Global defense news, analysis and opinion

Nigeria Attacks Spark Fears of Bloodier Jihadist Strategy

People in northeast Nigeria are no strangers to horror after a decade-long jihadist insurgency, but a flurry of bloody assaults has ramped up fears that a powerful jihadist faction may be opening a grim new chapter.

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Rockets Hit Baghdad’s Green Zone for the Fifth Time in 10 Days

Rockets hit Baghdad's Green Zone, home to the US embassy, on Thursday, the fifth such attack in 10 days.

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Cameroon General Says Troops Kill 24 Separatists

Troops carrying out raids in a western region of Cameroon have killed 24 people described as separatists, a general said.

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Turkey Hits PKK in Iraq: Why Now and How Far Could It Go?

Turkey launched a rare ground assault into northern Iraq, deploying special forces against rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party which is blacklisted by Ankara as a 'terrorist' group.

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Taliban Raids on Afghan Security Posts Kill 18

Taliban fighters killed at least 18 Afghan security personnel Wednesday in two attacks on checkpoints in the north.

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Turkey Deploys Troops Against Kurdish Rebels in Iraq

Turkey launched an air and ground offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq on Wednesday, in a move likely to increase friction with the Baghdad government. The defense ministry said “commandos” moved in supported by drones and helicopters, following a bombardment with rocket launchers and artillery guns that hit more than 150 targets. It added that the operation, dubbed “Claw-Tiger,” came after a “recent upsurge in attacks on our police stations and military bases” near the Iraqi border. Turkey carried out air strikes earlier this week that drew an angry response from Iraq, which labeled them “a violation of sovereignty.” The Turkish military regularly carries out operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey and its rear bases across the border. The operation on Sunday night saw raids in the northern Iraqi territories of Kandil, Sinjar, and Hakurk. ‘Natural Right’ President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan‘s ruling party spokesman defended Turkey’s actions. “Turkey continues its effective fight against terror using its rights based on international law,” Omer Celik said on Twitter. “It is our most natural right and duty to fight against terrorists who attack our borders, citizens and security forces.” The PKK, which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since …

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North Korea Threatens to Beef up Military Presence Around DMZ

North Korea threatened Wednesday to bolster its military presence in and around the Demilitarized Zone, a day after blowing up its liaison office with the South, prompting sharp criticism from Seoul.

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Rockets Hit Near Baghdad Airport: Iraq Military

Three rockets hit near Baghdad airport overnight without causing any damage, Iraq's security forces said on Tuesday, marking the fourth such attack in just over a week.

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Indian and Chinese Troops in Deadly Border Clash

Three Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off on the Chinese border, the Indian army said Tuesday, following weeks of rising tensions and the deployment of thousands of extra troops from both sides.

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Six Killed as Militia Torches Homes in East DR Congo: Local Official

Six civilians were killed and dozens of homes were torched in an attack in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo blamed on the notorious ADF militia, a local official said Monday.

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