Middle Orient News

French, Iraqi Presidents start Iraq conference with call to fight ISIL

French President Francois Hollande and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Massoum on Monday kicked off a major international conference here with a call to help Iraq and to fight against the extremist group, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In his opening remarks, the French leader recalled the …

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Egypt pledges to join US in fight against ISIS

US secretary of State John Kerry met with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Saturday to discuss regional issues -notably the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) and methods to rally countries to join the broad coalition against the jihadist group. In addition to Egypt, Kerry …

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Obama outlines strategy to destroy Islamic State

On the eve of the thirteenth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks U.S. President Obama announced a raft of measures upping the ante against Islamic State, the militant outfit that now controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria, including airstrikes in Syria and 475 additional personnel to arrive soon in …

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Syria’s opposition backs US plan to tackle Islamic State

Syria’s opposition National Coalition welcomed a US plan to tackle the jihadist Islamic State group, but also urged action against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. In a statement, the group said it backed a US plan for air strikes in Syria and training of rebel forces, but that a “stable and …

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McCain urges India to join fight against Islamic State

U.S. Republican Senator John McCain has urged New Delhi and Washington to extend bilateral cooperation deeper into counterterrorism operations linked to West Asia, citing both al Qaeda boss Ayman al-Zawahiri’s announcement of a new terror ‘wing’ for the Indian subcontinent, and the growing presence of foreign recruits in the ranks …

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Syrian jets launch airstrikes near Lebanese border town

Syrian warplanes launched airstrikes Monday on a Lebanese border town in northeastern the country, targeting hideouts of Syrian anti-government militants, official media reported. Syrian government’s warplanes bombed the town of Arsal, bordering Qalamon, Syria, where a number of opposition Syrian armed men are usually stationed.

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