Xinhua world news summary at 0830 GMT, April 9

DAMASCUS -- A total of 14 people, including troops of Iranian forces allied to the government, were killed in a missile strike that targeted an airbase in central Syria before daybreak Monday, a monitor group reported.

The Syrian state TV had earlier reported that the T-4 airbase in the Syrian central province of Homs was hit by a missile attack. (Syria-Missile Attack)

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BAGHDAD -- At least two security forces members were killed and seven others were injured Monday in a clash with four suicide bombers from the extremist Islamic State (IS) group in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, a local security source said. (Iraq-Suicide Attack)

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SEOUL -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) planned to hold more working-level talks this week to prepare for the upcoming inter-Korean summit later this month, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday.

Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told a routine press briefing that working-level dialogue to prepare for the inter-Korean summit is scheduled once or twice this week. (SKorea-DPRK-Working-level Talks)

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SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan -- Rift has emerged in the ranks of Islamic State (IS) over choosing a new leader to replace Qari Hekmat who was killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province, deputy to provincial police chief Abdul Hafiz Khashi said Monday.

"Since killing Qari Hekmat the IS leader in northern region on Friday, insurgents loyal to the hardliner group have failed to reach consensus over finding new leader to lead the militants," Khashi told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-IS)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump's National Security Council spokesperson Michael Anton was planning to leave the administration, the White House said on Sunday.

The announcement came one day ahead of John Bolton, the former hawkish diplomat, is to take the post as Trump's third national security adviser on Monday. (US-Michael Anton) Enditem