Taliban Closer To Afghan Capital After Seizing Key City
The militant Taliban group was closing Thursday in on Afghanistan’s capital Kabul after the US already urged citizens to leave “immediately.”
Islam
US Intel: Taliban Could Take Afghan Capital in 90 Days After Rapid Gains
Taliban fighters could isolate Afghanistan’s capital in 30 days and possibly take it over in 90, a U.S. defense official cited U.S. intelligence as saying, as the resurgent militants made more advances across the country.
Majority of Syria’s Christians have fled the country
Around two-thirds of Syria’s Christians have had to escape the war-torn country over the last 10 years, Kurdish news outlet Rudaw reports. Prior to the start of the civil war in 2011, Christians constituted between 8%-10% of Syria’s population; they now make up about 3%.
Lebanese Key Christian Leader Urges Army To Halt Hezbollah Attacks
One of Lebanon’s most influential Christian leaders has urged the army to retake the country’s South and prevent Hezbollah – the dominant Islamist militant group in the area from launching more rockets at Israel.
Migrant Kills Priest In France
A Rwandan immigrant who allegedly caused a massive fire that ravaged the cathedral in the French city of Nantes last year has murdered a Catholic priest in western France, the interior minister said.
Taliban Gaining Control Over Afghanistan As US Leaves
As U.S. troops complete their pullout, the Islamic militant Taliban group rapidly expanded its control in Afghanistan Sunday, increasingly isolating the Western-backed government.
Iran-Backed Hezbollah Fires Dozens Of Rockets Into Israel (Video)
Israel’s cabinet held emergency talks Friday after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah said it fired “dozens of rockets” from Lebanon into Israel.
Concerns Remain After Nigeria Militants Release 28 Christian School Kids
Suspected Islamic kidnappers in northern Nigeria have released dozens of Christian school students, but parents remain concerned about scores of others still missing, Christian officials say.
Nigeria killing fields: Christian father and 7-year old son beheaded; “no one hears our cries for help”
Fulani Islamic militants in Nigeria’s Plateau state beheaded a Christian father and his 7-year old son on July 29, as the two walked home from choir practice, reported International Christian Concern.
Lebanon Rockets Hit Israel, Prompting Military Response (Video)
Air raid sirens wailed in northern Israel Wednesday as rockets were fired from neighboring Lebanon and Israeli forces responded with artillery fire.
Nigeria Genocide Warning: 43 bodies so far retrieved after Fulani Muslim attacks on seven Christian villages; “we are under siege!”
The corpses of 43 people, including women and children, have so far been recovered following the latest attacks by Fulani militants on seven predominantly Christian villages in Nigeria’s Plateau and Kaduna states, International Christian Concern reports. Just the most recent in the ongoing slaughter of Christians by radicalized Fulani herdsmen, the attacks were carried out in the early hours of the morning of August 2.
US intensifies strikes on al-Qaeda-affiliated targets in Somalia
The US is intensifying counter-terrorism airstrikes against al-Qaeda affiliates who have increased their attacks in Somalia since the withdrawal of hundreds of American troops this year, Bloomberg News reports. The US Africa Command has confirmed that airstrikes were carried out on July 20 and 23 and on Aug. 1.
Gantz Issues Stark Warning, ‘Iran Only 10 Weeks Away From Nuclear Breakout’
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz told diplomats from countries on the United Nations Security Council Wednesday that Iran is as few as “10 weeks away from acquiring weapons-grade materials necessary for a nuclear weapon.”
Rouhani confirms Israeli heist of Iran’s nuclear archive
On one of his final days in office, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday acknowledged an Israeli operation carried out by Mossad agents who broke into a secret warehouse outside Tehran and retrieved a huge trove of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear files.
Iran persecution: Christians face increased persecution from judiciary
Iran’s judiciary has granted itself powers that will likely make life substantially more harsh for Christian converts who are already persecuted in this predominantly Islamic country, International Christian Concern reports.
US, UK, and Israel say Iran attacked oil tanker
The US and the UK have joined Israel in expressing certainty that Iran was behind Thursday night’s deadly drone attack on an Israeli-managed oil tanker off the coast of Oman, the Jerusalem Post reports. The three countries are planning a joint response to the attack, even as Iran has denied involvement.
Nigeria killing fields for Christians: Fulani Islamic militants attack funeral of youth they murdered day before
As rights groups continue to warn of a genocide against Christians in Nigeria, on July 28 Fulani Islamic Militants in Plateau State attacked the funeral of Celina Ishaku’s son, a youth whom they had murdered the day before and whose father they killed two years ago, International Chrisitan Concern reports. Fulani militants have killed most of the 3,460 Christians who have already been slaughtered in 2021.
Albania Repatriates Islamic State Women, Children Despite Controversy
A group of women and children who were the families of Albanian nationals who joined Islamic extremist groups fighting in Syria and Iraq have returned to their homeland. Their arrival Sunday comes amid a debate in several other countries in Europe on what to do with fighters and supporters of groups such as the Islamic State.
Popular protests, violent crackdown put Biden Iran policy to the test
It started two weeks ago as a small-scale demonstration over water shortages in a remote province, but like other Iranian protests in recent years, the outburst has spread to several major cities with large crowds calling for the downfall of the Iranian regime and chants of “Death to the dictator.”
Biden Names First Muslim Religious Freedom Ambassador
The White House announced Friday a slate of nominations and appointments for top religious affairs roles, including the first Muslim American nominated to be the US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom (IRF).