ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – An Ethiopian official says that armed groups killed more than 140 civilians Friday near Ethiopia’s border with South Sudan.
The attackers came from South Sudan and killed civilians, including women and children, said Getachew Reda, Ethiopia’s communications minister.
“The Ethiopian defense force is currently chasing after the perpetrators,” said Reda. “Our defense forces have so far killed 60 members of the attackers.”
The attack took place in Jakawa, in Ethiopia’s Gambella region, and the attackers were members of South Sudan’s Murle tribe, said Reda. A number of children were abducted and taken into South Sudan, he said.
AL-DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates – U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he will talk with his commanders in the coming days to identify additional ways the U.S. can intensify the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, including more airstrikes, cyberattacks and American troops on the ground.
Carter spoke to reporters at Al-Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi, an important launching point for military operations against the ISIS in the region. His visit comes as the U.S. is considering moves to boost the number of American troops in Iraq, as well as other steps to help the Iraqis take on ISIS.
The Pentagon says there are close to 3,400 U.S. troops there now. According to U.S. officials, however, there are actually as many as 5,000 American forces in the country.
MADRID – The health authority of the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia says more than 670 people have been affected by an outbreak of gastroenteritis linked to bottled water.
The authority said that as of Saturday, 678 people had been treated for symptoms including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and high fever.
Catalonia’s regional health agency said in a statement that bottles of water have been withdrawn from retail outlets and scientific samples are being taken from bottling plants and distributors to determine the source of the outbreak. It did not name the company.
Associated Press
