Gas-rich Qatar has flung open its property market to foreigners, with a scheme giving those purchasing homes or stores the right to call the Gulf nation home.

The scheme, announced in September, is the latest in a series of measures designed to diversify Qatar's economy away from fossil fuel dependency and attract foreign capital ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

Well-heeled individuals are being invited to consider the glistening seaside tower blocks of Doha's man-made Pearl Island or the brand new Lusail city project that flanks a World Cup stadium. Retail units in malls also qualify buyers for residency.

The reforms could also help soak up an oversupply of units, which has left gleaming towers half-empty and seen prices drop by almost a third since 2016, according to consultancy ValuStrat's Price Index for residential property.

Previously, investors needed sponsorship from a Qatari business or individual for residency, but now a $200,000 property purchase secures temporary residency for the term of ownership. A $1 million purchase buys the benefits of permanent residency, including free schools and healthcare.

"The reason I didn't buy earlier was that there was so much grey area," said marketing director Tina Chadda, a Kenyan who has lived in Qatar for 15 years.

Now she is looking for "a property to live in which I can use to get permanent residency".

"I think this will allow me to call Qatar home. I feel more comfortable now," she told AFP.

Chadda said the visa would also allow her to bring her family, including elderly parents, to Qatar from Nairobi.

"It's a safe country, compared to Kenya."

Foreigners can now house hunt in 25 areas of Qatar -- mostly in and around the capital Doha -- nine on a freehold basis and the rest with 99-year leaseholds.

Seaviews for most

Gulf nations have long depended on foreign skills and expertise to convert their petrodollars into the region's towering cities, but have seldom made it easy, or cheap, for expats to make their moves permanent.

Similar schemes exist elsewhere in the Gulf, but for a significantly greater outlay. Dubai offers a 10-year residency visa for an investment of $2.7 million, 40 per cent of which must be in the property.

So-called "golden visas" and investment passport schemes in several countries have also faced scrutiny over allegations they have attracted corrupt individuals and money laundering.

In Qatar's case, it remains unclear how attractive the tiny, ultra-conservative nation -- where strict curbs apply to free speech and alcohol sales -- will be to wealthy global buyers.

Investment of $200,000 buys a 50 square metre (540 square foot) studio in Lusail's new Fox Hills development north of Doha, while $1 million would cover a 330 square metre three-bed Seaview apartment in the Pearl.&nbsp;

"These areas have been designated because they have the new and developed infrastructure... as well as a distinctive view of the sea for most," said justice ministry official Saeed Abdullah al-Suwaidi.

"There is no big demand, but we are trying to encourage real estate investment," he added. "(We) aim to diversify the economy and not depend on oil and gas."

This marks a step-change in the Gulf emirate, where 90 per cent of the 2.75 million people are temporary guest workers, mostly employed on projects linked to the 2022 tournament.

'Hype around 2022'

One estate agent promoting the scheme to clients said, "The whole idea is to have expats and locals working together and trying to promote a long-term outlook for Qatar."

"As the hype around 2022 increases, I think this will naturally create more demand," said Doha-based Sotheby's estate agent Oliver Essex.

In a report issued last month, auditor KPMG said the residential property had not been as hard hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic as other real estates in Qatar, with residential transactions worth $1.48 billion reported in the second quarter of 2020.&nbsp;

"However, Covid-19 measures have resulted in government and private layoffs, which is indirectly leading to an exodus of a substantial workforce," it said.

The policy shakeup comes at a time of political crisis, with Qatar under an economic and diplomatic boycott by its neighbours — depressing demand for Qatari property -- and faced with low oil prices, which have also undermined prices in other Gulf capitals.

Essex said he expected most of the initial interest to come from foreigners already living in Qatar rather than from investors based abroad.

"I believe mainly Lebanese, Iranians, Egyptian and Indians" will be interested initially, he said.

Gas-rich Qatar has flung open its property market to foreigners, with a scheme giving those purchasing homes or stores the right to call the Gulf nation home. The scheme, announced in September, is the latest in a series of measures designed to diversify Qatar's economy away from fossil fuel dependency and attract foreign capital ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

Gas-rich Qatar has flung open its property market to foreigners, with a scheme giving those purchasing homes or stores the right to call the Gulf nation home. The scheme, announced in September, is the latest in a series of measures designed to diversify Qatar's economy away from fossil fuel dependency and attract foreign capital ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Well-heeled individuals are being invited to consider the glistening seaside tower blocks of Doha's man-made Pearl Island or the brand new Lusail city project that flanks a World Cup stadium. Retail units in malls also qualify buyers for residency. The reforms could also help soak up an oversupply of units, which has left gleaming towers half-empty and seen prices drop by almost a third since 2016, according to consultancy ValuStrat's Price Index for residential property. Previously, investors needed sponsorship from a Qatari business or individual for residency, but now a $200,000 property purchase secures temporary residency for the term of ownership. A $1 million purchase buys the benefits of permanent residency, including free schools and healthcare. "The reason I didn't buy earlier was that there was so much grey area," said marketing director Tina Chadda, a Kenyan who has lived in Qatar for 15 years. Now she is looking for "a property to live in which I can use to get permanent residency". "I think this will allow me to call Qatar home. I feel more comfortable now," she told AFP. Chadda said the visa would also allow her to bring her family, including elderly parents, to Qatar from Nairobi. "It's a safe country, compared to Kenya." Foreigners can now house hunt in 25 areas of Qatar -- mostly in and around the capital Doha -- nine on a freehold basis and the rest with 99-year leaseholds. Seaviews for most Gulf nations have long depended on foreign skills and expertise to convert their petrodollars into the region's towering cities, but have seldom made it easy, or cheap, for expats to make their moves permanent. Similar schemes exist elsewhere in the Gulf, but for a significantly greater outlay. Dubai offers a 10-year residency visa for an investment of $2.7 million, 40 per cent of which must be in the property. So-called "golden visas" and investment passport schemes in several countries have also faced scrutiny over allegations they have attracted corrupt individuals and money laundering. In Qatar's case, it remains unclear how attractive the tiny, ultra-conservative nation -- where strict curbs apply to free speech and alcohol sales -- will be to wealthy global buyers. Investment of $200,000 buys a 50 square metre (540 square foot) studio in Lusail's new Fox Hills development north of Doha, while $1 million would cover a 330 square metre three-bed Seaview apartment in the Pearl. "These areas have been designated because they have the new and developed infrastructure... as well as a distinctive view of the sea for most," said justice ministry official Saeed Abdullah al-Suwaidi. "There is no big demand, but we are trying to encourage real estate investment," he added. "(We) aim to diversify the economy and not depend on oil and gas." This marks a step-change in the Gulf emirate, where 90 per cent of the 2.75 million people are temporary guest workers, mostly employed on projects linked to the 2022 tournament. 'Hype around 2022' One estate agent promoting the scheme to clients said, "The whole idea is to have expats and locals working together and trying to promote a long-term outlook for Qatar." "As the hype around 2022 increases, I think this will naturally create more demand," said Doha-based Sotheby's estate agent Oliver Essex. In a report issued last month, auditor KPMG said the residential property had not been as hard hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic as other real estates in Qatar, with residential transactions worth $1.48 billion reported in the second quarter of 2020. "However, Covid-19 measures have resulted in government and private layoffs, which is indirectly leading to an exodus of a substantial workforce," it said. The policy shakeup comes at a time of political crisis, with Qatar under an economic and diplomatic boycott by its neighbours — depressing demand for Qatari property -- and faced with low oil prices, which have also undermined prices in other Gulf capitals. Essex said he expected most of the initial interest to come from foreigners already living in Qatar rather than from investors based abroad. "I believe mainly Lebanese, Iranians, Egyptian and Indians" will be interested initially, he said.

Qatar puts up 'for sale' sign with new property visas 

China's foreign minister Wang Yi has called for a new forum to defuse tensions in the Middle East after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart.

According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang reiterated Beijing's support for Tehran in the meeting.

Wang and Javid Zarif also reaffirmed their commitment to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers -- an implicit rebuke of the United States for abandoning the accord during their Saturday meeting in China's southwestern Tengchong city.

"China proposes to build a regional multilateral dialogue platform with equal participation of all stakeholders," said the Chinese foreign ministry statement.

The forum would "enhance mutual understanding through dialogue and explore political and diplomatic solutions to security issues in the Middle East", the statement added.

Wang added that support for the Iranian nuclear deal, negotiated by the Obama administration but ultimately abandoned by Donald Trump, would be a precondition of entry to the forum.

Zarif said on Twitter his "fruitful talks" with Wang amounted to a rejection of "US unilateralism" and had also focused on strategic ties and collaboration on the development of a coronavirus vaccine.

Iran has been locked in an acrimonious relationship with Saudi Arabia, the other major Middle Eastern power, over the war in Yemen, Iranian influence in Iraq and Saudi support for Washington's sanctions on Tehran.

China's foreign minister Wang Yi has called for a new forum to defuse tensions in the Middle East after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang reiterated Beijing's support for Tehran in the meeting.

China's foreign minister Wang Yi has called for a new forum to defuse tensions in the Middle East after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang reiterated Beijing's support for Tehran in the meeting. Wang and Javid Zarif also reaffirmed their commitment to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers -- an implicit rebuke of the United States for abandoning the accord during their Saturday meeting in China's southwestern Tengchong city. "China proposes to build a regional multilateral dialogue platform with equal participation of all stakeholders," said the Chinese foreign ministry statement. The forum would "enhance mutual understanding through dialogue and explore political and diplomatic solutions to security issues in the Middle East", the statement added. Wang added that support for the Iranian nuclear deal, negotiated by the Obama administration but ultimately abandoned by Donald Trump, would be a precondition of entry to the forum. Zarif said on Twitter his "fruitful talks" with Wang amounted to a rejection of "US unilateralism" and had also focused on strategic ties and collaboration on the development of a coronavirus vaccine. Iran has been locked in an acrimonious relationship with Saudi Arabia, the other major Middle Eastern power, over the war in Yemen, Iranian influence in Iraq and Saudi support for Washington's sanctions on Tehran.

China backs Iran nuclear deal, calls for new MidEast forum

China on Tuesday warned against opening a "Pandora's box" in the Middle East after the United States announced the deployment of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-approves-deployment-of-1000-additional-troops-to-middle-east-amid-iran-tensions-228136">1,000 additional troops</a> to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also urged Tehran to not abandon the nuclear agreement "so easily" after Iran said it would exceed its uranium stockpile limit if world powers fail to fulfil their commitments under the agreement in 10 days.

The United States ratcheted up pressure on Iran Monday, announcing the deployment of additional troops to the Middle East and producing new photographs it said showed Tehran was behind an attack on a tanker ship in the Gulf of Oman last week.

"We call on all parties to remain rational and restrained, not to take any actions to provoke the escalation of tension in the region, and not to open a Pandora's box," Wang told reporters in Beijing during a joint press conference with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.

"In particular, the United States should change its practice of extreme pressure," Wang said.

Watch: US preparing to send more troops to Middle East

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-preparing-to-send-more-troops-to-middle-east-228167/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated ever since the US quit the nuclear deal and with Washington blacklisting Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation.

Wang urged Iran to "make prudent decisions" and not "so easily abandon" the deal that aims to keep Teheran's nuclear ambitions in check.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced on May 8 that Iran would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium and heavy water agreed under the deal, a move he said was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal.&nbsp;

Iran has threatened to go even further in scaling down nuclear commitments by July 8 unless remaining partners to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it circumvent US sanctions and especially enable it to sell its oil.

"China's determination to safeguard the comprehensive agreement has not changed," Wang said.

"We are willing to work with all parties to continue to make efforts for the full and effective implementation of the agreement."

China on Tuesday warned against opening a "Pandora's box" in the Middle East after the United States announced the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran.

China on Tuesday warned against opening a "Pandora's box" in the Middle East after the United States announced the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also urged Tehran to not abandon the nuclear agreement "so easily" after Iran said it would exceed its uranium stockpile limit if world powers fail to fulfil their commitments under the agreement in 10 days. The United States ratcheted up pressure on Iran Monday, announcing the deployment of additional troops to the Middle East and producing new photographs it said showed Tehran was behind an attack on a tanker ship in the Gulf of Oman last week. "We call on all parties to remain rational and restrained, not to take any actions to provoke the escalation of tension in the region, and not to open a Pandora's box," Wang told reporters in Beijing during a joint press conference with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. "In particular, the United States should change its practice of extreme pressure," Wang said. Watch: US preparing to send more troops to Middle East Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated ever since the US quit the nuclear deal and with Washington blacklisting Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. Wang urged Iran to "make prudent decisions" and not "so easily abandon" the deal that aims to keep Teheran's nuclear ambitions in check. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced on May 8 that Iran would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium and heavy water agreed under the deal, a move he said was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal. Iran has threatened to go even further in scaling down nuclear commitments by July 8 unless remaining partners to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it circumvent US sanctions and especially enable it to sell its oil. "China's determination to safeguard the comprehensive agreement has not changed," Wang said. "We are willing to work with all parties to continue to make efforts for the full and effective implementation of the agreement."

China warns the US against opening Mideast 'Pandora's box'

US intelligence officials believe Russian hackers planted a false news story that led Saudi Arabia and several allies to sever relations with Qatar, prompting a diplomatic crisis, CNN reported Tuesday.

FBI experts visited Qatar in late May to analyse an alleged cyber breach that saw the hackers place the fake story with Qatar&#39;s state news agency, the US broadcaster said.

Saudi Arabia then cited the false item as part of its reason for instituting a diplomatic and economic blockade against Qatar, the report said.

Qatar&#39;s government said the May 23 news report attributed false remarks to the emirate&#39;s ruler that appeared friendly to Iran and Israel, and questioned whether US President Donald Trump would last in office, according to CNN.

Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the broadcaster that the FBI has confirmed the hack and the planting of fake news.

&quot;Whatever has been thrown as an accusation is all based on misinformation and we think that the entire crisis is being based on misinformation,&quot; he told CNN.

&quot;It was started based on fabricated news, being wedged and being inserted in our national news agency, which was hacked and proved by the FBI,&quot; he added.

If accurate, the allegations would indicate Russian efforts to undermine US foreign policy, building on US intelligence concerns that Russian hackers attempted to influence last year`s presidential election, won by Trump. The Kremlin denies meddling.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain announced Monday they were severing diplomatic relations and closing air, sea and land links with Qatar.

They accused the tiny Gulf state of harboring extremist groups and suggested Qatari support for the agenda of Saudi Arabia`s regional archrival Iran. Qatar has strenuously denied the allegations.

Although Qatar hosts the largest American military airbase in the Middle East, Trump threw his weight behind the Saudi-led effort to isolate the emirate in a surprise move on Tuesday.

He suggested Qatar was funding extremism.

&quot;So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off,&quot; he tweeted in reference to his trip to Riyadh last month.

&quot;They said they would take a hard line on funding... extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!&quot;

The CNN report quoted the Qatari government communications office as saying it was working with the FBI and Britain`s National Crime Agency on an ongoing hacking investigation.

 
(AFP)

 
&nbsp;

Qatar's government said the May 23 news report attributed false remarks to the emirate's ruler that appeared friendly to Iran and Israel

US intelligence officials believe Russian hackers planted a false news story that led Saudi Arabia and several allies to sever relations with Qatar, prompting a diplomatic crisis, CNN reported Tuesday. FBI experts visited Qatar in late May to analyse an alleged cyber breach that saw the hackers place the fake story with Qatar's state news agency, the US broadcaster said. Saudi Arabia then cited the false item as part of its reason for instituting a diplomatic and economic blockade against Qatar, the report said. Qatar's government said the May 23 news report attributed false remarks to the emirate's ruler that appeared friendly to Iran and Israel, and questioned whether US President Donald Trump would last in office, according to CNN. Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani told the broadcaster that the FBI has confirmed the hack and the planting of fake news. "Whatever has been thrown as an accusation is all based on misinformation and we think that the entire crisis is being based on misinformation," he told CNN. "It was started based on fabricated news, being wedged and being inserted in our national news agency, which was hacked and proved by the FBI," he added. If accurate, the allegations would indicate Russian efforts to undermine US foreign policy, building on US intelligence concerns that Russian hackers attempted to influence last year`s presidential election, won by Trump. The Kremlin denies meddling. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain announced Monday they were severing diplomatic relations and closing air, sea and land links with Qatar. They accused the tiny Gulf state of harboring extremist groups and suggested Qatari support for the agenda of Saudi Arabia`s regional archrival Iran. Qatar has strenuously denied the allegations. Although Qatar hosts the largest American military airbase in the Middle East, Trump threw his weight behind the Saudi-led effort to isolate the emirate in a surprise move on Tuesday. He suggested Qatar was funding extremism. "So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off," he tweeted in reference to his trip to Riyadh last month. "They said they would take a hard line on funding... extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!" The CNN report quoted the Qatari government communications office as saying it was working with the FBI and Britain`s National Crime Agency on an ongoing hacking investigation. (AFP)

Russian hackers planted fake news which sparked Qatar crisis: Report

Syrian warplanes again pounded Aleppo&#39;s last rebel-held districts today, as the United States said American and Russian officials would meet in a bid to save the city from &quot;complete&quot; destruction.

With the fighting resuming after a brief respite, the UN General Assembly demanded an immediate ceasefire and urgent aid deliveries, in a resolution adopted by a strong majority.

US officials will meet tomorrow with their Russian counterparts in Geneva to try to stop Aleppo &quot;being absolutely, completely destroyed&quot;, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.

He was in Paris for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Western and Arab backers of Syria&#39;s weakened opposition, also tomorrow.

Kerry was not upbeat about the chances of success, however, as key regime ally Russia vowed that the assault would not end until rebels leave Aleppo.

&quot;I know people are tired of these meetings, I&#39;m tired of these meetings,&quot; Kerry said.

&quot;But what am I supposed to do? Go home and have a nice weekend... While people are dying? Sit there in Washington and do nothing?&quot;

Government strikes had halted briefly from yesterday night, when Moscow announced a pause in the regime offensive to allow the evacuation of civilians, although shelling did not cease.

Syria&#39;s army is three weeks into a battle to retake east Aleppo from rebels who are now confined to just a few neighbourhoods in their former bastion.

The city&#39;s loss would be the biggest blow for the rebels in Syria&#39;s nearly six-year-old war, which has killed more than 300,000 people and displaced over half the country&#39;s population.

Tens of thousands of civilians have fled east Aleppo in recent weeks, although the United Nations said today it had received reports that rebels had blocked some from leaving.

It also expressed concern about reports that hundreds of men had gone missing after fleeing to government-held territory.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, reported at least a dozen air strikes on rebel-held neighbourhoods today afternoon.

Artillery fire had continued throughout yesterday night and into today after Moscow&#39;s announcement, the monitor and an AFP correspondent in east Aleppo reported.

Syria&#39;s army has captured around 85 percent of east Aleppo, with rebels and remaining civilians confined to a shrinking space in increasingly grim conditions.

East Aleppo has been encircled by the regime since mid-July, with international aid provisions exhausted and remaining food supplies dwindling even before the government assault began in mid-November.

The AFP correspondent said fleeing civilians had seen bodies in the streets of one neighbourhood because the intensity of the bombardment made it too dangerous to retrieve the dead.

(AFP)

The UN General Assembly demanded an immediate ceasefire and urgent aid deliveries, in a resolution adopted by a strong majority

Syrian warplanes again pounded Aleppo's last rebel-held districts today, as the United States said American and Russian officials would meet in a bid to save the city from "complete" destruction. With the fighting resuming after a brief respite, the UN General Assembly demanded an immediate ceasefire and urgent aid deliveries, in a resolution adopted by a strong majority. US officials will meet tomorrow with their Russian counterparts in Geneva to try to stop Aleppo "being absolutely, completely destroyed", US Secretary of State John Kerry said. He was in Paris for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Western and Arab backers of Syria's weakened opposition, also tomorrow. Kerry was not upbeat about the chances of success, however, as key regime ally Russia vowed that the assault would not end until rebels leave Aleppo. "I know people are tired of these meetings, I'm tired of these meetings," Kerry said. "But what am I supposed to do? Go home and have a nice weekend... While people are dying? Sit there in Washington and do nothing?" Government strikes had halted briefly from yesterday night, when Moscow announced a pause in the regime offensive to allow the evacuation of civilians, although shelling did not cease. Syria's army is three weeks into a battle to retake east Aleppo from rebels who are now confined to just a few neighbourhoods in their former bastion. The city's loss would be the biggest blow for the rebels in Syria's nearly six-year-old war, which has killed more than 300,000 people and displaced over half the country's population. Tens of thousands of civilians have fled east Aleppo in recent weeks, although the United Nations said today it had received reports that rebels had blocked some from leaving. It also expressed concern about reports that hundreds of men had gone missing after fleeing to government-held territory. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, reported at least a dozen air strikes on rebel-held neighbourhoods today afternoon. Artillery fire had continued throughout yesterday night and into today after Moscow's announcement, the monitor and an AFP correspondent in east Aleppo reported. Syria's army has captured around 85 percent of east Aleppo, with rebels and remaining civilians confined to a shrinking space in increasingly grim conditions. East Aleppo has been encircled by the regime since mid-July, with international aid provisions exhausted and remaining food supplies dwindling even before the government assault began in mid-November. The AFP correspondent said fleeing civilians had seen bodies in the streets of one neighbourhood because the intensity of the bombardment made it too dangerous to retrieve the dead. (AFP)

US, Russia to meet as Syrian army pounds Aleppo rebels

A leader of Yemen&#39;s Shiite Huthi rebels on Sunday proposed a truce on the country&#39;s border with Saudi Arabia in an exchange for a halt in Saudi-led strikes on his forces. 
 
The proposal, coinciding with a surge in fighting after peace talks were suspended last month, was made by Salah al-Sammad, head of a new council appointed by the rebels and their allies to run the country. 
 
Sammad called on Saudi Arabia to &quot;stop naval, air and land aggression, cease air raids and lift the blockade of our country, in exchange for an end to combat operations on the border and to (rebel) missile launches into Saudi territory,&quot; he said, in a speech published on the sabanews website. 
 
Sammad, whose body is not recognised by the international community, also urged the UN and &quot;peace-loving states&quot; to exert pressure on the Saudi regime to accept the offer. 
 
He also suggested an amnesty for &quot;combatants who have sided with the aggression,&quot; a reference to fighters who back President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. 
 
The Huthis are allied with soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. 
 
In late 2014 they seized Yemen&#39;s capital Sanaa before moving into other parts of the country.&nbsp; 
 
Saudi Arabia in March 2015 formed an Arab coalition to begin air strikes and ground support for forces loyal to Hadi, who fled to Riyadh. 
 
More than 6,600 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the coalition launched its intervention&nbsp;and at least three million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations. 
 
The latest round of UN-led talks between the government and the Huthis ended acrimoniously on August 6 without a breakthrough and a ceasefire that had been in place since April collapsed. 
 
Hadi, in a fierce address to the UN in New York on Friday, accused of Iran of blocking peace moves through its support for the rebels. 
 
&quot;We shall extract Yemen from the claws of Iran. We shall raise the Yemeni flag over every foot of our precious soil,&quot; Hadi told the General Assembly. 
 
(AFP)

The truce would be in exchange for a Saudi halt of 'naval, air and land aggression, and air raids' on Houthi leader Salah al-Sammad's forces

A leader of Yemen's Shiite Huthi rebels on Sunday proposed a truce on the country's border with Saudi Arabia in an exchange for a halt in Saudi-led strikes on his forces. The proposal, coinciding with a surge in fighting after peace talks were suspended last month, was made by Salah al-Sammad, head of a new council appointed by the rebels and their allies to run the country. Sammad called on Saudi Arabia to "stop naval, air and land aggression, cease air raids and lift the blockade of our country, in exchange for an end to combat operations on the border and to (rebel) missile launches into Saudi territory," he said, in a speech published on the sabanews website. Sammad, whose body is not recognised by the international community, also urged the UN and "peace-loving states" to exert pressure on the Saudi regime to accept the offer. He also suggested an amnesty for "combatants who have sided with the aggression," a reference to fighters who back President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. The Huthis are allied with soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. In late 2014 they seized Yemen's capital Sanaa before moving into other parts of the country. Saudi Arabia in March 2015 formed an Arab coalition to begin air strikes and ground support for forces loyal to Hadi, who fled to Riyadh. More than 6,600 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the coalition launched its intervention and at least three million people have been displaced, according to the United Nations. The latest round of UN-led talks between the government and the Huthis ended acrimoniously on August 6 without a breakthrough and a ceasefire that had been in place since April collapsed. Hadi, in a fierce address to the UN in New York on Friday, accused of Iran of blocking peace moves through its support for the rebels. "We shall extract Yemen from the claws of Iran. We shall raise the Yemeni flag over every foot of our precious soil," Hadi told the General Assembly. (AFP)

Leader of Yemen's Shiite Huthi rebels proposes border truce with Saudi Arabia

The United States and Israel have agreed on a record $38 billion deal to provide Israel with military aid for 10 years from 2019, the US state department said Tuesday. 
 
Enshrining defence funding for Washington&rsquo;s closest Middle East ally, the countries will sign the memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, it said, that &quot;constitutes the single largest pledge of bilateral military assistance in US history.&quot; 
 
Jacob Nagel,Israel&rsquo;s chief negotiator, and acting head of Netanyahu&rsquo;s national security council, arrived in Washington in preparation for the signing ceremony, and the White House also began briefing members of Congress on the deal. 
 
According to AFP, US military aid to Israel currently stands at $3.1 billion per year although officials did not share a figure.&nbsp; 
 
The deal also includes &nbsp;major concessions by granted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu including Israel&rsquo;s agreement not to seek additional funds from Congress beyond what will be guaranteed annually in the new package, Reuters reported today. 
 
The agreement also includes phasing out a special arrangement that has allowed Israel to spend part of its US aid on its own defence industry instead of on American-made weapons, the officials said.&nbsp; 
 
&#39;Mounting frustration&#39;&nbsp; 
 
Interestingly, the deal comes amid mounting frustration within US President Barack Obama&#39;s administration at Israel&#39;s policy of building settler homes on occupied Palestinian territory. 
 
Washington earlier warned that Netanyahu`s policies, along with Palestinian violence, are putting at risk hopes of an eventual peace deal. 
 
Nearly 10 months of drawn-out aid negotiations have also underscored continuing friction between Obama and Netanyahu over last year&#39;s US-led nuclear deal with Iran, an accord the Israeli leader opposed.&nbsp; 
 
But United States&#39; number one ally in the region remains a big customer for US arms exports.&nbsp; 
 
The 10-year package will help in maintaining Israel&rsquo;s &ldquo;qualitative military edge&rdquo; in the region. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The funding for Washington?s closest Middle East ally will represent the biggest pledge of US military assistance made to any country

The United States and Israel have agreed on a record $38 billion deal to provide Israel with military aid for 10 years from 2019, the US state department said Tuesday. Enshrining defence funding for Washington’s closest Middle East ally, the countries will sign the memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, it said, that "constitutes the single largest pledge of bilateral military assistance in US history." Jacob Nagel,Israel’s chief negotiator, and acting head of Netanyahu’s national security council, arrived in Washington in preparation for the signing ceremony, and the White House also began briefing members of Congress on the deal. According to AFP, US military aid to Israel currently stands at $3.1 billion per year although officials did not share a figure. The deal also includes major concessions by granted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu including Israel’s agreement not to seek additional funds from Congress beyond what will be guaranteed annually in the new package, Reuters reported today. The agreement also includes phasing out a special arrangement that has allowed Israel to spend part of its US aid on its own defence industry instead of on American-made weapons, the officials said. 'Mounting frustration' Interestingly, the deal comes amid mounting frustration within US President Barack Obama's administration at Israel's policy of building settler homes on occupied Palestinian territory. Washington earlier warned that Netanyahu`s policies, along with Palestinian violence, are putting at risk hopes of an eventual peace deal. Nearly 10 months of drawn-out aid negotiations have also underscored continuing friction between Obama and Netanyahu over last year's US-led nuclear deal with Iran, an accord the Israeli leader opposed. But United States' number one ally in the region remains a big customer for US arms exports. The 10-year package will help in maintaining Israel’s “qualitative military edge” in the region. (WION with inputs from agencies)

US to sign record $38 billion defence deal with Israel

The Russian defence ministry today said that seven people died in an attack by Syrian rebels in the battleground city of Aleppo using weapons loaded with a &quot;poisonous agent&quot;. 
 
Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov was cited by Russia&#39;s TASS news agency as saying that the Nureddin al-Zenki rebel group yesterday launched weapons packed with an unnamed &quot;poisonous agent&quot; from an opposition-held neighbourhood to a government-controlled area of Aleppo. 
 
Chvarkov, the head of Russia&#39;s reconciliation centre in Syria, said that &quot;as a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and 23 were evacuated to hospitals in Aleppo with breathing problems and airway burns.&quot; 
 
He said the Russian authorities have informed the United States, which backs the rebels, of the attack. Syrian state media said yesterday that five people were killed and that eight others suffered injuries induced by suffocation after rebels fired rockets containing poison gases. 
 
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the toll from the rocket attack at six dead, saying the casualties were in fact soldiers. The Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman could not confirm that any kind of gas had in fact been used. The Russian claim came a day after the Observatory reported 24 people suffered breathing difficulties in rebel-held Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

Syrian rebels launched an attack in Aleppo using weapons loaded with a 'poisonous agent', Russian authorities informed the United States

The Russian defence ministry today said that seven people died in an attack by Syrian rebels in the battleground city of Aleppo using weapons loaded with a "poisonous agent". Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov was cited by Russia's TASS news agency as saying that the Nureddin al-Zenki rebel group yesterday launched weapons packed with an unnamed "poisonous agent" from an opposition-held neighbourhood to a government-controlled area of Aleppo. Chvarkov, the head of Russia's reconciliation centre in Syria, said that "as a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and 23 were evacuated to hospitals in Aleppo with breathing problems and airway burns." He said the Russian authorities have informed the United States, which backs the rebels, of the attack. Syrian state media said yesterday that five people were killed and that eight others suffered injuries induced by suffocation after rebels fired rockets containing poison gases. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the toll from the rocket attack at six dead, saying the casualties were in fact soldiers. The Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman could not confirm that any kind of gas had in fact been used. The Russian claim came a day after the Observatory reported 24 people suffered breathing difficulties in rebel-held Saraqeb, a town 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Aleppo, after a barrel bomb attack. (AFP)

7 killed in Syria rebel attack: Russia

Warplanes of a Saudi-led coalition bombed Houthi fighters from Yemen seeking to infiltrate Saudi Arabia &nbsp;today, killing tens of Houthi militiamen, security sources said. 
 
The bombing took place on the Yemeni side of the border close to the Saudi city of Najran, they said.&nbsp; 
 
Clashes were also seen in the northwestern Yemeni town of Haradh which borders the kingdom, witnesses said. 
 
The flare-up in fighting was one of the worst since peace talks began in Kuwait in April between Yemen&rsquo;s government and the Houthis to end a 16-month conflict that has left more than 6,400 people dead, nearly half of them civilians, and displaced more than 2.5 million. 
 
A truce that began in April has slowed the momentum of fighting, but violence continues almost daily. 
 
Prospects for progress in the talks dimmed further this week when Houthi rebels and their allies in the political party of a militarily powerful former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, announced they had decided to form a political council to unilaterally rule the country. 
 
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the United Nations Yemen envoy, said the move gravely violated UN Security Council Resolution 2216, which calls on the Houthis &quot;to refrain from further unilateral actions that could undermine the political transition in Yemen&quot;. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

According to security sources,the bombing took place on the Yemeni side of the border close to the Saudi city of Najran

Warplanes of a Saudi-led coalition bombed Houthi fighters from Yemen seeking to infiltrate Saudi Arabia today, killing tens of Houthi militiamen, security sources said. The bombing took place on the Yemeni side of the border close to the Saudi city of Najran, they said. Clashes were also seen in the northwestern Yemeni town of Haradh which borders the kingdom, witnesses said. The flare-up in fighting was one of the worst since peace talks began in Kuwait in April between Yemen’s government and the Houthis to end a 16-month conflict that has left more than 6,400 people dead, nearly half of them civilians, and displaced more than 2.5 million. A truce that began in April has slowed the momentum of fighting, but violence continues almost daily. Prospects for progress in the talks dimmed further this week when Houthi rebels and their allies in the political party of a militarily powerful former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, announced they had decided to form a political council to unilaterally rule the country. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the United Nations Yemen envoy, said the move gravely violated UN Security Council Resolution 2216, which calls on the Houthis "to refrain from further unilateral actions that could undermine the political transition in Yemen". (Reuters)

Coalition warplanes attack Houthi fighters near Saudi border

A suicide car bomber killed at least 14, including women and children packed into a minibus, at a checkpoint outside a central Iraqi town on Monday morning, police and hospital sources said.

A police officer at the scene said most of the victims died inside their vehicles while waiting to enter Khalis, about 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad.

&quot;We still have charred bodies inside many vehicles including a minibus packed with women and children,&quot; the police captain said, requesting anonymity.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Islamic State militants have stepped up attacks even as they incur battlefield setbacks in northern and western Iraq.

Hospital sources said the death toll was expected to rise given the extent of critical injuries.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has come under pressure to improve security since a suicide attack claimed by Islamic State earlier this month killed 292 in central Baghdad, one of the largest attacks of its kind since the US-led invasion in 2003.

The ultra-hardline militants have lost much of the territory they seized in 2014 and Abadi has pledged to retake this year the northern city of Mosul, the group&#39;s de facto capital in Iraq.

(Reuters)

The death toll is expected to rise, according to hospital sources. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility

A suicide car bomber killed at least 14, including women and children packed into a minibus, at a checkpoint outside a central Iraqi town on Monday morning, police and hospital sources said. A police officer at the scene said most of the victims died inside their vehicles while waiting to enter Khalis, about 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad. "We still have charred bodies inside many vehicles including a minibus packed with women and children," the police captain said, requesting anonymity. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Islamic State militants have stepped up attacks even as they incur battlefield setbacks in northern and western Iraq. Hospital sources said the death toll was expected to rise given the extent of critical injuries. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has come under pressure to improve security since a suicide attack claimed by Islamic State earlier this month killed 292 in central Baghdad, one of the largest attacks of its kind since the US-led invasion in 2003. The ultra-hardline militants have lost much of the territory they seized in 2014 and Abadi has pledged to retake this year the northern city of Mosul, the group's de facto capital in Iraq. (Reuters)

At least 14 killed in car bomb blast in north Baghdad

Turkish fighter jets struck Kurdish militant targets in rural areas of Turkey&#39;s southeastern Hakkari province and northern Iraq on Friday, killing 12 militants, security sources said. 
 
Eight Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets near the southeastern town of Semdinli and seven others in northern Iraq, where the group&#39;s leadership is based, were hit in the air strikes, the sources said. 
 
Following intelligence gathered by drones, jets took off from Diyarbakir, the mainly Kurdish region&#39;s largest city, hitting shelters and groups of militants across territory where Turkey regularly carries out air strikes against the PKK. 
 
A military outpost in Semdinli came under a PKK attack with mortars, anti-aircraft fire and machine guns before dawn today. The army retaliated with artillery fire. 
 
Conflict between the autonomy-seeking PKK and the Turkish military flared up in July last year after the collapse of a ceasefire. Thousands of militants, security force members and civilians have since been killed in fighting across the region. 
 
More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict since the PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies, began its insurgency in 1984. 
 
(Reuters)

Thousands of militants and security forces have been killed since conflict between PKK and Turkish military flared up last year

Turkish fighter jets struck Kurdish militant targets in rural areas of Turkey's southeastern Hakkari province and northern Iraq on Friday, killing 12 militants, security sources said. Eight Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets near the southeastern town of Semdinli and seven others in northern Iraq, where the group's leadership is based, were hit in the air strikes, the sources said. Following intelligence gathered by drones, jets took off from Diyarbakir, the mainly Kurdish region's largest city, hitting shelters and groups of militants across territory where Turkey regularly carries out air strikes against the PKK. A military outpost in Semdinli came under a PKK attack with mortars, anti-aircraft fire and machine guns before dawn today. The army retaliated with artillery fire. Conflict between the autonomy-seeking PKK and the Turkish military flared up in July last year after the collapse of a ceasefire. Thousands of militants, security force members and civilians have since been killed in fighting across the region. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict since the PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies, began its insurgency in 1984. (Reuters)

Turkish jets hit Kurdish militant targets in southeast Turkey, northern Iraq, kill 12

Intensive Syrian air strikes today&nbsp;killed at least 30 civilians in a Damascan suburb town northeast of the city a day after the reported execution of a Syrian air force pilot, a monitor and rebels said.

They said the raids targeted a medical centre, a school and a residential area in Jayrud town, a heavily populated area that struck a local truce with the army that had spared it the heavy bombing on other rebel held areas. It had made it a sanctuary for thousands of civilians fleeing heavy battles nearby.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said scores were also injured in the aerial strikes as well as shelling from army posts in the area.

A rebel spokesman said the strikes seemed to be in revenge for the killing of a Syrian air force pilot who parachuted down near the town after his plane crashed on Friday.

&quot;The strikes against civilians are in retaliation against the execution of the pilot by Nusra Front,&quot; said Said Seif al Qalamoni, from the Free Syrian Army&#39;s (FSA) Shahid Ahmad Abdo brigade, that operates in Jayrud, alongside the al Qaeda&#39;s Nusra Front and other groups.

Rebels in a joint operations room targetted a main army base in the region with Russian-made surface to surface missiles after the aerial strikes, al Qalamoni said.

Syrian state media said the crash was due to a technical fault and the pilot had ejected, while the rebel group Jaish al-Islam said it had shot down the plane, but did not say how.

Jaish al Islam said the pilot was arrested and was subsequently killed by a fighter from the Nusra Front while being held at a joint command centre.

The army had warned of a strong response after the execution of the pilot was reported shortly after he was shown on a rebel video circulated on social media giving details of his mission.

Separately, Russian and Syrian planes intensified their bombing on Saturday of a strategic rebel-held area of Aleppo that is near the only route into opposition-held parts of the northern city. If the Malah area were to fall to the army and its allies they would succeed in laying siege to areas where over 400,000 people live under rebel control. 
 
(Reuters)

A rebel spokesman said the strikes were in retaliation for yesterday's execution of the Syrian air force pilot by Nusra Front

Intensive Syrian air strikes today killed at least 30 civilians in a Damascan suburb town northeast of the city a day after the reported execution of a Syrian air force pilot, a monitor and rebels said. They said the raids targeted a medical centre, a school and a residential area in Jayrud town, a heavily populated area that struck a local truce with the army that had spared it the heavy bombing on other rebel held areas. It had made it a sanctuary for thousands of civilians fleeing heavy battles nearby. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said scores were also injured in the aerial strikes as well as shelling from army posts in the area. A rebel spokesman said the strikes seemed to be in revenge for the killing of a Syrian air force pilot who parachuted down near the town after his plane crashed on Friday. "The strikes against civilians are in retaliation against the execution of the pilot by Nusra Front," said Said Seif al Qalamoni, from the Free Syrian Army's (FSA) Shahid Ahmad Abdo brigade, that operates in Jayrud, alongside the al Qaeda's Nusra Front and other groups. Rebels in a joint operations room targetted a main army base in the region with Russian-made surface to surface missiles after the aerial strikes, al Qalamoni said. Syrian state media said the crash was due to a technical fault and the pilot had ejected, while the rebel group Jaish al-Islam said it had shot down the plane, but did not say how. Jaish al Islam said the pilot was arrested and was subsequently killed by a fighter from the Nusra Front while being held at a joint command centre. The army had warned of a strong response after the execution of the pilot was reported shortly after he was shown on a rebel video circulated on social media giving details of his mission. Separately, Russian and Syrian planes intensified their bombing on Saturday of a strategic rebel-held area of Aleppo that is near the only route into opposition-held parts of the northern city. If the Malah area were to fall to the army and its allies they would succeed in laying siege to areas where over 400,000 people live under rebel control. (Reuters)

At least 30 killed in Syrian air strikes in Damascas suburb

Insurgents seized a strategic town from Syrian government forces and their allies in the western coastal province of Latakia today, a monitoring group and the rebels said, in a rare advance for them in the area.

The Syrian government forces had captured Kansaba in February, part of a wider advance in Latakia&#39;s northern countryside at the time, backed by Russian air power.

Fighting picked up again in the area after a ceasefire deal later that month brought a temporary lull. The truce has mostly unravelled throughout areas where it took effect in the west of the country.

The al-Qaeda&nbsp;affiliated Nusra Front was among the groups that retook Kansaba, which had previously been an important base for the insurgents. The town overlooks much of the mountainous Jabal Akrad area close to the Turkish border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The British-based monitoring group said it was part of a wider offensive launched earlier in the week.

Nusra Front said in an online statement that an alliance of Islamist rebel groups including itself had captured Kansaba and a number of other villages, seizing several tanks and artillery guns.

It was a rare gain for rebels in Latakia since Russia intervened in the five-year Syrian conflict on the side of President Bashar al-Assad last September.

Northern Latakia borders Idlib province, a stronghold for insurgent groups including Nusra Front.

Further to the northeast, in Aleppo province, Nusra Front and other Islamist insurgents have recently launched heavy attacks against government forces and their allies, including Iranian troops and Lebanese Shi&#39;ite Hezbollah fighters.

Latakia&#39;s coastal areas, including the provincial capital city of the same name, are the heartland of Assad&#39;s minority Alawite community and are also home to a Russian air base.

Rebels have in the past sought to bring the fight closer to the coast. They were regularly shelling Latakia city before the Russian intervention. 
 
(Reuters)

It was a rare gain for rebels in Latakia since Russia intervened in the five-year Syrian conflict on the side of President Bashar al-Assad

Insurgents seized a strategic town from Syrian government forces and their allies in the western coastal province of Latakia today, a monitoring group and the rebels said, in a rare advance for them in the area. The Syrian government forces had captured Kansaba in February, part of a wider advance in Latakia's northern countryside at the time, backed by Russian air power. Fighting picked up again in the area after a ceasefire deal later that month brought a temporary lull. The truce has mostly unravelled throughout areas where it took effect in the west of the country. The al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra Front was among the groups that retook Kansaba, which had previously been an important base for the insurgents. The town overlooks much of the mountainous Jabal Akrad area close to the Turkish border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The British-based monitoring group said it was part of a wider offensive launched earlier in the week. Nusra Front said in an online statement that an alliance of Islamist rebel groups including itself had captured Kansaba and a number of other villages, seizing several tanks and artillery guns. It was a rare gain for rebels in Latakia since Russia intervened in the five-year Syrian conflict on the side of President Bashar al-Assad last September. Northern Latakia borders Idlib province, a stronghold for insurgent groups including Nusra Front. Further to the northeast, in Aleppo province, Nusra Front and other Islamist insurgents have recently launched heavy attacks against government forces and their allies, including Iranian troops and Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah fighters. Latakia's coastal areas, including the provincial capital city of the same name, are the heartland of Assad's minority Alawite community and are also home to a Russian air base. Rebels have in the past sought to bring the fight closer to the coast. They were regularly shelling Latakia city before the Russian intervention. (Reuters)

Alliance of Islamist rebels retake key town from Assad's forces

Russia announced a last minute 48-hour ceasefire for Syria&#39;s war-torn Aleppo late Wednesday, just hours after Washington warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ally Moscow that they must respect the nationwide truce agreed in February. 
 
The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people. 
 
Dozens of fighters were killed in a fresh bout of fighting between the regime, rebels, and jihadists south of Aleppo city on Wednesday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 
 
Backed by Russian and government air strikes, pro-regime fighters are locked in battle with rebel groups and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front for a string of villages lying in hilly terrain between strategic routes. 
 
&quot;On Russia&#39;s initiative, a &#39;regime of silence&#39; has been introduced in Aleppo for 48 hours from 00:01 16 June (2101 GMT Wednesday) with the goal of lowering the level of armed violence and stabilising the situation,&quot; the Russian defence ministry said. 
 
The statement did not specify who Russia has discussed the two-day ceasefire with. 
 
It accused al-Nusra of attacking various Aleppo neighbourhoods with multiple rocket launchers, as well as mounting a tank attack southwest of the city. 
 
The five-year conflict has drawn in world powers who back opposing sides -- including the United States which broadly supports the opposition and Russia on the side of Assad. 
 
&quot;Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable,&quot; said the US secretary of state John Kerry on Wednesday. 
 
&quot;We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition,&quot; he said after a meeting in Norway with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. 
 
UN-hosted peace talks aimed at ending the conflict have been stalled since April, and a fragile ceasefire deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels has all but collapsed. 
 
&quot;It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place,&quot; said Kerry. 
 
Efforts were underway, he said, to reach a new agreement &quot;in the next week or two&quot; to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process. 
 
Fresh Aleppo clashes&nbsp; 
 
Since fighting erupted in Aleppo province on Tuesday, at least 70 fighters in total have been killed and the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa have changed hands twice. 
 
The strategic border province is criss-crossed with supply routes for various sides of the conflict, including rebels, regime, Kurds, and jihadists such as the Islamic State group. 
 
Aleppo was once Syria&#39;s commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west. 
 
A hospital in eastern Aleppo supported by Medecins du Monde was heavily damaged in an air strike on Tuesday, the France-based charity said, without reporting casualties. 
 
Three other hospitals in Syria were hit in bombing at the start of June, leaving 10 dead. 
 
As opposing forces close in from either side, residents of both halves of the city fear a potential total siege on the northern metropolis. 
 
The UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces. 
 
Earlier this month, it said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN&#39;s list. 
 
Dozens of opposition activist groups accused the UN of &quot;capitulating&quot; to Damascus on aid access. 
 
The scathing report, authored by The Syria Campaign (TSC) advocacy group, was based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers. 
 
It accused the UN of &quot;choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs,&quot; allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy. 
 
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to &quot;assist Syrians based on need&quot;. 
 
TSC spokeswoman Bissan Fakih countered: &quot;A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes&#39; drive from where the UN is based in Damascus.&quot; 
&nbsp; 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The city had been wracked by violence with at least 70 pro-regime fighters, backed by the Russians, killed on Tuesday

Russia announced a last minute 48-hour ceasefire for Syria's war-torn Aleppo late Wednesday, just hours after Washington warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ally Moscow that they must respect the nationwide truce agreed in February. The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people. Dozens of fighters were killed in a fresh bout of fighting between the regime, rebels, and jihadists south of Aleppo city on Wednesday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Backed by Russian and government air strikes, pro-regime fighters are locked in battle with rebel groups and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front for a string of villages lying in hilly terrain between strategic routes. "On Russia's initiative, a 'regime of silence' has been introduced in Aleppo for 48 hours from 00:01 16 June (2101 GMT Wednesday) with the goal of lowering the level of armed violence and stabilising the situation," the Russian defence ministry said. The statement did not specify who Russia has discussed the two-day ceasefire with. It accused al-Nusra of attacking various Aleppo neighbourhoods with multiple rocket launchers, as well as mounting a tank attack southwest of the city. The five-year conflict has drawn in world powers who back opposing sides -- including the United States which broadly supports the opposition and Russia on the side of Assad. "Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," said the US secretary of state John Kerry on Wednesday. "We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition," he said after a meeting in Norway with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif. UN-hosted peace talks aimed at ending the conflict have been stalled since April, and a fragile ceasefire deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels has all but collapsed. "It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place," said Kerry. Efforts were underway, he said, to reach a new agreement "in the next week or two" to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process. Fresh Aleppo clashes Since fighting erupted in Aleppo province on Tuesday, at least 70 fighters in total have been killed and the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa have changed hands twice. The strategic border province is criss-crossed with supply routes for various sides of the conflict, including rebels, regime, Kurds, and jihadists such as the Islamic State group. Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west. A hospital in eastern Aleppo supported by Medecins du Monde was heavily damaged in an air strike on Tuesday, the France-based charity said, without reporting casualties. Three other hospitals in Syria were hit in bombing at the start of June, leaving 10 dead. As opposing forces close in from either side, residents of both halves of the city fear a potential total siege on the northern metropolis. The UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces. Earlier this month, it said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN's list. Dozens of opposition activist groups accused the UN of "capitulating" to Damascus on aid access. The scathing report, authored by The Syria Campaign (TSC) advocacy group, was based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers. It accused the UN of "choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs," allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy. The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to "assist Syrians based on need". TSC spokeswoman Bissan Fakih countered: "A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes' drive from where the UN is based in Damascus." (AFP)

Russia announces 48-hour ceasefire in Aleppo

<div style="text-align: justify;">The Syrian government said today that German special forces were present, alongside French and American military personnel, in northern Syria. Germany has denied their presence.&nbsp; 
 
Syrian state media said the government strongly condemned the presence of French and German forces in Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and Manbij. 
 
&quot;Syria considers it explicit and unjustified aggression towards (Syria&#39;s) sovereignty and independence,&quot; state news agency SANA quoted the foreign ministry as saying. 
 
The US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) are staging an offensive against Islamic State near Manbij, while Kobani is under the control of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, part of the SDF. 
 
Germany&#39;s defence ministry said repeated claims by the Syrian government that German special forces were in northern Syria were not and had never been true. 
 
&quot;There are no German special forces in Syria. The accusation is false,&quot; a ministry spokesman said. 
 
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian civil war now in its sixth year, said French special forces were building a base for themselves near Kobani. 
 
France&#39;s defence minister said last week that there were special forces operating in Syria helping the SDF advance towards Manbij. 
 
The Observatory also said German, French and American military advisers, and French and American special forces, were assisting the SDF in its fight against Islamic State but had so far remained in a support role and had not fought on front lines. 
(Reuters)</div>

Damascus says presence of German forces is 'unjustified aggression' on their sovereignty, Germany denies they are even there

The Syrian government said today that German special forces were present, alongside French and American military personnel, in northern Syria. Germany has denied their presence. Syrian state media said the government strongly condemned the presence of French and German forces in Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and Manbij. "Syria considers it explicit and unjustified aggression towards (Syria's) sovereignty and independence," state news agency SANA quoted the foreign ministry as saying. The US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) are staging an offensive against Islamic State near Manbij, while Kobani is under the control of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, part of the SDF. Germany's defence ministry said repeated claims by the Syrian government that German special forces were in northern Syria were not and had never been true. "There are no German special forces in Syria. The accusation is false," a ministry spokesman said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian civil war now in its sixth year, said French special forces were building a base for themselves near Kobani. France's defence minister said last week that there were special forces operating in Syria helping the SDF advance towards Manbij. The Observatory also said German, French and American military advisers, and French and American special forces, were assisting the SDF in its fight against Islamic State but had so far remained in a support role and had not fought on front lines. (Reuters)

German special forces in Syrian territory, claims Assad government

More than 4,000 people have fled the Islamic State-held city of Fallujah in Iraq after government forces retook a key road to the IS stronghold over the weekend, an aid group said today. 
 
Along with roadside bombs planted by the militants, an estimated number of 50,000 civilians who remain trapped inside Fallujah, located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad, have slowed down the Iraqi forces&#39; operation to recapture the city. 
 
Fallujah has been under IS control for over two years, the last major city in western Iraq still held by the extremist group. The militants have threatened anyone who attempts to flee with death and last week they reportedly shot at a group of civilians attempting to flee across the Euphrates River. 
 
The Norwegian Refugee Council, which works with refugees and internally displaced Iraqis, said the 4,000 who fled since Saturday bring the total number of residents who escaped Fallujah since the Iraqi offensive started in late May to 27,580. 
 
Thousands more are expected to take the risky journey in the coming hours, NRC said, adding that some refugees reported IS militants were demanding 150,000 Iraqi Dinars, or around USD 130, from each person to let them leave. 
 
The aid group warned that humanitarian resources are running low and called for at least USD 10 million for a six months&#39; supply of water, food and basic necessities. 
 
&quot;Thousands of others remain trapped inside and the most vulnerable will need urgent assistance,&quot; said NRC Country Director in Iraq Nasr Muflahi. 
 
Yesterday, the Iraqi command announced that key areas&nbsp;to the west of Fallujah have been taken and that Iraqi forces pushed deeper into the city from its southern edges. 
 
The US-trained Iraqi counterterrorism forces, wary of coming street battles in the city, are already facing fierce resistance on the outskirts from well-entrenched militants.

A total of 27,580 people have fled the city since Iraqi forces launched an offensive to recapture Fallujah in May this year

More than 4,000 people have fled the Islamic State-held city of Fallujah in Iraq after government forces retook a key road to the IS stronghold over the weekend, an aid group said today. Along with roadside bombs planted by the militants, an estimated number of 50,000 civilians who remain trapped inside Fallujah, located about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad, have slowed down the Iraqi forces' operation to recapture the city. Fallujah has been under IS control for over two years, the last major city in western Iraq still held by the extremist group. The militants have threatened anyone who attempts to flee with death and last week they reportedly shot at a group of civilians attempting to flee across the Euphrates River. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which works with refugees and internally displaced Iraqis, said the 4,000 who fled since Saturday bring the total number of residents who escaped Fallujah since the Iraqi offensive started in late May to 27,580. Thousands more are expected to take the risky journey in the coming hours, NRC said, adding that some refugees reported IS militants were demanding 150,000 Iraqi Dinars, or around USD 130, from each person to let them leave. The aid group warned that humanitarian resources are running low and called for at least USD 10 million for a six months' supply of water, food and basic necessities. "Thousands of others remain trapped inside and the most vulnerable will need urgent assistance," said NRC Country Director in Iraq Nasr Muflahi. Yesterday, the Iraqi command announced that key areas to the west of Fallujah have been taken and that Iraqi forces pushed deeper into the city from its southern edges. The US-trained Iraqi counterterrorism forces, wary of coming street battles in the city, are already facing fierce resistance on the outskirts from well-entrenched militants.

4,000 more flee IS-held city of Fallujah in Iraq

A total of 27,580 have fled the city since the Iraqi army launched an offensive to recapture Fallujah in May this year

A Syrian journalist campaigning against the Islamic State was shot by fighters from the group in southeastern Turkey, a news agency affiliated with the radical Islamists and Syrian activists said today. 
 
Ahmed Abdulkader was shot in the head by two Islamic State militants riding a motorcycle and is being treated in the intensive care unit of Sanliurfa state hospital, an official in the provincial governor&#39;s office said. 
 
The Amaq news agency, which is close to Islamic State, said Abdulkader was the head of a local newspaper and one of the founders of &quot;Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently&quot;, a campaign group against the radical militants. 
 
His attempted killing is the fifth such attack in the past eight months targeting Syrian anti-Islamic State activists in Turkey&#39;s southeast, parts of which are held by the radical militants. None of the others survived. 
 
Among the four killed was Abdulkader&#39;s 27-year-old brother, Ibrahim, a member of the same campaign group who was shot in the head and beheaded along with a fellow activist at his home in Sanliurfa last October. 
 
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member Turkey has increasingly become a target for the Islamic State. The group has been blamed for two suicide bombings in Istanbul this year and has carried out targeted killings in the southern cities of Gaziantep and Sanliurfa, both hubs for Syrian activists trying to document the war. (Reuters) 
 
An online broadcaster for Aleppo Today, who was shot in the neck in April, died at the hospital two days later. That attack came three months after a Syrian documentary maker was gunned down in Gaziantep. Both killings were blamed on the Islamic State. 
 
Turkey has long faced criticism for failing to do more to prevent thousands of suspected foreign fighters from crossing its territory to join the ranks of Islamic State in Syria. 
 
Since last July, border security has been tightened. Turkey has also helped to facilitate joint air strikes with US-led coalition aircraft on Islamic State positions in northern Syria, and the military has ramped up artillery fire in response to cross-border shelling.

The attack is the fifth attempt to kill Syrian anti-IS activists in Turkey in the last eight months

A Syrian journalist campaigning against the Islamic State was shot by fighters from the group in southeastern Turkey, a news agency affiliated with the radical Islamists and Syrian activists said today. Ahmed Abdulkader was shot in the head by two Islamic State militants riding a motorcycle and is being treated in the intensive care unit of Sanliurfa state hospital, an official in the provincial governor's office said. The Amaq news agency, which is close to Islamic State, said Abdulkader was the head of a local newspaper and one of the founders of "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently", a campaign group against the radical militants. His attempted killing is the fifth such attack in the past eight months targeting Syrian anti-Islamic State activists in Turkey's southeast, parts of which are held by the radical militants. None of the others survived. Among the four killed was Abdulkader's 27-year-old brother, Ibrahim, a member of the same campaign group who was shot in the head and beheaded along with a fellow activist at his home in Sanliurfa last October. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member Turkey has increasingly become a target for the Islamic State. The group has been blamed for two suicide bombings in Istanbul this year and has carried out targeted killings in the southern cities of Gaziantep and Sanliurfa, both hubs for Syrian activists trying to document the war. (Reuters) An online broadcaster for Aleppo Today, who was shot in the neck in April, died at the hospital two days later. That attack came three months after a Syrian documentary maker was gunned down in Gaziantep. Both killings were blamed on the Islamic State. Turkey has long faced criticism for failing to do more to prevent thousands of suspected foreign fighters from crossing its territory to join the ranks of Islamic State in Syria. Since last July, border security has been tightened. Turkey has also helped to facilitate joint air strikes with US-led coalition aircraft on Islamic State positions in northern Syria, and the military has ramped up artillery fire in response to cross-border shelling.

Syrian activist shot by Islamic State fighters in southeast Turkey, in critical condition

The United Nations said today that it will try to resettle a record 170,000 refugees urgently in need of a new home by next year. 
 
The projected resettlement figure from the UN refugee agency represents an increase of nearly 30,000 people compared with this year. 
But it is still less than 15 per cent of the 1.19 million refugees worldwide who will be &quot;in need of resettlement&quot; in 2017, the United Nations Human Right Commission (UNHCR) acknowledged in a report released today.&nbsp; 
 
That group mainly consists of refugees who the UN believes will not be able to return home or integrate in their current host country.&nbsp; 
But resettling 1.19 million people over a 12-month period is not feasible based on recent trends, UNHCR spokesman Leo Dobbs said.&nbsp; 
 
The agency therefore expects to recommend that the 170,000 people most in need of resettlement should be moved to third countries.&nbsp; 
Dobbs noted that the final decision in each case rests with prospective host countries, but in recent years the overwhelming majority of those recommended for resettlement have been given new homes. 
 
In 2015, UNHCR referred a record 134,000 people for resettlement and 104,000 in 2014. The projected figure for this year is 143,000.&nbsp; 
By nationality, Syrians led the list of resettlement cases last year at 20 per cent, followed by people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Somalia.&nbsp; 
 
The European Union (EU) has agreed to a responsibility-sharing scheme, which foresees the relocation of 160,000 refugees who have crossed the Mediterranean Sea and landed in Italy or Greece.&nbsp; 
 
But only a few hundred have been resettled to date under the EU plan. 
 
Overall the UNHCR has estimated that there are currently more than 60 million people who have been forced from their homes worldwide.&nbsp; 
 
Of those, roughly 40 million are internally displaced within their home country, while just over 20 million are refugees who have fled across borders.

Overall estimates say more than 60 million have been forced from their homes worldwide

The United Nations said today that it will try to resettle a record 170,000 refugees urgently in need of a new home by next year. The projected resettlement figure from the UN refugee agency represents an increase of nearly 30,000 people compared with this year. But it is still less than 15 per cent of the 1.19 million refugees worldwide who will be "in need of resettlement" in 2017, the United Nations Human Right Commission (UNHCR) acknowledged in a report released today. That group mainly consists of refugees who the UN believes will not be able to return home or integrate in their current host country. But resettling 1.19 million people over a 12-month period is not feasible based on recent trends, UNHCR spokesman Leo Dobbs said. The agency therefore expects to recommend that the 170,000 people most in need of resettlement should be moved to third countries. Dobbs noted that the final decision in each case rests with prospective host countries, but in recent years the overwhelming majority of those recommended for resettlement have been given new homes. In 2015, UNHCR referred a record 134,000 people for resettlement and 104,000 in 2014. The projected figure for this year is 143,000. By nationality, Syrians led the list of resettlement cases last year at 20 per cent, followed by people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Somalia. The European Union (EU) has agreed to a responsibility-sharing scheme, which foresees the relocation of 160,000 refugees who have crossed the Mediterranean Sea and landed in Italy or Greece. But only a few hundred have been resettled to date under the EU plan. Overall the UNHCR has estimated that there are currently more than 60 million people who have been forced from their homes worldwide. Of those, roughly 40 million are internally displaced within their home country, while just over 20 million are refugees who have fled across borders.

UN to try resettling 170,000 refugees by next year, up 30,000 from 2016

The European Union has agreed to a responsibility-sharing scheme wherein it will try to relocate the refugees to the Third World countries

Will try to resettle 170,000 refugees by next year: UN

More than 22 people were killed and 70 wounded in two separate bombings&nbsp;in Baghdad today, one targeting a commercial street and the other an army checkpoint, Iraqi police said.

The attacks came&nbsp;as Iraqi forces were&nbsp;trying to dislodge Islamic State militants from Falluja, their stronghold just west of Baghdad.

A car packed with explosive blew up in a commercial street of Baghdad al-Jadeeda (New Baghdad), an eastern district of the capital, killing at least 15 people and wounding over 50, a police officer said.

A suicide car bomb also targeted a main army checkpoint in Taji, just north of Baghdad, killing seven soldiers and wounding more than 20 others, he said. 
 
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had announced the start of an offensive to liberate Falluja from the Islamic State, which captured the city two years ago,&nbsp;on May 22. A lot of people have been trying to flee the city as both&nbsp;the&nbsp;Iraqi army and the Islamic State continue&nbsp;to fight to wrest control of Falluja.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The attacks came as Iraqi forces were trying to dislodge Islamic militants from Falluja

More than 22 people were killed and 70 wounded in two separate bombings in Baghdad today, one targeting a commercial street and the other an army checkpoint, Iraqi police said. The attacks came as Iraqi forces were trying to dislodge Islamic State militants from Falluja, their stronghold just west of Baghdad. A car packed with explosive blew up in a commercial street of Baghdad al-Jadeeda (New Baghdad), an eastern district of the capital, killing at least 15 people and wounding over 50, a police officer said. A suicide car bomb also targeted a main army checkpoint in Taji, just north of Baghdad, killing seven soldiers and wounding more than 20 others, he said. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had announced the start of an offensive to liberate Falluja from the Islamic State, which captured the city two years ago, on May 22. A lot of people have been trying to flee the city as both the Iraqi army and the Islamic State continue to fight to wrest control of Falluja.

More than 22 killed, 70 wounded in two bombings in Baghdad

The world has become increasingly violent with deaths from conflicts at a 25-year high, terrorist attacks at an all-time high and more people being displaced than at any time since World War II, the 2016 Global Peace Index showed today. 
 
The annual index&nbsp;which measures 23 indicators, including incidents of violent crime, countries&#39; levels of militarisation and weapons imports, said intensifying conflicts in the Middle East were mostly to blame. 
 
But beyond the Middle East, the world was actually becoming more peaceful, researchers behind the index said. 
 
&quot;Quite often, in the mayhem which is happening in the Middle East currently, we lose sight of the other positive trends,&quot; said Steve Killelea, founder of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which produces the index. 
 
&quot;If we look in the last year, if we took out the Middle East ... the world would have become more peaceful,&quot; Killelea said. 
 
More than 100,000 were killed in conflict in 2014, up from nearly 20,000 in 2008. Syria, where nearly 67,000 people were killed in 2014, accounted for the bulk of the increase. 
 
The United Nations has said the number of displaced people is likely to have &quot;far surpassed&quot; a record of 60 million last year. 
 
The index showed that most attacks it classified&nbsp;as terrorist attacks were concentrated in five countries - Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
 
The economic cost of violence over the past decade was $137 trillion - greater than the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP)&nbsp;in 2015-the IEP showed. 
 
The indicator,&nbsp;which improved the most in the last year, was funding for UN&nbsp;peacekeeping operations that&nbsp;reached record highs in 2016, IEP said. 
 
&quot;However, peacebuilding and peacekeeping spending remains proportionately small compared to the economic impact of violence, representing just 2 per cent of global losses from armed conflict,&quot; Killelea said. 
 
More than 120,000 UN&nbsp;peacekeepers are currently deployed in 16 operations worldwide. The largest are in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan&#39;s Darfur region, South Sudan, Mali, Central African Republic and Lebanon. 
 
Another improvement in peace&nbsp;is a 10 per cent fall in global military spending in the last three years, IEP said. 
 
BUILDING LASTING PEACE 
 
Europe is the most peaceful region in the world, although the region&#39;s peace score has dropped in the wake of attacks in Paris and Brussels. Deaths from such attacks in Europe have more than doubled over the last five years. 
 
Last year, world leaders agreed to &quot;significantly reduce all forms of violence&quot; by 2030 and find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity, as part of a set of Sustainable Development Goals to fight inequality and extreme poverty. 
 
Building lasting peace takes more than just improving security, Killelea said. 
 
&quot;Quite often as an international community we lose sight of that and try and have a one shoe fits all (approach),&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;For me the most profound thing about the index is the ability to use it ... to better understand the qualities ... which create peaceful societies,&quot; Killelea said. 
 
Iceland is the world&#39;s most peaceful country listed in the index, followed by Denmark, Austria, New Zealand and Portugal.&nbsp;The least peaceful country is Syria, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

More than 100,000 were killed in conflicts in 2014, up from nearly 20,000 in 2008. In Syria alone, nearly 67,000 people were killed in 2014

The world has become increasingly violent with deaths from conflicts at a 25-year high, terrorist attacks at an all-time high and more people being displaced than at any time since World War II, the 2016 Global Peace Index showed today. The annual index which measures 23 indicators, including incidents of violent crime, countries' levels of militarisation and weapons imports, said intensifying conflicts in the Middle East were mostly to blame. But beyond the Middle East, the world was actually becoming more peaceful, researchers behind the index said. "Quite often, in the mayhem which is happening in the Middle East currently, we lose sight of the other positive trends," said Steve Killelea, founder of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which produces the index. "If we look in the last year, if we took out the Middle East ... the world would have become more peaceful," Killelea said. More than 100,000 were killed in conflict in 2014, up from nearly 20,000 in 2008. Syria, where nearly 67,000 people were killed in 2014, accounted for the bulk of the increase. The United Nations has said the number of displaced people is likely to have "far surpassed" a record of 60 million last year. The index showed that most attacks it classified as terrorist attacks were concentrated in five countries - Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The economic cost of violence over the past decade was $137 trillion - greater than the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015-the IEP showed. The indicator, which improved the most in the last year, was funding for UN peacekeeping operations that reached record highs in 2016, IEP said. "However, peacebuilding and peacekeeping spending remains proportionately small compared to the economic impact of violence, representing just 2 per cent of global losses from armed conflict," Killelea said. More than 120,000 UN peacekeepers are currently deployed in 16 operations worldwide. The largest are in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan's Darfur region, South Sudan, Mali, Central African Republic and Lebanon. Another improvement in peace is a 10 per cent fall in global military spending in the last three years, IEP said. BUILDING LASTING PEACE Europe is the most peaceful region in the world, although the region's peace score has dropped in the wake of attacks in Paris and Brussels. Deaths from such attacks in Europe have more than doubled over the last five years. Last year, world leaders agreed to "significantly reduce all forms of violence" by 2030 and find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity, as part of a set of Sustainable Development Goals to fight inequality and extreme poverty. Building lasting peace takes more than just improving security, Killelea said. "Quite often as an international community we lose sight of that and try and have a one shoe fits all (approach)," he said. "For me the most profound thing about the index is the ability to use it ... to better understand the qualities ... which create peaceful societies," Killelea said. Iceland is the world's most peaceful country listed in the index, followed by Denmark, Austria, New Zealand and Portugal. The least peaceful country is Syria, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Global violence worsens, driven by Middle East conflict: peace index

Syrian government troops backed by Russian air power moved to within 25 km (15 miles) of an Islamic State-held town in Raqqa province today, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, as state media reported air strikes against the jihadists in the area.

In a separate simultaneous campaign against the Islamic State in Syria, US-backed militias captured more territory from the group near the city of Manbij in Aleppo province, said a spokesman for the forces. The Observatory said they were now two&nbsp;km from the Islamic State-held city.

The offensives both got underway last week and are targeting the Islamic State in areas of major strategic importance to its foothold in Syria, where it controls swathes of land up to the Iraqi border.

They are taking place at the same time as an assault by the Iraqi army against Falluja, an Islamic State bastion close to Baghdad. The simultaneous assaults by a myriad of enemies on farflung fronts amount to some of the greatest pressure Islamic State has faced since declaring its caliphate to rule over all Muslims from Iraq and Syria two years ago.

The Syrian army&#39;s advance into Raqqa province, which has not been announced by the military, is initially targeting the Islamic State-held town of Tabqa, according to the Observatory and pro-Damascus media sources.

Raqqa province is a major base of operations for Islamic State and home to its de facto capital, Raqqa city.

Syrian state-run TV station Ikhbariya said&nbsp;that the Syrian air force had targeted Islamic State positions south of Tabqa in the Rasafa area, destroying vehicles equipped with machine guns.

The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment. A military source said that&nbsp;on Monday the army had advanced to the edge of Raqqa province, from where it could&nbsp;move&nbsp;in several directions against the Islamic State.

The Observatory, citing its activists on the ground, said the Islamic State had sent weapons and fighters from Raqqa city to Tabqa.

The separate US-backed campaign that got underway last week aims to dislodge the Islamic State from its last foothold at the Syrian-Turkish frontier and shut off its main access route to the outside world for material and manpower.

It is being fought on the ground by militias including the Kurdish YPG and allied Arab groups, which together formed an alliance last year known as the Syria Democratic Forces. It has proven to be the first effective fighting force allied to Washington during five years of multi-sided civil war in Syria.

Sharfan Darwish, spokesman for the Manbij Military Council that is part of the US-backed force, said: &quot;We are advancing on all fronts of our assault.&quot;

The United States has consistently rejected the idea of partnering in the fight against the Islamic State with President Bashar al-Assad, saying he should leave power. Some of Assad&#39;s opponents have accused the Kurdish YPG of coordinating with his government&#39;s forces, which the Kurds deny.

The Syrian army's advance into Raqqa province is initially targeting the Islamic State-held town of Tabqa

Syrian government troops backed by Russian air power moved to within 25 km (15 miles) of an Islamic State-held town in Raqqa province today, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, as state media reported air strikes against the jihadists in the area. In a separate simultaneous campaign against the Islamic State in Syria, US-backed militias captured more territory from the group near the city of Manbij in Aleppo province, said a spokesman for the forces. The Observatory said they were now two km from the Islamic State-held city. The offensives both got underway last week and are targeting the Islamic State in areas of major strategic importance to its foothold in Syria, where it controls swathes of land up to the Iraqi border. They are taking place at the same time as an assault by the Iraqi army against Falluja, an Islamic State bastion close to Baghdad. The simultaneous assaults by a myriad of enemies on farflung fronts amount to some of the greatest pressure Islamic State has faced since declaring its caliphate to rule over all Muslims from Iraq and Syria two years ago. The Syrian army's advance into Raqqa province, which has not been announced by the military, is initially targeting the Islamic State-held town of Tabqa, according to the Observatory and pro-Damascus media sources. Raqqa province is a major base of operations for Islamic State and home to its de facto capital, Raqqa city. Syrian state-run TV station Ikhbariya said that the Syrian air force had targeted Islamic State positions south of Tabqa in the Rasafa area, destroying vehicles equipped with machine guns. The Syrian military could not immediately be reached for comment. A military source said that on Monday the army had advanced to the edge of Raqqa province, from where it could move in several directions against the Islamic State. The Observatory, citing its activists on the ground, said the Islamic State had sent weapons and fighters from Raqqa city to Tabqa. The separate US-backed campaign that got underway last week aims to dislodge the Islamic State from its last foothold at the Syrian-Turkish frontier and shut off its main access route to the outside world for material and manpower. It is being fought on the ground by militias including the Kurdish YPG and allied Arab groups, which together formed an alliance last year known as the Syria Democratic Forces. It has proven to be the first effective fighting force allied to Washington during five years of multi-sided civil war in Syria. Sharfan Darwish, spokesman for the Manbij Military Council that is part of the US-backed force, said: "We are advancing on all fronts of our assault." The United States has consistently rejected the idea of partnering in the fight against the Islamic State with President Bashar al-Assad, saying he should leave power. Some of Assad's opponents have accused the Kurdish YPG of coordinating with his government's forces, which the Kurds deny.

Syrian army, US-backed forces advance separately against IS

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More than 22 killed, 70 wounded in two bombings in Baghdad

More than 22 killed, 70 wounded in two bombings in Baghdad

Global violence worsens, driven by Middle East conflict: peace index

Syrian army, US-backed forces advance separately against IS