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8. April 2017, 21:58

US and Arab allies attack IS in Syria

The United States Central Command says the US and five Arab allies have carried out their first attacks in Syria against Islamic State militants. The Syrian government has said it was advised in advance about the strikes. US military sources say attacks were launched from the air and the sea targeting the city of Raqqa, the IS headquarters, and positions along the Iraqi Syria border. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain are cooperating with the US. Jordanian government spokesman Mohammed Al-Momani: “There must be a need for all countries to come together in order to stop these terrorist organisations from becoming bigger and stronger and ultimately destroy them completely.” The US says strikes were also carried out against an Al Qaida linked group west of the Syrian city of Aleppo which was planning imminent attacks against Western targets.

Israel shoots down Syrian jet

The Israeli military has said it has shot down a Syrian fighter jet it says strayed into Israeli air space over the Golan Heights. The plane was reportedly brought down near an area where Syrian government forces have been fighting Al Nusra jihadist rebels.

French hostage held in Algeria

France has said there will be no negotiation with a militant group in Algeria with links to the Islamic State which kidnapped a French citizen on Sunday. The kidnappers have issued a video threatening to kill the hostage if France does not end its participation in air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq.

Israel kills abduction suspects

Israel says two Palestinians suspected of involvement in the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in June have been shot dead during a military operation in Hebron in the West Bank. The death of the teenagers was a trigger for the recent conflict in Gaza. A senior Hamas leader has condemned the killing of the suspects but said the Palestinian delegation to Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo will proceed with negotiations with Israel.

UN climate summit opens

World leaders are gathering in New York to attend a United Nations climate summit. The meeting is meant to build support for a legally-binding comprehensive agreement to be reached at talks in Paris next year.

Uighur advocate gets life imprisonment

A court in China has sentenced a prominent Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti to life in prison on charges of separatism. Tohtti has been an advocate for the rights of the Muslim Uighur minority in the region of Xinjiang. Analysts say his conviction could raise ethnic tensions in Xinjiang.

The weather

Cool and windy. Sunny in the west and south, cloud clearing in the east this afternoon. Top temperatures 10 to 20 degrees.

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