The US strikes in Syria and Iraq

1 Syria

The US Air Force attacked the positions of the Iraqi Shia militia organization ’’Al-Hashd al-Shaabi’’ on the Iraqi-Syrian border. The Al Hadath TV reported that weapons carrying vehicles of the 14th Brigade of the Shia Militia were attacked. The Syrian state-run news agency ’SANA’ reported that a US drone also attacked a food truck in the town of Bou Kemal, in the Deir ez-Zor province. This city is located near the border with Iraq. No casualties were reported in the US Air Force attack.

2 Iraq

The meeting between the US President Joe Biden and the Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi will take place in Washington, on 26th of July. Mustafa al-Kazimi stated during an interview to the ’Al Hadath TV’ that he intends to discuss the issue of the US presence in Iraq, and the pulling of the US forces from Iraq. He noted that the USA helped Iraq «not only from a military point of view, but also in educational, cultural, economic, and other matters’’. He added that the aid of the USA will be important in the future, for the training of the Iraqi military, in particular — the Iraqi Air Force and special services, which are fighting the remnants of the «ISIS».

3 Afghanistan

The Afghan TV channel ’TOLO’ News reported that 2-day talks between a delegation of Afghan politicians and representatives of the Taliban have ended in Doha. The delegation of Afghan politicians was led by the chairman of the Supreme Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah. After the meeting, a joint statement was made in which the parties agreed to continue the high-level peace talks, to find a common ground in order to bring the country out of the current situation, and also protect the civilian infrastructure, prevent the civilian deaths, and work with organizations and countries that provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. At the same time, the ’TOLO News TV channel’ specified that the statement didn’t mention anything about a ceasefire, or a reduction of the level of violence in Afghanistan.

4 Afghanistan

The Afghan Defense Ministry reported that the Afghan national defense and the security forces have recaptured several areas from the Taliban in the north and center of the country over the past 24 hours. Earlier it was reported that over the past 4 days, the Afghan Forces killed 967 Taliban terrorists and wounded about 500. It was reported that fierce fighting is going on in 20 out of 34 provinces of the country. The defense of Talukan city in the Takhar province from the Taliban continues.

5 Afghanistan — Pakistan

The Afghan Foreign Ministry reported that Kabul has recalled the ambassador from Pakistan until the security threats are eliminated. The decision was made in response to the abduction of the daughter of the ambassador in Islamabad. Kabul demands to arrest the kidnappers, and bring them to justice. It is noted that a visit of the Afghan delegation to Pakistan is planned to resolve this issue. On Saturday, the Afghan Foreign Ministry reported that the daughter of the Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan was kidnapped on 16th of July. The girl was tortured, and released after a few hours. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated that «reports of the abduction and attack on the daughter of the Afghan Ambassador are being investigated. The situation is being monitored at the highest level, in accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister Imran Khan.»

6 Azerbaijan

After the negotiations with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called on Armenia to think about peace, and forget about the war. According to Ilham Aliyev — «it is time to lay the foundation for a broad regional cooperation». Ilham Aliyev added that «from this point of view, the EU plays a very important role». Earlier Charles Michel stated at a press conference in Baku, after the negotiation with Ilham Aliyev, that the EU is ready to play a positive role in achieving the peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Constantine Reztsov, specially for the ANNA NEWS.