Washington plans to increase troops in Iraq: US military chief

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• The U-S military chief says Washington is planning to increase the number of its troops in Iraq in order to help the country in its battle against ISIL militants. Joseph Dunford says recommendations on ways to increase U-S support for Iraq will be discussed with President Barack Obama soon.
• ISIL terrorist group has claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing on a football field south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. The attack claimed the lives of some 30 people including minors and wounded scores of others in a village near the town of Iskandariyah.
• Saudi warplanes have targeted several districts in the Yemeni provinces of Ta'izz and Jawf as Riyadh’s aggression reaches one year mark. Saudi Arabia’s war on Yemen has claimed the lives of nearly 94-hundred people since March 26, 20-15, over four-thousand of whom are women and children.
• In Yemen’s southern city of Aden, over two dozen people, mostly civilians have been killed in bombing attacks which hit checkpoints run by forces loyal to the former regime. The ISIL terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Medics say that the death toll is expected to rise.
• A big protest rally has been held in the besieged Gaza Strip to express solidarity with the new Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories. The protesters also denounced the almost daily killing of Palestinians by Israeli soldiers. They slammed the international silence on Israeli crimes.
• Belgian police have conducted more raids to catch those believed to be behind Brussels bombings and a suspected new plot in France. They have so far arrested three suspects. Meanwhile, Thousands have gathered in the capital Brussels, to pay tribute to the victims of the airport and metro terror attacks.
• Students in Paris have vandalized two police stations to vent their anger at alleged police brutality. The students stormed the stations after newly-released images from Thursday demonstrations showed an officer brutally beating a protester. Students staged nationwide rallies on Thursday in protest against planned labor reforms.
• Brazil's army commander has pledged to ensure the country’s stability amid a political turmoil over the fate of embattled president Dilma Rousseff. The army chief noted that under the law, the armed forces must act under the president’s authority. This comes as lawmakers are planning to impeach Rousseff over corruption allegations.

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