Global Hotspots Report – 8/2014

Kurds, Iraqi forces supported by US strikes take control of the Mosul dam | AQAP militants execute 14 soldiers in Hadarmout, amid sectarian fighting in Yeme | Overloaded Iraqi Mi-17 crash on a rescue mission to Sinjar | West provide air support, sending arms, advisors to assist Iraqi Kurds | ISIL regain grip of Deir el-Zor rural area in East Syria | US conducts air strikes against ISIL near Erbil | White House authorise humanitarian support to Iraqi minorities, air strikes targeting ISIS | US missile cruiser enroute to the Black Sea | 40,000 stranded on Sinjar mountain under ISIS death threats | France to speed up arms for Lebanon | Pakistan air strikes hit militants in Datta-khel, North Waziristan | US general killed by Afghan 'insider attack' | Egypt, Algeria align against Libyan extremists | 32 Strike Tunnels Destroyed | ISIS Takes the town of Ersal | AQAP jihadists kill 9 Yemeni soldiers | Two Terror attacks rock Jerusalem | Iraqi Air Force to assist Kurds fighting ISIS | 23 Syrians killed by barrel bombs in Idlib

By
Tamir Eshel
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12485
RAF C-130 Hercules air dropping emergency aid over northern Iraq. Photo: Cpl Neil Bryden RAF

Overnight the RAF has deployed three missions delivering emergency supplies to Yazidi refugees on Mt. Sinjar, in north west Iraq. The UK has put together a package of emergency humanitarian assistance to get lifesaving aid to tens of thousands of people across northern and central Iraq, who have fled ISIL militants. The humanitarian aid drops by RAF C130 aircraft, which took place early this morning, included nearly 9,000 5-litre water bottles and 816 solar lanterns. The aircraft deployed from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire England. Later today the RAF dispatched a number of Tornado GR4 strike aircraft, fitted with Litening III targeting pods. They will be positioned in Cyprus, available to fly over the crisis area at short notice to provide vital intelligence to assist the delivery of the UK aid. So far, three consignments of aid, provided by the Department for International Development, have been delivered to the area by the RAF using Hercules aircraft.

Royal Air Force Hercules C-130J aircraft from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire England carry out aid delivering humanitarian assistance to thousands of people stranded on Mt. Sinjar in Iraq. The missions performed at night involved aerial refuelling from an Royal Air Force Voyager (A330) (right photo) and a night airdrop from low altitude over the target area (left photos). The cargo delivered included jerry cans filled with clean water, tents and tarpaulins to provide basic shelter and solar lights that can also recharge mobile phones and enable communication. Photo: Cpl Neil Bryden RAF
Royal Air Force Hercules C-130J aircraft from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire England carry out aid delivering humanitarian assistance to thousands of people stranded on Mt. Sinjar in Iraq. The missions performed at night involved aerial refuelling from an Royal Air Force Voyager (A330) (right photo) and a night airdrop from low altitude over the target area (left photos). The cargo delivered included jerry cans filled with clean water, tents and tarpaulins to provide basic shelter and solar lights that can also recharge mobile phones and enable communication. Photo: Cpl Neil Bryden RAF

RAF C-130 Hercules air dropping emergency aid over northern Iraq. Photo: Cpl Neil Bryden RAF
RAF C-130 Hercules air dropping emergency aid over northern Iraq. Photo: Cpl Neil Bryden RAF
An F/A-18E from the VFA-15 "Valions", CVN 77 George H.W. Bush prepared for takeoff on a strike mission in Iraq, August 8, 2014. The aircraft were carrying an AG/M-54 Laser JDAM laser/GPS guided bombs and Maverick guided missile. Photo: US Navy by M. Keith
An F/A-18E from the VFA-15 “Valions”, CVN 67 G.H. Bush prepared for takeoff on a strike mission in Iraq, August 8, 2014. The aircraft were carrying an AG/M-54 Laser JDAM laser/GPS guided bombs and Maverick guided missile. Photo: US Navy by M. Keith

The following report aggregates news abstracts covering current news from conflict areas from around the Middle East. Flip on to read the latest news items. These news items are arranged in chronological order and include related locations and maps, images or videos. Links to the sources are also provided for further reading. We are currently experimenting this format and will appreciate receiving your comments.

August 2014 briefs: Kurds, Iraqi forces supported by US strikes take control of the Mosul dam | AQAP militants execute 14 soldiers in Hadarmout, amid sectarian fighting in Yemen | Overloaded Iraqi Mi-17 crash on a rescue mission to Sinjar | West provide air support, sending arms and advisors to assist Iraqi Kurds | ISIL regain grip of Deir el-Zor rural area in East Syria | US conducts air strikes against ISIL near Erbil | White House authorise humanitarian support to Iraqi minorities, air strikes targeting ISIS | US missile cruiser enrout to the Black Sea | 40,000 stranded on Sinjar mountain under ISIS death threats | France to speed up arms for Lebanon | Pakistan air strikes hit militants in Datta-khel, North Waziristan | US Maj. General Harold J. Greene. killed by Afghan ‘insider attack’ | Egypt, Algeria align against Libyan extremists | 32 Strike Tunnels Destroyed in Gaza | Lebanon: ISIS Takes the town of Ersal | AQAP jihadists kill 9 Yemeni soldiers | Two Terror attacks rock Jerusalem | Iraqi Air Force to assist Kurds fighting ISIS | 23 Syrians killed by barrel bombs in Idlib

As Defense-Update has reported on the developments concerning the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, following is a video presentation published by “Vice News”, describing ISIL’s strategy in the Islamic State it has established and how the group is indoctrinating children and youth to fight its battles.

Part 1 of 5

Part 2 0f 5

More parts to follow…

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