War Against IS: Russian warplanes delivered to Iraq — ministry

The new Sukhoi Su-25 warplanes will give additional advantage to the Iraqi army in the fight against terrorist groups

A new batch of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-25 strike fighters has been delivered to Iraq, spokesman for the Iraqi Defense Ministry Nasir Nouri Mohammed al-Tamimi said on Monday.


According to him, "a batch of Su-25 (three aircraft) has arrived in Iraq in accordance with the contract signed with the Russian side." 

The Iraqi defense spokesman also said that the attack aircraft would enter service in the near future. 

According to him, this will give additional advantage to the Iraqi army in the fight against terrorist groups, including the Islamic State (terrorist group banned in Russia).

How Boko Haram operate largely outside banking system

 Boko Haram beat U.S. efforts to choke its financing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Washington imposed sanctions in June 2012 on Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, he dismissed it as an empty gesture.

Two years later, Shekau’s skepticism appears well founded: his Islamic militant group is now the biggest security threat to Africa's top oil producer, is richer than ever, more violent and its abductions of women and children continue with impunity.

As the United States, Nigeria and others struggle to track and choke off its funding, Reuters interviews with more than a dozen current and former U.S. officials who closely follow Boko Haram provide the most complete picture to date of how the group finances its activities.

Chibok: We will not stop until the missing schoolgirls are returned home - President Jonathan

Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan maintained that his silence over the disappearance of schoolgirls in his country was to protect the rescue mission and promised that Nigeria “will not stop until the girls are returned home and the thugs who took them are brought to justice.”

Jonathan said he was “deeply concerned” that by not giving updates on the ongoing search for the missing girls -- who were abducted by the terrorist organization Boko Haram in mid-April -- his administration was seen as weak or inactive.

“My silence has been necessary to avoid compromising the details of our investigation,” Jonathan said. “But let me state this unequivocally: My government and our security and intelligence services have spared no resources, have not stopped and will not stop until the girls are returned home and the thugs who took them are brought to justice.”