Monthly Archives: March 2012

Egypt

| March 31, 2012

Islamist Group Breaks Pledge to Stay Out of Race in Egypt

Yemen

| March 31, 2012

Seventeen Yemeni soldiers and 13 al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters were killed during fighting in Al Milah. AQAP forces overran a checkpoint and seized two tanks and other weapons before withdrawing to Ja’ar.

Syria

| March 31, 2012

The Arab League’s latest attempt to broker a peace deal failed. Syria said it would not be the first to withdraw its forces, and its army would remain in the cities until “peace and security” prevailed. A Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman said: “The battle to topple the state is over.”

Kenya

| March 31, 2012

One person was killed and more than 10 were wounded in two separate grenade attacks in Mombasa. The attacks took place at a Christian prayer gathering and a stadium.

Thailand

| March 31, 2012

In the deadliest attack in several years, coordinated bombings in the cities of Yala in Yala province and Hat Yai in Songkhla province killed 14 and wounded 341. The car bombs exploded near restaurants, shops, and a crowded hotel. In Pattani province, militants detonated a motorcycle near a police station, wounding one officer. Muslim insurgents […]

Tunisia

| March 31, 2012

Extremists control hundreds of Tunisia’s mosques: religious affairs minister

France

| March 31, 2012

The trial began of a Franco-Algerian nuclear physicist, Adlene Hicheur, suspected of involvement with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; he had discussed European targets, including a French military base, with an AQIM operative. Willy Brigitte, a French Muslim convert sentenced to nine years in jail in 2007 for plotting to attack an Australian nuclear […]

France

| March 30, 2012

Police arrested 19 suspected Islamic extremists during raids in Toulouse, Nantes, and Paris. Among those detained are the leader and several members of the banned group Forsane Alizza. President Sarkozy said more raids would follow.

Pakistan

| March 30, 2012

US drones killed four “militants” in Miramshah in North Waziristan. Twenty-one Taliban fighters and two Pakistani soldiers were killed during clashes in Arakzai.

Afghanistan

| March 30, 2012

An Afghan policeman killed nine officers in Paktika. The US said a former governor is responsible for ordering a suicide attack that killed two soldiers and another attack that targeted diplomats. The Taliban killed two ISAF soldiers in the south. Security forces captured several Taliban commanders and fighters in Kandahar, Helmand, Khost, and Logar.

Azerbaijan

| March 30, 2012

US officials think Israel has been granted access to airbases in Azerbaijan, providing a potential staging area for an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Azerbaijani officials denied they had done so.

Yemen

| March 30, 2012

The US killed five AQAP fighters and a civilian in two drone strikes in Azzan. “Militants” blew up an LNG pipeline north of Balhalf, a major LNG terminal. The US issued a travel warning to American citizens “due to terrorist activities and civil unrest.”

Syria

| March 30, 2012

Fighting continued in Syria despite a UN-sponsored peace deal. Rebels stepped up a campaign to assassinate military officials. Kofi Annan said Assad’s forces must be first to cease fire and withdraw. US Secretary of State Clinton and Saudi King Abdullah met to discuss raising the pressure on the Syrian regime.

Egypt

| March 30, 2012

Egypt military looking to keep its grip at least on economy

Syria

| March 30, 2012

Amid fresh diplomacy, U.S. still wary of direct Syria role

Israel

| March 30, 2012

Israeli security forces fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades to break up Palestinian demonstrations at the annual “Land Day” rallies. One Palestinian died.