IS Sends Senior Iraqi Militant to Libya's Sirte: Report
The IS group's leadership has sent a senior Iraqi "enforcer" to lead its new outpost in Libya's Sirte, Libyan intelligence officials have told the Daily Telegraph.
The Iraqi is known as Abu Omar and has been tasked with tightening IS's grip on its Libyan stronghold and preparing it as a possible refuge for IS leaders in Syria and Iraq, the officials claimed.
Abu Omar arrived in Sirte in October, according to Colonel Ismail Shukri, the head of military intelligence in Misrata.
IS Praises Jihadi John's 'Kindness' For Giving 'Concubine' To Fellow Militant
In the latest edition of its glossy magazine Dabiq, the IS group praised British militant Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, for his "kindness" in giving away a female slave he had received as a "gift" to a fellow militant.
In an obituary for the notorious British IS militant, who appeared in several IS beheading videos of victims including UK aid worker David Haines, Dabiq wrote:
"One of the deeds that attest to his kindness and generosity is that after receiving a sabiyyah (concubine) as a gift he did not hesitate to give her away -- likewise as a gift -- to an unmarried injured brother."
Emwazi also showed "affection towards the orphans," Dabiq claimed.
British Woman Arrested On Suspicion Of Syria-Related Terror Offenses
A 28-year-old British woman has been arrested on suspicion of "Syria-related terror offenses," police have said.
Counter terrorism officers arrested the woman at an address in Coventry in the West Midlands.
Residents Of Syria's Deir Al-Zor Fear IS Massacre
Civilians in the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor, which is being attacked and besieged by the IS group, fear that IS militants may carry out a massacre there.
IS controls 60 percent of Deir al-Zor city and is besieging the remaining government held areas. Militants have also now overran the suburb of al-Baghaliyeh.
"People are afraid, the situation is very difficult," said Attiyeh, a resident of Deir al-Zor who spoke to France 24 by phone from the city.
"If the city falls there will be a massacre," he added.
Britain Disturbed By Russian Air Strikes On Moderate Syrian Opposition
Britain is "increasingly disturbed" by Russian air strikes on moderate opposition forces and civilians in Syria, the UK's Defense Secretary Michael Fallon has said.
Fallon added that it was time for the U.S.-led coalition against IS to capitalize on the militant group's recent setbacks.
Syria's Opposition Won't Attend Peace Talks If 'Third Party' Joins
The Syrian opposition council formed in Riyadh last month has said that it will not join peace talks if a "third party" joins the talks.
The reference is apparently to an attempt by Russia to include other groups in the talks, which are scheduled to begin on January 25.
Council head Riad Hijab said that Russia is impeding the negotiations.
IS Releases 270 Civilians Abducted In Syria: Monitor
The IS group has released some 270 of 400 civilians it abducted in Deir al-Zor province in eastern Syria, according to Rami Abdel Rahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Those released included women, children under 14 and elderly people, Rahman said.
"They will not go back into [Deir al-Zor] city, but will be spread out among local tribes in the province," Abdel Rahman told AFP.
Kremlin: Problems Remain With Opposition Lists Ahead Of Syria Talks
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said this morning that problems remain with an agreed list of opposition groups ahead of scheduled Syria peace talks set for January 25.
Serious disagreements remain over which groups should be blacklisted and which should not, Peskov told reporters.
Damascus said earlier this month that it backed the Syria talks but wanted to see the names of the Syrian opposition figures who would take part. The Syrian government also said that it wanted to obtain a list of groups that would be classed as "terrorists."
"Intense work is being carried out, and our Foreign Minister [Lavrov] and the U.S. Secretary of State are meeting. Work is ongoing in other areas, let's say, but not everything is going smoothly," Peskov said.
Kerry, Lavrov Meet To Discuss Syria
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are to meet today in Zurich.
The main topic of conversation will be the Syria talks scheduled for January 25, according to the Russian media.
Russia Pressing Air Strikes Before Scheduled Syria Peace Talks
Russia is pressing its "air blitz" in Syria days before scheduled peace talks on January 25, AP reports.
Since Russia launched its air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30, its warplanes have flown nearly 6,000 missions. The number is impressive for a compact force comprising just a few dozen warplanes.
The Russian military brought a group of Moscow-based reporters to the base on Wednesday to see the operations. Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday that over the previous four days Russian warplanes had flown 157 sorties striking 579 targets in six Syrian regions.