Battle for Aleppo: Jihadists rally against Syrian and Iranian forces backed by Moscow

Battle for Aleppo: Jihadists rally against Syrian and Iranian forces backed by Moscow

by WorldTribune Staff, August 1, 2016 Jihadists allied with anti-Assad rebels on July 31 launched an attack on Syrian regime forces in an effort to break the siege on Aleppo. Assad’s forces, backed by Iran and Russia, have surrounded rebel-held districts in Aleppo since July 17, cutting the main supply line into rebel-held neighborhoods in […]

ISIL leaders said to flee Mosul with their families ahead of offensive

ISIL leaders said to flee Mosul with their families ahead of offensive

by WorldTribune Staff, August 1, 2016 A number of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant’s (ISIL’s) top leaders in Mosul have escaped the city with their families, Iraq’s defense minister said. “Many Daesh (ISIL) families and leaders in Mosul have sold their property and sneaked out towards Syria, and a segment even tried to sneak […]

Egypt takes out more than 40 jihadists in strike on ISIL Sinai ammunition depot

Egypt takes out more than 40 jihadists in strike on ISIL Sinai ammunition depot

by WorldTribune Staff, August 1, 2016 Egyptian forces struck an Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) ammunition depot in the Sinai Peninsula on July 31, killing more than 40 jihadists. Jet fighters struck the ammunition depot in North Sinai’s Rafah city, a source told Anadolu news agency. “At least 46 militants were killed in […]

Increasingly powerful mosques played key role in quick reaction to attempted coup in Turkey

Increasingly powerful mosques played key role in quick reaction to attempted coup in Turkey

by WorldTribune Staff, July 31, 2016 The powerful imams in Turkey’s 85,000 mosques played a major role in thwarting the attempt to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and in so doing unleashed attacks on Christian places of worship, reports say. After the coup was launched on July 15, the imams echoed Erdogan’s call for Turkey’s […]

U.S. Intel: Turkey’s purge of military has undercut U.S. operations against ISIL

U.S. Intel: Turkey’s purge of military has undercut U.S. operations against ISIL

Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper says Turkey’s purge of military leaders is hurting efforts to defeat the Islamic State militant group. Turkey’s purge of its military after a failed coup attempt is hindering cooperation with U.S. military and intelligence operations against the Islamic State […]

Report: 7,000 Turkish forces surrounded Incirlik air base overnight

Report: 7,000 Turkish forces surrounded Incirlik air base overnight

by WorldTribune Staff, July 31, 2016 Some 7,000 security forces, some in armored vehicles, surrounded Turkey’s Incirlik air base late on July 30 after rumors surfaced of a new coup attempt, a report said. The entrance to the base, which is being used by the U.S.-led coalition to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State of Iraq […]

Libya’s UN-backed government reaches deal to re-open oil terminals

Libya’s UN-backed government reaches deal to re-open oil terminals

by WorldTribune Staff, July 31, 2016 The UN-backed unity government in Libya has reached a deal with the nation’s petroleum guards to re-open four key oil terminals despite opposition from key opposition and military forces headed by Gen. Khalifa Haftar. The combined capacity of the four ports – Sider, Zawiya, Ras Lanuf, and Zueitina – […]

Iraqi ambassador credits Iran for saving nation from ISIL

Iraqi ambassador credits Iran for saving nation from ISIL

by WorldTribune Staff, July 31, 2016 Iran was the key to stopping Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) from conquering Iraq, Baghdad’s ambassador to Teheran said. “Hadn’t it been for the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Iraqi army and the Islamic Republic’s support, Iraq would have fallen by now.” Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Rajeh Saber […]

Demonstrators in Turkey call for closing of key strategic base used for strikes against ISIL

Demonstrators in Turkey call for closing of key strategic base used for strikes against ISIL

by WorldTribune Staff, July 29, 2016 Thousands of protesters rallied to demand the Turkish government close the base used by the United States to conduct airstrikes against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). Protesters, some burning American flags, filled the streets outside the U.S. military base at Incirlik on July 28. The U.S. military […]

ISIL recaptures villages from U.S.-backed forces, executes 24 civilians

ISIL recaptures villages from U.S.-backed forces, executes 24 civilians

by WorldTribune Staff, July 29, 2016 Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) executed at least 24 civilians after regaining control of several villages in northern Syria. ISIL launched a “fierce assault” on July 28 in taking back the villages from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a U.S.-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance, the Syrian Observatory for Human […]