Tag: Daesh

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-Top News Africa News

Daesh claims responsibility for attack on Niger army

Niger’s defense ministry said late on Thursday that 23 soldiers were killed in the attack, which also wounded 17 more. Around 30 attackers were killed, it added…reports Asian Lite News

The Daesh on Saturday claimed responsibility for an attack on Niger’s army that it said had killed 30 soldiers on Wednesday.

The group said in a statement carried by its AMAQ news agency and posted on its Telegram channel that the soldiers were killed in an ambush on a convoy near the town of Teguey in the Tillaberi region in the west of the country.

Niger’s defense ministry said late on Thursday that 23 soldiers were killed in the attack, which also wounded 17 more. Around 30 attackers were killed, it added.

Niger is one of several West African countries battling an Islamist insurgency that has spread outwards from Mali over the past 12 years, killing thousands and uprooting millions of people.

Frustrations over authorities’ failure to protect civilians has spurred military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger since 2020.

The juntas that seized power have cut ties with Western allies assisting local military efforts, kicking out French and other European forces and turning to Russia instead.

Niger’s junta last week revoked with immediate effect a military accord that allows military personnel and civilian staff from the US Department of Defense on its s

ALSO READ-Niger Breaks Off Military Deal With US

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-Top News Afghanistan USA

Taliban seek to prove legitimacy through anti-IS campaign

Taliban splinters--many from group join hardline ISIS-K to support anti-China Uyghur fighters(indianarrative)

The Taliban regime appears to have weakened the group, whose attacks have waned in recent months, reports Asian Lite News

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has intensified its war with the rival Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) terror group, killing several senior leaders and commanders in recent months, the media reported.

Among them, according to the US, was the alleged mastermind of a suicide bombing outside Kabul airport in 2021 that killed some 170 Afghans and 13 American soldiers, RFE/RL reported..

The White House on April 26 announced that the alleged mastermind, whose identity has not been revealed, was killed in a recent Taliban operation.

But it did not say when or where he was killed, RFE/RL reported.

The Taliban has waged a brutal war to eliminate IS-K, the biggest threat to its rule in Afghanistan.

The regime appears to have weakened the group, whose attacks have waned in recent months.

But the Taliban also appears to be trying to use its campaign against IS-K to burnish its counterterrorism credentials and boost its legitimacy in the eyes of the international community, RFE/RL reported.

Under the US-Taliban deal signed in 2020, the militants pledged to prevent any group from using Afghan soil to attack other countries.

The international community, particularly Afghanistan’s neighbours, considers IS-K a significant security threat because of the group’s global ambitions.

Despite its efforts to eliminate IS-K, the Taliban is believed to be sheltering members of Al Qaeda and the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terror groups.

That is likely to temper hopes that the Taliban can be a reliable counterterrorism partner, RFE/RL reported.

On April 14, the Foreign Ministers of China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan said the Taliban has links with some extremist groups based in Afghanistan that “pose a serious threat to regional and global security”.

They include the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, the Baloch Liberation Army, Jundallah, Jaish al-Adl, Jamaat Ansarullah, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, RFE/RL reported.

Recently, the UN Security Council unanimously condemned the Taliban’s ban on Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan and called to “swiftly reverse” a crackdown on the rights of women and girls.

ALSO READ: Neighbours urge Taliban to form inclusive govt

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-Top News Afghanistan Asia News

Taliban deny Pentagon report about Daesh presence in Afghanistan

Suhail Shaheen said that The Washington Post report is not as per the ground realities in Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News

Taliban has denied the media report citing “classified Pentagon assessment” stating that Afghanistan has become a significant coordinate site for the Daesh/ISIS group that plans attacks in Europe and Asia and carries out “aspirational plotting” against the US, TOLO News reported.

The head of the Taliban-led Qatar-based Political Office Suhail Shaheen refuted the report. He said that Daesh has been suppressed in Afghanistan, TOLO News reported. The statement of Suhail Shaheen comes after The Washington Post in its report cited a “classified Pentagon assessment” that demonstrates the threat as a “growing security concern.” Suhail Shaheen said that The Washington Post report is not as per the ground realities in Afghanistan. “The report of The Washington Post is not in accordance with the ground realities in Afghanistan. These reports are made based on their personal wish. The fact is that the Daesh has no physical presence in Afghanistan as it had during the invasion,” TOLO News quoted him as saying.

The attack planning detailed in US intelligence findings revealed that the Discord messaging platforms revealed particular efforts to target embassies, churches, business centres and the FIFA World Cup tournament which had over 2 million spectators in Qatar, TOLO News cited The Washington Post report.

In December, Pentagon officials knew about nine such attacks coordinated by ISIS leaders in Afghanistan and the number increased to 15 by February, The Washington Post reported citing the assessment.

As per the news report, Najibullah Jami, a political analyst, said that there has been no threat in Afghanistan and the neighbouring nations, particularly Central Asia.

“The presence and activity of Daesh inside Afghanistan, which is aiming to reach their final targets–to the neighboring countries and particularly the Central Asia — not only causes instability in Afghanistan but also in neighboring countries,” TOLO News quoted Najeeb Rahman Shamal, political analyst as saying.

Earlier in January, a suicide attack took place outside the Taliban-led Foreign Ministry in Afghanistan’s Kabul. Five people died and several others were injured in the attack, Dawn reported.

Kabul police chief Khalid Zadran said an explosion took place on the road outside the Taliban-led Afghan foreign ministry in which five were killed and a number of others were injured.

Zadran said that the Taliban condemns such an “aimless and cowardly attack on Muslims.” Kabul police chief said, “The perpetrators will be found and punished for their evil deeds.”

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai condemned the explosion, calling it an “act of terrorism, a crime against humanity and an act against all human and Islamic values.”

The United Nations also condemned the attack.”This is just another example of the rising insecurity which is of great concern to us,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. It is “no way to bring any sort of peace to Afghanistan.”

In a statement, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said expressed its condolences to the affected families and said that violence is not part of any solution to bring lasting peace to Afghanistan.

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) tweeted, “UNAMA condemns today’s attack outside Foreign Ministry in Kabul. Reports of numerous casualties, including civilians. Rising insecurity is of grave concern. Violence is not part of any solution to bring lasting peace to #Afghanistan. Our condolences to the families affected.” (ANI)

ALSO READ: Watchdog warns US money could be flowing to Taliban

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-Top News UAE News World News

UAE takes part in coalition meet against Daesh

pic credits@MarocDiplo_AR

The UAE delegation was headed by Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State…reports Asian Lite News

The United Arab Emirates participated in the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition Against Daesh, which was co-chaired by the United States and Italy in Rome today.

The UAE delegation was headed by Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, who delivered the UAE speech, stressing the need to continue working and cooperating to counter the Terrorist Group of Daesh and its extremist ideologies.

Al Marar also emphasised the importance of maintaining the cooperation and progress made in preventing the regrouping of Daesh, continuing joint efforts to counter its terrorist ideologies and to curb its ability to spread in other parts of the world, specially in Africa.

“The UAE believes that joint action is the most effective way to eradicate terrorism and extremism,” he added.

Al Marar concluded by saying that combating terrorism and extremism is consistent with the UAE’s vision for building the future, promoting tolerance and fostering stability, peace and prosperity.

ALSO READ: UAE welcomes ceasefire in Tigray

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-Top News Defence UK News

UK aircraft carrier joins fight against Daesh

For the task group, which has spent previous weeks in the Mediterranean working with NATO allies and partners, it marks a change of emphasis…reports Asian Lite News.

The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has launched its first direct military operation against Daesh as part of its first deployment after UK has shifted its focus to Indo-Pacific.

Stealth jets of the 617 Squadron RAF – The Dambusters – carried out operational sorties for the first time from the new carrier in support of Operation Shader and US Operation Inherent Resolve.

British and American F-35B Stealth jets took off from the decks to strike the terror group’s positions in Syria and Iraq, the Arab News reported.

There are 18 UK and US F35B jets on board HMS Queen Elizabeth, which is the largest number to ever sail the seas. The aircraft are next generation multi-role combat aircraft equipped with advanced sensors, mission systems and stealth technology.

Defence officials said several Daesh positions were destroyed, according to the Arab News report.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the Carrier Strike Group is “a physical embodiment of Global Britain and a show of international military strength that will deter anyone who seeks to undermine global security.”

“The ability to operate from the sea with the most advanced fighter jets ever created is a significant moment in our history, offering reassurance to our allies and demonstrating the UK’s formidable air power to our adversaries,” Wallace said.

For the task group, which has spent previous weeks in the Mediterranean working with NATO allies and partners, it marks a change of emphasis.

From exercises and international engagements, the Carrier Strike Group is now contributing to the UK’s fight against Daesh – Operation Shader, which forms part of the Global Collation against Daesh.

Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, said the carrier’s first missions against Daesh will be remembered as a significant moment in the 50-year lifespan of the ship.

“It also marks a new phase of our current deployment. To date we have delivered diplomatic influence on behalf of the UK through a series of exercises and engagements with our partners – now we are ready to deliver the hard punch of maritime-based air power against a shared enemy,” he said.

CSG21, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, is the largest concentration of maritime and air power to leave the UK in a generation and this is its first operational deployment, which is joint between the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

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