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Ugandans start withdrawal from Somalia, US leaves key base
After nearly 20 years in Somalia, Uganda has begun withdrawing its troops from the African Union mission, while US forces have also departed the strategic Baledogle Military Airfield in southern Somalia. The departures could create opportunities for Al Qaeda’s Shabaab to expand its influence amid ongoing political instability in Mogadishu.
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IDF finds weapons stockpiles, Hezbollah military site near UN posts in south Lebanon
Israeli forces found weapons stockpiles and a Hezbollah military-use apartment within 100 to 250 meters of United Nations positions in southern Lebanon, adding to a years-long record of Hezbollah military infrastructure near UNIFIL sites.
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Northern Iraq struggles with Kurdish political divisions and security
Northern Iraq faces mounting security and political challenges as Iranian drone attacks continue to target Kurdish Iranian opposition groups, Iraqi forces conduct operations against the Islamic State, and political disputes threaten stability in Sinjar. These developments come amid growing tensions between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, complicating efforts to strengthen…
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Arab parties endorse Eisenkot for Israeli PM, IDF reports 52 ceasefire violations Oct. 16–Nov. 5
Record turnout among Arab voters in Israel’s October 27 parliamentary election nearly doubled the representation of Arab-led parties, potentially making them kingmakers in forming the next government. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces reported 52 ceasefire violations by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups between October 16 and November 5, as Israeli forces continued conducting strikes…
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Syria detains Hezbollah cell accused of Homs plot
On November 3, Syrian security forces arrested members of an alleged Hezbollah-linked cell accused of plotting an attack on a refinery near Homs, the latest in a series of operations targeting Hezbollah networks and arms smuggling since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The arrests come amid expanding Syrian-Lebanese talks on border…
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Lebanese military prosecutor charges 13 over Hezbollah explosives shipment
Lebanon’s military prosecutor charged 13 people over a shipment of explosives seized at Dahr al Baidar. Reporting on the prosecution identifies the alleged supplier, intended recipient, vehicle owner, and members of an accompanying transport team. The charges came as Lebanon’s government continued debating whether to transfer the case to the Judicial Council.
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Afghan United Front leads October surge in claimed anti-Taliban attacks
Anti-Taliban resistance groups claimed 82 attacks in October, more than double September’s total, with the Afghan United Front leading the surge. Yet the emergence of new factions and the loss of another NRF commander underscore the challenges facing a resistance that remains divided.
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Syria’s counterterrorism dilemma: Who can Washington trust?
A deadly attack on a Christian funeral in Jordan and subsequent Jordanian airstrikes in Syria have sparked a diplomatic dispute between Amman and Damascus. Bill Roggio is joined by FDD Senior Research Analyst Ahmad Sharawi to discuss the Islamic State’s possible involvement, the deteriorating security situation in southern Syria, and the implications for US counterterrorism…
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Syria hosts Iraqi PM for visit amid security challenges in north and south
Syrian President Ahmad al Sharaa hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi in Damascus on October 28 for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade, and reviving energy cooperation. The historic visit came as Syria faces continuing security challenges, including a deadly Jordanian airstrike in the south, clashes with foreign jihadists in Idlib, and…
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Florida teenager arrested in an Islamic State-linked bomb plot
A 15-year-old student in Gainesville, Florida, allegedly sought guidance from Islamic State members and supporters on building drones and explosives to attack people at an unidentified indoor location.
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One war, many fronts: Iran and its proxies
The war with Iran is far from over, and the fight extends well beyond the Strait of Hormuz. Bill Roggio is joined by FDD Senior Fellow and former British Ambassador to Yemen Edmund Fitton-Brown to assess the status of the US-Iran conflict, Tehran’s efforts to break the American naval blockade, and the growing role of…
All Articles
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Washington Post Radio, and Merry Christmas
I’m scheduled to be on Washington Post Radio to discuss the situation in Iraq and my embed. The time is 12:30 Eastern on Christmas Eve, December 24th. You can listen online by going to the Washington Post Radio website. I am back in the States from Iraq, and am happy to be with my family. Best Wishes & Merry Christmas to you & yours!
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Iraq
Sistani backs off of supporting a coalition without Sadr, citing Shia unity as the deciding factor. A deal to get Sadr to return to the government is still being negotiated. The ISF and Sadr’s forces battled in Samawa, leaving 5 dead and 17 wounded. Coalition and the ISF detained 48 terrorists over the past two days.
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Somalia
The ICU claims to have captured Idale and to have killed dozens of Ethiopians. Independent journalists are supporting the claim. Artillery and mortar fire is still being reported near Idale, as ICU leader Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys joins the call for foreign fighters. The ICU is also complaining the Ethiopians are using “excessive force,” indicating it may be taking heavy casualties as well.
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Taliban Commander Mullah Akhtar Usmani Killed in Airstrike
Mullah Akhtar Usmani. Click image to view. Usami was a member of the Taliban Shura Majlis, Omar’s former deputy, former foreign minister, and operational commander in Uruzgan, Nimroz, Kandahar, Farah, Herat and Helmand; Taliban “boxed in” near Kandahar City Coalition forces have killed a senior Taliban military and political leader in southern Afghanistan. Mullah Akhtar Usmani, along with two deputies, were killed in a Coalition airstrike in the restive province of Helmand on December 19th. Usami was killed on the Pakistani border while driving in a vehicle with his deputies. The Taliban have denied Usami was killed.
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Palestinian Territories
Fatah security forces opened fire on “about 200 Hamas activists and armed men” in Nablus. A gunfight broke out near the home of Hamas’ Foreign Minister. Two rockets were fired from Gaza into Sderot and the western Negev. The Quartet is reviewing aide to Palestinians, and will again bypass Hamas. President Bush signed a law that prohibits aide to Hamas, but not Fatah.
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The Battle of Baidoa
The final showdown is taking place in Somalia between the Islamic Courts Union, backed by al Qaeda, and the Transitional Federal Government, backed by Ethiopia Islamic Courts controlled cities and towns marked in red. Click map to view. For months, the al Qaeda backed Islamic Courts Union has been preparing the battlefield for the final push on Baidoa, the seat of power of the internationally recognized Transitional Federal Government. In a well planned operations to militarily isolate the TFG in Baidoa, the ICU has strategically maneuvered its forces around the city, and pushed its militias into surrounding towns and along…
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Iraq
Iraqi Army still has a long road ahead, but troops are taking more responsibility for missions
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Saudi Arabia
Lawyer works to expose Saudi legal system, takes on powerful enforcers of sharia law
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North Korea
Nuclear Talks With N. Korea End in Failure
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United Kingdom
Police hunt for ‘English brothers’ who spent year in al Qaeda camp
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Palestinian Territories
Gunbattle near Hamas-led government’s Foreign Minister
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Sudan
Sudan Accepts U.N. Peace Deal For Darfur
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Iran
U.N. members near vote on Iran nuke sanctions
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Turkmenistan
The death of Turkmenistan’s President Saparmurat Niyazov has led to a leadership vacuum as he has not outlined a path to succession. The speaker of parliament has been arrested “amid accusations of abuse of authority and immoral conduct” in the wake of Niyazov’s death.
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Iraq
[UPDATE 2] al Qaeda’s “Islamic State of Iraq” offers the US a one month truce to withdraw its forces, but demands the US leave its heavy weapons. British troops have captured members of the police responsible for death squad activities in Basra. Iraqi Army Special Forces conducted a raid in Sadr City, and detained 1 and injured 3. The 5th Iraqi Army Division capture 13 suspected members of an “illegal armed group cell” in Muqdadiyah.
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Pakistan
Girls schools are being targeted by Islamists in the NWFP, and some blame the MMA. “The Taliban own the night and part of the day” in Waziristan, said Prime Minister Durrani. Seven Afghans are being held in a Quetta bicycle bombing.
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An Interview with Captain Eric Coulson
Video shot by Captain Coulson of an IED detonation. See This post brought to you by Force Protection & Ultra Machine & Fabrication for a larger view. FALLUJAH, IRAQ: One of the best sources of news on the situation in Iraq is from the officers and enlisted serving in the theater who maintain military blogs. While at Camp Fallujah, I met up with one such Milblogger. Captain Eric Coulson is the commanding officer of Alpha Company, Task Force 321 Engineers (Task Force Pathfinder), and the author of Badgers Forward, one of the finest Milblogs out there. Captain Coulson’s battalion replaced…
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Somalia
Afghanistan Again: Somalia Falling to Al Qaeda
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Somalia
Fighting continued around Baidoa in Idale, Dinsor and Daynunay Friday. Local reports indicate an Ethiopian convoy is on its way to Baidoa, which appears to be nearing its final stand.
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India
Indian authorities on alert for suspected al Qaeda assassination plot that targets Congress President Sonia Gandhi, whose security has been tightened. Indian press reports indicate the cell is led by a Pakistani named Sajjad (alias Ashique), operations chief of United Jehad Council, which Indian intel sources claim was set up by al Qaeda and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency, and includes Kashmiris and Lashkar operatives.
