Full News- Tue, May, 26, 2015 - 22:00 GMT

1- The Iraqi army, backed by Sunni tribesmen and Shia volunteers is attacking the ISIL terrorists on different fronts in a bid to retake Anbar and Salahuddin provinces. Iraqi officials announced that they have cut ISIL supply lines south of Ramadi. They say heavy fighting is ongoing and airstrikes are targeting ISIL positions west and south of the city. They say for now, their aim is to recapture the outskirts of Ramadi. The operation was launched earlier in the day with the aim of liberating the city of Ramadi which was captured by the ISIL terrorists on May 17.

2-  Syria's air force says its fighter jets have killed at least 190 ISIL terrorists in a series of airstrikes across the country on Tuesday. The Syrian warplanes pounded more than 160 ISIL targets on the outskirts of the ancient city of Palmyra and other areas in the east of Homs province. The army says some 50 Takfiri terrorists were killed and their weapons and vehicles were destroyed in the raids. Warplanes also carried out air raids against the ISIL stronghold of Raqqah, north of Syria. About 140 terrorists were reportedly killed in bombardment of the city. The terrorist group’s positions in the vicinity of the city of Tabqah in Raqqah province also came under attack. The Terrorist group captured Raqqa in August 2014 and declared the city as its capital.

3- Syrian parliament speaker says fighting terrorism is the key to restoring peace in the country. Mohammad Jihad al-Laham says any political solution to the crisis in Syria will fail without eliminating terrorist groups and draining their resources. He made the remarks during a meeting with a Russian parliamentary delegation in Damascus. Head of the delegation reiterated Moscow’s support for the Syrian government and people. They also expressed the Russian parliament's strong condemnation of ISIL’s attack on the ancient city of Palmyra and atrocities that have been committed against its residents.

4-  Saudi warplanes have launched fresh attacks on different parts of Yemen as the civilian death toll keeps rising. The latest airstrikes targeted a Republican guard’s academy in Hudaydah province, and Aden’s International airport. Two schools and a medical center in Amran and Hajjah provinces were also bombed. Earlier, six people were killed in Aden and Hajjah airstrikes. The attacks in the Jabal Sabir district in southern Ta’izz province also left nine civilians including three women and two children dead. Seven members of a family were killed in an overnight strike near the country’s border with Saudi Arabia. Nearly 4-thousand people, mostly civilians, have been killed since Riyadh began its bombardments on March 26.

5- Iran and Kuwait have stressed the necessity of confronting terrorist groups in the Middle-East. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Kuwaiti counterpart discussed the situation in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, urging fight against the ISIL. Zarif called for unconditional talks among Syrian and Yemeni factions to solve the crisis in both countries. Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid, for his part called for supporting the government in Baghdad. The Kuwaiti official also described a final nuclear deal between Iran and the p-five-plus-one group of countries as crucial for stability and security in the region. The two ministers stressed boosting ties between Iran and Kuwait. The two top diplomats made the remarks in a meeting on the eve of the 42nd session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

6- Over 11-hundred people have died in India due to heat wave sweeping across the country. The worst-stricken area is the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh. Authorities say eight-hundred-52 people there have died so far. Two-hundred and sixty-six more others lost their lives in the neighboring state of Telangana. The temperature reached its record high of forty-seven degrees Celsius on Monday. Indian meteorological department has warned the high temperatures would continue for another two days.

7- Libya's internationally recognized Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani has escaped unharmed from an assassination attempt. Government officials say al-Thani’s car was attacked in the city of Tobruk where a session of parliament was underway. They say the prime minister was not hurt but one of his bodyguards was wounded. Libya has been witnessing numerous clashes between government forces and rival militia groups that refuse to lay down arms. The city of Bayda has hosted the country’s internationally-recognized government since August 20-14. This, after the Libya Dawn militant group, seized Tripoli and most government institutions.

8- South of Israel comes under several rocket attacks allegedly fired from the besieged Gaza strip. The Israeli Army says at least one of the five rockets has hit Gan Yavne town. Residents in the area have also reported hearing two loud explosions. No damage or injury has been reported. Israeli army says it is investigating the incident. Palestinians have not so far made any comments in connection with the rocket attacks.

9- Iran and P5+1 negotiators have engaged in fresh talks on the draft of a final nuclear agreement. 

10- Georgia is marking the 97th anniversary of its independence with festivities and outdoor events in Tbilisi and other parts of the country. It was on May the 26th, 19-18, that the country declared its autonomy from Russia.

11- Three civilians, including a child, have been reportedly killed in a mortar attack in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. The deaths occurred when mortar rounds reportedly fired by the Ukrainian army hit a residential area in the town of Horlivka. Four people were also injured. The pro-Russian forces condemned the attack and accused Kiev of breaching a ceasefire agreement which was reached between the two sides back in February. They said European security observers have been informed about the attack and are expected to visit the site on Wednesday. Earlier in the week, Ukrainian officials said at least six people, including a civilian, were killed in clashes in the east.

12- The European Commission confirms that only six EU member states have so far pledged money to the the bloc's highly ambitious investment plan which was launched last year. The project aims to raise 315 billion Euros to breathe new life into the bloc's economy and create jobs. But so far it has failed to get off the ground.

13- London’s iconic black cabs have staged a protest that brought the UK capital to a standstill for several hours. The emergence of private minicab firms has caused many drivers to lose a significant amount of business and they are angry that private firms are not held to the same regulations as they are.

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