Iraqi Army Downs 2 UK Planes Carrying Weapons for ISIL –Iraqi lawmaker says US prefers chaotic situation in Anbar Province — which is near cities of Karbala and Baghdad — as it does not want ISIL crisis to come to an end | 23 Feb 2015 | Iraq’s army has shot down two British planes as they were carrying weapons for the ISIL terrorists in Al-Anbar province, a senior lawmaker disclosed on Monday. “The Iraqi Parliament’s National Security and Defense Committee has access to the photos of both planes that are British and have crashed while they were carrying weapons for the ISIL,” Head of the committee Hakem al-Zameli said, according to a Monday report of the Arabic-language information center of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. He said the Iraqi parliament has asked London for explanations in this regard. The senior Iraqi legislator further unveiled that the government in Baghdad is receiving daily reports from people and security forces in al-Anbar province on numerous flights by the US-led coalition planes that airdrop weapons and supplies for ISIL in terrorist-held areas.
ISIS plans to capture Lebanese territories, declare emirate – report | 23 Feb 2015 | Islamic State militants are planning to extend their positions to Lebanon and declare an “Islamic emirate” there, Lebanese media says. IS extremists are also planning suicide bombings in Beirut, according to the report. IS (formerly known as ISIS, ISIL) militants are “preparing military plans to declare an Islamic emirate in Lebanon very soon,” security sources told Lebanon’s Daily Star. The report added that the jihadists are preparing to establish a military committee that will oversee “Lebanese affairs” while “considering Lebanon as part of its state.”
France deploys aircraft carrier against ISIS in Iraq – Defence Ministry | 23 Feb 2015 | France has deployed its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier against the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) extremist group in Iraq, French media report citing government officials. “The integration of the Charles de Gaulle in the operation…(in Iraq) begins this morning,” a member of Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian’s staff told AFP. The ship’s deployment, during which it will provide airstrikes against Islamic State militants, is expected to last until May at the earliest.