Tuesday

October 20, 2015

Armed conflicts and attacks

Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017), American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–2021)

Israeli–Palestinian conflict (2015)

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, during a surprise visit to Jerusalem today, calls for calm ahead of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an effort to bring an end to the month-long wave of violence. (CNN) (Time)

Syrian Civil War

Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War

Russian airstrikes in Syria’s coastal Latakia province have killed a top FSA commander, Basil Zamo, and several other rebel fighters. (Reuters)

At least three Russian troops fighting alongside the Syrian Army are reportedly killed after a shell hit their position in the coastal province of Latakia. If confirmed, the deaths would be the first Russian military casualties since intervening in the civil war in September. (Reuters)

Second Libyan Civil War

Warplanes of unidentified origin carry out airstrikes on ISIS camps in the Libyan city of Sirte. (The Daily Star)

Military intervention against ISIL

The U.S. deploys around a dozen A-10 ground-attack planes to Turkey's southern Incirlik Air Base. A U.S. military official said the deployment had "added capability" to the coalition's efforts against ISIL in Iraq and Syria. (AFP via Yahoo)

Canada's prime-minister elect Justin Trudeau informs U.S. President Barack Obama that Canada will be withdrawing fighter jets from both Iraq and Syria, effectively ending Canada's military participation in the war on the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. (AFP via Yahoo)

War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)

The Taliban kill 22 policemen and kidnap 19 others, including the district’s security chief, during clashes with Afghan troops who kill 12 of the insurgents in the battle in Faryab Province in northern Afghanistan. (New York Times) (Latin American Herald Tribune)

Taliban forces advance on Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, amid fierce fighting with government forces that threatens to cut off a major highway and has prompted many families to flee. (Reuters)

Arts and culture

Former BBC journalist Jacky Sutton is found hanged in a restroom at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport. Of late, she was the acting director of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. (BBC)

Oslo's city council announces plans to ban cars from the Norwegian capital's central city by 2019. (Reuters) (Christian Science Monitor)