Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• The Latest: Trump to lay out closing arguments in Gettysburg
• Church bells peal in town retaken by Iraqi troops from Islamic State
• Iraqi villager lives to avenge hostages killed by Islamic State
• No regrets, Trump vows; Clinton pursues his supporters
• Khizr Khan stars in emotional Clinton campaign ad
• The Latest: Clinton says Trump 'threatening our democracy'
• IS raids Iraq's Kirkuk to draw attention from Mosul offensive
• Under fire in Mosul, IS attacks another Iraqi city
• US military reports 2 strikes against extremists in Yemen
• Exhibit of rare Korans seeks to restore Islam in US eyes
• Iraqi advances give hope to displaced Christians
• Pentagon identifies American killed in Iraq on Thursday
• Knights of Columbus CEO Issues Statement on Liberation of Towns in Iraq's Nineveh Plain
• Appeals court revives lawsuit by Abu Ghraib inmates
• Sport is greatest remedy against youth extremism, says activist footballer
• Philippines' Duterte says will not sever US ties
• Pentagon chief sees role for Turkey in Mosul battle
• Echidnas Are the Rototillers of Australia
• Islamic State attacks Kirkuk as Iraqi forces push on Mosul
• Syria's Raqa next in line of anti-IS campaign
• Five questions on the ICC
• Turkey, Iraq reach agreement 'in principle' on Mosul, U.S. says
• The Latest: Iraqis raise flag over church in town near Mosul
• Carter says Turkey should play role in Mosul fight
• Counterterrorism prosecutors seek access to encrypted data
• Air raid near Iraq's Kirkuk kills 15 women: officials
• Africa in the dock at the International Criminal Court
• Campaigns court new citizens as US election nears
• Bunkers and booby-traps as Islamic State makes a stand in Libya
• US, Turkey pledge to work closely to deal IS 'lasting defeat'
• IS may use civilians as human shields in Mosul battle: UN
• Chaos as Iraq's Kirkuk wakes up to jihadist raid
• Court: Iraqi cleric Mullah Krekar can be extradited to Italy
• Turkish Red Crescent says sending aid for 10,000 to Iraq's Mosul
• Obama Is Making Two Huge Mistakes in the War on ISIS in Mosul
• Pentagon chief in Turkey as Mosul tensions grow
• After rejecting Trump, McCain navigates tough GOP path
• Libya forces free five foreign captives from Islamic State in Sirte
• Egypt's fight against Islamic militancy makes enemies
• Turkish military says it killed 18 Kurdish militants in Iraq and southeast

The Latest: Trump to lay out closing arguments in Gettysburg Posted: 21 Oct 2016 05:26 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT):

Church bells peal in town retaken by Iraqi troops from Islamic State Posted: 21 Oct 2016 05:12 PM PDT By Stephen Kalin BARTELLA, Iraq (Reuters) - The din of bullets, mortars and bombs in the northern Iraqi town of Bartella was replaced momentarily on Friday by a sound not heard there for more than two years: the peal of church bells. A cautious calm returned to this historic Christian area following its recapture from Islamic State a day earlier as Iraqi forces push west towards Mosul, the jihadists' last major stronghold in the country. Bartella, once home to thousands of Assyrian Christians, emptied in August 2014 when Islamic State seized control as part of a lightning blitz across large swathes of Iraq and neighboring Syria.

Iraqi villager lives to avenge hostages killed by Islamic State Posted: 21 Oct 2016 03:19 PM PDT By Michael Georgy QAYYARA, Iraq Reuters) - Sitting on a broken chair at a school where hundreds of families who fled Islamic State are seeking refuge south of Mosul, Younis Ali describes how he lost his four brothers and five sisters. "I have learned that they tried to take one brother as a human shield," he said, speaking of Islamic State, who ruled his village until last week. This happened near Mosul, the last city stronghold of Islamic State that Iraqi forces want to take back with air and ground support from a U.S.-led coalition.

No regrets, Trump vows; Clinton pursues his supporters Posted: 21 Oct 2016 03:10 PM PDT CLEVELAND (AP) — Hillary Clinton ramped up her pressure on Donald Trump in the election's most competitive states Friday with an emotional TV ad targeting his criticism of a Muslim-American family. Trump vowed to go all-out in the final three weeks so he'll have no regrets — even if he loses.

Khizr Khan stars in emotional Clinton campaign ad Posted: 21 Oct 2016 02:43 PM PDT Nearly four months after he first spoke out against Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention, Khizr Khan is taking on the GOP nominee yet again. In a new ad released by Hillary Clinton's campaign Friday, the Pakistani-born lawyer and Gold Star father describes the 2004 suicide bombing that killed his son, Army Capt. Humayun Khan, who was serving in Iraq in 2004. "My son moved forward to stop the bomber," Khan says in the commercial.

The Latest: Clinton says Trump 'threatening our democracy' Posted: 21 Oct 2016 02:20 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. presidential race (all times EDT):

IS raids Iraq's Kirkuk to draw attention from Mosul offensive Posted: 21 Oct 2016 02:05 PM PDT Jihadists staged a brazen raid on the Iraqi city of Kirkuk Friday, in what appeared to be an attempt to divert attention from the huge offensive against their Mosul bastion. Residents awoke to the sound of shooting and praise for the "Islamic State" blaring through mosque loudspeakers. Some attackers, whom one senior Kirkuk official numbered around 100, carried grenades and wore explosives vests or belts in the assault claimed by the Islamic State group.

Under fire in Mosul, IS attacks another Iraqi city Posted: 21 Oct 2016 01:48 PM PDT KIRKUK, Iraq (AP) — Islamic State militants launched a wave of pre-dawn attacks in and around the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Friday, killing at least 14 people and setting off fierce clashes with Kurdish security forces that were still raging after sundown.

US military reports 2 strikes against extremists in Yemen Posted: 21 Oct 2016 01:27 PM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military says it launched two attacks earlier this month in Yemen, killing eight people associated with the extremist group known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Exhibit of rare Korans seeks to restore Islam in US eyes Posted: 21 Oct 2016 01:20 PM PDT A first US showing of rare old Korans opens Saturday in a Washington museum, highlighting a different side of Islam at a time when the religion's image in America has been scarred by a divisive presidential campaign. More than 60 Korans and Koranic texts, dating from as far back as the late seventh century and considered works of art for their exceptionally fine calligraphy, will be featured in "The Art of the Qur'an," running through February 20, 2017, at the Freer and Sackler museums, home to the Smithsonian Institution's Asian art collection. Most of them -- 47 of 63 -- were lent to Freer and Sackler from a single source: the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in Istanbul.

Iraqi advances give hope to displaced Christians Posted: 21 Oct 2016 12:55 PM PDT IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Raeda Paulos could hardly conceal her joy when the television inside her cramped trailer showed Iraqi forces raising the national flag over a church in her hometown, a day after it was freed from Islamic State rule.

Pentagon identifies American killed in Iraq on Thursday Posted: 21 Oct 2016 11:59 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has identified the American killed in Iraq on Thursday as a 34-year-old Navy chief petty officer named Jason C. Finan.

Knights of Columbus CEO Issues Statement on Liberation of Towns in Iraq's Nineveh Plain Posted: 21 Oct 2016 11:40 AM PDT "While welcoming the ongoing liberation of the Nineveh plain and Mosul, we must not forget that the genocide begun by ISIS will continue through attrition and neglect unless the United States and international community prioritize those groups that were targeted for extermination and risk disappearing altogether. Donations can be made to the Knights' efforts at ChristiansatRisk.org.

Appeals court revives lawsuit by Abu Ghraib inmates Posted: 21 Oct 2016 11:25 AM PDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated a lawsuit filed by four former inmates of Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, who say they were tortured by civilian military contractors.

Sport is greatest remedy against youth extremism, says activist footballer Posted: 21 Oct 2016 11:17 AM PDT By Zoe Tabary LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Sport is a universal language that can help prevent extremism and racism among young people, London-born Pakistani footballer Kashif Siddiqi said on Friday, urging governments to do more to bring together players from different religions. Siddiqi, co-founder of Football for Peace, a charity that puts on matches between communities of different ethnic or cultural backgrounds, said being born to a Ugandan mother and an Indian father had taught him a lot about cultural diversity. "The communities we bring together play in one team, so they have to talk to each other – just like in football you can't win if you don't pass the ball to teammates," said Siddiqi, who has played for Pakistan at international level.

Philippines' Duterte says will not sever US ties Posted: 21 Oct 2016 11:16 AM PDT Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Saturday he would not sever his nation's alliance with the United States, as he clarified his announcement that he planned to "separate". It's in the best interests of my country that I don't do that," Duterte told reporters in his hometown of Davao after returning from China. The firebrand leader signalled on Thursday during his four-day state visit to Beijing that he intended to end the Philippines' 70-year alliance with the United States in favour of China and Russia.

Pentagon chief sees role for Turkey in Mosul battle Posted: 21 Oct 2016 10:46 AM PDT US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said Friday he was confident that Turkey would take part in the operation to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State group. "I think there is agreement there in principle," he said after a visit to Turkey, following tensions between Ankara and Baghdad that have alarmed Washington. "Iraq understands that Turkey as a member of the counter-ISIL (IS) coalition will play a role in counter-ISIL operations in Iraq and secondly that Turkey since it neighbours the region of Mosul has an interest (in) the ultimate outcome in Mosul," Carter said.

Echidnas Are the Rototillers of Australia Posted: 21 Oct 2016 10:15 AM PDT Australia's funny-faced, spike-covered echidnas don't get the attention paid to the country's cuddly koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. For Clemente, the study started out as a way to better understand the locomotive biomechanics of the echidna.

Islamic State attacks Kirkuk as Iraqi forces push on Mosul Posted: 21 Oct 2016 10:11 AM PDT By Michael Georgy QAYYARA, Iraq (Reuters) - Islamic State launched a major attack on the city of Kirkuk on Friday as Iraqi and Kurdish forces pursued operations to seize territory around Mosul in preparation for an offensive on the jihadists' last major stronghold in Iraq. Islamic State's assault on Kirkuk, which lies in an oil- producing region, killed 18 members of the security forces and workers at a power station outside the city, including two Iranians, a hospital source said. Kirkuk is located east of Hawija, a pocket still under control of Islamic State that lies between Baghdad and Mosul.

Syria's Raqa next in line of anti-IS campaign Posted: 21 Oct 2016 09:56 AM PDT The Syrian city of Raqa, the Islamic State group's de facto capital, stands next in line in the battle against jihadists after this week's assault on Mosul in Iraq. French President Francois Hollande has warned that IS jihadists under attack by Iraqi and Kurdish forces in Mosul are already fleeing across the border to Raqa. "We can't afford mistakes in the pursuit of the terrorists who are already leaving Mosul for Raqa," he said, pointing to the Syrian city as the next target.

Five questions on the ICC Posted: 21 Oct 2016 09:42 AM PDT Once a champion of the International Criminal Court (ICC), South Africa dealt a blow to the world tribunal Friday by announcing its intention to withdraw, a move that came on the heels of a similar move by Burundi. The ICC's founding Rome Statute "is a treaty and parties are free to leave it as they want," said Aaron Matta, senior researcher at the Hague Institute for Global Justice think-tank. "South Africa's decision to leave sends the wrong message.

Turkey, Iraq reach agreement 'in principle' on Mosul, U.S. says Posted: 21 Oct 2016 09:23 AM PDT By Phil Stewart ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey and Iraq have reached an agreement in principle that could eventually allow a Turkish role in the campaign to retake Mosul from Islamic State, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Friday after talks with President Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan has previously voiced frustration that NATO member Turkey has not been more involved in the U.S.-backed assault on the Iraqi city, once part of the Ottoman empire and still seen by Turkey as firmly within its sphere of influence.

The Latest: Iraqis raise flag over church in town near Mosul Posted: 21 Oct 2016 09:22 AM PDT IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — The Latest on the developments in Iraq where Iraqi forces and their allies launched a major offensive this week to retake Mosul, the country's second-largest city from the Islamic State group (all times local):

Carter says Turkey should play role in Mosul fight Posted: 21 Oct 2016 09:01 AM PDT ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — There "is an agreement in principle" for Turkey to play a role in the battle to retake the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State group, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Friday, expressing optimism that friction between the Turks and Iraqis can be worked out.

Counterterrorism prosecutors seek access to encrypted data Posted: 21 Oct 2016 08:43 AM PDT PARIS (AP) — Prosecutors from France, Belgium, Spain and Morocco called Friday for the ability to unlock phones and computers and to gain access to encrypted communications to aid in the fight against terrorism.

Air raid near Iraq's Kirkuk kills 15 women: officials Posted: 21 Oct 2016 08:22 AM PDT Kirkuk (Iraq) (AFP) - An air strike killed 15 women on Friday at a shrine near the city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq, local officials and medics said.

Africa in the dock at the International Criminal Court Posted: 21 Oct 2016 07:48 AM PDT The International Criminal Court -- dealt a blow Friday with South Africa's decision to withdraw from the tribunal -- has launched nine investigations in eight African countries since its establishment in 2002. A 10th was opened in Georgia, the only country outside Africa. Here are details of the main indictments and cases before the world's first permanent war crimes court.

Campaigns court new citizens as US election nears Posted: 21 Oct 2016 07:28 AM PDT Soledad Herrera has lived in the United States for nearly half-a-century and never cast a single vote. The 74-year old mother of 10 took the oath of citizenship this week in Los Angeles, alongside 4,000 other immigrants. As new US citizens, they are eligible to vote in the presidential election.

Bunkers and booby-traps as Islamic State makes a stand in Libya Posted: 21 Oct 2016 07:06 AM PDT Sheltering in tunnels, improvised bunkers and rooms fortified by sand-filled fridges, Islamic State is holding out in the Libyan city of Sirte, defending itself with snipers, booby-traps and car bombs against pro-government forces. After a six-month campaign of often fierce street fighting, Islamic State militants are surrounded in a district less than one-kilometre square, after hundreds of U.S. air strikes that began in August in support of Libyan forces. The battle for Sirte, taken by Islamic State more than a year ago, may be over soon.

US, Turkey pledge to work closely to deal IS 'lasting defeat' Posted: 21 Oct 2016 06:46 AM PDT US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter vowed during a visit to Ankara on Friday to ramp up joint efforts with Turkey to deal Islamic State jihadists a "lasting defeat", the Pentagon said. Carter met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, as well as Defence Minister Fikri Isik on a flying visit to Turkey, a crucial but sensitive NATO ally in the fight against the IS group. "Both sides agreed to maintain frequent communication on the full range of mutual interests, including close coordination and continued transparency in the coalition effort to deal ISIL a lasting defeat," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement, using another name for the jihadist group.

IS may use civilians as human shields in Mosul battle: UN Posted: 21 Oct 2016 06:37 AM PDT Islamic State group fighters may be preparing to use civilians as human shields, or simply kill them, rather than let them be liberated in an Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul, the UN said Friday. Elite Iraqi troops have been closing in on Mosul, the last jihadist bastion in Iraq, in a long-anticipated offensive. United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said his office had reports that civilians were being held close to IS fighter positions in Mosul, possibly as a buffer against advancing Iraqi forces.

Chaos as Iraq's Kirkuk wakes up to jihadist raid Posted: 21 Oct 2016 06:09 AM PDT The day was about to break when Haidar Abdelhussein, a 35-year-old teacher, heard shooting and looked out the door to see heavily armed jihadist fighters on his street. Within a few minutes on Friday morning, Iraq's city of Kirkuk, which the Islamic State jihadist had never occupied, was turned into a war zone. The small group of fighters entered Al-Mohammadi mosque, in the Tesaeen neighbourhood where Abdelhussein lives, and used the loudspeakers.

Court: Iraqi cleric Mullah Krekar can be extradited to Italy Posted: 21 Oct 2016 05:21 AM PDT COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — An Iraqi-born cleric can be extradited to Italy, which suspects him of enticing recruits to fight in Iraq and Syria, a Norwegian court said Friday.

Turkish Red Crescent says sending aid for 10,000 to Iraq's Mosul Posted: 21 Oct 2016 04:17 AM PDT By Ercan Gurses and Tuvan Gumrukcu ANKARA (Reuters) - The Turkish Red Crescent is sending trucks of aid to northern Iraq with enough food and humanitarian supplies for 10,000 people displaced by fighting in Mosul, the president of the agency said on Friday. Iraqi and Kurdish forces have seized territory around Mosul in recent days in preparation for a long-anticipated offensive on the last major stronghold held by Islamic State in Iraq. "In the first stage, we are sending this aid to the nearly 30 villages around Mosul that have been liberated.

Obama Is Making Two Huge Mistakes in the War on ISIS in Mosul Posted: 21 Oct 2016 02:15 AM PDT The long-anticipated battle to retake Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, is the biggest test to date for President Obama's strategy against ISIS and other terrorist groups active in the Middle East. Paradoxically, the forces assembled against the Islamic State may succeed only to hand Obama another Mideast failure. Related: The Battle for Mosul: Has the US Backed an Incompetent Commander in Iraq?

Pentagon chief in Turkey as Mosul tensions grow Posted: 21 Oct 2016 12:27 AM PDT US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter arrived in Ankara on Friday for talks with the leaders of Turkey, a crucial but sensitive ally in the fight against the Islamic State group. The Pentagon chief was due to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, as well as Defence Minister Fikri Isik. Washington is worried by tensions between Turkey and Iraq as the long-awaited battle to retake Iraq's second city Mosul from IS jihadists enters a decisive phase.

After rejecting Trump, McCain navigates tough GOP path Posted: 21 Oct 2016 12:25 AM PDT PHOENIX (AP) — In his pursuit of a sixth term, Republican Sen. John McCain reluctantly stood by Donald Trump for months despite personal insults and the bombastic businessman's string of controversial claims.

Libya forces free five foreign captives from Islamic State in Sirte Posted: 20 Oct 2016 11:46 PM PDT Libyan pro-government forces have freed five foreign nationals held by Islamic State in Sirte after heavy fighting in their battle to capture the final district of the city, a local official said on Thursday. Islamic State took over Sirte more than a year ago, profiting from chaos caused by infighting among rival brigades of Libyan forces who once battled together to oust Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, but steadily turned against each other. Two of the freed foreigners were from Turkey, two from India and one from Bangladesh, said Rida Issa, a spokesman for the Bonyan Marsous forces which have been battling for six months against militants in Sirte.

Egypt's fight against Islamic militancy makes enemies Posted: 20 Oct 2016 11:45 PM PDT CAIRO (AP) — Egypt has made fighting Islamic militants its overriding foreign policy objective, a decision that has brought it closer to Syrian President Bashar Assad, Russia and Iran, in turn antagonizing its chief financial backer, Saudi Arabia.

Turkish military says it killed 18 Kurdish militants in Iraq and southeast Posted: 20 Oct 2016 11:44 PM PDT The Turkish military said on Friday it had killed 12 Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey and another six in air strikes in northern Iraq, while also targeting their allied fighters in northern Syria. Twelve of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas were "neutralized" on Thursday in the Cukurca district of Hakkari province, near the Iraqi border, the army statement said. In northern Iraq, the Turkish air strikes hit the Avashin Basyan region, killing six PKK fighters and destroying four targets on Thursday, it added.

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