Ukrainian Prime Minister: 'We Had Two Options – Bad, Or Worse'

Daily Mail: 'We had two options – bad, or worse': Ukrainian prime minister reveals the extent of how one-sided peace deal was… and how they do not believe Putin will stick to it

* Thirteen civilians killed during heavy clashes in past 24 hours
* Eleven soldiers killed and 40 wounded, Ukraine's military said in statement
* Deaths come as Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany broker ceasefire
* It is due to come into force on Sunday at one minute past midnight
* At least 5,486 people have been killed in 10 months of fighting
* Ukraine PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk has spoken of his mistrust of the Russians
* Putin 'tried to delay ceasefire agreement to allow rebels to capture rail hub'

WNU Editor: Ukraine PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk is one of the reasons why Ukraine is in the middle of a war right now .... and his continuing presence will only make the situation worse. But as much as he wants to focus on Russia and blame Russia for everything, the growing crisis is within his own government and parliament. Members of parliament are now openly fighting amongst themselves (see video), and ultra-Ukrainian nationalists with their militias in eastern Ukraine have made it clear that they are not going to respect the ceasefire agreement, but will continue to wage war and do everything in their power to destroy the Minsk agreement .... Right Sector to Continue Military Operation Regardless of Minsk Deal (Sputnik). More here.

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 13, 2015

Wall Street Journal: Fighting Rages in Eastern Ukraine as Cease-Fire Deadline Approaches

Doubts Grow Over Implementation of Peace Deal Agreed to in Minsk

Ukraine descended into further violence on Friday as Kiev and Russia-backed separatists tried to expand and defend their territory before a cease-fire brokered by European leaders was due to come into effect.

Ukraine War News Updates -- February 13, 2015

Ukraine battles persist before cease-fire deadline; 25 dead -- AP
Fighting rages in run-up to Ukraine ceasefire -- Reuters
Ukraine says 11 troops killed and 40 wounded, fighting reportedly increased since ceasefire agreement -- National Post/AP
Fighting continues in Ukraine despite looming cease-fire -- Washington Post
Ukraine crisis: Fierce fighting after Minsk peace deal -- BBC
Fighting continues ahead of Ukraine ceasefire -- CNN
Ukraine fighting surges ahead of cease-fire, at least 25 killed -- L.A. Times
Intense Fighting Reported In Eastern Ukraine Despite Ceasefire Deal -- RTT
Minsk ceasefire in balance as fighting escalates in eastern Ukraine -- The Guardian
Violence continues across eastern Ukraine despite new cease-fire deal -- Al Jazeera
Kyiv Officials: 11 Troops Killed Since Truce -- VOA
‘Long way from peace’: Over 10 civilians killed in E. Ukraine shelling after Minsk agreement -- RT
Kiev military says rebels building up forces in east Ukraine -- Reuters
Ukraine: Rebels react to Minsk ceasefire pact with ferocious onslaught in Debaltseve -- IBTimes
Donbas Ready to Honor Minsk Deal if Kiev Keeps Its Side of Bargain -- Sputnik
Kiev’s refusal to amnesty Donbas leaders shows reluctance to implement Minsk deal — DPR -- ITAR-TASS
Ukraine's nationalist Right Sector rejects Minsk deals -- ITAR-TASS
Ukraine: President Petro Poroshenko questions if ceasefire will take effect -- Euronews
Poroshenko Warns of Conflict Escalation Despite Successful Peace Talks -- Sputnik
Poroshenko says Ukraine still a long way from peace -- Reuters
Kiev to Demand EC Emergency Meeting if Sunday Ceasefire Deadline Not Met -- Sputnik
As Cease-Fire Nears, Europe Warily Watches Fighting In Ukraine -- NPR
U.S. Accuses Kremlin of Aiding Ukraine Rebels in Assault Ahead of Cease-Fire -- NYT
Ukraine ultranationalist leader rejects Minsk peace deal, reserves right 'to continue war' -- RT

Islamic State Attack Against Iraqi Base With U.S. Forces Repelled. Heavy Fighting Still Ongoing In Neighboring Towns

Reuters: Iraqi army repels attack on base hosting U.S. Marines - officials

(Reuters) - Iraqi security forces on Friday repelled an attack by Islamic State insurgents against an air base in Anbar province where U.S. Marines are training Iraqi troops, Iraqi and U.S. military officials said.

Militants from the jihadist group had attacked the Ain al-Asad base and the nearby town of al-Baghdadi a day earlier, leading to sporadic clashes in the town overnight.

More News On The Islamic State Attack Against An Iraqi Base Housing U.S. Forces

ISIS Fighters Sneak Into Iraqi Base Wearing Iraqi Army Uniforms -- ABC News
Officials: Islamic State militants killed after penetrating perimeter of Al Asad Air Base -- Stars and Stripes
IS fighters infiltrate Iraqi airbase where U.S. Marines train -- UPI
ISIS Penetrates Iraqi Base Used by U.S. Trainers -- WSJ
Islamic State tries to attack base where hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed -- Washington Post
ISIS militants attack Iraq base housing US forces -- AFP
ISIS militants seize western Iraqi town, menace base housing U.S. personnel -- CNN
IS Attacks Iraq Base Housing US Personnel -- VOA
Iraq repels Islamic State attack on base housing US troops -- BBC
Failed ISIS raid tests US forces in Iraq -- FOX News
Islamic State takes over large portions of town near key airbase in Anbar -- Long War Journal

More Nations Rush To Close Their Embassies In Yemen

Globe and Mail/Reuters: More Western nations, Saudis pull embassy staff from Yemen after rebel takeover

Saudi Arabia has joined Western states in evacuating staff from Yemen after a power grab by Shia Muslim Houthi militia there, a move reflecting the hostility of majority Sunni Muslim neighbours toward the Iranian-backed Houthis.

More News On The Crisis In Yemen

U.N. says Yemen collapsing, on brink of civil war -- Reuters
Yemen on the Verge of Chaos -- AP
U.N. Chief Warns Yemen ‘Collapsing’ as al-Qaeda Group Makes Gains -- Time
Al-Qaeda fighters seize army base as Yemen drifts toward war -- Al Jazeera
Al Qaeda fighters seize Yemen army base, U.N. warns of civil war -- Reuters
Saudi evacuates embassy staff from Yemen -- Al Jazeera
Saudi Arabia joins West in diplomatic exodus from crisis-torn Yemen -- Washington Post
Yemen unrest: Saudi Arabia closes embassy -- BBC
Three more embassies close in Yemen amid unrest -- Mashable
Ex-Marines angry over reports on guards’ weapons in Yemen embassy -- Washington Times
Counterterror chief says fall of Yemen's government took US by surprise - FOX News
Official: US was surprised by collapse of Yemen government -- AP

Nigeria's Boko Haram Has Launched Its First Attack Against Chad

BBC: Nigeria's Boko Haram militants attack Chad for first time

Nigerian Boko Haram militants have carried out an attack on Chad overnight, the first such assault on Chadian soil, officials say.

Fighters crossed Lake Chad in four motorboats and attacked a village, an army spokesman told the BBC.

More News On Nigeria's Boko Haram Launching Its First Attack Against Chad

Boko Haram attacks village in Chad as revolt spreads -- Reuters
Boko Haram launches first attack in Chad -- USA Today/AP
Boko Haram Attacks Chad Village -- WSJ
Boko Haram Carries Out First Attack in Chad -- NYT
Boko Haram militants launch deadly first attack in Chad -- France 24
Boko Haram Attack Kills at Least 7 in Chad -- VOA
Boko Haram attacks Chad for first time -- UPI
Boko Haram militants launch first fatal attack in Chad -- The Guardian
Nigeria's Boko Haram launches first attack in Chad -- Al Jazeera
Nigeria's Boko Haram Carries Out First Attack on Neighboring Chad -- NBC
Boko Haram fighters launch first attack inside Chad -- Deutsche Welle
Boko Haram escalates battle with bold move into Chad -- CSM

President Obama In Silicon Valley For Cybersecurity Summit

Reuters: Obama to encourage companies to share cyber threat data

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama is set to sign an executive order on Friday aimed at encouraging companies to share more information about cybersecurity threats with the government and each other, a response to attacks like that on Sony Entertainment.

WNU Editor: Even though Apple's CEO is there, other tech leaders are deliberately avoiding this cybersecurity summit .... Top tech CEOs snub Obama at cybersecurity summit (Washington Times).

More News On President Obama Participating At The Cybersecurity Summit At Stanford

Watch Live: White House Summit on Cybersecurity -- NBC
LIVE: White House cybersecurity summit at Stanford -- USA Today
Obama to sign executive order on cybersecurity info sharing -- CNet
Obama in Silicon Valley for Cybersecurity Talks -- VOA
Obama steps up fight against hackers -- The Hill
Obama Wants Tech Firms to Alert Feds to Cyber Threats -- PC Mag
White House brushes off tech CEO snubs of cybersecurity summit -- The Hill
Top tech CEOs snub Obama at cybersecurity summit -- Washington Times
What Obama said in his cybersecurity executive order -- San Jose Mercury News

A Look At Iran's Unit 190 Responsible For Secret Arms Shipments

FOX News: Secret Iranian unit fueling Mideast bloodshed with illicit arms shipments

As conflicts and civil wars rage across the Middle East and North Africa, a shadowy covert cell operating under the Iranian government is fueling the bloodshed.

Unit 190, a secret arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force made up of about two-dozen employees, has for years smuggled arms to these conflict zones.

WNU Editor: It would not surprise me if all the countries in this region have operations of this sort (arms shipments) underway right now .... but Iran has been at this game for a long time .... and as the unrest and conflicts throughout the Middle East escalate .... it appears that they are also escalating their involvement.

More News On Iran's Unit 190

Secret Iranian Unit Ships Illegal Weapons Throughout Middle East -- Arutz Sheva
Covert Iranian IRGC unit smuggles weapons across Middle East, Fox News reveals -- NCRI
Report: Covert Iranian Cell Delivers Weapons to Terrorist Groups -- Breitbart