Sunday

October 18, 2015

Armed conflicts and attacks

Israeli–Palestinian conflict (2015)

The Israeli military evacuated dozens of Jewish worshippers who were surrounded by Palestinians after entering Joseph's Tomb compound in Nablus, which was recently torched by Palestinians. The area is under full Palestinian control but Jewish prayer is permitted there when coordinated with authorities. The military said Sunday's visit was not, and the worshippers had no permit. (AP), (New Delhi Television)

John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State announces Sunday that he will meet in Germany with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of increased violence between Palestinians and Israelis. (NBC)

Turkey–ISIL conflict

Turkish police conduct pre-dawn raids on 17 locations in Istanbul and detain some 50 people suspected of being linked to the Islamic State group, according to Turkey's state-run news agency. (AP)

2015 PKK rebellion

Two Turkish soldiers are killed after a roadside bomb hit their vehicle in the eastern Tunceli Province. (Reuters)

Syrian Civil War

Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War

A suspected Russian airstrike is said to have killed dozens of members of one family in Homs, Syria. (Al Jazeera)

American-led intervention in Syria, War on Terror

U.S. Military officials announce that a military airstrike in northwest Syria killed a financial manager and leader of an al Qaeda network. Sanafi al-Nasr, of Saudi Arabia, was said to have been plotting terror attacks against the West. (The New York Times)

Arts and culture

As part of the weekend celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops, during the 3-week-long Ordinary General Synod on the Family, Pope Francis canonizes the parents of the Doctor of the Church, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus of Lisieux, France (Saints Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin Martin, 1823–1894 and 1831–1877, respectively), the first married Catholic parents to be canonized at the same time. He also canonizes the religious superior general Saint María de la Purísima Salvat Romero (Mary of the Immaculate Conception), 1926–1998, and the diocesan priest and founder of a religious institute, Saint Vincenzo Grossi, 1845–1917. (The Vatican), (AP via C TV), (Voice of America)