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Islamic World News ( 19 Nov 2017, NewAgeIslam.Com)

Islamic State’s News Agency Claims Responsibility for Srinagar Attack

New Age Islam News Bureau

19 Nov 2017

Photo: Women hold a black flag — similar to the ones used by militant group Islamic State — during the funeral procession of Mugees Ahmad Mir, whom security forces identified as a local militant, in Srinagar on November 18, 2017. Photo: Special Arrangement

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• Pakistan Defence's Twitter Account Suspended For Posting Morphed Photo of Indian Girl

• Arab League Meets on Saudi Arabia's Request to Discuss Iran 'Violations'

• Tennessee Imam Says ‘Zionist Terrorists’ Stole Temple Mount From Muslims

• Afghan Forces Rescue Over 30 People Including Children From Taliban Prison

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India

• Islamic State’s News Agency Claims Responsibility for Srinagar Attack

• Rajasthan Spiritual Fair Booklet Asks Parents to Stalk Daughters To Save Them From Love Jihad

• 26/11 mastermind’s nephew among 6 terrorists killed in encounter

• 8 Muslim youths held near disputed Ayodhya site

• Build mosque, no problem with temple nearby: AIMPLB

• 'Killing of terrorists has resulted in remarkable change in the security situation in Kashmir'

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Pakistan

• Pakistan Defence's Twitter Account Suspended For Posting Morphed Photo of Indian Girl

• Chief Justice Takes Suo motu Notice of 20 Bullet-Riddled Bodies Found In Balochistan

• Sharif, family may soon be barred from leaving Pak

• Pakistan NSA accuses India of creating 'two-front situation'

• Ahsan Iqbal makes last-ditch appeal to Islamabad protesters to end sit-in

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Arab World

• Arab League Meets on Saudi Arabia's Request to Discuss Iran 'Violations'

• Russian Strategic Bombers Strike ISIL Targets in Syria for Third Day

• Syria: Al-Nusra Dispatches More Fighters to Western Idlib to Face Rival Terrorists

• Syrian Army Fends Off Al Nusra Front's Massive Attack in Northeastern Hama

• Syrian Army Seizes ISIL's Last Base in Northern DeirEzzur

• Over 150 Terrorists Escape from Southeastern DeirEzzur Amid Rapid Advances of Syrian Army

• Syrian army, allies take back Albu Kamal from Islamic State

• Curfew imposed to look for Islamic State attackers of village, south of Mosul

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North America

• Tennessee Imam Says ‘Zionist Terrorists’ Stole Temple Mount From Muslims

• Anti-Islam GOP Survey Alarms American Muslims

• US congress passes new bill regarding Pakistan and Haqqani network

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South Asia

• Afghan Forces Rescue Over 30 People Including Children from Taliban Prison

• 6 Afghan Policemen Killed In Taliban Attack

• Sri Lanka arrests 19 after Buddhist-Muslim violence

• CTTC: Ansar al-Islam man involved in Avijit, Dipan, Xulhaz murders held

• Necessary steps taken to reach to a peace deal with Pakistan: Ghani

• China’s envoy for Afghanistan meets Pak army chief amid growing US pressures

• Ghani warns regarding looming water crisis threatening Kabul city

• NDS foil Haqqani network’s coordinated attack plan in Kabul

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Europe

• 'Introduce Sharia Law; Create Muslim State to Avoid Civil War'

• EU Cuts Turkey Funding After 'Democratic Deterioration'

• Russia: Over 2,700 Settlements Join Syrian Ceasefire

• UK government's debt to Iran irrelevant to Nazanin Zaghari case

• ‘The Tatar Language Saved Islam in Russia in the Past: Now, Islam Will Return the Favor,’ Mufti Says

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Mideast

• Lebanon PM Confirms He Will Return to Beirut on Wednesday

• Turkey bans all LGBTI events in Ankara 'indefinitely', citing security

• Israel's Netanyahu to face new questioning over graft: media

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Southeast Asia

• Sultan Of Johor Is A Good Guardian Of Islam In Johor, 94 Per Cent Of Johoreans Agree

• Action Taken Against Individuals Who Insult Islam - Jamil Khir

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Africa

• Sudan’s Islamic Clerics Hail Religious Coexistence

• Al-Azhar Sends Aid Convoy to Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/islamic-states-news-agency-claims/d/113270

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Islamic State’s news agency claims responsibility for Srinagar attack

Peerzada Ashiq SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 19, 2017

Women hold a black flag — similar to the ones used by militant group Islamic State — during the funeral procession of Mugees Ahmad Mir, whom security forces identified as a local militant, in Srinagar on November 18, 2017

Mugees Mir, identified as a local militant, and a sub-inspector were killed during the attack at Zakura, on the outskirts of Srinagar on November 17.

SITE Intel Group, an online terror tracker site, has claimed that Islamic State-backed news agency Amaq took responsibility for the November 17, 2017 Zakura attack in Srinagar, which left one local militant Mugees Mir and a sub-inspector dead.

The security agencies in Kashmir are yet to confirm Mir’s links with the terror outfit that mainly operates in Syria and Iraq. According to the police, Mir was affiliated to the militant faction headed by Zakir Musa.

It’s first casualty inflicted on the group of Musa, who claims to head the al-Qaeda chapter, AnsarGhazwat-ul-Hind, in Kashmir. Musa split from the HizbulMujahideen earlier this year.

One militant, Tauseef Ahmad, was also arrested during the operation in Zakura.

Meanwhile, a Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen spokesman claimed the militant belonged to his group and was “a district commander”. He said Mir was “no way affiliated to AnsarGhazwat-ul-Hind and al-Qaeda links are been established to malign the Kashmir struggle”.

However, black flags, similar to the ones of the Islamic State, were seen displayed during Mir’s funeral on November 18. In fact, Mir’s body was also wrapped in the black flag as his supporters raised pro-Islam and pro-freedom slogans.

thehindu.com/news/national/islamic-states-magazine-claims-responsibility-for-srinagar-attack/article20555507.ece

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Pakistan Defence's Twitter account suspended for posting morphed photo of Indian girl

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Nov 19, 2017

NEW DELHI: Twitter on Saturday suspended the official account of Pakistan Defence, a forum dedicated to the country's military affairs, for tweeting a morphed photo of an Indian girl to promote its anti-India rhetoric.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan Defence's verified Twitter handle @defencepk had posted an image of a young woman standing in front of Delhi's Jama Masjid with a placard reading: "I am an Indian but I hate India, because India is a colonial entity that has occupied nations such as Nagas, Kahmiris, Manipuris, Hyderabad, Junagarh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Goa."

However, eagle-eyed Indian netizens who noticed the post cried foul and pointed out that it was a doctored version of a photo shared by Delhi University student Kawalpreet Kaur. In the original image, the placard held by Kaur bears the message: "I am a citizen of India and I stand with secular values of our constitution."

21h

NailaInayat✔ @nailainayat

True story, there goes the Defence of Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/HV4K9bwpUm

NailaInayat✔@nailainayat

Other than running malicious campaigns against several Pakistani journalists/activists, defencepk was also morphing photos to further its propaganda: pic.twitter.com/qK7ZLQM29G

10:02 PM - Nov 18, 2017

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

32 32 Replies 181 181 Retweets 288 288 likes

Twitter Ads info and privacy

Pakistan Defence had deleted the tweet some time later, but after receiving numerous complaints about the morphed photo, Twitter suspended the account, and it is still offline as of today.

Kawalpreet Kaur @kawalpreetdu

The account of @defencepk has been suspended by twitter for posting my unverified & morphed pictures. Grateful to all who reported it in large numbers. The message of the picture shouldn't be lost in these dark times. No nation wants lynchings& killings. Only bigots wants hate.

8:51 PM - Nov 18, 2017

118 118 Replies 996 996 Retweets 2,324 2,324 likes

Twitter Ads info and privacy

Pakistan Defence, which has no links to the country's government, claims to be the "one stop resource for Pakistan defence, strategic affairs, security issues, world defence and military affairs."

The web portal has been frequently accused of promoting anti-India propaganda and hate speech and running malicious campaigns against Pakistani journalists and activists who were critical of the country's armed forces and intelligence service.

This isn't the first time that Pakistan has used a falsified narrative to tarnish India's image. In September, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations MaleehaLodhi, in her right to reply to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's speech at the UN, showed the photo of a wounded Palestinian girl and tried to pass it off as evidence of atrocities in Kashmir.

India had hit back at Lodhi's attempt to mislead the UN by describing it as "the nefarious designs of Pakistan on India" to divert attention from its role as the hub of global terrorism.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pakistan-defences-twitter-account-suspended-for-posting-morphed-photo-of-indian-girl/articleshow/61708787.cms

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Arab League meets on Saudi Arabia's request to discuss Iran 'violations'

November 19, 2017

Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo on Sunday on Saudi Arabia's request for an extraordinary meeting to discuss alleged “violations” committed by Iran in the region.

The Arab League meeting comes as tensions have been rising between long-standing rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran over League member Lebanon and other issues.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have for decades stood on opposing sides of conflicts in the Middle East, including Syria and Yemen. A diplomatic source said Riyadh was seeking to adopt a condemnation of “Iran and Arab militias linked to this country”.

A committee is to prepare a draft resolution on Iran which will be discussed later by all ministers. The meeting is also expected to address a Yemen rebel missile that was intercepted near Riyadh on November 4, and a pipeline fire in Bahrain on November 10.

Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has accused Iran of “direct military aggression” against the kingdom by supplying the Yemen rebels with ballistic missiles, but Tehran has denied any involvement.

Bahrain has also blamed Iran for the pipeline fire.

In its request for the meeting, Saudi Arabia referred to those two incidents and “to the violations committed by Iran in the Arab region, which undermines security and peace, not only in the Arab region but around the globe,” according to a memo seen by AFP.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supported the Saudi request for an extraordinary meeting, which was also approved by Djibouti, the current chair of the pan-Arab bloc, it said.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have also soared since Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned on Nov 4, citing Iran's “grip” on his country and threats to his life.

Lebanon's foreign minister will not attend Sunday's Arab League meeting, a ministry source has told AFP, but the country's permanent representative would be present. For more than a decade, Lebanon's political class has been largely split between Hezbollah and its allies and a coalition led by Hariri.

In Syria, Hezbollah has fought to defend the government of President Bashar al-Assad, also an ally of Iran.

The Arab League has 22 members, but Syria's membership was suspended at the end of 2011 following months of brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations and an opposition movement supported by Gulf monarchies.

dawn.com/news/1371529/arab-league-meets-on-saudi-arabias-request-to-discuss-iran-violations

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Tennessee imam says ‘Zionist terrorists’ stole Temple Mount from Muslims

18 November 2017

A Somali-American Imam told followers at the Islamic Center of Tennessee over the summer that “Zionist terrorists” stole Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque from Muslims.

“The Zionists, the number one terrorists in the world, had occupied and kidnapped that land long ago,” AhmedulHadi Sharif said in a Friday sermon in July, newly translated and posted by watchdog group MEMRI this week. “And now they want to add Al-Aqsa to their occupations. They kidnapped it.”

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“If we lose Jerusalem, know that it is not going to stop there… The enemies of Allah will come and try to destroy the Kaaba,” he said, referring to Islam’s holiest site in Mecca.

He clarified that “we do not hate the ethnic Jewish people, but we do hate the Zionist oppressors.”

His sermon, first uploaded to the internet on July 24, came amid a spate of unrest in Jerusalem and the West Bank over the Temple Mount holy site that is home to Al-Aqsa mosque.

Earlier that month, the holy site became the focus of a major crisis between Israeli authorities, Palestinians, and Jordan over security measures taken at the entrances to the compound.

Metal detectors and cameras had been installed following a deadly attack in which three Arab Israelis emerged from the site and shot dead two Israeli police officers using weapons that had been smuggled onto the Temple Mount.

The implementation of the measures set off daily unrest and clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police in and around East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The upgraded security measures were all ultimately removed.

timesofisrael.com/tennessee-imam-says-zionist-terrorists-stole-temple-mount-from-muslims/

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Afghan forces rescue over 30 people including children from Taliban prison

By KHAAMA PRESS - Sun Nov 19 2017

The Afghan Special Forces have rescued more than 30 people including children from a Taliban-run prison in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan.

According to the Afghan military officials in the South, the prisoners were rescued during an operation in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A spokesman for the 215th Maiwan Corps of the Army Abdul QadirBahadurzai confirmed that the raid was conducted in the vicinity of Nawzaddisrict.

He said at least four children under the age of 12 were also among those rescued durig the operation.

The local officials are saying that the civilians were apparently abducted on charges of supporting the government or having relations with the security personnel.

The Taliban militants in the meantime claim that the individuals rescued during the operation were arrested by the Taliban fighters on various criminal charges.

Helmand is among the relatively volatile provinces in southern Afghanistan where the Taliban insurgents are actively operating in its various districts and often carry out insurgency activities.

This is not the first time the Afghan forces have rescued detainees from a Taliban-run prison in this province.

The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) personnel rescued at least eleven people from a Taliban prison in this province late in May this year.

khaama.com/afghan-forces-rescue-over-30-people-including-children-from-taliban-prison-03878

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India

Islamic State’s news agency claims responsibility for Srinagar attack

Peerzada Ashiq SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 19, 2017

Mugees Mir, identified as a local militant, and a sub-inspector were killed during the attack at Zakura, on the outskirts of Srinagar on November 17.

It’s first casualty inflicted on the group of Musa, who claims to head the al-Qaeda chapter, AnsarGhazwat-ul-Hind, in Kashmir. Musa split from the HizbulMujahideen earlier this year.

One militant, Tauseef Ahmad, was also arrested during the operation in Zakura.

thehindu.com/news/national/islamic-states-magazine-claims-responsibility-for-srinagar-attack/article20555507.ece

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Rajasthan spiritual fair booklet asks parents to stalk daughters to save them from love jihad

Sriparna Ghosh November 19, 2017

The booklets are being distributed by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. Read on to know the controversial advice given by them.

In a bizarre development, the Rajasthan government has now asked students of government and private schools to visit a "Spiritual Fair" being held in Jaipur in order to discourage love jihad and eating non-vegetarian food.

Women should sweep floors and grind 'chakki' to stay healthy, says Rajasthan education department magazine

The five-day fair, which began on November 16, is also selling books on Christian conspiracies, running a campaign to declare cow as the "national mother" and even calling for students to enrol themselves in other caste organisations.

This new development comes a few days after the Rajasthan education department in its magazine advised women to sweep the floors, fill water pitchers and grind "chakki" (grain grinder) in order to stay fit.

Apart from students, the fair organisers have also asked schools to send a few teachers.

Manuals discouraging love jihad

The fair, which apparently aims to "provide a platform to organisations engaged in imparting services to society to motivate and involve the public to be part of the process of social transformation," has also issued two controversial pamphlets.

love jihad

Pamphlets being distributed in Jaipur fairTwitter

The pamphlets, which are being distributed by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal members, have not only labelled Muslims as "terrorists" and womanisers but have also taken a dig at Bollywood stars.

One of the manuals being sold by the VHP for Rs 5 each uses words like "terrorists", "anti-nationals", "pro-Pakistanis", "womanisers", and "smugglers" to describe Muslims. The purported belief here is this would discourage Hindu girls and women from converting to Islam or marrying Muslims.

'Stalk daughters'

The 16-page manual by the VHP titled "Jihad and love jihad... Hindu girls beware" has asked parents to keep an eye on their daughters' activities at school and college, search their mobiles phones and warn them if a Muslim boy comes home to meet them.

According to a Times of India report, the pamphlet also carries a rate card which features the sum of money a Muslim man gets for luring women of different religions and communities like Sikh or Gujarati into being converted to Islam.

Pamphlets being distributed in Jaipur fair

Rte card with sum of money a Muslim man gets for luring women from different religions.Twitter

The other booklet has a morphed photograph of Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor. It shows the left side of her face covered by a niqab, while she sports a bindi on the right side. It even cites Bollywood actors like Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan as example of men who have engaged in love jihad.

"They have deserted their Hindu wives to entrap other Hindu women," the pamphlet said, according to ToI.

Authorities deny allegations

The English daily report also said when the organisers of the fair were contacted, they denied the distribution of the controversial booklets.

"This is a spiritual fair; we are not distributing any literature on love jihad," Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation (HSSF) co-secretary Rajendra Singh Shekhawat was quoted as saying by the English daily.

ibtimes.co.in/rajasthan-spiritual-fair-booklet-asks-parents-stalk-daughters-save-them-love-jihad-749980

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26/11 mastermind’s nephew among 6 terrorists killed in encounter

M SaleemPandit | TNN | Nov 18, 2017

Photo: PTI26/11 mastermind’s nephew among 6 terrorists killed in encounter

SRINAGAR: In a major jolt to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Kashmir, six top commanders of the militant outfit, including Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaik-ur-RehmanLakhvi's nephew, were gunned down by security forces in an encounter at Chandergir in Bandipora district on Saturday evening.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) commando died, while another soldier and a civilian were injured in the encounter, director general of police S P Vaid told TOI.

Police swung into action after getting a whiff of the meeting of these top LeT commanders on Saturday evening at a particular place in Chandergir. A joint team of the army, SOG and CRPF cordoned off the area. When the joint team began its combing operation, the militants opened fire triggering an encounter, Vaid said.

Lakhvi's nephew Owaid, alias Usama Jangi, was present for the meeting, Vaid said. Mehmood Bhai, the divisional commander of Lashkar who was recently injured in a shootout in north Kashmir, also had come over for the meeting, he added.

"The encounter which ended now, in which total of 6 LeT militants were eliminated. Weapons and ammunition recovered. One of the terrorists named Owaid alias Usama Jangi was the son of ZakirRehman Maki and nephew of ZakirRehmanLakhvi (mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks)," Vaid tweeted.

The DGP, in another tweet, said that LeT commanders Zargam Bhai and Mehmood Bhai were also killed in the operation, adding that all the six militants were Pakistani nationals.

According to Vaid, the slain terrorists were active since the past several years across the Kashmir valley. He said the killing of the six top-brass terrorists was a major setback for LeT outfit.

Incidentally, on November 7, security forces had killed JeM chief Masood Azhar's nephew Talha Rasheed and two other militants in a gunfight in Aglar village of Pulwama district of the south of Kashmir.

A defence spokesman said two soldiers, including an IAF Guard Commando, suffered injuries in the encounter and were hospitalised. The IAF personnel, however, succumbed to injuries, he added.

The security forces recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition from the site of the encounter, the spokesman said.

During the encounter, clashes erupted between locals and government forces in the area. A civilian received a bullet wound on his leg and was hospitalised.

Internet services in Bandipora district were suspended as a precautionary measure, an official said.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/26/11-masterminds-nephew-among-6-terrorists-killed-in-encounter/articleshow/61705622.cms

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8 Muslim youths held near disputed Ayodhya site

TNN | Nov 19, 2017, 08:45 IST

LUCKNOW: A group of eight Muslim youths from Nagaur district in Rajasthan were arrested by Faizabad police on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday in Ayodhya for suspicious movement in a high security zone.

Police and paramilitary personnel deputed to guard Ram Janmabhoomi shrine intercepted a jeep in which the group was travelling near the barricades put at the outer cordon of the shrine around 2.00 am on Saturday. The jeep was stopped since entry on the route is allowed only after permission.

Policemen asked them the purpose of the visit. "They said they wanted to visit Ambedkar Nagar and had lost their way after taking a wrong turn," said officer-in-charge of Ram Janmabhoomi police station, inspector Sunil Kumar Mishra.

Additional SP of antiterrorist squad Rajesh Sahni and a team of sleuths from intelligence bureau rushed to the spot to question the youths early morning. The youths said that they were from Nagaur district in Rajasthan and were in UP since November 15 for 'ziyarat' (a form of pilgrimage) and intended to visit 16 shrines.

Meanwhile, ATS contacted Nagaur police and asked them to verify the addresses mentioned on the IDs. Nothing amiss was found in verification. On Saturday, the youths were presented before a magistrate. "We have challaned the youths for trespassing into a secured zone and also under CrPC section 151. We will give our report to the magistrate and he would take a call on the matter now," said Mishra.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/8-muslim-youths-held-near-disputed-ayodhya-site/articleshow/61708765.cms

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Build mosque, no problem with temple nearby: AIMPLB

November 19, 2017

Ayodhya, Ram temple, Ayodhya temple, Ayodhyahindus, Ayodhya Muslims, AIMPLB, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Maulana Mohammad Qasim, Shahi Imam of Dargah Shah-e-Mardan, said all Muslims are united in their demand for building the Babri Masjid. EXPRESS PHOTO BY PRAVEEN KHANNA

TWO DAYS after spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that Muslims “by and large” are not opposed to construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Friday said that dialogue is not possible “if they already have an agenda to build a temple”.

Addressing a media conference organised by Anujman-e-Haideri, a society of Dargah Shah-e-Mardan in Delhi’s JorBagh. AIMPLB’s Mufti Aijaz Arshad Quasmi said, “We should also get our right — the masjid needs to be built. We have no problem if they want to construct a temple nearby.”

Claiming that Ravi Shankar has changed his stance since their first meeting in Bengaluru on October 6, Quasmi said, “We had met in the presence of leaders from different religions. In it, Sri Sri had said ‘no community should feel disturbed or hurt’. Now he is talking about just mandir.”

Maulana Mohammad Qasim, Shahi Imam of Dargah Shah-e-Mardan, said all Muslims are united in their demand for building the Babri Masjid. Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, general secretary of Anjuman-e-Haideri, said, “In 1992, Supreme Court put a stay on demolition, but still it was done (demolished). In due respect to law and court, the masjid should be made first, and then a status quo order drawn.”

It was announced at the press meet that 5 lakh members from the Muslim community will gather in Delhi November 26 to pass a resolution on this. The Waqf Protection Movement will also be launched that day, the leaders said. The group demanded that Ravi Shankar put the road map for finding a solution to the Babri dispute in public.

In response, a spokesperson for Art of Living said: “Gurudev has not given any formula. He has asked both communities to come for talks in a cordial atmosphere and evolve a formula rthat he can moderate. We don’t know why some people are getting nervous.”

indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-ram-temple-hindus-muslims-build-mosque-no-problem-with-temple-nearby-aimplb-sri-sri-ravi-shankar-4944049/

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'Killing of terrorists has resulted in remarkable change in the security situation in Kashmir'

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Nov 19, 2017

SRINAGAR: A day after six terrorists were gunned down in the Valley, security forces on Sunday said that the year-long counter-insurgency operation has resulted in a remarkable change in the security situation in the region.

Addressing the media in a joint press conference, 15 Corps Commander Lt Gen JS Sandhu said, "We have killed about 190 terrorists as on date, in 2017. Out of these 190, 80 are local terrorists and 110 foreign. Out of these 110, 66 terrorists were killed near the LoC while infiltrating."

"Approximately 125-130 terrorists killed this year belonged to the hinterland of Kashmir Valley, resulting in a remarkable change in the situation in the region," he added.

Thanking the coordinated effort of the Indian Army, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir police and the intelligence agency, J&K DGP SP Vaid said that the Valley needs to be free from gun violence and drugs for peace to prevail in the region.

The officer also commended the efforts of the security forces to successfully persuade young local boys who had joined terrorist organizations to return.

Giving the example of Majid Arshid Khan, a young footballer from Anantnag who quit Lashkar, the officer said that the security forces have achieved substantial success in rehabilitating young local boys who had joined terror camps.

Khan who had joined terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba walked into a security camp with his arms and ammunition and surrendered on Sunday.

Urging the youth who have joined terrorirst organizations to return home, Sandhu said, "Come back to the mainstream, this will facilitate the return of peace to the valley. We are ready to receive them in an honourable manner."

Sandhu also urged the local youth to not fall into Pakistan's trap and asked, "The local terrorists must realize that it is easy to call yourself a Mujahid. But are you a Mujahid, or just a proxy for Pakistan?"

On the question of Islamic State claiming the responsibility of Zakura encounter in Srinagar, Vaid said, "It is yet to be verified, I don't think ISIS has any imprints here."

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/killing-of-terrorist-has-resulted-in-remarkable-change-in-the-security-situation-in-the-region/articleshow/61711363.cms

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Pakistan

Pakistan Defence's Twitter account suspended for posting morphed photo of Indian girl

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Updated: Nov 19, 2017

21h

NailaInayat✔ @nailainayat

True story, there goes the Defence of Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/HV4K9bwpUm

NailaInayat✔@nailainayat

Other than running malicious campaigns against several Pakistani journalists/activists, defencepk was also morphing photos to further its propaganda: pic.twitter.com/qK7ZLQM29G

10:02 PM - Nov 18, 2017

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

32 32 Replies 181 181 Retweets 288 288 likes

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Pakistan Defence had deleted the tweet some time later, but after receiving numerous complaints about the morphed photo, Twitter suspended the account, and it is still offline as of today.

Kawalpreet Kaur @kawalpreetdu

8:51 PM - Nov 18, 2017

118 118 Replies 996 996 Retweets 2,324 2,324 likes

Twitter Ads info and privacy

Pakistan Defence, which has no links to the country's government, claims to be the "one stop resource for Pakistan defence, strategic affairs, security issues, world defence and military affairs."

India had hit back at Lodhi's attempt to mislead the UN by describing it as "the nefarious designs of Pakistan on India" to divert attention from its role as the hub of global terrorism.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pakistan-defences-twitter-account-suspended-for-posting-morphed-photo-of-indian-girl/articleshow/61708787.cms

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Chief justice takes suomotu notice of 20 bullet-riddled bodies found in Balochistan

HaseebBhattiNovember 19, 2017

Chief Justice of Pakistan MianSaqibNisar on Sunday took suomotu notice of media reports regarding the killing of 20 people in Balochistan whose bullet-riddled bodies were found in areas of Turbat and Buleda over the last five days.

A press release issued by the Supreme Court noted that the men who lost their lives were brought to the province by human traffickers with the intention of making them cross the Pak-Iran border illegally.

Justice Nisar has called for a detailed report on the matter from Balochistan's inspector general of police and the director of Federal Investigation Bureau within three days.

The chief justice has asked both departments to inform the court about "the steps being taken to curb such incidents in future."

Fifteen bullet-riddled bodies were discovered by the Levies force in Balochistan'sKech district on November 15, while five more turned up near the same area on November 18.

The victims belonged to MandiBahauddin, Sialkot and other parts of Punjab, and had been trying to enter Iran illegally and then proceed to Turkey to enter Greece for the sake of employment, a senior administration officer had told Dawn earlier.

dawn.com/news/1371524/chief-justice-takes-suo-motu-notice-of-20-bullet-riddled-bodies-found-in-balochistan

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Sharif, family may soon be barred from leaving Pak

PTI | Updated: Nov 19, 2017, 04:16 IST

ISLAMABAD: Ousted Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif and four of his family members can soon be barred from leaving Pakistan in connection with the Panama Papers case as the country's anti-graft watchdog has initiated a process to place their names on the Exit Control List, a media report said on Saturday.

Sharif and some of his family members are facing charges relating to their ownership of properties in London. He resigned as prime minister in July after the country's Supreme Court disqualified him over undeclared income.

Three cases were registered by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 8 against Sharif, his children and son-in-law in the Accountability Court Islamabad, following the July verdict by the Supreme Court.

'Dawn' reported that the NAB Lahore office on Friday initiated the process to place the names of Sharif, his sons Hussain and Hassan, daughter Maryam and son-in-law Mohammad Safdar on Exit Control List (ECL).

According to the NAB Islamabad spokesman, the members of the family may face travel restriction if listed on the ECL. An accountability court had earlier declared Hussain and Hassan proclaimed offenders for skipping court proceedings in connection with the case.

On Thursday, the NAB had requested the ministry of interior to put finance minister Ishaq Dar's name on the ECL after an accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for him. Dar, like Sharif's sons, has continuously been absent from court proceedings in a case against him for owning assets beyond known sources of income.

A senior official told the paper on condition of anonymity that the NAB Lahore had written to its Islamabad headquarters requesting that Hussain and Hassan's names be placed on the ECL.

The NAB spokesman in Islamabad confirmed the other three names - Sharif, Maryam and Safdar - that had been recommended by the anti-graft watchdog Lahore to be placed on the ECL.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/sharif-family-may-soon-be-barred-from-leaving-pak/articleshow/61707830.cms

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Pakistan NSA accuses India of creating 'two-front situation'

PTI | Updated: Nov 18, 2017

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan national security advisor Nasser Khan Janjua today accused India of creating a "two-front situation" for Pakistan, saying such a policy would be detrimental for regional peace and stability.

His statement came during his talks with visiting special representative of Germany for Afghanistan and Pakistan Markus Potzel who was accompanied by German ambassador Martin Kobler here.

According to a statement by the NSA office, the two sides discussed the regional security situation and the prevailing situation in Afghanistan.

Janjua said that Pakistan wants peace in Afghanistan but the same is under stress due to involvement of India which wants to create a "two front situation" for Pakistan.

"India is self-seeking a two front situation which does not auger well for the region. All major powers of the world need to play their role in keeping the region stable and balanced," he said.

He meant to say that Pakistan was being stretched to fight militants on the western front with Afghanistan and face Indian army on the eastern border with India.

The NSA also said that for "regional peace and stability, it is imperative for both the countries to engage with each and resolve their disputes".

He said Pakistan and India should resolve their disputes for the sake of better future.

Janjua also said Pakistan wanted peace in Afghanistan and urged for political settlement of the Afghan issue.

"To end miseries of Afghanistan and its people, warring sides should seek a political solution to the conflict as the perpetual war of last 16 years has given us nothing but human miseries and sufferings," Janjua added.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pak-nsa-accuses-india-of-creating-two-front-situation/articleshow/61697167.cms

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Ahsan Iqbal makes last-ditch appeal to Islamabad protesters to end sit-in

November 19, 2017

As the clock runs out on the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) deadline to the district administration to clear the Faizabad Interchange of a sit-in of religious parties, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday made a last-ditch appeal to the protesters to end their dharna.

Iqbal, while addressing a press conference, reiterated the government's desire to end the deadlock through dialogue rather than by means of force. He observed that the sit-in was not being held for political reasons, but because of the religious sentiments of the protesters.

Reports claimed that during marathon meetings between a ministerial-level government team and protest leaders on Saturday, the government had offered the leaders that all cases registered against them would be withdrawn and a committee would be appointed to look into claims that Law Minister Zahid Hamid was behind the now-withdrawn controversial change into the Khatm-i-Nubuwat declaration for electoral candidates.

However, Iqbal had rejected the protesters demand for the law minister’s resignation, saying that Hamid could not be asked to resign without solid evidence against him.

Iqbal reiterated that compliance with the IHC order to remove the protesters by Sunday [today] was a legal requirement, but added that he had requested the court specially for an extension in the deadline in order to reach a peaceful resolution to the deadlock.

"We agreed to the suggestions they had, and I hope the protesters and their representatives will also reach an agreement so the issue can be resolved and people's lives can return to normal. If all reservations have been dispelled and the law has been reversed, there is no more justification for the sit-in," he said.

"The pressure on us is increasing, and the court has also given us an order [to end the sit-in]," he said. "The government does not want any clashes."

People's daily lives, children's academics and businesses have all been affected by the 14-day long protest, Iqbal said.

He said that protesters should congratulate the government for the historic work of restoring a law that had lapsed in 2002 and now, the Khatm-i-Nabuwwat issue had been settled once and for all.

The interior minister said that in the next few days, the nation would be celebrating Eid MiladunNabi and, therefore, the protesters should ensure that no tense situation was created during these days.

dawn.com/news/1371526/ahsan-iqbal-makes-last-ditch-appeal-to-islamabad-protesters-to-end-sit-in

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Arab World

Arab League meets on Saudi Arabia's request to discuss Iran 'violations'

November 19, 2017

Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo on Sunday on Saudi Arabia's request for an extraordinary meeting to discuss alleged “violations” committed by Iran in the region.

The Arab League meeting comes as tensions have been rising between long-standing rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran over League member Lebanon and other issues.

Bahrain has also blamed Iran for the pipeline fire.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supported the Saudi request for an extraordinary meeting, which was also approved by Djibouti, the current chair of the pan-Arab bloc, it said.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have also soared since Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned on Nov 4, citing Iran's “grip” on his country and threats to his life.

In Syria, Hezbollah has fought to defend the government of President Bashar al-Assad, also an ally of Iran.

dawn.com/news/1371529/arab-league-meets-on-saudi-arabias-request-to-discuss-iran-violations

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Russian Strategic Bombers Strike ISIL Targets in Syria for Third Day

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Russian Air Force continued its efforts to help the Syrian government completely eliminate ISIL in Syria, with its long-range bombers having carried out a new successful airstrike on terrorists' positions.

Six Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, with air cover provided by Su-30 fighters, were on a mission in Eastern Syria close to Iraq's border on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Russian bombers targeted ISIL strongholds in an area near Albu Kamal in the DeirEzzur province. A number of terrorists were killed, while their armored vehicles and other weapons were destroyed, the Russian military added.

The Russian Air Force has been assisting the Syrian Army in its fight against terrorists for about two years. Russia launched its anti-terrorist operation in Syria at the request of the Syrian government in September 2015. In March 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial withdrawal of the Russian Air Force from Syria and said that the primary objective of the operation had been achieved. The remaining aircraft, however, continue to assist the Syrian Army in its fight against terrorists.

The Syrian army also continued its advances in other key provinces across Syria.

Homs

The Syrian army continued its advances in Northern Homs and fended off an attack by the terrorist groups on their positions in Northern Homs.

The government troops engaged in heavy clashes with the terrorists who were intending to penetrate into a military position in areas surrounding al-Houleh in Northern Homs and thwarted their attack.

Meantime, the Syrian government troops targeted the terrorists' military positions and movement with artillery and missile attacks, killing a number of terrorists and injuring many others.

Hama

The Syrian army warded off the Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) terrorists' large-scale attack on the government forces' positions in Northeastern Hama, inflicting heavy losses on the militants.

The Syrian army units destroyed the Al-Nusra Front's bomb-laden vehicles before they could reach the government forces' military positions in the surrounding areas of Marijab al-Jamlan Northeast of Shakousieh village in the Northeastern outskirts of Hama.

Meantime, the Syrian troops engaged in heavy clashes with the Al-Nusra Front around the village.

A military source said the Syrian army inflicted heavy losses and casualties on the terrorists by killing and wounding a number of terrorists as well as destroying their military vehicles.

Meantime, a military source pointed to the Syrian army's goal of reaching Abu al-Zuhour military airport in the outskirts of Idlib, and said the army's more important goal by conducting military operations in Northeastern Hama and Southwestern Aleppo is to reopen a major part of international Damascus-Aleppo highway which passes through Khan Sheikhoun and is adjacent to Ma'aret al-Nuaman and Saraqib in Eastern Aleppo.

The Syrian army continued its clashes with Al-Nusra Front in Northeastern Hama and took control of Kharbeh al-Rahjan village North of SarhaShomalieh village.

Battlefield sources disclosed that the Syrian army was planning to take back al-Zohour military airport in the suburbs of Idlib.

Damascus

The Syrian army warded off the terrorists' offensives on government forces' military positions in Eastern Damascus for the fifth consecutive day, and took control of regions that they had temporarily lost.

The government troops clashed with the terrorists who had attacked their military positions in Vehicles Management region in the city of Harasta in Eastern Ghouta, forcing the militant to retreat after killing a number of them.

Meantime, a military source pointed to the dispatch of reinforcement forces and new military equipment to the region, and said that the Syrian army took control of several buildings in Vehicles Management region that they had lost temporarily.

Meantime, the army's artillery and air force are still targeting the terrorists' military positions in the area.

Also, the army continued its military operations against the terrorist groups in Eastern Ghouta, killing a notorious commander of Faylaq al-Rahman.

SaerQavider, commander of Faylaq al-Rahman's Brigade 10, along with all his militants were killed in the Syrian army's artillery attacks on their military positions while the terrorists were intending to attack the Syrian army's al-Rahba 646 military position in Harasta of Eastern Ghouta.

The Syrian air force, meantime, targeted the terrorists' positions in Harasta, inflicting heavy losses on the terrorists.

A military source, meantime, confirmed that the Syrian army regained control of two regions that they had temporarily lost near the Vehicles Management Base in Harasta.

DeirEzzur

A so-called monitoring group announced that more than two dozen people were killed and scores of others injured when a powerful explosion targeted a group of internally displaced persons in the Northern countryside of Syria’s Eastern city of DeirEzzur.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, citing local sources, reported that an ISIL terrorist detonated an explosive-laden car at a checkpoint run by US-backed militiamen from the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near al-Jafraneighborhood, leaving 26 people dead and 30 others injured.

The monitoring group added that 12 children and seven women were among the deceased.

The overall death toll is expected to rise as some of the injured victims are in a critical condition, and several people are missing.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army backed by the artillery units took full control of Huweija Kate Island North of DeirEzzur city, a battlefield source disclosed.

The source noted that the region was the ISIL's last bastion in the Western bank of Euphrates River North of DeirEzzur city, and said the Syrian army's engineering units have started clearing the region.

The government troops managed to take back the villages of al-Savih and al-Hori while making their way towards the village of al-Saviayeh in Eastern DeirEzzur.

The Syrian troops also took control of Hamdan military region West of the town of Albu Kamal.

A battlefield source in Albu Kamal confirmed that the Syrian army shoed away the ISIL from the border region, and said that the government troops also cut the road linking al-Mayadeen to Albu Kamal.

Also, in the army's military operations in Huweija Kate Island North of DeirEzzur city, a large number of ISIL terrorists laid down their arms and handed over themselves to the Syrian army's special forces.

Meantime, a military source confirmed that over 250 ISIL terrorists had surrendered and a large amount of weapons and ammunition were also confiscated from them.

A military source, meantime, disclosed that the Syrian troops took control of about 80 percent of Albu Kamal town, and said that the Syrian troops were advancing from the Western direction of the town.

Meantime, the Syrian air force hit hard the remaining military positions of the ISIL in Albu Kamal and the road linking Albu Kamal to al-Mayadeen desert inflicting heavy casualties and losses on the ISIL terrorists.

In relevant developments, the Russian Air Force strategic bombers conducted a new airstrike on ISIL positions in Eastern Syria.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strike was carried out by Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers, and successfully targeted ISIL locations near the city of Albu Kamal in the DeirEzzur province in Eastern Syria, RT reported.

Terrorist strongholds near the border with Iraq were destroyed, as were armored vehicles, the military said in a statement Friday.

The military aircraft took off from an airfield in Russia. Six long-range bombers flew over Iran and Iraq, the ministry announced, adding that upon completing the mission in Syria, the jets returned to their home base. The air cover for the bombers in Syrian airspace was provided by Su-30 fighters from the Humeimim base in Syria.

In a similar mission earlier this week, Russian strikes destroyed ISIL hideouts and military equipment in the area.

en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960828000103

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Syria: Al-Nusra Dispatches More Fighters to Western Idlib to Face Rival Terrorists

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) has sent more fighters to reinvigorate its positions in Western Idlib amid severe differences with rival terrorist groups, well-informed sources reported on Sunday.

The source said that the Al-Nusra forwarded more fighters and military hardware to its positions and checkpoints in al-Najieyh, al-Zab'einanah and Dardoush regions in Western Idlib near the border with Turkey after wide differences erupted between the terrorist group and other militants from al-FerqaSaheliyah in the region.

In relevant developments but in Aleppo province on Tuesday, Nouralddeen al-Zinki members and other terrorists of Al-Nusra Front resumed clashes after a daylong halt in hostilities in the region.

Al-Zinki and Al-Nusra exchanged heavy fire near the 111th regiment base, the small town of Dar al-Izzah, the village of Taqad, in a region near the villages of Ajel, Tadil and Oweijel and the small towns of Kafr Naha and al-Abzqamou in Western Aleppo.

Meanwhile, Al-Nusra dispatched a large number of forces and military hardware, including tanks and vehicles to the battlefields in Western Aleppo and Northern Idlib to face al-Zinki fighters.

Also, al-Zinki sent its military equipment to the village of Taqad in Western Aleppo and clashed with Al-Nusra in the village of KafrNatin.

en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960828000318

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Syrian Army Fends Off Al Nusra Front's Massive Attack in Northeastern Hama

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army warded off the Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) terrorists' large-scale attack on the government forces' positions in Northeastern Hama, inflicting heavy losses on the militants.

Meantime, the Syrian troops engaged in heavy clashes with the Al-Nusra Front around the village.

A military source said the Syrian army has inflicted heavy losses and casualties on the terrorists by killing and wounding a number of terrorists as well as destroying their military vehicles.

In a relevant development earlier on Saturday, the Syrian army dispatched a large number of troops and massive military hardware and equipment to Northern Hama concurrent with army's intensified operations, media reports said.

The Syrian army deployed military equipment from Lattakia to Northern Hama province, the Arabic-language al-Ahd news website reported.

Relevant reports said on Friday, the Syrian Army troops hit the positions of Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) hard in Northeastern Hama, imposing control over two more villages.

Well-informed sources confirmed on Friday that the army men pushed Al-Nusra back from the villages of Sarha al-Shamali South of the town of al-Rahjan region and the village of Qasr Ali East of the village of Rabdah.

Relevant repots said on Wednesday that the army men pushed Al-Nusra back from the small town of Mawilah, Tal (hill) Mahsar and the village of al-Jamileh North of the small town of al-Hamra.

The army soldiers also captured al-Banat hill North of the village of al-Rabi'eh.

The army's engineering units started defusing bombs and landmines planted by the terrorists in the region.

en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960827000952

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Syrian Army Seizes ISIL's Last Base in Northern DeirEzzur

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army made further advances against the terrorists in Northern DeirEzzur and captured the ISIL's last military base in the region.

The Syrian army backed by the artillery units took full control of Huweija Kate Island North of DeirEzzur city, a battlefield source disclosed.

In a relevant development on Thursday, the Syrian army forces discovered and seized a large number of weapons and military equipment made by Israel, the US and some other Western states during their anti-ISIL cleansing operations in DeirEzzur.

The Arabic website of Sputnik news agency quoted a military source as saying that during the operations to liberate the remaining districts of DeirEzzur city which were under the ISIL occupation for almost three years, they discovered a large number of arms and ammunitions caches, including different types of Israeli, US and Western weapons.

The source added that in addition to seizing different types of rifles and M16 machineguns as well as TOW missiles in al-Sana'a, al-Hamidiyeh and Stadium districts and the regions near the public garden, they discovered the US-made artilleries of BRAMS 155 type which is considered as a heavy and long-range cannon.

The Syrian army units also seized Hummer armored vehicles used both for transferring forces and suicide attacks as well as Israeli spy drones and clothing special to engineering jobs.

en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960827000465

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Over 150 Terrorists Escape from SoutheasternDeirEzzurAmid Rapid Advances of Syrian Army

TEHRAN (FNA)- More than 150 ISIL terrorists escaped from the town of Albu Kamal near the border with Iraq after the Syrian Army troops imposed control over 85 percent of the town, an Arab media outlet reported on Sunday.

The Arabic-language Elam al-Harbi reported that 150 ISIL terrorists, including notorious Commanders Saddam al-Jamal and Abu Somi'yeh al-Ansari, escaped the town of Albu Kamal via tunnels towards the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River.

Elam al-Harbi said that Albu Kamal Governor Abu Hassan Araghi also escaped Albu Kamal.

Some of the fleeing terrorists surrendered to the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Elam al-Harbi added that the army is in control of over 85 percent of Albu Kamal.

Reports said earlier today that the army men clashed fiercely with ISIL along the road connecting the town of al-Mayadeen to Albu Kamal, imposing control over the town of al-Salehiyeh.

Also, the army's artillery units pounded ISIL's positons in Albu Kamal.

The army men are in control of over 80 percent of Albu Kamal, leaving a narrow strip for ISIL in the town.

en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960828000468

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Syrian army, allies take back Albu Kamal from Islamic State

Reuters Staff

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army and its allies took complete control over Albu Kamal, Islamic State’s last significant town in Syria, a military news service run by Hezbollah said on Sunday.

The army had declared victory over Islamic State in Albu Kamal earlier this month but the jihadists then staged a counter-attack using sleeper cells hidden in the town.

Driving Islamic State from Albu Kamal means only a few villages along the Euphrates and patches of nearby desert, as well as isolated pockets in other parts of the country, remain in Syria of the caliphate it declared in 2014.

Most of the forces battling Islamic State in Syria and Iraq have said they expect it to go underground and turn to a guerrilla insurgency using sleeper cells and bombings.

Western intelligence agencies have said it will still be able to inspire attacks on civilians around the world.

“The Syrian Army and its allies in the axis of resistance have expelled Daesh from its last stronghold on Syrian soil,” the Hezbollah news service reported.

The “axis of resistance” is used by those in it to describe the alliance of Iran, Syria and Shi‘ite militias including Hezbollah.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that most IS members withdrew from the town, with fighting continuing in the perimeter of Albu Kamal.

Islamic State’s area of rule in Syria has crumbled this year under two rival military campaigns.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, backed by a U.S.-led coalition has driven it from much of its territory in the north, including its former Syrian capital Raqqa.

Syria’s army and its allies have waged an offensive across central and eastern Syria backed by Russian air and missile power.

The two offensives have mostly avoided conflict with each other through communication between the United States and Russia. However, Syrian and Iranian officials have said that Damascus seeks to regain control over areas held by the SDF.

reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-islamic-state/syrian-army-allies-take-back-albu-kamal-from-islamic-state-idUSKBN1DJ0G6

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Curfew imposed to look for Islamic State attackers of village, south of Mosul

by Nehal Mostafa

Nov 19, 2017

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Security troops imposed on Sunday curfew in a village in south of Mosul as part of efforts to look for Islamic State militants who launched an attack, a source said.

“Troops imposed curfew in al-Eraij village in search for IS members, who launched an armed attack against the village on Saturday night,” the source told Shafaq News.

“The attack took place after four militants, who were hiding in residential houses in south of Mosul, were arrested,” the source added.

Earlier on the day, five IS members were killed as the pro-government al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces] foiled an attack by the militants through Tal Sufuk crossing on the Iraqi-Syrian borders.

Shafaq News quoted a source on Wednesday as saying that unidentified gunmen killed two persons and a child as they opened fire against them in al-Eraij village, Hammam al-Alil region, south of Mosul.

Despite declaring the victory over IS in Mosul, the group’s former bastion in Iraq, observers say IS is believed to constitute a security threat even after the group’s defeat at its main havens across Iraqi provinces.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared, in July, victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25000 militants were killed throughout the campaign.

A government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition has been fighting, since October 2016, the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

The war against IS has so far displaced at least five million people. Thousands of others fled toward neighboring countries including Syria, Turkey and other European countries, since IS emerged to proclaim its self-styled “caliphate”.

iraqinews.com/iraq-war/curfew-imposed-look-islamic-state-attackers-village-south-mosul/

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North America

Tennessee imam says ‘Zionist terrorists’ stole Temple Mount from Muslims

18 November 2017

A Somali-American Imam told followers at the Islamic Center of Tennessee over the summer that “Zionist terrorists” stole Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque from Muslims.

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“If we lose Jerusalem, know that it is not going to stop there… The enemies of Allah will come and try to destroy the Kaaba,” he said, referring to Islam’s holiest site in Mecca.

He clarified that “we do not hate the ethnic Jewish people, but we do hate the Zionist oppressors.”

His sermon, first uploaded to the internet on July 24, came amid a spate of unrest in Jerusalem and the West Bank over the Temple Mount holy site that is home to Al-Aqsa mosque.

Earlier that month, the holy site became the focus of a major crisis between Israeli authorities, Palestinians, and Jordan over security measures taken at the entrances to the compound.

timesofisrael.com/tennessee-imam-says-zionist-terrorists-stole-temple-mount-from-muslims/

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Anti-Islam GOP survey alarms American Muslims

By Abdus-SattarGhazali

The seven-million-strong American Muslim community was alarmed at an anti-Islam question included in the Republican Party survey titled as "Listening to America."

The question No. 27 of the 32 question survey asks: "Are you concerned by the potential spread of Sharia Law?"

It may be pointed out that the term 'Sharia' refers to Islamic religious teachings, comparable to Catholic cannon law and Jewish Halacha.

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties organization, Saturday (Nov 18) sent a letter to Republican Party leaders requesting a meeting and the immediate removal of the question.

In the letter to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan, CAIR National Executive Director NihadAwad wrote in part:

"Just as it would be widely condemned as extremely inappropriate and indecent for the RNC to ask Americans if they are concerned about the potential spread of Catholic cannon law and Jewish Halacha, posing questions about the religious teachings practiced by American Muslims should be likewise condemned by the Republican Party.

"This GOP survey question about religious principles of American Muslims is comparable to the darker chapters of our nation's history when Catholic and Jewish Americans were vilified and their loyalty to our nation was questioned.

"The Republican Party should not allow its resources to be hijacked by those who would seek to use its stature in American society to fuel the rise of un-American and anti-Muslim bigotry in our country. American Muslims deserve the same opportunities as all Americans -- to build better futures for our families and children. However, just this week, the FBI released its hate crimes report for 2016, which shows American Muslims and Jews were the two most common targets of religiously-motivated hate crimes in the U.S.

"According to the report, there were increases in reported hate crimes across the board compared to 2015. Anti-Muslim hate crimes rose by nearly 20 percent, anti-white by 17 percent, anti-Latino by 15 percent, and anti-Jewish by 3 percent."

Anti-Sharia legislation

The GOP survey question about Sharia echo's a campaign of anti-Islam legislations in several states to ban the non-existent Sharia law.

Researchers and critics fear that right-wing legislators are increasing anti-Muslim sentiment as Islamic law, known as "Sharia", was targeted by some 194 bills between 2010 and 2016, according to a report released in September last by the University of California, Berkeley's Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society.

Of that total, 18 bills were signed into law in 12 different states.

"The anti-Sharia law movement, by way introducing and enacting anti-Sharia law bills across the United States, seeks to legalise the othering of Muslims, as well as to perpetuate a fear of Sharia, Islam and ultimately Muslims," said BasimaSisemore, a researcher and an author of Legalising Othering: The United States of Islamophobia.

Sisemore argued that these bills have a negative effect on Muslims by stoking fear and bigotry at a time when US President Donald Trump is targeting the religious minority.

"The consequences of introducing or enacting anti-Muslim laws extend beyond the conspicuous intent to subvert Muslim Americans' citizenship and civil liberties, as has been demonstrated by the rise of anti-Sharia rallies that swept across the US in June of this year," she told Al Jazeera.

opednews.com/articles/Anti-Islam-GOP-survey-alar-by-Abdus-Sattar-Ghaza-American-Muslims_Anti-islam_Bigotry_CAIR-171119-64.html

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US congress passes new bill regarding Pakistan and Haqqani network

By KHAAMA PRESS - Sun Nov 19 2017

The US congress has passed a new amended law regarding Pakistan and the notorious Haqqani terrorist network, it has been reported.

According to the new bill passed by the Congress, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2018, Pakistan is obliged to work with the Afghan government and Washington for the elimination of the safe havens of the terror network in its soil.

Passed on Thursday evening, the bill includes $700 billion for the US defense needs for the year 2018 as well as $700 million on Coalition Support Fund for Pakistan.

However, the US Congress has said half of the funds from the Coalition Support Fund amounting to $350 million will be withheld and will be released only when the US defense secretary certifies Pakistan’s steps against the Haqqani terrorist network.

This comes as the Afghan and US officials have long been insisting that the leadership councils of the Taliban and the notorious Haqqani terrorist network are based in the key cities of Pakistan where from they plan and coordinate attacks in Afghanistan.

The Haqqani terrorist network was found in the late 1970s by JalaluddinHaqqani and is accused of staging numerous cross-border attacks from their base in North Waziristan, including the 19-hour siege at the US Embassy in Kabul in September 2011.

The network is allied with al-Qaida and the Afghan Taliban and cooperates with other terrorist organizations in the region and was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization on September 7, 2012 by the US Department of State.

khaama.com/us-congress-passes-new-bill-regarding-pakistan-and-haqqani-network-03877