“Turkey will let U.S. and coalition forces use its bases, including a key installation within 100 miles of the Syrian border, for operations against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, American defense officials said Sunday.
But progress in negotiations with Turkey — including Ankara’s agreement to train several thousand Syrian moderate rebels — may not be enough to stop the massacre of civilians in Syria’s border town of Kobani, where intense fighting continues.
The Obama administration had been pressing Ankara to play a larger role against the extremists, who have taken control of large swaths of Syria and Iraq, including territory on Turkey’s border, and sent refugees fleeing into Turkey.
U.S. officials confirmed Saturday that Ankara had agreed to train Syrian moderate forces on Turkish soil. A Turkish government official said Sunday that Turkey put the number at 4,000 opposition fighters and said they would be screened by Turkish intelligence.
Also Sunday, officials confirmed that Turkey agreed to let U.S. and coalition fighter aircraft launch operations against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria from Turkish bases, including Incirlik Air Base in the south. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who has been traveling in South America, has said the U.S. wanted access to the Turkish bases.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private talks between the Americans and Turks….”
“A car bomb exploded outside a popular cafe in Somalia’s capital on Sunday, killing 11 people and wounding eight others, a senior police official said.
The blast struck the Aroma cafe in Mogadishu and the bomb was believed to have been detonated by remote control, senior police official Mohammed Hussein said. Most of those who died were sitting outside the cafe, he said.
Somali soldiers sent to the scene fired in the air to disperse a growing crowd that gathered amid shattered coffee glasses, and broken tables and chairs. Medical workers transported the wounded into waiting ambulances.
“What crime have these innocents committed?” said Liban Abdi, who survived the attack, which killed his friend.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion has fallen on the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants who have vowed to avenge the death of their leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in early September in a U.S. airstrike. Godane has been replaced by Ahmed Omar, also known as Abu Ubeid….”
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US Says Turkey OKs Use of Bases Against Militants (abcnews, Oct 12, 2014)
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-turkey-oks-bases-militants-26141911
“Turkey will let U.S. and coalition forces use its bases, including a key installation within 100 miles of the Syrian border, for operations against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, American defense officials said Sunday.
But progress in negotiations with Turkey — including Ankara’s agreement to train several thousand Syrian moderate rebels — may not be enough to stop the massacre of civilians in Syria’s border town of Kobani, where intense fighting continues.
The Obama administration had been pressing Ankara to play a larger role against the extremists, who have taken control of large swaths of Syria and Iraq, including territory on Turkey’s border, and sent refugees fleeing into Turkey.
U.S. officials confirmed Saturday that Ankara had agreed to train Syrian moderate forces on Turkish soil. A Turkish government official said Sunday that Turkey put the number at 4,000 opposition fighters and said they would be screened by Turkish intelligence.
Also Sunday, officials confirmed that Turkey agreed to let U.S. and coalition fighter aircraft launch operations against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria from Turkish bases, including Incirlik Air Base in the south. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who has been traveling in South America, has said the U.S. wanted access to the Turkish bases.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private talks between the Americans and Turks….”
Car Bomb in Somalia’s Capital Kills 11 (abcnews, Oct 12, 2014)
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/car-bomb-somalias-capital-kills-26140808
“A car bomb exploded outside a popular cafe in Somalia’s capital on Sunday, killing 11 people and wounding eight others, a senior police official said.
The blast struck the Aroma cafe in Mogadishu and the bomb was believed to have been detonated by remote control, senior police official Mohammed Hussein said. Most of those who died were sitting outside the cafe, he said.
Somali soldiers sent to the scene fired in the air to disperse a growing crowd that gathered amid shattered coffee glasses, and broken tables and chairs. Medical workers transported the wounded into waiting ambulances.
“What crime have these innocents committed?” said Liban Abdi, who survived the attack, which killed his friend.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion has fallen on the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants who have vowed to avenge the death of their leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in early September in a U.S. airstrike. Godane has been replaced by Ahmed Omar, also known as Abu Ubeid….”