Islamic&nbspState&nbspclaimed&nbspresponsibility&nbspon Wednesday for an attack on a police compound in the Afghan capital Kabul, a&nbspnews agency reported.

It said the attack occurred in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi district but gave no details on any casualties.

The news agency reported that the attack occurred in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi district but gave no details on any casualties

Islamic&nbspState&nbspclaimed&nbspresponsibility&nbspon Wednesday for an attack on a police compound in the Afghan capital Kabul, a&nbspnews agency reported. It said the attack occurred in Kabul's Dasht-e-Barchi district but gave no details on any casualties.

Islamic state claims responsibility for Afghan capital attack: Agency

At least five militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist outfit have been killed during the airstrikes of the US forces in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

The US forces carried out airstrikes using unmanned aerial vehicles in Haska Mina district, Khaama Press reported.

Some heavy and light weapons belonging to the terror group have been destroyed as well.

No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups, including IS militants in connection with the report so far.

This comes in tandem with various ongoing counter-terrorism operations in certain northern provinces as the militant and terrorist groups are attempting to expand their insurgency activities in the north.

The US military based in Afghanistan also conduct regular airstrikes against the IS, Taliban, and other militant and terrorist groups.

The US forces conduct airstrikes by using unmanned aerial vehicles in the province to clamp down the militants, according to the reports.

The US forces carried out airstrikes using unmanned aerial vehicles in Haska Mina district, Khaama Press reported

At least five militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist outfit have been killed during the airstrikes of the US forces in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. The US forces carried out airstrikes using unmanned aerial vehicles in Haska Mina district, Khaama Press reported. Some heavy and light weapons belonging to the terror group have been destroyed as well. No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups, including IS militants in connection with the report so far. This comes in tandem with various ongoing counter-terrorism operations in certain northern provinces as the militant and terrorist groups are attempting to expand their insurgency activities in the north. The US military based in Afghanistan also conduct regular airstrikes against the IS, Taliban, and other militant and terrorist groups. The US forces conduct airstrikes by using unmanned aerial vehicles in the province to clamp down the militants, according to the reports.

Five IS militants killed in Afghanistan

Russia' s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Friday it had detained five members of an Islamic State cell planning attacks in several regions and had seized an array of weapons, according to Russian news agencies.&nbsp;

The five suspects were apprehended in the city of Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, on May 3-4, the Interfax news agency reported, quoting an FSB statement.

Russia, whose military is helping the Syrian government fight rebel forces and Islamic State militants, is hosting the soccer World Cup next month and is increasing security measures.

On April 27, the FSB said it had thwarted an Islamic State plot to carry out a series of high-profile attacks in the Moscow area, where soccer World Cup matches are due to take place this summer.

The FSB on Friday did not reveal the identities of the detained or provide details on when or where the attacks were meant to take place.&nbsp;

"In the course of house searches, an arsenal of home-made explosive devices and substances, firearms and ammunition were seized from the detained," the FSB was quoted as saying.&nbsp;

Their activities were being coordinated partly from abroad using the Telegram instant messaging service, which Russia moved to block last month, the FSB statement said.&nbsp;

Separately, the Roskomnadzor watchdog blacklisted Telegram after it refused to comply with a court order to grant security services access to its user-encrypted messages.&nbsp;

The FSB has said it needs to access some user messages for its work, although supporters of Telegram - thousands of whom rallied against the ban in Moscow this week - say the move amounts to an attack on Internet freedoms.

The five suspects were apprehended in the city of Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, on May 3-4, the Interfax news agency reported, quoting an FSB statement

Russia' s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Friday it had detained five members of an Islamic State cell planning attacks in several regions and had seized an array of weapons, according to Russian news agencies. The five suspects were apprehended in the city of Yaroslavl, northeast of Moscow, on May 3-4, the Interfax news agency reported, quoting an FSB statement. Russia, whose military is helping the Syrian government fight rebel forces and Islamic State militants, is hosting the soccer World Cup next month and is increasing security measures. On April 27, the FSB said it had thwarted an Islamic State plot to carry out a series of high-profile attacks in the Moscow area, where soccer World Cup matches are due to take place this summer. The FSB on Friday did not reveal the identities of the detained or provide details on when or where the attacks were meant to take place. "In the course of house searches, an arsenal of home-made explosive devices and substances, firearms and ammunition were seized from the detained," the FSB was quoted as saying. Their activities were being coordinated partly from abroad using the Telegram instant messaging service, which Russia moved to block last month, the FSB statement said. Separately, the Roskomnadzor watchdog blacklisted Telegram after it refused to comply with a court order to grant security services access to its user-encrypted messages. The FSB has said it needs to access some user messages for its work, although supporters of Telegram - thousands of whom rallied against the ban in Moscow this week - say the move amounts to an attack on Internet freedoms.

Russia detains five Islamic State members planning attack: Reports

The pictures show journalists killed in the second of two explosions that rocked Kabul during the morning rush hour. They were taken by Reuters photographer Omar Sobhani, 10 or 15 seconds after a suicide bomber, apparently targeting members of the media, detonated his explosives.&nbsp;

In one image, a cameraman from Al Jazeera can be seen kneeling wounded against the kerb, while nearby a journalist from Afghanistan's Radio Azadi is being helped by an old man who was passing by when the blast went off.&nbsp;

Sobhani, who began working for Reuters as a driver and fixer in 2002 and has been a photographer since 2007, was among the journalists who had raced to cover the initial explosion on Monday morning in the Shashdarak area of central Kabul, not far from the US&nbsp;embassy.

"I had been waiting with other journalists to cover an earlier blast. It was a normal scene. It was about 8:30 in the morning, there were security forces guarding the site of the first blast and quite a few people going to work and we were just waiting with other journalists," he says.

"Then we heard a huge bang just behind me. I survived because I was standing in front of a concrete pillar that shielded me from the force of the explosion, but I saw all my friends and colleagues on the ground and a lot of them were dead with a few wounded - you can still see the smoke from the explosion in the pictures." 
 
Afghanistan's interior ministry said the suicide bomber who detonated the second blast had posed as a media worker, showing a press card to security forces and standing among the gathered journalists before blowing himself up.

Sobhani was slightly wounded but was able to quickly capture some images of the scene before withdrawing to seek help.

"I was shocked but I could see there was nothing to be done and I shot some pictures immediately before leaving," he said. "I could feel some pain and there was some shrapnel in my shoulder, which was taken out at the hospital."

Eight of the journalists were from Afghan outlets: two reporters from the Mashal TV, a cameraman and a reporter working for 1TV, three reporters from Radio Azadi and one from Tolo News, according to the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee.

The French news agency Agence France-Presse said its chief photographer in Afghanistan, Shah Marai, was killed.

For Sobhani and the other journalists at the scene, many of the victims of the attack were people they had worked alongside, covering the bloodshed in Afghanistan, for years.

"The people killed were all innocent people, people just going about their business or journalists just doing their job. They're showing the truth of what's happening, it's not politics, it's very important so that people can know what's happening," he said.

"It's a challenging job with a lot of problems, you see war and violence all the time, but it's important to make sure people know. I was very shocked, these were colleagues of mine, and one was a very good friend."

Total nine journalists lost their lives in Monday's twin explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan

The pictures show journalists killed in the second of two explosions that rocked Kabul during the morning rush hour. They were taken by Reuters photographer Omar Sobhani, 10 or 15 seconds after a suicide bomber, apparently targeting members of the media, detonated his explosives. In one image, a cameraman from Al Jazeera can be seen kneeling wounded against the kerb, while nearby a journalist from Afghanistan's Radio Azadi is being helped by an old man who was passing by when the blast went off. Sobhani, who began working for Reuters as a driver and fixer in 2002 and has been a photographer since 2007, was among the journalists who had raced to cover the initial explosion on Monday morning in the Shashdarak area of central Kabul, not far from the US embassy. "I had been waiting with other journalists to cover an earlier blast. It was a normal scene. It was about 8:30 in the morning, there were security forces guarding the site of the first blast and quite a few people going to work and we were just waiting with other journalists," he says. "Then we heard a huge bang just behind me. I survived because I was standing in front of a concrete pillar that shielded me from the force of the explosion, but I saw all my friends and colleagues on the ground and a lot of them were dead with a few wounded - you can still see the smoke from the explosion in the pictures." Afghanistan's interior ministry said the suicide bomber who detonated the second blast had posed as a media worker, showing a press card to security forces and standing among the gathered journalists before blowing himself up. Sobhani was slightly wounded but was able to quickly capture some images of the scene before withdrawing to seek help. "I was shocked but I could see there was nothing to be done and I shot some pictures immediately before leaving," he said. "I could feel some pain and there was some shrapnel in my shoulder, which was taken out at the hospital." Eight of the journalists were from Afghan outlets: two reporters from the Mashal TV, a cameraman and a reporter working for 1TV, three reporters from Radio Azadi and one from Tolo News, according to the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee. The French news agency Agence France-Presse said its chief photographer in Afghanistan, Shah Marai, was killed. For Sobhani and the other journalists at the scene, many of the victims of the attack were people they had worked alongside, covering the bloodshed in Afghanistan, for years. "The people killed were all innocent people, people just going about their business or journalists just doing their job. They're showing the truth of what's happening, it's not politics, it's very important so that people can know what's happening," he said. "It's a challenging job with a lot of problems, you see war and violence all the time, but it's important to make sure people know. I was very shocked, these were colleagues of mine, and one was a very good friend."

You can still see the smoke in the pictures: Kabul twin blasts witness recounts horror

US-backed Syrian forces on Tuesday relaunched their operations to seize the last territory Islamic State controls in the east near the border with Iraq.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, had halted their battle after Turkey launched an assault in January against northern Afrin region.

“We have rearranged our ranks,” said Lilwa al-Abdallah, spokeswoman for the offensive in oil-rich Deir al-Zor province.

Islamic State militants stepped up attacks in the region in recent weeks in a bid to reorganize, she told a news conference at an oilfield on the eastern bank of the Euphrates river.

“Our heroic forces will liberate these areas and secure the border...We welcome the support of the Iraqi forces.”

Also, the US-led coalition on Monday announced the end of a huge operation against Islamic State in Iraq by stating the "deactivation" of its land forces command headquarters.&nbsp;

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the Islamic State in December, five months after his forces recaptured the country’s second city Mosul in a protracted battle with the jihadist militants.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State terrorists agreed to hand over their last pocket in Damascus on Friday, reports said. The surrender was made after a week of escalations by pro-government forces against &nbsp;Islamic State-held Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood and Yarmouk Palestinian camp in Damascus.

Pro-government forces bombed the two areas and blanketed them with artillery fire in a crescendo of violence captured by the state-affiliated Central Military Media outlet on Friday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week that he expected a “re-energized” effort soon against the ultra-hardline militants in eastern Syria.

Syrian fighters, backed by US&nbsp;airstrikes and troops, have dealt heavy blows to Islamic State but the jihadists still hold a swathe of land along the desert frontier with Iraq. They are widely expected to revert to guerrilla tactics if they lose the last remnants of their once self-styled “caliphate”.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, had halted their battle after Turkey launched an assault in January against northern Afrin region

US-backed Syrian forces on Tuesday relaunched their operations to seize the last territory Islamic State controls in the east near the border with Iraq. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, had halted their battle after Turkey launched an assault in January against northern Afrin region. “We have rearranged our ranks,” said Lilwa al-Abdallah, spokeswoman for the offensive in oil-rich Deir al-Zor province. Islamic State militants stepped up attacks in the region in recent weeks in a bid to reorganize, she told a news conference at an oilfield on the eastern bank of the Euphrates river. “Our heroic forces will liberate these areas and secure the border...We welcome the support of the Iraqi forces.” Also, the US-led coalition on Monday announced the end of a huge operation against Islamic State in Iraq by stating the "deactivation" of its land forces command headquarters. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the Islamic State in December, five months after his forces recaptured the country’s second city Mosul in a protracted battle with the jihadist militants. Meanwhile, the Islamic State terrorists agreed to hand over their last pocket in Damascus on Friday, reports said. The surrender was made after a week of escalations by pro-government forces against Islamic State-held Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood and Yarmouk Palestinian camp in Damascus. Pro-government forces bombed the two areas and blanketed them with artillery fire in a crescendo of violence captured by the state-affiliated Central Military Media outlet on Friday. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week that he expected a “re-energized” effort soon against the ultra-hardline militants in eastern Syria. Syrian fighters, backed by US airstrikes and troops, have dealt heavy blows to Islamic State but the jihadists still hold a swathe of land along the desert frontier with Iraq. They are widely expected to revert to guerrilla tactics if they lose the last remnants of their once self-styled “caliphate”.

US-backed Syrian forces relaunch operations against Islamic State

Syrian troops on Sunday tightened the noose around a major Palestinian refugee camp held by Islamic State militants in southern Damascus where hundreds of civilians face an uncertain future, state media, witnesses and residents said.

Nearly two weeks into a campaign to capture the last area near the capital outside government control that has left many parts of the once teeming Yarmouk camp in ruins, state media announced al Qadm neighbourhood next to the camp was retaken.

Opposition sources said the army was now engaged in fierce fighting with militants on the outskirts of Yarmouk camp where an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 militants are now encircled.

The militants who are besieged in an ever shrinking area have repelled successive raids to enter their heavily defended stronghold.

The Yarmouk campaign is part of a wider-Russian backed offensive to regain the last pocket in opposition hands around the capital after retaking eastern Ghouta this month.

It has shown no sign of letting up since Western countries launched air strikes on April 14 to punish the government for a suspected poison gas attack.

The fate of hundreds of Palestinians, mostly sick and elderly women and children still in the camp that was once the largest in Syria is uncertain. UNRWA, the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees has called on warring parties to spare civilians.

"There are some families that have been buried under the rubble and no one is able to retrieve their bodies," said Abu Osama, a resident who fled the camp two days ago to nearby Yalda, joining thousands of others seeking relative safety there since the start of the latest offensive.

"The regime is just burning and destroying ... and then trying to advance on several fronts," Rami al Sayed, a former resident of Yarmouk who is now on its outskirts, said.

The camp, which has been under siege by the army since rebels captured it in 2012, was home to some 160,000 Palestinians before the Syrian conflict began in 2011, refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and their descendents.

Amaq, a news agency affiliated to Islamic State, said its fighters had repelled the latest attacks on their positions in al Qadam and Hay al Tadamon, killing at least 17 army fighters killed in sniper attacks.

The ultra-hardline Sunni militants also pushed overnight into some positions in the southern Damascus pocket where mainly mainstream rebels operating under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are in control, opposition sources said. 
 
A deal was reached overnight under Russian auspices to evacuate those FSA rebels who are based in the towns of Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem that adjoin Islamic State-held areas to opposition held areas in northern Syria, a rebel source said confirming leaks in state media.

Those rebels who have in the past fought both the militants and the Syrian army have also been targeted by the army in an attempt to force them to capitulate.

Nearly two weeks into a campaign to capture the last area near the capital outside government control that has left many parts of the once teeming Yarmouk camp in ruins, state media announced al Qadm neighbourhood next to the camp was retaken

Syrian troops on Sunday tightened the noose around a major Palestinian refugee camp held by Islamic State militants in southern Damascus where hundreds of civilians face an uncertain future, state media, witnesses and residents said. Nearly two weeks into a campaign to capture the last area near the capital outside government control that has left many parts of the once teeming Yarmouk camp in ruins, state media announced al Qadm neighbourhood next to the camp was retaken. Opposition sources said the army was now engaged in fierce fighting with militants on the outskirts of Yarmouk camp where an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 militants are now encircled. The militants who are besieged in an ever shrinking area have repelled successive raids to enter their heavily defended stronghold. The Yarmouk campaign is part of a wider-Russian backed offensive to regain the last pocket in opposition hands around the capital after retaking eastern Ghouta this month. It has shown no sign of letting up since Western countries launched air strikes on April 14 to punish the government for a suspected poison gas attack. The fate of hundreds of Palestinians, mostly sick and elderly women and children still in the camp that was once the largest in Syria is uncertain. UNRWA, the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees has called on warring parties to spare civilians. "There are some families that have been buried under the rubble and no one is able to retrieve their bodies," said Abu Osama, a resident who fled the camp two days ago to nearby Yalda, joining thousands of others seeking relative safety there since the start of the latest offensive. "The regime is just burning and destroying ... and then trying to advance on several fronts," Rami al Sayed, a former resident of Yarmouk who is now on its outskirts, said. The camp, which has been under siege by the army since rebels captured it in 2012, was home to some 160,000 Palestinians before the Syrian conflict began in 2011, refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and their descendents. Amaq, a news agency affiliated to Islamic State, said its fighters had repelled the latest attacks on their positions in al Qadam and Hay al Tadamon, killing at least 17 army fighters killed in sniper attacks. The ultra-hardline Sunni militants also pushed overnight into some positions in the southern Damascus pocket where mainly mainstream rebels operating under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are in control, opposition sources said. A deal was reached overnight under Russian auspices to evacuate those FSA rebels who are based in the towns of Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem that adjoin Islamic State-held areas to opposition held areas in northern Syria, a rebel source said confirming leaks in state media. Those rebels who have in the past fought both the militants and the Syrian army have also been targeted by the army in an attempt to force them to capitulate.

Syrian army tightens noose around Palestinian camp

The Syrian army on Sunday seized a string of villages from US aided army, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), near the border with Iraq.

The villages have been captured from US-backed SDF east of the Euphrates river near the border.

The US-backed proxy forces are campaigning in the area since 2017 to drive out the Islamic State.

The SDF are promoted by Kurdish YPG militia.&nbspThe forces have taken much of the territory east of the Euphrates in Deir al-Zor province.

The Russian-backed Syrian army avoids clashes with SDF in its fight against Islamist State. It also distances itself from the east of Euphrates.&nbsp

An elaborate " deconfliction lines" separates the US-led forces from Russian and Iranian backed forces.&nbsp

The SDF had claimed earlier that they were engaged in heavy clashes with Syrian army troops on the outskirts of the village near the Euphrates.&nbsp

&nbsp

The US-backed proxy forces are campaigning in the area since 2017 to drive out the Islamic State

The Syrian army on Sunday seized a string of villages from US aided army, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), near the border with Iraq. The villages have been captured from US-backed SDF east of the Euphrates river near the border. The US-backed proxy forces are campaigning in the area since 2017 to drive out the Islamic State. The SDF are promoted by Kurdish YPG militia.&nbspThe forces have taken much of the territory east of the Euphrates in Deir al-Zor province. The Russian-backed Syrian army avoids clashes with SDF in its fight against Islamist State. It also distances itself from the east of Euphrates. An elaborate " deconfliction lines" separates the US-led forces from Russian and Iranian backed forces. The SDF had claimed earlier that they were engaged in heavy clashes with Syrian army troops on the outskirts of the village near the Euphrates.

Seized villages from US-backed forces: Syrian army

Russia's domestic security service said on Friday it had thwarted an Islamic State(IS) plan to carry out a series of high-profile attacks in the Moscow area, where soccer World Cup matches are due to take place this summer.

The FSB security service said it had cut short the activity of what it called a four-man IS&nbspsleeper cell which was taking instructions from someone in Syria via the Telegram messenger service.

It did not provide details of when the attacks were meant to take place or what the precise targets were.

Russia, whose military is helping the Syrian government fight rebel forces, is hosting the FIFA soccer World Cup from June 14-July 15 and is increasing security measures.

The sleeper cell originally came from Siberia, the FSB said in a statement, and 20 people were detained in a related special operation in the town of Novy Urengoy around 2,300 km (1,400 miles) northeast of Moscow.

Searches in Novy Urengoy had found extremist Islamic State propaganda, the FSB said.

Searches in Novy Urengoy had found extremist Islamic State propaganda, the FSB said.

Russia's domestic security service said on Friday it had thwarted an Islamic State(IS) plan to carry out a series of high-profile attacks in the Moscow area, where soccer World Cup matches are due to take place this summer. The FSB security service said it had cut short the activity of what it called a four-man IS&nbspsleeper cell which was taking instructions from someone in Syria via the Telegram messenger service. It did not provide details of when the attacks were meant to take place or what the precise targets were. Russia, whose military is helping the Syrian government fight rebel forces, is hosting the FIFA soccer World Cup from June 14-July 15 and is increasing security measures. The sleeper cell originally came from Siberia, the FSB said in a statement, and 20 people were detained in a related special operation in the town of Novy Urengoy around 2,300 km (1,400 miles) northeast of Moscow. Searches in Novy Urengoy had found extremist Islamic State propaganda, the FSB said.

Ahead of World Cup soccer, Russia says Islamic State attacks thwarted

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

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

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

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

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a blast that targetted a voter registration centre in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday.

The blast was carried out by a suicide bomber and claimed at least 48 lives wounding 112 others.

No other details were communicated by the AMAQ, the militant group's news agency.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said a bomber on foot approached the centre where officials had been issuing identity cards as part of a process of registering voters for parliamentary elections due this year.

The attack — the latest assault targeting a voter registration centre —occured in a heavily Shia-populated neighbourhood in the west of the Kabul city.&nbsp;

Afghanistan on April 14 began registering voters for long-delayed legislative elections scheduled for October.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

The blast was carried out by a suicide bomber and claimed at least 31 lives wounding 54 others

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a blast that targetted a voter registration centre in Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday. The blast was carried out by a suicide bomber and claimed at least 48 lives wounding 112 others. No other details were communicated by the AMAQ, the militant group's news agency. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said a bomber on foot approached the centre where officials had been issuing identity cards as part of a process of registering voters for parliamentary elections due this year. The attack — the latest assault targeting a voter registration centre —occured in a heavily Shia-populated neighbourhood in the west of the Kabul city. Afghanistan on April 14 began registering voters for long-delayed legislative elections scheduled for October. (With inputs from Reuters)

Kabul blast: Islamic State claims responsibility

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad Friday filed a charge sheet in a court in Ankleshwar town of Bharuch district against two suspected ISIS operatives who were arrested last year.

While the accused, Mohammad Kasim Stimberwala and Ubed Ahmed Mirza, were held on charges of planning a 'lone wolf' attack on a Jewish synagogue in Khadia area here, the charge sheet claimed that they had also planned attacks on the Jewish community in Mumbai.

They wanted to carry out the attack in Mumbai as more Jews lived there compared to Ahmedabad, claimed the over 1,500 pages' charge sheet, filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate R D Mehta.

The charge sheet was filed in Ankleshwar as one of the suspects was held from there in October last year.

While Stimberwala worked as a laboratory technician at a hospital in Ankleshwar, Mirza was a lawyer practising in the Surat district court.

Both were "highly radicalised by the Jehadi ideology of the Islamic State and actively planning lone wolf attacks on Jews", it claimed.

Abdullah el-Faisal, a radical preacher based in Jamaica, and suspected ISIS handler Shafi Armar were shown as "absconding" in the charge sheet.

The arrested duo were in touch with el-Faisal and Shafi Armar to plan attacks on Jews in India, and conducted recce of some of the targets. They were even planning to send radicalised youths outside India to take part in terrorist acts, the charge sheet said.

Though Stimberwala and Mirza tried to procure weapons through their contacts in Delhi and Lucknow, they failed, said the charge sheet.

Apart from planning a 'lone-wolf' attack on the synagogue in Khadia area here, for which Stimberwala conducted a recce, they also thought of carrying out attacks in Nariman Point area in Mumbai to maximise the impact as a considerable number of Jews live there, it said.

Both have been charged with IPC sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (sedition) and 125 (waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance with India). They were also booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

As per the FIR lodged in October, both the accused were under the influence of El-Faisal, who was convicted for spreading hatred in the UK and deported to Jamaica.

El-Faisal was subsequently detained in Jamaica on the charge of persuading youths to travel to Syria to take up jihad, the FIR had said.

While the accused, Mohammad Kasim Stimberwala and Ubed Ahmed Mirza, were held on charges of planning a 'lone wolf' attack on a Jewish synagogue in Khadia area here, the charge sheet claimed that they had also planned attacks on the Jewish community in Mumbai

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad Friday filed a charge sheet in a court in Ankleshwar town of Bharuch district against two suspected ISIS operatives who were arrested last year. While the accused, Mohammad Kasim Stimberwala and Ubed Ahmed Mirza, were held on charges of planning a 'lone wolf' attack on a Jewish synagogue in Khadia area here, the charge sheet claimed that they had also planned attacks on the Jewish community in Mumbai. They wanted to carry out the attack in Mumbai as more Jews lived there compared to Ahmedabad, claimed the over 1,500 pages' charge sheet, filed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate R D Mehta. The charge sheet was filed in Ankleshwar as one of the suspects was held from there in October last year. While Stimberwala worked as a laboratory technician at a hospital in Ankleshwar, Mirza was a lawyer practising in the Surat district court. Both were "highly radicalised by the Jehadi ideology of the Islamic State and actively planning lone wolf attacks on Jews", it claimed. Abdullah el-Faisal, a radical preacher based in Jamaica, and suspected ISIS handler Shafi Armar were shown as "absconding" in the charge sheet. The arrested duo were in touch with el-Faisal and Shafi Armar to plan attacks on Jews in India, and conducted recce of some of the targets. They were even planning to send radicalised youths outside India to take part in terrorist acts, the charge sheet said. Though Stimberwala and Mirza tried to procure weapons through their contacts in Delhi and Lucknow, they failed, said the charge sheet. Apart from planning a 'lone-wolf' attack on the synagogue in Khadia area here, for which Stimberwala conducted a recce, they also thought of carrying out attacks in Nariman Point area in Mumbai to maximise the impact as a considerable number of Jews live there, it said. Both have been charged with IPC sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (sedition) and 125 (waging war against any Asiatic power in alliance with India). They were also booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). As per the FIR lodged in October, both the accused were under the influence of El-Faisal, who was convicted for spreading hatred in the UK and deported to Jamaica. El-Faisal was subsequently detained in Jamaica on the charge of persuading youths to travel to Syria to take up jihad, the FIR had said.

ISIS suspects planned attacks on Jews in Mumbai: Gujarat ATS

US forces concluded a nine-day military exercise "Flintlock 2018" in Niger aimed at stopping the spread of extremist organizations in the continent.

Reuters quoted colonel Craig Miller, US Air Force special operations Command Africa, saying: "Under-governed spaces might provide an opportunity and certainly that's something that our African partners are concerned about and we are trying to assist them in understanding the human dynamics." &nbsp;

A multinational headquarters was put up&nbsp;in Agadez, Niger to set the exercise in motion which was attended by forces from Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal.

"We are working by, with and through our African partners to build stability, to provide some training and to help them conduct operations against the violent extremist organizations that are operating inside their territory," Craig Miller told Reuters.

Two US soldiers were killed in Tongo last year after an ambush by Islamic State-linked organization.

The US has ramped up its presence in Niger in order to stop the extremist&nbsp;group from mushrooming in Africa where Islamic State, Boko Haram and AQUIM regularly hit civilian targets.

The US has ramped up its presence in Niger in order to stop the extremist group from mushrooming in Africa where Islamic State, Boko Haram and AQUIM regularly hit civilian targets.

US forces concluded a nine-day military exercise "Flintlock 2018" in Niger aimed at stopping the spread of extremist organizations in the continent. Reuters quoted colonel Craig Miller, US Air Force special operations Command Africa, saying: "Under-governed spaces might provide an opportunity and certainly that's something that our African partners are concerned about and we are trying to assist them in understanding the human dynamics." A multinational headquarters was put up in Agadez, Niger to set the exercise in motion which was attended by forces from Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. "We are working by, with and through our African partners to build stability, to provide some training and to help them conduct operations against the violent extremist organizations that are operating inside their territory," Craig Miller told Reuters. Two US soldiers were killed in Tongo last year after an ambush by Islamic State-linked organization. The US has ramped up its presence in Niger in order to stop the extremist group from mushrooming in Africa where Islamic State, Boko Haram and AQUIM regularly hit civilian targets.

Watch: US army exercises in Africa aims to combat extremists

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

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

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

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

Iraqi courts have sentenced 212 people to death in Mosul and surrounding areas, most of them for complicity with Islamic State, since the area was retaken by Iraqi forces in July and August 2017, a judiciary spokesman said on Wednesday.

Mosul was home to two million people before being overrun in 2014 by Islamic State which proclaimed a "caliphate" stretching into neighbouring Syria.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared full victory over the group last December after Iraqi forces drove its last remnants from the country.

Since then, Human rights groups have accused Iraqi and other regional forces of inconsistencies in the judicial process and flawed trials leading to unfair convictions.

Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said on Wednesday that criminal courts falling under the Nineveh Federal Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes Mosul, had so far ruled on a total of 815 cases since the area was recaptured from Islamic State.

"The statistics coming from the criminal courts show that 815 people have gone on trial and that 212 were sentenced to death. A further 150 were sentenced to life in prison," said judiciary spokesman Judge Abdul-Sattar al-Birqdar.

It was not immediately clear how many, if any, of the death sentences, had been already carried out.

"The vast majority of these rulings were against elements of the Islamic State terrorist organisation who were proven to have committed crimes and came after public trials conducted in accordance with the law. Defendants were afforded their rights," Birqdar said.

Another 341 people were jailed for various terms and 112 were acquitted, he said.

New York-based Human Rights Watch released an 80-page report in December accusing Iraqi federal and Kurdish regional judiciaries of violating the rights of Islamic State suspects with flawed trials, arbitrary detentions under harsh conditions and broad prosecutions.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared full victory over the group last December after Iraqi forces drove its last remnants from the country

Iraqi courts have sentenced 212 people to death in Mosul and surrounding areas, most of them for complicity with Islamic State, since the area was retaken by Iraqi forces in July and August 2017, a judiciary spokesman said on Wednesday. Mosul was home to two million people before being overrun in 2014 by Islamic State which proclaimed a "caliphate" stretching into neighbouring Syria. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared full victory over the group last December after Iraqi forces drove its last remnants from the country. Since then, Human rights groups have accused Iraqi and other regional forces of inconsistencies in the judicial process and flawed trials leading to unfair convictions. Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said on Wednesday that criminal courts falling under the Nineveh Federal Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes Mosul, had so far ruled on a total of 815 cases since the area was recaptured from Islamic State. "The statistics coming from the criminal courts show that 815 people have gone on trial and that 212 were sentenced to death. A further 150 were sentenced to life in prison," said judiciary spokesman Judge Abdul-Sattar al-Birqdar. It was not immediately clear how many, if any, of the death sentences, had been already carried out. "The vast majority of these rulings were against elements of the Islamic State terrorist organisation who were proven to have committed crimes and came after public trials conducted in accordance with the law. Defendants were afforded their rights," Birqdar said. Another 341 people were jailed for various terms and 112 were acquitted, he said. New York-based Human Rights Watch released an 80-page report in December accusing Iraqi federal and Kurdish regional judiciaries of violating the rights of Islamic State suspects with flawed trials, arbitrary detentions under harsh conditions and broad prosecutions.

Iraq sentences 212 to death in Mosul area since recapture from Islamic State

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

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

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

70 Islamic State militants arrested in Turkey

The Islamic State seems to grapple with a divide in opinion over choosing its new leader in the Jawzjan province. Its previous chief, Qari Hekmat, was killed in an air strike on Friday.

Hekmat's supporters declared Qari Habib Rahman as the new leader of the northern provinces.

According to Xinhua news agency, Qari Habib Rahman was chosen as the new leader but other IS fighters, including the ones from Uzbekistan, challenged his leadership.

IS is yet to confirm the report.

Hekmat's supporters declared Qari Habib Rahman as the new leader of the northern provinces

The Islamic State seems to grapple with a divide in opinion over choosing its new leader in the Jawzjan province. Its previous chief, Qari Hekmat, was killed in an air strike on Friday. Hekmat's supporters declared Qari Habib Rahman as the new leader of the northern provinces. According to Xinhua news agency, Qari Habib Rahman was chosen as the new leader but other IS fighters, including the ones from Uzbekistan, challenged his leadership. IS is yet to confirm the report.

Afghanistan: Rift appears over choosing new Islamic State leader

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

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

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

Afghan air strike kills Islamic State commander

The mortal <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/vk-singh-leaves-for-iraq-to-bring-back-bodies-of-39-indians-killed-in-mosul-127575">remains of 38 Indians who were</a> killed by the Islamic State in Mosul, Iraq arrived in Amritsar today.

Minister of state for external affairs VK Singh brought back the bodies of the Indians in caskets.

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This is not a game of football, Both state and central govt are sensitive govts, EAM had asked the families for the details of their members who can be given jobs etc, we will review: VK Singh,MoS MEA on whether kin of the 38 Indians will be given jobs <a href="https://t.co/J0ryINOc1P">pic.twitter.com/J0ryINOc1P</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/980735924169531392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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"The government has left no stone unturned,"&nbsp;VK Singh said as he addressed the media.

"It is an irreparable&nbsp;loss," he added.

The Indians had gone missing in 2014 as the government launched a massive search operation along with the Iraqi government.

Foreign Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had announced in Parliament last month that the Indian government had found the mortal remains of the Indians.

VK Singh briefed the media as he arrived in Amritsar

The mortal remains of 38 Indians who were killed by the Islamic State in Mosul, Iraq arrived in Amritsar today. Minister of state for external affairs VK Singh brought back the bodies of the Indians in caskets. This is not a game of football, Both state and central govt are sensitive govts, EAM had asked the families for the details of their members who can be given jobs etc, we will review: VK Singh,MoS MEA on whether kin of the 38 Indians will be given jobs pic.twitter.com/J0ryINOc1P — ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018 × "The government has left no stone unturned," VK Singh said as he addressed the media. "It is an irreparable loss," he added. The Indians had gone missing in 2014 as the government launched a massive search operation along with the Iraqi government. Foreign Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had announced in Parliament last month that the Indian government had found the mortal remains of the Indians.

VK Singh brings back mortal remains of 38 Indians killed in Iraq

At least 23 militants, including two Islamic State (IS) militants, were killed in operations by Afghan security forces in the last 24 hours, according to Afghanistan's defence ministry.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement that the operations were conducted in Ghazni, Farah, Badghis, Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan, and Helmand provinces, while adding that 23 other militants were also injured.

During the operations, a local Taliban commander named Omari was also injured, the MoD was quoted by TOLO news as saying.

Further, the statement said that eight clearance operations, 69 special operations, five airstrikes and 100 supportive air operations were conducted.

Also, vehicles and weapons belonging to the militants were destroyed.&nbsp

At least 23 militants, including two Islamic State (IS) militants, were killed in operations by Afghan security forces in the last 24 hours, according to Afghanistan's defence ministry

At least 23 militants, including two Islamic State (IS) militants, were killed in operations by Afghan security forces in the last 24 hours, according to Afghanistan's defence ministry. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement that the operations were conducted in Ghazni, Farah, Badghis, Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan, and Helmand provinces, while adding that 23 other militants were also injured. During the operations, a local Taliban commander named Omari was also injured, the MoD was quoted by TOLO news as saying. Further, the statement said that eight clearance operations, 69 special operations, five airstrikes and 100 supportive air operations were conducted. Also, vehicles and weapons belonging to the militants were destroyed.

Afghanistan: 23 militants killed in last 24 hours

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

US airstrike kills 6 Islamic State terrorists in Afghanistan

Two suicide attackers struck a Shiite mosque in Afghanistan on Sunday, killing at least one person and wounding eight others, officials said, in the latest assault against the Muslim minority.&nbsp;

As per reports, the death toll is expected to rise adding that one of the attcker tried to enter the mosque but was shot by the security guards.&nbsp;

ISIL claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack. The group made the claim via a statement released online by its Amaq news agency.

The area around the mosque was cordoned off by police and ambulances were seen rushing victims to hospitals in the city, an AFP photographer at the scene said.&nbsp;

The attack comes just days after an ISIL suicide bomber killed 26 people in the capital Kabul and injured dozens more on the road to a Shiite shrine, as Afghans celebrated the Persian new year on Wednesday.

Both the Taliban and ISIL have increasingly targeted the war-weary city in recent months as US and Afghan forces ramp up air strikes and ground offensives against the groups.

ISIL claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack but provided no evidence for its claim. The group made the claim via a statement released online by its Amaq news agency

Two suicide attackers struck a Shiite mosque in Afghanistan on Sunday, killing at least one person and wounding eight others, officials said, in the latest assault against the Muslim minority. As per reports, the death toll is expected to rise adding that one of the attcker tried to enter the mosque but was shot by the security guards. ISIL claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack. The group made the claim via a statement released online by its Amaq news agency. The area around the mosque was cordoned off by police and ambulances were seen rushing victims to hospitals in the city, an AFP photographer at the scene said. The attack comes just days after an ISIL suicide bomber killed 26 people in the capital Kabul and injured dozens more on the road to a Shiite shrine, as Afghans celebrated the Persian new year on Wednesday. Both the Taliban and ISIL have increasingly targeted the war-weary city in recent months as US and Afghan forces ramp up air strikes and ground offensives against the groups.

Suicide bombers attack Shiite mosque in Afghanistan, 1 killed, 8 injured

NIA court in Kochi has sentenced ISIS recruiter Yasmeen Mohammed Zahid to 7 years imprisonment in connection with the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-nia-suspects-5-people-to-have-links-with-isis-registers-case-26965" target="_blank"> missing people from Kerala</a>.

The people missing from the state travelled to&nbsp;Afghanistan.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/about-100-keralites-suspected-to-have-joined-islamic-state-kerala-police-24004" target="_blank">About 100 Keralites suspected to have joined Islamic State: Kerala Police</a>

The court has awarded the sentence of 7 years&nbsp;under Section 125 and 7 years under section 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A fine of Rs 25,000 has also been imposed on the accused.

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Court has awarded sentence of 7 yrs under Section 125 &amp; 7 years under section 38, 39 &amp; 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on accused: Arjun, Public prosecutor after NIA court sentenced ISIS recruiter YM Zahid to 7 yrs in prison <a href="https://t.co/zZl0gdjHSt">pic.twitter.com/zZl0gdjHSt</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977436384255410178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Kerala police had in November alleged that about 100 Keralites have joined the Islamic State.&nbsp;

The police based its arguments on the basis of evidence collected from 300 voice clips and messages from Whatsapp, telegram messaging applications and other social media platforms, PTI reported.

NIA is investigating the cases of people disappearing in Kerala.&nbsp;These people had left Kerala under mysterious circumstances and are suspected to have joined the ISIS.

The court has awarded the sentence of 7 years under Section 125 and 7 years under section 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A fine of Rs 25,000 has also been imposed on the accused

NIA court in Kochi has sentenced ISIS recruiter Yasmeen Mohammed Zahid to 7 years imprisonment in connection with the missing people from Kerala. The people missing from the state travelled to Afghanistan. Also read: About 100 Keralites suspected to have joined Islamic State: Kerala Police The court has awarded the sentence of 7 years under Section 125 and 7 years under section 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). A fine of Rs 25,000 has also been imposed on the accused. Court has awarded sentence of 7 yrs under Section 125 & 7 years under section 38, 39 & 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on accused: Arjun, Public prosecutor after NIA court sentenced ISIS recruiter YM Zahid to 7 yrs in prison pic.twitter.com/zZl0gdjHSt — ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2018 × The Kerala police had in November alleged that about 100 Keralites have joined the Islamic State. The police based its arguments on the basis of evidence collected from 300 voice clips and messages from Whatsapp, telegram messaging applications and other social media platforms, PTI reported. NIA is investigating the cases of people disappearing in Kerala. These people had left Kerala under mysterious circumstances and are suspected to have joined the ISIS.

Kerala ISIS case: ISIS recruiter Yasmeen Mohammed Zahid sent to 7 years jail

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

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

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

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

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

The Taliban earlier denied involvement on Twitter

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

Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack

Pakistan today strongly condemned a suicide attack near a Shia shrine in the Afghan capital that killed 29 people and wounded 52 others.

&quot;We are grieved at the loss of precious and innocent lives in this brutal attack of terrorism.We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,&quot; the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan in their fight against the menace of terrorism, it further said.

An Islamic State suicide bomber struck on the road to a Shia shrine in Kabul today, killing at least 29 people.

The Afghan Public Health Ministry said another 52 people were wounded in the attack.&nbsp;

Pakistan today strongly condemned a suicide attack near a Shia shrine in the Afghan capital that killed 29 people and wounded 52 others

Pakistan today strongly condemned a suicide attack near a Shia shrine in the Afghan capital that killed 29 people and wounded 52 others. "We are grieved at the loss of precious and innocent lives in this brutal attack of terrorism.We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," the Foreign Office said in a statement. Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan in their fight against the menace of terrorism, it further said. An Islamic State suicide bomber struck on the road to a Shia shrine in Kabul today, killing at least 29 people. The Afghan Public Health Ministry said another 52 people were wounded in the attack.

Pakistan condemns suicide attack in Kabul

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/let-my-stern-warning-be-heard-across-the-atlantic-ravi-shankar-prasad-on-facebook-data-breach-36621">Let my stern warning be heard across the Atlantic: Ravi Shankar Prasad on Facebook data breach</a>

India today reacted on reports of social media giant Facebook&#39;s alleged involvement in the misuse of users&#39; private data. Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad broke his silence on the issue stating that India will not permit or tolerate any attempt to misuse social media.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cambridge-analytica-facebook-row-indian-website-ovleno-currently-unavailable-36635">Cambridge Analytica-Facebook row: Indian website &#39;Ovleno&#39; currently unavailable&nbsp;</a>

An Indian business intelligence firm Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI) has come under fire over alleged links with Facebook data breach issue. Its website is currently not available.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sikh-youths-from-canada-europe-beingtrained-at-isi-facilities-in-pakhome-ministry-to-parliamentarypanel-36611">Sikh youths from Canada &amp; Europe being trained at ISI facilities in Pak: Home Ministry to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sikh-youths-from-canada-europe-beingtrained-at-isi-facilities-in-pakhome-ministry-to-parliamentarypanel-36611">parliamentary</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sikh-youths-from-canada-europe-beingtrained-at-isi-facilities-in-pakhome-ministry-to-parliamentarypanel-36611"> panel</a>

Top officials of the Home Ministry headed by BJP leader Murli Manohar have reportedly told a parliamentary panel that Sikh youths are being trained by Pakistan&#39;s intelligence agency - ISI- and are targeting several members of the community settled in Canada.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-kabul-attack-36628">Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack</a>

A suicide bomber on Wednesday killed at least 26 people, many of them teenagers, after detonating a device among a crowd of people in Kabul who were celebrating the Persian new year holiday, officials said.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/163-armymen-have-died-in-siachen-in-last-10-years-due-to-harsh-weather-government-36640">163 Armymen have died in Siachen in last 10 years due to harsh weather: Government</a>

The Siachen glacier in the Karakorum range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where the soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds.

&nbsp;

Let my stern warning be heard across the Atlantic: Ravi Shankar Prasad on Facebook data breach India today reacted on reports of social media giant Facebook's alleged involvement in the misuse of users' private data. Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad broke his silence on the issue stating that India will not permit or tolerate any attempt to misuse social media. Cambridge Analytica-Facebook row: Indian website 'Ovleno' currently unavailable An Indian business intelligence firm Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI) has come under fire over alleged links with Facebook data breach issue. Its website is currently not available. Sikh youths from Canada & Europe being trained at ISI facilities in Pak: Home Ministry to parliamentary panel Top officials of the Home Ministry headed by BJP leader Murli Manohar have reportedly told a parliamentary panel that Sikh youths are being trained by Pakistan's intelligence agency - ISI- and are targeting several members of the community settled in Canada. Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack A suicide bomber on Wednesday killed at least 26 people, many of them teenagers, after detonating a device among a crowd of people in Kabul who were celebrating the Persian new year holiday, officials said. 163 Armymen have died in Siachen in last 10 years due to harsh weather: Government The Siachen glacier in the Karakorum range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where the soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds.

WION evening news brief, March 21, 2018

At least four Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a United States&#39; airstrike in Kunar province in Afghanistan on Thursday, according to the Afghan military forces.

In a statement, the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) said that the US military carried out an airstrike on an IS hideout in the last 24 hours by using an unmanned aerial vehicle, Khaama Press reported.

It added that the airstrike was carried out in Lechalam area in Manogi district of Kunar province and four IS militants were confirmed dead by the ANA. One militant was also injured in the airstrike.

Also, at least seven Islamic State militants have been killed during airstrikes conducted by Afghan air force in Afghanistan&#39;s Achin district on Friday, reports said.&nbsp;

Afghan air forces targeted a Daesh hideout in Pekhi Baghdara area of Achin district on Thursday night.

Reports further said that Afghanistan forces or civilians remained unharmed in the incident.

IS has not commented on the issue so far.

The latest round of airstrike comes after 15 Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in an airstrike in Kunar province last week.

The airstrike also killed the chief of TTP Mullah Fazullah&#39;s son, according to the Afghan military forces.

At least four Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in a United States' airstrike in Kunar province in Afghanistan on Thursday, according to the Afghan military forces. In a statement, the 201st Silab Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA) said that the US military carried out an airstrike on an IS hideout in the last 24 hours by using an unmanned aerial vehicle, Khaama Press reported. It added that the airstrike was carried out in Lechalam area in Manogi district of Kunar province and four IS militants were confirmed dead by the ANA. One militant was also injured in the airstrike. Also, at least seven Islamic State militants have been killed during airstrikes conducted by Afghan air force in Afghanistan's Achin district on Friday, reports said. Afghan air forces targeted a Daesh hideout in Pekhi Baghdara area of Achin district on Thursday night. Reports further said that Afghanistan forces or civilians remained unharmed in the incident. IS has not commented on the issue so far. The latest round of airstrike comes after 15 Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants were killed in an airstrike in Kunar province last week. The airstrike also killed the chief of TTP Mullah Fazullah's son, according to the Afghan military forces.

At least 13 IS militants killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan

Since late Sunday, at least 25 civilians and members of government forces have been killed in northern Iraq in attacks by the Islamic State group, officials said.

IS jihadists killed 15 people at a fake roadblock on a major highway in Kirkuk province, north of Baghdad, a police officer told AFP.

Three people were killed in a separate IS attack in the same province, the officer said.

Seven people, including the mayor of a village, were killed by IS assailants disguised as soldiers in the Mosul region, a local official said.

The attacks came despite Baghdad&#39;s declaration of victory over the jihadist group last year.

IS jihadists killed 15 people at a fake roadblock on a major highway in Kirkuk province, north of Baghdad, a police officer told AFP

Since late Sunday, at least 25 civilians and members of government forces have been killed in northern Iraq in attacks by the Islamic State group, officials said. IS jihadists killed 15 people at a fake roadblock on a major highway in Kirkuk province, north of Baghdad, a police officer told AFP. Three people were killed in a separate IS attack in the same province, the officer said. Seven people, including the mayor of a village, were killed by IS assailants disguised as soldiers in the Mosul region, a local official said. The attacks came despite Baghdad's declaration of victory over the jihadist group last year.

25 killed in IS attacks in northern Iraq

While children who have been through war typically draw devastating pictures of the violence they have suffered, few show themselves as the perpetrators.

The suicide belts, car bombs and other explosives sketched again and again by a 14-year-old boy newly arrived at this camp in northern Iraq are the ones he built himself: used by ISIS terrorists against civilians and troops in Iraq and Syria.

One image depicted him killing a man with a spray of bullets, something he said he did during three years as a child fighter forcibly conscripted by ISIS.

Kidnapped from his Yazidi homeland in northern Iraq, he said he got used to the sound of bombs falling on ISIS&#39; de facto capital, Raqqa, in Syria, as security forces closed in last year.

&quot;Here&#39;s where I got shot fighting the SDF,&quot; said the boy, not named to protect him from retribution, referring to the U.S.-backed rebel Syrian Defence Forces and pointing out a bullet wound on his shin.

Giving him time to draw and talk about his experience is part of a treatment programme to help him move on and protect both him and others from lasting damage.

Hundreds of children are estimated to have been used as fighters by ISIS, including boys who joined with their families or were given up by them and the offspring of foreign fighters groomed from birth to perpetuate its ideology.

Experts have warned that indoctrinated children, who began escaping the clutches of ISIS as its territory fractured last year, could pose an ongoing threat to security, both regionally and in the West, if they are not rehabilitated.

Treating Yazidi children, who were separated from their families and in many cases orphaned, holds particular challenges.

Persecuted Twice

There is little in the way of specialized care for them in Iraq, where the minimum age of criminal responsibility is nine. The government has detained and prosecuted dozens of children for their suspected IS affiliation, according to a recent report by New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Naif Jardo Qassim, a psychotherapist treating children at Rawanga refugee camp near Dohuk emphasised that they are &quot;victims and not criminals,&quot; and should be treated as such.

Highlighting the scale of the task, Yazidi teacher Hoshyar Khodeida Suleiman recounts the story of one of his students, a young boy reunited with his family in the autumn.

A few days later, the boy&#39;s father woke up in the middle of the night to find his son wielding a knife to his throat, confused about whether he should kill his parents or himself.

&quot;He was screaming that they were infidels and that he would rather die than be one of them,&quot; Suleiman said.

When the terrorists overran Yazidi towns and villages in 2014, they killed or enslaved more than 9,000 adults and children in what the United Nations has called a genocidal campaign against a religious minority labelled heretic by ISIS.

They sold girls and women into slavery, marrying some off to fighters, and trained many boys to join the ranks of what they called the Cubs of the Caliphate, posting videos of them committing atrocities in the name of its self-declared state.

Most of the children returned, not home, but to displacement camps in northern Iraq, where they live with relatives - their parents either missing or killed by the terrorists.

&quot;Everything changed while they were gone,&quot; said Qassim. &quot;That&#39;s if they even remember anything from their lives before.&quot;

Adding to that instability is the weight of the traumas they have endured.

&quot;These children have seen their families killed, or were kidnapped, beaten and brainwashed,&quot; he said. &quot;In some cases, they witnessed executions, were forced to kill or were raped, multiple times, for years.&quot;

Qassim works for Yahad In-Unum, one of a handful of international NGOs which has set up a children&#39;s centre in the camp, where children can receive psychological treatment, ranging from talk to art therapy.

They also come to play, said Qassim, &quot;and remember how to be children again&quot;.

Remembering

Qassim&#39;s six-month-old centre is currently treating 123 children, a mix of girls and boys all under the age of 18, recently returned from ISIS-held territory.

&quot;When they first come back from captivity, the children can often be aggressive, violent, confused and angry,&quot; he said, adding that many of the children were forced to forget their native Kurdish. &quot;That quickly dissolves into anxiety and deep depression, as the trauma begins to settle in.&quot;

The centre devises a treatment programme for each child, which involves both individual and group therapy sessions.

&quot;We slowly work to undo the years of brainwashing they were subjected to,&quot; said Qassim. &quot;We want them to forget the last few years and start again.&quot;

He said all the children he has treated were successfully &quot;de-indoctrinated&quot;, adding, &quot;no child is beyond saving&quot;.

The relative novelty of so-called deradicalisation programmes means opinion is divided over their effectiveness; Laila Ali, spokesperson for UNICEF in Iraq which supports such services, says rehabilitation is &quot;absolutely possible&quot;.

Some children are harder to reach than others, particularly those who have forgotten life before IS. 
One 10-year-old boy was smuggled out of Syria just three and a half weeks ago and has since been living with his uncle in the camp. Shy at first, he became animated when describing his &quot;accomplishments&quot; during his fighter training in Deir Ezzor, Syria and said he is not sure his current life is better.

Qassim says he exhibits confusion about whether he should denounce ISIS&#39;s teachings. He and other children sneak off to pray in the toilets, unconvinced they will not get in trouble with ISIS for shirking religious obligations.

Qassim says he is hopeful he will be back to normal soon.

Some face new humiliations on their return. &quot;I had to move in with my relatives because my parents said they would never accept me back because of what I did,&quot; said one former fighter, now aged 15.

Qassim is the only psychotherapist at his centre and the work takes its toll. &quot;It&#39;s very difficult to hear children tell you these stories of rape, of combat, of killings. In my life, I&#39;d never heard such horrors.&quot;

With little in the way of funds or a roadmap, some community members have pitched in to help in their own ways.

Suleiman aims to rehabilitate Yazidi children at Sharya refugee camp near Dohuk by &quot;reconnecting them with their Yazidi faith&quot;, with an emphasis on &quot;humanity and human decency&quot;.

On a rainy afternoon in late February, they came to class in traditional clothes he had given them: white dresses and scarves with black and gold headbands for the girls; trousers, matching waistcoat and red and white keffiyeh scarf for the boys.

&quot;It&#39;s a simple thing,&quot; he said. &quot;But the clothes are a reminder of who they are and where they come from.&quot;

Experts have warned that indoctrinated children, who began escaping the clutches of ISIS, could pose an ongoing threat to security

While children who have been through war typically draw devastating pictures of the violence they have suffered, few show themselves as the perpetrators. The suicide belts, car bombs and other explosives sketched again and again by a 14-year-old boy newly arrived at this camp in northern Iraq are the ones he built himself: used by ISIS terrorists against civilians and troops in Iraq and Syria. One image depicted him killing a man with a spray of bullets, something he said he did during three years as a child fighter forcibly conscripted by ISIS. Kidnapped from his Yazidi homeland in northern Iraq, he said he got used to the sound of bombs falling on ISIS' de facto capital, Raqqa, in Syria, as security forces closed in last year. "Here's where I got shot fighting the SDF," said the boy, not named to protect him from retribution, referring to the U.S.-backed rebel Syrian Defence Forces and pointing out a bullet wound on his shin. Giving him time to draw and talk about his experience is part of a treatment programme to help him move on and protect both him and others from lasting damage. Hundreds of children are estimated to have been used as fighters by ISIS, including boys who joined with their families or were given up by them and the offspring of foreign fighters groomed from birth to perpetuate its ideology. Experts have warned that indoctrinated children, who began escaping the clutches of ISIS as its territory fractured last year, could pose an ongoing threat to security, both regionally and in the West, if they are not rehabilitated. Treating Yazidi children, who were separated from their families and in many cases orphaned, holds particular challenges. Persecuted Twice There is little in the way of specialized care for them in Iraq, where the minimum age of criminal responsibility is nine. The government has detained and prosecuted dozens of children for their suspected IS affiliation, according to a recent report by New York-based Human Rights Watch. Naif Jardo Qassim, a psychotherapist treating children at Rawanga refugee camp near Dohuk emphasised that they are "victims and not criminals," and should be treated as such. Highlighting the scale of the task, Yazidi teacher Hoshyar Khodeida Suleiman recounts the story of one of his students, a young boy reunited with his family in the autumn. A few days later, the boy's father woke up in the middle of the night to find his son wielding a knife to his throat, confused about whether he should kill his parents or himself. "He was screaming that they were infidels and that he would rather die than be one of them," Suleiman said. When the terrorists overran Yazidi towns and villages in 2014, they killed or enslaved more than 9,000 adults and children in what the United Nations has called a genocidal campaign against a religious minority labelled heretic by ISIS. They sold girls and women into slavery, marrying some off to fighters, and trained many boys to join the ranks of what they called the Cubs of the Caliphate, posting videos of them committing atrocities in the name of its self-declared state. Most of the children returned, not home, but to displacement camps in northern Iraq, where they live with relatives - their parents either missing or killed by the terrorists. "Everything changed while they were gone," said Qassim. "That's if they even remember anything from their lives before." Adding to that instability is the weight of the traumas they have endured. "These children have seen their families killed, or were kidnapped, beaten and brainwashed," he said. "In some cases, they witnessed executions, were forced to kill or were raped, multiple times, for years." Qassim works for Yahad In-Unum, one of a handful of international NGOs which has set up a children's centre in the camp, where children can receive psychological treatment, ranging from talk to art therapy. They also come to play, said Qassim, "and remember how to be children again". Remembering Qassim's six-month-old centre is currently treating 123 children, a mix of girls and boys all under the age of 18, recently returned from ISIS-held territory. "When they first come back from captivity, the children can often be aggressive, violent, confused and angry," he said, adding that many of the children were forced to forget their native Kurdish. "That quickly dissolves into anxiety and deep depression, as the trauma begins to settle in." The centre devises a treatment programme for each child, which involves both individual and group therapy sessions. "We slowly work to undo the years of brainwashing they were subjected to," said Qassim. "We want them to forget the last few years and start again." He said all the children he has treated were successfully "de-indoctrinated", adding, "no child is beyond saving". The relative novelty of so-called deradicalisation programmes means opinion is divided over their effectiveness; Laila Ali, spokesperson for UNICEF in Iraq which supports such services, says rehabilitation is "absolutely possible". Some children are harder to reach than others, particularly those who have forgotten life before IS. One 10-year-old boy was smuggled out of Syria just three and a half weeks ago and has since been living with his uncle in the camp. Shy at first, he became animated when describing his "accomplishments" during his fighter training in Deir Ezzor, Syria and said he is not sure his current life is better. Qassim says he exhibits confusion about whether he should denounce ISIS's teachings. He and other children sneak off to pray in the toilets, unconvinced they will not get in trouble with ISIS for shirking religious obligations. Qassim says he is hopeful he will be back to normal soon. Some face new humiliations on their return. "I had to move in with my relatives because my parents said they would never accept me back because of what I did," said one former fighter, now aged 15. Qassim is the only psychotherapist at his centre and the work takes its toll. "It's very difficult to hear children tell you these stories of rape, of combat, of killings. In my life, I'd never heard such horrors." With little in the way of funds or a roadmap, some community members have pitched in to help in their own ways. Suleiman aims to rehabilitate Yazidi children at Sharya refugee camp near Dohuk by "reconnecting them with their Yazidi faith", with an emphasis on "humanity and human decency". On a rainy afternoon in late February, they came to class in traditional clothes he had given them: white dresses and scarves with black and gold headbands for the girls; trousers, matching waistcoat and red and white keffiyeh scarf for the boys. "It's a simple thing," he said. "But the clothes are a reminder of who they are and where they come from."

Cubs of the Caliphate: Rehabilitating Islamic State's child fighters

A propaganda video released by the Islamic State group showing the deadly ambush of US troops in Niger raised fresh questions Monday as to the nature of the mission and why the soldiers had been left so vulnerable.&nbsp;

The distressing video, distributed by a pro-IS news agency, includes graphic footage taken by a soldier wearing a helmet camera.&nbsp;

It shows the chaos of the attack, including the solider wearing the camera being shot dead, with apparent IS fighters stalking past his body.

The Defense Department &#39;&#39;is aware of alleged photos and IS propaganda video from the October 4, 2017 terrorist attack in Niger. The release of these materials demonstrates the depravity of the enemy we are fighting,&quot; the Pentagon said in a statement.

The nine-minute video, set to Islamic chanting, includes an image of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and footage of pick-up trucks rolling through a desert landscape.&nbsp;

One of the vehicles is flying an IS flag and other trucks are packed with what appear to be fighters.

The October 4 attack occurred as a unit of 12 American special forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien troops returned from the village of Tongo Tongo, near the border with Mali.

They were attacked by a group of some 50 IS-affiliated fighters equipped with small arms, grenades and trucks mounted with guns.

Ill-equipped

The mission was supposed to be a low-risk patrol and the soldiers were clearly ill-equipped for the scale of the attack.&nbsp;

Footage shows the US troops wearing only light body armor, desperately seeking cover behind an unarmored SUV while coming under heavy fire.&nbsp;

In a frantic bid to find some sort of concealment, the troops deployed red smoke grenades but the parched landscape of scrub and dirt provided no effective cover.

At one point in the video, a US soldier is shot and a comrade attempts to pull him to cover behind the SUV.&nbsp;

As their position is about overrun, they have no choice but to try to run away, but there is nowhere to hide.

Four American soldiers were killed along with at least five Nigerien troops. The body of one US soldier, Sergeant La David Johnson, was not recovered until the following day.

&quot;Knowing that they were asked to try and complete and execute this type of mission with that type of equipment, I just could not believe it,&quot; Republican Congressman Marc Veasey told CBS news.&nbsp;

Questions remain about what intelligence failures may have occurred that allowed such a large attack, and why the soldiers did not get immediate back up or air support.&nbsp;

The Americans had been on a joint patrol with Nigerien counterparts they were training when they were ambushed by motorcycle-riding and car-driving gunmen in the Tillaberi region in the Niger&#39;s southwest.

The Pentagon is set to release the findings of an investigation into the incident in the coming days.&nbsp;

The distressing video, distributed by a pro-IS news agency, includes graphic footage taken by a soldier wearing a helmet camera

A propaganda video released by the Islamic State group showing the deadly ambush of US troops in Niger raised fresh questions Monday as to the nature of the mission and why the soldiers had been left so vulnerable. The distressing video, distributed by a pro-IS news agency, includes graphic footage taken by a soldier wearing a helmet camera. It shows the chaos of the attack, including the solider wearing the camera being shot dead, with apparent IS fighters stalking past his body. The Defense Department ''is aware of alleged photos and IS propaganda video from the October 4, 2017 terrorist attack in Niger. The release of these materials demonstrates the depravity of the enemy we are fighting," the Pentagon said in a statement. The nine-minute video, set to Islamic chanting, includes an image of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and footage of pick-up trucks rolling through a desert landscape. One of the vehicles is flying an IS flag and other trucks are packed with what appear to be fighters. The October 4 attack occurred as a unit of 12 American special forces soldiers and 30 Nigerien troops returned from the village of Tongo Tongo, near the border with Mali. They were attacked by a group of some 50 IS-affiliated fighters equipped with small arms, grenades and trucks mounted with guns. Ill-equipped The mission was supposed to be a low-risk patrol and the soldiers were clearly ill-equipped for the scale of the attack. Footage shows the US troops wearing only light body armor, desperately seeking cover behind an unarmored SUV while coming under heavy fire. In a frantic bid to find some sort of concealment, the troops deployed red smoke grenades but the parched landscape of scrub and dirt provided no effective cover. At one point in the video, a US soldier is shot and a comrade attempts to pull him to cover behind the SUV. As their position is about overrun, they have no choice but to try to run away, but there is nowhere to hide. Four American soldiers were killed along with at least five Nigerien troops. The body of one US soldier, Sergeant La David Johnson, was not recovered until the following day. "Knowing that they were asked to try and complete and execute this type of mission with that type of equipment, I just could not believe it," Republican Congressman Marc Veasey told CBS news. Questions remain about what intelligence failures may have occurred that allowed such a large attack, and why the soldiers did not get immediate back up or air support. The Americans had been on a joint patrol with Nigerien counterparts they were training when they were ambushed by motorcycle-riding and car-driving gunmen in the Tillaberi region in the Niger's southwest. The Pentagon is set to release the findings of an investigation into the incident in the coming days.

Islamic State video of Niger attack highlights US troops' vulnerability

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