Latest news with #militaryoperation
France 24
17 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Gunmen involved in Indian Kashmir tourist attack killed: minister
The heavily-armed men were killed in a military operation on Monday, more than three months after 26 people were gunned down in a popular resort town of Indian Kashmir on April 22. "I want to tell the parliament (that) those who attacked in Baisaran were three terrorists and all three have been killed," he said. Shah said all three were Pakistani nationals and identified two of them as members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a UN-designated terrorist group based in Pakistan. "Indian security agencies have detailed evidence of their involvement in the attack," he said in a speech in the lower house of parliament. Monday's operation took place in the mountains of Dachigam, around 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the disputed region's main city of Srinagar, the army said in a statement. The attack in April saw gunmen burst out of forests near Pahalgam and rake crowds of visitors with automatic weapons. All those killed were listed as residents of India except one man from Nepal. Survivors said gunmen had separated the men from the women and children and ordered some of the men to recite the Muslim declaration of faith. India accused Pakistan of backing the attackers, a charge Islamabad denied, sparking an intense four-day conflict between the nuclear-armed rivals in May that killed more than 70 people on both sides. Muslim-majority Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947, and the neighbours -- who both claim the region in full -- have fought two wars and several conflicts over its control. Shah said a security meeting was held immediately after the attack and it was decided that the attackers should not be "allowed to leave the country and return to Pakistan". Investigators relied on eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence to establish that the rifles found on the men were the same that were used in the April attack, he said. "It was confirmed that these three rifles were involved in killing of our innocent civilians," said Shah. A shadowy group called The Resistance Front (TRF) initially claimed responsibility for the April attack. But as public criticism mounted over the killings, the group retracted its claim. Earlier this month, the United States described the TRF as a "front and proxy" of Lashkar-e-Taiba. © 2025 AFP
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Huge military operation locks down Scottish golf course as Donald Trump plays a round after warning 'horrible invasion' of migrants is 'killing Europe'
Donald Trump is enjoying a round of golf at Turnberry after every inch of the course was scoured in a massive military operation. The US President, sporting a white 'USA' baseball cap, teed off at about 10.15am, accompanied by his son, Eric, and a phalanx of Secret Service agents. Mr Trump was filmed striking an iron before receiving a high-five from a caddy - suggesting the shot went as hoped. He touched down at Prestwick Airport on Friday night, where he greeted the media by warning that a 'horrible invasion' of migrants was 'killing' Europe. The private visit has now commandeered almost a third of Police Scotland's manpower and this morning officers in high viz vests were seen swarming over greens, tees and fairways, while snipers overlooked it from watchtowers. Police also have road closures in place, with limited access for locals and members of the media. Amid the search, a few golfers were also spotted at the course, enjoying an early-morning game. Mr Trump is staying at Turnberry for the start of a five-day private visit to Scotland which will see him have talks with both UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney. A meeting has also been scheduled for him to talk about trade with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. With no talks apparently scheduled today, the President - a well-known golf enthusiast - is free to enjoy a round. However, protests have been planned, with opponents of Mr Trump expected to gather in both Edinburgh and Aberdeen later on today, with the Stop Trump coalition planning what it has described as being a 'festival of resistance'. As well as visiting Trump Turnberry, Mr Trump will head to Aberdeenshire later in his visit and is expected to open a second course at his golf resort in Balmedie. As he landed in Ayrshire yesterday, the President took questions from journalists, telling Europe to 'get your act together' on immigration, which he said was 'killing' the continent. He also praised Sir Keir, who he described as a 'good man', but added that the UK Prime Minister is 'slightly more liberal than I am'. Today will be the first real test of Police Scotland during the visit as it looks to control the demonstrations in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, as well as any which spring up near to the president's course. The force has asked for support from others around the UK to bolster officer numbers, with both organisations representing senior officers and the rank-and-file claiming there is likely to be an impact on policing across the country for the duration of the visit. Before the visit started, Mr Swinney appealed to Scots to protest 'peacefully and within the law'. At one point, Mr Trump appeared to veer off the fairway and into the rough The visit is expected to require a security operation as big as the arrangements for the late Queen Elizabeth II 's funeral in September 2022 - involving up to 6,000 officers - with taxpayers again facing a bill of more than £3million for policing his stay. On the Prestwick runway Mr Trump renewed his war against the expansion of wind farms, which he previously opposed off the coast of his Menie course in Aberdeenshire. He told reporters: 'I say two things to Europe: stop the windmills, you are ruining your countries. 'I really mean it. It's so sad, you fly over and you see these windmills all over the place ruining your beautiful fields and valleys and killing your birds and if they are stuck in your oceans ruining your oceans. 'On immigration, you'd better get your act together or you are not going to have Europe any more.' He said he will be meeting with 'numerous executives' and 'a lot of people' at Turnberry and Aberdeen, which he said 'is the oil capital of Europe'. He said his talks with Sir Keir will be a 'celebration' of the US/UK trade deal but played down the prospects of changes, saying 'the deal is concluded'. Mr Trump also talked up the prospect of his Turnberry resort hosting the Open and dismissing concerns that infrastructure must be improved first. He said: 'I don't know, the best course anywhere in the world is Turnberry, the players all want to be at Turnberry, everybody wants to be at Turnberry so we will see how that works out.' As he set off from the White House on Air Force One, President Trump spoke of his love for Scotland and said at the time that he wants to talk about improvements to the US/UK trade deal with Sir Keir. After landing late at Prestwick, he travelled to Trump Turnberry. Business leaders say the trip is a 'huge opportunity' to strengthen Scotland's economic ties with the world's biggest economy and can pave the way for detailed discussions on trade and tariffs. Talking about his plans with Sir Keir before leaving the US, Mr Trump said they will be having dinner at Turnberry then travelling to Aberdeen, which he described as 'the oil capital of Europe' to have lunch. He said: 'We are going to have a good time, the Prime Minister and I get along very well.' On his proposed meeting with Mr Swinney, he said: 'I have a lot of love (for Scotland), my mother was born in Scotland. 'The Scottish leader's a good man, and I look forward to meeting him.' Turning to an aide, he said: 'That's all set up, right?' Scotch whisky chiefs are desperate for the President to reduce or scrap the 10 per cent duty imposed on exports of malts and blends to the US. Asked whether he will be doing any business deals with the UK, he said: 'Yeah I'm going to meet with the Prime Minister right now, we're going to be over there in about six hours, we're meeting with the Prime Minister tonight. 'We're going to be talking about the trade deal that we made and maybe even improve it.' He added that they will discuss 'certain aspects that are good for both countries' and also 'do a little celebrating'. Mr Trump was greeted by Labour's Scottish Secretary Ian Murray at Turnberry, despite the Edinburgh South MP previously backing a House of Commons motion which called for his 2019 State visit to be cancelled and accused him of 'misogynism, racism and xenophobia'. The Chancellor Rachel Reeves yesterday said the President's visit to Scotland is in the 'national interest'. She said: 'It's in Britain's national interest to have strong relations with the US administration and as a result of both that long-term special relationship, but actually more importantly, the work that our Prime Minister Keir Starmer has done in building that relationship with President Trump has meant that we were the first country in the world to secure a trade deal. 'That has a tangible benefit for people here in Scotland, whether it is people working in the Scotch whisky industry or people working in the defence sector like here at Rolls-Royce, that trade deal means lower tariffs than any country in the world on things that we send to the US.' Business leaders hope the visit will pave the way for agreements which can boost the Scottish and UK economies. Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: 'There are £30 billion reasons why the USA matters to Scotland and President Trump's visit is a fantastic platform to showcase the best of Scottish business on a global stage. 'We have a President who understands business, is a deal maker, is personally and financially invested in our nation, and appreciates the value of our world class products and services. 'That's a strong basis for a special relationship and a huge opportunity to strengthen Scotland's economic ties with the world's biggest economy and our largest export market outside the EU.' Ahead of his own talks with the President, Mr Swinney said the meeting will be an opportunity to 'essentially speak out for Scotland' on international issues such as Gaza, as well as trade and the increase of business from the United States in Scotland. He said: 'There are clearly also significant international issues upon which the people of Scotland have a view and want to have that view expressed by their First Minister. 'That relates to the awfulness of the situation in Gaza and the unbearable human suffering that is going on in Gaza. 'I want to make sure that those concerns and those views are expressed to the president of the United States. 'We have that opportunity, and I intend to take that opportunity to make sure that Scotland's voice is heard.' Mr Swinney also urged all of those set to protest against the president's visit to do so 'peacefully and to do so within the law'. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will meet US President Donald Trump in Scotland on Sunday. Ms von der Leyen made the announcement on X, saying: 'Following a good call with @POTUS, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong.'
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
US military says it has killed senior ISIL (ISIS) leader in Syria's Aleppo
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) forces have killed a senior ISIL (ISIS) leader and his two sons affiliated to the group in Syria's Aleppo region, the US military has said. A post on X on Friday said, 'Early this morning in al Bab, Aleppo Governate, Syria, CENTCOM Forces conducted a raid resulting in the death of senior ISIS Leader, Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani.' 'These ISIS individuals posed a threat to US and Coalition Forces, as well as the new Syrian Government, ' it added. 'We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they are. ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland,' General Michael Erik Kurilla, US CENTCOM commander, said. In late May, ISIL claimed responsibility for an attack on the Syrian army, representing the armed group's first strike at government forces since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, according to analysts. In a statement regarding that attack, ISIL said its fighters had planted an explosive device that struck a 'vehicle of the apostate regime' in southern Syria. ISIL, which views the new government in Damascus led by President Ahemd al-Sharaa as illegitimate, has so far concentrated its activities against Kurdish forces in the north. The fledgling Syrian government has had to contend with Israeli bombardment and incursions into its territory since al-Assad's overthrow, as well as the eruption of sustained sectarian violence in the southern city of Suwayda in recent weeks. CENTCOM Forces Kill Senior ISIS Leader in Al Bab, Syria Early this morning in al Bab, Aleppo Governate, Syria, CENTCOM Forces conducted a raid resulting in the death of senior ISIS Leader, Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 25, 2025
The Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Standard
'A free Ukraine': Kyiv protests law threatening anti-corruption bodies
People take part in an anti-war protest, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 27. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel's Chief of Staff: War Against Iran Is Not Over
Israel's Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Tuesday that the military operation against Iran is not over. He instructed the army to be prepared for 'a continued wide-scale and comprehensive campaign.' During a rare 'multi-front situational assessment' at the Glilot intelligence base - the first of its kind in nearly two years- Zamir said 'Iran and its axis remain in our sights. The campaign against Iran is not over.' He noted that 2026 would be a year focused on preparedness, restoring capabilities, and seizing operational opportunities. On Tuesday, Zamir and top generals reviewed the operational, intelligence, and strategic picture across all fronts. 'The Israeli Army must operate offensively across multiple arenas alongside vital defense in each sector and along our borders,' he said. 'We will continue preserving air superiority and advancing the intelligence effort.' On Gaza, he described the war there as 'one of the most complex' the army has ever faced. 'We have achieved very significant accomplishments, and the Southern Command continues to lead with standing army and reserve brigades in offense and defense. We are paying a heavy price in the fighting,' he said. Zamir also underscored the need for continued operations in the West Bank, against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and against Iranian targets in Syria. Meanwhile, former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said if the Iranian regime does not abandon its nuclear program, then Israel may have to strike again. According to him, the Iranian government poses a serious threat not only to Israel but also to broader regional stability. Gantz said Israel cannot allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. 'We made the right decision with our previous strikes,' he said. The former minister noted that the best solution to guarantee that Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon would be peaceful pressure to compel Tehran to abandon its nuclear activities, but this method does not seem to be working in practice. Therefore, military measures may return to the agenda, he said.
