On FPF #106, I discuss the terror attack in Somalia that killed over 300 people. I look at blowback and how US policy possibly motivated the bomber. I explain that while Americans may not care about dead Somalis, people in the Muslim world do. I update Marawi, Kurdistan, Syria, and Israel.

Articles

• The US shipped Saudi Arabia $70 million more in weapons during the first eight months of 2017 than during the first eight months of 2016. [Link]
• Two leaders of the Catalan independence movement have been jailed while they are investigated for sedition. [Link]
• The two leaders of the Islamic State-linked jihadist group controlling the city Marawi have been killed. [Link]
• The US has spent $3.9 billion per month for 16 years in Afghanistan. [Link]
• Taliban suicide bombers targeted a police training building killing at least 33. [Link]
• The Iraqi government forces have taken several positions in and around the city of Kirkuk. The Kurdish forces previously held Kirkuk. Some fighting has been reported, but Kurdish forces have mostly withdrawn. [Link]
• Kurdish families fled Kirkuk as the Iraqi army advanced on and took control of the city. [Link]
• The leader of Iraqi Kurdish forces said the Iraqi government’s offensive against Kirkuk amounts to a declaration of war. [Link]
• The Syrian Arab Army is quickly advancing against the Islamic State in the Deir Ezzor Province. [Link]
• Israeli warplanes hitting Syrian targets were fired on by Syrian anti-aircraft weapons. Israeli responded by bombing Syrian anti-aircraft weapon. [Link]
• Iran’s foreign minister said Iran would remain in the nuclear deal so long as European countries remain in the deal. [Link]
• Spain plans to seize Catalonia if Catalan leadership does not end the attempt at independence. [Link]
• At least 300 people have been killed by a truck explosion in Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu. [Link]
• The former president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai is warning the US the Trump’s new Afghanistan policy will not work. [Link]
• US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces allowed 275 Islamic State fighters and their family members leave Raqqa. The SDF now plan their final assault on the remaining Islamic State fighters in Raqqa. [Link]
• The Iraqi government says the Iraqi Kurds has declared war against them by allowing PKK fighters into Kirkuk. Iraqi Kurdish officials deny these claims. [Link]
• The Iraqi army is advancing on Kirkuk. [Link]
• The Syrian government is demanding that Turkish troops withdraw from Syria. Additional Turkish troops entered the Idlib Province of Syria as part of a deal to establish deconfliction zones. Turkish troops are thought to be working with the al-Qaeda backed Syrian rebel groups. [Link]
• Recent Saudi airstrikes kill 29 children in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has been criticized several times for killing Yemeni children. [Link]

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