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At least 22 al-Qaeda-linked militants and 12 Yemeni soldiers were killed in clashes and air strikes overnight during a U.S.-backed offensive against insurgents in the south of the country, officials said on Saturday.
Fighting erupted late on Friday and carried on into Saturday on the outskirts of the southern city of Jaar, held by Islamist militants who have stepped up their campaign during months of political turmoil.
Fierce fighting between regime troops and armed rebels rocked parts of the Syrian capital Damascus overnight, a monitoring group said on Sunday.
“Violent clashes broke out between rebel fighters and regime troops at a checkpoint in Kafr Sousa district,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement.
There were no immediate details on casualties, the Britain-based watchdog added.
Heavy fighting between Somali government forces backed by Kenya army and al-Qaeda-aligned militants of al-Shabaab is reportedly took place in parts of southern region of Lower Juba region.
Tense situations are also reportedly rose at Taabta village after Somalia and Kenya forces moved towards al-Shabaab rebel-held areas in Lower Juba region of southern Somalia
Military officers vowed that their troops are well equipped and will continue pushing al-Shabaab forward and ensure that liberated areas are occupied by the Transitional Government of Somalia soldiers.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s military has been shelling positions it believes are held by rebels who have been fighting the army for weeks in the country’s east.
The rebels are fighters who were integrated into the national army under a 2009 peace deal, but who later defected, complaining of poor conditions.
The fighting since late April has driven tens of thousands of people to flee to neighbouring countries, including Uganda.
The Kachin Independence Army created a new battalion near Pangwa last week, the former headquarters of the New Democratic Army-Kachin (NDA-K). The bulk of the troops in the KIA’s newest unit, Battalion No. 32, were previously members of an NDA-K faction led by Lauwa Zawng Hkawng who in 2005 was part of failed coup attempt against NDA-K leader Zahkung Ting Ying.
In 2009 the NDA-K was officially dissolved and its 1,000 troops transferred to Border Guard Force units 1001, 1002 and 1003. Many of the NDA-K rank and file resented being transferred to the border guard force. When fighting broke out last month near Pangwa between government troops and the KIO there were widespread defections among the border guard troops who were ex NDA-K.