Iran dismantles terror group in West Azarbaijan province

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• The Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution has criticized human rights organizations for remaining tight-lipped on last year’s deadly hajj stampede in Saudi Arabia. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says all countries supporting Saudi Arabia, including the US, are accomplices to the Mina tragedy.
   
• Iran’s Intelligence Ministry says Iranian security forces have dismantled a Saudi-backed terrorist group in the province of West Azarbaijan. The Iranian forces clashed with the terrorists in the town of Sardasht. The 12-member group was armed with ammunition and light weapons.
   
• Iraq's Joint Special Operations Command says its forces have detained several Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Diyala province. The JSOC says it has also dismantled a Daesh cell and seized an armed vehicle containing weapons and explosives before arresting the Takfiris.
   
• Russia says military operations by Turkish forces and militants of the so-called Free Syrian Army inside Syria can further exacerbate the situation in the Arab country. In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry says the Turkish incursion into Syria calls into question Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
   
• British police have charged 9 activists from the Black Lives Matter movement with trespass and unlawful presence within a restricted area of the London airport. All flights were disrupted after protesters locked themselves together on the runway. The group wanted to highlight Britain’s environmental impact on the lives of black people.
   
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel has vowed to win back voters’ trust after her party lost regional elections to an anti-refugee party in her home state. Speaking to parliament, Merkel admitted responsibility for the defeat but once again defended her refugee policy. She denied concerns that the refugee influx would harm the Germans.
   
• Spanish firefighters are still struggling to contain the wildfires raging in the northwestern region of Galicia. Officials say dozens more people have been evacuated from the region after the blaze approached their homes. Authorities have sent helicopters and airplanes to help stop the fires.
   
• Rain-triggered floods in parts of southern and northern Greece have left at least 4 people dead and 1 missing. All the deaths reportedly occurred in the southern Peloponnese region. Officials say the flooding caused extensive damage to homes and businesses. The floodwaters at some places were as high as one meter.

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