Latest news with #Al-Qaeda-affiliated
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Family of Jaipur man kidnapped in Mali seeks help, says MEA yet to respond directly
JAIPUR: Prakash Chandra Joshi, a 61-year-old Jaipur resident and General Manager at a cement factory in Mali, West Africa, was kidnapped on July 1 by armed assailants along with three other Indian nationals. Joshi had joined the Diamond Cement Factory in Mali just weeks earlier, on June 5. The incident is suspected to be linked to Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terror group that claimed responsibility for multiple attacks across Mali on the same day. Joshi's wife, Suman, spoke to the media and recounted the last conversation she had with her husband. 'He had joined the factory as General Manager on June 5. I last spoke to him on June 30. He told us he wasn't feeling well. We asked him to resign and return home,' she said. After June 30, Joshi's phone became unreachable. 'We initially thought it might be a network or electricity issue – which is common in African countries. But on July 2, our daughter received a call from the company's HR informing us that he had been kidnapped. We were shocked. How could we have imagined something like this?' Suman added. According to the family, Joshi had gone to the factory for his assignments on the morning of July 1 when the attack occurred. 'Hundreds of armed men stormed the factory, opened fire, and set parts of it on fire. In the chaos, they abducted three people. They left in the car provided to Papa by the company,' said a family member.
NDTV
05-07-2025
- NDTV
Odisha Man Among 3 Indians Kidnapped By Al Qaeda-Linked Group In Mali
Ganjam: Three Indian nationals have been kidnapped by an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group in the West African nation of Mali. Among those kidnapped is 28-year-old P Venkataraman, a resident of Odisha's Ganjam district. The kidnapping occurred on July 1, during an assault by armed terrorists on the premises of the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes in western Mali. The factory, which employs foreign workers, including Indians, became the target of a planned attack attributed to Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group that has claimed responsibility for multiple assaults across Mali in recent days. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the kidnappings, calling the act "deplorable" and urging the Malian authorities to take "all necessary measures" for the safe and speedy release of the kidnapped individuals. While the identities of the other two Indians have not been disclosed publicly as of Saturday, sources in Odisha have confirmed that Mr Venkataraman had been working with Mumbai-based Blue Star Pvt Ltd, which had deputed him to Mali to serve at the Diamond Cement facility. He had been posted there for approximately six months. Mr Venkataraman's mother, P. Narasamma -- a widow -- approached the police on Friday evening to file a complaint after losing contact with her son. She last spoke to him on June 30. On July 4, she received a phone call from an official of Blue Star who informed her that Mr Venkataraman was "in police custody" and assured her not to worry. The family was subsequently informed by local contacts and social media that he may have been kidnapped by terrorists. "I am very much worried about the fate of my son. I request the government for his safe release," MS Narasamma said. "First they said he is in custody, now we hear he is in captivity." JNIM, which pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda in 2017, has been at the forefront of insurgent activity, frequently targeting UN peacekeepers, Malian soldiers, and foreign personnel.
Mint
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Iran executes 9 Islamic State militants, detained for 2018 attack, by hanging
Iran has executed nine militants of the Islamic State group detained after a 2018 attack, it said on Tuesday. According to an AP report, the Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency announced the executions, saying that the death sentences had been upheld by the country's top court. It described the militants as being detained after they were in a clash in the country's western region with Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, in which three troops and several Islamic State group fighters were killed. Authorities said they had seized a cache of combat weapons, including a machine gun and 50 grenades, after surrounding the militants' hideout in the country's west. Iran carries out executions by hanging. The group, which once held vast territory across Iraq and Syria in a self-described caliphate it declared in 2014, ultimately was beaten back by US-led forces. It has been in disarray in the years since, though it has mounted major assaults. In neighboring Afghanistan, for instance, the Islamic State group is believed to have grown in strength since the fall of the Western-backed government there to the Taliban in 2021. The group previously claimed a June 2017 attack in Tehran on parliament and a mausoleum of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini that killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 50. It has claimed other attacks as well in Iran, including two suicide bombings in 2024 targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 US drone strike. That assault killed at least 94 people, the AP report said. Jihadists have intensified their offensives in the Sahel region in recent weeks, carrying out bloody raids in Mali, incursions into major cities in Burkina Faso and inflicting heavy army losses in Niger. The three Sahel states' military juntas, who had pledged during the coups that brought them to power to make security a priority, are struggling to contain the advance of jihadists, who are threatening more than ever neighbouring countries on the west African coast. Several hundred soldiers have been killed in various attacks claimed by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) in Mali and Burkina Faso, and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) group in Niger, an AFP report said.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Surging jihadist violence in Sahel fuels fears unrest may spread
We advance through the Sahel, weapons ready. A dust cloud rises behind us, and the silhouettes of enemy fighters loom against the setting sun. Abidjan: Jun 06, 2025 -Jihadists have intensified their offensives in the Sahel region in recent weeks, carrying out bloody raids in Mali, incursions into major cities in Burkina Faso and inflicting heavy army losses in Niger. The three Sahel states' military juntas, who had pledged during the coups that brought them to power to make security a priority, are struggling to contain the advance of jihadists, who are threatening more than ever neighbouring countries on the west African coast. The last few weeks have been particularly deadly in the Sahel, the poor, semi-arid region below the Sahara desert. Several hundred soldiers have been killed in various attacks claimed by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) in Mali and Burkina Faso, and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) group in Niger. - Why are attacks intensifying? - "The global vision of regional terrorism is changing. There is an ideological aspect, but also an ethnic one," said Lassina Diarra of the International Counter-Terrorism Academy in Jacqueville, Ivory Coast. "Jihadist leaders declared in March their intent to intensify attacks against national armies to prevent a genocide against the Fulani community." Military violence targeting civilians -- particularly the Fulani, often singled out in the Sahel region and accused of feeding the jihadists' ranks -- "has exacerbated grievances and played into jihadist narratives, driving JNIM's expansion", said the Soufan Center think tank in a brief. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDs กับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้ | เรียนรู้เพิ่มเติม IC Markets สมัคร Undo It also highlighted "a broader strategy to degrade public confidence in state forces, boost recruitment". "There is also a question of competition for territory," Diarra added. "JNIM is accelerating attacks to reduce the influence of EIS, which is making a comeback." - What are jihadists' ambitions? - According to many observers, the goals of JNIM and EIS differ. "EIS aims for a global jihad, with the intention of establishing a caliphate, the strict implementation of sharia law and a brutal approach, including against civilian populations," Diarra said. "JNIM has a more political approach". - Could they topple a government?- The capitals of Mali and Burkina Faso "are surrounded", said Diarra. "Given its increasing operational capabilities, JNIM has the capabilities to occupy a capital. The challenge will be to administer it. It's unclear they have the means and expertise in this area." For Gilles Yabi, founder of the west African think tank Wathi, it is important to remain cautious of "catastrophic" predictions. The jihadists' "main advantage is their mobility and ability to move and blend with populations", he said. "In Burkina Faso, we cannot rule out a Somalia-like scenario, with a capital that resists while the rest of the country is out of control," said a Western military source. - What response? - The juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger came to power through coups between 2020 and 2023 and are now united in a confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). They have been turning their backs on west African bloc ECOWAS and Western powers engaged in anti-jihadist efforts. The military rulers rarely communicate about jihadist attacks, insisting they are reclaiming large portions of territory. "What is concerning and greatly destabilises the military is the use of drones by armed groups, which can reduce or even annihilate the advantage armies seemed to have gained in recent months," said Yabi. "These governments live in isolation and also face financial issues, such as paying soldiers. There is reason to question their capacity to resist in the long run," Diarra said. The Alliance of Sahel States announced at the beginning of the year the formation of a 5,000-soldier joint force, with its three armies conducting operations together. "We can't say there are no results at all, but they are losing many men, which is likely creating concerns regarding soldier mobilisation," Yabi said. The Western military source said he "fears regional collapse" due to a "cocktail of factors: not very solid governments, all sorts of trafficking, demographic explosion, misinformation on social media and the withdrawal of American aid". - Could the threat spread? - The northern parts of Togo and Benin, bordering Sahelian states, are already regularly targeted by violent jihadist incursions. Benin maintains tense relations with neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, which have accused it of harbouring jihadist training bases -- an accusation it denies. "The fact that Benin cannot directly talk with its neighbours and therefore struggles to secure its borders increases its vulnerability," Diarra said. JNIM is also seeking to establish itself in Senegal and Mauritania via Mali, according to a study by the Timbuktu Institute. Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has taken the threat seriously. During a visit to Burkina Faso in May, Sonko said it was "illusory" to think jihadism would remain confined to the Sahel region.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's Pledge to Lift Syrian Sanctions Faces a Complex Road
(Bloomberg) -- US President Donald Trump says he's ready to ease sanctions on Syria. He won't be able to do it quickly. As Coastline Erodes, One California City Considers 'Retreat Now' How a Highway Became San Francisco's Newest Park Power-Hungry Data Centers Are Warming Homes in the Nordics Maryland's Credit Rating Gets Downgraded as Governor Blames Trump NYC Commuters Brace for Chaos as NJ Transit Rail Strike Looms The American leader sat down with Syrian counterpart Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday — the first meeting between heads of the two countries in 25 years — after unexpectedly saying he would drop all sanctions against the war-ravaged country and even look to normalize relations. The move was seen as a highlight of Trump's trip to the Arabian Peninsula this week, but actual implementation will be a protracted and thorny challenge. The White House also made clear it's not a one-way street, saying the president urged Sharaa to take steps in return, including helping to fight terrorism and agreeing ties with Israel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will have to wade through layers of strict restrictions imposed on Syria over the past 45 years — covering everything from finance to energy — and met his counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani on Thursday in Turkey. 'President Trump has made clear his cessation of sanctions is meant to help stabilize and move Syria toward peace,' National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt said in a statement. 'The State Department prepared for this moment by engaging across the U.S. government and our foreign partners since the fall of the Assad regime to review options and timing on sanctions relief.' In the meantime, the US Treasury Department plans to issue general licenses covering a broad swath of the economy in the coming weeks, according to a Treasury official who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. General licenses allow for certain types of business transactions without requiring companies to apply for explicit permission. Trump can lift sanctions issued by executive order but some will need a vote in Congress to be repealed, according to Caroline Rose, a Syria expert and research director at the Washington-based New Lines Institute. 'The road ahead with sanctions relief will be long and complicated,' she said. 'There are still many sceptics to Syria normalization and sanctions relief, particularly among Republican Party members.' Another issue is that Sharaa, Shaibani and many other members of the present Syrian government are former commanders of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group implicated by the United Nations Security Council in war atrocities. Sharaa, who previously ran an Islamist protostate in northwest Syria, overthrew long-time former President Bashar Al-Assad in December after a rebel offensive. 'There's a lot that needs to be done, including by the Syrian administration,' Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan told reporters Wednesday. 'Syria won't be alone — the kingdom and the rest of our international partners will be at the forefront of those supporting this effort and economic rebirth.' One immediate boost for Sharaa's government will come from supporter Qatar, which has US backing to begin dispersing almost $30 million a month for civil servant salaries, according to two people involved in finalizing the arrangement and two others with knowledge of the matter. That will provide at least a start for the new Syrian administration, which is faced with an economy devastated by more than a decade of war and in need of as much as $400 billion for rebuilding costs, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International peace. 'We welcome all investors: children of the nation inside and outside, our Arab and Turkish brothers and friends from around the world,' Sharaa said in a speech on Wednesday night. Supporters of Sharaa inside and out of Syria, including Saudi Arabia, see Trump's move as a brave decision that isolates extremists within the Syrian leader's Islamist-dominated administration. The move also excludes Iran, Assad's main patron, and helps ensure China doesn't make significant inroads. Investment opportunities will instead fall to regional powers friendly to the US, like Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. 'The main concern in the business community has been that we don't want to be seen working with what has been designated as a terrorist government by the West,' said Majd Abbar, a Dubai-based Syrian-American information-technology executive, who has lobbied officials in Washington to lift sanctions and met with Sharaa multiple times. 'Now that these sanctions will be lifted, everyone is going to jump on board to invest in Syria,' he said. 'It's practically a white canvas — there's nothing there.' Syria, which is technically still at war with Israel, has been under myriad US sanctions since its 1979 designation by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism. Relations thawed in the 1990s when Damascus joined the US-led coalition that ousted Saddam Hussein from Kuwait and engaged in peace talks with Israel. But after replacing his father in 2000, Assad deepened ties with Iran and was accused by the US of supporting the insurgency in Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion. That triggered additional sanctions by Washington, and further rounds followed from 2011 when Assad mounted a brutal crackdown against his opponents, spawning a decade-long conflict that killed almost 500,000 people and displaced millions more. Just before his toppling in December, the US renewed the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which penalizes anyone that does business with the Syrian government except for exempted humanitarian reasons. Before Trump's announcement, many in his administration, such as Sebastian Gorka, were strongly opposed to removing sanctions or dealing with Sharaa, seeing him as a committed jihadist who is masking his real intentions. The State Department had demanded Sharaa's government show progress on a number of critical issues as a precondition for the lifting of sanctions. At their meeting in Riyadh, Trump urged Sharaa to take certain steps, according to a White House readout of the conversation, which was attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Those include the deportation of Palestinian militants and other foreign fighters from Syria, helping with the effort to prevent the resurgence of Islamic State and normalizing relations with Israel. Israel was quick to intervene militarily after Assad's ouster, launching a series of airstrikes on arms-storage sites and extending its occupied land in Syria's southwest. It also stepped in to defend the Druze community after violent clashes between the minority group and government forces. The country's attitude toward Syria 'is more sceptical, we are approaching matters in a slower manner,' Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, told Army Radio on Thursday. 'We want to see that there really is stability in Syria, that this regime doesn't only talk, it also takes action.' --With assistance from Dan Williams, Jordan Fabian, Fiona MacDonald, Julius Domoney and Natalia Drozdiak. (Updates with Treasury official in sixth paragraph.) Cartoon Network's Last Gasp DeepSeek's 'Tech Madman' Founder Is Threatening US Dominance in AI Race Why Obesity Drugs Are Getting Cheaper — and Also More Expensive As Nuclear Power Makes a Comeback, South Korea Emerges a Winner Trump Has Already Ruined Christmas ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
