Day: March 23, 2024

ISTANBUL: Turkish security forces 'neutralized' at least 12 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry said on Saturday. The ministry in a statement on X said the terrorists were targeted in the Metina region during Operation Claw-Lock. Turkish Armed Forces will resolutely demolish terrorist hideouts, it added. Turkish authorities use the term 'neutralize' to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured. In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Trkiye, the PKK - listed as a terrorist organization by Trkiye, the US, and EU - has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. Trkiye launched Operation Claw-Lock in April 2022 to target the terror organization's hideouts in northern Iraq's Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions near the Turkish border. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: The Arab countries condemned the terror attack targeting a concert hall in the Moscow area, which resulted in the deaths of over 133 people. In official statements, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Somalia and the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation declared their solidarity with Russia. In the latest toll from the Russian investigation committee, the death toll from the terrorist attack on a music concert hall in the Russian capital Moscow rose to 133. In a statement by its Foreign Ministry, Saudi Arabia condemned the attack, emphasizing 'the importance of fighting and countering all forms of extremism and terrorism.' The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, expressed 'its strong condemnation of these criminal acts and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contraventio n of international law.' Qatar, in a statement from its Foreign Ministry, also expressed 'its strong condemnation' of the attack, renewing 'its steadfast stance against violence and terrorism regardless of the motives and reasons.' The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry expressed its strong condemnation of the "terrorist attack" that Moscow experienced, which claimed many lives. The Omani Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack in Moscow, offering sincere condolences to the Russian government, people, and the families of the victims. The Bahraini Foreign Ministry also conveyed condolences to the families of the victims, the government of the Russian Federation, and its people, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, and affirming its steadfast rejection of violence and terrorism in all its forms. Egyptian Foreign Ministry slammed the Moscow attack, expressing 'its sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the government and people of Russia.' Jordan, in a statement from its Foreign Ministry, condemned th e attack, expressing "the kingdom's solidarity with Russia." The Palestinian Presidency, in a statement, expressed its strong condemnation of the attack, describing it as 'terrorism.' It affirmed 'its solidarity and support for the Russian leadership and the friendly Russian people.' Lebanon, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco also strongly condemned the terrorist attack near Moscow and expressed 'full solidarity with the Russian Federation, offering condolences to the families of the victims, and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.' Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud condemned 'the terrorist attack that occurred in a music concert hall in the Russian capital.' Mohamud expressed heartfelt condolences to Russia, 'confirming Somalia's solidarity with the Russian government and people in this difficult time.' In Sudan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned 'in the strongest terms the attack,' affirming 'its confidence in Russia's ability to overcome this ordeal.' In Yemen, President of the Presi dential Council Rashad al-Alimi, in a condolence message sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, condemned in the strongest terms, the terrorist attack in Moscow. The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned "the armed attack that targeted a hall in the outskirts of Moscow.' Hussein Ibrahim Taha, the secretary-general of the organization, reiterated the organization's principled and steadfast position against terrorism in all its forms, stressing the need to combat it. The secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, also strongly denounced the shooting incident. He emphasized the council's consistent stance against all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism, which aim to destabilize security and stability in any region of the world. The Hamas movement in Palestine extended 'its sincere condolences to the leadership and people of Russia, and the families of the victims of this heinous attack,' expressing 'full solidarity with R ussia, its people, and the families of the victims.' Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Turkish police nabbed at least 24 suspects affiliated with the Daesh/ISIS terrorist organization in anti-terror operations across the country, the interior minister said on Saturday. Ali Yerlikaya said on X that the operations dubbed Bozdogan-15, conducted under the coordination of intelligence and counterterrorism directorates, were carried out by police in the provinces of Aksaray, Bolu, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Yalova, Kilis, Sakarya, and Samsun. Yerlikaya also extended his congratulations to the police personnel involved in the operations. Footage related to the operations was also shared. In 2013, Trkiye became one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS a terrorist organization. The country has since been attacked by the terror group multiple times, with over 300 people killed and hundreds more injured in at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed attacks. Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday expressed deep sorrow and condolences for a deadly terrorist attack in Moscow to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdogan expressed his condolences to the Russian people for the attack that killed at least 133 people, according to a statement issued by the Turkish Communications Directorate. The Turkish president condemned the 'heinous terrorist attack targeting innocent people' in the 'strongest way," the statement added. Trkiye is ready to develop cooperation with Russia in combating terrorism, with the understanding of fighting all kinds of terrorism without discrimination, it added. Gunmen opened fire at concertgoers late Friday, killing at least 133 people and injuring 145 others. The attack took place as the rock band Picnic was about to perform at the Crocus City Hall just west of Moscow. Russian authorities have arrested 11 people in connection with the attack, including four d irectly involved, according to the Federal Security Service. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: A $1.2 trillion funding package was approved by the US Senate in the early hours of Saturday following a last-minute consensus, thereby preventing a potential partial government shutdown. The package, which fully funds the government through September, ends a months-long fight over spending that persisted six months into the fiscal year. The legislation was approved by a vote of 74 to 24, and will now be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. "We have funded the government with significant investments for parents and kids and small businesses and health care workers and military families and so much more. Our efforts have paid off with a strong funding bill that now goes to President Biden's desk," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X. Earlier he had said that an "agreement to complete the job of funding the government tonight" had been reached. "It wasn't easy, but tonight our persistence has been worth it. It is good for the American people that we have reached this bipar tisan deal," he said. The bill includes money for the departments of State, Homeland Security, Defense, Labor and Health and Human Services, as well as funds for foreign operations, financial services and the legislative branch. Another package, which funds the rest of the government, was passed by Congress two weeks ago. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Israel blocked aid from entering the northern Gaza Strip for the second time this week, said Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). 'Today, the Israeli Authorities denied another UNRWA convoy with much-needed food supplies from going to the north where people are on the verge of famine,' Lazzarini said on X. 'The last time UNRWA was able to send food aid to the north was nearly two months ago,' he added. 'I've said it many times: this is a man-made hunger and looming famine which can still be averted,' the official said. He stressed that 'the Israeli authorities must allow delivering food aid at scale to the north including via UNRWA, the largest humanitarian organization in Gaza.' 'Meanwhile, children will continue to die of malnutrition and dehydration under our watch,' Lazzarini said, stressing that 'the unbearable cannot become the new normal.' Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 cross-bord er attack led by Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed. More than 32,100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and over 74,400 others injured besides causing mass destruction, displacement, and shortage of necessities. Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which, in an interim ruling in January, ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA: The Philippines on Saturday accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon at a supply boat in the disputed South China Sea, causing heavy damage. The military said the Unaizah May 4 was delivering supplies to Philippine forces manning a territorial outpost in the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. "Unaizah May 4 was severely damaged due to the direct blasting of water cannons by CCG vessels and could not continue its course. Meanwhile, the CMM vessel assisted by RHIBs deployed and installed floating barriers to prevent further entry of any vessels in the shoal," Armed Forces of the Philippines said on X. Beijing, however, rejected the claim. The China Coast Guard expelled the Philippines vessels in a professional manner and in accordance with law, spokesman Gan Yu said in a statement. The Unaizah May 4 was also damaged in a similar collision in the disputed waters earlier this month. Beijing and Manila have conflicting claims over the Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal, Bai Co May, and Ren'aiJiao, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Source: Anadolu Agency

ISTANBUL: Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak on Saturday said that his country has "no slightest connection" with Friday's terrorist attack in the Russian capital Moscow. 'Any attempts to connect Ukraine to the terrorist attack are absolutely untenable. Ukraine has not the slightest connection to this incident,' Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on X. Ukraine will solve the problem of Russia's aggression on the battlefield, added Podolyak. 'The versions of Russian special services regarding Ukraine are absolutely untenable and absurd.' 'We expected Russian officials' version of the 'Ukrainian trace' in the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall. Primitivism and predictability are ideal characteristics of the Russian security services. Once again, the FSB (Federal Security Service) confirms this... But it is still necessary to emphasize the facts once again,' Podolyak said. He further said that an armed group passed into a crowded area in the central region of Moscow without any inspections, and for 1.5 hours the group was shooting people, and that Russian law enforcement did not intervene. Podolyak stated that the terrorist group left the building calmly, saying: 'Preliminary data and witness statements give portraits of the attackers and quite clearly link them to Islamic radicals.' 'The wanted men are moving toward blocked border crossings where there is active fighting and where every meter is saturated with Russian security forces in order to make a manifest, demonstrative crossing.' Gunmen opened fire at concertgoers late Friday, killing at least 115 people and injuring 145 others. The attack took place as the rock band Picnic was about to perform at the Crocus City Hall just west of Moscow. Source: Anadolu Agency

ANKARA: Chinese President Xi Jinping condemned on Saturday an attack in the Moscow region of Russia that claimed the lives of at least 60 people, state media said. In a condolence message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Xi said China opposes all forms of terrorism, strongly condemns terrorist attacks, and firmly supports the efforts of the Russian government to maintain national security and stability. Gunmen opened fire at concertgoers on Friday, killing at least 60 people and injuring 145 others. The attack, claimed by the Daesh/ISIS terror group, took place as rock band Picnic was about to perform at the Crocus City Hall just west of Moscow. Source: Anadolu Agency