SYDNEY — Counterterrorism raids in Sydney on Thursday were sparked by security intelligence that the Islamic State movement was planning a random, violent attack in Australia as a demonstration of its reach, the prime minister said. Australian police detained 15 people and raided more than a dozen properties across Sydney in the country's largest counterterrorism operation, saying intelligence indicated an attack was being planned on Australian soil. Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he had been briefed on Wednesday night about the operation that was prompted by information that an Islamic State movement leader in the Middle East was calling on Australian supporters to kill. Abbott was asked about reports that the people detain...
September 18, 2014 at 10:55 am | News Desk
Tammy Swofford The truncated analysis offered below is based on documents and images released by the Islamic State. The thoughts are my own. My work is in the category of unfunded independent research. Welcome to the intellectual battle space. The Islamic State will continue to aggressively seek expansion of physical boundaries and acquisition of quality military hardware. The doctrine which is driving the foot soldiers is one of conquest and not of governance. Human beings are the pawns on the geopolitical chessboard, and as such, merely represent a “service industry” to meet the needs of the military men of the Islamic State. Professional standing armies provide needed goods and services of their military branches via th...
September 18, 2014 at 3:26 am | News Desk
NEW YORK: A latest survey has revealed that half of the US citizens feel that their country has been insecure since 9/11 attacks. A similar survey conducted last year said 28 % of Americans declared the country unprotected. The US forces withdrawal would be started this year however most of the Americans thought that US should continue the war because its end could endanger national security of the country. After two journalists beheading by IS in Iraq around the 13th anniversary of 9/11 the Americans reservations have heightened up.
September 17, 2014 at 10:21 am | News Desk
LONDON (AFP): British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday there was “no question” of British troops being sent back to Iraq to help battle Islamic militants who have seized control of key cities. Hague said while the situation was of great concern, the government was “not countenancing at this stage any British military involvement” He said he believed Iraq had sufficient forces to counter the threat. A US official said the United States “stands ready” to help Iraq, but made no mention of sending troops. Having overrun Iraq’s second city of Mosul in a spectacular assault this week, militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) seized the city of Tikrit on Wednesday. Iraqi Prime Minister...
June 12, 2014 at 10:00 am | News Desk
BEIRUT (AFP): Western countries that back the revolt in Syria have started to shift position on the conflict because of the danger posed to them by militants, according to President Bashar al-Assad. “The United States and the West have started to send signs of change. Terrorism is now on their soil,” said Assad, according to remarks published in a Lebanese newspaper that backs the Damascus regime. “An American blew himself up on Syrian soil, while a Frenchman (of Algerian origin) killed Jews… in Brussels,” said Assad, according to Al-Akhbar newspaper. A 29-year-old Frenchman of Algerian origin who spent more than a year fighting in Syria is being held in custody on suspicion of a May 24 shooting that killed four people in...
June 12, 2014 at 10:00 am | News Desk