Series of bombings in tourist towns across Thailand kill four
Not sure why no-one seems to be covering this as much.
"Yup. That tasted purple."
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Olympics?
The radio here did cover it...
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
Stuff related to the Thai insurgency doesn’t attract much attention, even here.
I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Causing freakouts over sourcing since 2018
One of the British schoolgirls who attempted to join Daesh last year is now believed by her family to be dead after getting caught in a Russian air strike on Raqqa. Apparently she had been discussing escape plans with her family in secret.
Well, you pays your money and you takes your chance...
I have disagreed with her a lot, but comparing her to republicans and propagandists of dictatorships is really low. - An idiot
Just saw this in my notifications:
"Afghan envoy says regional Islamic State leader killed by U.S. drone" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN10N21L
More info on the bombings in Thailand.
Seeing as a few US websites are mentioning it, there has been some kind of fire and knife attack in a train in Switzerland. Nothing much known about the 27-year old perpetrator other than they have a "typical Swiss name", 5 or 6 passengers were severely injured.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
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Reports from Reuters and the BBC. From the Reuters report:
Three adults, two teenagers and a child aged six were hurt, according to a police statement. Five were stabbed or burned. A sixth suffered smoke inhalation as he came to the aid of the others. The assailant, a Swiss citizen, was also injured.
"According to current information, a 27-year-old Swiss man poured out a flammable liquid. He was also armed with at least one knife. The liquid caught fire," the statement said.
Authorities did not yet know the motive for the attacks but a crime of passion was one possibility, Bruno Metzger of the St Gallen cantonal police said in an interview with welt.de.
"A terrorism background still seems very, very far-fetched," Metzger said.
The assailant was in police custody, he said, but none of those injured - including the assailant - was responsive, so they could not be questioned.
The police said a criminal inquiry was under way.
It was the first attack of its kind in Switzerland in recent memory. In December 2015, a 33-year-old Swiss man broke into his neighbors' house in Rupperswil and killed four people before setting the house on fire, an incident that shocked the country.
Both the perpetrator and a woman are dead. I am going to speculate it may have been a personal vendetta considering that the perpetrator deliberately targeted one particular woman.
In addition, the perp doesn't seem to have any criminal record or anything. His attack was filmed in the train, when the train was close to the Salez station. When the train stopped in the Salez station as an emergency stop, another passenger tore the perp out of the train.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
I made my own avatar
Iraq: Kurdish Forces Launch Attack To Open New Front To Mosul
https://www.stratfor.com/situation-report/iraq-kurdish-forces-launch-attack-open-new-front-mosul
Kurdish peshmerga forces launched a fresh attack on Islamic State forces Aug. 14 as part of a campaign to capture Mosul, Iraq, Kurdish officials said, Reuters reported. The advance began after heavy shelling and airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition, though militants fired mortars at the advancing troops and detonated at least two car bombs.
A peshmerga commander said 11 villages had been taken from the Islamic State as the troops headed to Gwer, the target of the operation, 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Mosul. Repairing the bridge in Gwer would enable the peshmerga to open a new front around Mosul.
The Iraqi army and other peshmerga forces of Iraqi Kurdistan are gradually taking up positions around Mosul. Its fall would mark the effective defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq, according to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who has said he aims to retake the city this year. The Iraqi army is trying to advance from the south. In July it captured the Qayyara airfield south of Mosul, which will serve as the main staging post for the expected offensive. Once fighting intensifies, thousands of people could be driven from their homes in northern Iraq, posing a humanitarian crisis at a time when the government and economy is already struggling.
Libya: Brigades Gain Against Daesh Along Coast Near Sirte
https://www.stratfor.com/situation-report/libya-brigades-gain-against-islamic-state-along-coast-near-sirte
The forces, led by brigades from the city of Misrata and aligned with the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli, secured several sites in Sirte this week, their progress helped by U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State that began on Aug. 1. Islamic State militants are now encircled in Sirte's central residential areas.
The brigades also said they had gained control of a radio building previously used by Islamic State for broadcasting. The Islamic State took over Sirte last year. The government-backed brigades launched their campaign to capture Sirte in May, attacking after the Islamic State advanced up the coast toward Misrata.
Nice to see those bastards losing on so many fronts. Its only a matter of time (and blood, sadly) before they are done as a "state". Then the traditional insurgency starts anew.
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Beware the Crazy Man.
Maybe. I have a distinct and bad feeling there will be ethnic cleansing to prevent just such a thing from happening once they implode as a land-holding entity.
Final Fantasy, Foreign Policy, and Bollywood. Helluva combo, that...
Inteview with foreign fighters in the YPG:
A procrastination in of itself
I'm seeing reports of Turkish artillery supporting a FSA advance against ISIS at the Turkish-Syrian border, so the Turks may be back in the game at the moment, gonna cross post.
edited 15th Aug '16 8:53:04 PM by Silasw
“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Germany's government claims in a confidential report that "Turkey has become the central platform for action for Islamist groups in the Middle East".
http://www.politico.eu/article/german-govt-turkey-supports-terror-groups-in-middle-east/
Stating the obvious, really.
Working from a Finnish article, but Boko Haram has had an internal coup by ISIS. The previous leader, the complete and utter nutcase (cannibalism among other things) Abubakr Shekau has been removed from power. The current leader is called Abu Musab al-Barnawi.
The coup comes after considerable frustration on the part of ISIS as Shekau and his lackeys would indiscriminately murder anyone, including other muslims along with ignoring directives from ISIS leadership. The new leader has given a much clearer direction, and will now focus specifically on Christian communities. In other words, the far more "professional" brand of terrorism will get a foothold in the group.
edited 16th Aug '16 10:59:47 AM by TerminusEst
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
Because ISIS has not been killing other muslims. Oh the hypocrisy.
vicarious
So Boko Haram was too crazy for IS?
Beware the Crazy Man.
More too chaotic than too crazy. Say what you will about Daesh, but they are generally methodical when it comes to their militia work.
Final Fantasy, Foreign Policy, and Bollywood. Helluva combo, that...
BH have always been bandits first, and rebels/Islamists/terrorists second.
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
So what does this really mean for Boko Haram? Haven't they been semi-defeated at this point, at least as a land-holding insurgency movement?
Beware the Crazy Man.
Not completely. The coup could make them more effective, which is bad. Might reverse some gains by being less chaotic.
On the other hand, it is my hope they are too far gone for it to make a difference....
Final Fantasy, Foreign Policy, and Bollywood. Helluva combo, that...
The last time I checked, they had some strongholds left, but quickly running out of supplies.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele
German intelligence warns of ISIL ‘hit squads’ among refugees
, official says country has to accept it is home to terror ‘sleeper cells.’
Si Vis Pacem, Para Perkele