ISIL gains territory near Turkish border through which rebel forces have been supplied

ISIL gains territory near Turkish border through which rebel forces have been supplied

by WorldTribune Staff, May 29, 2016 Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has launched its biggest offensive in Syria’s Aleppo province in two years and gained territory from rebel forces near the Turkish border. ISIL captured territory from Syrian rebels on May 28 and inched closer to a town on a supply route for […]

Iran blames Saudis, cancels participation in Hajj pilgrimage

Iran blames Saudis, cancels participation in Hajj pilgrimage

by WorldTribune Staff, May 29, 2016 Amid an ongoing rift with Sunni Saudi Arabia, Shi’ite Iran has decided not to participate in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. “Due to ongoing sabotage by the Saudi government, it is hereby announced that … Iran’s pilgrims have been denied the privilege to attend the Hajj this year, and responsibility […]

‘I condemn it’: Erdogan blasts U.S. assist to Kurdish offensive in Syria

‘I condemn it’: Erdogan blasts U.S. assist to Kurdish offensive in Syria

by WorldTribune Staff, May 29, 2016 Saying “there is no difference” between Syrian Kurdish forces and Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 29 condemned U.S. assistance in the Kurds’ offensive on ISIL’s Syrian stronghold. “The support they give to… the YPG (militia)… I condemn it,” said Erdogan. […]

U.S. Special Forces embed with Kurdish forces, join fight for capital of ISIL’s caliphate

U.S. Special Forces embed with Kurdish forces, join fight for capital of ISIL’s caliphate

by WorldTribune Staff, May 27, 2016 U.S. special operations forces are “present at all positions along the front” and are assisting a Kurdish-Arab coalition “on the ground and in the air,” in the offensive against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in its de facto Syria capital of Raqqa. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) field […]

Catwa, seriously: Saudi cleric bans selfies with cats

Catwa, seriously: Saudi cleric bans selfies with cats

by WorldTribune Staff, May 27, 2016 Sheikh Saleh Bin Fawzan Al-Fazwan is adamant about Saudis not behaving “like Westerners.” Thus, the senior cleric has banned the taking of selfies with kitties. Al-Fazwan issued the order after being told during a television broadcast of a new trend in the kingdom of people posing for pictures with […]

Socialist nightmare: On brink of collapse, Venezuela sells off gold reserves

Socialist nightmare: On brink of collapse, Venezuela sells off gold reserves

by WorldTribune Staff, May 27, 2016 “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.” – Margaret Thatcher As Venezuela sinks further into the economic abyss, the South American country has begun selling off its remaining gold reserves. The country’s gold reserves have dropped almost a third over the past […]

College students in Iran get 99 lashes for attending graduation party at which both sexes were present

College students in Iran get 99 lashes for attending graduation party at which both sexes were present

by WorldTribune Staff, May 27, 2016 A group of Iranian college students who were “dancing and jubilating” at a graduation party that included men and women were arrested and given 99 lashes. Iran’s judiciary said the punishments, believed to be part of a wider crackdown by Teheran’s hard-liners, were meted out in Qazvin, about 90 […]

Turkey not cool with U.S. forces wearing Kurdish insignia for Raqqa offensive

Turkey not cool with U.S. forces wearing Kurdish insignia for Raqqa offensive

by WorldTribune Staff, May 27, 2016 It is not acceptable for U.S. soldiers to wear the insignia of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) when embedded with the Kurdish fighters, a Turkish official said. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said photos showing U.S. special operations forces wearing the YPG insignia on their shoulders during operations against […]

Oil prices over $50 a barrel for first time in 2016

Oil prices over $50 a barrel for first time in 2016

by WorldTribune Staff, May 26, 2016 Ongoing unrest in Nigeria and Libya and the economic meltdown in Venezuela have knocked enough oil out of the market to enable crude to top $50 per barrel for the first time in 2016. Wildfires in Canada’s oil sands also contributed to the nearly 4 million barrels per day […]

UN calls on Hamas to stop planned public executions

UN calls on Hamas to stop planned public executions

by WorldTribune Staff, May 26, 2016 The UN’s Middle East envoy has publicly urged Hamas to halt the public executions of 13 men, most convicted of murder connected to robberies. UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov told the Security Council that public executions are prohibited under international human rights law. “I urge Hamas not to carry out […]