Thursday

October 1, 2015

Armed conflicts and attacks

Chinese authorities arrest a suspect in yesterday's 17 Liucheng County mail bomb explosions that killed at least seven people and wounded more than 50. The suspect is identified as 33-year-old quarry-worker, Wei Yinyong, from Dapu township also in Guangxi Province. There is another explosion this morning. While it's not clear if it is connected, authorities reportedly located 60 packages yesterday which were being examined by a bomb squad. (The New York Times), (Asia One), (Voice of America), (Al Arabiya)

An Israeli couple are murdered in a shooting attack on their car in the northern West Bank; four of the couple's children are in the vehicle at the time but are not hit by the gunfire. Hamas praises the "heroic attack" and calls for "more high-quality attacks." (The Times of Israel), (Israel National News), (Breaking Israel News), (VOA News)

Gaza–Israel conflict

In retaliation for the rocket fired on the Israeli city of Ashdod, the Israeli Air Force carries out airstrikes on suspected Hamas positions in Gaza. No casualties are reported. (The News Hub)

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

Taliban forces take over the Warduj District of the Badakhshan Province as government forces retreat. (WVTM)

A C-130J transport aircraft crashes in eastern Afghanistan as it approaches the airport in Jalalabad killing at least 11 people on board. A U.S. military spokesman says there were no reports of enemy fire at the time. (Al Jazeera), (ABC News), (Reuters)

Battle of Kunduz

The government of Afghanistan claims to have recaptured the city of Kunduz. (AFP via ABC News Australia)

Syrian Civil War

Russian intervention in the Syrian Civil War

Russian air-strikes reportedly kill U.S.-backed Syrian rebels as Russian jets bomb rebel positions in rural areas of northern Syria, including the town of Jisr al-Shughour, which is currently held by Islamist militant groups including Al-Qaeda's branch in Syria, the Al-Nusra Front. (The Telegraph)

Hezbollah fighters and newly arrived Iranian troops are reportedly preparing for a 'major ground offensive' in northern Syria, backed by Russian air-strikes. (Reuters)

Iraq's prime minister Haider al-Abadi endorses Russian air-strikes against ISIS forces in Iraq while expressing 'disappointment' with the U.S.-led coalition. (Times Live)

Turkey–PKK conflict

2015 PKK rebellion

Four Turkish soldiers are killed in PKK attacks across southeastern Turkey. Turkish authorities impose a curfew in the city of Mardin due to escalating violence. (Today's Zaman)

2015 Umpqua Community College shooting

A mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon kills nine people and leaves seven wounded. The shooter commits suicide when confronted by the police. The man's motives are unknown. (Reuters), (CNN), (BBC News), (Reuters)

The shooter is identified as 26-year-old Chris Harper-Mercer. (CBS News), (Palm Beach Post)

Yemeni Civil War

Government forces and the Southern Resistance backed by coalition forces wrest control of the strategic strait of Bab Al Mandab and a small Mayoun Island in the Red Sea from Houthi militants. (AP via Fox News) (Gulf News), (Al Jazeera)

Boko Haram insurgency

Five girl bombers attack the Nigerian city of Maiduguri with at least 14 people, including the girls, killed and 39 injured. (BBC)

Business and economy

The UAW at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reject a four-year contract, setting the stage for at least localized strikes against the automaker.(Reuters)