IS threat in west Syria growing
Washington: Elements of the Islamic State group are working to rebuild in western Syria, where the US has little visibility or presence, the top US commander for the Middle East warned on Wednesday.
In the region west of the Euphrates River where the Syrian regime is in control conditions are as bad or worse than they were leading up to the rise of the Islamic State, said Gen Frank McKenzie.
McKenzie said insurgents are operating with some degree of freedom, and he said the US and its allies have little hope the Syrian regime will do anything to tamp down the group there. (AP)
Uganda hit by power outage
Kampala: Uganda was on Thursday hit by a nationwide power outage whose cause is not yet known, the state-run power generation company said.
The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) said in a statement that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the power blackout, reports Xinhua news agency.
Umeme Limited, the country’s main electricity distribution company, said it was working with other stakeholders to restore power supply in the east African country. (IANS)
Israel strikes Hamas sites
Jerusalem: Israel said on Thursday that it struck Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip after militants in the Palestinian enclave launched explosive balloons into southern Israel. The attack was carried out overnight by Israeli war jets and tanks, Xinhua news agency quoted the Army as saying in a short statement.
“The targets of the strike included a military compound used by the Hamas naval force, underground infrastructure and observation posts,” it said. Dozens of balloons carrying explosive or incendiary materials have been flown into southern Israel over the past days, causing local fires. (IANS)
School set ablaze in Afghanistan
Kabul: Unknown armed men set a school ablaze in Taluqan city, the capital of Afghanistan’s Takhar province, on Thursday, a local official said.
Provincial police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir confirmed the incident to Xinhua news agency, saying: “The second floor of Abu Osman Taluqani school was completely burned due to unknown reason at around 3.30 a.m. today.”
Asir also said that investigation had been initiated to determine the reason for the incident.
Three other schools were set on fire in Takhar province over the past couple of years. (IANS)