Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Syrian airstrikes kill at least 18 in Aleppo
• Senate panel holds hearing on fraud in Army recruiting program
• Lawmakers seek in-state tuition rates for veterans
• VA reduced benefits backlog, but needs to get back in gear, say veterans
• Qaeda cements split with ex-Iraqi affiliate in Syria
• Al-Qaida breaks with Syria group in mounting feud
• 26 killed in Syria regime barrel bomb raids on Aleppo
• Report: US troop morale higher in Afghanistan
• Abu Qatada, inmates protest at Jordan jail conditions
• Iraqi forces kill 57 Islamist militants in Sunni province
• Baghdad attacks kill 24 as Iraq presses Anbar assault
• Al-Qaeda disavows ISIL in Syria
• Al Qaeda's boss is fed up with Al Qaeda's Syrian 'affiliate' ISIS
• Iran: Kerry, Obama rhetoric threatens to derail diplomacy
• Car bombings in Iraq kill at least 23 people
• Saudi Arabia to jail citizens who fight abroad
• Kerry: Our Syria Policy Is Failing
• Car bombings in Iraq kill at least 16 people
• Al-Qaida breaks ties with group in Syria
• Al Qaeda breaks link with Syrian militant group ISIL
• Car bombings in Iraq kill at least 13 people
• Factbox: Syria's rebel groups
• Iraq says kills 57 Islamist militants in Sunni province
• UN food programme cuts back as $1 bn shortfall looms
• Car bombings in Iraq kill at least 10 people
• Al Qaeda says has no link with Syrian militant group ISIL

Syrian airstrikes kill at least 18 in Aleppo Posted: 03 Feb 2014 04:50 PM PST BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian government extended its intense aerial campaign against rebel-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo on Monday, conducting a series of airstrikes that killed at least 18 people, including five children, activists said.

Senate panel holds hearing on fraud in Army recruiting program Posted: 03 Feb 2014 04:40 PM PST More than 1,200 Army recruiters and assistants are under investigation on suspicion of fraud involving tens of millions of dollars from a program aimed at boosting recruitment during the Iraq war, according to papers released on Monday by a congressional panel. One person, now under prosecution, was fraudulently paid $275,000 under the recruitment program, and four other top recipients received more than $100,000 apiece, documents from a panel of the Senate Homeland Security committee said. The Financial and Contracting Oversight Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Claire McCaskill, was scheduled to hold a hearing on Tuesday to address the case, which it described as "one of the largest fraud investigations" Army investigators have ever handled in size and numbers of people involved. The Army declined to comment on the case.

Lawmakers seek in-state tuition rates for veterans Posted: 03 Feb 2014 04:31 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — The House overwhelmingly passed legislation Monday that would require public universities around the country to charge veterans in-state tuition rates or face financial penalty.

VA reduced benefits backlog, but needs to get back in gear, say veterans Posted: 03 Feb 2014 03:55 PM PST Despite having made good progress to reduce a backlog of disability claims that peaked last March, the Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts have lost momentum in recent months, according to a new report from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). In the months that followed, the backlog, which the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) defines as all claims that have been in the system for more than 125 days, had decreased by 37 percent. But since November the backlog of disability claims has hovered at around 400,000, which still represents more than 50 percent of the claims waiting to be processed at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "The VA has made progress since March to reform the system and bring the numbers down, but 400,000 veterans are still waiting and much work remains left to be done," said Jacqueline Maffucci, research director for the IAVA.

Qaeda cements split with ex-Iraqi affiliate in Syria Posted: 03 Feb 2014 02:12 PM PST Al-Qaeda's command has cemented its split with its one-time Iraqi affiliate, in a statement distancing itself from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and its battle with Syria's rebels. The statement released late Sunday builds on previous comments by Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, who has called on ISIL to withdraw from Syria and deemed another jihadist group, the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda's official Syrian affiliate. "Al-Qaeda announces it is not linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, as it was not informed of its creation... (and) did not accept it," the statement said. ISIL "is not a branch of Al-Qaeda, has no links to it, and the (Al-Qaeda) group is not responsible for its acts," it added.

Al-Qaida breaks with Syria group in mounting feud Posted: 03 Feb 2014 01:44 PM PST CAIRO (AP) — Al-Qaida's central leadership broke with one of its most powerful branch commanders in an apparent attempt to stem the deadly infighting that has erupted in Syria among the militant Islamic factions trying to bring down President Bashar Assad.

26 killed in Syria regime barrel bomb raids on Aleppo Posted: 03 Feb 2014 12:47 PM PST At least 26 people were killed in aerial attacks with explosive-packed barrel bombs in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The group said 12 men, 11 children and three women were killed when Syrian army helicopters dropped the controversial weapons on neighbourhoods in the east of the city, once Syria's economic hub. Rebel-held areas have been subjected to a punishing string of aerial raids by Syria's army in the past three days, with at least 36 people killed on Sunday and 85 killed on Saturday, according to the NGO. The Observatory said Monday that January 2014 was the bloodiest month in the conflict so far, with 5,794 deaths recorded.

Report: US troop morale higher in Afghanistan Posted: 03 Feb 2014 12:05 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. soldiers had higher morale and suffered fewer mental health problems in Afghanistan last year as they handed off more duties to Afghans and saw less combat themselves, according to a report released Monday.

Abu Qatada, inmates protest at Jordan jail conditions Posted: 03 Feb 2014 11:53 AM PST Islamist cleric Abu Qatada, on trial in Jordan on terrorism charges, and dozens of other Islamist inmates have stopped accepting meals in protest at the conditions in jail. "They claim that they are doing that to protest against prison conditions. One of Abu Qatada's brothers confirmed, without elaborating, that the prisoners began their protest on Saturday. The prisoners include Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, a jihadist ideologue and former mentor of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the slain leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Iraqi forces kill 57 Islamist militants in Sunni province Posted: 03 Feb 2014 11:49 AM PST Iraqi troops and allied tribesmen killed 57 Islamist militants in Anbar province on Monday, the Defense Ministry said, in advance of a possible assault on the Sunni Muslim rebel-held city of Falluja. There was no independent verification of the toll among the militants, said to be members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a jihadi group also fighting in the civil war in neighboring Syria. ISIL militants and other Sunni groups angered by the Shi'ite Muslim-led Baghdad government overran Falluja and parts of the nearby city of Ramadi in the western province of Anbar on January 1. The Defense Ministry statement said most of the 57 militants had been killed in the outskirts of Ramadi, but gave few details.

Baghdad attacks kill 24 as Iraq presses Anbar assault Posted: 03 Feb 2014 11:15 AM PST A series of attacks in and around Baghdad, including a spate of car bombings, killed 24 people Monday as Iraqi forces pressed an assault against militant-held areas of Anbar province. The latest bloodshed comes amid a surge in violence that left more than 1,000 people dead in January, the worst such figure in nearly six years, as security forces grapple with near-daily attacks and protracted battles with anti-government fighters. Foreign leaders have urged the Shiite-led government to do more to reach out to the disaffected Sunni Arab minority in a bid to undercut support for militants. Despite officials insisting operations against militants, including those affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group, are having an impact, the bloodshed has continued unabated.

Al-Qaeda disavows ISIL in Syria Posted: 03 Feb 2014 09:24 AM PST Al-Qaeda has disavowed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), whose members have been locked in deadly clashes with Syrian rebels, according to a statement posted on jihadist websites. Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri had already ordered the group in May 2013 to disband and return to Iraq, and announced that another jihadist group, the Al-Nusra Front, was Al-Qaeda's official branch in war-torn Syria. The general command of Al-Qaeda rammed home the point in its late Sunday statement.

Al Qaeda's boss is fed up with Al Qaeda's Syrian 'affiliate' ISIS Posted: 03 Feb 2014 09:08 AM PST The level of direct coordination between Al Qaeda's leadership in Pakistan and the group that originally was known as Al Qaeda in Iraq has always been limited - and has appeared pretty much dead since 2006. Though you can still find references to "AQI" in US government literature and press reports, the group has rebranded itself multiple times - first becoming the Mujahidin Shura Council, then charging its name to the Islamic State in Iraq in 2006. The group formally merged with jihadis in Syria last year and started calling itself the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). Zawahiri issued a letter last night on jihadi forums formally announcing the group he leads has no affiliation with the group (a translation is here).

Iran: Kerry, Obama rhetoric threatens to derail diplomacy Posted: 03 Feb 2014 08:58 AM PST Alireza Miryousefi is the head of the press office at the Islamic Republic of Iran's mission to the United Nations. Follow him on Twitter @miryousefi. President Obama in his State of the Union address alluded to the availability of "all options" in dealing with Iran's nuclear program despite his expressed eagerness for the diplomatic process. Also, in his recent interview with Al-Arabiya, US Secretary of State John Kerry threatened US military action against Iran if the current negotiation process fails., Such negative comments are bound to have certain short- and long-term side-effects, especially in light of Iran's seriousness in resolving the current (and unnecessary) crisis over its peaceful nuclear program. One of the most important changes that led to the "Joint Plan of Action" temporary agreement between Iran and the P5+1 powers in Geneva in November was the common interest of the parties to establish and sustain a positive momentum in negotiations, instead of applying the previous bargaining techniques.

Car bombings in Iraq kill at least 23 people Posted: 03 Feb 2014 08:37 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — A new series of car bombings in and around Baghdad on Monday killed at least 23 people, officials said, as Iraq's Shiite-led government grapples with a stubborn Sunni extremist-led insurgency in the western Anbar province.

Saudi Arabia to jail citizens who fight abroad Posted: 03 Feb 2014 08:34 AM PST Saudi Arabia will jail for 3-20 years any citizen who fights in conflicts abroad, according to a royal decree released on Monday, in an apparent move to deter Saudis from joining rebels in Syria and then posing a security risk once they return home. Saudi Arabia's Islamic religious authorities have previously spoken out against Saudis joining Islamist militants involved in Syria's civil war, but the Interior Ministry estimates that around 1,200 Saudis have gone there nonetheless. The decree underscored concern about young Saudis hardened by battle against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad coming home to target the ruling Al Saud royal family - as happened after earlier wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Saudi Arabia is the world's No. 1 oil exporter and a mainstay ally of the United States in the Middle East.

Kerry: Our Syria Policy Is Failing Posted: 03 Feb 2014 07:00 AM PST In a closed-door meeting, two senators say, the Secretary of State admitted to them that he no longer believes the administration's approach to the crisis in Syria is working.

Car bombings in Iraq kill at least 16 people Posted: 03 Feb 2014 05:56 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — A new series of car bombings in and around Baghdad on Monday killed at least 16 people, officials said, as Iraq's Shiite-led government grapples with a stubborn Sunni extremist-led insurgency in the western Anbar province.

Al-Qaida breaks ties with group in Syria Posted: 03 Feb 2014 05:55 AM PST CAIRO (AP) — Al-Qaida's central leadership broke off ties with one of the most powerful militant groups in Syria, known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and distanced itself from the rebel infighting in that country's civil war, according to a statement Monday.

Al Qaeda breaks link with Syrian militant group ISIL Posted: 03 Feb 2014 05:33 AM PST By Oliver Holmes BEIRUT (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's general command said on Monday it had no links with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in an apparent attempt to reassert its authority over fragmented Islamist fighters in Syria's civil war. After a month of rebel infighting, al Qaeda disavowed the increasingly independent ISIL in a move likely to bolster a rival Islamist group, the Nusra Front, as al Qaeda's official proxy in Syria. The switch is seen as an attempt to redirect the Islamist effort towards unseating President Bashar al-Assad rather than waste resources in fighting other rebels, and could be intended to shift the strategic balance at a time when government forces are increasingly active on the battlefield. Overall, the three-year-old war however remains largely deadlocked, with Syria fragmented into areas controlled by the warring parties.

Car bombings in Iraq kill at least 13 people Posted: 03 Feb 2014 04:55 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — A new series of car bombings in and around Baghdad on Monday killed at least 13 people, officials said, as Iraq's Shiite-led government grapples with a stubborn Sunni extremist-led insurgency in the western Anbar province.

Factbox: Syria's rebel groups Posted: 03 Feb 2014 04:23 AM PST Syria's rebel movement has been a constantly shifting array of groups and alliances since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began nearly three years ago, with opposition formations increasingly overtaken by Islamist groups. As new leaders have emerged within the opposition, infighting reached a new level this month, with several rebel factions declaring war against the radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Some 2,300 rebel fighters have died fighting each other this year alone. Below is a description of some of Syria's main rebel groups: * Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant: ISIL was formed by breakaway elements from the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's official affiliate in Syria, which joined with al Qaeda's Iraq branch.

Iraq says kills 57 Islamist militants in Sunni province Posted: 03 Feb 2014 04:16 AM PST Iraqi troops and allied tribesmen killed 57 Islamist militants in Anbar province on Monday, the Defence Ministry said, in advance of a possible assault on the Sunni rebel-held city of Falluja. There was no independent verification of the toll among the militants, said to be members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a jihadi group also fighting in Syria. ISIL militants and other Sunni groups angered by the Shi'ite-led government overran Falluja and parts of the nearby city of Ramadi in the western province of Anbar on January 1. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has held back from an all-out assault on Falluja to give time for a negotiated way out of the standoff, but mediation efforts appear to have failed.

UN food programme cuts back as $1 bn shortfall looms Posted: 03 Feb 2014 02:20 AM PST The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) is scaling back projects in a number of countries as it confronts a $1 billion funding shortfall, with costs mounting for missions such as Syria, its director said Monday. Ertharin Cousin is in Australia as part of a tour to drum up support for the United Nations agency among donor nations and the private sector to help feed the world's hungry. Costs are mounting for complex and dangerous operations in Syria, where the WFP is aiming to reach 4.25 million hungry people at a cost of $40 million a week. An aerial mission in December involving 12 food flights from Iraq to Qamishli in the embattled Al-Hasakah region of Syria -- cut off from roads for the past 12 months -- cost $800,000 and fed only 6,000, Cousin said.

Car bombings in Iraq kill at least 10 people Posted: 03 Feb 2014 01:45 AM PST BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say car bombings in and near Baghdad have killed at least 10 people.

Al Qaeda says has no link with Syrian militant group ISIL Posted: 02 Feb 2014 11:59 PM PST Al Qaeda's general command said on Monday it has no links with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in an apparent attempt to assert authority over the Islamist militant groups involved in Syria's civil war. Rebel-on-rebel violence in Syria has killed at least 1,800 this year alone. ISIL follows al Qaeda's hard-line ideology and, until now, the two groups were widely believed to be linked. However, the organizations that have clashed with ISIL include Jabhat al-Nusra, al Qaeda's official Syria wing, which is led by al Qaeda chief Ayman Zawahri.

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