U.S. bombs Syrian army position
A Syrian army officer was killed in a US strike on a Syrian army outpost near a US base close to the Iraqi-Syrian border, a commander in the regional alliance supporting President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters.
Iraq
Only 10 Christian Refugees From Iraq and Syria Admitted to US in 2018; Evangelicals Respond
As the Trump administration has promised to help Christians and other religious minorities who faced genocide at the hands of the Islamic State, the U.S. government has resettled only 10 Christian refugees from Iraq and Syria since the beginning of 2018.
Syria says US-led strike hits troops in east, US denies
Syrian state media reported Monday that an airstrike against pro-government forces in the far east of the country caused casualties, while Iraqi officials said 20 Shiite paramilitaries were killed just across the border.
Turkey says its air strikes kill 26 Kurdish militants in northern Iraq
The Turkish military said on Friday air strikes its forces carried out killed 26 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq’s Qandil mountain region on June 12, the state-run news agency Anadolu reported.
Pence Vows Trump Admin Is Aiding Middle East Christians, Fighting Bureaucratic Delays
Vice President Mike Pence assured conservative Christian activists and donors Saturday night that the Trump administration is still following through on its promise to provide direct assistance to Iraqi and Syrian Christians despite complaints that some religious minorities groups have not seen the promised aid.
Turkey says it may attack Kurdish rebel stronghold in Iraq
Turkey has threatened to attack Iraq’s Qandil region, where outlawed Kurdish rebels maintain their headquarters.
U.S. airstrikes targeting Islamic State surge 300 percent
American warplanes are working overtime against Islamic State targets in Syria, with the number of combat sorties in May against the terror group surging over 300 percent compared to recent months, says new airstrike figures released by command officials Friday.
U.S. warplanes take out ISIS sleeper cell in Iraq
U.S. and allied warplanes destroyed an Islamic State sleeper cell near the terror group’s former stronghold of Mosul Tuesday, ending with roughly 12 jihadists dead, military officials in Baghdad say.
Five ISIS Leaders Caught After Three Month Long Intelligence Operation
At least five senior Islamic State officials have been captured in a three-month operation by Iraqi and American intelligence that involved phone apps and the breaking of secret bank accounts and communication codes, according to news reports.
Facebook accused of introducing extremists to one another through ‘suggested friends’ feature
Facebook has helped introduce thousands of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) extremists to one another, via its ‘suggested friends’ feature, it can be revealed.
Rise in Migrants from ISIS-Infested Muslim Country Trying to Enter U.S. Via Mexico
An alarming number of migrants from a south Asian Islamic country that’s well known as a terrorism hotbed are trying to enter the United States through the Mexican border in Texas, according to government figures obtained by Judicial Watch.
US-backed forces returning to the ISIS fight in Syria
U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters are beginning to return to the front lines of the fight against the Islamic State in eastern Syria, now that Turkey’s offensive against the Kurds in the west has eased, a U.S. military spokesman said.
Biggest Naval force since Iraq on course for Syria
An armada of 12 warships — the largest US strike force since the 2003 Iraq war – is steaming toward the Middle East as President Trump mulls an attack on Syria in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack on civilians, according to a report.
44 Dems, Including Wasserman Schultz, Exempted Pakistani IT Aides From Background Checks
Every one of the 44 House Democrats who hired Pakistan-born IT aides who later allegedly made ‘unauthorized access’ to congressional data appears to have chosen to exempt them from background checks, according to congressional documents.
Report: Israeli stealth fighters fly over Iran
Two Israeli F-35 fighter jets entered Iranian airspace over the past month, Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported on Thursday. The act is a signal of heightened regional tensions, especially in light of recent Israeli military attacks in Syria, including against Iranian bases in the country.
Christian Family Stabbed at Home by Armed Group in Baghdad
International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on March 9, 2018, a Christian family of three living in Baghdad was found dead in their home. An investigation showed that they had been stabbed to death the previous day by an armed group and their valuables were stolen. The victims are Dr. Hisham Shafiq al-Maskuni, his wife Shaza Malik, and his elderly mother Khairiya Dawood.
U.S. sharpens focus on ISIS in Asia and Africa
U.S. officials expanded their targeting of the Islamic State beyond its Mideast stomping grounds Tuesday by adding three of the groups’ far-flung affiliates — in the Philippines, Bangladesh and West Africa — to the State Department’s ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorists’ list.
Russia knocks Iran over vow to destroy Israel
Russia admonished Tehran on Monday for calls by Iranian leaders to destroy Israel, marking rare criticism of Moscow’s ally in the Syrian civil war.
Islamic State kills 27 Iraqi security personnel in Kirkuk
Islamic State militants ambushed a convoy and killed at least 27 Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces fighters in Iraq, the militia said.
Open Doors Has Rebuilt 678 Homes in a Christian Community That Were Destroyed By ISIS
The organization Open Doors has announced that they have joined with partners in Iraq to restore almost 700 homes destroyed after ISIS rose to power in the Nineveh Plains. Many local Christians fled their communities when the radical Islamic group took over large portions of Iraq and Syria, abandoning their homes — many of which were ransacked, fell into disrepair or destroyed.