Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Saudi severs ties with Iran after embassy attacked
• Saudis cut ties with Iran following Shiite cleric execution
• 'Enough is enough,' source familiar with Saudi thinking says
• NEWS GUIDE: Saudi execution of Shiite leader stokes tensions
• The Latest: Insider says Saudis decided 'enough was enough'
• France, Germany slam Saudi's execution of Shia cleric
• Saudi Arabia cuts ties with Iran as row over cleric's death escalates
• Factbox: Troubled history of Iran-Saudi relations
• Al Qaeda Is Using Donald Trump’s Comments to Recruit Terrorists...and He’s Ok with That
• Anger, protests spread after Saudi cleric's execution
• A Muslim cleric’s lasting legacy of peace
• IS threatens Britain in new executions video
• After 1 million migrants, Europe's borders are back
• Video shows IS fighters killing 5 'spies' for Britain
• Sweden could take in more migrants: official
• French military says airstrikes destroy IS missile factory
• Shiites protest in Pakistan, Indian Kashmir over cleric execution
• Top Iraq cleric says Saudi executions an 'aggression'
• Iraq's Sistani condemns Nimr execution, Sadr organizes protests
• U.S., allies conduct 26 strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military
• IS jihadists kill 12 in raid on Iraq police trainees
• UN chief 'deeply dismayed' by Saudi executions, urges calm
• After Retaking Ramadi, Is Iraq Ready to Fight for Mosul?
• Attack on Iraqi military base kills at least 15: sources
• Iranian protesters damage Saudi embassy in Tehran

Saudi severs ties with Iran after embassy attacked Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:43 PM PST Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday after protesters ransacked its embassy in Tehran to protest the execution of a Shiite cleric whose killing has sparked fury. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir made the announcement at a news conference in Riyadh, and said Iranian diplomats had 48 hours to leave the kingdom. The diplomatic fallout come as Iran's supreme leader said Saudi Arabia would face "quick consequences" for executing Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, and as Washington urged regional leaders to soothe escalating sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

Saudis cut ties with Iran following Shiite cleric execution Posted: 03 Jan 2016 04:04 PM PST TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Saudi Arabia announced Sunday it was severing diplomatic relations with Shiite powerhouse Iran amid escalating tensions over the Sunni kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.

'Enough is enough,' source familiar with Saudi thinking says Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:48 PM PST Saudi Arabia's position toward Iran is that "enough is enough," a source familiar with the Saudi government's thinking said on Sunday after protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran over the execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric and Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, suggested the Saudi government was upset not merely with Iran but also with the United States for a perceived failure to respond to what Riyadh sees as Tehran's interference throughout the region.

NEWS GUIDE: Saudi execution of Shiite leader stokes tensions Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:01 PM PST DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Demonstrations erupted across the Middle East Sunday as Shiite Muslims protested Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Protesters in the Iranian capital, Tehran, broke into the Saudi embassy early Sunday morning — setting fires and throwing papers from the roof before being dispersed by police. Demonstrations also took place in Bahrain, Turkey, Pakistan and northern India.

The Latest: Insider says Saudis decided 'enough was enough' Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:51 PM PST RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The latest developments after Saudi Arabia executes a prominent opposition Shiite cleric convicted of terrorism charges, sparking anger in Iran and among Shiites across the region (All times local).

France, Germany slam Saudi's execution of Shia cleric Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:11 PM PST France and Germany on Sunday condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 prisoners, including a Shiite cleric, voicing concerns over growing tensions in the Middle East following riots in Shiite-dominated Iran. France "deeply deplores" Saturday's mass execution, including that of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, the foreign ministry said in a statement, calling on leaders in the region to "do everything to avoid exacerbating sectarian and religious tensions". France opposes the death penalty "in all places and circumstances," it said, in comments echoed by Berlin.

Saudi Arabia cuts ties with Iran as row over cleric's death escalates Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:54 PM PST By Sam Wilkin and Angus McDowall DUBAI/RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iran on Sunday, responding to the storming of its embassy in Tehran in an escalating row between the rival Middle East powers over Riyadh's execution of a Shi'ite Muslim cleric. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told a news conference in Riyadh that the envoy of Shi'ite Iran had been asked to quit Saudi Arabia within 48 hours. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran early on Sunday and Shi'ite Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, predicted "divine vengeance" for the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an outspoken opponent of the ruling Al Saudi family.

Factbox: Troubled history of Iran-Saudi relations Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:22 PM PST (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran on Sunday over the storming of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, in a deepening crisis between the regional adversaries following the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shi'ite Muslim cleric. Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy early on Sunday and Shi'ite Iran's top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, predicted "divine vengeance" for the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, an outspoken opponent of the kingdom's ruling Al Saudi family. ...

Al Qaeda Is Using Donald Trump’s Comments to Recruit Terrorists...and He’s Ok with That Posted: 03 Jan 2016 12:26 PM PST True to form, Donald Trump isn't about to change his hardline stance on Muslims just because an al Qaeda affiliate has a new recruiting video that features the Republican presidential frontrunner. If anything, the real estate magnate has used the al-Shabaab video to double-down on his critique of Clinton.

Anger, protests spread after Saudi cleric's execution Posted: 03 Jan 2016 11:47 AM PST Iran's supreme leader warned Sunday that Saudi Arabia would face "divine revenge" for executing a Shiite cleric as condemnation also poured in from Iraq and protesters took to the streets. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was joined in his condemnation of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's death by Iraq's top Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who called the death sentence an unjust act of aggression.

A Muslim cleric’s lasting legacy of peace Posted: 03 Jan 2016 11:46 AM PST Since the failure of the Arab Spring in 2011, proponents of peaceful protest in the Middle East have fallen on hard times. The violent acts of Islamic State, and the military response of many governments against it and other terrorist groups, have dominated the region's attention. While his trial was deeply flawed and his killing tragic, what is notable was the relatively peaceful reaction, or what the cleric might have wanted  – an effort to affirm Islam as a religion of peace.

IS threatens Britain in new executions video Posted: 03 Jan 2016 11:33 AM PST The Islamic State group threatened Britain in an Internet video Sunday showing the killing of five "spies" it said worked with the international coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria. The SITE Intelligence Group said the video shows five men from Raqa, capital of the self-declared jihadist "caliphate" straddling Syria and Iraq, confessing to carrying out acts of espionage.

After 1 million migrants, Europe's borders are back Posted: 03 Jan 2016 11:04 AM PST STOCKHOLM (AP) — Since it opened in 2000, the Oresund bridge between Sweden and Denmark has been a towering symbol of European integration and hassle-free travel across borders that people didn't even notice were there.

Video shows IS fighters killing 5 'spies' for Britain Posted: 03 Jan 2016 11:04 AM PST BEIRUT (AP) — A video circulated online Sunday purported to show the Islamic State group killing five men accused of spying for Britain in Syria.

Sweden could take in more migrants: official Posted: 03 Jan 2016 10:08 AM PST Sweden could accept greater numbers of migrants if they were distributed more evenly across the country, a government official said Sunday. "There are 40 to 50 municipalities that are facing a crisis, but the other 200 to 220 municipalities say they can do more," Per-Arne Andersson, a top official at the Swedish Association of Local and Municipal Governments, told Swedish radio. Sweden, with a population of 9.8 million, took in some 160,000 asylum seekers in 2015, the highest number of refugees per capita by any European Union nation.

French military says airstrikes destroy IS missile factory Posted: 03 Jan 2016 10:05 AM PST PARIS (AP) — The French military says its warplanes have destroyed a site in Syria used by Islamic State extremists to produce missiles and store weapons.

Shiites protest in Pakistan, Indian Kashmir over cleric execution Posted: 03 Jan 2016 08:26 AM PST Thousands of Shiite Muslims protested in Pakistan and Indian Kashmir Sunday to condemn Saudi Arabia's execution of a leading cleric Nimr al-Nimr, as fury over the killing spread. The 56-year-old Shiite cleric was put to death along with 46 Shiite activists and Sunnis who the Saudi interior ministry said were involved in Al-Qaeda killings. Peaceful protests were held across Pakistan, including in the southwestern city Quetta where about 1,000 people called on the government to reconsider its longtime ties with Riyadh and demonstrators held placards bearing anti-Saudi slogans.

Top Iraq cleric says Saudi executions an 'aggression' Posted: 03 Jan 2016 07:56 AM PST Iraq's political and religious leaders united Sunday in condemnation of the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric which they saw as a deliberate sectarian aggression. "We received with deep sadness and regret the news of the martyrdom of a group of our brothers in the region," Iraq's top Shiite authority Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said. "The spilling of their pure blood -- including of the late cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, may his soul rest in peace -- is an injustice and an aggression," Sistani said.

Iraq's Sistani condemns Nimr execution, Sadr organizes protests Posted: 03 Jan 2016 06:53 AM PST Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Sunday condemned the execution of Shi'ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia while another leading cleric said he was organizing demonstrations in Baghdad and the southern city of Najaf. Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia executed Nimr and three other Shi'ite Muslims alongside dozens of al Qaeda members on Saturday, drawing protests from Shi'ite-majority Iraq and other countries around the world against the kingdom's ruling Al Saud family. "We have received with much sorrow and regret the news of the martyrdom of a number of our brother believers in the region whose pure blood was shed in an unjust aggression," Sistani said in a letter addressed to the population of Saudi Arabia's eastern Qatif region where Nimr used to preach.

U.S., allies conduct 26 strikes against Islamic State: U.S. military Posted: 03 Jan 2016 06:45 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies conducted 26 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Saturday, the coalition leading the operations said in a statement on Sunday. In Syria, one strike struck near Manbij, hitting an Islamic State tactical unit and destroying four Islamic State buildings and a vehicle, the Combined Joint Task Force said on Sunday. The coalition also struck targets near Deir al Zor, Ayn Isa, and Washiyah. The coalition said it used fighter, attack, bomber, and remotely piloted aircraft against Islamic State targets in the region. ...

IS jihadists kill 12 in raid on Iraq police trainees Posted: 03 Jan 2016 05:53 AM PST Suicide attackers from the Islamic State group killed at least 12 Iraqi forces Sunday in a brazen attack on police training at a military base, officials said. "Under the cover of fog, they broke into Speicher," said Mahmud al-Sorchi, spokesman for the paramilitary force being set up to take back IS-held Nineveh.

UN chief 'deeply dismayed' by Saudi executions, urges calm Posted: 03 Jan 2016 03:39 AM PST UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply dismayed" by Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 people including a prominent Shiite cleric, whose death sparked violent protests in Iran, a spokesman said Saturday. Nimr al-Nimr, the executed cleric who spent more than a decade studying theology in Iran, a Shiite power, was a driving force behind 2011 anti-government protests in the Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Following his execution Saturday, angry crowds hurled petrol bombs outside the Saudi embassy in Tehran before storming the building.

After Retaking Ramadi, Is Iraq Ready to Fight for Mosul? Posted: 03 Jan 2016 02:30 AM PST When ISIS was defeated in Ramadi last month, the terror group that directed the Paris attacks and inspired the San Bernardino attack suffered a strategic blow. Ramadi, the capital of Anbar, Iraq's largest province where 1300 American soldiers and Marines were killed since the U.S. led invasion of Iraq in 2003, is the largest city ever recaptured from ISIS. Here's where we stand in Ramadi as we begin 2016.

Attack on Iraqi military base kills at least 15: sources Posted: 03 Jan 2016 01:42 AM PST Attacks by five suicide bombers on an Iraqi military base north of Baghdad on Sunday killed at least 15 members of the security forces and wounded 22 others, security sources said. Two of the bombers detonated their vehicle-borne explosives at the western gate of Camp Speicher, a former U.S. base outside the Sunni city of Tikrit. Three others exploded themselves after entering the section of the base where Iraqi police are being trained, police and military sources in the Salahuddin operations command said.

Iranian protesters damage Saudi embassy in Tehran Posted: 02 Jan 2016 09:54 PM PST TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Protesters in Iran, angered by the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shiite cleric, broke into the Saudi embassy in Tehran early Sunday, setting fires and throwing papers from the roof, Iranian media reported.

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