Friday, January 11, 2013
In a significant blow to Assad regime and his forces, Free Syrian Army fighters took full control of the largest air base in northern Syria, “Taftanaz air base in Idlib”, in which at least 60 helicopters are hosted.
The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights said that, fighters from the Free Syrian Army, supported by Islamic Front that includes Ahrar al-Sham, and al-Nusra Front, had taken full control of Taftanaz air base, in Idlib, from the place where the helicopters take off to bomb nearby towns, adding they seized weapons, ammunition and missiles.
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A spokesman for rebels mounting an offensive against the government of Central African Republic says the fighters will observe a one-week cease-fire amid peace talks in Gabon.
The rebels have seized a dozen towns since Dec. 10, although they have not moved toward the capital, Bangui, since agreeing to the negotiations.
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Thursday, January 10, 2013
Armed Islamists who control northern Mali on Thursday captured a government town in the country’s centre and will push further south, an Ansar Dine official said.
“We are currently in Konna for the jihad. We almost entirely control the town. Afterward we are going to continue” heading south, Abdou Dardar, who was reached by telephone from the capital Bamako, said.
Dardar, whose remarks were translated by an interpreter from Niger, said he was speaking in the name of all the Islamists.
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Wednesday, January 9, 2013
As Burmese government troops seized control of another Kachin Independence Army (KIA) outpost on Wednesday, relief workers said that already overcrowded refugee camps near the group’s headquarters are seeing a fresh influx of civilians fleeing from intensified fighting.
The outpost, at the base of the Hpun Pyan Bum hill, about 7 km west of the KIA stronghold of Laiza, is the second KIA position in the area to fall since the Burmese government army stepped up its offensive late last month.
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Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Pakistani army troops crossed the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday killing two soldiers at Sona Gali in Mendhar sector of Rajouri district, 220 km north of winter capital Jammu, Army said.
“Pakistan army troops having taken advantage of thick fog and mist in the forest area, were moving towards our posts when an area domination patrol spotted and engaged the intruders,” Lt. Col Rajesh Kalia, Defence spokesman, Northern Command, said.
He said after half an hour of gunfight, Pakistani soldiers retreated towards their side of LoC.
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