Islamic State

Suicide attacks kill at least 12 Iraqi troops near Ramadi

The suicide bombers rammed explosives-laden Humvees into forces deployed outside of the University of Ramadi complex, two Iraqi officials told The Associated Press.

The officials — one with the Iraqi army, the other with the country's elite counterterrorism forces — also said that eight Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the bombing.

Shortly afterward, clashes erupted southwest of Ramadi, killing one soldier and wounding eight others, the officials said, while 14 militants were also killed.

NATO proclaims 'strong solidarity' with Turkey against IS

     

"The security of the alliance is indivisible," ambassadors from all 28 NATO nations declared in a joint statement after the meeting, which had been called to assess the threat posed by the Islamic State extremist group and the Turkish response.

They condemned recent terror attacks in Turkey, and called terrorism "a global threat that knows no border, nationality, or religion — a challenge that the international community must fight and tackle together."

Turkish jets strike Kurds in Iraq, Islamic State in Syria

The strikes in Iraq targeted the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, whose affiliates have been effective in battling the Islamic State group. 

The strikes further complicate the U.S.-led war against the extremists, which has relied on Kurdish ground forces making gains in Iraq and Syria.

AP sources: Turkey allows US to use key base to strike IS

That's according to two Obama administration officials who weren't authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity.

The U.S. has been seeking permission for months for the U.S.-led coalition to use Incirlik as a launching pad. Turkey had been resistant to the idea amid domestic opposition. But in recent days, Turkey has been hit by a surge of violence blamed on IS-linked militants.

Official: Suspected IS militants kill Turkish soldier

Suleyman Tapsiz, the governor for the Kilis province said the border outpost was attacked from a region under IS control. Turkish troops retaliated to the attack and at least one IS militant was killed.

"Unfortunately one of our non-commissioned officers was martyred from the initial fire while two of our sergeants were wounded," Tapsiz said. He said the two were not in serious condition.

VIDEO: US Defense Secretary visits air base

However "We don't know how long it will take," he added, speaking at a coalition airbase in an undisclosed location as part of his Middle East trip.

His brief visit comes a week after Western powers and Iran reached a deal on the Iranian nuclear programme.

Carter said that while "friends can disagree," the US will continue to work with Israel to counter threats posed from Iran and Islamic State group militants.

In an IS training camp, children told: Behead the doll

First, they had to practice technique. The more than 120 boys were each given a doll and a sword and told, cut off its head.

A 14-year-old who was among the boys, all abducted from Iraq's Yazidi religious minority, said he couldn't cut it right. He chopped once, twice, three times.

Iraq restructures Diyala police after Islamic State bombing

The officials say the police chief in Khan Beni Saad and three officers have been fired in the wake of the attack on a crowded market as residents began to mark the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. They say two other officers are being investigated. 

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorized to talk to journalists.

Anger in Iraq after suicide attack on marketplace kills 115

The mostly-Shiite victims were gathered to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ended Friday for Iraqi Shiites and a day earlier for Iraqi Sunni Muslims.

NATO unveils plan for biggest exercise in 13 years

Officials said Wednesday that the exercise, named Trident Juncture, has been planned for years, but is being tweaked to test NATO's ability to respond to new security threats like those highlighted by Russia's takeover of Crimea and the spread of radical groups like Islamic State in the Mideast and North Africa.

It will take place in October and November in Italy, Spain and Portugal, and the adjacent waters and airspace.