Friday

October 9, 2015

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian Civil War

Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016)

Iranian state television says Revolutionary Guard brigadier general, Hossein Hamadani, has been killed on the outskirts of Syria's Aleppo by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militants. This is the latest in a string of high-ranking Iranian commanders killed in Iraq and Syria in the last six months. (Independent)

Islamic State militants launch an offensive north of Aleppo, seizing several rebel-held villages, as well as the strategic former Syrian Army base known as the 'Infantry Academy'. (AP via The Washington Times)

United Nations condemns the killing of Anadolu Agency Turkish photojournalist Saleh Mahmoud Laila in Thursday's ISIS suicide attack at a marketplace in Huraytan, north of Aleppo. (Daily Sabah) (Novinite)

Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War

United States suspends its 500 million dollar Syrian rebel training program. The new strategy will shift toward supplying military aid "to a select group of vetted leaders and their units so that over time they can make a concerted push into territory still controlled by ISIL," a U.S. official said. (CNN) (ABC News)

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Hamas' leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, declares an "Intifada" against Israel in the West Bank and says, "Gaza will fulfil its role in the Jerusalem intifada and it is more than ready for confrontation" with Israel. Over 20 stabbing attacks have happened in the last 24 hours in Israel. (The Telegraph) (The Guardian)

An Israeli stabs and injures two Bedouin Arabs and two Palestinians in the southern city of Dimona. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "strongly condemned the harming of innocent Arabs." (Washington Post)

Israel Defense Forces kill six Palestinian protesters and wound 60 at the Gaza Strip border, according to Gaza medics. The protesters attempted to destroy the "border" fence between Gaza and Israel and IDF soldiers "responded with fire on the main instigators in order to prevent them progressing and to disperse the riot," according to the IDF. (Reuters) (CNN)

Riyad Mansour, Palestinian ambassador to the UN, urges Security Council President Román Oyarzun to hold an emergency meeting on the latest tensions with Israel. (AP via WHDH TV)

Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)

Iraqi police officials say at least 35 people have been killed following a mortar bombardment of villages near the eastern city of Baqubah, capital of the Diyala Governorate. Officials did not speculate on who may be responsible for the attack, however the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks in the volatile province. (AP via ABC News)

Disasters and accidents

2015 Mina stampede

A new tally by the Associated Press places the death count from the Mina stampede at 1,453 killed making it the deadliest disaster ever to occur during the Hajj. (AP via MSN)

2015 Guatemala landslide

The death toll from the landslides in Guatemala rises to 253 with 374 people still missing. (Reuters via Melbourne Age)