Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Wounded Warrior Project Announces Changes to Maximize Impact
• Slain IS figure was powerful leader with multiple roles
• Libyan forces prepare for last push against Islamic State in Sirte
• A year after height of migrant crisis, Merkel's party dips in poll
• The Inverted Politics of American Exceptionalism
• Clinton touts 'American exceptionalism' in appeal to Republicans
• Turkey wants to 'cleanse' strip of territory on Syrian border
• The Latest: Turkey strikes IS targets in Syria
• Anti-immigrant party overtakes Merkel's CDU in German state election poll
• Top Asian News 4:35 p.m. GMT
• After Turkish offensive, Syrian town starts erasing legacy of Islamic State
• Iraq's Sunni militias recruit mid-teens to fight Islamic State
• US, Russia claim credit as IS spokesman killed in Syria
• U.S. designates former Shabaab leader allied to IS as 'terrorist'
• Iranian Revolutionary Guard general killed in Aleppo
• Germany investigating 64 suspected extremist Islamists in armed forces
• Death of Islamic State's tactician comes at critical moment
• Kazakhstan arrests 21 suspected of plotting 'terrorist' attacks
• Soccer-Japan underprepared but fired up for UAE tie
• Tunisia police kill two militants, seize bomb belt in raid
• Iranian ex-general killed fighting jihadists in Syria
• How has Obama changed US? 6 views from Asia
• Exclusive: Islamic State ax attacker planned to move to Germany - sources
• Cast assembles for 'Last Flag Flying'
• Soccer-Postecoglou warns Australia against home failure
• Tunisia police kill two militants, civilian in raid after army ambush -source
• Political issues weigh on upcoming G-20 summit in China
• China out to prove World Cup run no fluke
• Key Islamic State leader killed in apparent U.S. strike in Syria
• Away from home, China begins bid for World Cup glory
• Indonesians keep pride in Obama link even as high hopes dim
• Today in History

Wounded Warrior Project Announces Changes to Maximize Impact Posted: 31 Aug 2016 02:26 PM PDT JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The new CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), Lieutenant General Mike Linnington, United States Army, Retired, is announcing changes to the structure of the organization to fulfill its mission to provide quality care and support to America's wounded service members and veterans. Since his appointment on July 18, he has worked closely with the WWP leadership team to conduct an extensive review of the organizational structure and staffing model. "We are focused squarely on providing our nation's post-9/11 wounded warriors with the best services and programs that when integrated with other government and nongovernment support, will address their current and emerging needs.

Slain IS figure was powerful leader with multiple roles Posted: 31 Aug 2016 02:04 PM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — With the killing of Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, the Islamic State group lost one of its most powerful figures, a militant with multiple roles: A propaganda chief, overseer of spectacular attacks in Europe and a trusted lieutenant of the group's top leader.

Libyan forces prepare for last push against Islamic State in Sirte Posted: 31 Aug 2016 12:57 PM PDT By Aidan Lewis SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - Behind the front lines in the Libyan city of Sirte, ageing tanks crunch through the debris of battle to new positions and resting fighters drink sweetened coffee waiting for orders to advance. Ahead, Islamic state militants besieged in a single residential neighborhood and targeted by U.S. air strikes deploy mines, snipers and suicide bombers to defend their shrinking area. "This is their last chance." Islamic State exploited Libya's divisions to seize Sirte and rule it largely undisturbed for more than a year.

A year after height of migrant crisis, Merkel's party dips in poll Posted: 31 Aug 2016 12:25 PM PDT Support for Angela Merkel's conservatives has slipped as more voters turn to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD), two polls showed on Wednesday, a year after she prompted criticism by saying Germany would cope with the migrant crisis. A Forsa poll showed support for her conservatives, still the biggest group, had fallen to 33 percent, down two points from last week and eight points from a year ago. The AfD rose two points to 12 percent, their second-highest level this year.

The Inverted Politics of American Exceptionalism Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:36 AM PDT Hillary Clinton is making a case for American exceptionalism. "The United States is an exceptional nation," she said on Wednesday at the American Legion's national convention in Cincinnati. "It's not just that we have the greatest military, or that our economy is larger than any on Earth, it's also the strength of our values." Clinton added: "Our power comes with a responsibility to lead."

Clinton touts 'American exceptionalism' in appeal to Republicans Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:34 AM PDT By Jonathan Allen CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, speaking to a U.S. veterans group on Wednesday, made an open appeal to Republican and independent voters concerned about rival Donald Trump's national security credentials and his fitness for office. It's not just about differences over policy," Clinton told an American Legion convention in Cincinnati. "It truly is about who has the experience and the temperament to serve as president and commander in chief." Clinton, a former secretary of state and former U.S. senator, at times sounded like the Republican candidates Trump defeated to win his party's presidential nomination.

Turkey wants to 'cleanse' strip of territory on Syrian border Posted: 31 Aug 2016 11:16 AM PDT By David Dolan JARABLUS, Syria (Reuters) - Turkey wants to clear Islamic State from a 90-km (56-mile) stretch of territory on the Syrian side of its border, an official said on Wednesday, a week after it launched an incursion that has strained ties with the United States. Operation "Euphrates Shield", in which Turkish troops and tanks entered Syria in support of rebels for the first time, began on Aug. 24 with the swift capture of Jarablus, a town a few km (miles) inside Syria that was held by the militant group. The bulk of Turkish-backed forces have since moved further south into territory held by militias loyal to the Kurdish-aligned Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition supported by Washington in its bid to defeat the jihadists.

The Latest: Turkey strikes IS targets in Syria Posted: 31 Aug 2016 10:40 AM PDT BEIRUT (AP) — The Latest on the conflict in Syria (all times local):

Anti-immigrant party overtakes Merkel's CDU in German state election poll Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:58 AM PDT The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) has overtaken Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) in a pre-election poll in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Cicero magazine said on Wednesday. The poll, conducted by the Insa Institute for the monthly Cicero, forecast the AfD would win 23 percent of the vote in Sunday's state election, compared to 20 percent for the CDU, which would mark a huge setback for Merkel in her home state.

Top Asian News 4:35 p.m. GMT Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:35 AM PDT NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar has a unique opportunity to end decades of ethnic rebellions in various parts of the country, leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Wednesday as she promised that her government will guarantee rebel groups equal rights and respect in historic peace talks that her government organized. Suu Kyi was speaking at the start of the five-day negotiations aimed at ending decades of separatist insurgencies that have claimed thousands of lives. The talks are being attended by representatives of 17 of the 20 major ethnic groups, including the Karen, Kachin, Shan and Wa, who make up 40 percent of the country's population.

After Turkish offensive, Syrian town starts erasing legacy of Islamic State Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:26 AM PDT By David Dolan JARABLUS, Syria (Reuters) - The silhouette of an Islamic State fighter on a rearing horse, a black flag in his hand and a saber by his side, is among the disappearing traces of the jihadists' grip on this Syrian border town a week after Turkish-backed rebels swept in. "It is ecstasy," said Husyein Kakmaz, 46, a Jarablus resident who made his living as a driver before Islamic State seized the town, nestled in hazelnut and olive groves on the border with Turkey. Syrian rebels, mostly Arab and Turkmen, swept into Jarablus last Wednesday in an incursion backed by Turkish special forces, tanks and jets, an operation meant to drive Islamic State from the town and surrounding territory and to prevent Kurdish militia fighters from seizing control in their wake.

Iraq's Sunni militias recruit mid-teens to fight Islamic State Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:18 AM PDT By Stephen Kalin DEBAGA CAMP, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi tribal militias are recruiting youths in their mid-teens from a camp for displaced people to fight in the battle to push Islamic State out of Mosul, the camp's manager and a rights group said. At least seven under the age of 18 have been enlisted this month by two units of a force backed by Baghdad and Washington which is made up largely of fighters from Sunni Muslim areas in Iraq's north and west, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report. An HRW representative the recruits were in their "mid-teens".

US, Russia claim credit as IS spokesman killed in Syria Posted: 31 Aug 2016 09:01 AM PDT Islamic State group spokesman and top strategist Abu Mohamed al-Adnani has been killed in Syria, the group said, with both Washington and Moscow claiming credit. In Washington, the Pentagon said US-led coalition forces had targeted Adnani in an air strike in Syria's Aleppo province on Tuesday but did not immediately confirm his death. Regardless of who was responsible, analysts say his death will be a major bow to IS, which has suffered a series of setbacks this year including territorial losses in Syria and Iraq and the killings of other top figures.

U.S. designates former Shabaab leader allied to IS as 'terrorist' Posted: 31 Aug 2016 08:45 AM PDT A former recruiter for the al Shabaab militant group who pledged allegiance to Islamic State was designated as a global terrorist by the U.S. government on Wednesday, a move that bars him from using the U.S. financial system, the State Department said. Abdiqadir Mumin, who is based in Puntland, Somalia, pledged allegiance to Islamic State militants last year along with 20 of his followers, the State Department said in a statement. Mumin was the first of the senior commanders of the Somalia-based al Shabaab to pledge allegiance to Islamic State, which seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq in 2014 and has been expanding its influence to other regions.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard general killed in Aleppo Posted: 31 Aug 2016 07:48 AM PDT A brigadier general from Iran's Revolutionary Guards had been killed during fighting in Aleppo, Iranian news sites reported Wednesday Ahmad Ghulami was killed on Tuesday by "takfiri terrorists", a label used by Shi'ite Muslims to describe Sunni Muslim militants, according to the Tasnim news site. Iran and its Shi'ite allies, which include fighters from Afghanistan ad Lebanon's Hezbollah, are fighting to support Syrian President Bashar al Assad while Saudi Arabia, Turkey and some Gulf states are funding opposition fighters. Iran has announced the death of half a dozen generals in Syria, and a much larger number of less senior officers since 2012.

Germany investigating 64 suspected extremist Islamists in armed forces Posted: 31 Aug 2016 06:05 AM PDT Germany's military counter-intelligence agency is investigating 64 suspected "extremist Islamists" working for the armed forces, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. People judged to be "extremist Islamists" are not permitted to work for the military. Between 2007 and 2016, 30 "extremist Islamists" went to Syria or Iraq after being employed in the armed forces, the spokesman said.

Death of Islamic State's tactician comes at critical moment Posted: 31 Aug 2016 04:50 AM PDT By Samia Nakhoul and Angus McDowall BEIRUT (Reuters) - The U.S. air strike believed to have killed Abu Mohammad al-Adnani has deprived Islamic State of the architect of its attacks on the West, as it faces the loss of swathes of its heartlands. One of the last survivors of the al Qaeda militants who originally formed Islamic State last decade in Iraq, including its self-appointed caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Adnani had risen to become one of its most influential leaders. "It's a major morale and propaganda blow to the group because it shows that their top leadership is being targeted by an effective and organized chain," Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, spokesman for the joint operations command of Iraq's army, told Reuters in Baghdad.

Kazakhstan arrests 21 suspected of plotting 'terrorist' attacks Posted: 31 Aug 2016 03:45 AM PDT Kazakhstan said Wednesday it had arrested 21 members of radical groups plotting terror attacks in public places, after two deadly attacks that fuelled fears of rising extremism. The security service of mainly Muslim Kazakhstan said in a statement that it had arrested 21 people from three groups after detaining them in two western regions bordering Russia. The ex-Soviet country said it had foiled "attacks on law enforcement officers and also acts of terrorism in crowded public places" and had confiscated weapons, ammunition and TNT as well as "extremist" texts and symbols.

Soccer-Japan underprepared but fired up for UAE tie Posted: 31 Aug 2016 03:35 AM PDT Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic has admitted he struggled to put together a squad for Thursday's 2018 World Cup qualifier against United Arab Emirates, with most of his players either rusty or fatigued. The four-times Asian champions topped their group in the previous round of qualifiers for the tournament in Russia and are favourites to book an automatic spot from Group B, which has Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Thailand as the other teams. Hertha Berlin striker Genki Haraguchi and Sevilla midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake only arrived in Japan on Tuesday.

Tunisia police kill two militants, seize bomb belt in raid Posted: 31 Aug 2016 03:16 AM PDT Tunisian police killed two Islamist militants on Wednesday and seized arms and an explosive belt prepared for suicide attacks during a dawn raid in a central province following an earlier ambush on an army patrol, the interior ministry said. It said weapons, a suicide belt and other material was seized in the house. A civilian was also killed in clashes between police and the two suspects during the raid, a security source said.

Iranian ex-general killed fighting jihadists in Syria Posted: 31 Aug 2016 03:14 AM PDT A retired Iranian general has been killed while battling jihadists as a volunteer in northern Syria, Iranian media reported on Wednesday. Ahmad Gholami, who had served as a senior Revolutionary Guards commander in the Iraq-Iran war of the 1980s, died on Tuesday "while fighting the takfiri terrorists in Aleppo, Syria," said the Fars news agency, which is close to the Guards. Iran uses the term "takfiri" to describe Sunni jihadists.

How has Obama changed US? 6 views from Asia Posted: 31 Aug 2016 02:17 AM PDT As Barack Obama prepares for his last Asia trip as U.S. president, with stops in China and Laos, The Associated Press asked six ordinary people across the continent, "How has Barack Obama's presidency changed the way you view the United States?"

Exclusive: Islamic State ax attacker planned to move to Germany - sources Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:55 AM PDT An Islamic State supporter who was shot dead in Russia after he attacked police officers with an ax had planned to travel to Germany to join members of his family there, two people who knew him told Reuters. Usman Murdalov, 21, and his friend Sulim Israilov, 18, armed themselves with axes and attacked a traffic police post near Moscow on Aug. 17. In a video posted online a day later, they professed loyalty to Islamic State.

Cast assembles for 'Last Flag Flying' Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:54 AM PDT Steve Carell is set to star in the upcoming movie adaptation of the novel "Last Flag Flying."

Soccer-Postecoglou warns Australia against home failure Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:43 AM PDT The importance of winning home matches is not lost on Australia coach Ange Postecoglou who wants a handsome victory when his team meet Iraq in Thursday's 2018 World Cup qualifier in Perth. The reigning Asian champions won seven out of eight group matches, with the only loss away to Jordan, to seal top spot from their group.

Tunisia police kill two militants, civilian in raid after army ambush -source Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:31 AM PDT Two Islamist militants and a civilian were killed on Wednesday after Tunisian police in a dawn raid on a house in the central Kasserine province as part of operations following an ambush on soldiers in nearby mountains, a security source said. On Monday, three soldiers were killed and 8 wounded in an ambush by militants using landmines, rockets and gunfire on a military patrol in a remote mountain area. An al Qaeda-linked group, Okba Ibn Nafaa - based in the Mount Chaambi range near the Algerian border - often carries out strikes on army patrols, police and checkpoints in the rural areas around Kasserine province.

Political issues weigh on upcoming G-20 summit in China Posted: 31 Aug 2016 01:20 AM PDT BEIJING (AP) — While the global economy will dominate at this weekend's summit of the Group of 20 industrialized and emerging-market nations, politics and security issues form the backdrop to the gathering of world leaders in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

China out to prove World Cup run no fluke Posted: 31 Aug 2016 12:46 AM PDT Ambitious China are out to prove that reaching the third round of 2018 World Cup qualifying was no fluke when they take on bogey side South Korea on Thursday. China scraped through thanks to their shock 2-0 win over Qatar and the Philippines' almighty 3-2 upset of North Korea on the last day of round two. It means that China, who boast Asia's most expensive league and whose tycoons are snapping up football assets around the globe, are within shouting distance of the World Cup in Russia.

Key Islamic State leader killed in apparent U.S. strike in Syria Posted: 30 Aug 2016 11:08 PM PDT By Angus McDowall and Phil Stewart BEIRUT/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Islamic State said on Tuesday one of its most prominent and longest-serving leaders was killed in what appeared to be an American air strike in Syria, depriving the militant group of the man in charge of directing attacks overseas. A U.S. defense official told Reuters the United States targeted Abu Muhammad al-Adnani in a Tuesday strike on a vehicle traveling in the Syrian town of al-Bab. Adnani was one of the last living senior members, along with self-appointed caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who founded the group and stunned the Middle East by seizing huge tracts of Iraq and Syria in 2014.

Away from home, China begins bid for World Cup glory Posted: 30 Aug 2016 10:48 PM PDT Despite the improving Chinese Super League and its growing number of famous foreign stars, it is a second appearance at the World Cup by its homegrown players that fans in China truly crave.

Indonesians keep pride in Obama link even as high hopes dim Posted: 30 Aug 2016 10:14 PM PDT JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — As Barack Obama's presidency nears its end, Indonesians still speak with pride of the childhood years he spent in their country, though much of the enthusiasm has faded along with the impossibly high expectations of what the first African-American president would achieve.

Today in History Posted: 30 Aug 2016 09:01 PM PDT Today in History

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