US special forces carry out anti-terror attack in north-west Syria - Financial Times

Isis leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi has died during a US raid on north-west Syria overnight, President Joe Biden has said.

“Thanks to the skill and bravery of our armed forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of Isis. All Americans have returned safely from the operation,” he said in a statement on Thursday morning.

The attack appeared to be one of the biggest US assaults of its type in north-west Syria since special forces conducted an operation that killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the then leader of Isis, in 2019.

A senior Biden administration official said that the Isis leader “exploded a bomb that killed him and members of his own family, including women and children” at the start of the operation.

“While we are still assessing the results of this operation, this appears to be the same cowardly terrorist tactic we saw in the 2019 operation that eliminated al-Baghdadi,” the senior administration official said.

The Syria Civil Defence, a rescue service also known as the White Helmets, said its teams recovered the bodies of at least 13 people, including six children and four women. The non-governmental group, which operates in opposition areas, said in a statement that they were killed in clashes and bombing that followed an airborne operation.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the US troops landed in helicopters in the village of Atmeh in Idlib province, the last enclave held by Syrian opposition forces, and met resistance from fighters on the ground as they launched an assault on a two-storey building.

The latest special forces mission comes two weeks after Isis militants launched a bold assault on a prison holding thousands of suspected jihadis in north-east Syria that is controlled by US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, which operate the prison in Hasaka, said 121 prison staff and SDF fighters and 374 Isis militants were killed in the week-long assault on the detention facility. The US supported the SDF’s battle to retake control of the prison with air strikes and by moving Bradley fighting vehicles into the area.

The US has just under 1,000 troops in Syria where they support the SDF and have been involved in the fight against Isis.

Islamist militants exploited the chaos of the civil war in Syria to gain footholds in the country, with Isis seizing control of swaths of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in a blitz in 2014.

At its height the movement controlled an area the size of Britain, but it was driven from territorial strongholds in both countries by international coalitions.

Isis surrendered the final enclave in Syria under its control three years ago, but the attack on the prison in Hasaka has underscored the threat the jihadi group continues to pose.

Idlib province, which is home to about 3mn people, many who fled to escape Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which has emerged as the most powerful Islamist militant group in Syria.

The group, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the US, has long been considered an affiliate of al-Qaeda, but it has attempted to rebrand itself and distance itself from the network formed by Osama bin Laden.

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2022-02-03 14:24:20Z
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US special forces kill IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in Syria raid - Sky News

The leader of Islamic State has been killed during a raid by US special forces in Syria.

Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi exploded a bomb that killed himself and members of his family as the raid began on a house in the rebel-held province of Idlib.

He was among at least 13 people who died during the operation, which lasted two hours.

Image: A house that was destroyed during the raid. Pic: AP

There were no US military casualties.

US President Joe Biden announced the killing in a statement, saying: "Thanks to the skill and bravery of our Armed Forces, we have taken off the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi."

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He said troops "successfully undertook a counterterrorism operation to protect the American people and our allies, and make the world a safer place".

Mr Biden said he will address the American people later today, adding: "May God protect our troops."

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A US administration official blamed the civilian casualties on the explosive used by militants.

Image: President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and members of the president’s national security team observing the operation

Al-Quraishi was named as the second leader of IS after founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in October 2019.

"While we are still assessing the results of this operation, this appears to be the same cowardly terrorist tactic we saw in the 2019 operation that eliminated al-Baghdadi," the US official said.

IS has been trying for a resurgence in the region, launching a series of attacks that include an assault on a prison last month.

The US raid began at around midnight as helicopters landed and heavy gunfire was heard, according to residents.

American troops used loudspeakers to warn women and children to leave the area - but despite these efforts, six women and four children are believed to be among those who died.

The top floor of the house was destroyed during the clash and body parts were seen scattered near the site.

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2022-02-03 13:02:09Z
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US orders deployment of 3,000 troops to bolster Nato’s defences in Europe - Financial Times

US president Joe Biden has ordered the deployment of an additional 2,000 troops to bolster Nato’s defences in Europe, strengthening the alliance’s response to a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine.

John Kirby, the Pentagon’s spokesperson, announced the move during a briefing with reporters on Wednesday. In addition to sending about 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland and Germany, the US said it would redeploy roughly 1,000 troops from Germany to Romania.

“President Biden has been clear that the United States will respond to the growing threat to Europe’s security and stability. Our commitment to Nato Article 5 and collective defence remains ironclad,” Kirby said, referring to the alliance’s mutual assistance principle.

“These are not permanent moves,” he said, adding that they were “designed to respond to the current security environment. Moreover, these forces are not going to fight in Ukraine.”

As the Russian military build-up along Ukraine’s border intensified in recent weeks, Biden put 8,500 troops on standby for deployment to the eastern flank of Nato, and had been discussing details of a possible move with US allies.

Alexander Grushko, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, described the extra US troops as “destructive steps that are unjustified by anyone”. “They increase military tension and narrow the room for political decisions,” he told Interfax on Wednesday.

Even as diplomatic avenues have remained open, US officials have warned that Russia has continued to increase its own military preparations, including additional movement of troops along Ukraine’s border in Belarus and naval activity in the Mediterranean. Moscow has deployed more than 100,000 troops and heavy weaponry along Ukraine’s borders, according to western intelligence.

“There may soon be additional posture decisions to announce, including movements that are part of ongoing military exercises. This is not the sum total of the deterrence actions we will take,” Kirby said.

The deployment of US troops — in addition to the 8,500 on standby — comes as de-escalation talks continue between Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, and Sergei Lavrov, Russian foreign minister.

The US has offered to provide assurances to Russia over its Europe-based missile defence system, and promised to refrain from deploying troops to Ukraine, according to a document disclosed by El País, whose authenticity was confirmed by the Biden administration.

These written proposals, sent to the Kremlin last week, include a “transparency mechanism” to convince Russia that its Aegis Ashore missile defence systems, based in Romania and Poland, are not equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles.

President Vladimir Putin has expressed concerns that the Aegis launchers could be used to attack Russia or shoot down its intercontinental ballistic missiles rather than those fired by Iran or other rogue states, as Washington maintains.

The US said it was prepared to discuss transparency on its Aegis batteries if Poland and Romania agreed and “as long as Russian offers reciprocal transparency measures on two ground-launched missile bases of our own choosing in Russia”.

It added that it was willing to discuss transparency measures and “reciprocal commitments” by the US and Russia to “refrain from deploying offensive ground-launched missile systems and permanent forces with a combat mission” on Ukrainian territory.

Washington’s proposals were formulated as a response to Russian security demands, issued in December. “We did not make this document public, but now that it is, it confirms to the entire world what we have always been saying,” said Kirby. “There is no daylight between our public statements and our private discussions.”

Kyiv said it would welcome a reciprocal commitment by the US and Russia to refrain from stationing missiles or troops in Ukraine.

“I would like to note that, while the US has neither missiles in Ukraine nor their combat units in Ukraine, Russia has both,” said Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister. “And if this proposal is accepted on a reciprocal basis, that will imply that Russia has to withdraw. So no, we have no objections against the idea of Russia withdrawing its forces, its personnel and weapons from the territory of Ukraine.”

The US and Nato have rejected Russia’s demands for a ban on further enlargement and for a withdrawal of Nato forces from the alliance’s former communist bloc members. Nato says the contingents sent to the Baltic states and Poland following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 are small and temporary and so in keeping with its commitments to Moscow.

In a call with Putin on Wednesday, UK prime minister Boris Johnson reiterated that “all European democracies have a right to aspire to Nato membership” and that Nato was a defensive alliance, according to a UK official. Putin noted “Nato’s unwillingness to respond adequately to Russia’s legitimate concerns”, according to the Kremlin.

Additional reporting by Guy Chazan in Berlin, Polina Ivanova in Moscow, Roman Olearchyk in Kyiv and Laura Hughes in London

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2022-02-02 18:29:01Z
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North Korea: Kim Jong Un's wife and aunt make rare public appearance in Pyongyang - Sky News

Kim Jong Un's wife and aunt have been seen in a rare public appearance - the first time they've been spotted in 2022.

The family of the North Korean leader have kept a low profile since the start of the pandemic, with his wife not seen publicly since September last year and his aunt since January 2020.

But Ri Sol Ju and Kim Kyong Hui have now both been seen on state media attending an art performance at the Mansudae Art Theatre in Pyongyang to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Image: The last time Ri Sol Ju was seen was in September 2021

"When (Kim) appeared at the auditorium of the theatre with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, amid the playing of the welcome music, the audience raised stormy cheers of 'Hurrah!'" the official KCNA news agency said.

Footage showed Ri wearing a traditional red and black hanbok dress, talking and smiling with her husband.

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The couple also went on stage to shake hands and take photos with artists.

Ri was last seen on 9 September, when she joined her husband on a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the anniversary of North Korea's founding.

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It's where the embalmed bodies of the leader's grandfather and father are held.

Kim Jong Un's visit to the theatre came after the release of a typically dramatic propaganda film, which showed him riding a variety of horses.

Image: Kim Kyong Hui (left), the North Korean leader's aunt, also made a rare appearance at the event

His aunt, not seen since before the pandemic began, is a former senior official of the ruling Workers' Party.

She was a key figure during the early period of Kim's leadership, but has rarely been seen since 2013, when her husband was reportedly executed for treason.

The event comes amid renewed concern over North Korea's programme of missile tests, with more than half a dozen launched last month.

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2022-02-02 12:12:51Z
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Tonga enters Covid lockdown after aid delivered - BBC News

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Tonga will go into lockdown after several cases of Covid were recorded in the capital city Nuku'alofa.

Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said on Tuesday two port workers had tested positive. Officials later confirmed three more cases in family members.

The South Pacific nation had previously managed to stay virus-free.

The outbreak comes as Tongans try to recover from a deadly volcanic eruption and tsunami which left three dead and damaged homes and infrastructure.

Tonga had avoided Covid outbreaks by closing its borders to the outside world in early 2020.

But since the eruption it has since been heavily dependent on foreign aid for supplies of fresh drinking water, shelter kits and rescue equipment.

So far, foreign aid deliveries there have been handled using contactless protocols to stop the virus spreading from abroad.

They include leaving humanitarian supplies in isolation for three days before they are handled by Tongans.

• How to deliver aid safely to Tonga

Australia, New Zealand, the United States, China, France, Fiji and the UK have all sent ships carrying supplies.

Last week however, a Covid outbreak hit the HMAS Adelaide - a crucial Australian relief ship bound for the island nation - with dozens of crew members infected.

The ship eventually docked at the capital's port. The Tongan government is investigating but says it does not believe there is a link to the vessel.

The Australian Defence Force's operations chief said on Wednesday workers who tested positive had been working in a different area of the port to where the warship was and said there was "no evidence" the cases were linked.

"We unloaded in a manner that was Covid-friendly, contactless, in line with arrangements made with Tongan officials at the wharf," Lieutenant General Greg Bilton told Sky News Australia.

The ship will take back samples from the Tongan cases so that an Australian health facility can assess the strain and find out which country it came from.

In a national address late on Tuesday, Mr Sovaleni confirmed the Covid cases and said Tonga would enter lockdown from 18:00 local time (05:00 GMT) Wednesday, with the situation reviewed every 48 hours.

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"The most important issue at the moment is to slow down and stop those who have been affected," he said, adding that "no boat will be allowed to go from one island to another, no more (domestic) aeroplane flights".

At least 83% of Tonga's 106,000 strong population have received double doses of the Covid vaccine. However, the remoteness of some of these island communities, many with limited healthcare resources, makes them particularly vulnerable to an outbreak.

Drew Havea, chair of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga, said: "We assume the worst, that there are going to be more.

"I think the hope now is that we all stick together and find out how big this thing is for Tonga," he told the BBC from Nuku'alofa.

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2022-02-02 07:48:18Z
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Whoopi Goldberg apologises after saying Holocaust was 'not about race' - Guardian News

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2022-02-01 11:18:04Z
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Pregnant New Zealand journalist who sought refuge in Afghanistan after being locked out of her own country accepts offer to return with place in quarantine - Sky News

A pregnant reporter shut out of her native New Zealand has said she will be returning home after being offered a place in the country's quarantine system.

Charlotte Bellis's situation gained worldwide media attention after she said she was forced to turn to Afghanistan's Taliban for refuge after being locked out of New Zealand due to its strict COVID border policies.

In a news conference on Tuesday, New Zealand's deputy prime minister Grant Robertson said that the government department in charge of the system that ensures people do not have COVID-19 before they enter the country had now offered her a place, as well as flight arrangements.

He added: "There is a place in MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) for Ms Bellis and I urge her to take it up."

Bellis, who is 25 weeks pregnant, accepted the place and said in a statement: "I will be returning to my home country New Zealand at the beginning of March to give birth to our baby girl.

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"We are so excited to return home and be surrounded by family and friends at such a special time."

Mr Robertson denied that Bellis was given preferential treatment because she had gained a worldwide audience for her complaint, resulting in embarrassment for a government proud of its COVID policies.

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Image: Bellis gained worldwide media attention after she said she was forced to turn to Afghanistan's Taliban for refuge. Pic: Jim Huylebroek

He said: "What it sends is a message that the staff of (the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment) who have to deal with emergency application are dealing with very difficult and challenging cases on a daily basis.

"They always try to make contact with people and try to make arrangements that work."

Bellis, 35, is expecting her first child with Belgian partner and news photographer Jim Huylebroek.

Both had been based in Afghanistan while Bellis reported in that country for Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera.

She found out she was pregnant soon after returning to Qatar late last year, news that forced her to resign and leave the country, as being unmarried and pregnant is illegal.

She said she tried to stay in Belgium but the lengthy residency process would have left her with an expired visa.

In the end, she returned to Afghanistan with the reassurance of Taliban contacts that she would be safe, despite the regime's strict interpretation of Islam.

Meanwhile, she continued her attempts to find a way back to New Zealand, initially joining the many thousands of overseas-based New Zealanders trying to get a place in mandatory hotel isolation via a government-run lottery.

Image: Bellis is 25 weeks pregnant. Pic: Jim Huylebroek

The strict border policy has played a large part in the country's low COVID-19 case numbers but it has also been heavily criticised for keeping many New Zealand citizens effectively locked out of their own country.

With no success in the lottery and with her pregnancy advancing as she waited in impoverished Afghanistan, Bellis applied for allocation under the emergency scheme, which allows places for people who fit into a narrow list of categories. But she was rejected.

Her story came to light when she wrote a column in the New Zealand Herald soon afterwards, saying: "When the Taliban offers you - a pregnant, unmarried woman - safe haven, you know your situation is messed up."

She later said: "It is my legal right to go to New Zealand, where I have health care, where I have family. All my support is there."

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2022-02-01 07:52:30Z
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