<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lankan-president-sirisena-assures-hoteliers-maximum-financial-help-to-revive-tourism-214676&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwih9YeX9fnhAhVE6XMBHbNSA_IQFjABegQIDhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0vyiMIfhNfmG1UlUicbInb">Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena</a> said a foreign mastermind may have planned the Easter Sunday bombings, claimed by Islamic State, telling the militant group to "leave my country alone".

Sirisena also warned it may be possible Islamic State had launched a "new strategy" by targeting smaller countries, Sky New said on Wednesday.

A government source told Reuters on Tuesday police and other security forces across the Buddhist-majority country had been ordered to remain on high alert because the militants were expected to try to strike again, before the holy month of Ramadan which starts on Monday.

Sirisena said authorities were aware of "a small group" of Sri Lankans who had travelled abroad to receive training from Islamic State over the past decade.

Investigations revealed the bombs used in the Easter attacks were made locally, the president said in the interview.

The suicide bombings on hotels and churches killed more than 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals.

Police suspect members of two previously little-known groups - National Thawheedh Jamaath and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim - of carrying out the attacks.

On Monday, Islamic State’s media network published a video message purporting to come from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which would be his first appearance since declaring the jihadists’ now-defunct “caliphate” five years ago.

In the video, a bearded man with Baghdadi’s appearance says the Sri Lanka bombings were Islamic State's response to losses in its last territorial stronghold of Baghouz in Syria.

In the Sky News interview, Sirisena said he had a message for Islamic State: "Leave my country alone."

Sri Lankan authorities have previously said that they suspect the attackers had international links, although the precise nature of those connections aren't known. The US&nbsp;Federal Bureau of Investigation and Interpol, as well as other undisclosed foreign agencies, are helping Sri Lanka with the probe.

Local intelligence officials believe that Zahran Hashim, a Tamil-speaking preacher from the east of the Indian Ocean island country, may have been a key player in plotting the Easter bombings. Officials believe he was one of nine suicide bombers.

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said a foreign mastermind may have planned the Easter Sunday bombings, claimed by Islamic State, telling the militant group to "leave my country alone".

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said a foreign mastermind may have planned the Easter Sunday bombings, claimed by Islamic State, telling the militant group to "leave my country alone". Sirisena also warned it may be possible Islamic State had launched a "new strategy" by targeting smaller countries, Sky New said on Wednesday. A government source told Reuters on Tuesday police and other security forces across the Buddhist-majority country had been ordered to remain on high alert because the militants were expected to try to strike again, before the holy month of Ramadan which starts on Monday. Sirisena said authorities were aware of "a small group" of Sri Lankans who had travelled abroad to receive training from Islamic State over the past decade. Investigations revealed the bombs used in the Easter attacks were made locally, the president said in the interview. The suicide bombings on hotels and churches killed more than 250 people, including 40 foreign nationals. Police suspect members of two previously little-known groups - National Thawheedh Jamaath and Jammiyathul Millathu Ibrahim - of carrying out the attacks. On Monday, Islamic State’s media network published a video message purporting to come from its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which would be his first appearance since declaring the jihadists’ now-defunct “caliphate” five years ago. In the video, a bearded man with Baghdadi’s appearance says the Sri Lanka bombings were Islamic State's response to losses in its last territorial stronghold of Baghouz in Syria. In the Sky News interview, Sirisena said he had a message for Islamic State: "Leave my country alone." Sri Lankan authorities have previously said that they suspect the attackers had international links, although the precise nature of those connections aren't known. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Interpol, as well as other undisclosed foreign agencies, are helping Sri Lanka with the probe. Local intelligence officials believe that Zahran Hashim, a Tamil-speaking preacher from the east of the Indian Ocean island country, may have been a key player in plotting the Easter bombings. Officials believe he was one of nine suicide bombers.

'Leave my country alone', says Sri Lankan President Sirisena to Islamic State

Islamic State fighters who waged a bloody campaign in Syria and Iraq are heading to Afghanistan to continue their jihad and help plot "spectacular" attacks against America, a US official has told AFP.

The warning comes as IS seeks to assert a regional influence after the loss of its self-proclaimed Middle East "caliphate", and as South Asia reels from a series of devastating attacks.

"We know some have already made their way back here and are trying to transfer the knowledge, skills and experience they learned over there," a senior US intelligence official in Kabul told AFP in a recent interview.

"If we don't continue counterterrorism pressure against (IS in Afghanistan), there will be an attack in our homeland -- and a spectacular attack -- probably within the year," added the official, who asked not to be named for security reasons.

The official did not describe the nature of any plot, but IS has been linked to or inspired several big attacks in America, including a 2016 mass shooting in Florida.

The gunman, who had sworn allegiance to IS, killed 49 people in an Orlando nightclub.

A recent UN report said IS in Afghanistan has between 2,500 and 4,000 members -- about the same number the Pentagon was citing two years ago, even though officials say thousands of jihadists have been killed.&nbsp;

US Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said after a recent visit to Afghanistan that IS in the Khorasan, or IS-K as the local affiliate is known, had grown in both numbers and capabilities.

In 2017, the Pentagon offered a rosy assessment that IS-K could be wiped out by the end of that year. But Resolute Support, the NATO mission in Afghanistan, underestimated the group's tenacity.

"Resolute Support realised that this was bigger than a little problem in southern Nangarhar and instead would take something more to address it," the official said, referring to IS-K's bastion in eastern Afghanistan.

The official and a team of experts arrived in Kabul over the past year to help General Scott Miller -- the four-star general in charge of US and NATO forces -- tackle IS-K.

He did not say how many former "caliphate" fighters are in Afghanistan, but argued "any number is significant".

Europeans -- including from Britain and France -- are among those who have joined IS-K, he added.

Their presence could complicate any peace deal with the Taliban, who have pledged to prevent terrorists using Afghanistan as a haven to plot foreign attacks.&nbsp;

"Unless or until we get the Taliban to work and address this problem as well, they will never be able to keep this land free from outwardly facing organisations," the official said.

Baghdadi is back

The US has led an unrelenting air campaign, including famously dropping the so-called Mother Of All Bombs (MOAB), the Pentagon's largest non-nuclear bomb, to smash jihadist tunnels and bunkers.

But the well-funded group has replenished its ranks with foreign fighters and local recruits looking for a decent wage.

IS-K has suffered losses in the northern Jowzjan province but maintains strongholds in Nangarhar and Kunar in the east, where they have beaten back Taliban forces and displaced thousands of locals.

Internationally, IS claimed responsibility for a string of recent attacks, including the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 253 people in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.

On Monday, the jihadists' elusive leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi apparently resurfaced in a propaganda video, his first purported appearance since 2014.

IS-K conducted six high-profile attacks in Kabul in 2016, according to the US. In 2017 that number grew to 18, and last year there were 24. On April 20, IS claimed a suicide attack on a government ministry.

Some Afghan officials question whether IS always oversees such assaults, or if the Taliban and Pakistan groups such as the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Haqqani network are responsible.

"These attacks are carried out mostly by these Afghan and Pakistani groups, while the credit goes to Daesh who is ready to jump and claim it," an Afghan security official told AFP, using the Arabic name for IS.

New recruits

Disillusioned Taliban insurgents sometimes switch to IS-K over spats or for ideological reasons, viewing the Taliban as not austere enough in their interpretation of Islam.

Tech-savvy recruiters track and groom potential jihadists through social media and in Kabul's universities, where middle-class and upwardly mobile students are sometimes targeted.

They are "looking for men who ... have been taug ht at schools paid for by this coalition. That's a little aggravating," the official said.

Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and editor of its Long War Journal, said that while the US military had failed to beat IS-K, it "probably stymied their growth and disrupted their operations at times."

"But it hasn't taken them out of the game," he told AFP.

Islamic State fighters who waged a bloody campaign in Syria and Iraq are heading to Afghanistan to continue their jihad and help plot "spectacular" attacks against America, a US official has told AFP.

Islamic State fighters who waged a bloody campaign in Syria and Iraq are heading to Afghanistan to continue their jihad and help plot "spectacular" attacks against America, a US official has told AFP. The warning comes as IS seeks to assert a regional influence after the loss of its self-proclaimed Middle East "caliphate", and as South Asia reels from a series of devastating attacks. "We know some have already made their way back here and are trying to transfer the knowledge, skills and experience they learned over there," a senior US intelligence official in Kabul told AFP in a recent interview. "If we don't continue counterterrorism pressure against (IS in Afghanistan), there will be an attack in our homeland -- and a spectacular attack -- probably within the year," added the official, who asked not to be named for security reasons. The official did not describe the nature of any plot, but IS has been linked to or inspired several big attacks in America, including a 2016 mass shooting in Florida. The gunman, who had sworn allegiance to IS, killed 49 people in an Orlando nightclub. A recent UN report said IS in Afghanistan has between 2,500 and 4,000 members -- about the same number the Pentagon was citing two years ago, even though officials say thousands of jihadists have been killed. US Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said after a recent visit to Afghanistan that IS in the Khorasan, or IS-K as the local affiliate is known, had grown in both numbers and capabilities. In 2017, the Pentagon offered a rosy assessment that IS-K could be wiped out by the end of that year. But Resolute Support, the NATO mission in Afghanistan, underestimated the group's tenacity. "Resolute Support realised that this was bigger than a little problem in southern Nangarhar and instead would take something more to address it," the official said, referring to IS-K's bastion in eastern Afghanistan. The official and a team of experts arrived in Kabul over the past year to help General Scott Miller -- the four-star general in charge of US and NATO forces -- tackle IS-K. He did not say how many former "caliphate" fighters are in Afghanistan, but argued "any number is significant". Europeans -- including from Britain and France -- are among those who have joined IS-K, he added. Their presence could complicate any peace deal with the Taliban, who have pledged to prevent terrorists using Afghanistan as a haven to plot foreign attacks. "Unless or until we get the Taliban to work and address this problem as well, they will never be able to keep this land free from outwardly facing organisations," the official said. Baghdadi is back The US has led an unrelenting air campaign, including famously dropping the so-called Mother Of All Bombs (MOAB), the Pentagon's largest non-nuclear bomb, to smash jihadist tunnels and bunkers. But the well-funded group has replenished its ranks with foreign fighters and local recruits looking for a decent wage. IS-K has suffered losses in the northern Jowzjan province but maintains strongholds in Nangarhar and Kunar in the east, where they have beaten back Taliban forces and displaced thousands of locals. Internationally, IS claimed responsibility for a string of recent attacks, including the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 253 people in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. On Monday, the jihadists' elusive leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi apparently resurfaced in a propaganda video, his first purported appearance since 2014. IS-K conducted six high-profile attacks in Kabul in 2016, according to the US. In 2017 that number grew to 18, and last year there were 24. On April 20, IS claimed a suicide attack on a government ministry. Some Afghan officials question whether IS always oversees such assaults, or if the Taliban and Pakistan groups such as the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Haqqani network are responsible. "These attacks are carried out mostly by these Afghan and Pakistani groups, while the credit goes to Daesh who is ready to jump and claim it," an Afghan security official told AFP, using the Arabic name for IS. New recruits Disillusioned Taliban insurgents sometimes switch to IS-K over spats or for ideological reasons, viewing the Taliban as not austere enough in their interpretation of Islam. Tech-savvy recruiters track and groom potential jihadists through social media and in Kabul's universities, where middle-class and upwardly mobile students are sometimes targeted. They are "looking for men who ... have been taug ht at schools paid for by this coalition. That's a little aggravating," the official said. Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and editor of its Long War Journal, said that while the US military had failed to beat IS-K, it "probably stymied their growth and disrupted their operations at times." "But it hasn't taken them out of the game," he told AFP.

After 'caliphate' collapse, jihadists head to Afghanistan to plot attacks: US officials

More than 250 innocent victims lost their lives in the carnage on the Easter day and hundreds more were maimed in Colombo recently in synchronised terrorist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. The horrible incident has once again exposed the vulnerability of a democratic society to fanatics ‘motivated’ by distorted interpretation of religion and ‘inspired’ by nightmarish vision of hatred against the ‘enemy’- the ‘other’ who must be eliminated.&nbsp;

Every time such shocking events occur senseless violence is condemned and questions are legitimately raised about failure &nbsp;of intelligence. In the moment of national grief and human suffering the priority is providing relief to the victims and to ensure that the spiral of violence doesn’t spin out of control triggering a communal backlash of revenge and retribution.

Sri Lankan government has responded swiftly and most sensibly. While the officers at the helm responsible for defence and policing &nbsp;have resigned the campaign to trace and eliminate moles in their burrows continues silently.&nbsp;

The country has suffered for decades from acts of terrorism during the long drawn civil war. LTTE that had started as an organisation leading a separatist movement for the establishment of &nbsp;Eelam (an independent Tamil state) carved out of northern provinces soon uncared its claws and fangs as a brutal terrorist organisation led by a ruthless megalomaniac. Prabhakaran self proclaimed protector of oppressed minority turned in to a sadistic bloodthirsty predator. LTTE had established links with terrorists of different hues all over the world. The Tamil insurgency was put down only after brutal use of force that at times didn’t spare innocent civilians. Old wounds take time to heal have suddenly been reopened painfully.&nbsp; 
 
What is &nbsp;most alarming is that ‘links’ that are emerging connecting perpetrators of the barbaric acts in Sri Lanka with like minded coreligionists in Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Much before the tragedy in Colombo irrefutable evidence had surfaced about growing menace of proselytising Islamic zealots in these southern states. Unfortunately, no one had the courage to expose the nexus between corrupt police officers, opportunist politicians and anti social criminals who abused religion as a protective shield. In a secular democratic state it becomes almost impossible to identify a member of the minority community as a prime ‘suspect’ involved in terrorist activities. Intelligence gathered or received fro friends and allies is of little use unless its actionable. &nbsp;

India can not remain a silent spectator to terrorist threats in its neighbourhood as they impinge directly on its own security. Strategic analysts have been warning us that faced with imminent defeat in battlefields of West Asia the dreaded ISIS is likely to shift&nbsp;its attention to South and South East Asia.&nbsp;

The USA and China blinkered by their own strategic interests have let Pakistan transform itself into a sanctuary for terrorists belonging to the aggressive and intolerant Wahabi sect of Islam. Over the years, the home grown Taliban have been outnumbered by mujahideen and fedayeen. Flush with funds provided by the Saudis forces of fundamentalist dogmatic Islam have struck deep roots in Pakistan from where they have&nbsp;spread their tentacles to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. With both the brainwashed cadres of the ISIS and the Wahabi proteges of Saudi Arab waging a war for the hearts and minds of young Muslims right here where we live is confronting us with complex challenges- both in diplomatic arena and in domestic politics. &nbsp;

It is almost impossible to ensure 100&nbsp;per cent protection against attacks launched &nbsp;by a suicidal lone wolf or a pack of rabid canines. Not even the all powerful USA and Israel always on combat ready retaliatory alert have been able to do so. Nor can one prescribe that to reduce the chances of a terrors strike we covert an open society to a police state. Viewing all members of a minority (or for that the some among the dominant matter majority) with suspicion can only be counter productive.&nbsp;

Some analysts are suggesting that rich and well educated terrorists who appear to have replaced the cannon fodder recruited from hopeless slums may well be suffering from serious psychiatric disorders- suicidal tendencies and one shouldn’t hasten to draw wrong conclusions about their religious identities. The attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand &nbsp;was the work of a white, Christian racist and the bloody assault on a Synagogue in New York can’t be blamed on the ‘Jehadis’. We feel that empathy and compassion should be saved for the victims. 
 
Humane criminology can only cloud our vision distract us from the task of killing cancerous cell before they spread to vital organs and disease becomes incurable. There is no time to be lost.&nbsp; 
 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

More than 250 innocent victims lost their lives in the carnage on the Easter day and hundreds more were maimed in Colombo recently in synchronised terrorist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka.

More than 250 innocent victims lost their lives in the carnage on the Easter day and hundreds more were maimed in Colombo recently in synchronised terrorist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka. The horrible incident has once again exposed the vulnerability of a democratic society to fanatics ‘motivated’ by distorted interpretation of religion and ‘inspired’ by nightmarish vision of hatred against the ‘enemy’- the ‘other’ who must be eliminated. Every time such shocking events occur senseless violence is condemned and questions are legitimately raised about failure of intelligence. In the moment of national grief and human suffering the priority is providing relief to the victims and to ensure that the spiral of violence doesn’t spin out of control triggering a communal backlash of revenge and retribution. Sri Lankan government has responded swiftly and most sensibly. While the officers at the helm responsible for defence and policing have resigned the campaign to trace and eliminate moles in their burrows continues silently. The country has suffered for decades from acts of terrorism during the long drawn civil war. LTTE that had started as an organisation leading a separatist movement for the establishment of Eelam (an independent Tamil state) carved out of northern provinces soon uncared its claws and fangs as a brutal terrorist organisation led by a ruthless megalomaniac. Prabhakaran self proclaimed protector of oppressed minority turned in to a sadistic bloodthirsty predator. LTTE had established links with terrorists of different hues all over the world. The Tamil insurgency was put down only after brutal use of force that at times didn’t spare innocent civilians. Old wounds take time to heal have suddenly been reopened painfully. What is most alarming is that ‘links’ that are emerging connecting perpetrators of the barbaric acts in Sri Lanka with like minded coreligionists in Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Much before the tragedy in Colombo irrefutable evidence had surfaced about growing menace of proselytising Islamic zealots in these southern states. Unfortunately, no one had the courage to expose the nexus between corrupt police officers, opportunist politicians and anti social criminals who abused religion as a protective shield. In a secular democratic state it becomes almost impossible to identify a member of the minority community as a prime ‘suspect’ involved in terrorist activities. Intelligence gathered or received fro friends and allies is of little use unless its actionable. India can not remain a silent spectator to terrorist threats in its neighbourhood as they impinge directly on its own security. Strategic analysts have been warning us that faced with imminent defeat in battlefields of West Asia the dreaded ISIS is likely to shift its attention to South and South East Asia. The USA and China blinkered by their own strategic interests have let Pakistan transform itself into a sanctuary for terrorists belonging to the aggressive and intolerant Wahabi sect of Islam. Over the years, the home grown Taliban have been outnumbered by mujahideen and fedayeen. Flush with funds provided by the Saudis forces of fundamentalist dogmatic Islam have struck deep roots in Pakistan from where they have spread their tentacles to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. With both the brainwashed cadres of the ISIS and the Wahabi proteges of Saudi Arab waging a war for the hearts and minds of young Muslims right here where we live is confronting us with complex challenges- both in diplomatic arena and in domestic politics. It is almost impossible to ensure 100 per cent protection against attacks launched by a suicidal lone wolf or a pack of rabid canines. Not even the all powerful USA and Israel always on combat ready retaliatory alert have been able to do so. Nor can one prescribe that to reduce the chances of a terrors strike we covert an open society to a police state. Viewing all members of a minority (or for that the some among the dominant matter majority) with suspicion can only be counter productive. Some analysts are suggesting that rich and well educated terrorists who appear to have replaced the cannon fodder recruited from hopeless slums may well be suffering from serious psychiatric disorders- suicidal tendencies and one shouldn’t hasten to draw wrong conclusions about their religious identities. The attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand was the work of a white, Christian racist and the bloody assault on a Synagogue in New York can’t be blamed on the ‘Jehadis’. We feel that empathy and compassion should be saved for the victims. Humane criminology can only cloud our vision distract us from the task of killing cancerous cell before they spread to vital organs and disease becomes incurable. There is no time to be lost. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Facing imminent defeat in Syria and Iraq, ISIS shifts its attention to South Asia

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-airs-video-purporting-to-be-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-214624">Watch: Islamic State airs video purporting to be leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi</a>

In the 18-minute video from the Al Furqan network, a bearded man with Baghdadi's appearance says the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka were IS's response to losses in its last territorial stronghold of Baghouz in Syria.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/arrested-man-followed-sri-lankan-suicide-bomber-videos-wanted-to-carry-out-attack-in-kerala-nia-214637">Arrested man followed Lankan bomber's videos, wanted to attack Kerala: NIA</a>

The accused, identified as Riyas A, alias Riyas Aboobacker, 29, was arrested on Monday by the National Investigation Agency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-has-intensified-into-severe-cyclonic-storm-imd-214625">Cyclone Fani has intensified into 'severe cyclonic storm': IMD</a>

The Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD said the storm currently lays about 620 km east-northeast of the Trincomalee in Sri Lanka.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-be-deploying-320-additional-troops-along-mexico-border-us-defence-department-214622">Will be deploying 320 additional troops along Mexico border: US defence department</a>

Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis said the troops would assist with transporting migrants, monitoring the welfare of migrants in custody and providing heating and meals.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2019-brilliant-david-warner-hands-hyderabad-45-run-win-over-punjab-214615">IPL 2019: Brilliant David Warner hands Hyderabad 45-run win over Punjab</a>

Playing his last match of the season before heading home for World Cup preparations, Warner struck a belligerent 81 off 56 balls with seven fours and two sixes to complete his IPL 2019 campaign.

Watch: Islamic State airs video purporting to be leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi In the 18-minute video from the Al Furqan network, a bearded man with Baghdadi's appearance says the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka were IS's response to losses in its last territorial stronghold of Baghouz in Syria.

Watch: Islamic State airs video purporting to be leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi In the 18-minute video from the Al Furqan network, a bearded man with Baghdadi's appearance says the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka were IS's response to losses in its last territorial stronghold of Baghouz in Syria. Arrested man followed Lankan bomber's videos, wanted to attack Kerala: NIA The accused, identified as Riyas A, alias Riyas Aboobacker, 29, was arrested on Monday by the National Investigation Agency. Cyclone Fani has intensified into 'severe cyclonic storm': IMD The Cyclone Warning Division of the IMD said the storm currently lays about 620 km east-northeast of the Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. Will be deploying 320 additional troops along Mexico border: US defence department Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis said the troops would assist with transporting migrants, monitoring the welfare of migrants in custody and providing heating and meals. IPL 2019: Brilliant David Warner hands Hyderabad 45-run win over Punjab Playing his last match of the season before heading home for World Cup preparations, Warner struck a belligerent 81 off 56 balls with seven fours and two sixes to complete his IPL 2019 campaign.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The fugitive Islamic State leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has appeared in a propaganda video for the first time in five years, in which he recognises the terror group’s defeat in the Syrian town of Baghuz.

ISIS Chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi appears in a video after 5 years

Islamic State's media network on Monday published a threatening video message purporting to come from its leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-islamic-states-elusive-leader-214714">Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi</a> in what would be his first appearance since declaring the jihadists' now-defunct "caliphate" five years ago.

In the 18-minute video from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqs-tal-afar-liberated-is-chief-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-fate-still-unknown-19749">Al Furqan network</a>, a bearded man with Baghdadi's appearance says the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka were IS's response to losses in its last territorial stronghold of Baghouz in Syria.

The group will seek revenge for jailed and killed members, he says, calling for militants operating in west Africa to multiply attacks against "Crusader France and its allies".

The authenticity and date of the recording could not be independently verified.

The video would be the first from Baghdadi since he was filmed in the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014. More recent speeches have been released as audio recordings.

The introductory script at the start of the video dates it to earlier in April, and he can be seen sitting cross-legged on the floor giving an address to three aides who have their faces blurred.

The speaker appears to be in good health and looks like a slightly older version of Baghdadi than when he was pictured in 2014, addressing followers from a pulpit to declare a caliphate stretching across Iraq and Syria.

In the footage released on Monday, he is dressed in black robes and a beige waistcoat, with a long greying beard dyed red at the bottom. A rifle leans against the wall behind him.

"Our battle today is a battle of attrition with the enemy ... Jihad continues until judgement day, and God ordered us to jihad, but not to victory," he said.

He congratulated militants in Libya for a deadly attack earlier this month on the southern desert town of Fuqaha, where they later retreated, and militants in Burkina Faso and Mali for pledging allegiance to Islamic State.

He also asked God to protect them and Abu Waleed al-Sahrawi, the leader of IS in the Greater Sahara. "We recommend the Mujahideen to drain their enemies of all their human, military, economic and logistical capabilities," he said.

At the height of its power IS ruled over millions of people in territory running from northern Syria through towns and villages along the Tigris and Euphrates valleys to the outskirts of Baghdad.

But the fall in 2017 of Mosul and Raqqa, its strongholds in Iraq and Syria respectively, stripped Baghdadi of the trappings of a caliph and turned him into a fugitive thought to be moving along the desert border between Iraq and Syria.

There had been conflicting reports over whether Baghdadi, an Iraqi, is still alive.

The CIA had no immediate comment on the video.

"We are aware of a video posted today reportedly showing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi," said Pentagon spokesman Navy Commander Sean Robertson. "We are continuing to support partner forces in their mission of an enduring defeat of ISIS."

US air strikes killed most of Baghdadi's top lieutenants, including "war minister" Abu Omar al-Shishani, "governor of the Iraqi region" Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, group spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani and "governor for Syria" Abu Ali al-Anbari.

Though it lost its last significant territory, the Syrian village of Baghouz, last month, IS has sleeper cells around the world and some fighters operate from the shadows in Syria's desert and Iraq's cities.

In West Africa's troubled Sahel region, Islamist extremists have been exploiting local conflicts to extend their reach, with most attacks blamed on groups loosely affiliated with Al Qaeda. In Nigeria, a breakaway faction of the extremist group Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to IS.

In the video, the speaker paid tribute to fighters who died in the Baghouz area, saying they included nationals from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, France, Australia, Chechnya and Egypt.

He said Easter Sunday bombings that left more than 250 people dead were carried out "in revenge for their brothers in Baghouz".

The group had carried out 92 operations in eight countries in revenge for their losses, he said, without giving a timeframe for the attacks. Baghdadi's last known audio recording was released in August 2018.

At the end of the video, one of the aides passes laminated files to Baghdadi labelled with some of the countries or regions in which IS has been active, including Somalia, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, west Africa, Yemen, and Libya.

Islamic State's media network on Monday published a threatening video message purporting to come from its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in what would be his first appearance since declaring the jihadists' now-defunct "caliphate" five years ago.

Islamic State's media network on Monday published a threatening video message purporting to come from its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in what would be his first appearance since declaring the jihadists' now-defunct "caliphate" five years ago. In the 18-minute video from the Al Furqan network, a bearded man with Baghdadi's appearance says the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka were IS's response to losses in its last territorial stronghold of Baghouz in Syria. The group will seek revenge for jailed and killed members, he says, calling for militants operating in west Africa to multiply attacks against "Crusader France and its allies". The authenticity and date of the recording could not be independently verified. The video would be the first from Baghdadi since he was filmed in the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014. More recent speeches have been released as audio recordings. The introductory script at the start of the video dates it to earlier in April, and he can be seen sitting cross-legged on the floor giving an address to three aides who have their faces blurred. The speaker appears to be in good health and looks like a slightly older version of Baghdadi than when he was pictured in 2014, addressing followers from a pulpit to declare a caliphate stretching across Iraq and Syria. In the footage released on Monday, he is dressed in black robes and a beige waistcoat, with a long greying beard dyed red at the bottom. A rifle leans against the wall behind him. "Our battle today is a battle of attrition with the enemy ... Jihad continues until judgement day, and God ordered us to jihad, but not to victory," he said. He congratulated militants in Libya for a deadly attack earlier this month on the southern desert town of Fuqaha, where they later retreated, and militants in Burkina Faso and Mali for pledging allegiance to Islamic State. He also asked God to protect them and Abu Waleed al-Sahrawi, the leader of IS in the Greater Sahara. "We recommend the Mujahideen to drain their enemies of all their human, military, economic and logistical capabilities," he said. At the height of its power IS ruled over millions of people in territory running from northern Syria through towns and villages along the Tigris and Euphrates valleys to the outskirts of Baghdad. But the fall in 2017 of Mosul and Raqqa, its strongholds in Iraq and Syria respectively, stripped Baghdadi of the trappings of a caliph and turned him into a fugitive thought to be moving along the desert border between Iraq and Syria. There had been conflicting reports over whether Baghdadi, an Iraqi, is still alive. The CIA had no immediate comment on the video. "We are aware of a video posted today reportedly showing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi," said Pentagon spokesman Navy Commander Sean Robertson. "We are continuing to support partner forces in their mission of an enduring defeat of ISIS." US air strikes killed most of Baghdadi's top lieutenants, including "war minister" Abu Omar al-Shishani, "governor of the Iraqi region" Abu Muslim al-Turkmani, group spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani and "governor for Syria" Abu Ali al-Anbari. Though it lost its last significant territory, the Syrian village of Baghouz, last month, IS has sleeper cells around the world and some fighters operate from the shadows in Syria's desert and Iraq's cities. In West Africa's troubled Sahel region, Islamist extremists have been exploiting local conflicts to extend their reach, with most attacks blamed on groups loosely affiliated with Al Qaeda. In Nigeria, a breakaway faction of the extremist group Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to IS. In the video, the speaker paid tribute to fighters who died in the Baghouz area, saying they included nationals from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, France, Australia, Chechnya and Egypt. He said Easter Sunday bombings that left more than 250 people dead were carried out "in revenge for their brothers in Baghouz". The group had carried out 92 operations in eight countries in revenge for their losses, he said, without giving a timeframe for the attacks. Baghdadi's last known audio recording was released in August 2018. At the end of the video, one of the aides passes laminated files to Baghdadi labelled with some of the countries or regions in which IS has been active, including Somalia, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, west Africa, Yemen, and Libya.

Islamic State airs video purporting to be leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

Islamic State group chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who purportedly appeared for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/islamic-state-airs-video-purporting-to-be-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-214624">first time in five years</a> in an Islamic State propaganda video released on Monday, remains the world's most wanted man, despite the jihadists' "caliphate" imploding weeks ago.

After declaring himself caliph in 2014, Baghdadi held sway over seven million people across swathes of Syria and Iraq, where IS implemented its brutal version of Islamic law.

But that land has been whittled down to disjointed sleeper cells by years of fighting, including a ferocious bombing campaign by a US-led coalition.

It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but the man said to be Baghdadi referred to last week's deadly attack in Sri Lanka and to the months-long fight for IS's final bastion Baghouz, which ended in late March.

"The battle for Baghouz is over," he said, sitting cross-legged on a cushion and addressing three men whose faces have been blurred.

"God ordered us to wage 'jihad.' He did not order us to win," he said.

Reclusive even when IS was at the peak of its power, the 47-year-old Iraqi, who suffers from diabetes, was rumoured to have been wounded or killed several times.

His whereabouts have never been confirmed.

"He only has three companions: His older brother Jumaa, his driver and bodyguard Abdullatif al-Jubury, whom he has known since childhood, and his courier Saud al-Kurdi," said Hisham al-Hashemi, an Iraqi specialist on IS.

Hashemi said the quartet is likely laying low somewhere in Syria's vast Badia desert, which stretches from the eastern border with Iraq to the sweeping province of Homs.

That is where his son Hudhayfa al-Badri was reportedly killed in July by three Russian guided missiles, Hashemi added.

'The Ghost'

Nicknamed "The Ghost", he had made no public appearances since he delivered a sermon at Mosul's famed Al-Nuri mosque in 2014, when he declared himself "caliph".

His last voice recording to his supporters was released in August, eight months after Iraq announced it had defeated IS and as US-backed forces closed in next door in Syria.

But even as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces pressed the "final battle" against IS's last sliver of territory earlier this year, a spokesman for the US-backed group said the elusive leader was likely not there.

"We do not think he is in Syria," Mustefa Bali told AFP as the fall of Baghouz neared, without elaborating.

Some of those who fled the final holdout in the dying days of the caliphate claimed they had been ordered to leave by Baghdadi.

"Had the caliph not ordered it, we would not have left," one woman told AFP in late February, referring to Baghdadi, who was not believed to have been in Baghouz as the "caliphate" crumbled.

Keeping a low profile - in contrast to slain Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden - has helped Baghdadi survive for years.

Born Ibrahim Awad al-Badri in 1971, the passionate football fan came from modest beginnings in Samarra, north of Baghdad.

His high school results were not good enough for law school and his poor eyesight prevented him from joining the army, so he moved to the Baghdad district of Tobchi to study Islam.

"He had a vision, early on, of where he wanted to go and what kind of organisation he wanted to create," said Sofia Amara, author of a 2017 documentary that unveiled exclusive documents on Baghdadi.

After US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003, he founded his own insurgent organisation but it never carried out major attacks.

When he was arrested and held in a US detention facility in southern Iraq in February 2004, he was still very much a second- or third-tier jihadist.

But it was Camp Bucca -- later dubbed "the University of Jihad" -- where Baghdadi came of age as a jihadist.

"People there realised that this nobody, this shy guy was an astute strategist," Amara said.

He was released at the end of 2004 for lack of evidence. Iraqi security services arrested him twice subsequently, in 2007 and 2012, but let him go because they did not know who he was.

Brutal strategist

In 2005, the father of five pledged allegiance to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the brutal leader of Iraq's Al-Qaida franchise.

Zarqawi was killed by an American drone strike in 2006, and after his successor was also eliminated, Baghdadi took the helm in 2010.

He revived the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), expanded into Syria in 2013 and declared independence from Al-Qaida.

In the following years, Baghdadi's Islamic State group captured swathes of territory, set up a brutal system of government, and inspired thousands to join the "caliphate" from abroad.

Baghdadi was raised in a family divided between a religious clan and officers loyal to Saddam's secular Baath party.

Years later, his jihadist group incorporated ex-Baathists, capitalising on the bitterness many officers felt after the American move to dissolve the Iraqi army in 2003.

That gave his leadership the military legitimacy he had lacked and formed a solid backbone of what was to become IS, combining extreme religious propaganda with ferocious guerrilla efficiency.

Uncharismatic and an average orator, Baghdadi was described by his repudiated ex-wife Saja al-Dulaimi, who now lives in Lebanon, as a "normal family man" who was good with children.

He is thought to have had three wives in total; Iraqi Asma al-Kubaysi, Syrian Isra al-Qaysi and another spouse, more recently, from the Gulf.

He has been accused of repeatedly raping girls and women he kept as "sex slaves", including a pre-teen Yazidi girl and US aid worker Kayla Mueller, who was subsequently killed.

Islamic State group chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who purportedly appeared for the first time in five years in an Islamic State propaganda video released on Monday, remains the world's most wanted man, despite the jihadists' "caliphate" imploding weeks ago.

Islamic State group chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who purportedly appeared for the first time in five years in an Islamic State propaganda video released on Monday, remains the world's most wanted man, despite the jihadists' "caliphate" imploding weeks ago. After declaring himself caliph in 2014, Baghdadi held sway over seven million people across swathes of Syria and Iraq, where IS implemented its brutal version of Islamic law. But that land has been whittled down to disjointed sleeper cells by years of fighting, including a ferocious bombing campaign by a US-led coalition. It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but the man said to be Baghdadi referred to last week's deadly attack in Sri Lanka and to the months-long fight for IS's final bastion Baghouz, which ended in late March. "The battle for Baghouz is over," he said, sitting cross-legged on a cushion and addressing three men whose faces have been blurred. "God ordered us to wage 'jihad.' He did not order us to win," he said. Reclusive even when IS was at the peak of its power, the 47-year-old Iraqi, who suffers from diabetes, was rumoured to have been wounded or killed several times. His whereabouts have never been confirmed. "He only has three companions: His older brother Jumaa, his driver and bodyguard Abdullatif al-Jubury, whom he has known since childhood, and his courier Saud al-Kurdi," said Hisham al-Hashemi, an Iraqi specialist on IS. Hashemi said the quartet is likely laying low somewhere in Syria's vast Badia desert, which stretches from the eastern border with Iraq to the sweeping province of Homs. That is where his son Hudhayfa al-Badri was reportedly killed in July by three Russian guided missiles, Hashemi added. 'The Ghost' Nicknamed "The Ghost", he had made no public appearances since he delivered a sermon at Mosul's famed Al-Nuri mosque in 2014, when he declared himself "caliph". His last voice recording to his supporters was released in August, eight months after Iraq announced it had defeated IS and as US-backed forces closed in next door in Syria. But even as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces pressed the "final battle" against IS's last sliver of territory earlier this year, a spokesman for the US-backed group said the elusive leader was likely not there. "We do not think he is in Syria," Mustefa Bali told AFP as the fall of Baghouz neared, without elaborating. Some of those who fled the final holdout in the dying days of the caliphate claimed they had been ordered to leave by Baghdadi. "Had the caliph not ordered it, we would not have left," one woman told AFP in late February, referring to Baghdadi, who was not believed to have been in Baghouz as the "caliphate" crumbled. Keeping a low profile - in contrast to slain Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden - has helped Baghdadi survive for years. Born Ibrahim Awad al-Badri in 1971, the passionate football fan came from modest beginnings in Samarra, north of Baghdad. His high school results were not good enough for law school and his poor eyesight prevented him from joining the army, so he moved to the Baghdad district of Tobchi to study Islam. "He had a vision, early on, of where he wanted to go and what kind of organisation he wanted to create," said Sofia Amara, author of a 2017 documentary that unveiled exclusive documents on Baghdadi. After US-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003, he founded his own insurgent organisation but it never carried out major attacks. When he was arrested and held in a US detention facility in southern Iraq in February 2004, he was still very much a second- or third-tier jihadist. But it was Camp Bucca -- later dubbed "the University of Jihad" -- where Baghdadi came of age as a jihadist. "People there realised that this nobody, this shy guy was an astute strategist," Amara said. He was released at the end of 2004 for lack of evidence. Iraqi security services arrested him twice subsequently, in 2007 and 2012, but let him go because they did not know who he was. Brutal strategist In 2005, the father of five pledged allegiance to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the brutal leader of Iraq's Al-Qaida franchise. Zarqawi was killed by an American drone strike in 2006, and after his successor was also eliminated, Baghdadi took the helm in 2010. He revived the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), expanded into Syria in 2013 and declared independence from Al-Qaida. In the following years, Baghdadi's Islamic State group captured swathes of territory, set up a brutal system of government, and inspired thousands to join the "caliphate" from abroad. Baghdadi was raised in a family divided between a religious clan and officers loyal to Saddam's secular Baath party. Years later, his jihadist group incorporated ex-Baathists, capitalising on the bitterness many officers felt after the American move to dissolve the Iraqi army in 2003. That gave his leadership the military legitimacy he had lacked and formed a solid backbone of what was to become IS, combining extreme religious propaganda with ferocious guerrilla efficiency. Uncharismatic and an average orator, Baghdadi was described by his repudiated ex-wife Saja al-Dulaimi, who now lives in Lebanon, as a "normal family man" who was good with children. He is thought to have had three wives in total; Iraqi Asma al-Kubaysi, Syrian Isra al-Qaysi and another spouse, more recently, from the Gulf. He has been accused of repeatedly raping girls and women he kept as "sex slaves", including a pre-teen Yazidi girl and US aid worker Kayla Mueller, who was subsequently killed.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Islamic State's elusive leader

The elusive chief of the Islamic State group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has purportedly appeared for the first time in five years in a propaganda video released Monday by the jihadist organisation.

It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but the man said to be Baghdadi referred in the past tense to the months-long fight for Baghouz, IS's final bastion in eastern Syria, which ended last month.

"The battle for Baghouz is over," the man said, sitting cross-legged on a cushion and addressing three men whose faces have been blurred.

But he insisted that IS's operations against the West were part of a "long battle," and that IS would "take revenge" on members who had been killed.

"There will be more to come after this battle," he said.

Baghdadi, 47, had a long grey beard that appeared dyed with henna and spoke slowly, often pausing for several seconds in the middle of his sentences.

He appeared for the first and last time in public in Mosul in 2014, where he declared an Islamic "caliphate" in the swathes of territory IS then held in Syria and Iraq.

He was reported killed or injured multiple times since then.

His last voice recording to his supporters was released in August, eight months after Iraq announced it had defeated IS and as US-backed forces closed in next door in Syria.

The elusive chief of the Islamic State group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has purportedly appeared for the first time in five years in a propaganda video released Monday by the jihadist organisation.

The elusive chief of the Islamic State group Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has purportedly appeared for the first time in five years in a propaganda video released Monday by the jihadist organisation. It is unclear when the footage was filmed, but the man said to be Baghdadi referred in the past tense to the months-long fight for Baghouz, IS's final bastion in eastern Syria, which ended last month. "The battle for Baghouz is over," the man said, sitting cross-legged on a cushion and addressing three men whose faces have been blurred. But he insisted that IS's operations against the West were part of a "long battle," and that IS would "take revenge" on members who had been killed. "There will be more to come after this battle," he said. Baghdadi, 47, had a long grey beard that appeared dyed with henna and spoke slowly, often pausing for several seconds in the middle of his sentences. He appeared for the first and last time in public in Mosul in 2014, where he declared an Islamic "caliphate" in the swathes of territory IS then held in Syria and Iraq. He was reported killed or injured multiple times since then. His last voice recording to his supporters was released in August, eight months after Iraq announced it had defeated IS and as US-backed forces closed in next door in Syria.

IS chief Baghdadi appears for first time in five years in propaganda video

Barring three areas, Sri Lanka on Sunday lifted the nationwide night curfew which was imposed after the island nation was rocked with eight blasts targeting churches and hotels that killed 253 people, including Indians.&nbsp;

Police also said they have arrested one more person suspected to be involved in the Easter blasts.

"No island-wide curfew tonight. Curfew only imposed in Kalmunai, Sammanthurai and Chavalakade areas from 5 pm today," police spokesmen Ruwan Gunasekera said.

Ibrahim Mohamed Ifran Ahmed, the elder brother of two suicide bombers at the Shangri-La and Cinnamon Hotels, was arrested in Dematagoda area for possessing swords and an air rifle, he added.

A string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, struck churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday and shattering a decade of peace in the island nation since the end of the brutal civil war with the LTTE.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Gunasekera said a mother-child duo rescued by police from a terrorist safe house at Sainthamarudu in Eastern Sri Lanka during a raid have been identified as the wife and four-year-old daughter of Mohamad

Zahran Hashim, the suicide bomber-cum-mastermind of the serial bombings.

"Abdul Cader Fathima Sadia and Mohamad Zahran Rusaina, 4, rescued from the blasts and taken to Ampara hospital have been identified by Zahran's sister as his wife and daughter," he said.

The Special Task Force and Army troops, following a tip-off, raided a house in Kalmunai city at at Sainthamarudu on Friday night, leading to a heavy exchange of fire with armed militants. As many as 15 people, including six children and three women, were killed in the shootout.&nbsp;

Barring three areas, Sri Lanka on Sunday lifted the nationwide night curfew which was imposed after the island nation was rocked with eight blasts targeting churches and hotels that killed 253 people, including Indians.

Barring three areas, Sri Lanka on Sunday lifted the nationwide night curfew which was imposed after the island nation was rocked with eight blasts targeting churches and hotels that killed 253 people, including Indians. Police also said they have arrested one more person suspected to be involved in the Easter blasts. "No island-wide curfew tonight. Curfew only imposed in Kalmunai, Sammanthurai and Chavalakade areas from 5 pm today," police spokesmen Ruwan Gunasekera said. Ibrahim Mohamed Ifran Ahmed, the elder brother of two suicide bombers at the Shangri-La and Cinnamon Hotels, was arrested in Dematagoda area for possessing swords and an air rifle, he added. A string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, struck churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday and shattering a decade of peace in the island nation since the end of the brutal civil war with the LTTE. Gunasekera said a mother-child duo rescued by police from a terrorist safe house at Sainthamarudu in Eastern Sri Lanka during a raid have been identified as the wife and four-year-old daughter of Mohamad Zahran Hashim, the suicide bomber-cum-mastermind of the serial bombings. "Abdul Cader Fathima Sadia and Mohamad Zahran Rusaina, 4, rescued from the blasts and taken to Ampara hospital have been identified by Zahran's sister as his wife and daughter," he said. The Special Task Force and Army troops, following a tip-off, raided a house in Kalmunai city at at Sainthamarudu on Friday night, leading to a heavy exchange of fire with armed militants. As many as 15 people, including six children and three women, were killed in the shootout.

Sri Lanka lifts nationwide night curfew

A week ago, Sri Lankan tourist guide Ricky Costa was preparing for a typically easy Sunday ferrying backpackers between Colombo's tea shops and beach bars in his canary-yellow rickshaw. Then the blasts began.

The coordinated suicide bombings by Islamist militants at hotels and churches killed more than 250 people and sent shockwaves through an Indian Ocean island state that had enjoyed relative peace since a civil war ended a decade ago.

How such a sophisticated operation could have been carried out in a country where violence by Islamist militants drawn from the Muslim minority was not high on the list of concerns has left Sri Lankans and foreign intelligence agencies stumped.

President Maithripala Sirisena has announced a total overhaul of the security establishment, blaming them for failing to communicate several warnings they had about potential attacks, including one from India hours before the first bomb.

However, interviews with more than a dozen people with direct knowledge of the Sri Lankan government and security apparatus, including military sources, senior diplomats and intelligence agents, suggest deeper failings that created an ideal environment for extremists looking for a soft target.

Since Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka won a 26-year conflict against mostly Hindu ethnic Tamil separatists, a well-resourced military has failed to adapt to shifting security threats, the sources said.

"The government was asleep. The military was asleep. They've been asleep for a long time," said Costa, perching on his rickshaw as a suspicious policeman peered inside.

Costa's analysis is a simplification, but some experts agree that a lack of preparedness was a significant factor that led to a little-known Islamist group being able to orchestrate the deadliest attack of its kind in South Asia's history.

Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have both apologised for any lapses that might have contributed to the attacks. Wickremesinghe said the government and security forces take "collective responsibility".

Long-term decline

There are no official figures on the size of Sri Lanka's armed forces but experts estimate there are around 150,000 active military personnel and 80,000 police officers, both substantial forces for a country of just 22 million.

Despite its size, the military had become "flabby" and "unfocused", according to one Western diplomat. Military personnel with little to do have been conscripted into commercial ventures, including whale-watching tours for tourists, running hair salons and tending to farms.

Military spokesman Sumith Atapattu said it was wrong to suggest that the armed forces had not given sufficient priority to evidence of emerging Islamist extremism, but added they could only take action when there was evidence of criminal activity.

"We have passed the necessary information to the relevant authorities. But what is the legal background the military has to control extremism? A person being radicalised is not an offence in our country," he said.

"We are searching for reconciliation after a long period of war and we cannot use a sledgehammer to kill a fly."

Another foreign diplomat said he spoke to a senior military intelligence official the day before the attacks to warn him of an imminent threat. When he asked the official if he would raise the warning to the top echelons of government, he was told "not during the holidays".

"Ten years of peace breeds over-confidence," the diplomat said. "It's easy to focus on the last weeks and months, but this attack was made possible by a much longer-term decline in the functionality of Sri Lanka's security services and government."

The military has also been more focused on monitoring the country's Tamil population and preventing another separatist insurgency than on a Muslim community that makes up only 10 percent of the population, defence sources and experts said.

"This inattention could have created the opportunity for a local group — perhaps with external encouragement or support — to emerge from obscurity and perpetrate such terrifically lethal attacks," said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Security experts believe National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NJT), a local Islamist group that has emerged over the last year, was responsible for the attacks, likely with the assistance of outside groups. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombings, without providing evidence.

Though Sri Lanka has no significant history of violence between its Muslim and Christian minorities, some say the warning signs of a changing social dynamic were there.

Concerns raised about a more radical strain of Islam emerging over the last five years went unheeded, civil society groups and Western diplomats say.

Hashim Mohamed Zahran, the alleged ringleader of the Easter Sunday blasts, had been flagged to security officials as a threat.

"We had concerns and we raised them. They were not properly considered," said Hilmy Ahamed, vice president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, a civil society group.

"Tragic complacency"

Zahran, a man in his early 30s who had been preaching an increasingly militant brand of Islam, was one of two attackers who died after detonating their explosives in the luxury Shangri-La hotel, intelligence officials say.

Ahamed said that in February he warned a contact in the intelligence services of the threat posed by Zahran. He received a text message response. "Thank you. Noted," it said.

"There was an overall environment of complacency. That is the tragedy," Ahamed said.

The top civil servant in Sri Lanka's defence ministry, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, resigned on Thursday, taking responsibility for the attacks after Sirisena pinned the blame on the security services.

Many Sri Lankans believe a deep rift between Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has also undermined national security.

Sirisena fired Wickremesinghe last year, after months of tension, only to be forced to reinstate him under pressure from the Supreme Court.

Since then their relationship has deteriorated further to the point where their factions actively try to undermine each other, including not sharing security information, defence sources say.

"Inefficiency, mediocrity, and infighting within the government contributed to last week's attack," said Iqbal Athas, a defence analyst, adding that vital intelligence-gathering resources had been diverted in recent years to spy on political rivals rather than to monitor extremists.

Presidential aide Shiral Lakthilaka said Sirisena and Wickremesinghe's feuding had come to an end.

"The past is past," Lakthilaka said in response to a question about the impact the rift had on security. "Whatever the setbacks, both have shed their differences and are working towards eradicating this menace and bring all the underground activities to a standstill."

An ally of the prime minister, government spokesman and health minister Rathija Senaratne, blamed the president for the rift. "He by-passed ministers as well," he said.

If there was an element of lethargy in the Sri Lankan state, it has been jolted back to life. One diplomat said the defence forces had "reverted to war mode".

The streets of Colombo are marshalled by hundreds of soldiers and police, as everyone fears the possibility of more attacks or a spike in retaliatory sectarian violence. Nearly 10,000 soldiers have been deployed countrywide.

A gun battle on Friday between troops and suspected militants on the east coast killed 15, including Zahran's father and two brothers, in a sign that Sri Lanka's security crisis is far from over.

Named Lonely Planet's No. 1 travel destination for 2019, Sri Lanka had built a reputation over the past decade as a stable, relaxed island in a chaotic region.

That image has been shattered by Sunday's bombs.

"For 10 years this was a laid-back place," said Costa, as a truck of armed soldiers sped past. "Not anymore."

A week ago, Sri Lankan tourist guide Ricky Costa was preparing for a typically easy Sunday ferrying backpackers between Colombo's tea shops and beach bars in his canary-yellow rickshaw.

A week ago, Sri Lankan tourist guide Ricky Costa was preparing for a typically easy Sunday ferrying backpackers between Colombo's tea shops and beach bars in his canary-yellow rickshaw. Then the blasts began. The coordinated suicide bombings by Islamist militants at hotels and churches killed more than 250 people and sent shockwaves through an Indian Ocean island state that had enjoyed relative peace since a civil war ended a decade ago. How such a sophisticated operation could have been carried out in a country where violence by Islamist militants drawn from the Muslim minority was not high on the list of concerns has left Sri Lankans and foreign intelligence agencies stumped. President Maithripala Sirisena has announced a total overhaul of the security establishment, blaming them for failing to communicate several warnings they had about potential attacks, including one from India hours before the first bomb. However, interviews with more than a dozen people with direct knowledge of the Sri Lankan government and security apparatus, including military sources, senior diplomats and intelligence agents, suggest deeper failings that created an ideal environment for extremists looking for a soft target. Since Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka won a 26-year conflict against mostly Hindu ethnic Tamil separatists, a well-resourced military has failed to adapt to shifting security threats, the sources said. "The government was asleep. The military was asleep. They've been asleep for a long time," said Costa, perching on his rickshaw as a suspicious policeman peered inside. Costa's analysis is a simplification, but some experts agree that a lack of preparedness was a significant factor that led to a little-known Islamist group being able to orchestrate the deadliest attack of its kind in South Asia's history. Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have both apologised for any lapses that might have contributed to the attacks. Wickremesinghe said the government and security forces take "collective responsibility". Long-term decline There are no official figures on the size of Sri Lanka's armed forces but experts estimate there are around 150,000 active military personnel and 80,000 police officers, both substantial forces for a country of just 22 million. Despite its size, the military had become "flabby" and "unfocused", according to one Western diplomat. Military personnel with little to do have been conscripted into commercial ventures, including whale-watching tours for tourists, running hair salons and tending to farms. Military spokesman Sumith Atapattu said it was wrong to suggest that the armed forces had not given sufficient priority to evidence of emerging Islamist extremism, but added they could only take action when there was evidence of criminal activity. "We have passed the necessary information to the relevant authorities. But what is the legal background the military has to control extremism? A person being radicalised is not an offence in our country," he said. "We are searching for reconciliation after a long period of war and we cannot use a sledgehammer to kill a fly." Another foreign diplomat said he spoke to a senior military intelligence official the day before the attacks to warn him of an imminent threat. When he asked the official if he would raise the warning to the top echelons of government, he was told "not during the holidays". "Ten years of peace breeds over-confidence," the diplomat said. "It's easy to focus on the last weeks and months, but this attack was made possible by a much longer-term decline in the functionality of Sri Lanka's security services and government." The military has also been more focused on monitoring the country's Tamil population and preventing another separatist insurgency than on a Muslim community that makes up only 10 percent of the population, defence sources and experts said. "This inattention could have created the opportunity for a local group — perhaps with external encouragement or support — to emerge from obscurity and perpetrate such terrifically lethal attacks," said Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. Security experts believe National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NJT), a local Islamist group that has emerged over the last year, was responsible for the attacks, likely with the assistance of outside groups. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the bombings, without providing evidence. Though Sri Lanka has no significant history of violence between its Muslim and Christian minorities, some say the warning signs of a changing social dynamic were there. Concerns raised about a more radical strain of Islam emerging over the last five years went unheeded, civil society groups and Western diplomats say. Hashim Mohamed Zahran, the alleged ringleader of the Easter Sunday blasts, had been flagged to security officials as a threat. "We had concerns and we raised them. They were not properly considered," said Hilmy Ahamed, vice president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, a civil society group. "Tragic complacency" Zahran, a man in his early 30s who had been preaching an increasingly militant brand of Islam, was one of two attackers who died after detonating their explosives in the luxury Shangri-La hotel, intelligence officials say. Ahamed said that in February he warned a contact in the intelligence services of the threat posed by Zahran. He received a text message response. "Thank you. Noted," it said. "There was an overall environment of complacency. That is the tragedy," Ahamed said. The top civil servant in Sri Lanka's defence ministry, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, resigned on Thursday, taking responsibility for the attacks after Sirisena pinned the blame on the security services. Many Sri Lankans believe a deep rift between Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has also undermined national security. Sirisena fired Wickremesinghe last year, after months of tension, only to be forced to reinstate him under pressure from the Supreme Court. Since then their relationship has deteriorated further to the point where their factions actively try to undermine each other, including not sharing security information, defence sources say. "Inefficiency, mediocrity, and infighting within the government contributed to last week's attack," said Iqbal Athas, a defence analyst, adding that vital intelligence-gathering resources had been diverted in recent years to spy on political rivals rather than to monitor extremists. Presidential aide Shiral Lakthilaka said Sirisena and Wickremesinghe's feuding had come to an end. "The past is past," Lakthilaka said in response to a question about the impact the rift had on security. "Whatever the setbacks, both have shed their differences and are working towards eradicating this menace and bring all the underground activities to a standstill." An ally of the prime minister, government spokesman and health minister Rathija Senaratne, blamed the president for the rift. "He by-passed ministers as well," he said. If there was an element of lethargy in the Sri Lankan state, it has been jolted back to life. One diplomat said the defence forces had "reverted to war mode". The streets of Colombo are marshalled by hundreds of soldiers and police, as everyone fears the possibility of more attacks or a spike in retaliatory sectarian violence. Nearly 10,000 soldiers have been deployed countrywide. A gun battle on Friday between troops and suspected militants on the east coast killed 15, including Zahran's father and two brothers, in a sign that Sri Lanka's security crisis is far from over. Named Lonely Planet's No. 1 travel destination for 2019, Sri Lanka had built a reputation over the past decade as a stable, relaxed island in a chaotic region. That image has been shattered by Sunday's bombs. "For 10 years this was a laid-back place," said Costa, as a truck of armed soldiers sped past. "Not anymore."

How 'laid back' Sri Lanka became a soft target for Islamist strike

Children born to Yazidi women as a result of rape by Islamic State group fighters will not be permitted to join the community in northern Iraq, the faith's Supreme Spiritual Council said.&nbsp;

The Yazidi community once numbered around 500,000 members in the mountainous Sinjar region of northwest Iraq, but it was ravaged by IS's 2014 sweep into the area.&nbsp;

Jihadists killed Yazidi men, forced boys to join their ranks as fighters and abducted and imprisoned thousands of Yazidi women as sex slaves.&nbsp;

The children born of those rapes have been the subject of fierce debate in the insular community, which only recognises children as Yazidis if both their parents hail from the sect.

Last week, the head of the Supreme Spiritual Council Hazem Tahsin Said issued what appeared to be a landmark shift, publishing an order "accepting all survivors (of IS crimes) and considering what they went through to have been against their will".

The decision was hailed as "historic" by Yazidi activists, who understood it to mean that children born of rape would now be allowed to live among their Yazidi relatives.&nbsp;

But late Saturday, the Council published a clarification that the decision "does not include children born of rape, but refers to children born of two Yazidi parents".&nbsp;

The Yazidi community had long considered any women marrying outside the sect to no longer be Yazidi, initially including those assaulted by IS in 2014.

But Yazidi spiritual leader Baba Sheikh issued a decision the following year welcoming those women back home, without resolving the fate of their children.

Many Yazidi women who were kidnapped by IS have escaped in recent years, and dozens more fled to safety in the last few months as IS's "caliphate" crumbled in Syria.&nbsp;

Those who had children with IS fighters faced a difficult choice: either remain ex-communicated from their Yazidi relatives, or leave the children behind.&nbsp;

Dozens who returned to the Yazidi heartland of Sinjar in northwest Iraq in recent months chose the latter.&nbsp;

In Iraq, children inherit the religious sect and nationality of their father, so those born to Sunni Muslim men would have the same religion.

Those born to suspected IS fighters who are either missing or dead are at risk of remaining stateless because of lack of proof of their father's identity.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Iraqi President Barham Saleh proposed a bill to parliament that would provide reparations for Yazidi female survivors of IS crimes and establish a court to clarify "civil status" issues.&nbsp;

Children born to Yazidi women as a result of rape by Islamic State group fighters will not be permitted to join the community in northern Iraq, the faith's Supreme Spiritual Council said.

Children born to Yazidi women as a result of rape by Islamic State group fighters will not be permitted to join the community in northern Iraq, the faith's Supreme Spiritual Council said. The Yazidi community once numbered around 500,000 members in the mountainous Sinjar region of northwest Iraq, but it was ravaged by IS's 2014 sweep into the area. Jihadists killed Yazidi men, forced boys to join their ranks as fighters and abducted and imprisoned thousands of Yazidi women as sex slaves. The children born of those rapes have been the subject of fierce debate in the insular community, which only recognises children as Yazidis if both their parents hail from the sect. Last week, the head of the Supreme Spiritual Council Hazem Tahsin Said issued what appeared to be a landmark shift, publishing an order "accepting all survivors (of IS crimes) and considering what they went through to have been against their will". The decision was hailed as "historic" by Yazidi activists, who understood it to mean that children born of rape would now be allowed to live among their Yazidi relatives. But late Saturday, the Council published a clarification that the decision "does not include children born of rape, but refers to children born of two Yazidi parents". The Yazidi community had long considered any women marrying outside the sect to no longer be Yazidi, initially including those assaulted by IS in 2014. But Yazidi spiritual leader Baba Sheikh issued a decision the following year welcoming those women back home, without resolving the fate of their children. Many Yazidi women who were kidnapped by IS have escaped in recent years, and dozens more fled to safety in the last few months as IS's "caliphate" crumbled in Syria. Those who had children with IS fighters faced a difficult choice: either remain ex-communicated from their Yazidi relatives, or leave the children behind. Dozens who returned to the Yazidi heartland of Sinjar in northwest Iraq in recent months chose the latter. In Iraq, children inherit the religious sect and nationality of their father, so those born to Sunni Muslim men would have the same religion. Those born to suspected IS fighters who are either missing or dead are at risk of remaining stateless because of lack of proof of their father's identity. Earlier this month, Iraqi President Barham Saleh proposed a bill to parliament that would provide reparations for Yazidi female survivors of IS crimes and establish a court to clarify "civil status" issues.

Children born to IS fathers not considered Yazidi: Council

Sri Lankan forces have killed or arrested most of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/how-can-someone-kill-in-the-name-of-god-wonders-sri-lankan-cardinal-214113">radical Islamists</a> linked to the Easter suicide bombings and the country is ready to return to normality, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sunday.

But the prime minister said the government had planned tougher laws to deal with Islamist extremists and that foreign clerics teaching in Sri Lanka illegally will be expelled.

The Easter Sunday bombings that left 253 dead were carried out by a "small, but a well organised group," Wickremesinghe said in a statement.

"Most of them have been arrested. Some have died," he said. "Now we are able to return to normality."

"We should all now help restore the normal life of the community."

Three churches and three hotels were targeted by suicide bombers in the attacks in which at least 40 foreigners were killed.

More than 100 people have been detained since the attacks. Authorities have said there are about 140 followers of the Islamic State group in the country.

Wickremesinghe confirmed that a number of would-be suicide bombers had taken their lives when confronted by security forces on Friday night in the east of the country.

Fifteen people died in a clash with security forces when three suicide bombers blew themselves up at a jihadist safe house on Friday night. &nbsp;

"Jihad terrorism should be ended immediately. For that we will bring new and tougher laws," the prime minister said.

"There are several foreigners working as teachers in our country without work visas. In consultation with the Muslim religious affairs ministry and the home ministry, we will expel them from the country," he added.

Wickremesinghe did not give a number nor the nationalities of the clerics.

The prime minister also thanked the minority Muslim community for tipping off authorities about radical groups.

The government on Saturday used emergency laws to ban the extremist National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), which was accused of carrying out the Easter attacks.&nbsp;

Sri Lankan forces have killed or arrested most of the radical Islamists linked to the Easter suicide bombings and the country is ready to return to normality, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sunday.

Sri Lankan forces have killed or arrested most of the radical Islamists linked to the Easter suicide bombings and the country is ready to return to normality, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Sunday. But the prime minister said the government had planned tougher laws to deal with Islamist extremists and that foreign clerics teaching in Sri Lanka illegally will be expelled. The Easter Sunday bombings that left 253 dead were carried out by a "small, but a well organised group," Wickremesinghe said in a statement. "Most of them have been arrested. Some have died," he said. "Now we are able to return to normality." "We should all now help restore the normal life of the community." Three churches and three hotels were targeted by suicide bombers in the attacks in which at least 40 foreigners were killed. More than 100 people have been detained since the attacks. Authorities have said there are about 140 followers of the Islamic State group in the country. Wickremesinghe confirmed that a number of would-be suicide bombers had taken their lives when confronted by security forces on Friday night in the east of the country. Fifteen people died in a clash with security forces when three suicide bombers blew themselves up at a jihadist safe house on Friday night. "Jihad terrorism should be ended immediately. For that we will bring new and tougher laws," the prime minister said. "There are several foreigners working as teachers in our country without work visas. In consultation with the Muslim religious affairs ministry and the home ministry, we will expel them from the country," he added. Wickremesinghe did not give a number nor the nationalities of the clerics. The prime minister also thanked the minority Muslim community for tipping off authorities about radical groups. The government on Saturday used emergency laws to ban the extremist National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), which was accused of carrying out the Easter attacks.

Most Sri Lanka Islamist radicals killed or arrested: PM Ranil Wickremesinghe

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-troops-kill-two-suspected-is-gunmen-explosives-found-during-raid-213815">Sri Lanka troops kill two suspected IS gunmen; explosives found during raid&nbsp;</a>

Sri Lankan security forces raided a safe house of Islamic State affiliated militants in the east of the country and killed at least two men in an exchange of fire, news agency AFP reported quoting military spokesman.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-rejects-un-arms-trade-treaty-says-revoking-predecessors-signature-213808">Trump rejects UN treaty aimed at regulating global arms trade</a>

President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States would not abide by a UN treaty aimed at regulating the global arms trade, calling it "misguided" and encroachment on US sovereignty.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spains-far-right-the-clear-leader-in-social-media-213822">Spain's far-right, the clear leader in social media</a>

Just like US President Donald Trump and France's Marine Le Pen, Spain's far-right party Vox has made a point of dominating social media with its hardline rhetoric ahead of elections on Sunday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-raises-63-million-in-first-24-hours-of-campaign-213809">Joe Biden raises $6.3 million in first 24 hours of campaign</a>

US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden raised $6.3 million in the first 24 hours of his campaign, providing a stronger showing than any of his rivals.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-urges-citizens-to-reconsider-travel-to-sri-lanka-over-terror-threat-213813">US urges citizens to 'reconsider travel' to Sri Lanka over terror threat</a>

The US State Department on Friday raised the level of its travel warning for Sri Lanka, urging citizens to reconsider visiting the island in the wake of a devastating series of suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people.

Sri Lanka troops kill two suspected IS gunmen; explosives found during raid Sri Lankan security forces raided a safe house of Islamic State affiliated militants in the east of the country and killed at least two men in an exchange of fire, news agency AFP reported quoting military spokesman.

Sri Lanka troops kill two suspected IS gunmen; explosives found during raid Sri Lankan security forces raided a safe house of Islamic State affiliated militants in the east of the country and killed at least two men in an exchange of fire, news agency AFP reported quoting military spokesman. Trump rejects UN treaty aimed at regulating global arms trade President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States would not abide by a UN treaty aimed at regulating the global arms trade, calling it "misguided" and encroachment on US sovereignty. Spain's far-right, the clear leader in social media Just like US President Donald Trump and France's Marine Le Pen, Spain's far-right party Vox has made a point of dominating social media with its hardline rhetoric ahead of elections on Sunday. Joe Biden raises $6.3 million in first 24 hours of campaign US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden raised $6.3 million in the first 24 hours of his campaign, providing a stronger showing than any of his rivals. US urges citizens to 'reconsider travel' to Sri Lanka over terror threat The US State Department on Friday raised the level of its travel warning for Sri Lanka, urging citizens to reconsider visiting the island in the wake of a devastating series of suicide bombings that killed more than 250 people.

A gun battle erupted during a search and cordon operation in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-releases-photos-of-suspects-of-church-hotel-bombing-that-killed-nearly-250-213584">Sri Lanka's eastern province</a>. Lankan soldiers opened fire on suspected terrorists, reports said.

Sri Lanka's military spokesman said gun battle with suspects was still&nbsp;underway.

An explosion was&nbsp;reported from Sainthamaruthu in Kalmunai. Soldiers went in to investigate an explosion in the town of Ampara Sainthamaruthu in&nbsp;Batticaloa east, during a search operation, Reuters reported the spokesperson as saying, and were fired upon.

Local media reports said the military was searching for a makeshift bomb factory when the gun battle started.

The police found various apparatus to be used in making explosives including bags of metal balls, gelignite sticks and fuel during the raid.

An Islamic State(IS) flag was also found by soldiers.

Earlier in the day, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sri-lanka/sri-lankan-president-confident-armed-forces-could-destroy-group-behind-bombings-213700">President Maithripala Sirisena </a>had said the police were looking for 140 people believed to have links with the Islamic State terrorist group over the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels that killed at least 253 people.

"We now have info that there are about 140 people in Sri Lanka linked to the Islamic State. We can and we will eradicate all of them very soon," Sirisena said, announcing that there would also be new legislation to ban extremist groups.

Sirisena told reporters some Sri Lankan youths had been involved with the extremist group since 2013, and that top defence and police chiefs had not shared information with him about the impending attacks.

Several countries including Israel, Australia and Britain have warned their citizens against visiting Sri Lanka in the wake of the attacks.

Authorities on Thursday had reduced the death toll of the terror attacks&nbsp;from 360 dead to 253, saying badly mutilated bodies were double counted.

A gun battle erupted during a search and cordon operation in Sri Lanka's eastern province. Lankan soldiers opened fire on suspected terrorists, reports said. Sri Lanka's military spokesman said gun battle with suspects was still underway.

A gun battle erupted during a search and cordon operation in Sri Lanka's eastern province. Lankan soldiers opened fire on suspected terrorists, reports said. Sri Lanka's military spokesman said gun battle with suspects was still underway. An explosion was reported from Sainthamaruthu in Kalmunai. Soldiers went in to investigate an explosion in the town of Ampara Sainthamaruthu in Batticaloa east, during a search operation, Reuters reported the spokesperson as saying, and were fired upon. Local media reports said the military was searching for a makeshift bomb factory when the gun battle started. The police found various apparatus to be used in making explosives including bags of metal balls, gelignite sticks and fuel during the raid. An Islamic State(IS) flag was also found by soldiers. Earlier in the day, President Maithripala Sirisena had said the police were looking for 140 people believed to have links with the Islamic State terrorist group over the Easter Sunday attacks on churches and hotels that killed at least 253 people. "We now have info that there are about 140 people in Sri Lanka linked to the Islamic State. We can and we will eradicate all of them very soon," Sirisena said, announcing that there would also be new legislation to ban extremist groups. Sirisena told reporters some Sri Lankan youths had been involved with the extremist group since 2013, and that top defence and police chiefs had not shared information with him about the impending attacks. Several countries including Israel, Australia and Britain have warned their citizens against visiting Sri Lanka in the wake of the attacks. Authorities on Thursday had reduced the death toll of the terror attacks from 360 dead to 253, saying badly mutilated bodies were double counted.

Gun battle erupts between soldiers, suspected terrorists in eastern Sri Lanka

For years, Sri Lanka's Muslim community warned authorities about a firebrand cleric. Now it seems Zahran Hashim may have played a key role in one of the worst attacks in the country's history.

A video released on Tuesday by the Islamic State group, which earlier claimed responsibility for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-releases-photos-of-suspects-of-church-hotel-bombing-that-killed-nearly-250-213584">Easter attacks</a> that killed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-lowers-attacks-toll-to-253-as-some-double-counted-213518">over 250 people</a>, appears to prominently feature Hashim.

He appears to be the round-faced cleric in the footage - the only one of the eight figures depicted whose face is uncovered.

Dressed in a black tunic headscarf and carrying a rifle, Hashim is seen leading seven purported attackers in a pledge of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-says-every-indication-islamic-state-inspired-sri-lanka-attacks-cbs-213321">allegiance to IS chief</a> Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.

The other seven people in the video all wear the same black tunics but with their faces obscured by black-and-white checkered scarves.

Watch: Sri Lanka's politicians engage in a bitter blame game

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-country-is-in-crisis-but-sri-lankas-politicians-engage-in-a-bitter-blame-game-213394/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Sri Lanka's government had already pointed the finger at Hashim indirectly, calling the little-known Islamist group he was believed to lead - the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/national-thowheeth-jamathntj-police-probe-sri-lanka-local-terror-groups-international-link-212667">National Thowheeth Jama'ath</a> - its prime suspect.

Hashim was identified, albeit with his name misspelled as Hashmi, by police as heading NTJ.

But the video released by IS was the first concrete evidence of the apparently central role played by the Sri Lankan cleric in the Easter attacks.

'A loner'

Hashim was a virtual unknown before the onslaught - even inside Sri Lanka.

He had attracted several thousand followers on several social media sites, including YouTube and Facebook, where he posted incendiary sermons.

In one, the cleric with an unkempt black beard, delivers an extremist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/muslims-flee-christians-grieve-in-sri-lankan-town-torn-by-violence-213347">diatribe against non-Muslims</a> against the crudely photoshopped backdrop of flags in flames.

Hilmy Ahamed, vice-president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, said he had gone to local authorities with concerns about Hashim three years ago.

"This person was a loner and he had radicalised young people in the guise of conducting Koran classes," he said.

"But nobody thought these people were capable of carrying out an attack of such magnitude."

Ahamed said Hashim, who has also gone by the names Mohamed Zahran and Moulavi Hashim, was around 40 years old and from the east coast region of Batticaloa.

The only one of the attacks on Sunday to hit outside of the Colombo area was at the Zion Church in Batticaloa.

"Zahran belonged to an average Muslim middle-class family. He was a drop-out," said Ahamed, adding that the cleric had studied at an Islamic college in Kattankudy, a Muslim-majority city in eastern Sri Lanka.

He was considered a menace by the local Muslim community and caused trouble at Kattankudy's Thowheeth mosque.

"The mosque saw continuous conflict with the traditional mosque goers. Once Zahran took a sword out to kill people belonging to the traditional Muslim mosque," Ahamed said.

Local media said Hashim formed the NTJ in Kattankudy in 2014.

Sri Lankan officials are still investigating to what degree IS may have helped the attackers, but Ahamed said Hashim was known by the community to have international ties.

"All his videos have been uploaded from India. He uses boats of smugglers to travel back and forth from southern India," he said.

Watch: CCTV footage shows suspected Sri Lanka bomber pacing in hotel restaurant

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cctv-footage-shows-suspected-sri-lanka-bomber-pacing-in-hotel-restaurant-213372/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Today, the Sri Lankan President said Maithripala Sirisena said that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/leader-of-the-group-committed-suicide-at-shangri-la-hotel-police-213412">Hashim has been killed</a>. "What intelligence agencies have told me is that Zahran was killed during the Shangri-La attack," President Maithripala Sirisena told reporters.

He added that Hashim led the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/days-after-terror-strikes-sri-lanka-remains-on-edge-213482">attack against the high-end hotel</a> and was accompanied by a second bomber, identified only as "Ilham".

For years, Sri Lanka's Muslim community warned authorities about a firebrand cleric. Now it seems Zahran Hashim may have played a key role in one of the worst attacks in the country's history.

For years, Sri Lanka's Muslim community warned authorities about a firebrand cleric. Now it seems Zahran Hashim may have played a key role in one of the worst attacks in the country's history. A video released on Tuesday by the Islamic State group, which earlier claimed responsibility for the Easter attacks that killed over 250 people, appears to prominently feature Hashim. He appears to be the round-faced cleric in the footage - the only one of the eight figures depicted whose face is uncovered. Dressed in a black tunic headscarf and carrying a rifle, Hashim is seen leading seven purported attackers in a pledge of allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. The other seven people in the video all wear the same black tunics but with their faces obscured by black-and-white checkered scarves. Watch: Sri Lanka's politicians engage in a bitter blame game Sri Lanka's government had already pointed the finger at Hashim indirectly, calling the little-known Islamist group he was believed to lead - the National Thowheeth Jama'ath - its prime suspect. Hashim was identified, albeit with his name misspelled as Hashmi, by police as heading NTJ. But the video released by IS was the first concrete evidence of the apparently central role played by the Sri Lankan cleric in the Easter attacks. 'A loner' Hashim was a virtual unknown before the onslaught - even inside Sri Lanka. He had attracted several thousand followers on several social media sites, including YouTube and Facebook, where he posted incendiary sermons. In one, the cleric with an unkempt black beard, delivers an extremist diatribe against non-Muslims against the crudely photoshopped backdrop of flags in flames. Hilmy Ahamed, vice-president of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, said he had gone to local authorities with concerns about Hashim three years ago. "This person was a loner and he had radicalised young people in the guise of conducting Koran classes," he said. "But nobody thought these people were capable of carrying out an attack of such magnitude." Ahamed said Hashim, who has also gone by the names Mohamed Zahran and Moulavi Hashim, was around 40 years old and from the east coast region of Batticaloa. The only one of the attacks on Sunday to hit outside of the Colombo area was at the Zion Church in Batticaloa. "Zahran belonged to an average Muslim middle-class family. He was a drop-out," said Ahamed, adding that the cleric had studied at an Islamic college in Kattankudy, a Muslim-majority city in eastern Sri Lanka. He was considered a menace by the local Muslim community and caused trouble at Kattankudy's Thowheeth mosque. "The mosque saw continuous conflict with the traditional mosque goers. Once Zahran took a sword out to kill people belonging to the traditional Muslim mosque," Ahamed said. Local media said Hashim formed the NTJ in Kattankudy in 2014. Sri Lankan officials are still investigating to what degree IS may have helped the attackers, but Ahamed said Hashim was known by the community to have international ties. "All his videos have been uploaded from India. He uses boats of smugglers to travel back and forth from southern India," he said. Watch: CCTV footage shows suspected Sri Lanka bomber pacing in hotel restaurant Today, the Sri Lankan President said Maithripala Sirisena said that Hashim has been killed. "What intelligence agencies have told me is that Zahran was killed during the Shangri-La attack," President Maithripala Sirisena told reporters. He added that Hashim led the attack against the high-end hotel and was accompanied by a second bomber, identified only as "Ilham".

Zahran Hashim: Radical Islamist linked to Sri Lanka blasts

By Greg Barton

In the wake of any tragedy, it should be enough to grieve and stand in solidarity with those who mourn. With a massive toll – about 250 dead, according to revised government figures – it feels disrespectful to the people of Sri Lanka to be dissecting what went wrong even as the dead are being buried.

But the reality is that most, if not all, of these lives, need not have been taken. We owe it to them and their loved ones to make sense of what happened and work towards doing all that can be done to ensure it does not happen again.

The Easter attacks represent one of the most lethal and serious terrorist operations since the September 11 attacks in the US, outside of attacks within active conflict zones. And this in a now peaceful country, which for all its history of civil war and ethno-nationalist terrorism in decades past has never had a problem with jihadi radical Islamist terrorism.

A return to deadlier, more coordinated strikes

The long-anticipated claim of responsibility for the attacks was made by the Islamic State (IS) on Tuesday night. This could help explain how one local cell based around a single extended family circle of hateful extremists not previously known for terrorism could execute such a massive attack. It was larger even than IS’s previous truck-bomb attacks in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The attacks follow a familiar, if now rarely seen, IS operandi of coordinated suicide bombings. The targeting of Catholic churches, which made little sense initially in the context of the domestic social issues at the heart of the country’s recent civil war, fit an all-too-familiar pattern of IS attacks on Christians, along with fellow Muslims.

The fact that 40 or more Sri Lankans travelled to Syria to fight with IS could help explain how the terror network was able to build vital personal links in the very small community of Sri Lankan Islamist extremists so it could subcontract its attack plans to them. At this point, the precise involvement of returnees from Syria and foreign IS supporters in the bombings remains under investigation.

The Easter weekend attacks more resemble the al-Qaeda attacks of the 2000s than they do recent attacks of IS. Like the 2000 attack of the USS Cole in Yemen, the September attacks in New York and Washington, the 2002 bombings in Bali, the 2003 truck bombs in Istanbul, the 2004 train bombings in Madrid, the 2005 tube and bus bombings in London, the Sri Lanka bombings involved multiple attackers acting in concert. With the exception of September 11, all of these also involved improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The Sri Lanka bombings exceeded all but the September 11 attacks in sophistication and deadliness, despite the fact the perpetrators were previously known only for acts of hateful vandalism.

Over the past decade, al-Qaeda has been unable to carry out significant attacks outside of conflict zones. It has also become increasingly focused on “reputation management” and has tended to avoid indiscriminate mass killings, all the whilst growing its global network of affiliates.

The emergence of IS saw the tempo and scale of terrorist attacks transformed. Most attacks took place in conflict zones (Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, southern Philippines).

A number of significant attacks were conducted well beyond the battlefield. There were at least four such attacks in 2014, 16 in 2015, 22 in 2016, 18 in 2017, and 10 in 2018. The vast majority of these attacks were conducted by lone actors.

Why was it that, outside of conflict zones, not just Al-Qaeda but even IS at the height of its powers focused largely on lone-actor attacks?

It is probably not for want of trying. The reason is that most larger, more ambitious plots were tripped-up by intelligence intercepts. This is especially the case in stable democracies, including our neighbours Indonesia and Malaysia.

Why Sri Lanka?

The other big question is how one of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever was able to be executed in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka was a soft target. Having successfully defeated the Tamil Tiger rebel group a decade ago through military might, Sri Lanka has become complacent. It has not seen a pressing need to develop police and non-military intelligence capacity to counter terrorism.

At the same time, it has struggled with good governance and political stability. Just six months ago, it faced a major constitutional crisis when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked his deputy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and attempted to replace him with the former prime minister and president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The attempt failed, but in the stand-off that ensued, Wickremesinghe, and ministers loyal to him, were excluded from intelligence briefings. In particular, they say that they were left unaware of the multiple warnings issued by the Indian intelligence service, RAW, to the authorities in Colombo about the extremist figures who played a key role in the Easter attacks.

Thus, despite several discoveries earlier this year of large amounts of explosives stored in remote rural locations on the island, and multiple warnings from the Indians, including final alerts just hours before Sunday’s attacks, the government and security community were left distracted and caught off-guard.

Between “fighting the last war” and fighting each other, they deluded themselves that there was no imminent terrorist threat.

What other countries are vulnerable?

If the massive attacks in Sri Lanka over Easter serve to remind us that IS is very far from being a spent force, the question is where this energetic and well-resourced network will strike next.

For all that it achieved in Sri Lanka, IS is unlikely to be able to build an enduring presence there. So long as the Sri Lankan government and people emerge from this trauma with renewed commitment to unity – and with elections at the end of the year, this is far from certain – the “perfect storm” conditions exploited by IS are unlikely to be repeated.

So where else is IS likely to find opportunity? India and Bangladesh continue to present opportunities, as does much of Central Asia. In our region, it is Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines that we should be most worried about.

Malaysia has emerged stronger and more stable from its swing-back to democracy but continues to be worryingly in denial about the extent to which it is vulnerable to terrorist attacks, downplaying the very good work done over many years by the Special Branch of the Royal National Malaysian Police.

Thailand and the Philippines remain less politically stable, and rather more brittle than they care too acknowledge. And both tend to delude themselves into thinking that the problems of their southern extremes will never manifest in a terror attack in Bangkok or Manila, respectively.

The people of Sri Lanka have paid far too high price for the lessons of the Easter weekend attacks to be ignored or forgotten.

(Greg Barton is Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/islamic-state-has-claimed-responsibility-for-the-sri-lanka-terror-attack-heres-what-that-means-115915">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

By Greg Barton In the wake of any tragedy, it should be enough to grieve and stand in solidarity with those who mourn. With a massive toll – about 250 dead, according to revised government figures – it feels disrespectful to the people of Sri Lanka to be dissecting what went wrong even as the dead are being buried.

By Greg Barton In the wake of any tragedy, it should be enough to grieve and stand in solidarity with those who mourn. With a massive toll – about 250 dead, according to revised government figures – it feels disrespectful to the people of Sri Lanka to be dissecting what went wrong even as the dead are being buried. But the reality is that most, if not all, of these lives, need not have been taken. We owe it to them and their loved ones to make sense of what happened and work towards doing all that can be done to ensure it does not happen again. The Easter attacks represent one of the most lethal and serious terrorist operations since the September 11 attacks in the US, outside of attacks within active conflict zones. And this in a now peaceful country, which for all its history of civil war and ethno-nationalist terrorism in decades past has never had a problem with jihadi radical Islamist terrorism. A return to deadlier, more coordinated strikes The long-anticipated claim of responsibility for the attacks was made by the Islamic State (IS) on Tuesday night. This could help explain how one local cell based around a single extended family circle of hateful extremists not previously known for terrorism could execute such a massive attack. It was larger even than IS’s previous truck-bomb attacks in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The attacks follow a familiar, if now rarely seen, IS operandi of coordinated suicide bombings. The targeting of Catholic churches, which made little sense initially in the context of the domestic social issues at the heart of the country’s recent civil war, fit an all-too-familiar pattern of IS attacks on Christians, along with fellow Muslims. The fact that 40 or more Sri Lankans travelled to Syria to fight with IS could help explain how the terror network was able to build vital personal links in the very small community of Sri Lankan Islamist extremists so it could subcontract its attack plans to them. At this point, the precise involvement of returnees from Syria and foreign IS supporters in the bombings remains under investigation. The Easter weekend attacks more resemble the al-Qaeda attacks of the 2000s than they do recent attacks of IS. Like the 2000 attack of the USS Cole in Yemen, the September attacks in New York and Washington, the 2002 bombings in Bali, the 2003 truck bombs in Istanbul, the 2004 train bombings in Madrid, the 2005 tube and bus bombings in London, the Sri Lanka bombings involved multiple attackers acting in concert. With the exception of September 11, all of these also involved improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The Sri Lanka bombings exceeded all but the September 11 attacks in sophistication and deadliness, despite the fact the perpetrators were previously known only for acts of hateful vandalism. Over the past decade, al-Qaeda has been unable to carry out significant attacks outside of conflict zones. It has also become increasingly focused on “reputation management” and has tended to avoid indiscriminate mass killings, all the whilst growing its global network of affiliates. The emergence of IS saw the tempo and scale of terrorist attacks transformed. Most attacks took place in conflict zones (Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, southern Philippines). A number of significant attacks were conducted well beyond the battlefield. There were at least four such attacks in 2014, 16 in 2015, 22 in 2016, 18 in 2017, and 10 in 2018. The vast majority of these attacks were conducted by lone actors. Why was it that, outside of conflict zones, not just Al-Qaeda but even IS at the height of its powers focused largely on lone-actor attacks? It is probably not for want of trying. The reason is that most larger, more ambitious plots were tripped-up by intelligence intercepts. This is especially the case in stable democracies, including our neighbours Indonesia and Malaysia. Why Sri Lanka? The other big question is how one of the deadliest terrorist attacks ever was able to be executed in Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka was a soft target. Having successfully defeated the Tamil Tiger rebel group a decade ago through military might, Sri Lanka has become complacent. It has not seen a pressing need to develop police and non-military intelligence capacity to counter terrorism. At the same time, it has struggled with good governance and political stability. Just six months ago, it faced a major constitutional crisis when President Maithripala Sirisena sacked his deputy, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and attempted to replace him with the former prime minister and president Mahinda Rajapaksa. The attempt failed, but in the stand-off that ensued, Wickremesinghe, and ministers loyal to him, were excluded from intelligence briefings. In particular, they say that they were left unaware of the multiple warnings issued by the Indian intelligence service, RAW, to the authorities in Colombo about the extremist figures who played a key role in the Easter attacks. Thus, despite several discoveries earlier this year of large amounts of explosives stored in remote rural locations on the island, and multiple warnings from the Indians, including final alerts just hours before Sunday’s attacks, the government and security community were left distracted and caught off-guard. Between “fighting the last war” and fighting each other, they deluded themselves that there was no imminent terrorist threat. What other countries are vulnerable? If the massive attacks in Sri Lanka over Easter serve to remind us that IS is very far from being a spent force, the question is where this energetic and well-resourced network will strike next. For all that it achieved in Sri Lanka, IS is unlikely to be able to build an enduring presence there. So long as the Sri Lankan government and people emerge from this trauma with renewed commitment to unity – and with elections at the end of the year, this is far from certain – the “perfect storm” conditions exploited by IS are unlikely to be repeated. So where else is IS likely to find opportunity? India and Bangladesh continue to present opportunities, as does much of Central Asia. In our region, it is Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines that we should be most worried about. Malaysia has emerged stronger and more stable from its swing-back to democracy but continues to be worryingly in denial about the extent to which it is vulnerable to terrorist attacks, downplaying the very good work done over many years by the Special Branch of the Royal National Malaysian Police. Thailand and the Philippines remain less politically stable, and rather more brittle than they care too acknowledge. And both tend to delude themselves into thinking that the problems of their southern extremes will never manifest in a terror attack in Bangkok or Manila, respectively. The people of Sri Lanka have paid far too high price for the lessons of the Easter weekend attacks to be ignored or forgotten. (Greg Barton is Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Sri Lanka attacks serve as a reminder that Islamic State is very far from being a spent force

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a television interview on Wednesday there was “every indication” that Sunday’s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-attacks-india-has-lost-maximum-citizens-at-least-36-foreigners-killed-213300">bomb attacks</a> in Sri Lanka that killed 359 people were inspired by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cctv-footage-shows-suspected-suicide-bombers-behind-shangri-la-hotel-blasts-213232">Islamic State.</a>

“Every indication is that this was at the very least inspired by ISIS,” Pompeo said in an interview with CBS News, referring to the group by an acronym.

Sources familiar with internal US&nbsp;government reporting on the attacks told Reuters that while investigations are ongoing, U.S. agencies believe the group that carried out the attacks had sympathies and possibly contacts with the Islamic State movement.

US&nbsp;agencies are collecting information on the attackers’ relationship with Islamic State and are trying to determine if there was any involvement in the attacks by what remains of the militant group’s central organization, which scattered following its eviction from territory it controlled in Syria, the sources said.

One of the sources said official reporting supported news reports that the leader of the group that carried out the attacks is known as Mohammed Zahran Hashim and that he is the central unmasked figure in a photo of the alleged attack team issued by an Islamic State publicity outlet.

The source added that investigators believed another person involved in the attacks was Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohammed. The Guardian reported that British counterterrorism investigators believed Mohammed attended a university in southeast England from 2006 to 2007.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a television interview on Wednesday there was “every indication” that Sunday’s bomb attacks in Sri Lanka that killed 359 people were inspired by Islamic State.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a television interview on Wednesday there was “every indication” that Sunday’s bomb attacks in Sri Lanka that killed 359 people were inspired by Islamic State. “Every indication is that this was at the very least inspired by ISIS,” Pompeo said in an interview with CBS News, referring to the group by an acronym. Sources familiar with internal US government reporting on the attacks told Reuters that while investigations are ongoing, U.S. agencies believe the group that carried out the attacks had sympathies and possibly contacts with the Islamic State movement. US agencies are collecting information on the attackers’ relationship with Islamic State and are trying to determine if there was any involvement in the attacks by what remains of the militant group’s central organization, which scattered following its eviction from territory it controlled in Syria, the sources said. One of the sources said official reporting supported news reports that the leader of the group that carried out the attacks is known as Mohammed Zahran Hashim and that he is the central unmasked figure in a photo of the alleged attack team issued by an Islamic State publicity outlet. The source added that investigators believed another person involved in the attacks was Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohammed. The Guardian reported that British counterterrorism investigators believed Mohammed attended a university in southeast England from 2006 to 2007.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says 'every indication' Islamic State-inspired Sri Lanka attacks: CBS

The Palm Sunday serial suicide attacks are the worst in Sri Lanka’s history, shattering its ten-year long tryst with freedom from terrorism following a 30-year civil war which ended in May 2009. Sri Lanka has known 539 suicide attacks by Tamil Tigers on land, at sea and in the air. The latest attacks have revived the ghosts of domestic wars fought with the Marxist JVP and secessionist Tamil Tigers and will have a long term impact on politics and society. &nbsp;

The economy already under stress, is expected to take a big hit. Worse, a dysfunctional government shows no signs of getting its act together as President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe remain at loggerheads.&nbsp;A stable and alert government could have avoided the Palm Sunday tragedy.&nbsp;

As it struggles to conquer the trauma, horror and loss after the attacks that left over 350 dead, it is clear that they carry the IS signature and a connect between the IS hub in the Maldives and the local radical Thowheed Jamath&nbsp;is being made. Seven local Muslim suicide bombers could not have been born overnight. Sri Lanka is also coming to terms with reality: that it could take months, maybe up to a year, for the economy of the Island state to recover; that religious friction never seen before is now a fact of life; and that if the political leadership had been decisive and united, 300 or more people would not have had to die.&nbsp;

The tourist industry has virtually collapsed when it was just reaching its peak. Tourism makes up about 5 per cent of the Indian Ocean island’s $87-billion economy supporting about 1 million jobs. It is also the third largest source of foreign currencies. Tourists from India contribute a sizeable chunk, especially after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) makes it cheaper for companies to hold conventions and offsite meetings in neighbouring destinations. In 2018, a total of 397,985 Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka as against 384,628 in 2017. But after the attacks, there is a 41 per cent increase in cancellation of departure bookings for Sri Lanka from April 21 to 27 from India, with a 17 per cent drop in enquiring customers. &nbsp;

Sri Lanka needs a constant flow of currency to keep up payments on its foreign debt which amounts to about 80 per cent of the country's annual economic output. And it is rising. Much of it is owed to countries in currencies other than the Sri Lankan rupee (LkRs). In 2018, Moody's and Fitch both downgraded the Sri Lankan government's credit rating raising doubts over its ability to repay its debts. If investors lose confidence and pull out, the nation's currency could weaken further.&nbsp;

However, it is national morale and belief in politics that has taken the biggest hit. Relations between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have been strained since Sirisena tried to replace Wickremesinghe with opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in 2018.

&nbsp;The move failed, Wickremesinghe was reinstated on the orders of the Supreme Court, but ever since, the President’s office and the Prime Minister’s secretariat have been at loggerheads, stymying each other and withholding information from each other. The church attacks that the government has now confirmed were carried out by a Daesh front called Thowheed Jamath, could have been prevented had the President (who controls defence ministry, intelligence and internal security) shared with the rest of government, intelligence warnings from international agencies that the country got nearly two weeks ago. There is no evidence that the government has learnt any lessons and two parallel enquiries – one directed by the president and the other by the prime minister – have been ordered into the circumstances of the intelligence failure.&nbsp;

Although the island nation has seen nearly three decades of violence from a racial insurgency with its roots in the Tamil minority northern region, even at its peak, insurgents did not target places of worship. Sri Lanka is poly-religious with Christians and Muslims among both Tamils and Sinhala races. Tension has been reported lately between the Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims but not on a threatening scale. This attack will likely sharpen religious differences, introducing a new element in society and politics. Elections for a new Parliament are due in the summer of 2020 and a new president must be in place before January 2020. President Maithripala Sirisena has made no secret of his ambitions of another term. But after this attack, the prospects are doubtful. &nbsp;

A state of emergency has been declared giving the President extraordinary powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Public Safety Order. For a country that had defeated the deadly Tamil Tigers, the prospect of renewed terrorism from Muslim radicals from within and next door must be numbing. As Commander of the IPKF who had operated in the north and east of Sri Lanka and seen the northern and southern insurgencies of the 1990s, I worry for Sri Lanka. The sense of triumphalism after winning the war against Tamil Tigers has engendered extreme Sinhalese chauvinism and encouraged Sinhala Buddhist extremist groups like Bodu Bala Sena to target the relatively more prosperous Muslims in Kandy and the suburbs of Colombo. The anti-Muslim rioting last year by BBS which was politically motivated spun out of control requiring a national emergency to be declared. &nbsp;

Unless the President and Prime Minister bury the hatchet and deal with the consequences of the Palm Sunday blasts apolitically, Sri Lanka could face the prospects of another internal conflict and kill Colombo’s ambitions of becoming another Singapore. It is the right time for India to gently provide intelligence and investigative expertise and also full cooperation by the government of Tamil Nadu. Any widespread discord and civil disturbances have the potential to spill over into India. &nbsp;

India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have a trilateral agreement for joint patrolling in the waters of the Indian Ocean to ensure no inimical coastal landings or escapes take place. Sri Lanka will be in mourning for a long time and the victory flag that has fluttered since after 19 May 2009 victory over terrorism at Galle Face Green will be lowered at half mast. After ten years of freedom from terrorism, Sri Lanka has lapsed into bad times. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

&nbsp;

The Palm Sunday serial suicide attacks are the worst in Sri Lanka’s history, shattering its ten-year long tryst with freedom from terrorism following a 30-year civil war which ended in May 2009.

The Palm Sunday serial suicide attacks are the worst in Sri Lanka’s history, shattering its ten-year long tryst with freedom from terrorism following a 30-year civil war which ended in May 2009. Sri Lanka has known 539 suicide attacks by Tamil Tigers on land, at sea and in the air. The latest attacks have revived the ghosts of domestic wars fought with the Marxist JVP and secessionist Tamil Tigers and will have a long term impact on politics and society. The economy already under stress, is expected to take a big hit. Worse, a dysfunctional government shows no signs of getting its act together as President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe remain at loggerheads. A stable and alert government could have avoided the Palm Sunday tragedy. As it struggles to conquer the trauma, horror and loss after the attacks that left over 350 dead, it is clear that they carry the IS signature and a connect between the IS hub in the Maldives and the local radical Thowheed Jamath is being made. Seven local Muslim suicide bombers could not have been born overnight. Sri Lanka is also coming to terms with reality: that it could take months, maybe up to a year, for the economy of the Island state to recover; that religious friction never seen before is now a fact of life; and that if the political leadership had been decisive and united, 300 or more people would not have had to die. The tourist industry has virtually collapsed when it was just reaching its peak. Tourism makes up about 5 per cent of the Indian Ocean island’s $87-billion economy supporting about 1 million jobs. It is also the third largest source of foreign currencies. Tourists from India contribute a sizeable chunk, especially after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) makes it cheaper for companies to hold conventions and offsite meetings in neighbouring destinations. In 2018, a total of 397,985 Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka as against 384,628 in 2017. But after the attacks, there is a 41 per cent increase in cancellation of departure bookings for Sri Lanka from April 21 to 27 from India, with a 17 per cent drop in enquiring customers. Sri Lanka needs a constant flow of currency to keep up payments on its foreign debt which amounts to about 80 per cent of the country's annual economic output. And it is rising. Much of it is owed to countries in currencies other than the Sri Lankan rupee (LkRs). In 2018, Moody's and Fitch both downgraded the Sri Lankan government's credit rating raising doubts over its ability to repay its debts. If investors lose confidence and pull out, the nation's currency could weaken further. However, it is national morale and belief in politics that has taken the biggest hit. Relations between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have been strained since Sirisena tried to replace Wickremesinghe with opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister in 2018. The move failed, Wickremesinghe was reinstated on the orders of the Supreme Court, but ever since, the President’s office and the Prime Minister’s secretariat have been at loggerheads, stymying each other and withholding information from each other. The church attacks that the government has now confirmed were carried out by a Daesh front called Thowheed Jamath, could have been prevented had the President (who controls defence ministry, intelligence and internal security) shared with the rest of government, intelligence warnings from international agencies that the country got nearly two weeks ago. There is no evidence that the government has learnt any lessons and two parallel enquiries – one directed by the president and the other by the prime minister – have been ordered into the circumstances of the intelligence failure. Although the island nation has seen nearly three decades of violence from a racial insurgency with its roots in the Tamil minority northern region, even at its peak, insurgents did not target places of worship. Sri Lanka is poly-religious with Christians and Muslims among both Tamils and Sinhala races. Tension has been reported lately between the Sinhala Buddhists and Muslims but not on a threatening scale. This attack will likely sharpen religious differences, introducing a new element in society and politics. Elections for a new Parliament are due in the summer of 2020 and a new president must be in place before January 2020. President Maithripala Sirisena has made no secret of his ambitions of another term. But after this attack, the prospects are doubtful. A state of emergency has been declared giving the President extraordinary powers under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and Public Safety Order. For a country that had defeated the deadly Tamil Tigers, the prospect of renewed terrorism from Muslim radicals from within and next door must be numbing. As Commander of the IPKF who had operated in the north and east of Sri Lanka and seen the northern and southern insurgencies of the 1990s, I worry for Sri Lanka. The sense of triumphalism after winning the war against Tamil Tigers has engendered extreme Sinhalese chauvinism and encouraged Sinhala Buddhist extremist groups like Bodu Bala Sena to target the relatively more prosperous Muslims in Kandy and the suburbs of Colombo. The anti-Muslim rioting last year by BBS which was politically motivated spun out of control requiring a national emergency to be declared. Unless the President and Prime Minister bury the hatchet and deal with the consequences of the Palm Sunday blasts apolitically, Sri Lanka could face the prospects of another internal conflict and kill Colombo’s ambitions of becoming another Singapore. It is the right time for India to gently provide intelligence and investigative expertise and also full cooperation by the government of Tamil Nadu. Any widespread discord and civil disturbances have the potential to spill over into India. India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have a trilateral agreement for joint patrolling in the waters of the Indian Ocean to ensure no inimical coastal landings or escapes take place. Sri Lanka will be in mourning for a long time and the victory flag that has fluttered since after 19 May 2009 victory over terrorism at Galle Face Green will be lowered at half mast. After ten years of freedom from terrorism, Sri Lanka has lapsed into bad times. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

ISIS-linked attacks in Sri Lanka will have a long term impact on politics and society

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for coordinated bombings in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/danish-billionaire-loses-three-children-in-sri-lanka-blasts-212889">Sri Lanka which killed 321 people </a>and injured about 500 others, the group's AMAQ news agency said on Tuesday.

The group did not give evidence for its claim.

"Those that carried out the attack that targeted members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday are Islamic State group fighters," said a statement released by IS propaganda agency Amaq.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's defence minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/we-forgive-the-perpetrators-of-church-attack-says-head-priest-of-st-anthonys-church-to-wion-212804">Ruwan Wijewardene had told </a>the country's parliament that the attacks were carried out in retaliation for the mosque attacks in New Zealand.&nbsp;

"The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in Sri Lanka (on Sunday) was in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch," state minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardene told parliament. 
&nbsp; 
Fifty people were killed in shooting attacks on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on March 15.

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Islamic State has claimed responsibility for coordinated bombings in Sri Lanka which killed 321 people and injured about 500 others, the group's AMAQ news agency said on Tuesday.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for coordinated bombings in Sri Lanka which killed 321 people and injured about 500 others, the group's AMAQ news agency said on Tuesday. The group did not give evidence for its claim. "Those that carried out the attack that targeted members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday are Islamic State group fighters," said a statement released by IS propaganda agency Amaq. Earlier, Sri Lanka's defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene had told the country's parliament that the attacks were carried out in retaliation for the mosque attacks in New Zealand. "The preliminary investigations have revealed that what happened in Sri Lanka (on Sunday) was in retaliation for the attack against Muslims in Christchurch," state minister of defence Ruwan Wijewardene told parliament. Fifty people were killed in shooting attacks on two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on March 15. ×

Islamic State claims responsibility for Sri Lanka bombings

Afghan Taliban insurgents are battling fighters loyal to Islamic State over control of territory in eastern Afghanistan in some of the heaviest clashes over the past year between the rival militants, officials said on Wednesday.

The fighting erupted on Monday in two districts of the eastern Afghan border province of Nangarhar, when Islamic State fighters attacked villages under Taliban control.&nbsp;

"Islamic State fighters have captured six villages in Khogyani and Shirzad districts but the fighting has not stopped," said Sohrab Qaderi, a member Nangarhar`s the provincial council.

About 500 families had fled from the fighting, he said.

Casualty figures were not available.

A spokesman for the Taliban, who control more territory than at any point since they were ousted from power nearly 18 years ago, was not available for comment.

Islamic State fighters first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in around 2014 and have battled the Taliban as well as government and foreign forces.

The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, sometimes known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has made some inroads into other areas, in the north in particular.

It has also established a reputation for unusual cruelty, even by the standards of the Afghan conflict, and has been behind some of the deadliest attacks in urban centres.

While Nangarhar, on the border with Pakistan, has been an Islamic State stronghold, some villages in Khogyani and Shirzad districts have been controlled by the Taliban.

Fleeing villagers said they had to run for their lives.

"I could only rescue my family. We had to leave everything," said Shawkat, 36, a resident of Markikhel village in Shirzad district who sought safety in a neighbouring village.

Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor said, authorities would help the displaced villagers with food and medicine.

In August, more than 150 Islamic State fighters surrendered to the Afghan security forces after they were defeated by the Taliban in the northwestern province of Jawzjan.

The US military estimates there are about 2,000 Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan.

Many are former Taliban. There is scant evidence of direct links with Islamic State in the Middle East, where the group has lost territory it once held in Syria and Iraq to Western-backed forces.

Afghan Taliban insurgents are battling fighters loyal to Islamic State over control of territory in eastern Afghanistan in some of the heaviest clashes over the past year between the rival militants, officials said on Wednesday.

Afghan Taliban insurgents are battling fighters loyal to Islamic State over control of territory in eastern Afghanistan in some of the heaviest clashes over the past year between the rival militants, officials said on Wednesday. The fighting erupted on Monday in two districts of the eastern Afghan border province of Nangarhar, when Islamic State fighters attacked villages under Taliban control. "Islamic State fighters have captured six villages in Khogyani and Shirzad districts but the fighting has not stopped," said Sohrab Qaderi, a member Nangarhar`s the provincial council. About 500 families had fled from the fighting, he said. Casualty figures were not available. A spokesman for the Taliban, who control more territory than at any point since they were ousted from power nearly 18 years ago, was not available for comment. Islamic State fighters first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in around 2014 and have battled the Taliban as well as government and foreign forces. The Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, sometimes known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has made some inroads into other areas, in the north in particular. It has also established a reputation for unusual cruelty, even by the standards of the Afghan conflict, and has been behind some of the deadliest attacks in urban centres. While Nangarhar, on the border with Pakistan, has been an Islamic State stronghold, some villages in Khogyani and Shirzad districts have been controlled by the Taliban. Fleeing villagers said they had to run for their lives. "I could only rescue my family. We had to leave everything," said Shawkat, 36, a resident of Markikhel village in Shirzad district who sought safety in a neighbouring village. Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the provincial governor said, authorities would help the displaced villagers with food and medicine. In August, more than 150 Islamic State fighters surrendered to the Afghan security forces after they were defeated by the Taliban in the northwestern province of Jawzjan. The US military estimates there are about 2,000 Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan. Many are former Taliban. There is scant evidence of direct links with Islamic State in the Middle East, where the group has lost territory it once held in Syria and Iraq to Western-backed forces.

Heavy fighting flares between Taliban, Islamic State in Afghanistan

The devastating bomb attacks in Sri Lanka,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-sri-lanka-bombings-212899"> claimed by Islamic State jihadists</a>, show that the influence of the group's extremist ideology remains dangerously intact even after the collapse of its so-called caliphate in Iraq and Syria, experts say.

Over 320 people were killed in a string of deadly suicide bomb blasts on Easter Sunday in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-on-high-alert-as-mass-burials-take-place-in-st-sebastian-church-212928">Sri Lanka targeting churches and luxury hotels</a>.

Colombo said it believes that the little-known Islamic extremist group National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) was behind the attacks.&nbsp;

But it has also suggested that a bigger international group helped plan the carnage as "retaliation" for shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last month that killed 50 people.

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On Tuesday, a statement released by the Islamist State (IS) propaganda agency Amaq said the attackers were "fighters" from the terror network.

Zachary Abuza, professor at the National War College in Washington, said the Sri Lanka attacks were a warning of a new jihadist strategy following their military defeat in Iraq and Syria.

"I would say that what we saw in Sri Lanka is a new front being opened in the global jihadi insurgency," he told AFP.

He said IS was still able to inspire attacks and give militants anywhere in the world a sense of "urgency".

"Anyone can act in the Islamic State's name, and they will take credit for it," Abuza said.

'Compensate for losses'

Rohan Gunaratna, a security expert with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told AFP he believed NTJ was indeed now linked to IS.

"IS has created support groups around the world," he said, adding that some NTJ members were radicalised by the local group then joined IS.

At the peak of its military success, IS claimed a string of attacks around the world, from the November 2015 coordinated attacks in Paris to the deadly rampage of a gunman at an Istanbul nightclub minute into 2017.

In late March, Kurdish-dominated and US-backed forces flushed out IS fighters from their last bastion in Syria in what was hailed as a final military defeat for the group after it lists its strongholds one-by-one in Syria and Iraq.

But governments and analysts have always warned that the risk of attacks anywhere in the world remains just as high, be it from extremists who fought for IS in Syria and Iraq or those simply inspired by them.

After the Sri Lanka bombings, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that "radical Islamic terror remains a threat", saying the United States needs to stay "active and vigilant".

According to the SITE Intelligence Group, a known supporter of IS published on a social media channel pictures of three purported "commandos" involved in the Sri Lanka attacks standing with raised fingers against an IS flag.

Jean-Pierre Filiu, professor at Sciences Po-Paris, said IS is now adopting what he dubbed a "glocal" strategy by staging local attacks anywhere in a bid to make a global impact.

The jihadist group is "trying to compensate symbolically and in the media for the loss of its strongholds in Syria and Iraq and instead relaunch a terrorist campaign on a planetary scale".

'Serious proposition'

Bruce Hoffmann, senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations, said such attacks require considerable expertise and logistical support at every stage -- from recruitment to transport to the target sites.

"A half-dozen simultaneous attacks is a serious proposition. It would be very unusual for a group that basically had no track record," he said.

Little is known about the NTJ, which previously has only been linked to vandalising Buddhist statues.

Ethnic and religious violence has plagued Sri Lanka for decades, with a 37-year conflict with Tamil rebels followed by an upswing in recent years in clashes between the Buddhist majority and Muslims.

But it had not been seen by analysts as a potential crucible for Islamist extremist terror. Yet IS has made inroads in Asia, notably in Afghanistan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

The devastating bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, claimed by Islamic State jihadists, show that the influence of the group's extremist ideology remains dangerously intact even after the collapse of its so-called caliphate in Iraq and Syria, experts say.

The devastating bomb attacks in Sri Lanka, claimed by Islamic State jihadists, show that the influence of the group's extremist ideology remains dangerously intact even after the collapse of its so-called caliphate in Iraq and Syria, experts say. Over 320 people were killed in a string of deadly suicide bomb blasts on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka targeting churches and luxury hotels. Colombo said it believes that the little-known Islamic extremist group National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) was behind the attacks. But it has also suggested that a bigger international group helped plan the carnage as "retaliation" for shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last month that killed 50 people. On Tuesday, a statement released by the Islamist State (IS) propaganda agency Amaq said the attackers were "fighters" from the terror network. Zachary Abuza, professor at the National War College in Washington, said the Sri Lanka attacks were a warning of a new jihadist strategy following their military defeat in Iraq and Syria. "I would say that what we saw in Sri Lanka is a new front being opened in the global jihadi insurgency," he told AFP. He said IS was still able to inspire attacks and give militants anywhere in the world a sense of "urgency". "Anyone can act in the Islamic State's name, and they will take credit for it," Abuza said. 'Compensate for losses' Rohan Gunaratna, a security expert with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told AFP he believed NTJ was indeed now linked to IS. "IS has created support groups around the world," he said, adding that some NTJ members were radicalised by the local group then joined IS. At the peak of its military success, IS claimed a string of attacks around the world, from the November 2015 coordinated attacks in Paris to the deadly rampage of a gunman at an Istanbul nightclub minute into 2017. In late March, Kurdish-dominated and US-backed forces flushed out IS fighters from their last bastion in Syria in what was hailed as a final military defeat for the group after it lists its strongholds one-by-one in Syria and Iraq. But governments and analysts have always warned that the risk of attacks anywhere in the world remains just as high, be it from extremists who fought for IS in Syria and Iraq or those simply inspired by them. After the Sri Lanka bombings, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned that "radical Islamic terror remains a threat", saying the United States needs to stay "active and vigilant". According to the SITE Intelligence Group, a known supporter of IS published on a social media channel pictures of three purported "commandos" involved in the Sri Lanka attacks standing with raised fingers against an IS flag. Jean-Pierre Filiu, professor at Sciences Po-Paris, said IS is now adopting what he dubbed a "glocal" strategy by staging local attacks anywhere in a bid to make a global impact. The jihadist group is "trying to compensate symbolically and in the media for the loss of its strongholds in Syria and Iraq and instead relaunch a terrorist campaign on a planetary scale". 'Serious proposition' Bruce Hoffmann, senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations, said such attacks require considerable expertise and logistical support at every stage -- from recruitment to transport to the target sites. "A half-dozen simultaneous attacks is a serious proposition. It would be very unusual for a group that basically had no track record," he said. Little is known about the NTJ, which previously has only been linked to vandalising Buddhist statues. Ethnic and religious violence has plagued Sri Lanka for decades, with a 37-year conflict with Tamil rebels followed by an upswing in recent years in clashes between the Buddhist majority and Muslims. But it had not been seen by analysts as a potential crucible for Islamist extremist terror. Yet IS has made inroads in Asia, notably in Afghanistan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Sri Lanka attacks show Islamic State influence outlives caliphate

The death toll from series of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-attacks-show-islamic-state-influence-outlives-caliphate-213101">deadly attacks in Sri Lanka</a> has risen to 359 after several people died overnight due to injuries, police said on Wednesday.

One of the nine bombers that detonated explosives&nbsp;was a woman, deputy defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene told reporters on Wednesday.

The attacks which targetted churches and hotels wounded around 500 people.

Nearly 60 people have been detained since the Sunday blasts.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-sri-lanka-bombings-212899">Islamic State has claimed responsibility</a> for the coordinated bombings in the capital.

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"Those that carried out the attack that targeted members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday are Islamic State group fighters," said a statement released by IS propaganda agency Amaq.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also defence and law and order minister, said he will carry out a complete reorganisation of the security forces and the police under his control.

Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-on-high-alert-as-mass-burials-take-place-in-st-sebastian-church-212928">Sri Lankans held a mass burials</a> on Tuesday near the St Sebastian Church in Negombo. White flags and ribbons have been put up at shops, roadsides and other places in the country to mourn the loss. The country has marked the national day of morning on Tuesday with flags at half mast and a minute of silence observed at 8:30 am.

The death toll from series of deadly attacks in Sri Lanka has risen to 359 after several people died overnight due to injuries, police said on Wednesday. One of the nine bombers that detonated explosives was a woman, deputy defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene told reporters on Wednesday.

The death toll from series of deadly attacks in Sri Lanka has risen to 359 after several people died overnight due to injuries, police said on Wednesday. One of the nine bombers that detonated explosives was a woman, deputy defence minister Ruwan Wijewardene told reporters on Wednesday. The attacks which targetted churches and hotels wounded around 500 people. Nearly 60 people have been detained since the Sunday blasts. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the coordinated bombings in the capital. "Those that carried out the attack that targeted members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday are Islamic State group fighters," said a statement released by IS propaganda agency Amaq. President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also defence and law and order minister, said he will carry out a complete reorganisation of the security forces and the police under his control. Meanwhile, Sri Lankans held a mass burials on Tuesday near the St Sebastian Church in Negombo. White flags and ribbons have been put up at shops, roadsides and other places in the country to mourn the loss. The country has marked the national day of morning on Tuesday with flags at half mast and a minute of silence observed at 8:30 am.

Woman among nine suicide bombers, says Sri Lanka minister as death toll rises to 359

Sri Lanka's president on Tuesday vowed a major shake-up of the military's top brass in the wake of the deadly Easter suicide bombings, after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-had-provided-specific-intelligence-on-attack-sri-lanka-pm-wickremesinghe-213001">government admitted warnings</a> were ignored.

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also <a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-sri-lanka-bombings-212899">defence and law and order minister</a>, said he will carry out a complete reorganisation of the security forces and the police under his control.

"I hope to make major changes in the leadership of the security forces in the next 24 hours," the president said in a nationwide address.

"The restructuring of the security forces and the police will be completed within a week."

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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has acknowledged that police had intelligence about the suicide strikes against churches and luxury hotels before the bombings on Sunday, but failed to act on it.&nbsp;

More than 300 people have been killed in the attack with over 500 injured.

An investigation was underway to establish why police did not share intelligence with Wickremesinghe's office, he told reporters on Tuesday, shortly before the president's address.

Meanwhile, The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the series of bombings at three Catholic churches and three high-end hotels, and released a photo of the men it said were responsible.

It came after Sri Lanka's government said initial investigations suggested the attack had been carried out as "retaliation" for shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last month that killed 50 people.

The Sri Lankan government had already pointed the figure at a little-known local Islamic extremist group called National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), but said it was investigating whether they had international support.

"Those that carried out the attack that targeted members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday are Islamic State group fighters," a statement released by the group's propaganda agency Amaq said.

Sri Lanka's president on Tuesday vowed a major shake-up of the military's top brass in the wake of the deadly Easter suicide bombings, after the government admitted warnings were ignored.

Sri Lanka's president on Tuesday vowed a major shake-up of the military's top brass in the wake of the deadly Easter suicide bombings, after the government admitted warnings were ignored. President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also defence and law and order minister, said he will carry out a complete reorganisation of the security forces and the police under his control. "I hope to make major changes in the leadership of the security forces in the next 24 hours," the president said in a nationwide address. "The restructuring of the security forces and the police will be completed within a week." × Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has acknowledged that police had intelligence about the suicide strikes against churches and luxury hotels before the bombings on Sunday, but failed to act on it. More than 300 people have been killed in the attack with over 500 injured. An investigation was underway to establish why police did not share intelligence with Wickremesinghe's office, he told reporters on Tuesday, shortly before the president's address. Meanwhile, The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the series of bombings at three Catholic churches and three high-end hotels, and released a photo of the men it said were responsible. It came after Sri Lanka's government said initial investigations suggested the attack had been carried out as "retaliation" for shootings at two mosques in New Zealand last month that killed 50 people. The Sri Lankan government had already pointed the figure at a little-known local Islamic extremist group called National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), but said it was investigating whether they had international support. "Those that carried out the attack that targeted members of the US-led coalition and Christians in Sri Lanka the day before yesterday are Islamic State group fighters," a statement released by the group's propaganda agency Amaq said.

I hope to make major changes in leadership of security forces in next 24 hours: President Sirisena

Two days <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-colombo-on-high-alert-following-reports-of-explosives-laden-van-212903">after the terror attacks</a>, Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe today addressed the media asserting that the bombings could have been prevented if intelligence was avaliable.

"I have sought a report on why intelligence wasn't shared," PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said, adding,"attacks occurred with intelligence from international network."&nbsp;

"There was a breakdown in communication," he added.

"Those arrested till now are all Lankans."

"The probe is headed in the right direction," the Lankan PM said.

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Meanwhile, the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-sri-lanka-bombings-212899"> Islamic State terrorist group</a> claimed responsibility for the Easter Sunday attack in which at least 320 people have been killed with several hundred wounded.

According to police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera at least 500 people have been wounded. The police said 40 people were under arrest in connection with the attacks.

The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday had blamed the Islamist National Thowheeth Jamath (NTJ) group for the blasts, saying they were carried out in retaliation for last month's attacks on two mosques in New Zealand.

However, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern's office said it hadn't seen any intelligence reports linking the bombings in Sri Lanka to last month's mosque massacre in Christchurch.&nbsp;

"We understand the Sri Lankan investigation into the attack is in its early stages," the spokesperson said. "New Zealand has not yet seen any intelligence upon which such an assessment might be based." &nbsp;

Sri Lankans observed three minutes of silence early Tuesday to pay tribute to the victims. National flags were lowered and people bowed their heads as the silence began at 8:30 am.

Several Lankans came out on the streets as the nation buried all those who lost their lives in the Sunday's attack. Devastated relatives collapsed into the arms of bystanders at memorial services as people wept openly.

Inside St Sebastian's, evidence of the blast was everywhere, with shattered religious statues and smashed pews littering the floor. Services were held in the grounds, where more than a thousand people gathered by mid-morning to remember the victims.

The atmosphere was heavy with grief.&nbsp;

Two days after the terror attacks, Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe today addressed the media asserting that the bombings could have been prevented if intelligence was avaliable.

Two days after the terror attacks, Sri Lanka PM Ranil Wickremesinghe today addressed the media asserting that the bombings could have been prevented if intelligence was avaliable. "I have sought a report on why intelligence wasn't shared," PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said, adding,"attacks occurred with intelligence from international network." "There was a breakdown in communication," he added. "Those arrested till now are all Lankans." "The probe is headed in the right direction," the Lankan PM said. × Meanwhile, the Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the Easter Sunday attack in which at least 320 people have been killed with several hundred wounded. According to police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera at least 500 people have been wounded. The police said 40 people were under arrest in connection with the attacks. The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday had blamed the Islamist National Thowheeth Jamath (NTJ) group for the blasts, saying they were carried out in retaliation for last month's attacks on two mosques in New Zealand. However, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern's office said it hadn't seen any intelligence reports linking the bombings in Sri Lanka to last month's mosque massacre in Christchurch. "We understand the Sri Lankan investigation into the attack is in its early stages," the spokesperson said. "New Zealand has not yet seen any intelligence upon which such an assessment might be based." Sri Lankans observed three minutes of silence early Tuesday to pay tribute to the victims. National flags were lowered and people bowed their heads as the silence began at 8:30 am. Several Lankans came out on the streets as the nation buried all those who lost their lives in the Sunday's attack. Devastated relatives collapsed into the arms of bystanders at memorial services as people wept openly. Inside St Sebastian's, evidence of the blast was everywhere, with shattered religious statues and smashed pews littering the floor. Services were held in the grounds, where more than a thousand people gathered by mid-morning to remember the victims. The atmosphere was heavy with grief.

I have sought report on why intelligence wasn't shared: Sri Lanka PM Wickremesinghe

At least 50 Syrian soldiers have been killed in attacks carried out by Islamic State and al Qaeda in the last few days, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Saturday.

According to Al Jazeera, IS on Thursday attacked Syrian forces in central Homs. The clash lasted two days leaving 27 soldiers dead till Saturday.

The IS has lost its territory in Syria in March, however, fighters remain active in the desert where they have taken refuge and increasingly target government troops and allies` militia.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last month announced that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) has lost its last stronghold, Baghouz, in eastern Syria.

"Syrian Democratic Forces declare total elimination of so-called caliphate and 100 per cent territorial defeat of ISIS. On this unique day, we commemorate thousands of martyrs whose efforts made victory possible," tweeted Mustafa Bali, head of SDF press office.

The terror group had once controlled vast territories of land stretching from western Syria to eastern Iraq.

At least 50 Syrian soldiers have been killed in attacks carried out by Islamic State and al Qaeda in the last few days, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Saturday.

At least 50 Syrian soldiers have been killed in attacks carried out by Islamic State and al Qaeda in the last few days, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Saturday. According to Al Jazeera, IS on Thursday attacked Syrian forces in central Homs. The clash lasted two days leaving 27 soldiers dead till Saturday. The IS has lost its territory in Syria in March, however, fighters remain active in the desert where they have taken refuge and increasingly target government troops and allies` militia. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) last month announced that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) has lost its last stronghold, Baghouz, in eastern Syria. "Syrian Democratic Forces declare total elimination of so-called caliphate and 100 per cent territorial defeat of ISIS. On this unique day, we commemorate thousands of martyrs whose efforts made victory possible," tweeted Mustafa Bali, head of SDF press office. The terror group had once controlled vast territories of land stretching from western Syria to eastern Iraq.

50 Syrian soldiers killed in Islamic State attacks

Islamic State (IS) has recorded 69 casualties from the Nigerian Army and troops from an African anti-militant force in attacks over the past week, the Jihadist group said in its weekly paper on Thursday.

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which split from Nigeria-based <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/five-years-after-boko-haram-kidnap-112-chibok-girls-still-missing-210266&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiiwtfvzdvhAhXG7nMBHZ4HAWoQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0aMCBTCF1BliebV77xOL5T">Boko Haram </a>in 2016, has carried out a series of attacks in the last few months.

In its newspaper, Al-Nabaa, IS said its fighters killed a number of African coalition soldiers in attacks on a military barracks, a military post and a town in northeastern Borno state and the Lake Chad region.

It said its fighters detonated explosives on Saturday on a tank of the African alliance near the town of Tomer in Niger, killing all soldiers on board. ISIS did not specify the number killed.

The militants said over the past week troops from Nigerian and Cameroon were either killed or injured, without providing details.&nbsp;

A Nigerian military spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Boko Haram has waged a decade-long insurgency in northeast Nigeria which has killed around 30,000 people and forced about 2 million to leave their homes.

Islamic State (IS) has recorded 69 casualties from the Nigerian Army and troops from an African anti-militant force in attacks over the past week, the Jihadist group said in its weekly paper on Thursday.

Islamic State (IS) has recorded 69 casualties from the Nigerian Army and troops from an African anti-militant force in attacks over the past week, the Jihadist group said in its weekly paper on Thursday. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), which split from Nigeria-based Boko Haram in 2016, has carried out a series of attacks in the last few months. In its newspaper, Al-Nabaa, IS said its fighters killed a number of African coalition soldiers in attacks on a military barracks, a military post and a town in northeastern Borno state and the Lake Chad region. It said its fighters detonated explosives on Saturday on a tank of the African alliance near the town of Tomer in Niger, killing all soldiers on board. ISIS did not specify the number killed. The militants said over the past week troops from Nigerian and Cameroon were either killed or injured, without providing details. A Nigerian military spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. Boko Haram has waged a decade-long insurgency in northeast Nigeria which has killed around 30,000 people and forced about 2 million to leave their homes.

Islamic State cites 69 casualties from Nigerian army and African troops

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hosted representatives of the Kurdish-led force that defeated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syria-at-least-six-killed-seven-wounded-in-rocket-fire-launched-by-jihadists-210420">Islamic State (IS) extremists in Syri</a>a, assuring them of France's support in the fight against remaining jihadists.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had in late March flushed out IS from their last bastion in Syria but still warn the jihadists remain a threat in places.

The SDF is an umbrella force of Kurds and Arabs dominated by Kurds from the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. It is regarded with huge distrust by neighbouring Turkey which sees the YPG as a terror group.&nbsp;

Macron assured the SDF representatives, who were not named, of the "active support of France in the fight against Daesh which continues to be a menace for collective security," the presidency said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

Particularly important was the support in the "handling of terrorist fighters held as prisoners along with their families."

European capitals are all keeping a careful eye on the IS prisoners held by the SDF after the defeat of the jihadists, given many are dual nationals.

Macron also vowed that financial support would be allocated to "respond to the humanitarian needs and the socio-economic stabilisation of civilian populations in Syria."

The SDF were the key ally of the West in defeating IS and waged the bulk of the fighting on the ground.

But they fear being abandoned by their patrons now IS is beaten, after US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of American forces from Syria.&nbsp;

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had in April announced $1.1 million&nbsp;in humanitarian aid for camps housing displaced people, notably Al-Hol which holds thousands of women and children who lived in IS-held areas.

France's past contacts with the SDF's Syrian Kurds have angered Turkey, which regards the YPG as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The PKK has waged a 35-year insurrection against the Turkish state.

Macron also made clear of the importance to Paris of "the security of Turkey and a de-escalation along the Syrian-Turkish border," the presidency said.

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hosted representatives of the Kurdish-led force that defeated Islamic State (IS) extremists in Syria, assuring them of France's support in the fight against remaining jihadists.

President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hosted representatives of the Kurdish-led force that defeated Islamic State (IS) extremists in Syria, assuring them of France's support in the fight against remaining jihadists. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had in late March flushed out IS from their last bastion in Syria but still warn the jihadists remain a threat in places. The SDF is an umbrella force of Kurds and Arabs dominated by Kurds from the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. It is regarded with huge distrust by neighbouring Turkey which sees the YPG as a terror group. Macron assured the SDF representatives, who were not named, of the "active support of France in the fight against Daesh which continues to be a menace for collective security," the presidency said in a statement, using an Arabic acronym for IS. Particularly important was the support in the "handling of terrorist fighters held as prisoners along with their families." European capitals are all keeping a careful eye on the IS prisoners held by the SDF after the defeat of the jihadists, given many are dual nationals. Macron also vowed that financial support would be allocated to "respond to the humanitarian needs and the socio-economic stabilisation of civilian populations in Syria." The SDF were the key ally of the West in defeating IS and waged the bulk of the fighting on the ground. But they fear being abandoned by their patrons now IS is beaten, after US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of American forces from Syria. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had in April announced $1.1 million in humanitarian aid for camps housing displaced people, notably Al-Hol which holds thousands of women and children who lived in IS-held areas. France's past contacts with the SDF's Syrian Kurds have angered Turkey, which regards the YPG as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKK has waged a 35-year insurrection against the Turkish state. Macron also made clear of the importance to Paris of "the security of Turkey and a de-escalation along the Syrian-Turkish border," the presidency said.

Macron meets Syrian Kurds, vows French support in fight against Islamic State

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/notre-dame-cathedral-was-probably-caused-by-accident-say-french-prosecutors-210901">Notre-Dame cathedral fire was probably caused by accident: French prosecutors</a>

The fire that tore through Notre-Dame cathedral was probably caused by accident, French prosecutors said on Tuesday after firefighters doused the last flames in the ruins overnight.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-sign-accord-backing-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-switzerland-210910">Will sign accord backing China's Belt and Road Initiative: Switzerland</a>

Switzerland will sign an accord backing China's Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) when President Ueli Maurer visits China this month, cementing ties with a major trading partner as other Western countries view the gargantuan project with scepticism.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-2-islamic-state-leader-abdulhakim-killed-in-somalia-air-strike-us-military-210906">Islamic State No 2 Abdulhakim killed in Somalia air strike: US military</a>

The US military has confirmed that it had killed the second-ranking Islamic State leader in Somalia in an air strike. US Africa Command said that Abdulhakim Dhuqub was killed on Sunday in the strike vicinity of Xiriiro in the Bari region.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-shatrughan-sinhas-wife-poonam-sinha-joins-samajwadi-party-210893">Shatrughan Sinha's wife Poonam Sinha joins SP, set to take Rajnath Singh from Lucknow</a>

Veteran actor and former BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha's wife Poonam Sinha joined Samajwadi Party on Tuesday in the presence of Kannauj MP Dimple Yadav.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/jet-airways-shares-sink-8-amid-reports-of-temporary-shutdown-of-operations-210939">Jet Airways shares sink 8% amid reports of temporary shutdown of operations</a>

Shares of Jet Airways plunged nearly 8 per cent Tuesday amid reports that the company is likely to temporarily shut down its operations. The scrip tumbled 7.62 per cent to close at Rs 241.85 on the BSE. During the day, it plummeted 18.56 per cent to Rs 213.20.

Notre-Dame cathedral fire was probably caused by accident: French prosecutors The fire that tore through Notre-Dame cathedral was probably caused by accident, French prosecutors said on Tuesday after firefighters doused the last flames in the ruins overnight.

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The US military has confirmed that it had killed the second-ranking <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/islamic-state-the-caliphate-is-off-the-map-for-now-but-war-against-the-organisation-is-far-from-over-209264">Islamic State leader in Somalia</a> in an air strike.

US Africa Command said that Abdulhakim Dhuqub was killed on Sunday in the strike vicinity of Xiriiro in the Bari region.

In the current assessment, the US military said the strike killed only Dhuqub and destroyed one vehicle.

"Dhuqub was responsible for the daily operations of the extremist group, attack planning and resource procurement," AFRICOM said in a statement.

The Islamic State group has a relatively small presence in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab fighters are more powerful and aligned with Al-Qaeda.

"We continue to work with our Somali partners to keep pressure on the Al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia terror networks," said AFRICOM director of operations Marine Corps Major General Gregg Olson.

"When it supports the strategy, we use precision air strikes to target those who plan and carry out the violent extremist activities that put Somalis at risk."

In late 2018, the US military estimated that there were between 75 and 250 Islamic State fighters in Somalia, compared to 3,000 to 7,000 Shabaab fighters.

The US military has confirmed that it had killed the second-ranking Islamic State leader in Somalia in an air strike. US Africa Command said that Abdulhakim Dhuqub was killed on Sunday in the strike vicinity of Xiriiro in the Bari region.

The US military has confirmed that it had killed the second-ranking Islamic State leader in Somalia in an air strike. US Africa Command said that Abdulhakim Dhuqub was killed on Sunday in the strike vicinity of Xiriiro in the Bari region. In the current assessment, the US military said the strike killed only Dhuqub and destroyed one vehicle. "Dhuqub was responsible for the daily operations of the extremist group, attack planning and resource procurement," AFRICOM said in a statement. The Islamic State group has a relatively small presence in Somalia, where Al-Shabaab fighters are more powerful and aligned with Al-Qaeda. "We continue to work with our Somali partners to keep pressure on the Al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia terror networks," said AFRICOM director of operations Marine Corps Major General Gregg Olson. "When it supports the strategy, we use precision air strikes to target those who plan and carry out the violent extremist activities that put Somalis at risk." In late 2018, the US military estimated that there were between 75 and 250 Islamic State fighters in Somalia, compared to 3,000 to 7,000 Shabaab fighters.

Islamic State No 2 Abdulhakim killed in Somalia air strike: US military

A New Zealand nurse believed abducted with two drivers by Islamic State militants in Syria in 2013 may still be alive, the International Committee of the Red Cross has revealed for the first time in an appeal for news of her whereabouts.

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/special-forces-in-search-for-nz-nurse-held-hostage-by-is-210469&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi-iYP-69HhAhXK7HMBHSz4AaYQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0gELFC1mUrYv8Is-lWtsk3">Louisa Akavi</a> was snatched along with Syrian drivers Alaa Rajab and Nabil Bakdounes while travelling in a Red Cross convoy delivering supplies to Idlib, in the northwest of the country.

Armed men stopped their convoy on October 13, 2013, and abducted seven people, four of whom were released the following day.

The ICRC said it believed they were abducted by the Islamic State group (IS).

"Our latest credible information indicates that Louisa was alive in late 2018," the group said Sunday in a statement from Geneva.

"The ICRC has never been able to learn more details about Alaa and Nabil, and their fate is not known."

New Zealand said it disagreed with making the abduction public but did confirm it had dispatched a special forces unit to Syria to search for Akavi.

"This has involved members of the NZDF (New Zealand defence force) drawn from the Special Operations Force, and personnel have visited Syria from time to time as required," New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said Monday.

"This non-combat team was specifically focused on locating Louisa and identifying opportunities to recover her.

"The efforts to locate and recover Louisa are ongoing, and there are a number of operational or intelligence matters the government won't be commenting on," he said.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed disappointment at the information released by the ICRC and refused to answer questions at her weekly press conference on Monday.

"It absolutely remains the government's view that it would be preferable if this case was not in the public domain," she said.

'Compassionate humanitarian'

Peters said information about the kidnapping had not been previously released for fear that any publicity would place the hostages at greater risk, and New Zealand media outlets which knew Akavi had been taken hostage agreed not to publish the story.

"In these situations, the priority must be the safety of the hostage and we received clear advice that any publicity would place Louisa at even greater risk," Peters said.

"The government is very grateful for the cooperation of media outlets over many years in respecting this advice and undertaking not to publish ... and we thank them for their principled approach."

ICRC operations director Dominik Stillhart said it was an "extremely difficult time" for the families of the three.

"Louisa is a true and compassionate humanitarian. Alaa and Nabil were committed colleagues and an integral part of our aid deliveries.

"We call on anyone with information to please come forward. If our colleagues are still being held, we call for their immediate and unconditional release."

Akavi had carried out 17 field missions with the ICRC and the New Zealand Red Cross, the statement said. Rajab and Bakdounes were "dedicated husbands and caring fathers", it added.

A spokesman for Akavi's family, Tuaine Robati, said she knew the dangers she faced.

"She's been through tough times in her job before but she's stuck at it because she loves it," he said.

"Louisa is an incredibly experienced nurse and aid worker who knew the risks of her job. Our family misses her very much and is concerned for her safety."

The war in Syria, which began in 2011, has claimed more than 370,000 lives and forced millions of people to flee their homes.&nbsp;

The Kurdish-led SDF, backed by a US-led coalition, captured the last IS bastion in eastern Syria on March 23 and had detained thousands of suspected IS fighters.

But this could make it more difficult to find Akavi.

The New York Times has reported the Red Cross has reason to believe she is alive because at least two people described seeing her in December at a clinic in Sousa, one of the final villages to be held by IS jihadists.

"We are speaking out today to publicly honour and acknowledge Louisa's, Alaa's, and Nabil's hardship and suffering," the ICRC statement said.

The organisation has 98 foreign workers and 580 Syrians working in the country.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights accuses IS of abducting thousands of people since 2014.

A New Zealand nurse believed abducted with two drivers by Islamic State militants in Syria in 2013 may still be alive, the International Committee of the Red Cross has revealed for the first time in an appeal for news of her whereabouts.

A New Zealand nurse believed abducted with two drivers by Islamic State militants in Syria in 2013 may still be alive, the International Committee of the Red Cross has revealed for the first time in an appeal for news of her whereabouts. Louisa Akavi was snatched along with Syrian drivers Alaa Rajab and Nabil Bakdounes while travelling in a Red Cross convoy delivering supplies to Idlib, in the northwest of the country. Armed men stopped their convoy on October 13, 2013, and abducted seven people, four of whom were released the following day. The ICRC said it believed they were abducted by the Islamic State group (IS). "Our latest credible information indicates that Louisa was alive in late 2018," the group said Sunday in a statement from Geneva. "The ICRC has never been able to learn more details about Alaa and Nabil, and their fate is not known." New Zealand said it disagreed with making the abduction public but did confirm it had dispatched a special forces unit to Syria to search for Akavi. "This has involved members of the NZDF (New Zealand defence force) drawn from the Special Operations Force, and personnel have visited Syria from time to time as required," New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said Monday. "This non-combat team was specifically focused on locating Louisa and identifying opportunities to recover her. "The efforts to locate and recover Louisa are ongoing, and there are a number of operational or intelligence matters the government won't be commenting on," he said. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed disappointment at the information released by the ICRC and refused to answer questions at her weekly press conference on Monday. "It absolutely remains the government's view that it would be preferable if this case was not in the public domain," she said. 'Compassionate humanitarian' Peters said information about the kidnapping had not been previously released for fear that any publicity would place the hostages at greater risk, and New Zealand media outlets which knew Akavi had been taken hostage agreed not to publish the story. "In these situations, the priority must be the safety of the hostage and we received clear advice that any publicity would place Louisa at even greater risk," Peters said. "The government is very grateful for the cooperation of media outlets over many years in respecting this advice and undertaking not to publish ... and we thank them for their principled approach." ICRC operations director Dominik Stillhart said it was an "extremely difficult time" for the families of the three. "Louisa is a true and compassionate humanitarian. Alaa and Nabil were committed colleagues and an integral part of our aid deliveries. "We call on anyone with information to please come forward. If our colleagues are still being held, we call for their immediate and unconditional release." Akavi had carried out 17 field missions with the ICRC and the New Zealand Red Cross, the statement said. Rajab and Bakdounes were "dedicated husbands and caring fathers", it added. A spokesman for Akavi's family, Tuaine Robati, said she knew the dangers she faced. "She's been through tough times in her job before but she's stuck at it because she loves it," he said. "Louisa is an incredibly experienced nurse and aid worker who knew the risks of her job. Our family misses her very much and is concerned for her safety." The war in Syria, which began in 2011, has claimed more than 370,000 lives and forced millions of people to flee their homes. The Kurdish-led SDF, backed by a US-led coalition, captured the last IS bastion in eastern Syria on March 23 and had detained thousands of suspected IS fighters. But this could make it more difficult to find Akavi. The New York Times has reported the Red Cross has reason to believe she is alive because at least two people described seeing her in December at a clinic in Sousa, one of the final villages to be held by IS jihadists. "We are speaking out today to publicly honour and acknowledge Louisa's, Alaa's, and Nabil's hardship and suffering," the ICRC statement said. The organisation has 98 foreign workers and 580 Syrians working in the country. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights accuses IS of abducting thousands of people since 2014.

Nurse kidnapped by Islamic State five years ago may be alive: Red Cross

Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing which took place in Pakistan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-death-toll-in-quetta-blast-rises-to-20-several-injured-209827">At least 20 people were killed and 48 wounded</a> in the blast which targeted the Shia Hazara ethnic minority at a crowded fruit market in Pakistan's Quetta city on Friday.

Earlier, a little faction of the Pakistani Taliban also claimed responsibility for the blast. They also said that they had collaborated with Lakshar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).

Balochistan home minister Zia Ullah Langu gave the toll and confirmed it was a suicide blast, adding that two of the dead were children.

The bomb detonated near a site where produce was being loaded for distribution around the market.

Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing which took place in Pakistan. At least 20 people were killed and 48 wounded in the blast which targeted the Shia Hazara ethnic minority at a crowded fruit market in Pakistan's Quetta city on Friday.

Islamic State on Saturday claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing which took place in Pakistan. At least 20 people were killed and 48 wounded in the blast which targeted the Shia Hazara ethnic minority at a crowded fruit market in Pakistan's Quetta city on Friday. Earlier, a little faction of the Pakistani Taliban also claimed responsibility for the blast. They also said that they had collaborated with Lakshar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ). Balochistan home minister Zia Ullah Langu gave the toll and confirmed it was a suicide blast, adding that two of the dead were children. The bomb detonated near a site where produce was being loaded for distribution around the market.

Islamic State claims responsibility for suicide attack in Pakistan's Quetta

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