Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Demirtas: bright new star of Turkish politics
• In praise of Beau Biden, a more graceful portrait of the father emerges
• Bahrain says it has broken up Shi'ite group involved in terrorism
• Soldier who killed 16 Afghans says he was 'consumed by war'
• Marine set to be tried for 3rd time in Iraq war-crime case
• Obama uses G7 to press UK's Cameron on defense spending
• Al Qaeda in Syria becoming an ever more prominent part of the rebellion
• US-led raids hit IS battling rebels, Qaeda in Syria
• Obama uses G7 to press Cameron on defence spending
• Gov. Scott Walker Calls Possibility of Taking Online Courses to Finish Degree in WH 'Interesting'
• Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Wouldn't Rule Out Re-Invasion of Iraq
• Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst Says She's No Kingmaker, But Keeps VP Door Open
• EU delegation in Iran barred from speaking to foreign media
• U.S. reports 22 air strikes against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq
• Britain to send 125 more troops to Iraq in fight against IS
• Britain to expand Iraq training mission to counter IS: Cameron
• Iraq: Troops advance against IS in key refinery town
• Autopsy performed on former Iraq Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz
• Iraq forces 'advance in strategic northern town'
• In sorrow, Obama-Biden put personal bond on public display
• Syrian army regains ground against Islamic State in Hasaka city
• A year after IS assault, Iraq still on the brink
• Gitmo veteran now steering Europe's youths away from jihad
• Suicide car bomb kills 15 in Iraq: police
• Chaffee Challenges Clinton with His Caustic Comments
• OPEC unlikely to lose oil influence to US shale: analysts
• Today in History
• 'Stalkers': Tracking IS's female cheerleaders online

Demirtas: bright new star of Turkish politics Posted: 07 Jun 2015 03:41 PM PDT The leader of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas has emerged as a potent force in national politics after guiding his party past Turkey's notoriously tough 10-percent threshold to win dozens of seats in legislative elections. In a bruising campaign, Demirtas successfully reached out to non-Kurdish voters and won praise for his statesman-like response to a bomb attack on a party rally that killed two people just two days before Sunday's polls. Demirtas will now lead 79 MPs in the new parliament after scooping over 13 percent of the vote.

In praise of Beau Biden, a more graceful portrait of the father emerges Posted: 07 Jun 2015 02:50 PM PDT For much of his more than six years as vice president, Joe Biden has been a willing caricature. When the often over-starched Obama administration needed a bluer collar, Mr. Biden got the call. This weekend, however, Joe Biden was simply a father.

Bahrain says it has broken up Shi'ite group involved in terrorism Posted: 07 Jun 2015 02:22 PM PDT Bahrain said on Sunday it had broken up a banned anti-government Shi'ite Muslim group behind a series of attacks and arrested several of its members. The state news agency said an investigation had revealed that Saraya al-Ashtar had been formed in 2012 by two men with the aim of destabilizing the Western-allied kingdom through attacks on security forces. It said the men were now in Iran.

Soldier who killed 16 Afghans says he was 'consumed by war' Posted: 07 Jun 2015 02:08 PM PDT TACOMA, Washington (AP) — The U.S. soldier who murdered 16 Afghan villagers in 2012 says he had lost compassion for Iraqis and Afghans over the course of his four combat deployments.

Marine set to be tried for 3rd time in Iraq war-crime case Posted: 07 Jun 2015 01:04 PM PDT CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) — A retrial is set to begin for a Marine convicted in a high-profile court martial for the 2006 killing of an Iraqi civilian.

Obama uses G7 to press UK's Cameron on defense spending Posted: 07 Jun 2015 12:53 PM PDT U.S. President Barack Obama told Prime Minister David Cameron he hoped Britain would keep military spending at 2 percent of national output, despite London's need to cut a sizeable budget deficit, a British source said on Sunday. Obama pressed Cameron on the sensitive subject in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of Seven industrial nations in Germany amid concern in the United States that defense spending in its closest ally could be poised to fall below the NATO target. The exchange will add to domestic pressure on Cameron to maintain defense outlays.

Al Qaeda in Syria becoming an ever more prominent part of the rebellion Posted: 07 Jun 2015 12:35 PM PDT In the press coverage of the civil wars in Iraq and Syria lately the so-called Islamic State has been getting most of the attention. The group is about to celebrate its one-year anniversary of conquering Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, and it also remains potent in Syria. Last month the group seized the ancient city of Palmyra in the east of Syria, executed around 200 captives, and has since been pushing west towards Damascus.

US-led raids hit IS battling rebels, Qaeda in Syria Posted: 07 Jun 2015 12:23 PM PDT US-led aircraft bombed Islamic State group fighters as they battled rival Syrian rebels, including Al-Qaeda loyalists, in a first such intervention, a monitoring group said on Sunday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the overnight raids in northern Aleppo as an intervention on the side of the rival rebels, which include forces who have been targeted previously by US-led strikes. "The coalition carried out at least four strikes overnight targeting IS positions in the town of Suran," the Britain-based Observatory said.

Obama uses G7 to press Cameron on defence spending Posted: 07 Jun 2015 12:22 PM PDT U.S. President Barack Obama told Prime Minister David Cameron he hoped Britain would keep military spending at 2 percent of national output, despite London's need to cut a sizeable budget deficit, a British source said on Sunday. Obama pressed Cameron on the sensitive subject in a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of Seven industrial nations in Germany amid concern in the United States that defence spending in its closest ally could be poised to fall below the NATO target. The exchange will add to domestic pressure on Cameron to maintain defence outlays.

Gov. Scott Walker Calls Possibility of Taking Online Courses to Finish Degree in WH 'Interesting' Posted: 07 Jun 2015 12:20 PM PDT Gov. Scott Walker, Wisconsin's Republican governor who is considering a bid for the White House, told ABC News that the possibility of taking online courses to finish his college degree -- if he were to win the presidential election and found himself at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in early 2017 -- is "interesting.""I've got two sons who very, very well, before the next election, at least one of them, may have his degree and the other would be just a year out," Walker told ABC News' Jon Karl."Part of it was I wanted to make sure they went through and got what they needed," he said.Wisconsin Gov. ...

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Wouldn't Rule Out Re-Invasion of Iraq Posted: 07 Jun 2015 12:20 PM PDT Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he wouldn't rule out a full-blown re-invasion of Iraq if he were to become the next commander-in-chief. The likely Republican presidential candidate and early frontrunner in several polls said he would consider a re-invasion if it were deemed necessary to protect American national security at home and abroad. Walker has been critical of President Obama's handling of Iraq and Syria for its limited scope but also qualified that he does not believe in "open-ended, limitless engagements." Though he has been sparse in offering specific changes to U.S. policy in the fight against ISIS, the likely presidential candidate said he has been deepening his understanding of international affairs in recent months.

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst Says She's No Kingmaker, But Keeps VP Door Open Posted: 07 Jun 2015 12:20 PM PDT Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst declined to embrace the title of "kingmaker" even as seven potential Republican presidential candidates flocked to her home state to attend her inaugural "Roast and Ride" extravaganza this weekend. The freshman Republican senator simply called herself "an advocate for Iowa" while speaking with ABC's Jonathan Karl. Republican hopefuls including former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio were among those at her event Saturday.

EU delegation in Iran barred from speaking to foreign media Posted: 07 Jun 2015 10:43 AM PDT An EU delegation was stopped Sunday from speaking to foreign media in Tehran, with an Iranian security official threatening action against reporters and photographers if they tried to film the incident. Having called a press conference at their hotel in the capital, the plans of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament were disrupted, prompting an angry exchange on the street. A crew from Press TV, Iran's English language channel which is broadcast worldwide, was invited to interview Brok but he cancelled the engagement.

U.S. reports 22 air strikes against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq Posted: 07 Jun 2015 10:25 AM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies carried out 22 air strikes against Islamic States militants in Syria and Iraq during a 24-hour period to Sunday, a U.S. military statement said. Five of the 11 air raids in Syria targeted Islamic State fighters, vehicles and weapons near the northern city of Kobani, it said. In Iraq, 11 air strikes hit targets near five different cities, the statement said. The attacks were carried out between 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) Saturday and 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) Sunday. (Reporting by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Britain to send 125 more troops to Iraq in fight against IS Posted: 07 Jun 2015 09:48 AM PDT LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister David Cameron says Britain will send 125 more troops to Iraq to train local forces fighting the Islamic State group.

Britain to expand Iraq training mission to counter IS: Cameron Posted: 07 Jun 2015 09:07 AM PDT By Andrew Osborn KRUEN, Germany (Reuters) - Britain is to expand its military training mission in Iraq in the coming weeks, Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Sunday, saying the Iraqi army needed more help to deal with improvised bombs planted by Islamic State militants. Cameron, speaking before a meeting of the Group of Seven industrial nations (G7), said Britain would send 125 new military advisers to Iraq, most of whom would train the Iraqi army in how to counter improvised explosive devices or IEDs.

Iraq: Troops advance against IS in key refinery town Posted: 07 Jun 2015 08:32 AM PDT BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi troops backed by Shiite militias recaptured key parts of the northern refinery town of Beiji from the Islamic State group on Sunday, a general said.

Autopsy performed on former Iraq Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz Posted: 07 Jun 2015 06:42 AM PDT AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — Physicians have conducted an autopsy on the body of former Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, but his body will only be released to his family in a few days, Iraq's forensics chief said Sunday.

Iraq forces 'advance in strategic northern town' Posted: 07 Jun 2015 06:36 AM PDT Iraqi forces advanced against the Islamic State jihadist group in Baiji on Sunday as they battled to retake the strategic town for a second time, officers said. Baghdad regained control of Baiji -- located on the road to IS hub Mosul and near the country's largest oil refinery -- last year, but subsequently lost it again. "Our security forces arrived to the centre of the town of Baiji around 10:30 am (0700 GMT) and raised the Iraqi flag," an army major general told AFP.

In sorrow, Obama-Biden put personal bond on public display Posted: 07 Jun 2015 06:12 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Few relationships in Washington are as complex as that of president and vice president, a partnership forged of political necessity and often defined by rivalry and competing self-interests.

Syrian army regains ground against Islamic State in Hasaka city Posted: 07 Jun 2015 05:07 AM PDT By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - The Syrian army said on Sunday it had repulsed a major offensive by Islamic State militants in the northeastern city of Hasaka and driven out fighters who had taken over key installations on the southern edge of the city. The northeastern corner of Syria is strategically important because it links areas controlled by Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Syrian Kurds have also sought to expand their territorial control over a region stretching from Kobani to Qamishili they see as part of a future Kurdish state.

A year after IS assault, Iraq still on the brink Posted: 07 Jun 2015 02:40 AM PDT A year after the Islamic State group launched a brutally effective offensive, Iraq is struggling to survive as a unified nation, gripped by seemingly endless violence, sectarianism and humanitarian tragedy. The jihadists have been driven out of some areas, but still hold much of western Iraq and remain able to defeat Baghdad's forces and gain new territory despite a year of heavy fighting and some 4,000 strikes carried out in a 10-month US-led air campaign. The Syrian civil war served as an incubator and training ground for IS, while widespread anger among Iraqi Sunni Arabs, who accused the Shiite-led government of marginalising and targeting their minority community, helped the jihadists succeed.

Gitmo veteran now steering Europe's youths away from jihad Posted: 07 Jun 2015 02:37 AM PDT PARIS (AP) — He learned warfare in an al-Qaida training camp, did time at Guantanamo and more time in a French prison. With such a resume, Mourad Benchellali may seem an unlikely youth counsellor — but he is telling his story to young Europeans, warning them against the lure of jihad.

Suicide car bomb kills 15 in Iraq: police Posted: 07 Jun 2015 02:26 AM PDT A suicide car bomb ripped through roadside restaurants at the entrance to the town of Baladruz in eastern Iraq, killing at least 15 people, police and provincial officials said Sunday. The attack took place late Saturday at the entrance of Baladruz, which lies about 65 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of Baghdad, and was claimed by the Islamic State group. "It hit a string of restaurants on the eastern side of town... Most of the people there were truck drivers transporting goods between Baghdad and Kurdistan," a police captain said.

Chaffee Challenges Clinton with His Caustic Comments Posted: 07 Jun 2015 02:17 AM PDT GOP presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul (KY) likes to speak his mind even when it may be impolitic or even self-defeating to do so. Chafee, whose Marine father fought on Guadalcanal and went on to become a senator and Secretary of the Navy under President Nixon, was the only Republican senator to vote against going to war in Iraq.

OPEC unlikely to lose oil influence to US shale: analysts Posted: 06 Jun 2015 11:46 PM PDT OPEC's announcement that it is keeping crude output levels unchanged again, despite a collapse in oil prices, reflects the growing influence of booming US shale but analysts say the cartel is still the dominant player. The 12-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) switched its production strategy in November in order to push down prices and hurt high-cost US shale producers, who need elevated prices to make their operations profitable. OPEC ditched its traditional role of supporting higher prices to boost revenues, and instead left its output ceiling unchanged at 30 million barrels per day (mbpd) -- despite the collapsing oil market and a stubborn global supply glut that is fuelled partly by US shale.

Today in History Posted: 06 Jun 2015 09:00 PM PDT Today is Sunday, June 7, the 158th day of 2015. There are 207 days left in the year.

'Stalkers': Tracking IS's female cheerleaders online Posted: 06 Jun 2015 08:57 PM PDT In a nondescript office in central London, researcher Melanie Smith stares at her laptop, scrolling down the Twitter feed of a 17-year-old British girl who ran away to join Islamic State militants. There are also lots of retweets, from screenshots of IS propaganda videos to news articles, particularly around the time of the Islamist attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris in January. "We saw her retweeting pictures of the cartoonists who had been killed and also others who were celebrating the attacks," Smith said.

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