Role of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to shift to training: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The role of U.S. troops in Afghanistan will shift in 2015 to training Afghan security forces and counter-terrorism activities, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Monday.
Baghdad car bomb kills 8 people, fighting west of capital
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A car bomb exploded in a market in northern Baghdad’s Shaab neighborhood on Monday, killing eight people and wounding 22, police and medics said.
Saudi Arabia says Islamic State ordered attack on Shi’ites in al-Ahsa
DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has arrested the four main suspects in an attack on Shi’ite Muslims this month and believes it was ordered by Islamic State militants from abroad, the state news agency cited an Interior Ministry security spokesman as say…
Suspected Boko Haram militants attack Nigerian border town
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) – Suspected Boko Haram militants attacked a Nigerian border town in the restive northeast on Monday, setting fire to houses and killing an unknown number of people, witnesses and government sources said.
Colombia rebel chief says peace talks suspension destroyed confidence
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos “destroyed” confidence in the peace process by suspending talks and violated the terms of an agreement that brought the rebels to the negotiating table, FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono sai…
Turkey, U.S. ease strains on Islamic State but differences remain
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey and the United States smoothed over some differences in the fight against Islamic State during a weekend visit by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, but the talks heralded little in the way of deeper military cooperation between…
‘Handful’ of Libyan troops claim asylum in UK after training: minister
LONDON (Reuters) – A group of Libyan army cadets whose training program in Britain was halted early after a series of sex attacks on local residents have claimed asylum, Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said on Monday.
Britain says it is reviewing arms exports to Israel again
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain is undertaking a second review of arms export licenses to Israel to ensure equipment could not be used in a way that would breach international law, the government said on Monday.
Ukraine leader, under pressure from West, pledges new government soon
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine will take the first steps this week towards forming a new government, President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday, seeking to assuage concern among his Western allies that the delay is holding up reform and imperiling Western ass…
Turkey to host training for 2,000 Syrian rebels: official
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish and U.S. forces will train 2,000 moderate Syrian rebel fighters at a base in the central Turkish city of Kirsehir as part of the campaign against Islamic State insurgents, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official said on Monday.