Four Men Allegedly Plotted To Murder Police Officer In London In IS-Inspired Attack
Four men allegedly plotted to murder a soldier or a police officer on London in an IS-inspired attack, a court in London has heard.
The four defendants, Nathan Cuffy, 26, Nyall Hamlett, 25, Suhaib Majeed, 21, and Tarik Hassane, 22, were all allegedly influenced by events in Syria and the rise of IS. Hassane is alleged to have pledged allegiance to the IS group.
Indonesia At Risk Of Bigger IS Attacks, Police Chief Warns
Indonesia's police chief has said that the country is bracing for the return of experienced IS militants who would be capable of carrying out bigger and more deadly attacks than last week's attack on Jakarta.
Thursday's attack in the heart of Jakarta was a hastily executed "Plan B" by Islamist militants, after police raids had disrupted preparations for other strikes against Christmas and New Year events, Police General Badrodin Haiti told Reuters in an interview.
2 Georgians Reported Killed Fighting Alongside IS In Syria
Two Georgian citizens from the Pankisi Gorge have been killed while fighting alongside the IS group, local media is reporting.
The two men have been named as Ramzan Pareulizde and Mukhmad Turkoshvili.
The reports say that Pareulidze went to Syria a year ago and had been a third year law student at Telavi University. Turkoshvili, who had been living in Turkey with his wife and child, also traveled to Syria a year ago.
According to reports, some 14 people from the Pankisi Gorge have died fighting alongside IS in Syria.
Putin To Discuss Syria With Qatari Emir
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he would discuss the situation in the Middle East with Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani, according to Russian media reports.
"Qatar is a very important part of the situation in the Middle East, and the Gulf. We hope to discuss this situation with you, exchange views, seek answers and solutions to the most complex and problematic issues," Putin was quoted as saying.
The Kremlin website is now reporting that Putin has met with al-Thani though exact details of what was discussed have not yet been reported in the Russian media.
IS Captures New Areas In Eastern Syria
IS militants have captured new areas near the city of Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria, opposition activists say.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says IS captured areas north of Deir al-Zor today including an army base in Ayash village. Another opposition activist also said IS captured Ayash.
IS already controls most of Deir al-Zor province and Deir al-Zor city.
The Moscow branch of the Red Cross has asked Russia's Defense Minister for permission to join humanitarian aid convoys in Syria, pro-Kremlin news agency RIA Novosti is reporting.
Moscow Red Cross chairman Igor Trunov said his organization had written to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on January 15.
The move came after Shoigu said last week that Russia intended to deploy a humanitarian mission to help civilians in Syrian cities besieged by the IS group.
IS Attacks On Libya's Oil Terminals Raises Risk For Oil Sector
The recent attacks by the IS group on Libya's "oil crescent" underscores the threat to the country's oil industry, Reuters reports.
IS has now retreated -- for now -- from the oil ports of Ras Lanuf and Sidra after three days of attacks, but oil infrastructure is still vulnerable.
Ramadi A 'Ghost Town' After Battle To Retake It From IS
Although the Iraqi military has retaken the town of Ramadi in Iraq's western province of Anbar, the town is now deserted, with buildings flattened by air strikes and homes and stores abandoned by residents.
Most of Ramadi's half a million strong population has fled and is living in refugee camps, while their homes have been booby trapped by IS militants as they retreated.
This map by Libya's Al Wasat news shows where the IS group is active in the country.
The militants control over 150 miles of coastline around Sirte and has advanced eastwards to take Bin Jawad to the north west of the oil terminal of Sidra.
Clashes Between IS, Libyan Army In Benghazi
Al Wasat news and other sources are reporting clashes between IS militants and the Libyan army in Benghazi in the early hours of this morning.