ISIL ‘resisting strongly’ in Mosul; U.S. suffers first casualty in battle for terrorists’ stronghold

ISIL ‘resisting strongly’ in Mosul; U.S. suffers first casualty in battle for terrorists’ stronghold

by WorldTribune Staff, October 21, 2016 Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) is using truck bombs, IEDs and snipers to wage a lethal defense of Mosul. “They’re resisting strongly,” Iraqi special forces commander Col. Falah Fadel Jasem said on Oct. 20. “We saw the ISIL snipers and they’re not fleeing. They’re fighting.” The United […]

Member of Saudi royal family is executed for first time since 1975

Member of Saudi royal family is executed for first time since 1975

by WorldTribune Staff, October 20, 2016 A member of the Saudi royal family who was convicted of murder has been executed. Prince Turki bin Saud bin Turki bin Saud Al-Kabeer was executed on Oct. 18, the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement. The last time a member of the Saudi royal family was put […]

Iran launches war games after accusing U.S. of violating nuke deal

Iran launches war games after accusing U.S. of violating nuke deal

by WorldTribune Staff, October 20, 2016 Iran’s air force is conducting war games using American-made planes after accusing the United States of violating last summer’s nuclear agreement. “The goal of holding this drill is the creation of readiness so as to be able to combat any threat, and should a war occur, the Air Force […]

Iran sentences 2 Americans — father and son — to 10 years in prison

Iran sentences 2 Americans — father and son — to 10 years in prison

by WorldTribune Staff, October 19, 2016 An Iranian-American businessman and his elderly father each received 10-year prison sentences from Iran for “spying and cooperating” with the United States. Siamak Namazi and his father, Baquer Namazi, were sentenced by an Iranian court, Iranian media reported on Oct. 18. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained Siamak […]

Egypt partners with Israel to boost fragile economy

Egypt partners with Israel to boost fragile economy

by WorldTribune Staff, October 19, 2016 As aid commitments from its Arab partners lag behind, Egypt is turning to Israel to help steady Cairo’s faltering economy. With only a portion of the financial commitments from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait having been received, Egypt has partnered with Israel on a series of large-scale projects […]

Europe braces for ISIL influx as battle for Mosul looms

Europe braces for ISIL influx as battle for Mosul looms

Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Kurdish forces advance toward Mosul on Oct. 18. The European Union’s security commissioner has warned that the bloc should be prepared for an influx of militants if the Islamic State (IS) group is driven out of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Even a small number […]

For most Libyans, ‘life was better’ under Gadhafi

For most Libyans, ‘life was better’ under Gadhafi

by WorldTribune Staff, October 18, 2016 Many Libyans, frustrated by poor government services, higher prices for almost everything and a country steeped in chaos have grown to miss life under longtime dictator Col. Moammar Gadhafi. Five years after then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton famously exclaimed, “we came, we saw, he died,” residents of the war-torn […]

Iraqi refugee who plotted to bomb shopping malls pleads guilty in Houston

Iraqi refugee who plotted to bomb shopping malls pleads guilty in Houston

by WorldTribune Staff, October 18, 2016 An ISIL-supporting Iraqi refugee living in Houston has pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges for plotting to detonate homemade bombs at Houston-area shopping malls. Omar Faraj Saeed al-Hardan, 24, pleaded guilty in a Houston federal court on Oct. 17. He faces up to 20 years in prison. Hardan entered the […]

Iraqi and allied force of 30,000 begins offensive to retake Mosul

Iraqi and allied force of 30,000 begins offensive to retake Mosul

by WorldTribune Staff, October 17, 2016 A force of 30,000 Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga and Sunni tribal fighters launched an offensive on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). “I announce today the start of the heroic operations to free you from the terror and oppression of Daesh,” Iraqi […]

Turkish-backed rebels advance on symbolic ISIL Syrian town of Dabiq

Turkish-backed rebels advance on symbolic ISIL Syrian town of Dabiq

by WorldTribune Staff, October 17, 2016 Syrian rebels, backed by Turkish planes and tanks, launched an offensive on Oct. 15 to drive Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) out of Dabiq. The town has little military value but holds symbolic importance for ISIL because of a Sunni prophecy that states it will be the […]