones, combat aircraft and ballistic missiles. Iran's defence minister also said Tehran has shown interest in buying Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and Moscow's reply "has not been negative so far." The United States has said it would use its veto power in the UN Security Council to block the possible sales of the fighter jets to Iran. (Reuters)

Russia says future use of Iran air base possible if circumstances warranted

Tens of thousands of Yemenis rallied in the centre of the capital yesterday to show support for the Houthi-led bloc as the head of the group&#39;s new governing council vowed to form a full government in the coming days. 
 
In apparent response to the Houthi show of force, ambassadors from the G18 group of nations that has backed UN peace talks to end Yemen&#39;s civil war issued a statement condemning &quot;unconstitutional and unilateral actions in Sanaa.&quot; 
 
&quot;The group of ambassadors repeats its concern that actions taken by elements of the General People&#39;s Congress and the Houthis as well as their supporters are making the search for a peaceful solution more difficult,&quot; the envoys added in a statement posted on the US embassy&#39;s Facebook page. 
 
As Houthi demonstrators packed Sanaa&#39;s Sabeen Square waving Yemeni flags and chanting slogans, chairman Saleh al-Samad outlined the council&#39;s plans for running the war-ravaged country following the breakdown of the peace talks earlier this month. 
 
&quot;Economic affairs will be the priority of our work in the coming period,&quot; he said. 
 
In another speech broadcast on Houthi-run television, Samad ordered the Houthi delegation at peace negotiations in Muscat not to speak with the UN envoy leading the talks, saying they should first return to Sanaa for consultations with the council. 
 
&quot;The hand of peace is still outstretched,&quot; he added. 
 
Saudi-led air strikes intensify 
 
Yesterday&#39;s declaration formalised a vow earlier this month by the Houthis and their allies in the General People&#39;s Congress, the party of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, to establish a body to govern the capital and other parts of the country under their control. 
 
The demonstration - one of the biggest in Yemen since the civil war broke out last year - took place as the Saudi-led coalition backing exiled President Abd-Rabbou Mansour Hadi stepped up air strikes and fighting on the ground intensified. 
 
As the rally was underway, three air strikes targeted the presidential compound located 600 metres away from the square without causing casualties, residents told Reuters. 
 
Further north, rockets launched over the border from Yemen killed one person and injured five others in the southern Saudi city of Najran, Saudi state television reported. Houthi-run Al-Masirah television said the rockets had targeted a Saudi air force base. 
 
Fighting also escalated yesterday for control of Yemen&#39;s central bank, as President Hadi made plans to relocate the institution outside Houthi-held Sanaa and appoint a new board of directors, sources in his government told Reuters. 
 
The central bank&#39;s governor dismissed the reports of new board appointments as &quot;groundless&quot; in an emailed statement. A spokesman from Hadi&#39;s government could not immediately be reached for comment. 
 
The central bank has been considered the last bastion of the impoverished country&#39;s financial system, paying salaries to state employees on both sides of the front lines and guaranteeing food imports as Yemen approaches famine. 
 
(Reuters)

Three air strikes targeted the presidential compound 600 metres away from the demonstrators packed Sabeen square without causing casualties

Tens of thousands of Yemenis rallied in the centre of the capital yesterday to show support for the Houthi-led bloc as the head of the group's new governing council vowed to form a full government in the coming days. In apparent response to the Houthi show of force, ambassadors from the G18 group of nations that has backed UN peace talks to end Yemen's civil war issued a statement condemning "unconstitutional and unilateral actions in Sanaa." "The group of ambassadors repeats its concern that actions taken by elements of the General People's Congress and the Houthis as well as their supporters are making the search for a peaceful solution more difficult," the envoys added in a statement posted on the US embassy's Facebook page. As Houthi demonstrators packed Sanaa's Sabeen Square waving Yemeni flags and chanting slogans, chairman Saleh al-Samad outlined the council's plans for running the war-ravaged country following the breakdown of the peace talks earlier this month. "Economic affairs will be the priority of our work in the coming period," he said. In another speech broadcast on Houthi-run television, Samad ordered the Houthi delegation at peace negotiations in Muscat not to speak with the UN envoy leading the talks, saying they should first return to Sanaa for consultations with the council. "The hand of peace is still outstretched," he added. Saudi-led air strikes intensify Yesterday's declaration formalised a vow earlier this month by the Houthis and their allies in the General People's Congress, the party of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, to establish a body to govern the capital and other parts of the country under their control. The demonstration - one of the biggest in Yemen since the civil war broke out last year - took place as the Saudi-led coalition backing exiled President Abd-Rabbou Mansour Hadi stepped up air strikes and fighting on the ground intensified. As the rally was underway, three air strikes targeted the presidential compound located 600 metres away from the square without causing casualties, residents told Reuters. Further north, rockets launched over the border from Yemen killed one person and injured five others in the southern Saudi city of Najran, Saudi state television reported. Houthi-run Al-Masirah television said the rockets had targeted a Saudi air force base. Fighting also escalated yesterday for control of Yemen's central bank, as President Hadi made plans to relocate the institution outside Houthi-held Sanaa and appoint a new board of directors, sources in his government told Reuters. The central bank's governor dismissed the reports of new board appointments as "groundless" in an emailed statement. A spokesman from Hadi's government could not immediately be reached for comment. The central bank has been considered the last bastion of the impoverished country's financial system, paying salaries to state employees on both sides of the front lines and guaranteeing food imports as Yemen approaches famine. (Reuters)

Thousands of Yemenis rally to support Houthi-led council

air-strike

Air Strike, News on Air Strike, stories on Air Strike, articles on Air Strike, Air Strike stories at Wion, Air Strike news, Air Strike latest news