WATCH PRESS TV NEWS HEADLINES

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 18:00 GMT, August 6, 2017 to 08:00 GMT, August 7, 2017.

Venezuela foils terror attack

The Venezuelan president says the country’s security forces have successfully crushed a terrorist attack on a military base. Nicolas Maduro, in a televised address, congratulated the armed forces for beating back the rebellion at the base near the central city of Valencia. The defense minister also said the military's loyalty was unshakable. The ministry said the army deserters were linked to foreign governments. At least one person was killed and several arrested in the incident. Earlier, a video footage that was circulated showed a group of men in military uniform announcing an uprising in the wake of the inauguration of a pro-government legislative assembly. Maduro calls the assembly Venezuela's only hope for restoring peace. But, the opposition calls it a power grab. The oil-producing South American country has faced months of instability, something Maduro blames on the US.

Syria fight against Daesh 

In another blow to Daesh terrorists, the Lebanese army has liberated a number of strategic hilltops bordering Syria. Local media say the military took control of the hills which are located between the towns of Ra’s Baalbek and Arsal. The army said in a statement that it destroyed Daesh’s fortifications and killed several terrorists. On Thursday, Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah announced its fighters retained control of all areas in Arsal following a deal with Nusra Front terrorists that saw them move to Idlib. The movement’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the Syrian army’s support played a major role in dislodging the terrorists from the town.

China against THAAD

China has criticized South Korea for accelerating the deployment of the American THAAD missile system. Wang was speaking after a one-hour meeting with his South Korean counterpart on the sidelines of the Association of South East Asian Nations meeting in Manila. China and Russia have slammed the US deployment of the THAAD anti-missile defense system in South Korea. Beijing says the deployment would further destabilize the region.

Afghanistan massacre

The Afghan president has condemned a reported massacre of civilians in northern province of Sar-e Pol. Ashraf Ghani slammed the barbaric act as a direct violation of human rights and a war crime. According to local officials, up to 50 civilians were brutally killed in the Shia-majority village of Mirza-walang. Several mosques were also burned and a number of villagers taken hostage. Local officials say a combination of Taliban and Daesh terrorists, including foreigners, were involved in the attack. The Taliban claimed they had captured Mirza-walang but rejected reports of civilian casualties as propaganda.

US Yemen deployment

Yemen has denounced military operations carried out by the US and the UAE forces in the country’s southern province of Shabwa. Officials in Shabwa say the invading forces have occupied vast areas in the province under the pretext of fighting against terror groups. They say the offensive is aimed at dominating the oil and gas fields in the province. Last week, the foreign troops began to get involved in military operations against what they called the local affiliate of al-Qaeda in Shabwa province. The US has been conducting drone attacks in Yemen for years. Washington says the attacks target terror groups. But facts on the ground show that many civilians have fallen victim to such strikes.

Unlawful US airstrikes

Syria has called on the United Nations Security Council to live up to its responsibilities by dismantling the US-led coalition, after a series of air raids killed scores of civilians. Syria’s Foreign Ministry made the call in two separate letters to the UN Secretary General and the Chairman of the UN Security Council. The ministry said the United States was conducting air raids unlawfully without consent from Damascus. It added that the targeting of residential neighborhoods with internationally banned white phosphorus munitions amounted to war crimes and was a flagrant violation of international law. The US claims airstrikes against purported Daesh targets in Syria and Iraq have killed over 600 civilians since 2014. However monitoring groups put the death toll at around seven-thousand.

Mosul, rising from ruins

Tens of thousands of displaced Iraqis are returning to Mosul following the full liberation of the city from Daesh terrorists. The Old City which was the last liberated district is in ruins, so, residents are seeking refuge elsewhere. Ali Musawi reports.

Iran's deterrent missile program

Iran has vehemently denounced a recent joint statement by the US and three European countries calling the country’s missile tests provocative. In his weekly presser, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Iran’s missile program is internal and deterrent. Qassemi added that Iran’s purely defensive missile program is not in any way in contravention with UN resolutions. The Iranian diplomat called the US ill-wish claims irrelevant, only building up to the current wall of distrust. He added that Tehran will not be deceived by Washington’s efforts aimed at breaching the nuclear deal at Iran’s expense. Qassemi emphasized that Iran will continue to maintain the JCPOA by way of diplomatic approach with other involved parties and respond in kind to the US measures when necessary.

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