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Smoke rises from buildings in the al-Meshleb neighbourhood of Raqqah as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), made up of an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militants, try to advance further into the Daesh terror group's Syrian bastion, on June 7, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, June 9, to 08:00 GMT, June 10, 2017.

 

‘US-led alliance colludes with Daesh’

Russia says the US-led coalition in Syria helps the Daesh terror group escape from Raqqah as Russian and Syrian government forces pound the area. According to commander of Russian forces in Syria Sergei Surovikin, the US-led coalition and its Kurdish allies coordinate their moves with Daesh leaders. Surovikin also says Washington is trying to prevent the Syrian government from establishing control over the country’s southern border. The statements come a day after US airstrikes targeted pro-government forces in the southern region of at-Tanf. Syrian troops and their allied fighters have recently stepped up their efforts to recapture Raqqah, the main stronghold of Daesh in Syria.

Syria gains

Syrian government forces battling terrorists in the country’s south have reached the border with Iraq. A Syrian army unit backed by allied fighters has reached the border north east of AT-TANF base in Homs Province. Tensions have escalated recently near the base where hundreds of US troops are stationed without the consent of the Syrian government. On Thursday, Washington said it shot down a pro-government drone. Meanwhile, US warplanes struck a Syrian military convoy earlier this week, killing a number of soldiers. This was the second such attack on Syrian troops in the past month. In response to the attack, the Syrian army and its allies warned they have the capacity to strike US positions in Syria.

Tehran terror attacks

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Tehran were aimed at taking revenge against democracy. Rouhani said the enemies of the Islamic Republic have always sought to deal a blow to the nation. He added that such attempts have been made whenever Iranians gain a major victory like last month’s presidential election which saw a huge turnout. Rouhani was speaking at the funeral for victims of the attacks. A number of top officials, including Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani attended the ceremony. Larijani condemned Saudi Arabia and the United States for joining hands against Iran.

US stance on Qatar

Tillerson called on Arab states to ease their blockade on Qatar. He urged the Persian Gulf Arab states to immediately take steps to de-escalate tensions in the region. The US secretary of state added that sanctions on Qatar are affecting the regional struggle against extremism. Earlier, Qatar’s foreign minister slammed efforts to isolate Doha, saying the action is a gross violation of international and humanitarian law. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul-Rahman Al Thani rejected terror allegations against his country as trickery aimed at misleading the international community.

UK elections 2017

British Prime Minister Theresa May's ruling Conservatives has lost a key stronghold in the capital London, suffering yet another blow before the commencement of Brexit talks. The Conservatives gave away Kensington stronghold in London to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party by 20 votes. This means the embattled British prime minister’s party has secured 318 seats in the Parliament. The opposition Labour Party has won 262 seats in the general elections. The Conservatives need eight more seats to secure an overall majority in the 650-seat parliament. British politics is witnessing a state of disarray just days before the start of negotiations to trigger Britain’s official divorce from the European Union.

Fight against Daesh

The deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units has announced the end of their operation in west of the flashpoint city of Mosul. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis said the final stage of the PMU operation led to liberation of 42 hundred square kilometers of territory from Daesh terrorists. He added that they took control of over one-hundred-fifty villages and killed some two-thousand Daesh terrorists during the operation. Muhandis also said the popular forces, known as Hashd al-Sha’bi, are now in full control of the Iraqi border with Syria. Earlier this week, the popular forces liberated the strategic district of Ba’aj 30 kilometers from the Syrian border. Muhandis said they are now awaiting an authorization to launch the liberation operation for Tal Afar.

Israeli killing

Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian in the besieged Gaza Strip. Palestinian officials say 35-year-old Aeid Jumaa was shot dead along the Gaze border. They say six other people were wounded after Israeli soldiers opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians. Tel Aviv has accused the Palestinians of triggering violence in the area. Clashes regularly erupt on Gaza’s border when the people of Gaza protest Tel Aviv’s years-long siege of the territory. Rights groups have warned that the siege has brought Gaza to the brink of a humanitarian crisis.

Iran raps Iraq attacks

Iran has strongly condemned Friday’s terrorist attacks in Iraq. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Daesh is in disarray due to their heavy defeats at the hands of government forces in Syria and Iraq. He noted that the terror group has stepped up its attacks as it is desperately trying to boost morale among its members. Qassemi however noted that Daesh’s final defeat is inevitable. On Friday, two separate bomb attacks in the cities of Karbala and the village of Musayyib in Babil province left at least 34 people dead and dozens of others wounded. Daesh has claimed responsibility for both bombings.

Trump on Comey testimony

US President Donald Trump has accused former FBI chief of lying to Congress about the contents of their private meetings in the weeks before he was sacked. Trump said he'd be willing to testify under oath about his interactions with James Comey. He rejected that his aides colluded with Russians to tilt last year’s presidential election. The US president also dismissed claims that he sought to block a probe related to the matter. Testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee, the ex-FBI chief said on Thursday that the US president fired him to hinder his investigation into Russia’s alleged interference in the election. Comey also called the US president a liar.

UK election fallout

The outcome of the UK general elections is taking its toll on the country’s economy. The British pound plunged to a seven-week low on Friday, shedding more than two percent against the dollar. The pound was also down one-point-five percent against the euro. The weakening pound makes imported goods' prices higher and squeezes consumers' ability to spend. However, the pound tumble lifted the country's main FTSE share index. The developments came after Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservatives lost their parliamentary majority, fueling political uncertainty just days before the start of Brexit talks.

NIAC slams US anti-Iran rhetoric

The National Iranian American Council has called on a US lawmaker to apologize for his inflammatory comments against Iran. In a strongly worded statement, the council lashed out at Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher for openly calling on the Trump administration to fuel tension between Shias and Sunnis. The legislator suggested that last Wednesday’s terrorist incidents in Tehran were a positive development. He urged Washington to support what he called Sunnis against the Shia threat. The council added that Rohrabacher’s improper comments follow the remarks of President Donald Trump who had suggested that Iran deserved to be struck. The council blasted both Rohrabacher and Trump for not having sympathized with the victims of the Tehran terror attacks.

Venezuela rally

Venezuelans have held yet another massive demonstration in support of President Nicolas Maduro. Thousands of ralliers marched on the Presidential Palace in the capital Caracas, chanting slogans for Maduro and the national constituent assembly tasked with rewriting the constitution. The president convened the assembly amid growing calls for him to resign and hold an early election. Rival rallies for and against Maduro's government have left some 65 people dead over the past two months. The opposition blames the president for severe food and medicine shortages in the oil-rich country. Protestors also accuse the authorities of repressing them, while Maduro brands them insurgents supporting a US-backed conspiracy.

Tensions over racism in US

In the US State of Oklahoma, law enforcement officers shoot and kill a black man while trying to pick him up for a mental health issue. Tulsa County sheriff's deputies were attempting to pick up the 29-year-old near his house, but the man walked away and tried to enter a nearby store. Two deputies and a police officer then opened fire and killed him. Soon after the incident, dozens of black residents gathered near the site shouting slogans against police violence. The shooting comes less than a month after a Tulsa court acquitted a white Tulsa police officer of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man last year. In the past two years, the use of unnecessary force by US police against African Americans has provoked nationwide anger.

Turkey support for Qatar

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the lifting of the blockade on Qatar amid escalating tension among Arab countries. Erdogan has pledged to keep up his country's support for Qatar. The Turkish parliament has passed a bill approving the deployment of Turkish troops to its base in Qatar as a show of support for the sheikhdom. Saudi Arabia and a number of its allies broke off diplomatic ties with Doha on Monday and closed all their borders with the Persian Gulf country accusing it of supporting terrorist organizations. Qatar rejects the allegations as lies.


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