RIYADH — Saudi Arabia said the death toll in Thursday’s stampede in Mina, neighboring the holy city Mecca, is expected to rise, Al Arabiya local news channel reported.
Earlier reports said 717 pilgrims died and 863 injured during a major Hajj ritual of throwing pebbles at one of the three walls representing Satan, the symbolic “stoning of the devil.” (Saudi-Stampede)
– – – –
DAMASCUS — Syrian air force used newly-received Russian war jets in striking positions of the Islamic State (IS) militants near a besieged airfield in Aleppo province in northern Syria, a monitor group reported Thursday.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said airstrikes started this week and coincided with ground attacks against the IS that is surrounding and attempting to storm Koerce. (Syria-Russia)
– – – –
ADEN, Yemen — Two suicide bombings rocked a mosque during Eid al-Adha prayers in Yemen’s capital of Sanaa on Wednesday morning, killing about 30 people and injuring scores of others, a security official told Xinhua.
“Two suicide bombers blew themselves up inside the al-Blaili mosque, killing about 30 people and injuring scores of others at the scene,” the local security source said on condition of anonymity. (Yemen-Eid-Blast)
– – – –
JERUSALEM — Israeli security cabinet approved on Thursday several measures to fight stone-throwing Palestinians in Jerusalem.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened on Thursday afternoon the Israeli security cabinet, a forum of top ministers, in order to vote on various measures aimed to deter stone throwers. (Israel-Palestinians) Enditem
Source: Xinhua
