Iranian warships enter Mediterranean Sea

Israeli Attack on Iran ’Not Prudent’: DepmseynAn Israeli attack on Iran would be “destabilizing,” the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey, said.
Iranian ships moved through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday, the IRNA news agency reported, citing the country's navy commander, Admiral Habibollah Sayari.
Sayari said the passage through the Suez Canal was only the second made by Iranian ships since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

It follows the passage of the Iranian frigate Alvand and the supply ship Kharg on Feb. 22 last year. The ships successfully moved through the canal and then docked two days later at the Syrian port of Latakia.
 Israel called last year's passage a "political provocation" and put its own navy on alert in response.
It was not known how many ships passed through the canal Saturday. However, Sayari said the ships were docked in the Saudi port city of Jeddah ahead of their passage through the canal, AFP reported.
Two Iranian ships -- the destroyer Shahid Qandi and the Kharg -- were docked in Jeddah two days ago.
Chairman of US Joint Chiefs tells CNN an attack wouldn't accomplish Israel's long-term goals, says Washington views Tehran as a rational actor, believes it hasn't decided to make a nuclear weapon. 

An Israeli attack on Iran would be “destabilizing,” the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Army General Martin Dempsey, said Saturday.

Woman rape by army personnel in Kashmir

Woman alleges rape by army personnel in Kashmir 

Army's 15 Corps Lt General S A Hasnain on Friday denied the Indian Army's involvement in the alleged rape of a Gujjar woman in south Kashmir. Hasnain, however, said strict action would be taken against the guilty but cautioned that the allegations may have been leveled to "defame the force" and disturb the peace.

"If there is any truth in the allegation, criminal act against which strict action must be taken. Army is cooperating in the police investigation and separate investigation of our own," Hasnain told reporters here.

A 30 year old Gujjar woman from Gujjardara-Manzgam in Kulgam district told locals on Thursday that a group of Army men from the nearby camp pounced upon her when she was conducting ablution for prayers near her hutment, raped by two army soldiers of 62 Rastriya Rifles. The police have registered a rape case on the basis of these allegations.

Meanwhile, chief minister Omar Abdullah promised strict action against the guilty. The medical examination of the woman.

They said the swabs taken from the woman have been sent for forensic laboratory in Srinagar. "If any foreign bodies are found in the swabs, the same will be subjected to DNA testing for ascertaining the identity of the bearer."

Asked about the possibility of holding an identification parade, Hasnain said, "We will have to see the legality of this... there are lots of legalities involved in it.''

Army steps up in Syrian

Army steps up in Syrian  Homs campaign

A focal point for pro-democracy protests, activists and residents said that’s the Syrian army stepped up its military operation in the central city of Homs.

‘There are casualties and many people have been arrested. We are very scared,’ a resident in Homs, who asked to be referred to only by his first name, Ahmed.

‘There is heavy military deployment in Homs; military checkpoints are everywhere in the city. There is heavy shooting in Bab Sbaa, one house was burned and the humanitarian conditions are dire,’ the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement.

It is hard to verify witness accounts as Syrian authorities have expelled most international media organisations.

Syrian authorities blame armed groups with Islamist links for violence across the country and say at least 500 policemen and soldiers have been killed since March.