Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said April 30 that his intelligence agency had killed Islamic State Leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi the previous day in a joint operation with local police in Syria. [node:read-more:link]
An Iranian court has sent 10 Revolutionary Guards members, including their unit commander, to prison over the January 2020 downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752. The Boeing 787-300 with 176 crew and passengers had just taken off from Tehran on a scheduled flight to Kyiv when it was struck by two air defence missiles. [node:read-more:link]
U.S. Central Command says its forces captured key Islamic State operatives in a late-night April 8 raid in eastern Syria last week, a move USCC says “will disrupt the organization’s ability to plot and carry out operations.”The raid scooped up Hudayfah al Yemeni, the terrorist organization’s attack facilitator, and two associates. [node:read-more:link]
Myanmar’s military leaders, who toppled the civilian government in a February 2021 coup, were criticized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations today after air attacks killed more than 100 civilian. However, the 10-nation bloc, which is pushing diplomatic efforts to end Myanmar’s conflict, has a policy of staying out of members’ sovereign affairs. [node:read-more:link]
A video purportedly showing Russian troops beheading a Ukrainian captive with a knife has prompted Ukraine to liken its invaders to Islamic State terrorists and call for an International Criminal Court investigation. The Kremlin called the images “awful” but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today that “there is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill.” [node:read-more:link]
As Canada and dozens of other countries wrestle with repatriation of Islamic State fighters, family members and refugees from camps and prisons in Syria, there are concerns that the slow progress increases the risk of an IS resurgence. The head of U.S Central Command, General Michael Kurilla, has called one camp housing more than 50,000, mainly women and children, a “flashpoint of human suffering” that could foster a resurgence. [node:read-more:link]
Without elaborating or providing evidence, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed April 5 that western intelligence agencies have helped Ukraine to carry out attacks in Russia. “There are reasons to believe that the capabilities of third countries […] have been involved in preparation of acts of sabotage and terror attacks,” he said during a call with members of his Security Council. [node:read-more:link]
A Russian woman arrested shortly after pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky was killed by a bomb in St. Petersburg April 2 has been charged with terrorism. Russian officials say Darya Trepova, 26, was remanded in custody today by a court in Moscow. [node:read-more:link]
A prominent Russian military blogger, Vladlen Tatarsky, whose real name was Maxim Fomin, was killed and at least 25 persons were injured April 2 by a bomb at a public event in St. Petersburg. Kremlin officials immediately blamed Ukraine but authorities said today that they had arrested a 26-year-old woman who had protested against the war in Ukraine. [node:read-more:link]
Defence Minister Anita Anand announced March 27 that Canada’s Operation Impact in the Middle will continue until 2025 but that the mission is being downsized. The decision enables Canada to continue supporting regional partners’ counterterrorism efforts because, Anand said, “when I visited them in December, I saw directly how their presence makes a difference.” [node:read-more:link]
The Hungarian parliament today voted 182-6 to approve Finland’s bid to join NATO. However, Sweden’s bid remains up in the air as Hungary awaits clarification on lingering disagreements before another vote. Turkey also objects to Sweden’s bid, saying it is too soft on expatriates it deems to be terrorists. [node:read-more:link]
A 41-year-old Australian special forces veteran was remanded in custody today on a murder charge resulting from the alleged death of a civilian while deployed to Afghanistan. The first of its kind in Australia, the arrest follows a four-year inquiry which resulted in recommendations that 19 operators be investigated over 36 alleged war crimes between 2005 and 2016 [node:read-more:link]
Finland moved a step closer to NATO membership today Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his parliament would ratify the application. Finland and Sweden applied 10 months ago but Turkey balked, accusing both of being too soft on political opponents it considered terrorist organizations and it still has reservations about Sweden. [node:read-more:link]
Five years after Canada contracted with South Carolina-based Jankel Tactical Systems to buy 76 armoured Toyota Land Cruisers for its diplomatic missions at a unit cost of $261,622, less than half have been delivered. The Public Services & Procurement and Global Affairs departments are saying only that they are “working with the supplier […] to schedule delivery of vehicles as needed.” [node:read-more:link]
Captured NATO weapons and equipment left on the Ukrainian battlefield are reportedly being sent to Iran by Russia for potential reverse-engineering as a possible incentive for Iran’s support for Russia’s invasion. They evidently include Javelin anti-tank and Stinger anti-aircraft systems abandoned by retreating Ukrainian forces. [node:read-more:link]
