- As US gears up its offensive against the Islamic State militants in Iraq following the beheading of an American journalist, Iran has said that it is strengthening the combat against the militants but ruled out any of its soldiers’ presence in Iraq.
- US has also hinted at the possibility of attacking militants in Syria.
- Security forces are battling against the IS who are trying to capture the Baiji refinery, which used to account for nearly 50% of Iraq’s supply of refined petroleum products.
- British intelligence services MI5 and MI6 are on the verge of identifying the IS militant who beheaded the American journalist and was perceived to have a British accent.
- Qatari efforts led to kidnappers in Syria releasing US journalist Peter Theo Curtis. Over 20 journalists are missing in Syria.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/iraqi-forces-battle-jihadists-push-towards-key-refinery/article6348144.ece