| FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK TWITTER FLIPBOARD TELEGRAM |
Al Jazeera has obtained exclusive video of the former leader of al-Nusra Front confirming the Syria-based armed group’s split from al-Qaeda.
Abu Mohammed al-Jolani appeared in camera for the first time to announce his group’s name has also changed to Jabhat Fath al Sham, or The Front for Liberation of al Sham.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced on Monday, July 25, a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels to be effective immediately.
“To immediately stop violence on the ground, restore peace in the communities, and provide enabling environment conducive to the resumption of the peace talks, I am now announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP/NPA/NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front] effective immediately,” said President Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) held in Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
In Syria, 44 people have been killed and over 100 injured in two bomb blasts in Kurdish-controlled city of Qamishli.
Members of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). Latest reports claim that a faction has broken away from the current BIFF leadership. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Six gunmen of a breakaway faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and a soldier were killed in a series of clashes in Maguindanao on Tuesday, the Army said.
Four soldiers and 10 breakaway BIFF men were also injured in the fighting that erupted at 4:30 a.m. in Barangay Pamalian in Shariff Saydona town, according Col. Lito Sobejana.
Saudi jets launched air strikes on Tuesday against Houthi militiamen close to the kingdom’s southern border with Yemen, after a series of deadly incursions the previous day.
Al Arabiya reported that “tens of Houthi” fighters were killed in the aerial attacks.