Five Mexican police officers killed in ambush
AFP, Mexico
At least five police officers were killed after they were ambushed in a small community nestled in the highlands of the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, local authorities reported.
The policemen were attacked late on Friday afternoon, according to the Secretary of State Security, as they patrolled La Cementera de San Vicente Coatlan, a community of about 4,000 inhabitants, roughly 80 kilometers from the state capital.
No coalition troops hurt in rocket attack at Iraq base
AP, Baghdad
A barrage of Katyusha rockets targeted an Iraqi air base that houses American troops south of the city of Mosul on Friday, officials said. No members of the U.S.-led coalition were injured.
The rocket fire appears to have originated in Mosul and struck the Iraqi army base in Qayyara, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) south of Mosul, where coalition forces are helping the Iraqis battle remnants of the Islamic State group, Iraqi security officials said. They spoke to The Associated Press did so on condition of anonymity under regulations.
Spain to extradite Venezuela ex-intel chief to US
AFP, Madrid
A top Spanish court has said it will extradite Venezuela’s former military intelligence chief to the US on drug trafficking charges, a judicial source said, just weeks after the court ordered his release.
Spain’s National Court on Friday approved an appeal from the public prosecutors’ office to send General Hugo Armando Carvajal to the US on the country’s request, the source said.
Netanyahu appoints hard-liner Bennett as defense minister
AP, Jerusalem
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday appointed hard-line politician Naftali Bennett as defense minister in his caretaker government. The move appears aimed at shoring up opposition to attempts by Netanyahu’s chief rival, Benny Gantz, to form Israel’s next government.
