Unidentified gunmen stormed Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu and killed at least 20

Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, witnessed an attack by unidentified gunmen. They stormed Hayat Hotel and killed at least 20 persons. A doctor at a hospital revealed that the death toll could rise because many of the victims were in critical condition. This is the Madina, which is one of the two major hospitals in Mogadishu. The victims of the hotel attack were hospitalized here and bodies are still arriving at the hospital. An official of the police confirmed to a section of the media that security forces had entered the hotel building and regained control from the gunmen. Mogadishu hotel attack: Death toll rises. Two security officials suffered injuries in the ongoing attack.

Al-Shabaab, the Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. It has said in a statement that its fighters had taken over the managed to take over the hotel. They had blasted their way into the building. However, there is no confirmation about this from other more authentic sources. A recent air strike by the United States did eliminate several members of the Al-Shabaab group. The US Africa Command had confirmed this earlier. It is not clear whether this has any link to the attack on the Hyat Hotel. Recently, in May, US President Joe Biden took a decision to redeploy US troops to Somalia in order to extend support to the local government and to counter threats of al-Shabaab. This was a reversal of decision taken by former President Donald Trump regarding withdrawal of all US troops from the country.

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Obama agrees to send 1500 additional troops to Iraq

The clock is turning a full circle for US President Barack Obama. When he took over as President of the USA, the US troops in Iraq were counting the days when they would return to the comfort of their homes as assured by Barack Obama. He had promised to evacuate Iraq by end 2011 and he did just that.
But, the present global scenario is forcing his hand because of the growing threats of the ISIS and he has agreed to send an additional 1500 troops to Iraq. This deployment would amount to doubling the current deployment. The Pentagon has decided to brand this deployment as Operation Inherent Resolve and the new troops would extend support to the roughly 1,600 US personnel already in Iraq.
The White House has indicated that the new forces would not be in combat roles and has asked Congress for $5.6bn (£3.5bn) to fund the mission against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The request includes $1.6bn for an "Iraq Train and Equip Fund".
The US has reiterated that its troops in northern Iraq do not have any fighting role and their main purpose is to help train national and Kurdish forces to battle the Islamic State jihadists.
The White House has clarified that as a part of the strategy for strengthening partners on the ground, the President has authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 additional US military personnel in a non-combat role – they would be involved to train, advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces, including Kurdish forces.
The plan is that the new troops would operate at military facilities beyond Baghdad and Irbil, where they have hitherto been based and the military would set up several training sites across Iraq to instruct 12 Iraqi brigades.

Kabul to sign accord to allow 9800 American soldiers to stay on after 2014

The newly inaugurated Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is expected to sign a vital security deal by virtue of which 9800 American soldiers would continue to remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014 foxnews.com.
As understood from the Defense Department, the new president will sign the Bilateral Security Agreement allowing for 9,800 U.S. troops to stay on in Afghanistan after 2014. The president is also expected to sign a NATO Status of Forces Agreement which would allow a small NATO force to stay on as well.
According to the White House, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham will sign the document on behalf of the U.S. president.
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai has been sworn in as Afghanistan's new president – he replaces Hamid Karzai who was the country's first democratic transfer of power after the 2001 U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban.
Incidentally, Karzai had declined to sign the security agreement with the U.S. before relinquishing office.
While delivering his first speech, Ghani Ahmadzai has called upon the Taliban and other militants to join the country's political process and lay down their weapons. He has said that we are tired of war and our message is peace, (but) this doesn't mean we are weak.