PM Haider al-Abadi's said Iraqi Air Force carried out air strikes on Islamic State(IS) installations inside Syria.

The prime minister's office said the "deadly air strikes" were launched from the Iraqi side of the border.

An Iraqi military spokesman told Reuters that air strikes were carried out in coordination with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

"The Iraqi Air Force used F-16 jets to cross into Syria and carry out the strikes," Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told news wire Reuters.

The Islamic State once controlled large parts of the country but Iraqi forces began to sweep the areas controlled by the IS leading to brutal fights. After long protracted battle inside Iraq, the country declared in December last year that IS was pushed out of the country and decimated.

"These raids demonstrate the growing capacity of our armed forces to hunt down and liquidate terrorists," the Iraqi statement said.

An Iraqi military spokesman told Reuters that air strikes were carried out in coordination with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

PM Haider al-Abadi's said Iraqi Air Force carried out air strikes on Islamic State(IS) installations inside Syria. The prime minister's office said the "deadly air strikes" were launched from the Iraqi side of the border. An Iraqi military spokesman told Reuters that air strikes were carried out in coordination with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government. "The Iraqi Air Force used F-16 jets to cross into Syria and carry out the strikes," Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told news wire Reuters. The Islamic State once controlled large parts of the country but Iraqi forces began to sweep the areas controlled by the IS leading to brutal fights. After long protracted battle inside Iraq, the country declared in December last year that IS was pushed out of the country and decimated. "These raids demonstrate the growing capacity of our armed forces to hunt down and liquidate terrorists," the Iraqi statement said.

Air Force carried out strikes on Islamic State targets inside Syria: Iraq PM

Seventy Islamic State terrorists were arrested in Turkey by the police on Saturday, police sources said.

Ten foreign suspects, including a senior member of the Islamic State, were arrested in central Turkey for their links to the terrorist group, Anadolu Agency quoted a police source as saying.

The terrorists were nationals of Iraq and the arrests were made in the central Anatolian province of Eskisehir.

Simultaneous raids were carried out at nine addresses in Eskisehir as part of a probe launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the city .

Later, in a separate incident at Istanbul, police arrested 51 IS suspects, all foreign nationals, another source said.

Police conducted simultaneous raids in six districts of Istanbul and seized numerous documents and digital materials linked to the terrorist group, the source added.

More than 300 people have lost their lives in IS-claimed attacks in Turkey, where the terrorist organisation has targeted civilians in the suicide bomb, rocket, and gun attacks.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Ten foreign suspects, including a senior member of the Islamic State, were arrested in central Turkey for their links to the terrorist group

Seventy Islamic State terrorists were arrested in Turkey by the police on Saturday, police sources said. Ten foreign suspects, including a senior member of the Islamic State, were arrested in central Turkey for their links to the terrorist group, Anadolu Agency quoted a police source as saying. The terrorists were nationals of Iraq and the arrests were made in the central Anatolian province of Eskisehir. Simultaneous raids were carried out at nine addresses in Eskisehir as part of a probe launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in the city . Later, in a separate incident at Istanbul, police arrested 51 IS suspects, all foreign nationals, another source said. Police conducted simultaneous raids in six districts of Istanbul and seized numerous documents and digital materials linked to the terrorist group, the source added. More than 300 people have lost their lives in IS-claimed attacks in Turkey, where the terrorist organisation has targeted civilians in the suicide bomb, rocket, and gun attacks.

70 Islamic State militants arrested in Turkey

German investigators were puzzled this morning by the motives of a man who drove a van into a crowd at an open-air restaurant the day before, killing two people before shooting himself.

"So far there are no clues to a possible motive for the act," said Martin Botzenhardt, senior prosecutor in the northwestern city of Muenster where the attack happened, in a statement issued in the early hours.

"We are pressing hard on our investigation into all possible avenues."

Late yesterday, authorities were near-certain that there was no Islamist connection to the violence in the historic centre of Muenster as had initially been feared.

The two people killed were a 51-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, both from northern Germany.

As well as the dead, police said 20 were injured -- six of them seriously -- amid the broken and upturned tables and chairs seen strewn across the pavement in images of the scene.

Police had to wait for a bomb disposal team to clear the vehicle used in the attack after noticing suspect wires inside.

In the end, they found only the weapon used by the 48-year-old driver to kill himself, a blank-firing pistol and some powerful fireworks.

A search of the mans Muenster apartment late Saturday turned up more fireworks and a deactivated AK47 assault rifle.

Police have appealed to the public for information about the attack, setting up a website where people can upload photos or videos.

"There was a bang and then screaming. The police arrived and got everyone out of here," an employee of the restaurant hit by the terrace told NTV.

"There were a lot of people screaming. Im angry -- its cowardly to do something like this."

Armed police cordoned off a wide area around the scene of the attack, urging residents to avoid the city centre to allow investigators to get to work amid initial fears the country had suffered another extremist assault.

Germany has been on especially high alert for jihadist attacks after several claimed by the Islamic State group.

But in the Saturday afternoon attack, inflicted as locals and tourists enjoyed a sunny spring day, there was "no indication at the moment that there is any Islamist connection," said North Rhine-Westphalia state interior minister Herbert Reul.

Media reports said the driver, identified only as Jens R., had a history of mental health problems.

Public broadcaster ZDF said the man had recently attempted suicide while rolling news channel NTV said he had spoken of a desire to bring as much attention as possible to his death.

ZDF also reported that he had possible links with far-right movements.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "deeply shaken" by the incident and "everything possible will be done to determine what was behind this act and to help the victims".

The presidents of Russia and France, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron, each sent their condolences.

The attack is the latest in a string across Europe in which vehicles have been used to attack crowds of people in public places.

In a Berlin attack in December 2016, Tunisian asylum-seeker Anis Amri hijacked a truck and murdered its Polish driver before killing another 11 people and wounding dozens more by ploughing the heavy vehicle through a Christmas market in central Berlin.

He was shot dead by Italian police in Milan four days later while on the run.

In France, the Islamic State group claimed a 2016 truck attack in Nice on its July 14 national holiday that killed 86.

And in Spain, the jihadists also claimed a rampage along Barcelonas Las Ramblas boulevard in August 2017 that killed 14 and left more than 100 injured.&nbsp

&nbsp

Late yesterday, authorities were near-certain that there was no Islamist connection to the violence in the historic centre of Muenster as had initially been feared

German investigators were puzzled this morning by the motives of a man who drove a van into a crowd at an open-air restaurant the day before, killing two people before shooting himself. "So far there are no clues to a possible motive for the act," said Martin Botzenhardt, senior prosecutor in the northwestern city of Muenster where the attack happened, in a statement issued in the early hours. "We are pressing hard on our investigation into all possible avenues." Late yesterday, authorities were near-certain that there was no Islamist connection to the violence in the historic centre of Muenster as had initially been feared. The two people killed were a 51-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, both from northern Germany. As well as the dead, police said 20 were injured -- six of them seriously -- amid the broken and upturned tables and chairs seen strewn across the pavement in images of the scene. Police had to wait for a bomb disposal team to clear the vehicle used in the attack after noticing suspect wires inside. In the end, they found only the weapon used by the 48-year-old driver to kill himself, a blank-firing pistol and some powerful fireworks. A search of the mans Muenster apartment late Saturday turned up more fireworks and a deactivated AK47 assault rifle. Police have appealed to the public for information about the attack, setting up a website where people can upload photos or videos. "There was a bang and then screaming. The police arrived and got everyone out of here," an employee of the restaurant hit by the terrace told NTV. "There were a lot of people screaming. Im angry -- its cowardly to do something like this." Armed police cordoned off a wide area around the scene of the attack, urging residents to avoid the city centre to allow investigators to get to work amid initial fears the country had suffered another extremist assault. Germany has been on especially high alert for jihadist attacks after several claimed by the Islamic State group. But in the Saturday afternoon attack, inflicted as locals and tourists enjoyed a sunny spring day, there was "no indication at the moment that there is any Islamist connection," said North Rhine-Westphalia state interior minister Herbert Reul. Media reports said the driver, identified only as Jens R., had a history of mental health problems. Public broadcaster ZDF said the man had recently attempted suicide while rolling news channel NTV said he had spoken of a desire to bring as much attention as possible to his death. ZDF also reported that he had possible links with far-right movements. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "deeply shaken" by the incident and "everything possible will be done to determine what was behind this act and to help the victims". The presidents of Russia and France, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron, each sent their condolences. The attack is the latest in a string across Europe in which vehicles have been used to attack crowds of people in public places. In a Berlin attack in December 2016, Tunisian asylum-seeker Anis Amri hijacked a truck and murdered its Polish driver before killing another 11 people and wounding dozens more by ploughing the heavy vehicle through a Christmas market in central Berlin. He was shot dead by Italian police in Milan four days later while on the run. In France, the Islamic State group claimed a 2016 truck attack in Nice on its July 14 national holiday that killed 86. And in Spain, the jihadists also claimed a rampage along Barcelonas Las Ramblas boulevard in August 2017 that killed 14 and left more than 100 injured.

Police stumped by motives of Germany van attacker

A family of three and another person from Kasaragod district of Kerala, suspected to have joined terror outfit Islamic State, have been reportedly killed, according to information reaching one of the relatives of the deceased.&nbsp;

The deceased were among the 21 persons from Kasaragod district who went missing and later reportedly joined the ISIS in 2016. One of the relatives of the deceased has received a message that they have been killed, Kasaragod district panchayat member V P P Mustafa said.

But there were no details about how it happened, source of the information or from where it came, he told PTI.

When contacted, police also confirmed that such a message had been received three days ago. As per the information, the deceased were a Shiha man, his wife Ajmala and their child, all hailing from Padana, and Muhammed Mansad from Thrikaripur in Kasaragod district.

The National Investigation Agency(NIA) has been probing the case of the missing Keralites, suspected to have joined the terror group.

Among them, 17 were from Kasaragod and four from Palakkad.They include four women and three children.

As per reports, these people had gone to Syria and Afghanistan and later reached the terror camps.

The deceased were among the 21 persons from Kasaragod district who went missing and later reportedly joined the ISIS in 2016.

A family of three and another person from Kasaragod district of Kerala, suspected to have joined terror outfit Islamic State, have been reportedly killed, according to information reaching one of the relatives of the deceased. The deceased were among the 21 persons from Kasaragod district who went missing and later reportedly joined the ISIS in 2016. One of the relatives of the deceased has received a message that they have been killed, Kasaragod district panchayat member V P P Mustafa said. But there were no details about how it happened, source of the information or from where it came, he told PTI. When contacted, police also confirmed that such a message had been received three days ago. As per the information, the deceased were a Shiha man, his wife Ajmala and their child, all hailing from Padana, and Muhammed Mansad from Thrikaripur in Kasaragod district. The National Investigation Agency(NIA) has been probing the case of the missing Keralites, suspected to have joined the terror group. Among them, 17 were from Kasaragod and four from Palakkad.They include four women and three children. As per reports, these people had gone to Syria and Afghanistan and later reached the terror camps.

Family of three, including 1 man suspected of joining IS reportedly killed

As many as six Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a US drone strike in Kunar province in northeastern Afghanistan, local officials said on Friday.&nbsp

The officials said that the latest airstrike was carried out in Chapa Dara district in the province.&nbsp

The spokesperson of Kunar provincial governor Faridullah Dehqan, was quoted by the Khaama Press as saying that two top IS commanders were among those killed in the airstrike.&nbsp

He said that the airstrike was necessitated to clear out the terror hideouts of the dreaded militant group in Kunar province. The IS group has not commented on the incident so far.

This comes as at least five militants affiliated with the terror group were killed in a similar airstrike conducted in the same district last week.&nbsp

The US forces, along with the Afghan forces frequently carries out airstrikes on IS targets in Kunar province and elsewhere in Afghanistan, in a bid to eliminate the presence of the militant group in the country.&nbsp

Furthermore, three IS militants hailing from Uzbekistan were killed in a similar airstrike on Wednesday in Haska Meyna district of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, according to the local officials.

The officials said that the latest airstrike was carried out in Chapa Dara district in the province

As many as six Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a US drone strike in Kunar province in northeastern Afghanistan, local officials said on Friday. The officials said that the latest airstrike was carried out in Chapa Dara district in the province. The spokesperson of Kunar provincial governor Faridullah Dehqan, was quoted by the Khaama Press as saying that two top IS commanders were among those killed in the airstrike. He said that the airstrike was necessitated to clear out the terror hideouts of the dreaded militant group in Kunar province. The IS group has not commented on the incident so far. This comes as at least five militants affiliated with the terror group were killed in a similar airstrike conducted in the same district last week. The US forces, along with the Afghan forces frequently carries out airstrikes on IS targets in Kunar province and elsewhere in Afghanistan, in a bid to eliminate the presence of the militant group in the country. Furthermore, three IS militants hailing from Uzbekistan were killed in a similar airstrike on Wednesday in Haska Meyna district of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, according to the local officials.

US airstrike kills 6 Islamic State terrorists in Afghanistan

More than 70 militants inclusing 14 belonging to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) have been killed in operations by the Afghan security forces in the past 24 hours, reports said on Saturday.&nbsp;

In addition to that 34 other insurgents received injuries in the operation.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that the operation was carried out in Faryab, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Farah, Badghis, Jawzjan and Helmand provinces.

The statement said 41 militants were killed in Faryab&#39;s Pashtun Kot, Sharin Tagab and Kohistan districts and another 17 were injured. Some weapons and ammunitions were also destroyed.

No insurgent group has commented on the incident so far.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that the operation was carried out in Faryab, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Farah, Badghis, Jawzjan and Helmand provinces

More than 70 militants inclusing 14 belonging to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) have been killed in operations by the Afghan security forces in the past 24 hours, reports said on Saturday. In addition to that 34 other insurgents received injuries in the operation. In a statement, the Ministry of Defense said that the operation was carried out in Faryab, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul, Farah, Badghis, Jawzjan and Helmand provinces. The statement said 41 militants were killed in Faryab's Pashtun Kot, Sharin Tagab and Kohistan districts and another 17 were injured. Some weapons and ammunitions were also destroyed. No insurgent group has commented on the incident so far.

Over 70 militants killed in Afghanistan in 24 hours

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for abducting and killing 10 policemen.

Pictures posted online late last night by the extremist group showed eight men in civilian clothing on their knees in an open area with militants pointing rifles at their backs. Another picture showed two men flanked by militants brandishing knives.

Two police officers said on Sunday that only nine troops from the federal police were kidnapped on Tuesday by militants disguised in government-sanctioned paramilitary forces uniforms.

They said the slain troops were on leave when the militants stopped their SUV taxi at a checkpoint on a highway between the northern Kirkuk and Salaheddin provinces.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters.

Meanwhile, a French judicial official said Saturday that police searching the home of the terrorist who killed four people in a deadly rampage a day earlier in southern France found notes referring to the Islamic State jihadist group that appeared to be a final testament.

The official said there apparently was no mention in the notes of the attack plans.

Investigators also found three homemade explosive devices, a handgun, and a hunting knife inside the supermarket in the French town of Trebes, the official said, suggesting his intent to do further damage.

(With inputs frim PTI)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Pictures posted online late last night by the extremist group showed eight men in civilian clothing on their knees in an open area with militants pointing rifles at their backs

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for abducting and killing 10 policemen. Pictures posted online late last night by the extremist group showed eight men in civilian clothing on their knees in an open area with militants pointing rifles at their backs. Another picture showed two men flanked by militants brandishing knives. Two police officers said on Sunday that only nine troops from the federal police were kidnapped on Tuesday by militants disguised in government-sanctioned paramilitary forces uniforms. They said the slain troops were on leave when the militants stopped their SUV taxi at a checkpoint on a highway between the northern Kirkuk and Salaheddin provinces. Both spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters. Meanwhile, a French judicial official said Saturday that police searching the home of the terrorist who killed four people in a deadly rampage a day earlier in southern France found notes referring to the Islamic State jihadist group that appeared to be a final testament. The official said there apparently was no mention in the notes of the attack plans. Investigators also found three homemade explosive devices, a handgun, and a hunting knife inside the supermarket in the French town of Trebes, the official said, suggesting his intent to do further damage. (With inputs frim PTI)

Iraq: Islamic State group says it killed 10 policemen

France will pay a national tribute to a security officer who died from gunshot wounds after voluntarily taking the place of a female hostage during a supermarket siege by an Islamist militant, President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.&nbsp;

Arnaud Beltrame, 44, a gendarme who once served in Iraq, had been raced to hospital fighting for his life after being shot by the gunman during the siege at the Super U store in the southwestern town of Trebes near the Pyrenees mountains.

His actions were described as heroic by politicians across the political spectrum.

&ldquo;He fell as a hero, giving up his life to halt the murderous outfit of a jihadist terrorist,&rdquo; Macron said in a statement shortly before dawn on Saturday.

Macron said France would organize a national tribute in Beltrame&rsquo;s honour, the president&rsquo;s office announced after he met with members of the government and officials involved in the attack investigation. It gave no further details.

The attacker was identified by authorities as Redouane Lakdim, a 25-year-old Moroccan-born French national from the city of Carcassonne, not far from Trebes, the tranquil town of about 5,000 people where he struck on Friday.

Lakdim was known to authorities for drug-dealing and other petty crimes but had also been under surveillance by security services in 2016-2017 for links to the radical Salafist movement, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Friday.&nbsp;

The attacker&rsquo;s rampage began when he shot the occupant of a car he stole and fired on a group of police joggers, wounding one. He then headed to a supermarket where he killed two people, an employee and a client, bringing Friday&rsquo;s toll to three dead and 16 injured, according to a government readout.

Beltrame&rsquo;s death took the number killed to four.&nbsp;

He was part of a team of gendarmes who were among the first to arrive at the supermarket scene. Most of the people in the shop escaped after hiding in a cold storage room and then fleeing through an emergency exit.

He offered to trade places with a hostage the attacker was still holding, whereafter he took her place and left his mobile phone on a table, line open. When shots rang out, elite police stormed the building to kill the assailant. Police sources said Beltrame was shot three times.

Politicians from the left and right called Beltrame a &ldquo;hero&rdquo; on Twitter, including opposition leader Laurent Wauquiez, far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen and Olivier Faure, set to become the next Socialist party head.

#ArnaudBeltrame was a trending topic on the social network where people expressed their respect and gratitude for the officer, and thoughts for his wife. Several cities, the National Assembly and police stations lowered their flags in his honour.

The Grand Mosque of Paris, the largest in the country, said the Muslim community joined in mourning for a man who had &ldquo;fallen heroically under the bullets of the terrorist Redouane Lakdim in the exercise of his mission&rdquo;.&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Theresa May hailed Beltrame&rsquo;s courage and sacrifice on Twitter, saying they would never be forgotten.

ARRESTS AND SEARCHES

The Islamic State militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for the attack.

Several hundred investigators devoted to the inquiry were still checking the claim on Saturday and looking into possible complicity the &ldquo;terrorist&rdquo; could have benefited from to carry out his attacks, the president&rsquo;s office said.

Police arrested two people as part of the investigation - on Friday a woman connected to Lakdim, and overnight a 17-year-old male said to be one of his friends, judicial sources said.&nbsp;

Searches at the attacker&rsquo;s home showed notes referring to Islamic State that appeared to be a will, as well as a phone and a computer, judicial sources said.

Investigators also found three improvised explosive devices, a 7.65-millimetre handgun and a hunting knife in the supermarket, a source said.

U.S. President Donald Trump condemned &ldquo;the violent actions of the attacker and anyone who would provide him support&rdquo;.

&ldquo;We are with you @EmmanuelMacron!&rdquo; he added on Twitter.

More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who either pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the ultra-hardline group.

France is part of a group of countries whose warplanes have been bombing Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria, where in recent months IS has lost much of a self-proclaimed &ldquo;caliphate&rdquo; of the territory it seized in 2014.

One multiple attacks by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris in November 2015 while another killed close to 90 when a man ran a truck into partying crowds in the Riviera seaside city of Nice in July 2016.

Beltrame was a qualified parachutist who served in Iraq in 2005. He also worked as part of the elite Republican Guard that protects the presidential Elysee Place offices and residence in Paris, Macron said.&nbsp;

Friday&rsquo;s assault was the first deadly Islamist attack in France since October 2017, when a man stabbed two young women to death in the port city of Marseille before soldiers killed him.

Several attacks over the past year or more have targeted police and soldiers deployed in big numbers to protect civilians and patrol sensitive spots such as airports and train stations.&nbsp;

Sixteen other people were wounded, including two who were seriously hurt, in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of "Islamist terrorism".

France will pay a national tribute to a security officer who died from gunshot wounds after voluntarily taking the place of a female hostage during a supermarket siege by an Islamist militant, President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday. Arnaud Beltrame, 44, a gendarme who once served in Iraq, had been raced to hospital fighting for his life after being shot by the gunman during the siege at the Super U store in the southwestern town of Trebes near the Pyrenees mountains. His actions were described as heroic by politicians across the political spectrum. “He fell as a hero, giving up his life to halt the murderous outfit of a jihadist terrorist,” Macron said in a statement shortly before dawn on Saturday. Macron said France would organize a national tribute in Beltrame’s honour, the president’s office announced after he met with members of the government and officials involved in the attack investigation. It gave no further details. The attacker was identified by authorities as Redouane Lakdim, a 25-year-old Moroccan-born French national from the city of Carcassonne, not far from Trebes, the tranquil town of about 5,000 people where he struck on Friday. Lakdim was known to authorities for drug-dealing and other petty crimes but had also been under surveillance by security services in 2016-2017 for links to the radical Salafist movement, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Friday. The attacker’s rampage began when he shot the occupant of a car he stole and fired on a group of police joggers, wounding one. He then headed to a supermarket where he killed two people, an employee and a client, bringing Friday’s toll to three dead and 16 injured, according to a government readout. Beltrame’s death took the number killed to four. He was part of a team of gendarmes who were among the first to arrive at the supermarket scene. Most of the people in the shop escaped after hiding in a cold storage room and then fleeing through an emergency exit. He offered to trade places with a hostage the attacker was still holding, whereafter he took her place and left his mobile phone on a table, line open. When shots rang out, elite police stormed the building to kill the assailant. Police sources said Beltrame was shot three times. Politicians from the left and right called Beltrame a “hero” on Twitter, including opposition leader Laurent Wauquiez, far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen and Olivier Faure, set to become the next Socialist party head. #ArnaudBeltrame was a trending topic on the social network where people expressed their respect and gratitude for the officer, and thoughts for his wife. Several cities, the National Assembly and police stations lowered their flags in his honour. The Grand Mosque of Paris, the largest in the country, said the Muslim community joined in mourning for a man who had “fallen heroically under the bullets of the terrorist Redouane Lakdim in the exercise of his mission”. British Prime Minister Theresa May hailed Beltrame’s courage and sacrifice on Twitter, saying they would never be forgotten. ARRESTS AND SEARCHES The Islamic State militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for the attack. Several hundred investigators devoted to the inquiry were still checking the claim on Saturday and looking into possible complicity the “terrorist” could have benefited from to carry out his attacks, the president’s office said. Police arrested two people as part of the investigation - on Friday a woman connected to Lakdim, and overnight a 17-year-old male said to be one of his friends, judicial sources said. Searches at the attacker’s home showed notes referring to Islamic State that appeared to be a will, as well as a phone and a computer, judicial sources said. Investigators also found three improvised explosive devices, a 7.65-millimetre handgun and a hunting knife in the supermarket, a source said. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned “the violent actions of the attacker and anyone who would provide him support”. “We are with you @EmmanuelMacron!” he added on Twitter. More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who either pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the ultra-hardline group. France is part of a group of countries whose warplanes have been bombing Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria, where in recent months IS has lost much of a self-proclaimed “caliphate” of the territory it seized in 2014. One multiple attacks by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris in November 2015 while another killed close to 90 when a man ran a truck into partying crowds in the Riviera seaside city of Nice in July 2016. Beltrame was a qualified parachutist who served in Iraq in 2005. He also worked as part of the elite Republican Guard that protects the presidential Elysee Place offices and residence in Paris, Macron said. Friday’s assault was the first deadly Islamist attack in France since October 2017, when a man stabbed two young women to death in the port city of Marseille before soldiers killed him. Several attacks over the past year or more have targeted police and soldiers deployed in big numbers to protect civilians and patrol sensitive spots such as airports and train stations.

France mourns 'hero' officer who took place of hostage in attack

President Emmanuel Macron called the killing of three people in southern France on Friday and act of &quot;Islamist terrorism&quot;, but said security services were still checking whether the Islamic State group was really behind the attack as it claims.

While addressing the crowd at the French Interior Ministry in Paris, Macron said an ongoing investigation will seek answers to when and how the gunman was &quot;radicalised&quot; and where he obtained his weapon.

&quot;Our country has suffered today an act of islamist terror in Carcassonne and Trebes. An individual killed three people and injured 16 others.&quot;

&quot;I want to tell the nation tonight of my absolute determination in leading this fight,&quot; said Macron, who returned to Paris from Brussels to chair a crisis meeting with ministers and security officials.

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb had affirmed earlier on Friday that the attacker had no signs of Islamist radicalisation.

Macron also saluted police, notably the injured senior officer who had offered to take the spot of civilians being held hostage by the &quot;terrorist&quot; during the Friday attack.

&quot;I want to salute their (police&#39;s) commitment and professionalism, as well as their courage, and particularly the courage a senior official of the gendarmerie who volunteered to substitute himself to other hostages and who was gravely injured. He saved lives and has honored his arm and his country. He&#39;s currently fighting against death and our thoughts go to him and to his family.&quot;

More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the group. Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday&#39;s attack but offered no details.

While addressing the crowd at the French Interior Ministry in Paris, Macron said an ongoing investigation will seek answers to when and how the gunman was 'radicalised' and where he obtained his weapon

President Emmanuel Macron called the killing of three people in southern France on Friday and act of "Islamist terrorism", but said security services were still checking whether the Islamic State group was really behind the attack as it claims. While addressing the crowd at the French Interior Ministry in Paris, Macron said an ongoing investigation will seek answers to when and how the gunman was "radicalised" and where he obtained his weapon. "Our country has suffered today an act of islamist terror in Carcassonne and Trebes. An individual killed three people and injured 16 others." "I want to tell the nation tonight of my absolute determination in leading this fight," said Macron, who returned to Paris from Brussels to chair a crisis meeting with ministers and security officials. French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb had affirmed earlier on Friday that the attacker had no signs of Islamist radicalisation. Macron also saluted police, notably the injured senior officer who had offered to take the spot of civilians being held hostage by the "terrorist" during the Friday attack. "I want to salute their (police's) commitment and professionalism, as well as their courage, and particularly the courage a senior official of the gendarmerie who volunteered to substitute himself to other hostages and who was gravely injured. He saved lives and has honored his arm and his country. He's currently fighting against death and our thoughts go to him and to his family." More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the group. Islamic State claimed responsibility for Friday's attack but offered no details.

Macron calls French attack act of "Islamist terrorism"

A woman who was living with the attacker who killed three people at a supermarket in southern France&#39;s Trebes has been detained, a prosecutor said on Friday.

Francois Molins, the prosecutor said gunman Radouane Lakdim had claimed to be a soldier for the terror group Islamic State (IS) while storming the Super U market in the town before he was killed by police.

A gunman killed three people in southwestern France on Friday as he held up a car, fired on police and seized hostages in a supermarket, screaming &quot;Allahu Akbar&quot; before security forces stormed the building and killed him, authorities said.

Sixteen other people were wounded, including two who were seriously hurt, in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of &quot;Islamist terrorism&quot;.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. Macron said security services were checking that claim.

It took three hours to bring the situation under control when the police shot dead the gunman in a cross firing. Two more were later confirmed dead by the police.

Also, a French policeman shot by the gunman after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in southwest France is &quot;fighting for his life&quot;, President Emmanuel Macron said.

Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the town of Trebes after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage.

Francois Molins, the prosecutor said gunman Radouane Lakdim had claimed to be a soldier for the terror group Islamic State (IS) while storming the Super U market in the town before he was killed by police

A woman who was living with the attacker who killed three people at a supermarket in southern France's Trebes has been detained, a prosecutor said on Friday. Francois Molins, the prosecutor said gunman Radouane Lakdim had claimed to be a soldier for the terror group Islamic State (IS) while storming the Super U market in the town before he was killed by police. A gunman killed three people in southwestern France on Friday as he held up a car, fired on police and seized hostages in a supermarket, screaming "Allahu Akbar" before security forces stormed the building and killed him, authorities said. Sixteen other people were wounded, including two who were seriously hurt, in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of "Islamist terrorism". The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. Macron said security services were checking that claim. It took three hours to bring the situation under control when the police shot dead the gunman in a cross firing. Two more were later confirmed dead by the police. Also, a French policeman shot by the gunman after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in southwest France is "fighting for his life", President Emmanuel Macron said. Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the town of Trebes after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage.

France Supermarket attack: Partner of attacker detained

Two incidents of shooting were&nbsp;reported in southern France on Friday.&nbsp;

A gunman shot at one or two people&nbsp;in the first incident of hostage-taking&nbsp;at a supermarket&nbsp;in the town of Trebes. He claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, the local prosecutor&#39;s office said, adding that they were treating the hostage-taking as a terror incident.

The man &quot;entered the Super U supermarket at around 11.15 am and shots were heard,&quot; a source told AFP.

A policeman has been hurt in the second incident of shooting in the town of Carcassonne, 15 minutes&#39; drive away by car from Trebes, the security source said.

The same car has been linked to the hostage-taking and the police shooting, a security source told AFP.

Local authorities tweeted that the area was off-limits to the public.

France is still on high alert after a wave of jihadist attacks since 2015, starting in January that year with the assault on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead.

The country also suffered major attacks in Paris in November 2015 when IS jihadists killed 130 people at bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert venue and the national stadium.

In July 2016, in another attack claimed by IS, a man drove a truck through revellers celebrating Bastille Day, killing 84 people.&nbsp;

A state of emergency put in place just after the Paris attacks was finally lifted in October last year, but soldiers continue to patrol major tourist sites and transport hubs under an anti-terror mission.

(With inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

The first incident of shooting and hostage-taking has been reported at a supermarket. A policeman has been hurt in the second incident of shooting

Two incidents of shooting were reported in southern France on Friday. A gunman shot at one or two people in the first incident of hostage-taking at a supermarket in the town of Trebes. He claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, the local prosecutor's office said, adding that they were treating the hostage-taking as a terror incident. The man "entered the Super U supermarket at around 11.15 am and shots were heard," a source told AFP. A policeman has been hurt in the second incident of shooting in the town of Carcassonne, 15 minutes' drive away by car from Trebes, the security source said. The same car has been linked to the hostage-taking and the police shooting, a security source told AFP. Local authorities tweeted that the area was off-limits to the public. France is still on high alert after a wave of jihadist attacks since 2015, starting in January that year with the assault on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead. The country also suffered major attacks in Paris in November 2015 when IS jihadists killed 130 people at bars, restaurants, the Bataclan concert venue and the national stadium. In July 2016, in another attack claimed by IS, a man drove a truck through revellers celebrating Bastille Day, killing 84 people. A state of emergency put in place just after the Paris attacks was finally lifted in October last year, but soldiers continue to patrol major tourist sites and transport hubs under an anti-terror mission. (With inputs from AFP)

Shooting, hostage-taking at French supermarket; gunman claims allegiance to Islamic State

A French policeman, who was shot by an Islamist gunman Friday after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in the southwest town of Trebes, has been hailed as a hero.

The policeman was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage.

The man, identified as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim, shot dead two people at the supermarket after earlier opening fire on passengers in a car, killing one of them, and injuring a police officer in nearby Carcassonne.

Speaking at the scene Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said a police team immediately intervened after the start of the siege at around 11 a.m.

&quot;They managed to get some of the people out,&quot; he said, but the attacker kept one hostage back as a human shield.

A senior officer then offered to take the hostage&#39;s place and remained holed up with Lakdim while negotiations to end the standoff continued.

The officer &quot;left his telephone on the table&quot;, to allow police that had surrounded the building in the sleepy town of 5,000 inhabitants listen in, Collomb said.

&quot;When we heard shots the GIGN (an elite police force) intervened,&quot; the minister said, adding that the policeman was &quot;seriously injured&quot;.

Collomb praised the officer for his &quot;courage&quot; and &quot;act of heroism&quot;.

An officer from the police SWAT team was also hurt in the operation to kill the gunman.

Over the course of his rampage Ladkim killed three people and injured at least three others.

The injured included the driver of the hijacked car as well as a police officer out jogging with colleagues in Carcassonne.

The policeman was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage

A French policeman, who was shot by an Islamist gunman Friday after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in the southwest town of Trebes, has been hailed as a hero. The policeman was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage. The man, identified as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim, shot dead two people at the supermarket after earlier opening fire on passengers in a car, killing one of them, and injuring a police officer in nearby Carcassonne. Speaking at the scene Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said a police team immediately intervened after the start of the siege at around 11 a.m. "They managed to get some of the people out," he said, but the attacker kept one hostage back as a human shield. A senior officer then offered to take the hostage's place and remained holed up with Lakdim while negotiations to end the standoff continued. The officer "left his telephone on the table", to allow police that had surrounded the building in the sleepy town of 5,000 inhabitants listen in, Collomb said. "When we heard shots the GIGN (an elite police force) intervened," the minister said, adding that the policeman was "seriously injured". Collomb praised the officer for his "courage" and "act of heroism". An officer from the police SWAT team was also hurt in the operation to kill the gunman. Over the course of his rampage Ladkim killed three people and injured at least three others. The injured included the driver of the hijacked car as well as a police officer out jogging with colleagues in Carcassonne.

'Heroic' French cop shot after swapping himself for hostage: Minister

The US government today identified a Frenchman named Joe Asperman as a &quot;global terrorist&quot; accusing him of helping the Islamic State.

&quot;French national Joe Asperman is a senior chemical weapons expert for ISIS,&quot; the US State Department said in a statement.

The US listed Asperman as a &quot;Specially Designated Global Terrorist&quot; for overseeing chemical operations production in Syria.

&quot;Asperman oversaw chemical operations production within Syria for ISIS and the deployment of these chemical weapons at the battlefront,&quot; the statement said.

The US Treasury&#39;s list of sanctioned terrorists said Asperman is believed to have been born in Cannes, France between 1986 and 1988.

Along with Asperman, the State Department also designated the Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari, an armed group as an &quot;al Qaeda ally&quot; and &quot;the largest Uzbek fighting force in Syria.&quot;

Along with Asperman, the State Department also designated the Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari, an armed group as an "al Qaeda ally"

The US government today identified a Frenchman named Joe Asperman as a "global terrorist" accusing him of helping the Islamic State. "French national Joe Asperman is a senior chemical weapons expert for ISIS," the US State Department said in a statement. The US listed Asperman as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" for overseeing chemical operations production in Syria. "Asperman oversaw chemical operations production within Syria for ISIS and the deployment of these chemical weapons at the battlefront," the statement said. The US Treasury's list of sanctioned terrorists said Asperman is believed to have been born in Cannes, France between 1986 and 1988. Along with Asperman, the State Department also designated the Katibat al-Imam al-Bukhari, an armed group as an "al Qaeda ally" and "the largest Uzbek fighting force in Syria."

IS link in Syria: US names Frenchman Joe Asperman as 'global terrorist'

A suicide bomber on Wednesday killed at least 26 people, many of them teenagers, after detonating a device among a crowd of people in Kabul who were celebrating the Persian new year holiday, officials said.&nbsp;

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attack - the fifth suicide bombing in the Afghan capital in recent weeks - via its propaganda arm Amaq, SITE Intelligence Group said.&nbsp;

The Taliban earlier denied involvement on Twitter.&nbsp;

Another 18 people were wounded in the blast, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said, &quot;all of them civilians&quot;. 
&nbsp; 
There were fears the figure could rise, however, with the health ministry giving a higher toll of 29 people killed and 52 wounded. Afghan officials often give conflicting tolls in the wake of attacks.

The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his device in front of Kabul University and a hospital that was opposite, Rahimi said. 
&nbsp; 
The blast occurred less than 200 metres from Karte Sakhi shrine where many Afghans gather every year to mark Nawrooz, which is the traditional Persian new year holiday - but had been unable to reach it due to heavy security for the holiday.

So he &quot;detonated himself among teenagers returning from there&quot;, Kabul police chief Mohammad Daud Amin told Tolo News.

Bloodstains could be seen among scattered belongings on the road at the site of the attack. A man who was standing metres from where the explosion happened told Tolo that he saw &quot;at least four bodies in blood&quot; on the ground.

IS has attacked the same shrine once before, in October 2016 when gunmen killed 18 people gathered to mark Ashura, an important date for many Muslims, especially Shi&#39;ites.

President Ashraf Ghani, whose government has been repeatedly lambasted for its inability to protect its citizens, condemned the attack in a statement as a &quot;crime against humanity&quot;.

Taliban and Islamic State militants have increasingly targeted the war-weary city in recent months as US and Afghan forces ramp up air strikes and ground offensives against the groups. Wednesday`s blast comes days after a Taliban suicide attacker blew up a bomb-laden car in Kabul, causing multiple casualties. 
&nbsp; 
Some Western and Afghan security experts believe the Haqqani Network, a hard-line wing of the Taliban, has been behind some of the attacks in Kabul in recent months, including those claimed by IS.

The Taliban, Afghanistan`s largest militant group, faces growing pressure to take up a recent offer by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani of peace talks to end the 16-year war. So far it has given only a muted response. This latest suicide attack underscores the growing challenge facing Afghan and foreign forces to protect the already heavily militarised city.&nbsp;

Authorities had increased security ahead of Nawrooz festivities, which militants have previously struck with deadly force.

General John Nicholson, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, recently told reporters that protecting Kabul was a priority for foreign troops.

&quot;Kabul is our main effort right now, to harden Kabul, to protect the people of Kabul and the international community that are here because of the strategic impact that has and the importance to the campaign,&quot; Nicholson said.&nbsp;

But he acknowledged that preventing further attacks would be challenging in the sprawling city that is poorly mapped and extremely porous.&nbsp;

The latest attack comes as US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford visits Afghanistan to assess the military campaign against insurgents - weeks before the start of the spring fighting season, which is expected to be particularly bloody this year.&nbsp;

Despite calls for the Taliban to sit down with the Afghan government, the group appears to have few reasons to negotiate.

The Taliban has been resurgent since the withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops at the end of 2014, taking back territory and devastating Afghanistan`s beleaguered security forces.

In October, insurgents controlled or influenced nearly half of Afghanistan`s districts - double the percentage in 2015, the US government`s office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in January.

Over the same period, the watchdog said, the number of districts under Afghan government control or influence fell to its lowest level since December 2015.

The Taliban earlier denied involvement on Twitter

A suicide bomber on Wednesday killed at least 26 people, many of them teenagers, after detonating a device among a crowd of people in Kabul who were celebrating the Persian new year holiday, officials said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attack - the fifth suicide bombing in the Afghan capital in recent weeks - via its propaganda arm Amaq, SITE Intelligence Group said. The Taliban earlier denied involvement on Twitter. Another 18 people were wounded in the blast, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said, "all of them civilians". There were fears the figure could rise, however, with the health ministry giving a higher toll of 29 people killed and 52 wounded. Afghan officials often give conflicting tolls in the wake of attacks. The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his device in front of Kabul University and a hospital that was opposite, Rahimi said. The blast occurred less than 200 metres from Karte Sakhi shrine where many Afghans gather every year to mark Nawrooz, which is the traditional Persian new year holiday - but had been unable to reach it due to heavy security for the holiday. So he "detonated himself among teenagers returning from there", Kabul police chief Mohammad Daud Amin told Tolo News. Bloodstains could be seen among scattered belongings on the road at the site of the attack. A man who was standing metres from where the explosion happened told Tolo that he saw "at least four bodies in blood" on the ground. IS has attacked the same shrine once before, in October 2016 when gunmen killed 18 people gathered to mark Ashura, an important date for many Muslims, especially Shi'ites. President Ashraf Ghani, whose government has been repeatedly lambasted for its inability to protect its citizens, condemned the attack in a statement as a "crime against humanity". Taliban and Islamic State militants have increasingly targeted the war-weary city in recent months as US and Afghan forces ramp up air strikes and ground offensives against the groups. Wednesday`s blast comes days after a Taliban suicide attacker blew up a bomb-laden car in Kabul, causing multiple casualties. Some Western and Afghan security experts believe the Haqqani Network, a hard-line wing of the Taliban, has been behind some of the attacks in Kabul in recent months, including those claimed by IS. The Taliban, Afghanistan`s largest militant group, faces growing pressure to take up a recent offer by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani of peace talks to end the 16-year war. So far it has given only a muted response. This latest suicide attack underscores the growing challenge facing Afghan and foreign forces to protect the already heavily militarised city. Authorities had increased security ahead of Nawrooz festivities, which militants have previously struck with deadly force. General John Nicholson, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, recently told reporters that protecting Kabul was a priority for foreign troops. "Kabul is our main effort right now, to harden Kabul, to protect the people of Kabul and the international community that are here because of the strategic impact that has and the importance to the campaign," Nicholson said. But he acknowledged that preventing further attacks would be challenging in the sprawling city that is poorly mapped and extremely porous. The latest attack comes as US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford visits Afghanistan to assess the military campaign against insurgents - weeks before the start of the spring fighting season, which is expected to be particularly bloody this year. Despite calls for the Taliban to sit down with the Afghan government, the group appears to have few reasons to negotiate. The Taliban has been resurgent since the withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops at the end of 2014, taking back territory and devastating Afghanistan`s beleaguered security forces. In October, insurgents controlled or influenced nearly half of Afghanistan`s districts - double the percentage in 2015, the US government`s office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in January. Over the same period, the watchdog said, the number of districts under Afghan government control or influence fell to its lowest level since December 2015.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack

The<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-did-not-keep-anyone-in-the-dark-over-the-deaths-of-39-indians-in-mosul-sushma-swaraj-36505"> 39 kidnapped Indians,</a> who had gone missing in Iraq since 2014, are dead, external affairs minister<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/39-indians-missing-in-iraq-dead-sushma-swaraj-36459"> Sushma Swaraj </a>told the Rajya Sabha today. Swaraj said that the Islamic State (IS) had killed all the Indian nationals.

After informing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-information-was-given-to-us-sister-of-indian-killed-in-iraq-36478">Parliament</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/politics-over-deaths-shameful-sushma-swaraj-on-indians-killed-in-mosul-36498">&nbsp;on the deaths of 39 Indians in Mosu</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-information-was-given-to-us-sister-of-indian-killed-in-iraq-36478">l, Iraq</a>, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters that the bodies of Indians weren&#39;t found in mass graves but in a mound in Badush.

PM Modi condemned the incident and recently tweeted: &quot;MEA and particularly my colleagues Sushma Swaraj Ji and VK Singh Ji left no stone unturned in trying to trace and safely bring back those we lost in Mosul. Our Government remains fully committed towards ensuring the safety of our sisters and brothers overseas.&quot;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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The MEA and particularly my colleagues <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SushmaSwaraj</a> Ji and <a href="https://twitter.com/Gen_VKSingh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Gen_VKSingh</a> Ji left no stone unturned in trying to trace and safely bring back those we lost in Mosul. 
 
Our Government remains fully committed towards ensuring the safety of our sisters and brothers overseas.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/976072562621886465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Moreover,&nbsp;Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh wrote to Sushma Swaraj expressing his shock on the deaths of 39 Indians and has requested for financial assistance for families of the kin, informaing&nbsp;that 24 of those deceased were from Punjab and that Rs 20,000 were already being provided to the families by the government.

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Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh writes to EAM Sushma Swaraj expressing shock on the deaths of 39 Indians in Iraq, requests for financial assistance for families of the kin <a href="https://t.co/u2Y2A9X9a8">pic.twitter.com/u2Y2A9X9a8</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976058381948645382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The sister of Manjinder Singh, who was among the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/39-indians-missing-in-iraq-dead-sushma-swaraj-36459">39 Indians killed by the Islamic State</a>&nbsp;in Iraq, demanded the DNA reports of those killed, saying that the matter has been politicised, adding that the families should be been immediately contacted with the information.

Further, she criticised Swaraj and said that all she cared about was her reputation&nbsp;and had no ounce of sorrow over the loss of lives.

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We demand from govt to provide us DNA reports. It&#39;s being politicised. We had been running from pillar to post since 4 yrs &amp; now we&#39;re being told via TV that we lost one of our own: Gurpinder Kaur,sister of Manjinder Singh who was among 39 Indians killed in Iraq&#39;s Mosul <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Amritsar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Amritsar</a> <a href="https://t.co/hWMp49ROSL">pic.twitter.com/hWMp49ROSL</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976050924727783424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Yes, she was supposed to announce this in Parliament first but he was part of our family. All she cared about was her reputation. She used to say they&#39;re like her children, if that&#39;s the case where&#39;s her sorrow?: Gurpinder,sister of Manjinder Singh who was among 39 Indians killed <a href="https://t.co/VGZyj9HvGY">pic.twitter.com/VGZyj9HvGY</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976060277237125120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Kaur accused her of lying about the status of her brother and said: &quot;Why did she keep saying they&#39;re alive &amp; she&#39;ll bring them back? She could&#39;ve said she&#39;ll bring them back only if they&#39;re alive. I want to see DNA reports. We&#39;ll get answers only after meeting her&quot;.

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We should have been contacted as soon as they received the information. Had that been done it would not have been such a huge blow. We feel betrayed from all sides: Gurpinder Kaur, sister of Manjinder Singh who was among 39 Indians killed
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976060281301368833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile,&nbsp;Kamaljeet Kaur, wife of Roop Lal, who was among 39 Indians killed in Iraq&#39;s Mosul, also expressed her distress over the news and said: &quot;He had left for Iraq 7 years ago. We last talked to each other in 2015. They had taken DNA samples 2-3 months back. I don&#39;t know what to say.&quot;&nbsp;

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He had left for Iraq 7 years ago. We last talked to each other in 2015. They had taken DNA samples 2-3 months back. I don&#39;t know what to say: Kamaljeet Kaur, wife of Roop Lal who was among 39 Indians killed in Iraq&#39;s Mosul (Nakodar, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Punjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Punjab</a>) <a href="https://t.co/8gDgC76mpX">pic.twitter.com/8gDgC76mpX</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976052354062737409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

After informing Parliament on the deaths of 39 Indians in Mosul, Iraq, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters that the bodies of Indians weren't found in mass graves but in a mound in Badush

The 39 kidnapped Indians, who had gone missing in Iraq since 2014, are dead, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha today. Swaraj said that the Islamic State (IS) had killed all the Indian nationals. After informing Parliament on the deaths of 39 Indians in Mosul, Iraq, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters that the bodies of Indians weren't found in mass graves but in a mound in Badush. PM Modi condemned the incident and recently tweeted: "MEA and particularly my colleagues Sushma Swaraj Ji and VK Singh Ji left no stone unturned in trying to trace and safely bring back those we lost in Mosul. Our Government remains fully committed towards ensuring the safety of our sisters and brothers overseas." The MEA and particularly my colleagues @SushmaSwaraj Ji and @Gen_VKSingh Ji left no stone unturned in trying to trace and safely bring back those we lost in Mosul. Our Government remains fully committed towards ensuring the safety of our sisters and brothers overseas. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 20, 2018 × Moreover, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh wrote to Sushma Swaraj expressing his shock on the deaths of 39 Indians and has requested for financial assistance for families of the kin, informaing that 24 of those deceased were from Punjab and that Rs 20,000 were already being provided to the families by the government. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh writes to EAM Sushma Swaraj expressing shock on the deaths of 39 Indians in Iraq, requests for financial assistance for families of the kin pic.twitter.com/u2Y2A9X9a8 — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × The sister of Manjinder Singh, who was among the 39 Indians killed by the Islamic State in Iraq, demanded the DNA reports of those killed, saying that the matter has been politicised, adding that the families should be been immediately contacted with the information. Further, she criticised Swaraj and said that all she cared about was her reputation and had no ounce of sorrow over the loss of lives. We demand from govt to provide us DNA reports. It's being politicised. We had been running from pillar to post since 4 yrs & now we're being told via TV that we lost one of our own: Gurpinder Kaur,sister of Manjinder Singh who was among 39 Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul #Amritsar pic.twitter.com/hWMp49ROSL — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × Yes, she was supposed to announce this in Parliament first but he was part of our family. All she cared about was her reputation. She used to say they're like her children, if that's the case where's her sorrow?: Gurpinder,sister of Manjinder Singh who was among 39 Indians killed pic.twitter.com/VGZyj9HvGY — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × Kaur accused her of lying about the status of her brother and said: "Why did she keep saying they're alive & she'll bring them back? She could've said she'll bring them back only if they're alive. I want to see DNA reports. We'll get answers only after meeting her". We should have been contacted as soon as they received the information. Had that been done it would not have been such a huge blow. We feel betrayed from all sides: Gurpinder Kaur, sister of Manjinder Singh who was among 39 Indians killed — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × Meanwhile, Kamaljeet Kaur, wife of Roop Lal, who was among 39 Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul, also expressed her distress over the news and said: "He had left for Iraq 7 years ago. We last talked to each other in 2015. They had taken DNA samples 2-3 months back. I don't know what to say." He had left for Iraq 7 years ago. We last talked to each other in 2015. They had taken DNA samples 2-3 months back. I don't know what to say: Kamaljeet Kaur, wife of Roop Lal who was among 39 Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul (Nakodar, #Punjab) pic.twitter.com/8gDgC76mpX — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 ×

'We demand govt to provide DNA reports' families of 39 killed in Iraq express angst

At least 37 IS militants were killed and dozens were wounded on Saturday in US airstrikes conducted at Jowzjan province in Afghanistan.

A regional Afghan military statement said Saturday the pre-dawn strikes took place in the Darzab and Qishtepa districts of Jowzjan province, where IS maintains bases.

Mohammad Reza Ghafoori, the spokesperson of provincial governor confirmed the airstrikes and said the US forces also detained 10 IS militants including a key local commander for the group.&nbsp;

Reports further say that the US forces also conducted raids in Qishtepa and detained &ldquo;a key Daesh commander&rdquo; along with several other aides.

In an earlier incident today, at least six terrorists belonging to the Islamic State (IS) group were killed in the latest drone strike in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

The airstrikes come following a pro-Islamic State group launching a social media campaign promoting jihadi mobilization to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. The group, al-Qastantiyyah (Constantinople) Foundation, posted the announcement on its Telegram channel Friday, reports said.

The airstrikes come following a pro-Islamic State group launching a social media campaign promoting jihadi mobilization to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region

At least 37 IS militants were killed and dozens were wounded on Saturday in US airstrikes conducted at Jowzjan province in Afghanistan. A regional Afghan military statement said Saturday the pre-dawn strikes took place in the Darzab and Qishtepa districts of Jowzjan province, where IS maintains bases. Mohammad Reza Ghafoori, the spokesperson of provincial governor confirmed the airstrikes and said the US forces also detained 10 IS militants including a key local commander for the group. Reports further say that the US forces also conducted raids in Qishtepa and detained “a key Daesh commander” along with several other aides. In an earlier incident today, at least six terrorists belonging to the Islamic State (IS) group were killed in the latest drone strike in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan. The airstrikes come following a pro-Islamic State group launching a social media campaign promoting jihadi mobilization to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. The group, al-Qastantiyyah (Constantinople) Foundation, posted the announcement on its Telegram channel Friday, reports said.

At least 37 IS militants killed in Afghanistan

The Islamic State group in Afghanistan is inviting Muslims worldwide to come to the war-torn country if they cannot reach Syria or Iraq, as it seeks to expand its foothold.

A 25-minute propaganda film released by the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K) on March 4 promotes IS strongholds in Afghanistan&#39;s north and east as an &quot;option for immigration&quot;, the SITE Intelligence Group said on Tuesday.

&quot;O you Muslims in every corner of the world! Immigrate to Khorasan! If you are incapable of immigrating to Iraq and Sham (Syria), come to Khorasan,&quot; a fighter said on the video.

The name Khorasan refers to a historic region which includes parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighbouring countries.

The video comes amid growing concerns that IS fighters fleeing battlefields in Syria and Iraq are finding their way to Afghanistan, where the group has a small but potent presence.

It was recently reported that French and Algerian fighters, some arriving from Syria, had joined IS in the northern Afghan province of Jowzjan.

A German national was also recently arrested with the Taliban in the restive southern province of Helmand, Afghan officials said last week. He is one of the only Europeans found among the militants throughout the 16-year war.

The IS video published with an Arabic narration showed some fighters delivering messages in Pashto, Persian and Uzbek languages.&nbsp;

It opens with a narration mocking US President Donald Trump&#39;s vow to destroy the group in Afghanistan and goes on to show executions of prisoners and the training of child soldiers. &nbsp;

IS-K was attempting to turn &quot;rumours&quot; of foreign fighters moving to Afghanistan from Syria &quot;into reality&quot;, Borhan Osman, told by a senior analyst at International Crisis Group.

But the group would struggle to persuade fighters to travel as far as Afghanistan, said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies.

&quot;It&#39;s trying to keep IS-K viable and the IS-K brand going, but the reality is Afghanistan is still a long way away from Syria and Iraq - it&rsquo;s not an easy journey,&quot; she said.

The Islamic State group, or Daesh as it is locally known, first emerged in Afghanistan in 2014 as NATO combat troops withdrew from the country and handed over responsibility to Afghan security forces.

Since then, the group has carried out multiple attacks mostly in urban areas, killing hundreds of people across the country despite a US-led bombing campaign against their known hideouts.&nbsp;

Since 2016 it has dramatically escalated its attacks in Kabul, adding to the dangers already faced by civilians, with the UN citing the capital as one of the deadliest places in the country.

The Islamic State group in Afghanistan is inviting Muslims worldwide to come to Afghanistan if they cannot reach Syria or Iraq

The Islamic State group in Afghanistan is inviting Muslims worldwide to come to the war-torn country if they cannot reach Syria or Iraq, as it seeks to expand its foothold. A 25-minute propaganda film released by the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K) on March 4 promotes IS strongholds in Afghanistan's north and east as an "option for immigration", the SITE Intelligence Group said on Tuesday. "O you Muslims in every corner of the world! Immigrate to Khorasan! If you are incapable of immigrating to Iraq and Sham (Syria), come to Khorasan," a fighter said on the video. The name Khorasan refers to a historic region which includes parts of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighbouring countries. The video comes amid growing concerns that IS fighters fleeing battlefields in Syria and Iraq are finding their way to Afghanistan, where the group has a small but potent presence. It was recently reported that French and Algerian fighters, some arriving from Syria, had joined IS in the northern Afghan province of Jowzjan. A German national was also recently arrested with the Taliban in the restive southern province of Helmand, Afghan officials said last week. He is one of the only Europeans found among the militants throughout the 16-year war. The IS video published with an Arabic narration showed some fighters delivering messages in Pashto, Persian and Uzbek languages. It opens with a narration mocking US President Donald Trump's vow to destroy the group in Afghanistan and goes on to show executions of prisoners and the training of child soldiers. IS-K was attempting to turn "rumours" of foreign fighters moving to Afghanistan from Syria "into reality", Borhan Osman, told by a senior analyst at International Crisis Group. But the group would struggle to persuade fighters to travel as far as Afghanistan, said Emily Winterbotham, a senior research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. "It's trying to keep IS-K viable and the IS-K brand going, but the reality is Afghanistan is still a long way away from Syria and Iraq - it’s not an easy journey," she said. The Islamic State group, or Daesh as it is locally known, first emerged in Afghanistan in 2014 as NATO combat troops withdrew from the country and handed over responsibility to Afghan security forces. Since then, the group has carried out multiple attacks mostly in urban areas, killing hundreds of people across the country despite a US-led bombing campaign against their known hideouts. Since 2016 it has dramatically escalated its attacks in Kabul, adding to the dangers already faced by civilians, with the UN citing the capital as one of the deadliest places in the country.

IS group calls on Muslims to immigrate to Afghanistan

Egypt&#39;s military said on Sunday four soldiers and 10 jihadists were killed in a military operation in Sinai against Islamic State group jihadists.

The deaths raise military casualties to at least 16 dead, along with more than 100 jihadists, since the start of the operation on February 9, according to previous army tolls.

The army launched the campaign after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is standing in elections for his second term this month, gave them a three month deadline to crush IS in Sinai.

Sisi issued his ultimatum in November after suspected Islamic State gunmen massacred more than 300 worshippers in a Sinai mosque associated with Muslim Sufi mystics.

IS in Sinai has been among the group`s most resilient affiliates, killing hundreds of soldiers, policemen and civilians in Sinai and elsewhere in Egypt.

It has killed scores of Christians in church bombings and shootings, and bombed a Russian airliner carrying tourists from an Egyptian resort in 2015, killing all 224 people on board.

The military says it has evidence IS has sought to move members to Sinai following its defeats in Iraq and Syria.

The deaths raise military casualties to at least 16 dead, along with more than 100 jihadists, since the start of the operation on February 9

Egypt's military said on Sunday four soldiers and 10 jihadists were killed in a military operation in Sinai against Islamic State group jihadists. The deaths raise military casualties to at least 16 dead, along with more than 100 jihadists, since the start of the operation on February 9, according to previous army tolls. The army launched the campaign after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is standing in elections for his second term this month, gave them a three month deadline to crush IS in Sinai. Sisi issued his ultimatum in November after suspected Islamic State gunmen massacred more than 300 worshippers in a Sinai mosque associated with Muslim Sufi mystics. IS in Sinai has been among the group`s most resilient affiliates, killing hundreds of soldiers, policemen and civilians in Sinai and elsewhere in Egypt. It has killed scores of Christians in church bombings and shootings, and bombed a Russian airliner carrying tourists from an Egyptian resort in 2015, killing all 224 people on board. The military says it has evidence IS has sought to move members to Sinai following its defeats in Iraq and Syria.

4 soldiers, 10 jihadists killed in Egypt Sinai campaign

Turkey neutralised at least 2,434 terrorists belonging to the Kurdistan Workers&#39; Party (PYD/PKK) and Islamic State (IS) group in a military operation in Syria&#39;s Afrin region, the Turkish general staff said in a statement on Saturday.

The Turkish army took control of the outer edge of Syria&#39;s Afrin region, state media said, as Ankara said it was readying for a &quot;new battle&quot; by deploying police special forces.&nbsp;

A total of 2,222 militants have been &quot;neutralized&quot; since the commencement of Turkey&#39;s &quot;Operation Olive Branch&quot; in Syria&#39;s Afrin region, the military said in a statement Thursday.&nbsp;

The word &quot;neutralised&quot; is used to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

On January 20, Turkey began an air and ground offensive supporting Syrian rebels against the US-backed YPG in its western enclave of Afrin. The main aim of the Turkish forces is to establish security and stability along Turkey&#39;s borders as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

&quot;The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey&#39;s rights based on international law, United Nations Security Council resolutions, its self-defence rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria&#39;s territorial integrity,&quot; the Turkish military added.

Also, 924 terror targets have been destroyed ever since the military operations began in January.

In January 2018, the Turkish military began an operation in the Kurdish-majority Afrin Canton and the Tel Rifaat Area of Shahba Canton in Northern Syria.&nbsp;

The PKK, which is based in Turkey, Iraq and parts of Syria, has been involved in an armed conflict with Turkey for the past few years. Its aim is to achieve the objective of creating an independent Kurdish state.

It has been listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

The PKK is responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.

The Turkish army took control of the outer edge of Syria's Afrin region, state media said, as Ankara said it was readying for a 'new battle' by deploying police special forces

Turkey neutralised at least 2,434 terrorists belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PYD/PKK) and Islamic State (IS) group in a military operation in Syria's Afrin region, the Turkish general staff said in a statement on Saturday. The Turkish army took control of the outer edge of Syria's Afrin region, state media said, as Ankara said it was readying for a "new battle" by deploying police special forces. A total of 2,222 militants have been "neutralized" since the commencement of Turkey's "Operation Olive Branch" in Syria's Afrin region, the military said in a statement Thursday. The word "neutralised" is used to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured. On January 20, Turkey began an air and ground offensive supporting Syrian rebels against the US-backed YPG in its western enclave of Afrin. The main aim of the Turkish forces is to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty. "The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, United Nations Security Council resolutions, its self-defence rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity," the Turkish military added. Also, 924 terror targets have been destroyed ever since the military operations began in January. In January 2018, the Turkish military began an operation in the Kurdish-majority Afrin Canton and the Tel Rifaat Area of Shahba Canton in Northern Syria. The PKK, which is based in Turkey, Iraq and parts of Syria, has been involved in an armed conflict with Turkey for the past few years. Its aim is to achieve the objective of creating an independent Kurdish state. It has been listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. The PKK is responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians.

Turkey neutralised at least 2,434 terrorists belonging to PKK, IS

A German national has been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-ghani-offers-peace-talks-with-taliban-without-condition-34324">arrested with the Taliban in Afghanistan&#39;s insurgency</a>-racked Helmand province, Afghan officials said, one of the only Europeans found among the militants throughout the 16-year war.

The man, who calls himself Abdul Wadood and was pictured wearing a black turban with a long, reddish beard, identified himself as a German resident of Frankfurt and spoke German, provincial officials and the Afghan army have said.

He was serving as an adviser to Maulavi Nasir, the commander of the Taliban&#39;s elite &quot;Red Unit&quot; in Helmand, said Abdul Qadeer Bahadurzai, a spokesman for the 215th Army Corps -- a claim that was also made by a local police chief.

The Taliban&#39;s Red Units serve as the insurgents&#39; special forces and have carried out many fatal attacks on the Afghan army and police.

Bahadurzai told AFP Thursday the man has no identity card or passport. There was no immediate statement from German officials in Kabul or Berlin.

Afghan commandos aided by the air force arrested the man during a raid on a Taliban mine-making centre in Gereshk district on Monday, officials said, adding that he was taken first to Camp Bastion and then on to Kandahar.

&quot;This is the first time a European national has been arrested in Helmand,&quot; Omar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.&nbsp;It is also believed to be one of the first times any European has been detained with the Taliban in Afghanistan since the US invasion in late 2001.

International forces fighting in the country have spoken in the past of hearing European accents on intercepted Taliban radio transmissions, and in 2009 NATO forces reportedly killed an unidentified insurgent with a tattoo of English football team Aston Villa.

But - unlike with international jihadist groups such as the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda -- citizens of Western nations are almost unknown among the Taliban ranks, with most foreigners hailing from Pakistan, Central Asia or Arab nations.

Perhaps the most famous Western fighter was John Walker Lindh, the so-called &quot;American Taliban&quot;, who was captured in Afghanistan and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2002.

In the photographs shared by the Afghan military the man, who appears to be in his 40s, is flanked by two members of the Afghan special forces dressed in combat gear and with night vision goggles pulled up onto their helmets.

He is dressed in a traditional Afghan long shirt and wide trousers worn under a khaki military jacket.

Bahadurzai said three suspects were detained in total during the raid. &quot;Three Kalashnikovs, one machine gun, four walkie-talkies and dozens of landmines were confiscated from them,&quot; he added.

The German man, he said, spent four years in the city of Quetta in neighbouring Pakistan, long believed to be a refuge for Taliban militants.

The man also spent one year in Afghanistan&#39;s Paktia province near the Pakistani border, and one year with the Red Unit in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand, Bahadurzai said.

It was not clear if the information had been confirmed by Afghan officials.

German newspaper Die Welt reported Thursday that the man was a convert to Islam called &quot;Thomas K&quot; from Rhineland-Palatinate, near Frankfurt.

It said he had been known to authorities since 2009, and had travelled to Afghanistan in 2013 to join the Taliban, adding that German police had warned Kabul in 2014 that he could carry out a suicide attack targeting foreign interests.

The man&#39;s arrest came as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognising them as a political party, days after the militants called for direct negotiations with the US.

The apparent openness by both sides to some form of negotiations came as civilian casualties have soared in recent months in the conflict that has been described by US officials as a &quot;stalemate&quot;.

 
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In the photographs shared by the Afghan military the man, who appears to be in his 40s, is flanked by two members of the Afghan special forces

A German national has been arrested with the Taliban in Afghanistan's insurgency-racked Helmand province, Afghan officials said, one of the only Europeans found among the militants throughout the 16-year war. The man, who calls himself Abdul Wadood and was pictured wearing a black turban with a long, reddish beard, identified himself as a German resident of Frankfurt and spoke German, provincial officials and the Afghan army have said. He was serving as an adviser to Maulavi Nasir, the commander of the Taliban's elite "Red Unit" in Helmand, said Abdul Qadeer Bahadurzai, a spokesman for the 215th Army Corps -- a claim that was also made by a local police chief. The Taliban's Red Units serve as the insurgents' special forces and have carried out many fatal attacks on the Afghan army and police. Bahadurzai told AFP Thursday the man has no identity card or passport. There was no immediate statement from German officials in Kabul or Berlin. Afghan commandos aided by the air force arrested the man during a raid on a Taliban mine-making centre in Gereshk district on Monday, officials said, adding that he was taken first to Camp Bastion and then on to Kandahar. "This is the first time a European national has been arrested in Helmand," Omar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. It is also believed to be one of the first times any European has been detained with the Taliban in Afghanistan since the US invasion in late 2001. International forces fighting in the country have spoken in the past of hearing European accents on intercepted Taliban radio transmissions, and in 2009 NATO forces reportedly killed an unidentified insurgent with a tattoo of English football team Aston Villa. But - unlike with international jihadist groups such as the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda -- citizens of Western nations are almost unknown among the Taliban ranks, with most foreigners hailing from Pakistan, Central Asia or Arab nations. Perhaps the most famous Western fighter was John Walker Lindh, the so-called "American Taliban", who was captured in Afghanistan and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2002. In the photographs shared by the Afghan military the man, who appears to be in his 40s, is flanked by two members of the Afghan special forces dressed in combat gear and with night vision goggles pulled up onto their helmets. He is dressed in a traditional Afghan long shirt and wide trousers worn under a khaki military jacket. Bahadurzai said three suspects were detained in total during the raid. "Three Kalashnikovs, one machine gun, four walkie-talkies and dozens of landmines were confiscated from them," he added. The German man, he said, spent four years in the city of Quetta in neighbouring Pakistan, long believed to be a refuge for Taliban militants. The man also spent one year in Afghanistan's Paktia province near the Pakistani border, and one year with the Red Unit in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand, Bahadurzai said. It was not clear if the information had been confirmed by Afghan officials. German newspaper Die Welt reported Thursday that the man was a convert to Islam called "Thomas K" from Rhineland-Palatinate, near Frankfurt. It said he had been known to authorities since 2009, and had travelled to Afghanistan in 2013 to join the Taliban, adding that German police had warned Kabul in 2014 that he could carry out a suicide attack targeting foreign interests. The man's arrest came as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognising them as a political party, days after the militants called for direct negotiations with the US. The apparent openness by both sides to some form of negotiations came as civilian casualties have soared in recent months in the conflict that has been described by US officials as a "stalemate".

Watch: German national with Taliban links arrested in Afghanistan's Helmand province

At least three militants affiliated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) terrorist group have been killed in the US drone strikes in Afghanistan&#39;s eastern Kunar province.

&quot;The latest drone strikes were carried out in the vicinity of Manogi district,&quot; reported Afghan&#39;s Khaama Press, citing the Afghan military, as saying on Sunday.

&quot;The hideouts of the terror group were targeted in the air raids and as a result, three militants were killed,&quot; it added.

A local leader of the group who has been identified as Mohib was also among those killed.

Earlier, at least three IS militants were killed and five others were injured during a cleanup operation by security forces in Sarkanay district of Afghanistan&#39;s eastern Kunar province on Tuesday.&nbsp;

No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant and terrorist groups including the IS in connection with the report, by far.

A local leader of the group who has been identified as Mohib was also among those killed

At least three militants affiliated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) terrorist group have been killed in the US drone strikes in Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province. "The latest drone strikes were carried out in the vicinity of Manogi district," reported Afghan's Khaama Press, citing the Afghan military, as saying on Sunday. "The hideouts of the terror group were targeted in the air raids and as a result, three militants were killed," it added. A local leader of the group who has been identified as Mohib was also among those killed. Earlier, at least three IS militants were killed and five others were injured during a cleanup operation by security forces in Sarkanay district of Afghanistan's eastern Kunar province on Tuesday. No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant and terrorist groups including the IS in connection with the report, by far.

3 IS militants killed in US drone strikes in Afghanistan

An Iraqi criminal court on Sunday sentenced to death 15 Turkish women after finding them guilty of belonging to the Islamic State group, a judicial official said. 
 
Another Turkish woman accused of membership of the jihadist group was given a life sentence, the official said, adding they had all acknowledged the charges against them. 
 
Iraq, which has detained at least 560 women, as well as 600 children, identified as jihadist or relatives of suspected IS fighters, is wasting no time in putting them on trial. 
 
In January, a court sentenced a German woman to death on charges of providing logistical support to IS, and a Turkish woman was earlier this month also handed the death penalty. 
 
Human Rights Watch denounced the rulings as &quot;unfair&quot;. 
 
Earlier this week, a Baghdad court sentenced a French woman, Melina Boughedir, to seven months in jail for entering Iraq illegally but ordered her release on time already served. 
 
Baghdad declared military victory over IS in December, after having expelled the jihadists from all urban centres they had held in northern and western Iraq since 2014. 
 
According to experts, an estimated 20,000 people are being held in jail in Iraq for alleged membership of IS. There is no official figure. 
 
Separately, authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan said in early February they had detained some 4,000 suspected IS members, including foreigners. 
 
Iraq&#39;s anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have helped IS even if they are not accused of carrying out attacks. 
 
It also allows for the death penalty to be issued against anyone -- including non-combatants -- found guilty of belonging to IS.

The women were guilty of belonging to the Islamic State group

An Iraqi criminal court on Sunday sentenced to death 15 Turkish women after finding them guilty of belonging to the Islamic State group, a judicial official said. Another Turkish woman accused of membership of the jihadist group was given a life sentence, the official said, adding they had all acknowledged the charges against them. Iraq, which has detained at least 560 women, as well as 600 children, identified as jihadist or relatives of suspected IS fighters, is wasting no time in putting them on trial. In January, a court sentenced a German woman to death on charges of providing logistical support to IS, and a Turkish woman was earlier this month also handed the death penalty. Human Rights Watch denounced the rulings as "unfair". Earlier this week, a Baghdad court sentenced a French woman, Melina Boughedir, to seven months in jail for entering Iraq illegally but ordered her release on time already served. Baghdad declared military victory over IS in December, after having expelled the jihadists from all urban centres they had held in northern and western Iraq since 2014. According to experts, an estimated 20,000 people are being held in jail in Iraq for alleged membership of IS. There is no official figure. Separately, authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan said in early February they had detained some 4,000 suspected IS members, including foreigners. Iraq's anti-terrorism law empowers courts to convict people who are believed to have helped IS even if they are not accused of carrying out attacks. It also allows for the death penalty to be issued against anyone -- including non-combatants -- found guilty of belonging to IS.

Iraq condemns 15 Turkish women to death for belonging to IS

A United Nations report has revealed that Al-Qaeda in Indian Sub-continent (AQIS) recruits personnel from remote areas of India and Bangladesh.

According to the report, close to 180 operatives of the group work as Taliban advisers and trainers in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

UN monitoring committee&#39;s 21st report of the ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaeda/Taliban Monitoring Team also states that Al-Qaeda continues to cooperate with the Taliban in return for sanctuary and operating space.

The report, dated January 26, was made public last week and assumes Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri to be in the Afghan-Pak&nbsp;border region.

According to the report, fighters from various Al-Qaeda affiliated groups in Afghanistan could number as many as 60,000.

The number of foreign fighters currently operating in Afghanistan is estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000.

Currently, there are more than 20 groups active in the war-torn country. The Taliban remains the largest, with about 40,000 to 45,000 fighters, others would include fighters from groups like ISIL and a range of Al-Qaeda affiliated entities such as TTP, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ), Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI), Jundullah, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan or IMU.

ISIL commands between 1,000 and 4,000 fighters in Afghanistan including former members of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and IMU, fighters from outside the immediate region, as well as Afghan Taliban defectors.

ISIL continues to resist and storm attacks, especially in Kabul, despite facing a clamp-down by Afghan and international military operations. While the group is in violent competition with the Taliban in some regions, in others there appears to be some mutual accommodation, the report stated.

(With inputs from PTI)&nbsp;

According to the report, close to 180 operatives of the group work as Taliban advisers and trainers in southern and eastern Afghanistan

A United Nations report has revealed that Al-Qaeda in Indian Sub-continent (AQIS) recruits personnel from remote areas of India and Bangladesh. According to the report, close to 180 operatives of the group work as Taliban advisers and trainers in southern and eastern Afghanistan. UN monitoring committee's 21st report of the ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaeda/Taliban Monitoring Team also states that Al-Qaeda continues to cooperate with the Taliban in return for sanctuary and operating space. The report, dated January 26, was made public last week and assumes Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri to be in the Afghan-Pak border region. According to the report, fighters from various Al-Qaeda affiliated groups in Afghanistan could number as many as 60,000. The number of foreign fighters currently operating in Afghanistan is estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000. Currently, there are more than 20 groups active in the war-torn country. The Taliban remains the largest, with about 40,000 to 45,000 fighters, others would include fighters from groups like ISIL and a range of Al-Qaeda affiliated entities such as TTP, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Lashkar-i-Jhangvi (LJ), Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI), Jundullah, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan or IMU. ISIL commands between 1,000 and 4,000 fighters in Afghanistan including former members of the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and IMU, fighters from outside the immediate region, as well as Afghan Taliban defectors. ISIL continues to resist and storm attacks, especially in Kabul, despite facing a clamp-down by Afghan and international military operations. While the group is in violent competition with the Taliban in some regions, in others there appears to be some mutual accommodation, the report stated. (With inputs from PTI)

'Al-Qaeda in Indian Sub-continent' works as adviser of Taliban: UN report

As many as eight soldiers and 19 suspected members of Al-Qaeda were killed in Yemen today in an offensive launched by the army against key extremist outposts.

United Arab Emirates-trained special forces along with Yemen&#39;s government launched an offensive &quot;Al-Faisal&quot; against Al-Qaeda cells over the weekend.&nbsp;

The army had captured Mesini Valley west of Mukalla city -- a central site for Al-Qaeda in Yemen from 2015 to 2016. The army and regional military allies seized control of the port city later on.&nbsp;

Close to ten thousand people have been killed in Yemen since 2015.

The Saudi-led coalition along with the government have been in fights with Iran-backed Huthi rebels.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, radical groups like the Islamic State flourished in the chaos, regularly launching attacks on the government and military targets.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

Close to ten thousand people have been killed in Yemen since 2015

As many as eight soldiers and 19 suspected members of Al-Qaeda were killed in Yemen today in an offensive launched by the army against key extremist outposts. United Arab Emirates-trained special forces along with Yemen's government launched an offensive "Al-Faisal" against Al-Qaeda cells over the weekend. The army had captured Mesini Valley west of Mukalla city -- a central site for Al-Qaeda in Yemen from 2015 to 2016. The army and regional military allies seized control of the port city later on. Close to ten thousand people have been killed in Yemen since 2015. The Saudi-led coalition along with the government have been in fights with Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Meanwhile, radical groups like the Islamic State flourished in the chaos, regularly launching attacks on the government and military targets. (With inputs from AFP)

Yemen: 27 die in clashes as troops target Al-Qaeda

In a classroom of the University of&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Mosul" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/battle-to-free-mosul-of-is-intellectual-terrorism/articleshow/62955972.cms~Mosul-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Mosul">Mosul</a>, in the Islamic State group&#39;s former Iraqi capital, around 50 volunteers have undergone a week&#39;s training on how to combat the jihadists&#39; ideology. 
The ulema, or Islamic scholars, aim to set up &quot;brigades&quot; tasked with ridding Mosul residents of extremist ideas following the city&#39;s recapture last July which ended three years of IS rule. 
 
&quot;Mosul must be liberated from the thinking of Daesh after having been liberated militarily,&quot; said Mussaab Mahmud, who just completed the course, using an Arabic acronym for IS. 
 
&quot;We were deceived by Daesh ideas and now we are trying to free ourselves from its ideology,&quot; said the 30-year-old day labourer. 
 
The first group of volunteers came from all sectors of Mosul society, including mechanics, teachers and a sheikh. 
 
The men aged from 25 to 45 signed up on Facebook for the course run by the&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Ulema-Forum-of-Mosul" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/battle-to-free-mosul-of-is-intellectual-terrorism/articleshow/62955972.cms~Ulema Forum of Mosul-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Ulema-Forum-of-Mosul">Ulema Forum of Mosul</a>, Iraq&#39;s second largest city which was left shattered by the months-long battle to expel IS. 
 
The classes are being conducted by five teachers who are experts in Islamic jurisprudence from Mosul and Tikrit, a city to the south that was also previously under brutal IS rule. 
 
&quot;The lessons are concentrated on human rights, human development, peaceful coexistence and communal peace,&quot; the forum&#39;s president Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi told AFP. 
 
He said participants were tutored on &quot;faith, Islamic jurisprudence and the Hadith (record of the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad) to allow them to counter the ideas of Daesh and its intellectual terrorism&quot;. 
 
IS imposed its own rigid interpretation of Islamic law on all aspects of everyday life, branding opponents &quot;apostates&quot; who should be killed. 
 
Most members of religious and ethnic minorities who had lived in peace for centuries alongside Mosul&#39;s majority&nbsp;<a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sunni-Muslims" pg="AS1_InlineMedia#AS1_https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/battle-to-free-mosul-of-is-intellectual-terrorism/articleshow/62955972.cms~Sunni Muslims-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Sunni-Muslims">Sunni Muslims</a>&nbsp;fled to escape the radicals with their beatings and public executions. 
 
Sheikh Obeidi said the brigades will go out and &quot;combat the extremist ideas on social media and by calling on residents in their homes&quot;. 
 
His forum was established in 2014 in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, to the north of Mosul, by ulema who had fled the city. 
 
They broadcast on private television channels but residents risked the wrath of IS if they were caught tuning in to the forum&#39;s programmes. 
 
Sheikh Obeidi said that the classes would expand to cover &quot;all social groups and both sexes&quot;, although it was still looking for permanent premises in the war-battered city.

Priority will be the children indoctrinated in IS-run schools where they were taught the jihadist version of Islam and given weapons training. 
 
&quot;As a teacher myself, what I&#39;ve learnt here will allow me as far as possible to erase the radical Daesh ideas instilled in pupils, because they were the worst affected and influenced,&quot; said Ibrahim Mohammad Hamid, 27.

&quot;I will go to the parents because the home and the family play a major role in spreading the idea of tolerance and coexistence,&quot; he said. 
 
Mohammad Abaiji, a 24-year-old imam, or prayer leader, said he would run seminars in the mosque for children &quot;to spread enlightened ideas, because Islam is a religion of tolerance&quot;.

The first group of volunteers came from all sectors of Mosul society

In a classroom of the University of Mosul, in the Islamic State group's former Iraqi capital, around 50 volunteers have undergone a week's training on how to combat the jihadists' ideology. The ulema, or Islamic scholars, aim to set up "brigades" tasked with ridding Mosul residents of extremist ideas following the city's recapture last July which ended three years of IS rule. "Mosul must be liberated from the thinking of Daesh after having been liberated militarily," said Mussaab Mahmud, who just completed the course, using an Arabic acronym for IS. "We were deceived by Daesh ideas and now we are trying to free ourselves from its ideology," said the 30-year-old day labourer. The first group of volunteers came from all sectors of Mosul society, including mechanics, teachers and a sheikh. The men aged from 25 to 45 signed up on Facebook for the course run by the Ulema Forum of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city which was left shattered by the months-long battle to expel IS. The classes are being conducted by five teachers who are experts in Islamic jurisprudence from Mosul and Tikrit, a city to the south that was also previously under brutal IS rule. "The lessons are concentrated on human rights, human development, peaceful coexistence and communal peace," the forum's president Sheikh Saleh al-Obeidi told AFP. He said participants were tutored on "faith, Islamic jurisprudence and the Hadith (record of the sayings of the Prophet Mohammad) to allow them to counter the ideas of Daesh and its intellectual terrorism". IS imposed its own rigid interpretation of Islamic law on all aspects of everyday life, branding opponents "apostates" who should be killed. Most members of religious and ethnic minorities who had lived in peace for centuries alongside Mosul's majority Sunni Muslims fled to escape the radicals with their beatings and public executions. Sheikh Obeidi said the brigades will go out and "combat the extremist ideas on social media and by calling on residents in their homes". His forum was established in 2014 in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, to the north of Mosul, by ulema who had fled the city. They broadcast on private television channels but residents risked the wrath of IS if they were caught tuning in to the forum's programmes. Sheikh Obeidi said that the classes would expand to cover "all social groups and both sexes", although it was still looking for permanent premises in the war-battered city. Priority will be the children indoctrinated in IS-run schools where they were taught the jihadist version of Islam and given weapons training. "As a teacher myself, what I've learnt here will allow me as far as possible to erase the radical Daesh ideas instilled in pupils, because they were the worst affected and influenced," said Ibrahim Mohammad Hamid, 27. "I will go to the parents because the home and the family play a major role in spreading the idea of tolerance and coexistence," he said. Mohammad Abaiji, a 24-year-old imam, or prayer leader, said he would run seminars in the mosque for children "to spread enlightened ideas, because Islam is a religion of tolerance".

Battle to free Mosul of IS 'intellectual terrorism'

An Iraqi interior <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/iraqs-tal-afar-liberated-is-chief-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-fate-still-unknown-19749">ministry official has told a daily</a> newspaper that Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is alive.

Intelligence and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-dead-syrian-observatory-17828">counterterrorism department head Abu </a>Ali al-Basri told the state-run run daily As-Sabah that Baghdadi was wounded in an air strike recently and was being treated at a hospital in Syria.

&quot;We have irrefutable information and documents from sources within the terrorist organisation that al-Baghdadi is still alive,&quot; Abu Ali al-Basri said.

Basri added that Baghdadi was suffering from &quot;injuries, diabetes and fractures to the body and legs that prevent him from walking without assistance&quot;.

There have been conflicting reports about the fate of the IS chief with Russia last year declaring that Baghdadi was killed.&nbsp;

In June last year, Russia&#39;s foreign ministry had said there was a &quot;high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead&quot;.

Viktor Ozerov, the head of Russian defence committee had asserted that information was close to &quot;100 per cent correct&quot;.

However, US defence secretary &nbsp;James Mattis refuted the Russian claims, declaring that the IS leader was alive and that the US was &quot;going after him&quot;.

There have been conflicting reports about the fate of the IS chief with Russia last year declaring that Baghdadi was killed.

An Iraqi interior ministry official has told a daily newspaper that Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is alive. Intelligence and counterterrorism department head Abu Ali al-Basri told the state-run run daily As-Sabah that Baghdadi was wounded in an air strike recently and was being treated at a hospital in Syria. "We have irrefutable information and documents from sources within the terrorist organisation that al-Baghdadi is still alive," Abu Ali al-Basri said. Basri added that Baghdadi was suffering from "injuries, diabetes and fractures to the body and legs that prevent him from walking without assistance". There have been conflicting reports about the fate of the IS chief with Russia last year declaring that Baghdadi was killed. In June last year, Russia's foreign ministry had said there was a "high degree of certainty that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was dead". Viktor Ozerov, the head of Russian defence committee had asserted that information was close to "100 per cent correct". However, US defence secretary James Mattis refuted the Russian claims, declaring that the IS leader was alive and that the US was "going after him".

IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi being treated in Syrian hospital: Iraqi minister

Two <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-fighters-with-brainwashed-children-could-carry-out-attacks-german-intelligence-chief-31343">British Islamic State fighters, members </a>of a kidnapping cell dubbed &quot;The Beatles&quot; that was notorious for videotaping beheadings, have been captured in Syria, a US defense official confirmed Thursday.

 
The two members of the group who had still been in the field, Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee el-Sheikh, both from Britain, were captured in January in eastern Syria by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.

 
The pair are believed to have &quot;participated in the detention, exploitation and execution of Western detainees,&quot; the official said in a statement.

 
The two were also &quot;believed to have acted as guards and interpreters involved in ISIS&#39;&nbsp;illegal captivity of Western hostages, and are thought to have links to the British terrorist often called `Jihadi John`,&quot; the official said.

 
Last year, the US State Department said the London-born Kotey had &quot;likely&quot; taken part in executions and used &quot;exceptionally cruel torture methods, including electric shock and waterboarding,&quot; while guarding the group`s captives.

 
Among the other two members of the &quot;Beatles&quot; group, Mohammed Emwazi -- &quot;Jihadi John&quot; -- was killed in 2015 in a drone strike by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group.&nbsp;

 
The fourth member of the gang, Aine Davis, is being held in Turkey.

 
Emwazi was the group`s leader, gaining notoriety for using a knife to kill hostages in a string of beheadings that were videotaped and posted on the internet, generating outrage against the IS group but also inspiring similar acts by the extremists.

 
His victims included US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. 
Overall, the group handled more than 20 foreign hostages during the 2014-2015 period, earning a reported millions of dollars in ransom payments.&nbsp;

 
Hostages who survived reported being beaten, shocked by Tasers, and undergoing waterboardings at the hands of the group.

 
It was the hostages who gave them their nickname &quot;The Beatles,&quot; after the legendary rock group, for their British accents. The US official did not give any information on the condition of the two or what would happen to them.&nbsp;

 
&quot;El-Shafee el-Sheikh and Kotey represent a small portion of the hundreds of foreign-born ISIS terrorists from several nations who have been taken off the battlefield by Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria since October 2017,&quot; the official said, requesting anonymity.

 
The British foreign ministry declined to confirm the capture.

 
&quot;We don`t comment on individual cases or ongoing investigations,&quot; a spokesperson said.

 
The SDF last year turned over another English-speaking IS captive to the US forces. While his name remains secret, he has been identified as a native-born American with Saudi dual nationality.&nbsp;

 
The US Justice Department says they have considered transferring him to a third country -- presumably Saudi Arabia -- while US civil rights lawyers are battling to have his case transferred to US civilian courts.

 
President Donald Trump has said that Islamist fighters captured on the battlefield in Syria and Iraq, including Americans, could be sent to the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

 
Last week he reversed an order by his predecessor Barack Obama to close the Guantanamo prison, which still holds 41 people.&nbsp;

 
Most of them were captured in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. The prison has not received any new inmates since 2008.

 
&quot;I am asking Congress to ensure that in the fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda, we continue to have all necessary power to detain terrorists wherever we chase them down, wherever we find them, and in many cases for them, it will now be Guantanamo Bay,&quot; Trump said during his State of the Union Speech on January 30.

The two were also "believed to have acted as guards and interpreters involved in ISIS' illegal captivity of Western hostages

Two British Islamic State fighters, members of a kidnapping cell dubbed "The Beatles" that was notorious for videotaping beheadings, have been captured in Syria, a US defense official confirmed Thursday. The two members of the group who had still been in the field, Alexanda Amon Kotey and El Shafee el-Sheikh, both from Britain, were captured in January in eastern Syria by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. The pair are believed to have "participated in the detention, exploitation and execution of Western detainees," the official said in a statement. The two were also "believed to have acted as guards and interpreters involved in ISIS' illegal captivity of Western hostages, and are thought to have links to the British terrorist often called `Jihadi John`," the official said. Last year, the US State Department said the London-born Kotey had "likely" taken part in executions and used "exceptionally cruel torture methods, including electric shock and waterboarding," while guarding the group`s captives. Among the other two members of the "Beatles" group, Mohammed Emwazi -- "Jihadi John" -- was killed in 2015 in a drone strike by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group. The fourth member of the gang, Aine Davis, is being held in Turkey. Emwazi was the group`s leader, gaining notoriety for using a knife to kill hostages in a string of beheadings that were videotaped and posted on the internet, generating outrage against the IS group but also inspiring similar acts by the extremists. His victims included US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. Overall, the group handled more than 20 foreign hostages during the 2014-2015 period, earning a reported millions of dollars in ransom payments. Hostages who survived reported being beaten, shocked by Tasers, and undergoing waterboardings at the hands of the group. It was the hostages who gave them their nickname "The Beatles," after the legendary rock group, for their British accents. The US official did not give any information on the condition of the two or what would happen to them. "El-Shafee el-Sheikh and Kotey represent a small portion of the hundreds of foreign-born ISIS terrorists from several nations who have been taken off the battlefield by Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria since October 2017," the official said, requesting anonymity. The British foreign ministry declined to confirm the capture. "We don`t comment on individual cases or ongoing investigations," a spokesperson said. The SDF last year turned over another English-speaking IS captive to the US forces. While his name remains secret, he has been identified as a native-born American with Saudi dual nationality. The US Justice Department says they have considered transferring him to a third country -- presumably Saudi Arabia -- while US civil rights lawyers are battling to have his case transferred to US civilian courts. President Donald Trump has said that Islamist fighters captured on the battlefield in Syria and Iraq, including Americans, could be sent to the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Last week he reversed an order by his predecessor Barack Obama to close the Guantanamo prison, which still holds 41 people. Most of them were captured in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. The prison has not received any new inmates since 2008. "I am asking Congress to ensure that in the fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda, we continue to have all necessary power to detain terrorists wherever we chase them down, wherever we find them, and in many cases for them, it will now be Guantanamo Bay," Trump said during his State of the Union Speech on January 30.

2 British Islamic State fighters captured in Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday Israel would &quot;do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves&quot; after a report its military has carried out dozens of air strikes against jihadists in Egypt&#39;s Sinai.

Netanyahu did not address the New York Times report published Saturday, commenting only generally on Israel&#39;s stance. Israel&#39;s military also declined to comment.

The report, citing current and former US and British officials, said Israeli forces had carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Egypt over the course of more than two years with Cairo&#39;s approval.

Using unmarked drones, helicopters and jets, the strikes in northern Sinai just over the border with Israel have targeted jihadists linked with the Islamic State group, it said.

Speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu referred to recent meetings with US President Donald Trump, European leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

&quot;As I also made it clear to President Trump and afterwards to European leaders and President Putin, our presence here is the main element in the Middle East blocking the spread of radical Islam, led by Iran and Islamic State, which also threaten all other elements in the world,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;We are not bent on war, but we will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves.&quot;

IS-linked militants have waged a deadly insurgency in the Sinai against Egyptian security forces, and Israeli officials have watched the violence with concern.

Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab nations with peace treaties with Israel, but relations remain sensitive due to hostility toward the Jewish state among their populations.

While there have long been suggestions of behind-the-scenes military and intelligence cooperation between Egypt and Israel, officials from both countries rarely comment publicly on them.

Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken of improving ties with Arab nations in recent months without providing details, with many analysts saying their shared concern over Iran and IS jihadists has drawn them closer together.

The report said Israeli forces had carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Egypt over the course of more than two years

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday Israel would "do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves" after a report its military has carried out dozens of air strikes against jihadists in Egypt's Sinai. Netanyahu did not address the New York Times report published Saturday, commenting only generally on Israel's stance. Israel's military also declined to comment. The report, citing current and former US and British officials, said Israeli forces had carried out more than 100 airstrikes in Egypt over the course of more than two years with Cairo's approval. Using unmarked drones, helicopters and jets, the strikes in northern Sinai just over the border with Israel have targeted jihadists linked with the Islamic State group, it said. Speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu referred to recent meetings with US President Donald Trump, European leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "As I also made it clear to President Trump and afterwards to European leaders and President Putin, our presence here is the main element in the Middle East blocking the spread of radical Islam, led by Iran and Islamic State, which also threaten all other elements in the world," he said. "We are not bent on war, but we will do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves." IS-linked militants have waged a deadly insurgency in the Sinai against Egyptian security forces, and Israeli officials have watched the violence with concern. Egypt and Jordan are the only two Arab nations with peace treaties with Israel, but relations remain sensitive due to hostility toward the Jewish state among their populations. While there have long been suggestions of behind-the-scenes military and intelligence cooperation between Egypt and Israel, officials from both countries rarely comment publicly on them. Netanyahu has repeatedly spoken of improving ties with Arab nations in recent months without providing details, with many analysts saying their shared concern over Iran and IS jihadists has drawn them closer together.

Netanyahu says will 'defend ourselves' after report of Sinai strikes

Germany&#39;s domestic intelligence chief wants the government to review laws restricting the surveillance of minors to guard against the children of Islamist fighters returning to the country as &quot;sleeper agents&quot; who could carry out attacks.

Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the BfV agency, told Reuters that security officials were preparing for the return of Islamic State fighters to Germany along with potentially &quot;brainwashed&quot; children, although no big wave appeared imminent.

Nearly 1,000 people are believed to have left Germany to join up with the Islamist militants. As the group&#39;s presence in the Middle East crumbles, some are returning with family members.

Only a small number of the 290 toddlers and children who left Germany or were born in Syria and Iraq had returned thus far, Maassen said. Many were likely to still be in the region, or perhaps moving to areas such as Afghanistan, where Islamic State remains strong.

He said Germany should review laws restricting surveillance of minors under the age of 14 to prepare for the increased risk of attacks by children as young as nine who grew up in Islamic State schools.

&quot;We see that children who grew up with Islamic State were brainwashed in the schools and the kindergartens of the IS,&quot; he said.

&quot;They were confronted early with the IS ideology ... learned to fight, and were in some cases forced to participate in the abuse of prisoners, or even the killing of prisoners.&quot;

He said security officials believed such children could later carry out violent attacks in Germany.

&quot;We have to consider that these children could be living time bombs,&quot; he said. &quot;There is a danger that these children come back brainwashed with a mission to carry out attacks.&quot;

Maassen&#39;s comments were the first specific estimate of the number of children affected, following his initial warning in October that such children could pose a threat after being indoctrinated in battlefield areas.

The radicalisation of minors has been a big topic in Germany given that three of five Islamist attacks in Germany in 2016 were carried out by minors, and a 12-year-old boy was also detained after trying to bomb a Christmas market in Ludwigshafen.

The German government says it has evidence that more than 960 people left Germany for Iraq and Syria through November 2017 to fight for the Islamic State jihadist group, of which about a third are believed to have returned to Germany. Another 150 likely died in combat, according to government data.

Maassen said Islamic State also continued to target vulnerable youths in Germany through the Internet and social media, often providing slick advertising or age-appropriate propaganda to recruit them to join the jihadist group.

&quot;Islamic State uses headhunters who scour the Internet for children that can be approached and tries to radicalise these children, or recruit these children for terrorist attacks,&quot; he said.

Hans-Georg Maassen said Germany should review laws restricting surveillance of minors under the age of 14

Germany's domestic intelligence chief wants the government to review laws restricting the surveillance of minors to guard against the children of Islamist fighters returning to the country as "sleeper agents" who could carry out attacks. Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the BfV agency, told Reuters that security officials were preparing for the return of Islamic State fighters to Germany along with potentially "brainwashed" children, although no big wave appeared imminent. Nearly 1,000 people are believed to have left Germany to join up with the Islamist militants. As the group's presence in the Middle East crumbles, some are returning with family members. Only a small number of the 290 toddlers and children who left Germany or were born in Syria and Iraq had returned thus far, Maassen said. Many were likely to still be in the region, or perhaps moving to areas such as Afghanistan, where Islamic State remains strong. He said Germany should review laws restricting surveillance of minors under the age of 14 to prepare for the increased risk of attacks by children as young as nine who grew up in Islamic State schools. "We see that children who grew up with Islamic State were brainwashed in the schools and the kindergartens of the IS," he said. "They were confronted early with the IS ideology ... learned to fight, and were in some cases forced to participate in the abuse of prisoners, or even the killing of prisoners." He said security officials believed such children could later carry out violent attacks in Germany. "We have to consider that these children could be living time bombs," he said. "There is a danger that these children come back brainwashed with a mission to carry out attacks." Maassen's comments were the first specific estimate of the number of children affected, following his initial warning in October that such children could pose a threat after being indoctrinated in battlefield areas. The radicalisation of minors has been a big topic in Germany given that three of five Islamist attacks in Germany in 2016 were carried out by minors, and a 12-year-old boy was also detained after trying to bomb a Christmas market in Ludwigshafen. The German government says it has evidence that more than 960 people left Germany for Iraq and Syria through November 2017 to fight for the Islamic State jihadist group, of which about a third are believed to have returned to Germany. Another 150 likely died in combat, according to government data. Maassen said Islamic State also continued to target vulnerable youths in Germany through the Internet and social media, often providing slick advertising or age-appropriate propaganda to recruit them to join the jihadist group. "Islamic State uses headhunters who scour the Internet for children that can be approached and tries to radicalise these children, or recruit these children for terrorist attacks," he said.

Islamic State fighters with 'brainwashed' children could carry out attacks: German intelligence chief

A Pakistani passport forger whose fakes may have been sold to Islamic State operatives has been arrested in Thailand, police said Friday, ending a career that helped people slip into Europe illegally.

Mohammad Iqbal, 52, was arrested on January 14 in a Bangkok suburb in possession of Singaporean and Indian fake passports as well as plates and laminates to forge entry visas to France, Italy and Spain.

&quot;He has worked on faking documents for a long time using Thailand as his base,&quot; Commander of the Immigration Bureau Lt-Gen Suttipong Vongpint told reporters in Bangkok.

The arrest is the latest in a series of targeted operations against skilled passport forgers in Thailand as fears over security and immigration have compelled authorities to tackle a shadowy industry that has thrived in the kingdom for decades.

Iqbal, who is believed to have operated from Thailand for more than 10 years, was charged with falsifying passports, visa seals and trafficking of fake passports a few days after police seized him as he pulled into his Bangkok condo on a motorbike.

Earlier this week defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan linked Iqbal to a group selling passports to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.

&quot;The suspect has falsified visa and passports for the IS group with the attempt to make them travel from the Middle East into Thailand,&quot; he said before adding that the attempts were unsuccessful.

But at Friday&#39;s press conference officials downplayed the IS connections in favor of a portrait of a businessman who welcomed all clients.

&quot;Based on the investigation he will sell to every group, not particularly to IS, he just made them by orders,&quot; Suttipong said.

A typical fake passport would sell for only a few hundred dollars, according to the immigration bureau.

Thailand&#39;s role as a global hub for fake passports came under renewed scrutiny following the 2014 disappearance of Malaysian Airlines MH370.

Two Iranians travelling on European passports bought and modified in Thailand were on board the ill-fated flight.

It is an industry dominated by highly skilled Iranians and Pakistanis serving customers from South Asia, the Middle East and further afield.

Immigration police said Iqbal was affiliated with a shadowy Iranian master forger known as &#39;The Doctor&#39; who sold &#39;Triple A&#39; quality passports to refugees, economic migrants and criminals from a Bangkok suburb for nearly 20 years.

Detectives hailed his 2016 arrest as a major breakthrough in the fight against passport crime - although other forgers have taken his place.

Transient, vast and permissive, Bangkok has for long provided sanctuary for people wanting to disappear or re-invent.

Thailand welcomes visa-free travel to many countries and is Southeast Asia&#39;s best connected transport hub, sharing long, ungovernable borders with Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

That draws transnational criminals moving everything from people and rare wildlife to drugs, weapons and gems.

Mohammad Iqbal, 52, was arrested on January 14 in a Bangkok suburb in possession of Singaporean and Indian fake passports as well as plates and laminates to forge entry visas to France, Italy and Spain.

A Pakistani passport forger whose fakes may have been sold to Islamic State operatives has been arrested in Thailand, police said Friday, ending a career that helped people slip into Europe illegally. Mohammad Iqbal, 52, was arrested on January 14 in a Bangkok suburb in possession of Singaporean and Indian fake passports as well as plates and laminates to forge entry visas to France, Italy and Spain. "He has worked on faking documents for a long time using Thailand as his base," Commander of the Immigration Bureau Lt-Gen Suttipong Vongpint told reporters in Bangkok. The arrest is the latest in a series of targeted operations against skilled passport forgers in Thailand as fears over security and immigration have compelled authorities to tackle a shadowy industry that has thrived in the kingdom for decades. Iqbal, who is believed to have operated from Thailand for more than 10 years, was charged with falsifying passports, visa seals and trafficking of fake passports a few days after police seized him as he pulled into his Bangkok condo on a motorbike. Earlier this week defence minister Prawit Wongsuwan linked Iqbal to a group selling passports to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. "The suspect has falsified visa and passports for the IS group with the attempt to make them travel from the Middle East into Thailand," he said before adding that the attempts were unsuccessful. But at Friday's press conference officials downplayed the IS connections in favor of a portrait of a businessman who welcomed all clients. "Based on the investigation he will sell to every group, not particularly to IS, he just made them by orders," Suttipong said. A typical fake passport would sell for only a few hundred dollars, according to the immigration bureau. Thailand's role as a global hub for fake passports came under renewed scrutiny following the 2014 disappearance of Malaysian Airlines MH370. Two Iranians travelling on European passports bought and modified in Thailand were on board the ill-fated flight. It is an industry dominated by highly skilled Iranians and Pakistanis serving customers from South Asia, the Middle East and further afield. Immigration police said Iqbal was affiliated with a shadowy Iranian master forger known as 'The Doctor' who sold 'Triple A' quality passports to refugees, economic migrants and criminals from a Bangkok suburb for nearly 20 years. Detectives hailed his 2016 arrest as a major breakthrough in the fight against passport crime - although other forgers have taken his place. Transient, vast and permissive, Bangkok has for long provided sanctuary for people wanting to disappear or re-invent. Thailand welcomes visa-free travel to many countries and is Southeast Asia's best connected transport hub, sharing long, ungovernable borders with Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. That draws transnational criminals moving everything from people and rare wildlife to drugs, weapons and gems.

Thai cops nab Pakistan passport forger with IS links

27-seven-year old Indian national Abdul Manaf has been killed fighting for Islamic State(IS) in Syria, police confirmed today.

Kannur&nbsp;deputy SP Sadanandan said today that Manaf&#39;s family received a message confirming his death.

Manaf&#39;s family belongs to Kerala&#39;s Valapattanam district in Kannur.

Police said Manaf&#39;s family received the report through a Telegram messenger.

Manaf was a leader of the Kerala-based Popular Front India, police said, adding that he was involved in the murder of a CPM worker in 2009.

At least six Indians have been killed in Syria fighting for the IS, reports said. At least five have been arrested by the NIA.&nbsp;

Kannur has emerged as a hotbed of IS recruitment activity with at least 15 persons reported to have joined the terrorist organization&nbsp;in Syria.

Kanpur deputy SP Sadanandan said today that Manaf's family received a message confirming his death.

27-seven-year old Indian national Abdul Manaf has been killed fighting for Islamic State(IS) in Syria, police confirmed today. Kannur deputy SP Sadanandan said today that Manaf's family received a message confirming his death. Manaf's family belongs to Kerala's Valapattanam district in Kannur. Police said Manaf's family received the report through a Telegram messenger. Manaf was a leader of the Kerala-based Popular Front India, police said, adding that he was involved in the murder of a CPM worker in 2009. At least six Indians have been killed in Syria fighting for the IS, reports said. At least five have been arrested by the NIA. Kannur has emerged as a hotbed of IS recruitment activity with at least 15 persons reported to have joined the terrorist organization in Syria.

Indian national from Kerala killed in Syria fighting for IS

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