NEWS OF THE DAY
Iraq offensive: State forces made significant progress as they closed in on the Islamic State-held town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, the U.S.-led coalition and an Iraqi military spokesman said Monday. U.S. Army Col. Ryan Dillon said Iraqi forces have retaken 95 square miles from the extremist group since the operation began early Sunday, though they have not yet pushed into the town itself. The spokesman for the Joint Military Command, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, said troops recaptured six villages located a few miles from the urban areas of Tal Afar. He said militants deployed suicide car bombers, roadside bombs and mortars to slow down the advancing troops.
Philippines attack: Abu Sayyaf militants killed nine people and wounded 16 others in an attack Monday on a southern Philippine village, officials said. At least 20 militants opened fire on residents and burned houses in the attack on Tubigan village in Maluso town on Basilan island, officials said. Government soldiers drove the attackers away after two hours of heavy fighting, the military said. The Abu Sayyaf “have been hit hard by our operations over the weekend and opted to attack communities which they know are not supportive of them,” Basilan military commander Col. Juvymax Uy said.
Finland stabbing: A court on Monday identified the suspect in a stabbing rampage that killed two people and wounded eight as 18-yearold Moroccan Abderrahman Mechkah, who is being treated at a hospital after police shot him in the leg to subdue him in the city of Turku. Police have requested the detention of Mechkah, an asylum-seeker, on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and terrorism crimes. According to authorities, Mechkah was shot after he stabbed two women to death and injured others in the center of Turku on Friday afternoon.
Ailing leader: Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari said Monday that his government will step up its campaign against Islamic extremist rebels, but he made no mention of his health as he spoke to the nation for the first time after more than three months of medical treatment in London. In a televised speech, Buhari, 74, did not say what illness caused him to leave Nigeria in May for the lengthy treatment. Earlier this year he spent seven weeks in London for treatment. His long absences have led some to call for his replacement. Observers fear that political unrest could erupt in Nigeria, particularly in the predominantly Muslim north, should Buhari not finish his term in office, which ends in 2019.
Syria fighting: Russia said Monday it has intensified its air campaign in Syria to help President Bashar Assad’s forces drive Islamic State militants from Deir el-Zour, a major stronghold for the group, killing an estimated 800 militants across the country this month alone. Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi said Russian jets are now making up to 70 flights a day to target militants heading from other areas to join the fight in the eastern city. He said Syrian troops are meanwhile advancing from three directions to encircle Deir el-Zour. Syrian government forces control around half the city and a nearby air base, both of which are besieged by the militants. Rudskoi said militants fleeing U.S.-backed offensives in the Iraqi city of Mosul and the Syrian city of Raqqa have poured into Deir el-Zour in recent months. Russia has waged an air campaign in Syria since September 2015 aimed at helping Assad’s forces defeat Islamic State militants as well as Syrian rebel groups.