Yahoo! News: Iraq

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• Factbox: Trump fills top jobs for his administration
• AJC Provides Questions for Mattis Confirmation Hearing
• IS using hobby drones to bomb Iraqi forces in Mosul: US official
• Trump picks Veterans Affairs insider to lead troubled agency
• Iraqi forces push further into northeast Mosul
• The Biggest Intelligence Questions Raised by the Trump Dossier
• Turkey bogged down in Syria as it realigns with Russia
• German migrant arrivals down sharply as Merkel faces polls
• A look at the stakes if US moves Israel embassy to Jerusalem
• Pile of Skeletons Found Inside 2,400-Year-Old Tomb in Iraq
• Bombed Mosul bridge still lifeline for long-suffering civilians
• Barack Obama Leaves Office With a Higher World View of the U.S
• Top Iraqi commander: Mosul could be liberated in 3 months
• Text of Obama's farewell speech as prepared for delivery
• UAE mourns 5 diplomats killed in mysterious Afghan bombing
• Germany agrees to send more troops to Mali
• Germany to deploy helicopters, more soldiers to U.N. mission in Mali
• Turkey says will discuss troop presence in Iraq once Islamic State removed
• Five Moves That Can Help Trump Win Big on Day One
• Germany to deploy helicopters, more soldiers to U.N. mission in Mali
• Bargain alert: If you’re quick, the Honor 6X can be yours for only $200
• Iraq forces have retaken 80% of east Mosul: spokesman
• Veterans care still 'high risk' as Trump mulls VA head
• Fierce battles leave hospital in Iraqi city of Mosul gutted
• Today in History
• US names Indonesian group as terrorist organization

Factbox: Trump fills top jobs for his administration Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:11 PM PST (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday announced he has chosen David Shulkin, who currently heads the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system, to head the agency. Here is a list of Republican Trump's selections for top jobs in his administration. NOTE: Senate confirmation is required for all the posts except national security adviser and White House posts.

AJC Provides Questions for Mattis Confirmation Hearing Posted: 11 Jan 2017 03:00 PM PST NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In advance of the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the confirmation of James N. Mattis as Secretary of Defense, AJC submitted a series of questions to Committee Chairman Senator John McCain and Ranking Member Senator Jack Reed. AJC is a strictly nonpartisan organization that does not endorse or oppose the confirmation of particular nominees, but, as a global Jewish advocacy organization, AJC has a special interest in the position of Secretary of Defense. "AJC respectfully urges exploration of the following issues relevant to Gen. Mattis's leadership of the Nation's armed forces – and his central role in the formulation and implementation of Trump Administration national security policy," wrote Jason Isaacson, AJC Director of Policy, in the letter to Senators McCain and Reed.

IS using hobby drones to bomb Iraqi forces in Mosul: US official Posted: 11 Jan 2017 01:51 PM PST Islamic State jihadists are using small commercial drones to attack Iraqi security forces in the battle for Mosul, a US commander said Wednesday. Colonel Brett Sylvia, who commands an "advise and assist" US unit in Iraq, said IS fighters are attaching small munitions to quadcopters in an attempt to kill local forces as they retake Mosul, the last major IS bastion in Iraq. "They are (now) using them to drop munitions as Iraqi forces push into Mosul," he said.

Trump picks Veterans Affairs insider to lead troubled agency Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:55 PM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday tapped the Department of Veterans Affairs' top health official to lead a beleaguered agency struggling to meet the health needs of millions of veterans.

Iraqi forces push further into northeast Mosul Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:50 PM PST By Stephen Kalin MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi forces made new advances against Islamic State in eastern Mosul and fought the militants in areas near the Tigris river on Wednesday, military officials said, keeping up the momentum of a renewed offensive in the jihadists' last major Iraqi stronghold. Elite troops have pushed into several neighborhoods in the east and northeast of the city in the past few days as they tried to reach the Tigris River bisecting Mosul before launching an offensive on the west, all of which the militants still hold. A Reuters reporter in eastern Mosul saw CTS forces fighting Islamic State militants in Sadeeq, firing toward Mosul University and into the adjacent Hadba area, which army units advancing from the north had breached a day earlier.

The Biggest Intelligence Questions Raised by the Trump Dossier Posted: 11 Jan 2017 11:11 AM PST I've spent nearly 20 years looking at intelligence challenges, including failures. That means getting into what I call the "silent but deadly" organizational causes of failure—so while the news tends to gravitate toward the salacious elements of a story like allegations about President-elect Donald Trump that broke Tuesday night, and ask what's true and what's not, there are organizational questions that this new reporting raises about how well the intelligence community is working.

Turkey bogged down in Syria as it realigns with Russia Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:05 AM PST BEIRUT (AP) — Nearly two months into the assault, Turkey has become bogged down in an unexpectedly bloody fight to retake the Islamic State group's last stronghold in northern Syria. It has been forced to pour in troops, take the lead in the battle from its Syrian allies and reach out to Russia for aerial support.

German migrant arrivals down sharply as Merkel faces polls Posted: 11 Jan 2017 10:03 AM PST Germany said on Wednesday that migrant arrivals dropped by two-thirds in 2016 from the previous year's record high, providing relief for Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of this year's elections. Merkel had taken heavy criticism after her open-door policy aimed at desperate Syrian refugees brought 890,000 asylum seekers to Europe's biggest economy in 2015, contributing to the rise of an anti-migrant movement. "We have managed to bring order to the migrant situation," said Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, presenting the figures.

A look at the stakes if US moves Israel embassy to Jerusalem Posted: 11 Jan 2017 09:38 AM PST RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinians are ringing alarm bells over Donald Trump's stated intention to relocate the U.S. Embassy in Israel to contested Jerusalem, fearing quick action once he takes office as U.S. president next week. They say an embassy move would kill any hopes for negotiating an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and rile the region by undercutting Muslim and Christian claims to the holy city.

Pile of Skeletons Found Inside 2,400-Year-Old Tomb in Iraq Posted: 11 Jan 2017 09:31 AM PST A 2,400-year-old tomb filled with the skeletons of at least six people has been discovered in northern Iraq. The tomb was constructed toward the end, or just after, the time of the Achaemenid Empire (550 to 330 B.C.), an empire in the Middle East that was conquered by Alexander the Great in a series of campaigns, according to the archaeologists, led by Michael Danti, a professor at Boston University. The excavation results were presented by Kyra Kaercher and Katie Downey, graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania and The Ohio State University, respectively, in November 2016 at the American Schools of Oriental Research's annual meeting.

Bombed Mosul bridge still lifeline for long-suffering civilians Posted: 11 Jan 2017 09:20 AM PST By Stephen Kalin MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - The rubble of a bridge blown up by Islamic State in Mosul to block advancing Iraqi forces has become a lifeline for civilians as more and more of the northern city breaks loose from the grip of the ultra-hardline militants. Lumbering over ladders and pipes, civilians crawl onto the span of the bridge, which has collapsed into the murky water, and shimmy up the opposite bank along a dirt path. "The ones who left are returning, and those who are leaving now are coming from ... neighborhoods where there are currently clashes." He said he expected the latest evacuees to return in a day or two as Iraqi forces pushed further west.

Barack Obama Leaves Office With a Higher World View of the U.S Posted: 11 Jan 2017 07:57 AM PST "I think it played well here on style, though perhaps not so much in terms of substance," says Scott Lucas, a professor of American Studies at Britain's University of Birmingham. Obama rattled off various accomplishments during his two terms, including the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris climate accord and taking out of al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden. What overseas residents probably appreciated about the speech was how it highlighted his personal traits that have won him fans across the world, says Mario Del Pero, a professor of international history at the Paris Institute of Political Studies.

Top Iraqi commander: Mosul could be liberated in 3 months Posted: 11 Jan 2017 07:20 AM PST IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — A top Iraqi commander told The Associated Press that the operation to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group could be complete in three months or less.

Text of Obama's farewell speech as prepared for delivery Posted: 11 Jan 2017 06:49 AM PST The text of President Barack Obama's farewell speech Tuesday night in Chicago, as prepared for delivery.

UAE mourns 5 diplomats killed in mysterious Afghan bombing Posted: 11 Jan 2017 05:18 AM PST KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — The killing of five diplomats from the United Arab Emirates in a bombing in southern Afghanistan marks the deadliest attack ever for the young nation's diplomatic corps, though it's too soon to tell who was behind it or if the Gulf envoys were even the targets.

Germany agrees to send more troops to Mali Posted: 11 Jan 2017 02:56 AM PST The German government decided Wednesday to raise the number of troops deployed to Mali as part of a UN mission that is known as the world's most dangerous. The UN's Mali mission, also known as MINUSMA, regularly comes under attack from jihadists. Last year alone, more than 30 troops were killed, more than in any other UN peacekeeping mission.

Germany to deploy helicopters, more soldiers to U.N. mission in Mali Posted: 11 Jan 2017 02:24 AM PST Germany's cabinet on Wednesday approved the deployment of eight attack and transport helicopters as well as 350 additional soldiers to Mali as part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission, sources told Reuters. The helicopters will replace those of the Dutch army, and the additional troops will service and maintain the fleet. After the deployment, Germany will have some 1,000 soldiers in Mali taking part in the 15,000-strong U.N. mission that oversees a peace deal agreed in 2015 between the government and rebels.

Turkey says will discuss troop presence in Iraq once Islamic State removed Posted: 11 Jan 2017 02:16 AM PST Turkey will discuss with Iraq the presence of Turkish troops at the Bashiqa camp near Mosul after the area is cleared of Islamic State, and the matter will be resolved in a friendly manner, Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik said on Wednesday. "Turkey respects Iraq's territorial integrity and unity, and the presence of our troops in Bashiqa is not a choice but a necessity," Isik told reporters in Kirikkale, a city east of the capital Ankara, in comments broadcast live.

Five Moves That Can Help Trump Win Big on Day One Posted: 11 Jan 2017 02:15 AM PST Call for a halt to admitting Syrian refugees until the authorities have the vetting process down cold. Issue an executive order rescinding Congress' exemption from Obamacare, an excellent idea proffered by Heather Higgins, President of the Independent Women's Voice. Next, announce that Congress will repeal Obamacare to take effect December 2018.

Germany to deploy helicopters, more soldiers to U.N. mission in Mali Posted: 11 Jan 2017 02:14 AM PST Germany's cabinet on Wednesday approved the deployment of eight attack and transport helicopters as well as 350 additional soldiers to Mali as part of a U.N. peacekeeping mission, sources told Reuters. The helicopters will replace those of the Dutch army, and the additional troops will service and maintain the fleet. After the deployment, Germany will have some 1,000 soldiers in Mali taking part in the 15,000-strong U.N. mission that oversees a peace deal agreed in 2015 between the government and rebels.

Bargain alert: If you’re quick, the Honor 6X can be yours for only $200 Posted: 11 Jan 2017 02:10 AM PST We liked the new Honor 6X so much, we awarded it our best mobile device award at this year's CES technology event. Here's everything you need to know about it, including how to buy it for only $200.

Iraq forces have retaken 80% of east Mosul: spokesman Posted: 11 Jan 2017 01:37 AM PST Iraqi forces have retaken at least 80 percent of east Mosul from the Islamic State jihadist group, the spokesman of the special forces spearheading the campaign said on Wednesday. "I think you can say that we have retaken 80 to 85 percent" of the eastern side of Mosul, Sabah al-Noman, spokesman for the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), told AFP in the city. Tens of thousands of troops launched a huge offensive to retake Mosul, IS's last major bastion in Iraq, and areas around it on October 17.

Veterans care still 'high risk' as Trump mulls VA head Posted: 11 Jan 2017 12:30 AM PST WASHINGTON (AP) — Veterans health care remains a "high risk" issue threatening the federal budget and quality of care for former service members, auditors say in a forthcoming report.

Fierce battles leave hospital in Iraqi city of Mosul gutted Posted: 10 Jan 2017 10:48 PM PST MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — After weeks of airstrikes and artillery fire, Mosul's al-Salam hospital is little more than a burnt-out shell. Retaken from the Islamic State group by Iraqi forces this month, the building's top floors were almost completely destroyed. The gardens around the complex are strewn with medical records and supplies. Bright blue hospital bedsheets hang from nearby trees.

Today in History Posted: 10 Jan 2017 09:01 PM PST Today in History

US names Indonesian group as terrorist organization Posted: 10 Jan 2017 07:55 PM PST JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The United States has designated an Indonesian radical network behind an attack in Jakarta as a terrorist group and announced sanctions on four militants in an effort to disrupt Islamic State group operations and recruitment in Australia and Southeast Asia.

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