North Korea calls latest UN sanctions an act of war

According to North Korea’s foreign ministry, the latest round of UN sanctions are “an act of war,” and threatened to punish those who supported the measure. The UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea on Friday due to its recent ICBM test, seeking to limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil along with its earnings from workers abroad.

The new resolution seeks to ban nearly 90% of refined petroleum exports by capping them at 500,000 barrels a year and demands the “repatriation of North Koreans working abroad within 24 months”. The US-drafted resolution also caps crude oil supplies to North Korea at 4 million barrels a year and commits the Council to further reductions if the North conducts another ICBM/nuclear test.

In a statement, North Korea’s foreign ministry said the US is “terrified” by its nuclear force and was getting “more and more frenzied in the moves to impose the harshest-ever sanctions and pressure on our country”.

Daesh executed 741 during Mosul battle

Daesh (IS) killed at least 741 civilians while Iraqi and allied forces were fighting to take the militant stronghold of Mosul, according to the United Nations. 

So-called Islamic State murdered the 741 individuals in “execution-style” killings, said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

The UN mission in Iraq released a report on the liberation of Mosul that also said: “at least 2,521 civilians were killed during the military operation, mostly as a result of ISIL attacks.”

Some 1,673 civilians were also wounded during the offensive.

“The execution-style killing of civilians, the suffering inflicted on families, and the wanton destruction of property can never be tolerated in any armed conflict, and those responsible must answer for their heinous crimes,” said the UN human rights head, Mr. Al Hussein.

Mr. Al Hussein called for alleged violations carried out by Iraqi forces to be investigated by the UN.

The report says another 461 civilians died in United States-led coalition airstrikes and Iraqi military actions during the most intensive phase of the offensive that started on Feb  19 of this year.

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More details to follow. Image 1 of a newly captured but devastated Mosul from the Washington Post. 

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ACLU requests to represent US citizen detained in Syria, reportedly fought with ISIS

The American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) has requested to represent a US citizen detained in Syria, who reportedly fought alongside the Islamic State. The citizen, whose identity is being withheld from the public, is being held without formal charges or access to an attorney.

Government attorneys filed a response to the ACLU, after they (ACLU) petitioned the US District Court in Washington DC, to challenge the man’s detention and seek legal counsel for him.

The man was captured by US-backed Kurdish forces in September, according to Steven Dalbey, director of the Defense Department’s Office of Detainee Policy. His captors turned him over to US special forces, on 12/September, who identified him as an enemy combatant and is currently detained in Iraq.

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Russia vetos United Nations Security Council vote to extend current mandate of chemical weapons investigations in Syria

Russia has vetoed a United Nations Security Council vote to extend the current UN mandate of chemical weapons investigations in Syria. The mandate, funding the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), was first established in August 2015 to investigate chemical weapons usage in Syria and its perpetrators.

The mandate is due to expire in November. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley condemned the veto, stating “Russia has once again demonstrated it will do whatever it takes to ensure the barbaric Assad regime never faces consequences for its continued use of chemicals as weapons.”

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Syrian Arab Army, backed by Russian warplanes, managed to stop a large-scaled ISIL offensive

The Syrian Arab Army, backed by Russian warplanes, managed to stop a large-scaled offensive by the “most capable and best armed ISIL group in the Euphrates River valley.”

The terrorist losses resulted in: ·

800 terrorists dead

• 13 tanks destroyed

• 30 armored trucks with heavy-machine guns

• 10 Mortars & artillery pieces

• Massive amounts of weaponry and ammunition captured.

The fighting took place near the town of Ghanem Ali (Raqqa

Governorate). Daesh launched an offensive there just days ago, reportedly seizing most of the town, and fought against SAA forces for the hills overlooking the town.

Syrian government forces, that were involved in the operation, are now heading towards the city of Deir ez-Zor, controlled by the government but surrounded by Daesh, and has been for years. The SAA has been trying to break through the blockade for quite some time.

Published by The War Files

Islamic State claims responsibility for van attack in Barcelona

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a vehicle attack in central Barcelona. 13 people were reportedly killed, with a death toll expected to possibly rise, along with dozens injured, after a van rammed into pedestrians at full speed. 

Their (IS) statement claimed there were “multiple soldiers of the Islamic State.” Daesh, via Amaq News Agency, stated the attack was in response to the US-led coalition’s operation against them in Iraq and Syria. Police have already declared the attack a “terrorist incident” and have made two arrests so far. 

One man identified, Driss Oukabir, is said to have been responsible for renting the van involved in the ramming. He denies responsibility. The driver still hasn’t been found. After ramming the pedestrians and crashing, the driver purportedly fled on foot and managed to evade captivity.

Published by: The War Files

US military has been providing active support for the Syrian Democratic Forces via Marine Field Artillery Teams

Via The War Files –  For the past two days, the US military has been providing active support for the Syrian Democratic Forces via Marine Field Artillery Teams and close-air support rom Apache helicopters, to support the SDF’s bid to take Raqqa, the ‘capital’ of the Islamic State. The SDF launched the siege on Monday, a week after the US started to deliver weapons and equipment to them. The Apache’s provide valuable air support and has a “psychological advantage” in the battle, Defense Department spokesman Eric Payhon said. “When ISIS sees the Apache AH-64s, well, it’s a psychological advantage.”

 “The Marine M777 Howitzers are providing a significant enabling capability to our Special Operations Forces and partners on the ground,” Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said today. The DOD wouldn’t disclose the number of Apaches, Howitzers or troops taking part in the assault because “we have a limited presence in Syria and we don’t want ISIS to have an idea of our capabilities,” Payhon said.