NIAMEY: Unidentified gunmen have killed 16 soldiers in an attack on a military camp in western Niger, local residents and security sources said on Tuesday (Jul 2).The raid occurred on Monday afternoon near the town of Inates, close to the border with Mali, where Islamist militants are active, and in the same region where an ambush by Islamic State's West African branch killed 28 soldiers in May.Niger plans to host the African Union summit from Jul 6 to Jul 9 less than 200 km away in the capital Niamey. In the run-up, the European Union has been training Nigerien forces to respond to militant attacks.Zakari Insa, the brother of one of the soldiers killed in Monday's attack, and Souley Marou, a local villager, both said 16 soldiers had died.Two security sources confirmed the death toll, and one of them said about a dozen vehicles had been stolen. Jihadists have previously launched attacks using vehicles stolen in previous raids.An army spokesman could not immediately … [Read more...] about Gunmen kill 16 in attack on Niger military camp
Foiled attack on mecca
Philippine army says attack on base likely a suicide bombing
MANILA: A bomb attack that killed eight people at a military base in the southern Philippines was likely a suicide bombing, the army said on Saturday (Jun 29), another blow to government efforts to rein in militants inspired by Islamic State.Prime suspects in Friday's attack on Jolo island was the Abu Sayyaf, a militant group that President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to crush after decades of banditry and kidnapping, and countless attacks on civilian and military targets.Radical factions of Abu Sayyaf have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which via its Amaq news agency, claimed responsibility for the Friday attack, saying its fighters had infiltrated the base.It posted a photograph of two young men next to a black flag and wearing vests designed to hold explosives."Our main suspect is Abu Sayyaf. They are the only one with motive to sow terror," said Gerald Monfort, spokesman of Joint Task Force Sulu."We recovered parts like head, feet. Both of them are male. We still don't know if … [Read more...] about Philippine army says attack on base likely a suicide bombing
38 killed in attacks on Mali villages
BAMAKO: Thirty-eight people were killed and many others wounded in attacks on two ethnic Dogon villages in central Mali, the government said Tuesday, in the latest in a cycle of violence in the volatile Sahel country. No group immediately claimed responsibility for Monday’s attacks but Mali has seen a spate of massacres this year between ethnic Dogon and Fulani communities. “The terrorist attacks on Monday evening targeted the villages of Gangafani and Yoro, not far from the border with Burkina Faso. The official provisional toll is 38 dead and numerous people wounded,“ the Malian government said in a statement. “Defence and security forces have been dispatched to the location to protect the population and their property and to track down the assailants of these attacks,“ the statement added, revising upwards an earlier toll of 14 dead. Goundjou Poudiougou, a local community official, said around a dozen bodies had been counted in both villages. … [Read more...] about 38 killed in attacks on Mali villages
Saudi, UAE slam Doha for ‘backtracking’ on Mecca talks
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia criticised Qatar on Monday for rejecting the outcome of recent Mecca talks on regional tensions with Iran, while the UAE accused Doha of “backtracking” on the summits’ conclusions. Doha, which attended the three meetings in the holy city, said on Sunday it rejected the outcomes as it had not been properly consulted. Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, fired back. “Countries ... during summits announce their positions and reservations in the meetings according to customs and not after the meetings,“ he said on Twitter. Saudi Arabia hosted the three summits over the weekend critical of Iran after King Salman warned that “terrorist” attacks in the Gulf region could imperil global energy supplies. Riyadh convened the crisis meetings after recent attacks on oil infrastructure and regional shipping, incidents which Tehran has denied any involvement in. Qatar’s foreign minister said … [Read more...] about Saudi, UAE slam Doha for ‘backtracking’ on Mecca talks
Four dead in new attack on Burkina Faso Christians
OUAGADOUGOU: Four people were killed on Sunday (Msay 26) at a Catholic church in northern Burkina Faso in the latest in a series of attacks on Christian targets in the region, according to a bishop in the region and a security source."The Christian community of Toulfe was the target of a terrorist attack which gathered for Sunday prayers. The attack left four of the faithful dead," the Bishop of Ouahigouya, Justin Kientega, said in a statement.Earlier a security source has said three people were killed in the attack."Heavily armed individuals attacked the church ... as the faithful were celebrating Sunday mass" in the town of Toulfe, the source had said.A local resident contacted by phone by AFP said the attack "caused panic in the village and many residents sought to seek cover in their homes or in the bush."Last week gunmen killed four Catholics in a religious procession, the day after a priest and five parishioners were murdered at mass.Also this month, French special forces freed … [Read more...] about Four dead in new attack on Burkina Faso Christians