9 suspected IS fighters arrested in Macedonia

Macedonia’s police have arrested nine people on suspicion of being members of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) and are looking for a further 27 suspects, AP said. Raids were conducted in the capital, Skopje, and several towns in the northeast. All those arrested are Macedonian nationals suspected of being volunteers or recruiters for the group to fight in Syria and Ira

IS fighters arrested in Macedonia, police seek 27

Macedonia’s police have arrested nine people on suspicion of being members of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) and are looking for a further 27 suspects, AP said. Raids were conducted in the capital, Skopje, and several towns in the northeast. All those arrested are Macedonian nationals suspected of being volunteers or recruiters for the group to fight in Syria and Iraq.

Al-Qaeda seizes 3 towns near Aden

Yemeni military officials say Al-Qaeda’s local affiliate has captured three towns near the southern port city of Aden, AP reported. Pro-government forces have been advancing in the area against Shiite rebels in recent weeks. Witnesses saw Al-Qaeda’s black banners flying over buildings in the towns of Rabat, Al-Lahoum and Al-Masaabin on Thursday. The extremist group seized government buildings without a fight, according to security officials.

8 killed, over 120 wounded in truck explosion in Kabul

At least eight people have been killed and more than 120 wounded after a truck bomb was detonated at an army intelligence unit in Kabul, said the Kabul police chief, Afghanistan’s TOLO news reports. The large explosion happened near a US-Afghan army base in the city’s District 8 early Friday morning at around 1:00 am local time, police sources told Al Jazeera. The victims were rushed to hospital. Several ambulances and security force vehicles are at the scene investigating the explosion.