Terrorist strike at northern university
Islamist militants attacked a Pashtun university this morning, killing 19 at the expense of 4 dead. The Pakistani Taliban (TTP) is naturally suspected but there are conflicting statements coming out of that group. The TTP, however, is a loose umbrella organization. It has been argued here that the TTP is ripe for integration with ISIL. It is more internationalist than, say, the Afghan Taliban.
US “takes control” of Syrian airbase
The US has increased its presence into the Syrian civil war by taking control of an airfield in far northeastern Syria. This will enable the US to better support the Arab and Kurdish troops which are preparing to attack the ISIL capital of Reqqa. These troops have gained an aura of propriety as they are less Islamist than other groups in the war. However, the Arab leader has designs on carving out an emirate fro himself in the Middle East and supporting the Kurds will have hard consequences with Turkey which sees them as close to the PKK Kurds it’s fighting.
Kurds accused of ethnic cleansing
Human rights group Amnesty International has accused Kurdish troops of pushing Arab people out of lands in Northern Iraq and destroying their dwellings. Amnesty International says these actions may be war crimes. These Arabs were settled in northern Kurdish areas by Saddam Hussein to strengthen his control over the country. This settlement program came at the expense of the Kurds. The Kurds are driving the Arabs out.