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Syria

Police & Fire
Heartbreaking Video Of Iraqi Shiite Hostage, Princeton Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Surfaces Heartbreaking Video Of Iraqi Shiite Hostage, Princeton Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Surfaces
Heartbreaking Video Of Iraqi Shiite Hostage, Princeton Student Elizabeth Tsurkov Surfaces A newly posted video suggests that a Princeton University doctoral student kidnapped in Iraq last March is alive. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a citizen of both Russia and Israel, was abducted while doing work for the Ivy League school, according to a July statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The Iran Observer posted the unauthenticated video clip on X on Monday, Nov. 13 claiming Tsurkov is an operative with Mossad — the national intelligence agency of Israel. "I worked for the Mossad and CIA," a translation of the video reads. Israeli Elizabeth Tsurkov, kidnapped in Iraq 7 months ago, …

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
Ex-Stockbroker Who Left Wife, Child To Become ISIS Sniper Sentenced To Life Plus 70 Years Ex-Stockbroker Who Left Wife, Child To Become ISIS Sniper Sentenced To Life Plus 70 Years
Ex-Stockbroker Who Left Wife, Child To Become ISIS Sniper Sentenced To Life Plus 70 Years UPDATE: A former stockbroker who abandoned Wall Street and his loved ones to become a sniper and instructor for ISIS was sentenced to life plus 70 years in federal prison on Tuesday, the government announced. Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, 47, reportedly grinned, stroked what is now a thick beard and flashed a thumbs-up sign during the sentencing in U.S. Court for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn on Oct. 17. There was no surprise there: To the end, Asainov proclaimed his pride in fighting with ISIS and teaching young student militants in Syria to kill for their beliefs. “He chose t…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Neighbors
North Jersey Rallies Around Girl Injured, Orphaned In Earthquake North Jersey Rallies Around Girl Injured, Orphaned In Earthquake
North Jersey Rallies Around Girl Injured, Orphaned In Earthquake Rayen Bekri, a 13-year-old girl, was trapped in the rubble for six days following an earthquake in her native Turkey in February. Now living with family in Bergen County, the community has come together to help her. While trapped under six floors of a collapsed building, Bekri held onto her brother, though he did not survive. Bekri's mother also died in the earthquake, which killed nearly 60,000 people in Turkey and Syria.  Bekri was finally discovered, though her leg had to be amputated. Bekri's father had previously died in a war in Syria.  Rasha Kattan, Bekri's aunt, flew to T…

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by Sam Barron
News
NJ Army Vet Who Supported Syrian Terrorist Lover Gets 3 Plea-Bargained Years In Federal Prison NJ Army Vet Who Supported Syrian Terrorist Lover Gets 3 Plea-Bargained Years In Federal Prison
NJ Army Vet Who Supported Syrian Terrorist Lover Gets 3 Plea-Bargained Years In Federal Prison A U.S. Army veteran from Sussex County must spend more than three years in federal prison for deliberately concealing money and guidance she gave to a Syrian terrorist she'd fallen in love with. Because there's no parole in the federal prison system, Maria Bell, 55, must serve out just about all of the plea-bargained 36-month sentence approved by a federal judge in Newark on Tuesday, Jan. 24, Bell, of Hopatcong, offered not only money and military intelligence but the benefit of her experience in specialized weapons training to Syria-based factions fighting the Assad regime, a complaint on…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
NYC Man Gets 38 Years Without Parole For Assisting ISIS, Stabbing Jail Guard NYC Man Gets 38 Years Without Parole For Assisting ISIS, Stabbing Jail Guard
NYC Man Gets 38 Years Without Parole For Assisting ISIS, Stabbing Jail Guard A Queens man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years without parole in federal prison for trying to support ISIS, followed by another eight years for assaulting a federal correctional officer. Ali Saleh, 28, will have to serve out just about all of the consecutive sentences because there’s no parole in the federal prison system. Saleh “swore an oath of allegiance to ISIS” and embraced the terrorist organization’s directive to either travel to the Middle East or take action at home, a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn says. “I’m ready to die for the Caliphate, prison is nothing…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Last US Solider To Leave Afghanistan Is Pennsylvania Native Last US Solider To Leave Afghanistan Is Pennsylvania Native
Last US Solider To Leave Afghanistan Is Pennsylvania Native A distinguished US Army major general who graduated from Harvard University, was deployed 18 times and worked in the Pentagon is the last US solder to leave Afghanistan after a 20-year occupation. Oh yeah, Maj. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue hails from Franklin County, PA. The last American soldier to leave Afghanistan: Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, commanding general of the @82ndABNDiv, @18airbornecorps boards an @usairforce C-17 on August 30th, 2021, ending the U.S. mission in Kabul. pic.twitter.com/j5fPx4iv6a — Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) August 30, 2021 The commanding general…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
SURPRISE! NJ Town Gives Soldier 'Welcome Home' Celebration To Remember SURPRISE! NJ Town Gives Soldier 'Welcome Home' Celebration To Remember
Surprise! NJ Town Gives Soldier 'Welcome Home' Celebration To Remember A soldier returning from his first deployment got an unforgettable welcome home surprise, thanks to dozens of residents in one New Jersey town. Crowds gathered outside of Van Zant Elementary School in Evesham Township to greet U.S. Army Specialist Cody Wallace Friday morning. U.S. Army Specialist Cody Wallace was greeted but dozens of Evesham residents in a welcome home surprise he'll never forget.Evesham Township Wallace received the U.S. Army Achievement Medal during this deployment for his exceptional service during a mission in Syria. The soldier serves with the 628th Aviation Supp…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
FBI Nabs Ex-Soldier From Sussex County Charged With Supporting Syrian Terrorists FBI Nabs Ex-Soldier From Sussex County Charged With Supporting Syrian Terrorists
FBI Nabs Ex-Soldier From Sussex County Charged With Supporting Syrian Terrorists FBI agents arrested a Sussex County woman Wednesday and charged her with supporting a Syrian terrorist group. Maria Bell, a 53-year-old former U.S. Army solider and member of the National Guard, provided money and advice to “fighters based in Syria who were members of various factions fighting the Assad regime,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Bell cited her professional experience in specialized weapons training, offering to provide guidance on operational security issues, weapons purchases and military intelligence, a complaint on file in U.S. District Court in Newark charges. Accord…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
Hackensack Born ISIS Bride Suing Trump Administration, Report Says Hackensack Born ISIS Bride Suing Trump Administration, Report Says
Hackensack Born ISIS Bride Suing Trump Administration, Report Says The Trump administration is facing a lawsuit from a Hackensack-born ISIS bride who feels she and her toddler son are wrongfully being kept out of the U.S. Hoda Muthana, 24, has since renounced the terrorist group that she left for in 2014, her lawyer Hassan Shibly said, adding she had a valid passport at the time. Shibly said Muthana was "brainwashed" by the Islamic State when she fled her family in Alabama -- "just a stupid, naive young dumb woman, he said. After her third marriage to an IS fighter, Muthana wanted to get out. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Muthana does not have any …

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
New Milford Salon Rallies For 'Mother Hen' Cosmetologist Critical After Brain Hemorrhage New Milford Salon Rallies For 'Mother Hen' Cosmetologist Critical After Brain Hemorrhage
New Milford Salon Rallies For 'Mother Hen' Cosmetologist Critical After Brain Hemorrhage Louris Wanissian of New Milford is usually the one caring for others. But after suffering a  brain hemorrhage Tuesday that left her critical, the single mom's colleagues at Danielle's Place are taking care of her. More than $2,100 had been raised as of Thursday afternoon on a GoFundMe for Wanissian, 54, launched by salon owner Danielle Yodice. "We call her the mother hen here," said Yodice, who has worked with Wanissian for nearly 20 years. "She's the one that takes care of everybody." Wanissian moved to the U.S. from Syria nearly three decades ago. With most of her fa…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Ex-Fort Lee Alt-Rocker Dimed Out By Mom Gets 8 Years For Supporting ISIS Ex-Fort Lee Alt-Rocker Dimed Out By Mom Gets 8 Years For Supporting ISIS
Ex-Fort Lee Alt-Rocker Dimed Out By Mom Gets 8 Years For Supporting ISIS FORT LEE, N.J. -- A 24-year-old former alt-rock singer from Fort Lee who was turned in by his mother for conspiring to support foreign terrorism in Iraq was sentenced to eight years in federal prison. Federal agents seized Samuel Rahamin Topaz at his home in June 2015 and quickly followed with the arrests of three co-conspirators who they said planned to travel to Syria to join the foreign terrorist organization. All three took deals from the government in exchange for leniency.Nader Saadeh, a Jordanian national who previously lived in Rutherford, got 10 years in federal prison on Monday. …

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by Jerry DeMarco