Video editor: Lorenzo Nacci
Around 60 people have reportedly been killed in the basement of a building in the southeastern Kurdish town of Cizre during a military raid conducted by the Turkish army on Feb.8. According to state media, the raid was conducted to neutralize PKK fighters.
An Iraqi army official said on Feb.8 some 4500 soldiers are being deployed to an army base in northern Iraq in order to prepare for retaking Mosul from ISIS militants. The aim of the military operation is to cut off ISIS supply lines between Mosul and surrounding areas like Hawijah in Kirkuk Province and Baiji in Salaheddin Province.
ISIS members preparing terror acts in Moscow and St. Petersburg were detained in the city of Ekaterinburg in the Urals Region on Feb.7. According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the leader of the group came to Russia from Turkey.
Units of the Russian Southern Military District which includes Crimea started the snap exercises on Feb.8 amid the rumors that Turkey prepares to invade Syria. Up to 8,500 personnel, some 900 units of military equipment, about 50 combat ships, as well as up to 200 aircraft and helicopters, are taking part in the drills.
