Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Kurds destroyed 'thousands' of Arab homes in Iraq: Amnesty
• Report: Kurdish forces deliberately destroy Arab villages
• With sobering report on sectarian violence, UN puts renewed focus on Iraq
• Canada excluded from anti-Islamic State coalition meeting
• Islamic State frees 270 of 400 people kidnapped from Syria's Deir al-Zor
• Sanders seeks to build on burst of momentum in Iowa
• Grieving mom slams Canada PM over military retreat
• Military chiefs gather in Paris to bolster Islamic State fight
• Duckworth to challenge Kirk on national security issues
• 50 percent pay cut: a tough break for ISIS fighters
• Obama urgers stronger security, trade cooperation with Australia
• Americans missing in Baghdad kidnapped by Iran-backed militia
• Obama touts Australia's contribution to Islamic State fight
• Top Asian News 9:10 p.m. GMT
• Saudi accuses Iran of sowing 'sedition, unrest, chaos'
• Saudi Arabia warns against 'nefarious activities' by Iran
• Iran's elite Guards to gain regional, economic power in post-sanctions era
• 'Dirty Brigades' March On? UN Alarmed by Iraqi Forces' Alleged 'Unlawful Killings'
• Details about 12 Marines missing in Hawaii helicopter crash
• Carter: US looking to coalition for more trainers for Iraq
• After year leading fight, Afghan forces see 'mixed' results
• Turkish operations against Kurdish militants nearing end: PM
• IS halves its jihadists' monthly salaries: monitor
• ISIS Terrorists Get a Big Pay Cut
• White House: U.S. in touch with Iraq about missing Americans
• 'Staggering' death toll for Iraqi civilians since 2014: UN
• Obama, Australia's Turnbull pledge more cooperation on counterterrorism
• Riyadh-based Syrians must decide on peace delegation: Saudi
• The ‘Staggering’ Civilian Toll of Iraq’s Fight Against ISIS
• Obama, Erdogan speak by phone, vow cooperation against terrorism: sources
• The Latest: Calais migrants forced to move deeper into camp
• Former US Army star Petraeus faces possible demotion: media
• About 3,500 slaves held by Islamic State in Iraq: U.N. report
• Libya unity government formed, UN urges support
• Oil price to fall further as market may 'drown in over-supply': IEA
• Europe turns to Morocco in Paris attacks investigation
• U.S., allies hit Islamic State with 24 strikes in Syria, Iraq: statement
• Turkey ends anti-Kurdish rebel operation in 1 town
• Fighting between Syrian army, Islamic State kills scores: monitoring group
• Kurdish entrepreneurs pay price of Turkey's renewed war with PKK

Kurds destroyed 'thousands' of Arab homes in Iraq: Amnesty Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:07 PM PST Kurdish forces have destroyed thousands of homes in northern Iraq in an apparent attempt to uproot Arab communities, Amnesty International said Wednesday. The rights group said the destruction took place after Kurdish forces captured areas from the Islamic State jihadist group, which overran swathes of territory north and west of Baghdad in 2014. Destruction and theft of property has been a frequent occurence in the war against IS, angering residents whose support security forces may need to hold recaptured areas.

Report: Kurdish forces deliberately destroy Arab villages Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:07 PM PST ERBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iraqi Kurdish forces are deliberately destroying Arab villages under their control, according to an Amnesty International report released Wednesday. The human rights group said these actions could amount to war crimes.

With sobering report on sectarian violence, UN puts renewed focus on Iraq Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:00 PM PST All the attention on Syria has relegated next-door-neighbor Iraq to also-noted status. The report registers a toll of nearly 19,000 civilians killed in sectarian violence and several thousand women and children enslaved by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, between January 2014 and last October. In recent months, there have been some signs of Iraq resisting the pull of sectarian violence.

Canada excluded from anti-Islamic State coalition meeting Posted: 19 Jan 2016 03:37 PM PST TORONTO (AP) — Canada has been excluded from a meeting of defense ministers in Paris this week to discuss the fight against Islamic State militants.

Islamic State frees 270 of 400 people kidnapped from Syria's Deir al-Zor Posted: 19 Jan 2016 03:29 PM PST Islamic State on Tuesday released 270 of an estimated 400 civilians, most of them women and children, kidnapped at the weekend when its fighters attacked Syrian government-held areas in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said, however, that the ultra-hardline group rounded up another 50 men on Tuesday during raids on houses in areas seized during four days of fighting in Deir al-Zor, the provincial capital. Rami Abdulrahman, the Observatory's head, said that the group has kept male prisoners between the ages of 14 and 55 for more questioning.

Sanders seeks to build on burst of momentum in Iowa Posted: 19 Jan 2016 03:21 PM PST UNDERWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders sought to chip away at one of rival Hillary Clinton's chief arguments against him Tuesday, saying that the enthusiasm surrounding his White House bid puts him in the strongest position to increase voter turnout and defeat a Republican in the November election.

Grieving mom slams Canada PM over military retreat Posted: 19 Jan 2016 03:20 PM PST Ottawa (AFP) - A grieving mother led fierce criticism Tuesday of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for pulling back militarily against Islamic extremists after seven Canadians were killed last week in overseas attacks.

Military chiefs gather in Paris to bolster Islamic State fight Posted: 19 Jan 2016 03:18 PM PST By Phil Stewart and John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - Defense chiefs from the United States, France, Britain and four other nations meet in Paris on Wednesday to examine ways to accelerate gains against Islamic State, including by potentially ramping up the number of police and army trainers. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter described the gathering as a chance for face-to-face talks among the core contributors in the U.S.-led coalition, which also includes Germany, Italy, Australia and the Netherlands. "I'll be soliciting their views and describing to them my thoughts about how we can accelerate the campaign, including the variety of capabilities, military capabilities, that will be required," Carter said, predicting increases in the numbers of trainers in the months ahead, including of police who can help hold territory seized from Islamic State.

Duckworth to challenge Kirk on national security issues Posted: 19 Jan 2016 03:15 PM PST CHICAGO (AP) — Fighting to hold on to his political career, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk turned a recent Republican luncheon into a crash course on the Islamic State group, complete with a map of Syria he brought with him to western Illinois. He pointed out Russian maneuvers and ISIS territory, called for more U.S. air strikes and touted his efforts to keep extremists from entering the U.S. as refugees.

50 percent pay cut: a tough break for ISIS fighters Posted: 19 Jan 2016 03:11 PM PST According to documents leaked from inside the Islamic State (IS) group, all IS fighters have reportedly had their salaries cut by half. Additional information from the Congressional Research Service indicate that IS soldiers earn between $400 and $1,200 a month, CNN Money's Jose Pagliery reports. First published and translated by Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, a scholar at the Middle East forum and an expert on Islamic State, the documents don't reveal the reason for the pay cuts.

Obama urgers stronger security, trade cooperation with Australia Posted: 19 Jan 2016 02:37 PM PST US President Barack Obama on Tuesday welcomed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the White House, saluting Canberra's role in the fight against the Islamic State group. "We are going to talk about how we can strengthen our cooperation both in Syria and Iraq but also countering violent extremism globally," Obama said. Australia, with six fighter jets deployed, takes part in US-led air strikes against IS targets, and is heavily involved in training Iraqi security forces.

Americans missing in Baghdad kidnapped by Iran-backed militia Posted: 19 Jan 2016 01:26 PM PST By Mark Hosenball, Lesley Wroughton and Stephen Kalin WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three U.S. citizens who disappeared last week in Baghdad were kidnapped and are being held by an Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia, two Iraqi intelligence and two U.S. government sources said on Tuesday. Unknown gunmen seized the three on Friday from a private residence in the southeastern Dora district of Baghdad, Iraqi officials say. The U.S. sources said Washington had no reason to believe Tehran was involved in the kidnapping and did not believe the trio were being held in Iran, which borders Iraq.

Obama touts Australia's contribution to Islamic State fight Posted: 19 Jan 2016 01:10 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday thanked Australia for its "steadfast" alliance and key contributions in the fight against Islamic State group, as he welcomed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the White House for his first visit to Washington since taking office in September.

Top Asian News 9:10 p.m. GMT Posted: 19 Jan 2016 01:10 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Taiwan's new government will carefully manage relations with mainland China and it wants Washington to keep encouraging reconciliation, a senior official of the victorious party said Tuesday. Joseph Wu is secretary-general of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party. He is meeting with senior U.S. officials this week following the party's commanding victory in elections on the self-governing island Saturday. The DPP defeated the Nationalist Party that has forged closer ties with the mainland during its eight-year tenure. The result was widely seen as a setback to Beijing, but Wu said his party's presidential nominee, Tsai Ing-wen, has made clear she wants to maintain the status quo and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Saudi accuses Iran of sowing 'sedition, unrest, chaos' Posted: 19 Jan 2016 01:08 PM PST Saudi Arabia on Tuesday accused Iran of a nearly four-decade record of "sedition, unrest and chaos," as the international community tried to calm tensions between the regional rivals. Tensions between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shiite Iran reached a new high this month when Riyadh and a number of its Sunni Arab allies cut diplomatic ties with Tehran. "Since the Iranian revolution in 1979, Iran has established a record of spreading sedition, unrest and chaos in the region," the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted an unnamed senior foreign ministry official as saying.

Saudi Arabia warns against 'nefarious activities' by Iran Posted: 19 Jan 2016 01:03 PM PST By Angus McDowall RIYADH (Reuters) - The lifting of sanctions on Iran as a result of its nuclear deal with world powers will be a harmful development if it uses the extra money to fund "nefarious activities", Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Reuters on Tuesday. Asked in an exclusive interview if Saudi Arabia had discussed seeking a nuclear bomb in the event Iran managed to obtain one despite its atomic deal, he said Saudi Arabia would do "whatever we need to do in order to protect our people". Jubeir's comments were the first to directly address the lifting of sanctions on Iran, Riyadh's bitterest regional rival, although Saudi Arabia has previously welcomed Iran's nuclear deal so long as it included a tough inspections regime.

Iran's elite Guards to gain regional, economic power in post-sanctions era Posted: 19 Jan 2016 12:52 PM PST By Parisa Hafezi ANKARA (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards did well under international sanctions, and the elite military force is destined to become still richer now they've been lifted. Iran's clerical rulers have supported economic growth of the Guards, rewarding the group for sanctions-busting as well as suppressing dissent at home and helping Tehran's allies abroad - notably Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Now the country is expecting an economic boom in the post-sanctions era and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), will be a beneficiary.

'Dirty Brigades' March On? UN Alarmed by Iraqi Forces' Alleged 'Unlawful Killings' Posted: 19 Jan 2016 12:16 PM PST Iraqi security forces allegedly continued a disturbing pattern of "unlawful killings" and other actions that could be considered war crimes, just weeks after an ABC News investigation exposed a litany of purported atrocities committed by Iraqi forces – crimes that the Iraqi government promised would be investigated fully and would not be tolerated. "For example, on 9 June, a video was posted in social media showing a group of men, wearing what appeared to be Iraqi Federal Police uniforms, burning a cadaver and shouting sectarian chants," the UN report says.

Details about 12 Marines missing in Hawaii helicopter crash Posted: 19 Jan 2016 12:16 PM PST HONOLULU (AP) — A dozen Marines are missing after two helicopters crashed off Hawaii last week. Here are their stories:

Carter: US looking to coalition for more trainers for Iraq Posted: 19 Jan 2016 12:01 PM PST PARIS (AP) — Defense Secretary Ash Carter says he wants coalition and other Arab countries to "greatly" increase the number of trainers they provide for Iraqi security forces and police and adds that that the U.S. will also look at boosting its numbers.

After year leading fight, Afghan forces see 'mixed' results Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:59 AM PST A year after officially taking over the fight against Taliban and other insurgent forces in Afghanistan, local security troops have scored only "mixed results," a US general said Tuesday. Despite billions of dollars in training, donated equipment and assistance over more than a decade, Afghan troops still are having trouble in many situations, said Brigadier General Wilson Shoffner, a top spokesman for the US military in Afghanistan. "Our assessment of their performance in 2015 is that they had mixed results," Shoffner told Pentagon reporters in a video call.

Turkish operations against Kurdish militants nearing end: PM Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:52 AM PST By Daren Butler ISTANBUL (Reuters) - A Turkish security force campaign against Kurdish militants in the southeast has been largely completed, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was reported as saying on Tuesday, as he outlined plans to maintain tighter control in parts of the region. The army says it killed more than 500 PKK rebels in the campaign, adding to a death toll of more than 40,000 people killed since the PKK took up arms in 1984.

IS halves its jihadists' monthly salaries: monitor Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:49 AM PST The Islamic State jihadist group has announced plans to halve the monthly salaries of its members in Syria and Iraq, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said Tuesday. The Britain-based monitoring group, which relies on a network of activists, medics, and fighters across Syria, published what it said was an IS statement announcing the cuts. "Because of the exceptional circumstances that the Islamic State is passing through, a decision was taken to cut the salaries of the mujahedeen in half," the Arabic statement said.

ISIS Terrorists Get a Big Pay Cut Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:46 AM PST "So on account of the exceptional circumstances the Islamic State is facing, it has been decided to reduce the salaries that are paid to all mujahideen by half, and it is not allowed for anyone to be exempted from this decision, whatever his position.

White House: U.S. in touch with Iraq about missing Americans Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:31 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. officials have been in touch with Iraqi officials about reports of three Americans missing in Iraq, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Tuesday. Earnest said no additional information was available. (Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Megan Cassella; Editing by Eric Walsh)

'Staggering' death toll for Iraqi civilians since 2014: UN Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:21 AM PST The number of civilians killed in violence in Iraq over the past two years is "staggering", the United Nations said Tuesday, with at least 18,802 people killed and another 36,245 injured. The figures count only documented casualties from January 1, 2014 through October 31, 2015, and the actual numbers of people killed and maimed are likely far higher, according to a new report by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the UN human rights agency. UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein meanwhile said that the toll only counted people killed in violence and did not take into account those who perished from the broader impact of conflict.

Obama, Australia's Turnbull pledge more cooperation on counterterrorism Posted: 19 Jan 2016 11:12 AM PST By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pledged on Tuesday to increase cooperation on counterterrorism and the fight against Islamic State. Obama praised Australia for its support in Afghanistan and thanked the prime minister for his country's troops' sacrifices around the world. "We're going to talk about how we can strengthen our cooperation both in Syria and Iraq, the state of affairs in Afghanistan, but also countering violent extremism globally," Obama told reporters in the Oval Office at the start of the meeting.

Riyadh-based Syrians must decide on peace delegation: Saudi Posted: 19 Jan 2016 10:51 AM PST A Riyadh-based Syrian opposition group must control delegates to planned peace talks with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Tuesday. The comments by Adel al-Jubeir came after the United Nations on Monday said it was waiting for regional powers leading the Syria peace process to agree on participants for the negotiations. The High Committee formed after an unprecedented meeting last December in the Saudi capital "is the concerned body, and nobody else can impose on them who should represent them" in negotiations with Assad's regime, Jubeir said at a joint news conference with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius.

The ‘Staggering’ Civilian Toll of Iraq’s Fight Against ISIS Posted: 19 Jan 2016 10:50 AM PST The United Nations estimates that at least 18,000 Iraqis have been killed since the start of 2014, a number it says might be too low.

Obama, Erdogan speak by phone, vow cooperation against terrorism: sources Posted: 19 Jan 2016 10:37 AM PST U.S. President Barack Obama and Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan pledged on Tuesday continued cooperation in the fight against terrorism, especially Islamic State and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, Turkish presidential sources said. During his phone call to Erdogan, Obama also offered his condolences for last week's bombing in Istanbul, when 10 German tourists were killed in a suicide attack blamed on Islamic State, and for an attack in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir carried out by the PKK.

The Latest: Calais migrants forced to move deeper into camp Posted: 19 Jan 2016 10:30 AM PST BRUSSELS (AP) — The latest news on the influx of asylum-seekers and other migrants in Europe. All times local:

Former US Army star Petraeus faces possible demotion: media Posted: 19 Jan 2016 09:53 AM PST US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is considering stripping retired general David Petraeus of his fourth star after he loaned his mistress classified Afghan war journals, the Daily Beast news site reported. Three people with knowledge of the matter told the US media outlet in a story published Monday that Carter is willing to overrule an earlier Army recommendation that Petraeus not have his rank reduced. Petraeus, who led the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, fell from grace last year when he was given two years' probation and fined $100,000 for providing classified information to his mistress and biographer Paula Broadwell.

About 3,500 slaves held by Islamic State in Iraq: U.N. report Posted: 19 Jan 2016 09:50 AM PST By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - An estimated 3,500 people, mainly women and children, are being held as slaves in Iraq by Islamic State militants, the United Nations said on Tuesday. The Islamist group, which also controls large parts of Syria, is responsible for acts that may "amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly genocide", particularly against minorities, a report said. Iraqi security forces and allied groups including Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have also killed and abducted civilians, it said.

Libya unity government formed, UN urges support Posted: 19 Jan 2016 09:33 AM PST A Libyan unity government was formed Tuesday under a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending years of bloodshed, but it was unclear whether the leaders have wide support from the warring sides. World powers are appealing to the country's rival parliaments to back the new administration to break political paralysis that has provided fertile ground for jihadists and people-smugglers. The unity government, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, who was named prime minister-designate under the UN-sponsored accord, comprises 32 ministers, the administration announced on its Facebook page.

Oil price to fall further as market may 'drown in over-supply': IEA Posted: 19 Jan 2016 07:40 AM PST The oil price is set to fall further this year as supply vastly exceeds demand, with major oil exporter Iran's return to the market offsetting any production cuts from other countries, the IEA said on Tuesday. "Can it go any lower?" the International Energy Agency asked in its monthly oil market report. "Unless something changes, the oil market could drown in over-supply.

Europe turns to Morocco in Paris attacks investigation Posted: 19 Jan 2016 05:32 AM PST By Aziz El Yaakoubi and Philip Blenkinsop AIT OURIR, Morocco (Reuters) - A few weeks before she was killed in a raid by French special forces beside the suspected ringleader of last November's Paris attacks, Hasna Ait Boulahcen packed her bags and said her last farewells to relatives in Morocco. The 26-year-old Parisian's almost two-month-long trip to her father's home town of Ait Ourir proved to be one of the last stops on her journey from fun-loving party girl to devout Muslim - and possibly Islamist militant. Conversations with relatives and family friends shed light not only on her transformation but also on the role of Moroccan intelligence in helping services in France and Belgium trying to counter the threats of Islamist militant attacks.

U.S., allies hit Islamic State with 24 strikes in Syria, Iraq: statement Posted: 19 Jan 2016 05:22 AM PST WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and it allies staged two dozen strikes against the Islamic State militant group in Syria and Iraq on Monday, the Combined Joint Task Force overseeing the operations said in a statement. In Iraq, 21 strikes centered near Ramadi, where nine of the strikes hit various targets, including an Islamic State petroleum oil and lubricant tank. Other strikes near Al Huwayja, Kisik, Mosul, Qayyara and Sinjar hit several tactical units, fighting positions and other targets, the statement released on Tuesday said. ...

Turkey ends anti-Kurdish rebel operation in 1 town Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:38 AM PST ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's prime minister announced Tuesday that military operations against Kurdish rebels have ended in one mainly Kurdish southeastern town. The military is still fighting militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in two other urban areas.

Fighting between Syrian army, Islamic State kills scores: monitoring group Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:28 AM PST The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group said scores of Syrian government forces have been killed in three days of fighting with Islamic State in the east of the country, where the jihadist group has attacked government-held areas. Islamic State advanced against government forces on Monday near the city of Deir al-Zor after attacking the towns of Ayyash and Begayliya, the Observatory said. The jihadist group is in control of most of Deir al-Zor province while the government is holding parts of the city, including a military airport - one of the few pockets of east Syria still held by President Bashar al-Assad.

Kurdish entrepreneurs pay price of Turkey's renewed war with PKK Posted: 19 Jan 2016 04:00 AM PST "Even if there are clashes and curfews, we want to enjoy our cigarettes and tea right here," says Ahmet Altesh, a graying but spritely man. For more than a month, Diyarbakir's historic district of Sur has been a focal point of massive security operations seeking to rout the young Kurdish militants who have set up trenches and barricades to keep the authorities out. Recommended: Think you know Turkey?

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