Syria missile strike 2021

The summer of travel chaos wrought by rail strikes is far from over, as Britain prepares for the latest 24-hour industrial action on Saturday, August 13, as train drivers’ union Aslef stages a walkout. The industrial action is likely to cause disruption into the morning of Sunday, August 14, with the following lines affected: Avanti West Coast, Arriva Rail London, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, LNER, Greater Anglia, London Overground, Southeastern, Hull Trains and West Midlands Trains. Aslef is striking over drivers’ pay, with general secretary Mick Whelan saying: “Many of our members – who were the men and women who moved key workers and goods around the country during the pandemic – have not had a pay rise since 2019.” Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “The Aslef leadership has for the second time in as many weeks, decided to impose yet more uncertainty for passengers and businesses by disrupting passengers’ weekend plans. “We call on Aslef to … [Read more...] about Train strike this weekend: Services affected plus full list of dates for August

Published 7 September 2015 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Two British Islamic State jihadists who died in Syria were killed by an RAF drone strike, David Cameron has said. Cardiff-born Reyaad Khan, 21, and Ruhul Amin, from Aberdeen, died last month in Raqqa, alongside another fighter, in the first targeted UK drone attack on a British citizen, Mr Cameron told MPs. Khan - the target - had been plotting "barbaric" attacks on UK soil, he said. The "act of self defence" was lawful, despite MPs previously ruling out UK military action in Syria, the PM said. Khan was killed in a precision strike on 21 August by a remotely piloted aircraft, "after meticulous planning", while he was travelling in a vehicle. Another British national, Junaid Hussain, 21 and from Birmingham, was killed in a separate air strike by US forces in Raqqa on 24 August. Both Khan and … [Read more...] about Islamic State conflict: Two Britons killed in RAF Syria strike

Published 29 September 2015 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Four high-profile UK jihadists fighting or recruiting for Islamic State militants in Syria are to be subjected to UN sanctions, at the UK's request. The UN's updated sanctions list named the four as Omar Hussain from High Wycombe, Nasser Muthana from Cardiff, Aqsa Mahmood from Glasgow and Sally-Anne Jones from Chatham in Kent. They will face a travel ban and a freeze of their assets. The move is a new tactic to stem the flow of recruits to the IS group. At least 700 Britons have travelled to support or fight for jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq, according to British police. About half have since returned to the UK. 'Grandstanding' It is the first time since 2006 that Britain has submitted names to the UN sanctions regime, which was set up to tackle suspected al-Qaeda terrorism and extended to IS. … [Read more...] about Four British jihadists face UN sanctions

Russia has warned 'Armageddon' could be on the horizon in a terrifying warning aired on state TV. The ominous message was released after tensions around the Zaporizhzia atomic power plant grew this week. Ukrainian leaders accused Russia of “deliberately shelling” the plant, which is the biggest in Europe. Russia denies the charges and claims it is Ukraine risking nuclear catastrophe by shelling the plant. READ MORE: Putin 'has given order for Russia to deploy nukes in Ukraine' claims Kremlin insider But there are fears Putin’s forces will blame a disaster at the plant on Ukraine and use it as a pretext to deepen the conflict. Now Russian President Vladimir Putin’s largest state-controlled TV channel has given airtime to the leader of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian movement Parus, Yury Kot, who claimed it was Kyiv and the West jeopardising nuclear safety. He urged Putin to be ready to fire nuclear missiles at London and Washington. “We all understand very well that … [Read more...] about Russian TV warns of ‘Armageddon’ at nuclear power plant and threatens to bomb London

Vladimir Putin has put a commander with a history of brutality against civilians in charge of Russia’s army in a bid to reboot his floundering invasion of Ukraine . General Alexander Dvornikov, 60, has been described as an ‘old school’ strategist who sees civilians as fair game and has no qualms about ‘reducing cities to rubble’. He became known as the ‘butcher of Syria ’ after heading Russian forces helping dictator Bashar Al-Assad crush rebels in a bloody campaign which is estimated to have claimed at least 160,000 civilian lives. Putin awarded him the title of ‘Hero of the Russian Federation’ for his leadership, which saw more than 9,000 Russian-led bombings on Syrian towns and cities in a nine-month period from September 2015. Many of the strikes targeted essential infrastructure like hospitals, water sources, schools and markets, according to humanitarian watchdogs. Earlier in his career, he commanded a commanded a regiment in the second Battle of Grozny in … [Read more...] about Putin’s newest general has history of brutality and sees civilians as fair game

Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Related Topics Russia-Ukraine war Russia used the Crimea peninsula as a launchpad to invade the rest of southern Ukraine in February - and unusually it was Crimea that was rocked by several explosions on Tuesday. It is not yet clear what caused the blasts, which sent big black clouds billowing over a military airfield near Novofedorivka, on the peninsula's west coast. The Russian-installed regional leader, Sergei Aksyonov, said one person had died in the blasts at Saky base. Local health officials say five people, including a child, were treated for injuries. Video footage shows tourists on a nearby beach at the time fleeing in panic. The Russian Defence Ministry said several rounds had exploded in an ammunition store and the airfield had not come under attack. But the BBC could not verify that claim. … [Read more...] about Ukraine round-up: Blasts in Crimea and travel dispute

Published 30 September 2015 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A fifth UK jihadist fighting for Islamic State militants in Syria has been added to a UN sanctions list. Aseel Muthana, from Cardiff, followed his older brother Nasser - who is already on the UN's list - in travelling to Syria in early 2014. From Syria the 18-year-old told the BBC in an online interview last year: "I am willing to die but Allah knows the truth behind the words." He faces a travel ban and a freeze of his assets. The other four UK jihadists fighting or recruiting for Islamic State militants in Syria who are subject to UN sanctions at the UK's request are: Aseel's brother, Nasser Muthana, from Cardiff, Omar Hussain from High Wycombe, Aqsa Mahmood from Glasgow and Sally-Anne Jones from Chatham in Kent. The move is a new tactic to stem the flow of recruits to the IS group. At least … [Read more...] about UK jihadist Aseel Muthana added to UN sanctions list

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of a disaster at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant – which has six times more reactors than Chernobyl . The Ukrainian President raised the threat of nuclear catastrophe after strikes on the Zaporizhzhia power plant last week. Both Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the attacks. The plant in southeastern Ukraine was occupied by Russia early on in the invasion, which also saw Vladimir Putin’s forces fleeing Chernobyl after a series of calamitous mishaps that reportedly left many Russian troops suffering from radiation poisoning. Referring back to the world’s worst nuclear disaster in 1986, President Zelensky said: ‘The world should not forget about Chernobyl and should remember that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP) is the biggest in Europe. ‘The Chernobyl disaster was an explosion of one reactor. Zaporizhzhia NPP has six reactors.’ In his nightly address, the Ukrainian leader added: ‘New sanctions are … [Read more...] about Fears of Chernobyl-style disaster if Europe’s largest nuclear plant targeted again

Published 42 minutes ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing A convicted terrorist has been sent back to jail after keeping secret financial accounts from authorities. Kristen Brekke, 26, had been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for preparing terrorist acts in 2016. He was released in September 2017, and made subject to a notification requirement. Brekke admitted four breaches of that requirement and was sentenced to nine months in jail. He will also spend a further year on extended licence. Brekke, brought up in Grangetown, Cardiff, was one of three men jailed for helping a teenage jihadi follow in his big brother's footsteps , and join so-called Islamic State fighters in Syria in 2014. He worked in an ice cream parlour with Aseel Muthana, and supplied him with combat clothes. Brekke admitted the breaches on dates in 2021 and 2022, by … [Read more...] about Kristen Brekke: Cardiff terrorist jailed for breaches

One person has been killed following a series of blasts at a Russian military air base close to seaside resorts on the annexed Crimean peninsula. Witnesses said they heard at least 12 explosions at about 3.20pm local time (1.20pm BST) from the Saky base on the west coast. There was speculation that the base had been hit by missiles but Russia said ammunition had detonated. Videos posted on social media showed people fleeing a beach as flames and pillars of smoke rose up from multiple locations. Witnesses also reported a fire on a runway and damage to nearby homes, Crimea Today News said on Telegram. Advertisement Majority of Russians 'want peace' - latest updates on Ukraine war Crimea's health department said one civilian had been killed, while another person had been treated in hospital for moderate injuries and a further five suffered minor wounds. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and used it as a launchpad for the … [Read more...] about Ukraine war: One dead as Russia insists explosions at Crimea air base caused by detonation of ammunition, not attack