U.S. Officials in the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a are destroying documents and weapons today as they work to leave the embassy in Yemen, a task they believe will be complete by Wednesday. The U.S. Embassy there has been closed down all month following the January 20th storming and take-over of the Yemeni leader’s palace. Within days of […]
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his government receives information about U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, but he stressed there is no direct cooperation. Assad told the BBC in Damascus that there are exchanges of messages through third parties, such as Iraq, but the exchanges do not include tactical information. He said Syria […]
WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the U.S.-led coalition is “on the road” to degrading and destroying the Islamic State (IS) group. President Obama’s special envoy for the coalition, retired Marine General John Allen, said he expects a major Iraqi-led counter-offensive against the IS group in coming weeks. Kerry described to U.S. television viewers […]
MANILA—The Philippine Navy is upgrading its capabilities at a time of continuing tensions with China over disputed territory in the South China Sea. In recent weeks, an Indonesian naval shipbuilder started work on two “strategic sealift vessels” that the Philippines is acquiring for more than $87 million and expects within two years, said Commander Lued […]