Eight killed as boat sinks in Indonesia
Jakarta, July 25 (IANS): At least eight bodies were recovered on Tuesday after a speed boat with 47 persons aboard capsized in the waters off North Kalimantan province of Indonesia, an official said. The speed boat, heading to Tanjung Selor of Bulungan district, sank after sailing one kilomter, Xinhua news agency reported. Authorities launched search and rescue operations for the missing.
Egypt army kills 40 militants in Sinai raids
Cairo, July 25 (IANS): At least 40 militants were killed in military raids on terrorist hideouts in North Sinai province of Egypt, the army said on Tuesday. “Egyptian security forces killed 40 highly dangerous militants in ground and air raids in North Sinai cities of Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid,” Xinhua news agency quoted an army spokesperson as saying in a statement. “Five other militants were arrested in the raids,” he said. Egypt has been battling anti-security activities, mostly centred in Sinai peninsula, since the army-led ouster of former Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi in 2013, which left hundreds of police and army personnel killed. “During the security operation, 20 different type of vehicles and four motorbikes were destroyed,” the statement said. Large amount of explosives, weapons and some documents were also seized, with 52 shelters for hiding medical and communications equipment destroyed, it said.
US-led airstrike kills 30 civilians in Syria
Damascus, July 25 (IANS): At least 30 civilians were killed when a US-led airstrike hit a prison run by the Islamic State (IS) in Syria’s city of Raqqa, The strike by the US-led coalition struck the prison on Monday where the civilians were held captives by IS in the central part of Raqqa, Xinhua news agency reported. The attack came hours after the US coalition struck areas in Mayadeen city in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, killing tens of people, according to the state TV. Since entering Syria to fight IS in 2014, the US coalition has killed tens of civilians in areas controlled by IS in northern and eastern Syria. The US has been recently heavily backing the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in their push to capture Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS in Syria.
