Taliban call capture of city ‘historic event’
KABUL, Afghanistan – The new leader of the Afghan Taliban said Friday that the capture of the northern city of Kunduz this week was a “symbolic victory” that showed the strength of the insurgency – even though the Taliban pulled out of the city after three days.
Still, the three-day occupation of Kunduz was “a historic event,” which was “celebrated by the ordinary people of the city,” claimed Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.
The Taliban captured Kunduz in a blitz Monday and held it until Afghan government forces pushed them out on Thursday. The fall and three-day occupation of this important city of 300,000 residents, along a strategic road to the border with Tajikistan, was a huge boost for Mansoor.
Official denies Yemen has cut ties with Iran
CAIRO – Yemen’s internationally recognized government withdrew media statements by its Foreign Ministry saying it cut ties with Iran, a government spokesman said Friday.
“Cutting ties with Iran does not align with Yemen’s supreme interests,” said Rageh Badie.
The internationally recognized government has long been accusing Iran of arming and training the country’s Shiite rebels known as Houthis. Tehran admits to supporting and advising the rebels but denies giving military aid.
Several government officials blamed the diplomatic mix-up on Foreign Minister Riyad Yasin, with multiple officials telling The Associated Press that Yasin lacks political experience.
Yemen has been torn by a ferocious war between government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis allied with army units loyal to a former president.
Syria wants airstrikes to be coordinated
UNITED NATIONS – Syria’s foreign minister said Friday that airstrikes against the Islamic State group “are useless” unless they are coordinated with the Syrian government, as the international community scrambled to respond to Russia’s airstrikes in his country.
Addressing the summit of world leaders at the UN General Assembly, Walid al-Moallem said Russia’s decision to start bombing targets was based on the Assad government’s request and is effective because it supports Syria’s efforts to combat terrorism.
“Terrorism cannot be fought only from the air, and all of the previous operations to combat it have only served its spread and outbreak,” al-Moallem said.
Associated Press
