Iraq’s new op to secure desert near Syria
Baghdad: Iraq’s military announced a new operation Sunday in an attempt to secure the vast western desert leading to the Syrian border, amid fears jihadist sleeper cells were using the area to regroup. The operation, dubbed “Will of Victory”, began early Sunday morning and would push to clear the remote territory between the provinces of Salahaddin, Nineveh and Anbar, a statement by the military said.
Omani FM makes rare visit to Syria
Beirut: Oman’s foreign minister made a rare visit to Syria on Sunday to discuss with President Bashar Assad ways of restoring stability and security in the region. Oman is one of few Arab countries that kept normal relations with Damascus after Syria was suspended from the Arab League in 2011 over its crackdown on Arab Spring protests.
Earthquakes a ‘wake-up call’: California Guv
Ridgecrest: The two major earthquakes that hit Southern California should alert people across the nation of the need to be prepared for natural disasters, the state’s governor said as officials expressed relief that the damages weren’t worse.
1 killed in Rohingya camp landslides
Dhaka: Monsoon-triggered landslides in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh have killed one person and left more than 4,500 homeless, aid officials said on Sunday.