At least 17 people -- including five attackers -- have been killed in this morning's attacks in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
An Islamic State-linked group is suspected of carrying out this morning's attacks in Jakarta, AFP is reporting.
'There Are People In Madaya, But There Is No Life'
As a second convoy of aid heads to the Syrian town of Madaya, this morning, the BBC's Richard Colebourn points out that there has been no talk yet of evacuating some of the most ill and malnourished people from the town, as the UN requested this week.
"There is no comparison in what we saw in Madaya," the UN refugee agency's chief, Sajjad Malik, said after visiting the town this week.
"There are people in Madaya, but there is no life, the situation is horrible. There is no food, no light, no heating with low temperatures."
Journalist Sophie McNeill of ABC News shared this video of Mohammad Issa, who doctors say is one of around 400 people who need urgent evacuation from Madaya for medical treatment.
Second Aid Convoy Heads To Madaya
A second convoy of aid trucks has set off this morning for the rebel-held Syrian town of Madaya, which has been under siege by government forces since July.
Around 50 trucks left Damascus this morning heading for Madaya, which is near the border with Lebanon.
Trucks are also heading for the Shi'ite towns of Foua and Kefraya, which are under siege by rebels.
Al Qaeda Leader Calls For Attacks Over Saudi Executions
Al Qaeda's leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in an audio recording on January 12 called for attacks against Saudi Arabia and its Western allies in retaliation for Riyadh's execution of 43 convicted members of the organization, U.S.-based monitoring group SITE has said.
Zawahiri called on Saudis to overthrow the ruling Al Saud dynasty and asked Al-Qaeda followers elsewhere to attack Saudi Arabia's Western allies.
From our news desk:
U.S. Aims To Retake Islamic State Power Centers In Iraq, Syria
The United States has deployed a special commando force to Iraq and is now setting its sights on wresting control of the Islamic State's (IS) power centers in Iraq and Syria, the U.S. defense secretary said.
After aiding Iraq's victory last month in regaining control of Ramadi, the capital of its western Anbar Province, the U.S. military now has a plan to build on that victory by helping Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces retake the northern city of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest, Ash Carter said on January 13.
The United States and coalition forces will also assist Syrian rebel forces in an effort to oust IS -- also known as ISIL or ISIS -- from Raqqa, which the militant group has proclaimed as the capital of its so-called caliphate, Carter said in an address to U.S. troops in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Raqqa and Mosul are IS's "military, political, economic, and ideological centers of gravity," he said. "That's why our campaign plan's map has got big arrows pointing at both Mosul and Raqqa. We will begin by collapsing ISIL's control over both of these cities, and then engage in elimination operations throughout other territories ISIL holds in Iraq and Syria."
Carter said he will meet in Paris next week with defense leaders from anti-IS coalition members France, Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, to recruit support for the fight.
"Each of these nations has a significant stake in completing the destruction of this evil organization, and we must include all of the capabilities they can bring to the field," he said.
In the campaign to retake Mosul, Carter described operations that would send Iraqi forces from the south and Peshmerga forces from the north to encircle and cut off IS fighters in Mosul.
But he warned that taking it back will not be quick or easy. The special commando force of about 200 U.S. soldiers will assist in recovering the territory, he said.
It "is preparing to work with the Iraqis to begin going after ISIL's fighters and commanders, killing or capturing them wherever we find them, along with other key targets," he said.
Carter's remarks came a day after President Barack Obama in his final State of the Union address repeated his belief that the United States must work with local forces in Iraq and Syria to have lasting success in the battle against IS.
Obama, taking aim at his Republican critics, cautioned against "Americanizing" the conflicts because that would allow extremists to accuse the West of occupying hallowed Muslim lands in the Middle East.
"Over-the-top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands," the president said, referring to statements by GOP presidential candidates, even as he vowed once again to "hunt down, root out, and destroy" what he called "killers and fanatics."
"President Obama is committed to doing what it takes -- as opportunities arise, as we see what works, and as the enemy adapts -- until ISIL is delivered a lasting defeat," Carter said.
Carter was addressing soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, 1,800 of whom will deploy to Iraq in coming months, largely to train Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.
France To Hold Military Meeting On IS
France is planning to host a meeting in Paris next week of members of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the IS group, France's Defense Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian has said.
Le Drian said that his U.S., British and German counterparts will attend the meeting to discuss strategy and how to "intensify...efforts in Iraq and Syria."
IS was "retreating in Iraq," he said.
From our news desk:
Multiple Bombs, Gunfire Rock Indonesian Capital
A series of bomb explosions have rocked the center of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, followed by gunfire and reports of further blasts.
Police said seven people, including four suspected attackers, were killed in the January 14 attacks, which hit locations that included a Starbucks cafe.
Reports said at least seven bombs went off, and security forces were exchanging fire with gunmen.
The attackers reportedly included suicide bombers.
President Joko Widodo said the situation was under control and called on people to remain calm.
"The state, nation and people should not be afraid of, and lose to, such terror acts," he said.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has been on edge recently over the danger of Islamist militants and counterterrorism police have launched a crackdown on people with suspected links to the Islamic State group.
That concludes our live-blogging of the crisis surrounding Islamic State for Wednesday, January 13. Check back here tomorrow for more of our continuing coverage.