Month: October 2015

Russia taking measures against potential terror attacks after Syria bombing raids – Peskov

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From RT
October 1, 2015

Russian special services are working tirelessly to prevent potential terrorist attacks by extremists in retaliation to Moscow’s operation in Syria, Dmitry Peskov, presidential press secretary, has said.

Peskov noted the situation was similar to other places in the world – in all nations special services are constantly taking steps to counter terrorism in all of its manifestations. In Russia, this task is being fulfilled by the Federal Security Service and the National Anti-Terror Committee, he said.

The Russian Air Force mounted several strikes on terrorist positions in Syria on Wednesday, soon after the country’s upper house unanimously voted to endorse President Putin’s request to use the nation’s military in Syria to fight terrorism. The head of the presidential administration Sergey Ivanov emphasized that Russia would not be involved in any ground operation – aid would only be in the form of airstrikes.

READ MORE: 8 ISIS targets hit during 20 combat flights in Syria – Russian military

In press comments on Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin called the operation in Syria “preemptive strikes against terrorists” adding that the use of military forces abroad had been prompted by the fact that a relatively large number of Russian citizens had joined the terrorist groups in Syria, and these people could potentially pose a threat to Russia’s national security. The president said that extremists must all be defeated in the Middle East and not allowed to return to their home countries.

In late February, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Aleksandr Bortnikov, urged deeper professional cooperation between special services in their common fight against the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, previously known as ISIL and ISIS). He noted that Russia was especially interested in cooperation with the United States in the common fight against IS and added that the existing intelligence exchange was already helping to achieve positive results.

READ MORE: FSB chief urges international campaign to discredit ISIS ideology and leaders

http://www.rt.com/politics/317181-russia-taking-measures-against-potential/

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Russian Air Force destroys terrorist command center in Raqqa – Defense Ministry

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From RT

A surgical airstrike by Russian fighter jets has knocked out the battle headquarters of a jihadist group near Raqqa, according to Russian Defense Ministry. Operating from the Khmeimim airbase, the Russian Air Force continues to inflict pinpoint strikes on Islamic State installations.

“Over the past 24 hours, Sukhoi Su-34 and Su-24M fighter jets have performed 20 sorties and hit nine Islamic State installations,” Igor Konashenkov, Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, reported.

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Konashenkov added that yesterday evening Russian aircraft went on six sorties, inflicting strikes on three terrorist installations.

“A bunker-busting BETAB-500 air bomb dropped from a Sukhoi Su-34 bomber near Raqqa has eliminated the command post of one of the terror groups, together with an underground storage facility for explosives and munitions,” the spokesman said.

Commenting on the video filmed by a Russian UAV monitoring the assault near Raqqa, Konashenkov noted, “a powerful explosion inside the bunker indicates it was also used for storing a large quantity of munitions.

“As you can see, a direct hit on the installation resulted in the detonation of explosives and multiple fires. It was completely demolished,” the spokesman said.

Another bomber on a sortie from Khmeimim has dropped a KAB-500 air bomb on an Islamic State camp near Maarrat al-Numan. It destroyed fortifications, ammunition, fuel and seven units of equipment, Konashenkov said at a media briefing on Saturday.

The Russian Air Force has also eliminated a workshop in Idlib province, where terrorists have been mounting large-caliber machine-guns and other heavy armaments on pickup trucks.

Assault aircraft from at Khmeimim airbase have also inflicted airstrikes against terrorist forces near Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib province, destroying vehicle storage depots used for organizing terror attacks.

Regarding the airstrike on a target near Jisr al-Shughur, Igor Konashenkov pointed out, “footage of a huge pillar of smoke indicates a direct hit resulted in the total elimination of the facility.”

http://www.rt.com/news/317505-air-force-terrorists-raqqa/

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Suspected US airstrike hits Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan; at least 9 staff and 8 patients dead

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From RT
http://www.rt.com/news/317482-afghanistan-kunduz-msf-hospital/

“We are deeply shocked by the attack, the killing of our staff and patients and the heavy toll it has inflicted on healthcare in Kunduz,” Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)  said in a statement.

30 people unaccounted for after attack.

Director of operations: “We are deeply shocked by the attack.”

Building hit several times, severely damaged.

Hospital is the only one of its kind in the region

A hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz has been hit and partially destroyed in an overnight “aerial attack” that killed at least three Medecins Sans Frontieres staff. NATO has admitted a US airstrike may have caused accidental “collateral damage.”

03 October 2015

09:17 GMT

MSF UK Press Office @MSF_Press

condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific bombing of its hospital in , which was full of staff and patients

  • 09:17 GMT

    MSF medical staff are continuing their work, performing emergency surgery on the wounded.

    View image on Twitter

    Saima Mohsin

    ✔ @SaimaMohsin

    True heroes MT @MSF_Press: Surgery underway in the aftermath of bombing of ‘s hospital

    09:03 GMT

    Dominik Stillhart, director of operations at the International Committee of the Red Cross, has expressed his condolences for those who died and suffered in the strike.

    MSF International @MSF

    Deeply shocked at bombing of MSF hospital in . Staff and patients killed. MSF urges fighting parties to respect health facilities

    Dominik Stillhart @DStillhartICRC

    Another unacceptable attack against a hospital. I extend my sincere condolences to the @MSF colleagues in who paid with their lives

  • 08:56 GMT

    Bashir Ahmad Gwakh @bashirgwakh

    Update: police now say 5 MSF staff members & at least 6 patients killed in last night airstrikes. Death toll may rise.

  • 08:42 GMT

    Wahidullah Mayar, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, has posted details on those wounded in the strike on his Twitter account.

    Wahidullah Mayar @WahidullahMayar

    24 MSF’s medical and non-medical staff are among the 37 injured at the U.S. airstrike in Pro, apparently on MSF’s hospital.

  • 07:47 GMT

    The US formally wrapped up its combat mission in Afghanistan at the end 2014, but some 10,000 US troops stay in the country. American forces are supposed to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2016.

    Talat Masood, a retired lieutenant-general of the Pakistan Army, thinks there’s a good chance U.S. soldiers will end up staying for longer.

    7:29 GMT

    View image on Twitter
    Javed Hamim Kakar @HM_Kakar

    Zabihullah Pashtoonyar, another yang staff of Kunduz @MSF hospital, killed in US Air strike last night.

    7:28 GMT

    View image on Twitter

    Shocked staff in one of remaining parts of MSF’s hospital in . First aid ongoing http://bit.ly/1KRpNl 

    11:11 PM – 2 Oct 2015

    7:10 GMT
    View image on Twitter View image on Twitter View image on Twitter
    Aleem Agha @Aghaaleem

    MSF hospital aftermath by Abd Qadir Wahedi

    10:06 PM – 2 Oct 2015

    Inayat ullah kakar‏@Kalamnigar 5h5 hours ago

    zonal hospital in bombed by US planes, Dozens of medics, patients died…!