rferl--2020-03-12--Trump Sharply Restricts Travel From Europe To U.S. For 30 Days Amid Virus Crisis

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended most travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days as governments across the globe scramble to stem the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic .
Speaking from the Oval Office in the White House on March 11 , Trump said the travel suspension will begin on March 13 and said the restrictions will not apply to screened U.S. citizens and to Britain .
Trump did not specify the countries included in the restrictions , saying only that “ all travel from Europe '' was suspended .
However , the proclamation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it applies to the 26 European countries in what is known as the Schengen Area -- indicating that other European countries are not included .
Trump said in the proclamation that the United States will `` restrict and suspend the entry into the United States , as immigrants or nonimmigrants , of all aliens who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States . ''
Also , along with U.S. citizens , it does not apply to legal permanent residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are returning from Europe .
It also does not pertain to the transport of trade goods .
The European Union `` disapproves of the fact '' that the U.S. decision `` was taken unilaterally and without consultation , '' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel said in a joint statement .
The coronavirus is a global crisis that requires `` cooperation rather than unilateral action , '' they said , insisting that the 27-member bloc `` is taking strong action to limit the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases from entering our shores , we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days .
The new rules will go into effect Friday [ March 13 ] at midnight , '' Trump said .
Trump claimed that Europe has had more cases of the COVID-19 virus because governments there failed to take steps that he said Washington has taken , including the halting of travel from China , where the outbreak began .
“ We made a lifesaving move with early action on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same action with Europe , ” he said .
Italy has been the hardest-hit country in Europe and has taken dramatic measures to fight the outbreak .
The government there ordered all stores except for pharmacies and food shops to close after the coronavirus has killed 827 in the country in the past two weeks .
Separately , the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory recommending that Americans reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of the outbreak and various countries ' response to it .
The alert advised that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19 .
Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility , including quarantines and border restrictions . ''
Meanwhile , U.S. states and local communities are taking drastic steps to fight the intensifying crisis , with communities canceling public gatherings and major sporting events , closing schools , and universities switching to online classes .
Also on March 11 , Washington , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency in the national capital as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The main basketball league in North America -- the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) -- announced late on March 11 that it was suspending the current season until further notice , AP reported .
Infections in the United States have surpassed 1,200 , with 37 reported deaths .
Most of the fatalities are linked to a nursing home in the city of Seattle , Washington .
Worldwide , more than 118,000 people have been infected and nearly 4,300 people have died , most of them in China .
The World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic after weeks of monitoring its global spread .
With reporting by AFP and AP

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended most travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days as governments across the globe scramble to stem the spread of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking from the Oval Office in the White House on March 11, Trump said the travel suspension will begin on March 13 and said the restrictions will not apply to screened U.S. citizens and to Britain.
Trump did not specify the countries included in the restrictions, saying only that “all travel from Europe" was suspended.
However, the proclamation released later by the White House says it applies to the 26 European countries in what is known as the Schengen Area -- indicating that other European countries are not included.
Trump said in the proclamation that the United States will "restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States."
Also, along with U.S. citizens, it does not apply to legal permanent residents of the United States or their families who are returning from Europe. It also does not pertain to the transport of trade goods.
The European Union "disapproves of the fact" that the U.S. decision "was taken unilaterally and without consultation," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel said in a joint statement.
The coronavirus is a global crisis that requires "cooperation rather than unilateral action," they said, insisting that the 27-member bloc "is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus."
"To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday [March 13] at midnight," Trump said.
Trump claimed that Europe has had more cases of the COVID-19 virus because governments there failed to take steps that he said Washington has taken, including the halting of travel from China, where the outbreak began.
“We made a lifesaving move with early action on China. Now, we must take the same action with Europe,” he said.
Italy has been the hardest-hit country in Europe and has taken dramatic measures to fight the outbreak.
The government there ordered all stores except for pharmacies and food shops to close after the coronavirus has killed 827 in the country in the past two weeks.
Separately, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory recommending that Americans reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of the outbreak and various countries' response to it.
The alert advised that “U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19. Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions."
Meanwhile, U.S. states and local communities are taking drastic steps to fight the intensifying crisis, with communities canceling public gatherings and major sporting events, closing schools, and universities switching to online classes.
Also on March 11, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency in the national capital as the number of cases there reached 10.
The main basketball league in North America -- the National Basketball Association (NBA) -- announced late on March 11 that it was suspending the current season until further notice, AP reported.
Infections in the United States have surpassed 1,200, with 37 reported deaths. Most of the fatalities are linked to a nursing home in the city of Seattle, Washington.
Worldwide, more than 118,000 people have been infected and nearly 4,300 people have died, most of them in China.
The World Health Organization on March 11 declared coronavirus a pandemic after weeks of monitoring its global spread.
With reporting by AFP and AP


rferl--2020-03-12--U.S. Congress Votes To Limit Trump Military Action Against Iran; Veto A Certainty

In a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump , the U.S. Congress has given final approval to a measure to limit Trump ’ s authority to order a military attack on Iran -- a resolution sure to be vetoed by the U.S. leader .
The House of Representatives on March 11 voted 227-186 on the so-called war powers legislative , with six Republicans joining in with Democrats to pass the resolution that had already cleared the Republican-led Senate .
The measure forbids any military action against Iran without an explicit vote from Congress .
Such a law would not prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action if they determine there is an imminent threat from Iran .
Trump previously promised to veto the war powers resolution , saying that if his “ hands were tied , Iran would have a field day.
” Supporters of the resolution do not have enough votes to override the veto , meaning it would not take effect .
Senator Tim Kaine , the Virginia Democrat who led the move in Congress , said that `` if President Trump is serious about his promise to stop endless wars , he will sign this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the resolution was in line with the U.S. Constitution , which gives Congress the authority to declare war .
The White House had urged that the resolution be rejected “ because it attempts to hinder the president ’ s ability to protect ” U.S. diplomats , forces , allies , and partners , including Israel , from the continued threat posed by Iran and its proxies , including militia groups and foreign fighters in Syria .
“ Iran has a long history of attacking United States and coalition forces both directly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House said .
Texas Representative Michael McCaul , the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee , called the measure “ divisive and irresponsible.
” `` The enemies of our country are watching this debate right now .
They need to know darn well that if you kill Americans , you will pay the price , '' McCaul said to loud cheers from Republicans on the House floor .
Trump has taken a hard line on Iran since taking office in January 2017 .
Tensions flared after he pulled the United States out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran signed with world powers and began reimposing crippling sanctions .
On the same day as the House vote , a series of missiles hit a military base in Iraq housing Western forces , with media quoting U.S. officials as saying two American and one British personnel were killed and several people were wounded .
The Pentagon has in the past blamed such attacks on Iran-backed militia in Iraq .
One attack in December 2019 killed a U.S. contractor and led to a series of retaliatory military moves by the United States and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AP

A polytechnic school in Russia’s Tatarstan, a region some 900 kilometers east of Moscow, is using manufacturing facilities that are part of a nearby special economic zone to assemble Iranian attack drones and are increasingly turning to underage students as laborers, many of whom often work in exploitative conditions.
The revelations at Alabuga Polytechnic University raise troubling implications about the lengths that Russian authorities are going to in order to boost the war effort and how the advanced Iranian weaponry -- which is increasingly used to bombard Ukrainian cities and has only recently begun to be manufactured inside Russia -- could contribute to escalating tensions and rising civilian casualties.
The use of underage students as drone factory workers and the details of the manufacturing facilities were first reported by Russian independent media outlets Protokol and Razvorot, which published a series of investigations in July.
Since then, RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities has spoken with students who describe grueling working conditions and interviewed dozens of parents whose children have been enrolled at Alabuga Polytechnic University -- some as young at 15 -- who say that their children were forced to work exceedingly long hours, often without proper breaks or meals, and under hostile conditions that have deeply affected their mental health.
“My son enrolled and 2 1/2 months later he called for me to take him away,” Zhanna, who asked to be identified only by her first name to protect against reprisals for speaking about the operation, told RFE/RL. “He said to me on the phone, ‘Come and get me or I’ll die,’ so I picked him up immediately.”
Zhanna, who asked that her underage son’s name also not be used, says that she sent him from Nizhny Novgorod to study at Alabuga Polytechnic University in 2022 because of its reputation as a leading technical institution inside Russia.
The school offered students -- often between the ages of 15-18 -- an opportunity to get vocational training as part of a dual program that combines a classroom education with practical work experience. Students were also promised an opportunity to work and earn a locally competitive salary of up to 70,000 rubles ($700) a month as part of the work experience program that could further their career growth.
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.
But, instead, those enrolled were encouraged and in some cases pressured into working at the drone facility, where the salaries of the mostly underage laborers are contingent on meeting tough production quotas.
“This is a textbook definition of what constitutes exploitation,” Sergei Podsytnik, an investigative journalist at Protokol who worked on the series of reports, told RFE/RL. “[Students] assemble drones, with the work taking priority over their studies.”
The pressure to fulfill these quotas has allegedly led to strenuous back-to-back days -- with some shifts lasting up to 15 hours -- with little time for sleep or adequate sustenance. Overtime work is often unpaid, further highlighting potential labor violations. Exhausted students also reported not always meeting their quotas, which led to them not earning the salary initially promised by the school. Many students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and relied on their earnings to cover costs for tuition, room, and board and would send the remainder home.
Other parents, such as Marina, said she decided to take her daughter out of the program when she discovered that she was working in apparent unsafe conditions and that staff from the school had instructed students not to tell their parents about the drone assembly work.
“This was the last straw for me,” Marina, who also asked for her identity to be concealed, told RFE/RL. “This is a dangerous production process that involves dangerous chemicals. They also forbid the kids from telling everything to their parents.”
RFE/RL sent multiple requests for comment to various staff and administrators at Alabuga Polytechnic University but received no replies.
Making Iranian Drones In Russia
The complicated and concerning dynamic at Alabuga Polytechnic University stems from growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia that has accelerated since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war, but not since. However, U.S. intelligence officials have warned for months of continued deliveries and deepening cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, saying the two sides were exploring how to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian drones inside Russia.
According to The Wall Street Journal, an Iranian delegation visited Yelabuga in Tatarstan on January 5, touring a potential site for such a factory at the Alabuga special economic zone close to Alabuga Polytechnic University. U.S. officials released satellite images in April of the plant being built.
Russia already possesses an array of unarmed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which are used mainly for surveillance and artillery spotting, but has turned increasingly to Tehran for attack drones.
After being forced to abandon Ukrainian territory that its troops captured in the early stretches of the war, Moscow shifted to a strategy of relentless air assaults on Ukrainian cities. These attacks often rely on a combination of cruise missiles and self-detonating drones packed with explosives to knock out electricity and running water for the civilian population in Ukraine.
So far, Iran has provided Russia mostly with so-called "suicide" drones, known as the Shahed-136, that contain a modest amount of explosives that can detonate when the drones crash into targets, military experts say.
In acquiring its own domestic assembly line, Russia could dramatically increase its stockpile of the relatively inexpensive but highly destructive weapons systems.
WATCH: Russia has resorted to using Shahed-136 drones from Iran in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine says it's already downed many of the drones, which work by slamming into their intended target, laden with explosives. Ordinary Ukrainians say they can already recognize the sound of the drones, which use two-stroke engines like lawnmowers or motorbikes. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia.
The arrangement also offers substantial economic and political benefits for Iran, which has sought to portray itself as neutral in the Ukraine war. The appearance of Iranian-made drones over Ukrainian cities, however, has triggered threats of new economic sanctions from the West. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have also all issued rules in recent months designed to cut off the flow of drone components to Russia and Iran.
The Washington Post reported in November 2022, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, that the agreement to deliver Iranian drone schematics and materials for manufacture in Russia resulted from Iranian leaders believing that the arrangement would allow Tehran to avert new sanctions.
Foreign Recruitment And Patriotic Education
Alabuga Polytechnic University is formally not a college. All of its students are officially enrolled at nearby Yelabuga Polytechnic College, with the Alabuga institution existing on paper as a specialized program for students looking to break into high-tech industries.
Currently, about 1,000 students are studying at Alabuga Polytechnic University, with several hundred of them -- most of whom are between the ages of 15 and 17 -- involved in assembling the Iranian drones.
In addition to the work on the drones, there are other signs that point to blurred lines in Russia between the education system and the country’s military amid the war in Ukraine.
According to current and former Alabuga Polytechnic University students, team-building and organized extracurricular activities through the school often take on a “patriotic” character that may be designed to expose students to official government narratives of international events or echo talking points from state television.
Organized paintball games have become a mainstay for students, especially first-year arrivals, in which they are encouraged to compete against one another and then play together against more experienced outside players. Teachers and administration officials regularly refer to paintball as being part of a “patriotic” education needed to complement the technical aspect of their studies.
In one instance, a group of new students competed in paintball as Soviet soldiers against outside players who were dressed as troops from Nazi Germany in a capture-the-flag competition meant to simulate the World War II battle of Stalingrad. According to one student, the Nazi flag contained the compass symbol used by the NATO military alliance instead of the swastika used by Nazi Germany.
Other instances of political teachings from staff are more direct. In a recording obtained by RFE/RL from June 16, a senior administrator can be heard telling the teenagers that NATO launched a hybrid war against Russia back in 2011 and that it has slowly become more overt. The man then goes on to tell students that their hard work and exceeding long days at the drone factory are part of a nationwide struggle against the West and that their patriotism will be rewarded.
Several students and parents identified the man in the recording as Timur Shagivaleev, the director-general of the special economic zone where Alabuga Polytechnic University and the drone factory operate.
Shagivaleev did not respond to RFE/RL’s request for comment.
The man in the recording then goes on to tell students not to take holidays and to continue working “even if it's mom's birthday,” before ending his speech with, “Long live our great country.”
WATCH: Amid a new wave of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, analysts in Kyiv are gaining useful intelligence from a collection of downed Russian aerial weapons. They have been studying the remains of Iranian Shahed drones and Russian Kinzhal missiles, among others.
Multiple current and former students told RFE/RL that students who work in the drone factory are often praised by staff, while those who have refused or asked to be reassigned due to the high workload are often publicly shamed. In some instances -- according to recordings heard by RFE/RL -- staff even encourage students to bully others who are not deemed “patriotic” enough.
According to Protokol and Razvorot’s investigations, Alabuga Polytechnic University has also turned toward recruiting foreign students to enroll. The majority of them come from African countries, but also from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, where they are promised “world class” salaries as part of the dual-track world experience program.
However, these foreign students are then given low-skill and menial tasks around the campus and the special economic zone, such as janitorial work, and are also paid lower salaries than initially promised.
Written by Reid Standish based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities


rferl--2020-03-11--Ukrainian Singer Vakarchuk Steps Down As Head of Holos Political Party

Ukrainian rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk has said he is stepping down as leader of Holos ( Voice ) , the political party that he founded last year , to concentrate on using his star power to recruit new members .
Vakarchuk , who won a seat in parliament in July 2019 , announced the decision in a video posted to the party 's website following a party congress that took place on March 11 .
Kira Rudyk , who previously served as the CEO of Ring Ukraine , a home-security and smart-home company owned by Amazon , will take his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , under the guise of new faces , actually installs old ones , '' Vakarchuk said .
`` We , by example , demonstrate the opposite : we elevate new professional people to leadership roles in the party and parliament .
That is why today , Holos has elected the best manager from our team as the new [ party ] head . ''
The singer-turned-lawmaker said he will continue building the political party with the aim to win more seats in the next election .
`` My mission is to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into politics .
This mission of political providence is my format in Ukrainian politics , '' Vakarchuk said .
Rudyk was elected to parliament in the third spot on the party 's list .
She is the deputy head of the parliamentary committee on digital transformation .
`` Kira embodies modernity .
And she will bring that modernity into the work of the party , along with the invaluable experience of managing large teams , '' Vakarchuk said , commenting on her new leadership role .
There are 20 Holos members in the @ @ @

Ukrainian rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk has said he is stepping down as leader of Holos (Voice), the political party that he founded last year, to concentrate on using his star power to recruit new members.
Vakarchuk, who won a seat in parliament in July 2019, announced the decision in a video posted to the party's website following a party congress that took place on March 11.
Kira Rudyk, who previously served as the CEO of Ring Ukraine, a home-security and smart-home company owned by Amazon, will take his place.
"The [current] government, under the guise of new faces, actually installs old ones," Vakarchuk said.
"We, by example, demonstrate the opposite: we elevate new professional people to leadership roles in the party and parliament. That is why today, Holos has elected the best manager from our team as the new [party] head."
The singer-turned-lawmaker said he will continue building the political party with the aim to win more seats in the next election.
"My mission is to continue bringing new, honest, professional people into politics. This mission of political providence is my format in Ukrainian politics," Vakarchuk said.
Rudyk was elected to parliament in the third spot on the party's list. She is the deputy head of the parliamentary committee on digital transformation.
"Kira embodies modernity. And she will bring that modernity into the work of the party, along with the invaluable experience of managing large teams," Vakarchuk said, commenting on her new leadership role.
There are 20 Holos members in the parliamentary faction.


rferl--2020-03-11--Top Russian Prisons Official Jailed For Nine Years For Embezzlement

A Moscow court has sentenced the former deputy chief of Russia 's Federal Penitentiary Service ( FSIN ) to nine @ @ @ @ @ .
Oleg Korshunov , who was responsible for the FSIN 's contractor services , was @ @ @ @ @ of misappropriating state funds allocated for the purchase of sugar and fuel , Russian media @ @ @ @ @ However , it is just one of six charges leveled by the state against Korshunov @ @ @ @ @ September 2017 , reportedly at a yacht club in Moscow .
He has also been @ @ @ @ @ connection with the misappropriation of 260 million rubles for shoes .
He was sentenced last @ @ @ @ @ prison for those crimes , but the verdict has yet to enter into force .
@ @ @ @ @ charge of abuse of power in connection with the construction of a detention center in @ @ @ @ @ bribery .
Korshunov has said he is innocent on all counts .

A Moscow court has sentenced the former deputy chief of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) to nine years in prison for embezzlement.
Oleg Korshunov, who was responsible for the FSIN's contractor services, was found guilty by a judge of misappropriating state funds allocated for the purchase of sugar and fuel, Russian media reported on March 11.
However, it is just one of six charges leveled by the state against Korshunov, who was arrested in September 2017, reportedly at a yacht club in Moscow.
He has also been charged with three crimes in connection with the misappropriation of 260 million rubles for shoes. He was sentenced last year to seven years in prison for those crimes, but the verdict has yet to enter into force.
Korshunov is also facing one charge of abuse of power in connection with the construction of a detention center in Crimea and one charge of bribery. Korshunov has said he is innocent on all counts.
Based on reporting by Interfax


rferl--2020-03-11--Iran Agrees To Hand Over Black Boxes From Downed Ukrainian Plane To Kyiv

The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization has agreed to send the flight recorders from a downed Ukrainian passenger plane to Kyiv @ @ @ @ @ diplomat said .
Tehran has also invited other interested countries to participate in reading the @ @ @ @ @ , Farhard Parvaresh , who heads Iran 's delegation at the UN 's Montreal-based International @ @ @ @ @ Reuters on March 11 .
The Iranian military said it accidentally shot down the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ killing all 176 people on board .
The victims included 82 Iranian citizens and 63 @ @ @ @ @ of Iranian origin .
The shooting occurred with Iran 's air-defense forces on high alert @ @ @ @ @ a few hours earlier on U.S. forces in Iraq .
The strikes came days after @ @ @ @ @ commander , Qasem Soleimani , was killed in a U.S. drone strike outside Baghdad .
@ @ @ @ @ months refused to hand over the recording devices for deciphering .

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that there can be no advancement in the relationship between the United States and Afghanistan's Taliban rulers unless there is an improvement in the treatment of women in the country.
Speaking to reporters on August 15, the two-year anniversary of the Taliban’s seizure of power in Kabul, Blinken said the United States continues to work to hold the Taliban accountable for the commitments that it's made, particularly when it comes to the rights of women and girls.
"We've been very clear with the Taliban -- and dozens of countries around the world have been very clear -- that the path to any more normal relationship between the Taliban and other countries will be blocked unless and until the rights of women and girls among other things are actually supported," Blinken said.
No country has recognized the Taliban-led government, and the United States has avoided direct economic engagement in part over the treatment of women and girls, who have seen their rights drastically curbed by the hard-line Islamists. This includes a ban on women working in local and international nongovernmental organizations and a ban on education beyond the sixth grade.
The Taliban stormed back to power in August 2021 after President Joe Biden withdrew U.S. troops under the terms of an agreement reached in February 2020 between the Taliban and the administration of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Blinken defended the pullout and said the United States was not focused on other priorities.
"The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was an incredibly difficult one, but also the right one," Blinken said. "We ended America's longest war. For the first time in 20 years, we don't have another generation of young Americans going to fight and die."
A number of international human rights organizations earlier on August 15 called the Taliban's two years of rule shameful and worrying.
Amnesty International and several other international human rights organizations demanded in a statement an effective response to the situation, noting the Taliban's strict decrees against human rights in Afghanistan, especially against women and girls.
The organizations said in a statement that in the past two years, the Taliban has increasingly imposed harmful policies against women and girls and religious and ethnic minorities that clearly violate Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law.
The Taliban has previously rejected reports on the treatment of women as propaganda of international organizations. The militant group's leaders have said they have strengthened all the rights of women in Afghanistan in light of Islamic principles.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the Taliban, said in an interview with the AP marking the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover of the country that the Taliban views its rule of Afghanistan as open-ended and as drawing legitimacy from Islamic law. He also suggested a ban on female education will remain in place.
Female activist Soheila Yousefi calls the situation alarming and wants the world to pay attention.
"The international community should take serious action in this regard because the world chose to be silent in these two years and did not take any practical steps. Our request is that they should look at the current situation in Afghanistan, then take a serious and comprehensive review."
The Taliban did not respond to Radio Azadi's questions before the release of the report, but the rulers have spoken of strengthening human rights in Afghanistan, especially the rights of women and girls, according to Islamic principles.
With reporting by AP and AFP


rferl--2020-03-11--Ukrainian Cabinet Fills Energy Vacancy With Former Akhmetov Executive

Another former executive who worked for Ukraine 's wealthiest billionaire , Rinat Akhmetov , has been appointed to the country 's cabinet amid a government reshuffle that started last week .
Vitaliy Shubin was named acting energy and environmental protection minister , the Kyiv-based investment bank Concorde Capital said in a note to investors .
He was appointed on March 10 , according to the government web portal , and previously served as first deputy of the ministry .
Before joining the cabinet , Shubin worked as an executive for two companies of Akhmetov 's energy holding , DTEK , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Pavlo Kukhta was also appointed acting economy minister on March 10 .
He is a longtime advocate for creating a farmland market and has called for the privatization of thousands of inefficient state enterprises .
Western analysts have said lifting the moratorium on the sale of farmland could be a huge driver of economic growth in the coming years .
Ukraine is one of just six countries , including Cuba and North Korea , that does n't have a land market .
However , powerful interests inside the country have opposed land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk .
On March 4 , President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his ruling Servant of the People party in parliament instituted a government shake-up , ultimately putting Denys Shmyhal in charge of the government .
Shmyhal , 44 , was named deputy prime minister in February .
He previously served as head of the regional administration in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region , where he made a name for himself as a business-friendly governor .
In 2017-2019 , Shmyhal worked as an executive at DTEK .
A native of Lviv , Shmyhal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous decade before entering civil service at the Lviv regional administration .
He has studied abroad , mainly in Belgium , Canada , Georgia , and Finland .

Another former executive who worked for Ukraine's wealthiest billionaire, Rinat Akhmetov, has been appointed to the country's cabinet amid a government reshuffle that started last week.
Vitaliy Shubin was named acting energy and environmental protection minister, the Kyiv-based investment bank Concorde Capital said in a note to investors.
He was appointed on March 10, according to the government web portal, and previously served as first deputy of the ministry.
Before joining the cabinet, Shubin worked as an executive for two companies of Akhmetov's energy holding, DTEK, between 2011 and 2014.
Deputy Economy Minister Pavlo Kukhta was also appointed acting economy minister on March 10.
He is a longtime advocate for creating a farmland market and has called for the privatization of thousands of inefficient state enterprises.
Western analysts have said lifting the moratorium on the sale of farmland could be a huge driver of economic growth in the coming years. Ukraine is one of just six countries, including Cuba and North Korea, that doesn't have a land market.
However, powerful interests inside the country have opposed land reform and other policies pushed by former Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk.
On March 4, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his ruling Servant of the People party in parliament instituted a government shake-up, ultimately putting Denys Shmyhal in charge of the government.
Shmyhal, 44, was named deputy prime minister in February. He previously served as head of the regional administration in the western Ivano-Frankivsk region, where he made a name for himself as a business-friendly governor.
In 2017-2019, Shmyhal worked as an executive at DTEK. A native of Lviv, Shmyhal headed different businesses for most of the previous decade before entering civil service at the Lviv regional administration. He has studied abroad, mainly in Belgium, Canada, Georgia, and Finland.


rferl--2020-03-13--All Russian Regions OK Constitutional Amendments Paving Way For Putin To Run Again

All of Russia 's regions have approved new amendments to the constitution , a step that opens the possibility of President Vladimir Putin remaining in power for another 16 years .
`` The Federation Council received the results of the vote in all 85 regional parliaments .
All of them are positive .
The Federation Council will consider this issue in plenary tomorrow , '' RIA Novosti quoted Andrei Klishas , chairman of the upper house of parliament 's Committee on Constitutional Law , as saying on March 13 .
Russia has 83 administrative regions .
The amendments were also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which Moscow forcibly seized from Ukraine in 2014 , and the Crimean naval port city of Sevastopol .
The United States and a large majority of world countries reject Russia 's claim to Crimea and consider it part of Ukraine .
The legislation sets Putin 's previous presidential term count back to zero .
Putin 's current term , his second consecutive six-year term , was slated to end in 2024 .
The previous rules forbade him from running for a third consecutive mandate , but that changes with the provisions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fifth overall presidential term in 2024 and conceivably a sixth in 2030 .
While the amendments to the constitution initiated by Putin in January were approved by all regions , some lawmakers said they were not happy with the changes .
A lawmaker in the administrative region located in the Far East , Yakutia , voted against the amendments on March 12 and subsequently gave up her mandate , calling the amendments `` illegal . ''
Sulustana Myraan told the local website Yakutia.Info that the regional parliament , known as Il Tumen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are worth by voting for this hideousness . ''
`` The president has no right to have all three branches of power in his grip .
In addition , this voting he initiates is also illegal .
During so-called debates on the amendments , lawmakers were not given a chance to express their opinions .
I have nothing to do here anymore .
I do not want to , and I will not disgrace myself , '' Myraan said .
During the debates on the amendments in Russia 's regions on March 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest of the changes in several Russian cities .
The constitutional changes now must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court .
Final approval will come if more than half of the country ’ s voters support it in an April 22 plebiscite .
Putin , a 67-year old former KGB officer , has ruled Russia as a president or prime minister for more than 20 years .
With reporting by RIA Novosti , TASS , and Yakutia.Info

All of Russia's regions have approved new amendments to the constitution, a step that opens the possibility of President Vladimir Putin remaining in power for another 16 years.
"The Federation Council received the results of the vote in all 85 regional parliaments. All of them are positive. The Federation Council will consider this issue in plenary tomorrow," RIA Novosti quoted Andrei Klishas, chairman of the upper house of parliament's Committee on Constitutional Law, as saying on March 13.
Russia has 83 administrative regions. The amendments were also approved by the Russia-imposed legislatures in Crimea, which Moscow forcibly seized from Ukraine in 2014, and the Crimean naval port city of Sevastopol.
The United States and a large majority of world countries reject Russia's claim to Crimea and consider it part of Ukraine.
The legislation sets Putin's previous presidential term count back to zero.
Putin's current term, his second consecutive six-year term, was slated to end in 2024. The previous rules forbade him from running for a third consecutive mandate, but that changes with the provisions of the amendments, meaning he can seek a fifth overall presidential term in 2024 and conceivably a sixth in 2030.
While the amendments to the constitution initiated by Putin in January were approved by all regions, some lawmakers said they were not happy with the changes.
A lawmaker in the administrative region located in the Far East, Yakutia, voted against the amendments on March 12 and subsequently gave up her mandate, calling the amendments "illegal."
Sulustana Myraan told the local website Yakutia.Info that the regional parliament, known as Il Tumen, "showed our people what they are worth by voting for this hideousness."
"The president has no right to have all three branches of power in his grip. In addition, this voting he initiates is also illegal. During so-called debates on the amendments, lawmakers were not given a chance to express their opinions. I have nothing to do here anymore. I do not want to, and I will not disgrace myself," Myraan said.
During the debates on the amendments in Russia's regions on March 12, police detained activists who rallied in protest of the changes in several Russian cities.
The constitutional changes now must be confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
Final approval will come if more than half of the country’s voters support it in an April 22 plebiscite.
Putin, a 67-year old former KGB officer, has ruled Russia as a president or prime minister for more than 20 years.
With reporting by RIA Novosti, TASS, and Yakutia.Info


rferl--2020-03-13--Facebook, Twitter Remove Russia-Linked Fake Accounts Targeting Americans

Social-media giants Facebook and Twitter say they have removed a number of Russia-linked fake accounts that targeted U.S. users from their operations in Ghana and Nigeria .
Facebook on March 12 said the accounts it removed were in the “ early stages ” of building an audience on behalf of individuals in Russia , posting on topics such as black history , celebrity gossip , and fashion .
It said its investigation found links to an NGO in Ghana called EBLA , or Eliminating Barriers To The Liberation Of Africa , and to people associated with past activity by Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a so-called “ troll factory ” based in the city of St. Petersburg .
The IRA was mentioned repeatedly by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation into Russian interference into the 2016 U.S. presidential election .
Twitter said the accounts it removed emphasized social issues such as race and civil rights to sow discord but that they did not appear to favor any particular candidate or ideology .
Twitter said the accounts attempted `` to sow discord by engaging in conversations about social issues , like race and civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to police foreign and domestic misinformation on their platforms , particularly since U.S. intelligence officials said that Russia used social-media platforms for an influence operation aimed at electing President Donald Trump -- a claim that Moscow has denied .
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

Social-media giants Facebook and Twitter say they have removed a number of Russia-linked fake accounts that targeted U.S. users from their operations in Ghana and Nigeria.
Facebook on March 12 said the accounts it removed were in the “early stages” of building an audience on behalf of individuals in Russia, posting on topics such as black history, celebrity gossip, and fashion.
It said its investigation found links to an NGO in Ghana called EBLA, or Eliminating Barriers To The Liberation Of Africa, and to people associated with past activity by Russia's Internet Research Agency (IRA), a so-called “troll factory” based in the city of St. Petersburg.
The IRA was mentioned repeatedly by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation into Russian interference into the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Twitter said the accounts it removed emphasized social issues such as race and civil rights to sow discord but that they did not appear to favor any particular candidate or ideology.
Twitter said the accounts attempted "to sow discord by engaging in conversations about social issues, like race and civil rights."
The companies removed 49 Facebook accounts, 69 Facebook pages, 85 Instagram accounts, and 71 Twitter accounts.
Social-media companies are under pressure to police foreign and domestic misinformation on their platforms, particularly since U.S. intelligence officials said that Russia used social-media platforms for an influence operation aimed at electing President Donald Trump -- a claim that Moscow has denied.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP


rferl--2020-03-13--COVID-19: Kazakhstan Reports First Cases; Bulgaria Declares State Of Emergency

NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakhstan 's Health Ministry says it has recorded the Central Asian nation 's first two confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus .
`` As you know , we have been fighting the coronavirus for three months .
We took all necessary measures to prevent importation .
Today we received confirmation from two of our citizens .
They arrived from Germany .
Their tests came positive .
They were placed in a hospital in Almaty .
These people do not have any symptoms and they feel good .
All necessary measures are being taken , '' Health Minister Elzhan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 in Nur-Sultan , the capital .
Earlier in the day , Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev held a meeting with government members and a coronavirus task force after which he suspended trips abroad for officials due to the coronavirus alert .
`` Trips abroad for state and other officials will be banned .
Only trips aimed to ensure the security of our citizens and the country will be allowed , '' Toqaev 's official website said .
Toqaev also ordered the cabinet to provide financial support to companies and organizations to help them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to stay at home with their children as early spring break at schools was announced due to the coronavirus outbreak .
The president called on state and government entities to focus on public relations with citizens to prevent panic associated with rumors about the spreading of the virus .
RFE/RL correspondents reported from Almaty that local residents have stormed grocery stores and other shops buying food and other items en masse in recent days .
Also on March 13 , Toqaev wrote on Twitter that his country `` faces the task of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mode in a completely new reality , '' while In another tweet , he said his government `` will fulfill all of its social obligations . ''
At the meeting with cabinet officials and the coronavirus task force , Toqaev ordered the government to allocate 300 billion tenges ( $ 740 million ) to create more jobs via infrastructure maintenance projects in the oil-rich former Soviet republic .
Kazakhstan 's national currency , the tenge , plunged to all-time lows in recent days following the abrupt fall in oil prices and chaos in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus outbreak .
Bulgaria ’ s parliament has voted unanimously to declare a monthlong national state of emergency to help stem the spread of the coronavirus in the southeastern European nation .
“ We are showing people that we are thinking about them at a difficult time , '' Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said after the March 13 vote , which came as the Bulgarian Football Union suspended all soccer matches for one month .
The state of emergency allows the imposition of measures such as travel bans to and from countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of schools and universities .
Police will also be permitted to intervene when the imposed isolation of infected people is not observed .
Earlier this week , the Balkan country confirmed its first death of a patient who had the virus , while the number of confirmed cases jumped to 23 .
On March 12 , Borisov said `` legal considerations '' should be put into place to set penalties for noncompliance by those ordered into quarantine , asserting that 14 people who were supposed to be under quarantine did not observe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the penalties are up to seven years in prison ... .
Let 's not get there , but a fine of 5,000 leva ( $ 2,857 ) should be considered , ” he told the Council of Ministers .
He also told the council that `` discos , bars , and nightclubs -- where people sweat and hug -- should be closed immediately , '' but no decision regarding such establishments or restaurants was immediately taken .
Bulgaria has already limited indoor gatherings to 250 people , and the government has urged businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work remotely if possible .
A lawmaker in the Russian Duma and other deputies who had contact with him were ordered into self-quarantine on March 12 after it was discovered that he had been to France .
State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin had Liberal Democratic Party of Russia lawmaker Sergei Katasonov ’ s parliamentary entry badge taken away and Katasonov was told to isolate himself for 14 days .
“ Let the quarantine pass .
With regard to aides with whom he had contact -- there should be the same decisions , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sympathetic .
Here is the row where our colleague was located , and the row in front and behind is under quarantine , `` Volodin said .
Russia on March 12 reported six new cases of coronavirus infection , including four in Moscow , one in Kaliningrad , and one in the Krasnodar region .
Altogether , Russia has 34 registered cases .
No deaths related to COVID-19 have been recorded in the country .
The virus has infected 2,876 people in France , of whom 61 have died , making it the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century , French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address to the nation the same day .
On March 5 , Russia started heightened prevention measures and everyone who has been to some of the hardest-hit countries with the coronavirus like China , South Korea , Iran , Italy , France , Germany , and Spain , have been told to self-isolate themselves for 14 days .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) on March 11 deemed the new coronavirus a global pandemic and urged countries to take aggressive measures to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 125,000 people have been infected worldwide and about 4,600 have died -- most of them in China but with numbers now rising elsewhere .
Some 68,000 have recovered from the virus , which is generally only fatal for elderly people and those with preexisting health problems .

Authorities in Kosovo have announced the first two cases of novel-coronavirus infection to hit Europe's newest independent state just as global health experts say the continent has become COVID-19's new "epicenter."
Kosovar Health Minister Arben Vitia said one of those who tested positive for the virus that causes the potentially deadly, pneumonia-like COVID-19 illness is a 77-year-old Kosovar man and the other is a 20-year-old Italian woman.
Both are reportedly in stable condition.
Vitia told a news conference attended by Prime MInister Albin Kurti that both patients are at a Pristina-area clinical center.
The former Yugoslav republics of the Western Balkans have mostly shown relatively low levels of infection despite their proximity to Italy, which has been early European hub of the new coronavirus.
After a day that saw the first confirmation of coronavirus cases in Ukraine, Kosovo's neighbor Montenegro is the lone European country that has not reported any COVID-19 cases.
World Health Organization (WHO) head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on March 13 that COVID-19 deaths had surpassed 5,000 and that "Europe has now become the epicenter of the pandemic" that began late last year in central China.
Ukraine
Ukraine has reported its first novel coronavirus death. Authorities said on March 13 that an elderly woman died after being hospitalized a day earlier in a western region of the country, prompting security officials to announce a border closure to foreigners within two days.
Later, the speaker of the country's parliament said authorities would be shutting down all air traffic after March 16.
Officials were also said to be shutting down most of Ukraine's 200-plus border crossings, which could deal a blow to the 2 million or so Ukrainians who work as migrant labor elsewhere in Europe.
Ukraine has announced three confirmed cases of infection by the new coronavirus.
The 71-year-old woman who died of the resulting COVID-19 illness, a resident of the town of Radomyshl in the Zhytomyr region, had reportedly felt unwell after returning from Poland on March 1 but did not initially seek medical care.
Ukrainian authorities said the borders would be closed to foreigners for two weeks but Ukrainian nationals would be allowed back into the country.
"In 48 hours, our country will close the border to foreigners," Oleksandr Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said.
State media said Ukrainian citizens who have been to any country with an acute outbreak of the virus will be allowed to enter but must comply with special observation procedures.
The Healthy Ministry said the woman who died was hospitalized on March 12 after her COVID-19 test came back positive.
Her case was the third confirmed coronavirus infection in the country.
Iran
Iranian security forces have been ordered to clear the streets across the country within 24 hours as the government struggles to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the armed forces chief of staff, made the announcement on March 13, saying in televised remarks: "Our law enforcement and security committees, along with the Interior Ministry and provincial governors, will be clearing shops, streets and roads."
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry announced another 85 deaths from the virus, pushing the total number of fatalities in the country to 514.
Iran, one of the countries most-affected by the pandemic outside of China, reported a total of 11,364 diagnosed infections as of March 13.
Critics fear the real number of cases, however, could be much higher as questions swirl over the government's transparency with regard to the issue.
Clerical rulers have already closed schools and universities and suspended religious, cultural, and sports events across the country to combat the outbreak.
On March 12, Tehran said it was seeking a $5-billion emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help finance the country’s efforts to fight the contagion.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on March 12 to immediately lift sanctions over the country’s nuclear program. He said they made it difficult to import medicine and medical equipment.
COVID-19 Symptoms
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's Health Ministry says it has recorded the Central Asian nation's first four confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus.
Health Minister Elzhan Birtanov said in a statement on March 13 that a Kazakh woman who returned to Nur-Sultan from Italy had tested positive for the virus.
The statement came just hours after Birtanov had announced the country's first two positive cases, a woman and a man who returned to Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, from Germany. Both are Kazakh nationals.
A fourth case was announced hours later.
Earlier in the day, Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev held a meeting with government members and a coronavirus task force after which he suspended trips abroad for officials due to the coronavirus alert.
"Trips abroad for state and other officials will be banned. Only trips aimed to ensure the security of our citizens and the country will be allowed," Toqaev's official website said.
Toqaev also ordered the cabinet to provide financial support to companies and organizations to help them cover paid leaves of their employees who have to stay at home with their children as early spring break at schools was announced due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The president called on state and government entities to focus on public relations with citizens to prevent panic associated with rumors about the spreading of the virus.
RFE/RL correspondents reported from Almaty that local residents have stormed grocery stores and other shops buying food and other items en masse in recent days.
Also on March 13, Toqaev wrote on Twitter that his country "faces the task of keeping the economy in a sustainable development mode in a completely new reality," while in another tweet, he said his government "will fulfill all of its social obligations."
At the meeting with cabinet officials and the coronavirus task force, Toqaev ordered the government to allocate 300 billion tenges ($740 million) to create more jobs via infrastructure maintenance projects in the oil-rich former Soviet republic.
Kazakhstan's national currency, the tenge, plunged to all-time lows in recent days following the abrupt fall in oil prices and chaos in the world's stock markets caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s parliament has voted unanimously to declare a monthlong national state of emergency to help stem the spread of the coronavirus in the southeastern European nation.
“We are showing people that we are thinking about them at a difficult time," Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said after the March 13 vote, which came as the Bulgarian Football Union suspended all soccer matches for one month.
The state of emergency allows the imposition of measures such as travel bans to and from countries with large coronavirus outbreaks and the closing of schools and universities.
Police will also be permitted to intervene when the imposed isolation of infected people is not observed.
Earlier this week, the Balkan country confirmed its first death of a patient who had the virus, while the number of confirmed cases jumped to 23.
On March 12, Borisov said "legal considerations" should be put into place to set penalties for noncompliance by those ordered into quarantine, asserting that 14 people who were supposed to be under quarantine did not observe the procedures.
"In some countries, the penalties are up to seven years in prison.... Let's not get there, but a fine of 5,000 leva ($2,857) should be considered,” he told the Council of Ministers.
He also told the council that "discos, bars, and nightclubs -- where people sweat and hug -- should be closed immediately," but no decision regarding such establishments or restaurants was immediately taken.
Bulgaria has already limited indoor gatherings to 250 people, and the government has urged businesses to be flexible and allow employees to work remotely if possible.
Russia
A lawmaker in the Russian Duma and other deputies who had contact with him were ordered into self-quarantine on March 12 after it was discovered that he had been to France.
State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin had Liberal Democratic Party of Russia lawmaker Sergei Katasonov’s parliamentary entry badge taken away and Katasonov was told to isolate himself for 14 days.
“Let the quarantine pass. With regard to aides with whom he had contact -- there should be the same decisions, and, colleagues in the faction, be sympathetic. Here is the row where our colleague was located, and the row in front and behind is under quarantine, " Volodin said.
Russia on March 12 reported six new cases of coronavirus infection, including four in Moscow, one in Kaliningrad, and one in the Krasnodar region. Altogether, Russia has 34 registered cases. No deaths related to COVID-19 have been recorded in the country.
The virus has infected 2,876 people in France, of whom 61 have died, making it the country's worst health crisis in a century, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address to the nation the same day.
On March 5, Russia started heightened prevention measures and everyone who has been to some of the hardest-hit countries with the coronavirus like China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain, have been told to self-isolate themselves for 14 days.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 deemed the new coronavirus a global pandemic and urged countries to take aggressive measures to prevent the outbreak from worsening.
Some 125,000 people have been infected worldwide and about 4,600 have died -- most of them in China but with numbers now rising elsewhere.
Some 68,000 have recovered from the virus, which is generally only fatal for elderly people and those with preexisting health problems.
With reporting by AFP, Reuters, AP, UNIAN, Espreso.tv, TASS, dpa, and Hromadske


rferl--2020-03-12--U.S. Conducts Retaliatory Air Strikes Against Iran-Backed Militia In Iraq

The United States is conducting retaliatory air strikes against an Iran-backed militia group operating in Iraq following a deadly attack a day earlier against a base hosting Western forces near Baghdad , the Pentagon says .
The U.S. military said in a statement late on March 12 that “ precision strikes ” were being carried out against sites of the Shi ’ ite Kataib Hezbollah militia “ across Iraq . ''
`` These weapons-storage facilities include facilities that housed weapons used to target U.S. and coalition troops , '' the statement said .
It added that the strikes were `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to the threat posed by Iranian-backed Shia militia groups . ''
One U.S. official told AP that the strikes were a joint U.S.-British operation and that they were still ongoing when he spoke .
U.S. Defense Secretary Mike Esper earlier blamed Iran-backed Shi'ite militia groups for a March 11 attack on the coalition at the Camp Taji military base , located less than 30 kilometers north of Baghdad .
He had said that `` all options are on the table '' as Washington and its allies try to bring to justice those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two U.S. troops and one British soldier and wounded a dozen others when a barrage of Katyusha rockets were launched from a truck later discovered several kilometers from Camp Taji .
No one claimed responsibility for the rocket attack , but the United States has accused Iran-backed militias of previous attacks on Iraqi bases hosting coalition forces .
Washington blamed the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia for a strike in December that killed a U.S. contractor and triggered a round of violence that led U.S. President Donald Trump to order the killing of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a drone strike in Baghdad the following month .
In retaliation , an Iranian ballistic missile strike on an Iraqi air base left some 110 U.S. troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries .
Following confirmation of the March 12 air strikes , Esper said in a statement that the United States would not tolerate attacks against “ our people , our interests , or our allies.
” The latest action came hours after the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said air strikes in eastern Syria killed 26 fighters from an Iran-backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town of Albu Kamal and that they were probably carried out by the U.S.-led coalition .
U.S. officials did not confirm if their forces were involved in the Syria attack .
With reporting by Reuters , AFP , and AP


rferl--2020-03-12--U.S. Sanctions Another Rosneft Unit, Accusing It Of Providing Lifeline To Maduro

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed restrictive measures on another unit of Rosneft , intensifying pressure on the Russian state oil giant over its alleged support of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro .
Swiss-based TNK Trading International ( TTI ) now faces freezes on any property and interests in property in the United States or that are in the possession or control of U.S. persons , according to a March 12 Treasury Department press release .
The measures also generally block the firm from operating on global financial markets .
Energy-rich Venezuela has been embroiled in a months-long political standoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Iran , and China are key backers of Maduro , who took office in 2013 and was sworn in for a second term in January 2019 following elections that were marred by an opposition boycott and claims of vote-rigging .
The United States and more than 50 other countries have recognized opposition leader and legislative speaker Juan Guaido as Venezuela 's leader and have demanded that Maduro step down .
TTI was accused of evading U.S. sanctions and helping prop up Maduro 's `` corrupt '' use of Venezuela 's lucrative oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is another Rosneft subsidiary brokering the sale and transport of Venezuelan crude oil , which is subject to sanctions , '' said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin .
`` The Trump administration remains committed to targeting those who support the corrupt regime ’ s exploitation of Venezuela 's oil assets . ''
After the United States imposed similar sanctions on another Rosneft unit , Rosneft Trading , on February 18 , cargoes of Venezuelan oil allocated to it were changed to TNK Trading International `` in order to evade U.S. sanctions , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanctions were also placed on the brokerage 's president , Didier Casimiro , for allegedly having `` acted or purported to act for or on behalf of Rosneft Trading . ''
Reacting to the U.S. announcement last month , Rosneft said its projects in Venezuela were `` in strict compliance with the norms of international and national laws '' and that it `` does not pursue any political goals . ''
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the sanctions would not affect Russia ’ s `` interaction with the lawful authorities of Venezuela .
@

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed restrictive measures on another unit of Rosneft, intensifying pressure on the Russian state oil giant over its alleged support of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Swiss-based TNK Trading International (TTI) now faces freezes on any property and interests in property in the United States or that are in the possession or control of U.S. persons, according to a March 12 Treasury Department press release.
The measures also generally block the firm from operating on global financial markets.
Energy-rich Venezuela has been embroiled in a months-long political standoff with opposition supporters.
Russia, Cuba, Iran, and China are key backers of Maduro, who took office in 2013 and was sworn in for a second term in January 2019 following elections that were marred by an opposition boycott and claims of vote-rigging.
The United States and more than 50 other countries have recognized opposition leader and legislative speaker Juan Guaido as Venezuela's leader and have demanded that Maduro step down.
TTI was accused of evading U.S. sanctions and helping prop up Maduro's "corrupt" use of Venezuela's lucrative oil industry.
"TNK Trading International S.A. is another Rosneft subsidiary brokering the sale and transport of Venezuelan crude oil, which is subject to sanctions," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. "The Trump administration remains committed to targeting those who support the corrupt regime’s exploitation of Venezuela's oil assets."
After the United States imposed similar sanctions on another Rosneft unit, Rosneft Trading, on February 18, cargoes of Venezuelan oil allocated to it were changed to TNK Trading International "in order to evade U.S. sanctions," the department’s news release said.
Sanctions were also placed on the brokerage's president, Didier Casimiro, for allegedly having "acted or purported to act for or on behalf of Rosneft Trading."
Rosneft works with Venezuelan energy giant Petroleos de Venezuela in South America.
Reacting to the U.S. announcement last month, Rosneft said its projects in Venezuela were "in strict compliance with the norms of international and national laws" and that it "does not pursue any political goals."
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the sanctions would not affect Russia’s "interaction with the lawful authorities of Venezuela."


rferl--2020-03-13--U.S. Aid Agency 'Pauses' Kosovo Programs In Latest Push For Breakthrough With Serbia

A bilateral U.S. foreign aid agency that specializes in development assistance in Kosovo has announced its suspension of a program to help boost prospects for economic growth in that decade-old Balkan state until Pristina `` resolves '' its `` tariff issue '' with neighbor Serbia .
In a press release , the U.S. government 's Millennium Challenge Corporation said that it would `` pause implementation '' of a so-called threshold program to help provide reliable electricity to Kosovars and encourage rule of law , good governance , and transparency along with another program known as a `` compact . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 100-percent tariff on Serbian goods in November 2018 over Belgrade 's diplomatic campaign to encourage some of the 110-plus countries that have recognized Kosovo since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008 to reverse their position .
The United States is one of Kosovo 's biggest backers and is generally highly regarded by Kosovars since leading a NATO operation in 1999 to force Serb-led Yugoslav troops out of Kosovo and usher in an international presence there .
But Washington regards the tariffs as a major obstacle to a resumption of talks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of EU- and U.S.-mediated negitiations and a source of instability in the region .
U.S. special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Richard Grenell has led an intense push recently to restart those talks , including several breakthroughs that could initially restore transport ties between the two former Yugoslav entities .
Newly appointed Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti 's government on February 27 announced it would temporarily and partly lift the tariff .
Kurti has repeatedly said he seeks `` reciprocity '' in Serbia-Kosovo relations .
Grenell described the partial repeal as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month brought Kosovar President Hashim Thaci -- a Kurti rival -- and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic together at the White House to discuss ways to reach a final agreement between the two Balkan countries .
A member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee , David Perdue ( Republican-Georgia ) on March 10 called on Kosovo to `` do its part '' and annul the tariffs on Serbian goods and services or face a withdrawal of U.S. troops .

A bilateral U.S. foreign aid agency that specializes in development assistance in Kosovo has announced its suspension of a program to help boost prospects for economic growth in that decade-old Balkan state until Pristina "resolves" its "tariff issue" with neighbor Serbia.
In a March 13 press release, the U.S. government's Millennium Challenge Corporation said that it would "pause implementation" of a so-called threshold program to help provide reliable electricity to Kosovars and encourage rule of law, good governance, and transparency along with another program known as a "compact."
Authorities in the partly recognized Kosovo levied a 100-percent tariff on Serbian goods in November 2018 over Belgrade's diplomatic campaign to encourage some of the 110-plus countries that have recognized Kosovo since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008 to reverse their position.
The United States is one of Kosovo's biggest backers and is generally highly regarded by Kosovars since leading a NATO operation in 1999 to force Serb-led Yugoslav troops out of Kosovo and usher in an international presence there.
But Washington regards the tariffs as a major obstacle to a resumption of talks on normalized Serbian-Kosovar relations, the subject of years of EU- and U.S.-mediated negotiations and a source of instability in the region.
U.S. special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Richard Grenell has led an intense push recently to restart those talks, including several breakthroughs that could initially restore transport ties between the two former Yugoslav entities.
Newly appointed Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government on February 27 announced it would temporarily and partly lift the tariff.
Kurti has repeatedly said he seeks "reciprocity" in Serbia-Kosovo relations.
Kurti on March 13 said Kosovo would not lift the 100 percent tariffs any time soon because the coalition government could not agree on whether the import fees should be phased out or all eliminated immediately.
Kurti said his Self-Determination Movement (Vetevendosje) seeks a phased lifting of tariffs, while the main governing partner, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), wants them dropped at once.
With the parties unable to reach a compromise, Kurti said that “everything remains as it is, the 100 percent tax remains.”
Grenell described any partial repeal as a “half measure.”
Grenell earlier this month brought Kosovar President Hashim Thaci -- a Kurti rival -- and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic together at the White House to discuss ways to reach a final agreement between the two Balkan countries.
A member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, David Perdue (Republican-Georgia) on March 10 called on Kosovo to "do its part" and annul the tariffs on Serbian goods and services or face a withdrawal of U.S. troops.
With reporting by AP


rferl--2020-03-13--Armenian Opposition Urges Referendum Delay Due To Coronavirus

An Armenian opposition leader has called on the authorities to postpone a constitutional referendum scheduled for April 5 because of the risks posed by the spread of the new coronavirus infection in the country .
“ The situation tends to get worse rather than better , ” Edmon Marukian , the leader of the parliamentary Bright Armenia party , warned on March 13 .
“ The number of those infected is increasing , so it will be impossible to hold the ballot , and decisions in this regard must be made now.
” Marukian also said he was in favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 14 days in order to shut down all public and private institutions and stop all mass events .
Election authorities in Armenia have not yet spoken about any plans to postpone the current referendum .
Earlier on March 13 , Armenia 's government decided to close all schools , universities , and kindergartens until at least March 23 .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has suspended campaigning for the referendum and called on citizens , especially those exhibiting coronavirus-like symptoms , to refrain from participating in mass events .
If approved , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissal of seven of the court ’ s nine members installed before nationwide protests swept Pashinian to power in 2018 .
The seven would be replaced by judges to be confirmed by the National Assembly , in which Pashinian ’ s My Step bloc holds a majority .
Armenian Vice-Premier Tigran Avinian announced late on March 13 that , under a mutual agreement between Yerevan and Tbilisi , beginning early on March 14 , Armenia and Georgia will suspend movements of the two countries ’ citizens across the border for a period of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also reintroduced a visa regime and tightened controls at the border with neighboring Iran over coronavirus-related risks .

An Armenian opposition leader has called on the authorities to postpone a constitutional referendum scheduled for April 5 because of the risks posed by the spread of the new coronavirus infection in the country.
“The situation tends to get worse rather than better,” Edmon Marukian, the leader of the parliamentary Bright Armenia party, warned on March 13.
“The number of those infected is increasing, so it will be impossible to hold the ballot, and decisions in this regard must be made now.”
Marukian also said he was in favor of introducing a state of emergency for at least 14 days in order to shut down all public and private institutions and stop all mass events.
Armenia has reported 13 confirmed coronavirus infections.
Election authorities in Armenia have not yet spoken about any plans to postpone the current referendum.
Earlier on March 13, Armenia's government decided to close all schools, universities, and kindergartens until at least March 23.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has suspended campaigning for the referendum and called on citizens, especially those exhibiting coronavirus-like symptoms, to refrain from participating in mass events.
If approved, the constitutional amendments would lead to the dismissal of seven of the court’s nine members installed before nationwide protests swept Pashinian to power in 2018.
The seven would be replaced by judges to be confirmed by the National Assembly, in which Pashinian’s My Step bloc holds a majority.
Armenian Vice-Premier Tigran Avinian announced late on March 13 that, under a mutual agreement between Yerevan and Tbilisi, beginning early on March 14, Armenia and Georgia will suspend movements of the two countries’ citizens across the border for a period of 10 days.
Earlier this month Armenia also reintroduced a visa regime and tightened controls at the border with neighboring Iran over coronavirus-related risks.


rferl--2020-03-13--Romania's President Asks Quarantined Caretaker PM To Form New Government

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has asked quarantined caretaker Prime Minister Ludovic Orban to try to form a new government after opposition parties indicated that they would back him .
Orban , who is the leader of the National Liberal Party ( PNL ) , lost a confidence vote in parliament last month .
Iohannis said he held talks with political parties by teleconference because Orban 's entire caretaker government has self-isolated since a PNL lawmaker was confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus at the center of a deadly pandemic .
Romanian media quoted sources as saying Orban tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to the pneumonia-like COVID-19 illness .
Iohannis said all party officials assured him that a new Orban government would be approved and sworn in in record time , possibly as soon as March 14 .
Orban told a news conference at parliament earlier on March 13 that he would be quarantined in a state-owned villa , communicating with the ministers , who are self-isolated at home , by phone and e-mail .
The PNL leadership and all its senators have also been asked to self-isolate .
Orban 's 3-month-old center-right minority government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 5 and has remained in a caretaker role .
Orban 's cabinet replaced a leftist government beset by corruption scandals .
Local elections are due in late spring or early summer , and parliamentary polls should be held later this year but could take place earlier if efforts to form a new government continue to fail .
Based on reporting by RFE/RL 's Romanian Service , digi24.ro , g4media.ro , and AP

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has asked quarantined caretaker Prime Minister Ludovic Orban to try to form a new government after opposition parties indicated that they would back him.
Orban, who is the leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL), lost a confidence vote in parliament last month.
Iohannis said he held talks with political parties by teleconference because Orban's entire caretaker government has self-isolated since a PNL lawmaker was confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus at the center of a deadly pandemic.
Romanian media quoted sources as saying Orban tested negative for the virus, which can lead to the pneumonia-like COVID-19 illness.
Iohannis said all party officials assured him that a new Orban government would be approved and sworn in in record time, possibly as soon as March 14.
Orban told a news conference at parliament earlier on March 13 that he would be quarantined in a state-owned villa, communicating with the ministers, who are self-isolated at home, by phone and e-mail.
The PNL leadership and all its senators have also been asked to self-isolate.
Orban's 3-month-old center-right minority government was ousted in a no-confidence motion on February 5 and has remained in a caretaker role. Orban's cabinet replaced a leftist government beset by corruption scandals.
Local elections are due in late spring or early summer, and parliamentary polls should be held later this year but could take place earlier if efforts to form a new government continue to fail.
Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Romanian Service, digi24.ro, g4media.ro, and AP


rferl--2020-03-13--U.S. Offers 'Competitively' Priced Oil To Belarus

The U.S. State Department has announced `` the willingness of U.S. companies to begin immediately selling oil to Belarus at competitive market prices '' in a clear signal to Minsk -- and neighboring Russia -- of Washington 's desire to expand trade ties with the post-Soviet country of around 10 million people .
A State Department spokesman said Secretary of State MIke Pompeo had `` reiterated U.S. support for Belarusian sovereignty '' and `` discussed the potential to increase bilateral business ties '' in a March 13 phone call with Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey .
The announcement comes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first trip to Belarus by a sitting U.S. secretary of state since 1994 and emerged saying the United States was seeking closer ties with Minsk but did not need to choose sides between Belarus and Russia .
Belarus has spent decades being heavily reliant on Russia for cheap oil and gas as well as billions in annual subsidies to prop up its highly centralized economy .
But it has been in tense talks with Moscow over oil prices for months .
Oil and gas disputes have sharpened a wider political discord between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union that both sides pledged to in 1999 .
On March 11 , Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhey Rumas said the sharp drop in oil prices had opened room for Minsk to reach an agreement with Moscow over supplies .
In February , President Alyaksandr Lukashenka threatened to start tapping oil from a transit pipeline if Russia did not supply Belarus with the volumes of crude it needed .
The 4,000-kilometer-long Druzhba pipeline crosses Belarusian territory and supplies about 1 million barrels of Russian oil to Europe per day .
Druzhba oil deliveries were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concentrations of organic chloride found in the pipeline , a problem that caused months of friction and disputes .
Lukashenka has been in power in Belarus for more than 25 years , but has faced growing pressure from Moscow to agree to deeper integration under a 1999 unification agreement , which envisaged close political , economic , and military ties but stopped short of forming a single nation .

The U.S. State Department has announced "the willingness of U.S. companies to begin immediately selling oil to Belarus at competitive market prices" in a clear signal to Minsk -- and neighboring Russia -- of Washington's desire to expand trade ties with the post-Soviet country of around 10 million people.
A State Department spokesman said Secretary of State MIke Pompeo had "reiterated U.S. support for Belarusian sovereignty" and "discussed the potential to increase bilateral business ties" in a March 13 phone call with Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey.
The announcement comes a little over a month after Pompeo made the first trip to Belarus by a sitting U.S. secretary of state since 1994 and emerged saying the United States was seeking closer ties with Minsk but did not need to choose sides between Belarus and Russia.
Belarus has spent decades being heavily reliant on Russia for cheap oil and gas as well as billions in annual subsidies to prop up its highly centralized economy.
But it has been in tense talks with Moscow over oil prices for months.
Oil and gas disputes have sharpened a wider political discord between the two post-Soviet countries over forming a union that both sides pledged to in 1999.
On March 11, Belarusian Prime Minister Syarhey Rumas said the sharp drop in oil prices had opened room for Minsk to reach an agreement with Moscow over supplies.
In February, President Alyaksandr Lukashenka threatened to start tapping oil from a transit pipeline if Russia did not supply Belarus with the volumes of crude it needed.
The 4,000-kilometer-long Druzhba pipeline crosses Belarusian territory and supplies about 1 million barrels of Russian oil to Europe per day.
Druzhba oil deliveries were halted in April 2019 due to high concentrations of organic chloride found in the pipeline, a problem that caused months of friction and disputes.
Lukashenka has been in power in Belarus for more than 25 years, but has faced growing pressure from Moscow to agree to deeper integration under a 1999 unification agreement, which envisaged close political, economic, and military ties but stopped short of forming a single nation.


rferl--2020-03-13--Pakistan Accused Of Harassment After Arrest Of Media Mogul

Human rights and media freedom watchdogs are urging Pakistan to release from pretrial detention the owner and editor in chief of the country ’ s biggest independent media group .
Mir Shakilur Rehman of the Jang group of newspapers and TV stations was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore on March 12 by the National Accountability Bureau ( NAB ) in connection with allegations of tax evasion in a real-estate purchase 34 years ago .
The Jang group , which has been critical of the government and the activities of the NAB , rejected the allegations against Rehman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the freedom of expression.
” Daniel Bastard , the head of Paris-based Reporters Without Borders ’ ( RSF ) Asia-Pacific desk , said Rehman ’ s arrest is “ not based on anything legal and is clearly harassment in order to bring the Jang group into line.
” The Pakistani authorities “ have shown tremendous creativity in intimidating journalists who try to do their jobs independently , ” Bastard said in a statement .
Brad Adams , Asia director at Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) , called Rehman ’ s detention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Pakistan ’ s beleaguered media.
” “ The space for dissent in Pakistan is shrinking fast , and anyone who criticizes government actions can become a target , ” Adams added .
Pakistan ’ s media operate in “ a climate of fear , ” the New York-based watchdog said .
“ Media outlets are under pressure from authorities not to criticize the government.
” The statement also said that the NAB has been “ widely criticized for being used for political purposes.
” Pakistan is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Freedom Index .

Human rights and media freedom watchdogs are urging Pakistan to release from pretrial detention the owner and editor in chief of the country’s biggest independent media group.
Mir Shakilur Rehman of the Jang group of newspapers and TV stations was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore on March 12 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with allegations of tax evasion in a real-estate purchase 34 years ago.
The Jang group, which has been critical of the government and the activities of the NAB, rejected the allegations against Rehman and described his arrest as “an attack on the freedom of expression.”
Daniel Bastard, the head of Paris-based Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) Asia-Pacific desk, said Rehman’s arrest is “not based on anything legal and is clearly harassment in order to bring the Jang group into line.”
The Pakistani authorities “have shown tremendous creativity in intimidating journalists who try to do their jobs independently,” Bastard said in a statement.
Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), called Rehman’s detention “just the latest case of harassment against Pakistan’s beleaguered media.”
“The space for dissent in Pakistan is shrinking fast, and anyone who criticizes government actions can become a target,” Adams added.
Pakistan’s media operate in “a climate of fear,” the New York-based watchdog said. “Media outlets are under pressure from authorities not to criticize the government.”
The statement also said that the NAB has been “widely criticized for being used for political purposes.”
Pakistan is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index.


rferl--2020-03-13--Tensions Rise After U.S. Launches Strikes On Iran-Backed Fighters In Iraq

U.S. air strikes that killed several members of a pro-Iranian militia group in Iraq have heightened tensions in the region , with Baghdad denouncing the attack as a violation of the country ’ s sovereignty and Tehran warning President Donald Trump against taking `` dangerous actions . ''
The United States says the overnight strikes were in retaliation for a March 11 rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in which two U.S. troops and one British soldier were killed .
Iraqi President Barham Salih on March 13 condemned the U.S. attack , warning that the country could slip into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed state . ''
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said it would summon both the U.S. and British ambassadors to Baghdad over the strikes , in which the Iraqi military said five members of the country 's security forces and one civilian were killed .
Meanwhile , Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi said in a statement that Trump should “ reconsider the presence and behavior of his troops in the area '' instead of making “ dangerous actions and baseless accusations.
” Hours earlier , the U.S. Defense Department said its strikes targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hezbollah militia , including facilities housing arms used in past attacks on U.S.-led coalition troops .
The attack was `` defensive , proportional , and in direct response to the threat posed by Iranian-backed Shia militia groups , '' according to the Pentagon .
One U.S. official was quoted as saying the strikes were a joint U.S.-British operation .
In London , British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described the response to the attack on coalition forces as `` swift , decisive , and proportionate '' and warned that anyone seeking to harm those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The ranking U.S. general in the Middle East , CENTCOM commander Marine General Frank McKenzie , said on March 13 that there are numerous other , similar sites but that U.S. forces have shown “ restraint ” because of political sensitivities with respect to Iraq 's government and because in some cases strikes could cause `` a lot '' of civilian casualties .
He said the United States cooperates with Iraq 's military to eliminate such sites but that sometimes that approach does n't work .
“ What should now be obvious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be able to fire those at a U.S. or coalition base , hurt or kill our people , and escape unscathed , ” McKenzie said .
The statement by Iraq 's military said the `` aggression '' against its armed forces occurred in the areas of Jurf al-Sakher , Al-Musayib , Najaf , and Al-Iskandariya on the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces , an umbrella grouping of Iran-backed Shi'ite militias , emergency regiments , and commandos of the 9th division of the Iraqi Army .
It said that in addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and one civilian killed , 12 people were wounded -- four soldiers , two policemen , one civilian , and five militiamen .
U.S. Defense Secretary Mike Esper has blamed Iran-backed Shi'ite militia groups for the deadly rocket attack on the coalition at the Camp Taji military base , located less than 30 kilometers north of Baghdad .
No one claimed responsibility for the rocket attack , but a U.S. commander said Kataib Hezbollah was likely to have fired the rockets .
`` The Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah is the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indirect fire attack of this scale against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq , '' Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie told a U.S. Senate committee .
The United States has accused Iran-backed militias of similar attacks on Iraqi bases hosting coalition forces over the past year .
In December , Washington blamed Kataib Hezbollah for a strike that killed a U.S. contractor and triggered a round of violence that led Trump to order the killing of a top Iranian general , Qasem Soleimani , in a drone strike in Baghdad the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballistic missile strike on an Iraqi air base left some 110 U.S. troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries .
Also on March 12 , the U.S.-led coalition denied carrying out air strikes on Iran-backed Iraqi Shi ’ ite militiamen in eastern Syria .
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 26 people were killed in the attack , which came hours after rocket strikes on Camp Taji .
With reporting by Reuters , AFP , AP , dpa , and the BBC

U.S. air strikes that killed several members of a pro-Iranian militia group in Iraq have heightened tensions in the region, with Baghdad denouncing the attack as a violation of the country’s sovereignty and Tehran warning President Donald Trump against taking "dangerous actions."
The United States says the overnight strikes were in retaliation for a March 11 rocket attack on an Iraqi military base in which two U.S. troops and one British soldier were killed.
Iraqi President Barham Salih on March 13 condemned the U.S. attack, warning that the country could slip into "chaos" and become a "failed state."
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said it would summon both the U.S. and British ambassadors to Baghdad over the strikes, in which the Iraqi military said five members of the country's security forces and one civilian were killed.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi said in a statement that Trump should “reconsider the presence and behavior of his troops in the area" instead of making “dangerous actions and baseless accusations.”
Hours earlier, the U.S. Defense Department said its strikes targeted five weapons depots used by the Kataib Hezbollah militia, including facilities housing arms used in past attacks on U.S.-led coalition troops.
The attack was "defensive, proportional, and in direct response to the threat posed by Iranian-backed Shia militia groups," according to the Pentagon.
One U.S. official was quoted as saying the strikes were a joint U.S.-British operation.
In London, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described the response to the attack on coalition forces as "swift, decisive, and proportionate" and warned that anyone seeking to harm those forces could expect a “strong response.”
The ranking U.S. general in the Middle East, CENTCOM commander Marine General Frank McKenzie, said on March 13 that there are numerous other, similar sites but that U.S. forces have shown “restraint” because of political sensitivities with respect to Iraq's government and because in some cases strikes could cause "a lot" of civilian casualties.
He said the United States cooperates with Iraq's military to eliminate such sites but that sometimes that approach doesn't work.
“What should now be obvious to everyone is you're not going to be able to fire those at a U.S. or coalition base, hurt or kill our people, and escape unscathed,” McKenzie said.
The statement by Iraq's military said the "aggression" against its armed forces occurred in the areas of Jurf al-Sakher, Al-Musayib, Najaf, and Al-Iskandariya on the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella grouping of Iran-backed Shi'ite militias, emergency regiments, and commandos of the 9th division of the Iraqi Army.
It said that in addition to the three soldiers, two police officers, and one civilian killed, 12 people were wounded -- four soldiers, two policemen, one civilian, and five militiamen.
U.S. Defense Secretary Mike Esper has blamed Iran-backed Shi'ite militia groups for the deadly rocket attack on the coalition at the Camp Taji military base, located less than 30 kilometers north of Baghdad.
No one claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, but a U.S. commander said Kataib Hezbollah was likely to have fired the rockets.
"The Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah is the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq," Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie told a U.S. Senate committee.
The United States has accused Iran-backed militias of similar attacks on Iraqi bases hosting coalition forces over the past year.
In December, Washington blamed Kataib Hezbollah for a strike that killed a U.S. contractor and triggered a round of violence that led Trump to order the killing of a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Baghdad the following month.
In retaliation, an Iranian ballistic missile strike on an Iraqi air base left some 110 U.S. troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries.
Also on March 12, the U.S.-led coalition denied carrying out air strikes on Iran-backed Iraqi Shi’ite militiamen in eastern Syria.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 26 people were killed in the attack, which came hours after rocket strikes on Camp Taji.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, dpa, and the BBC