Key Syrian Cleric Among 42 Killed in Suicide Bombing

A suicide bomber struck the Iman Mosque, in Damascus, on Thursday.

Sheikh Mohammed al-Buti was one of the forty-two victims of the attack.

Another eighty-four were reportedly injured.

Al-Buti, eighty-four, was one of the remaining major supporters for the Assad regime.

Most notably, he was also a Sunni cleric, and Sunnis have been almost completely involved in fighting against the Shiite regime.

Both rebel and opposition forces denied any part in the attack.

It is unclear if Al-Buti's death will cause a loss of support for the regime, or if they can portray him as a martyr and use his death to gain support.

Tornado Kills 24 in China

A very rare tornado struck Guandong province, China, on Thursday.

At least twenty-four people were killed and over two hundred and seventy-two were injured by the storm.

High winds, heavy rains, and egg sized hail accompanied the twister, in at part of the world that practically never sees them.

Over the last week southwest China has been dealing with winds and severe weather.

More than two hundred thousand people have been forced to evacuate, because of the storms, which have destroyed nearly ten thousand hectares of crops.

UN to Investigate Claims of Chemical Weapons Being Used in Syria

Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the UN, announced that the body will investigate claims of a chemical weapon being used in the Syrian Civil War.

Twenty-six people were killed in a rocket attack, on Tuesday, that Syria's government says used a chemical weapon.

The government and the opposition blamed the attack on each other.

No confirmation has been made by the US or Europe, however Russia did initially back Syria's claims that rebel forces made the attack.

Seventy-five thousand people have been killed in the two year long civil war.

The use of chemical weapons would mark an extremely dark turn in it.

USMC: Lance Corporal David P. Fenn II

USMC Lance Corporal David P. Fenn II, twenty of Polk City, Florida, died on March 19.

He and six other Marines were killed during a training accident at Hawthorne Army Depot, in Nevada.

David joined the Marines in June of 2010.

Fenn was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

USMC: Lance Corporal Mason J. Vanderwork

USMC Lance Corporal Mason J. Vanderwork, twenty-one of Hickory, North Carolina, died on March 19.

He and six other Marines were killed during a training accident at Hawthorne Army Depot, in Nevada.

Mason joined the Marines in June of 2010 and served overseas twice.

Vanderwork was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

USMC: Private First Class Joshua M. Martino

USMC Private First Class Joshua M. Martino, nineteen of Clearfield, Pennsylvana, died on March 19.

He and six other Marines were killed during a training accident at Hawthorne Army Depot, in Nevada.


Joshua had joined the Marines in July of 2012 and was set to marry his fiancee.


Martino was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

USMC: Lance Corporal Joshua C. Taylor

USMC Lance Corporal Joshua C. Taylor, twenty-one of Marietta, Ohio, died on March 19.

He and six other Marines were killed during a training accident at Hawthorne Army Depot, in Nevada.

Joshua joined the Marines in June of 2010.

Taylor was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

USMC: Lance Corporal William T. Wild IV

USMC Lance Corporal William T. Wild IV, twenty-one of Anne Arundel, Maryland, died on March 19.

He and six other Marines were killed during a training accident at Hawthorne Army Depot, in Nevada.

William had joined the Marines in October of 2010 and had been deployed once to Kuwait and twice to Afghanistan.

Wild was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

USMC: Lance Corporal Roger W. Muchnick Jr.

USMC Lance Corporal Roger W. Muchnick Jr., twenty-three of Fairfield, Connecticut, died on March 19.

He and six other Marines were killed during a training accident at Hawthorne Army Depot, in Nevada.

Roger joined the Marines in June of 2010, he had served two tours in Afghanistan, and was considering going to college.

Muchnick was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

USMC: Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda

USMC Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda, twenty-six of Madison, Illinois died on March 19.

He and six other Marines were killed during a training accident at Hawthorne Army Depot, in Nevada.

Aaron had joined the Marines in September of 2008, and had been scheduled to leave the service in May, so that he could become a chef.

Ripperda was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expedition Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.