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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…
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Lebanon
Beirut on edge as rumors of a planned Hezbollah-backed coup against PM Siniora sweeps the city and Hezbollah rallies thousands in front of the PM’s office demanding his resignation. Downtown businesses brace for extended closures as the rallies develop into a prolonged sit-in.
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Palestinian Territories
A Qassam rocket was fired into Israel despite the truce. A Palestinian was killed after throwing a Molotov cocktail at a Hebron checkpoint. Palestinians are still smuggling weapons across the Gaza border.
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Iraq
Leaks indicate the Iraq Survey Group will recommend pulling back troops soon. PM Maliki is receiving criticism from Sunnis in the government for failing to resolve the violence. The remainder of the Stryker Brigade in Mosul is moving to Baghdad.
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Hunting the Takfiris in Iraq
Ansar al-Sunnah leaders captured, raid on al Qaeda in Iraq cell Ansar al-Sunnah. DUBAI, UAE: Task Force 145, the Coalition hunter-killer teams that focus on al Qaeda in Iraq, have been busy over the past week. Multinational Forces Iraq reports Ansar al-Sunnah leadership has taken a hit in central, western and northern Iraq, while a raid nabbed 8 al Qaeda. During raids in mid-November, Coaliton forces “captured the terrorist emirs [of Ansar al Sunnah in] Ramadi, Baqubah Tikrit, al Qa’im, Bayji and Baghdad. They also captured two terrorist facilitators, a courier, an explosives expert and a financier.” The capture and…
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Thailand
Woman killed in violence in southern Thailand
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Pakistan
Despite assurances by Islamabad that the recent accords with Taliban forces in NWFP do not empower militants, a two-day ban on newspapers by the Taliban in North Waziristan proves successful and demonstrates the Taliban’s domination. BBC apologizes for sparking the controversy by posting an old story that led to rioting, abduction of a local journalist and the ban.
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Al Qaeda
Somalia: Suicide car bomb kills seven people near Govt. base
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Al Qaeda
9 Pakistanis named for 7/11 terror
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Thailand
Thai Militants Claim Border As Religious Conflict Zone
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Bangladesh
Thousands of Awami League opposition supporters surround presidential palace in Dhaka as allegations grow that the pro-Islamist government is preparing to rig upcoming January 21 elections.
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Philippines
JI fugitive Dulmatin’s wife and two sons have been deported back to Java, Indonesia, as the manhunt continues. Peace negotiations between Manila and MILF, which is suspected to coordinate operations with JI in Mindanao, appears to be back on track.
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Somalia
Islamists blow up Ethiopian truck in Somalia-residents
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Pakistan
After Waziristan, it’s now the Talibanization of Bajaur in Pak
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Iraq
Iran and Syria aren’t our friends in Iraq
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Somalia
Baidoa hit by suicide attack as pressure builds for international action against the UIC. Ethiopian parliament authorizes military action. UIC forces appear to be closing in on Baidoa, detonating remote-controlled bomb on Ethiopian lorry 18 km outside of the seat of the TFG. UN moves closer to adopting a draft resolution that will both tighten the 1992 arms embargo on Somalia as well as set the stage for an IGAD peacekeeping mission.
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Somalia
al Qaeda operating in Somalia: US official
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The Taliban Press
Taliban ban newspaper sales in North Waziristan; free press in Western Pakistan is in danger; North Waziristan Taliban Shura to meet on Friday NWFP/FATA. Click map to view. While many in the western press and various governments continue to debate the results of the Waziristan Accord, which turned North Waziristan over to the Taliban and al Qaeda, Pakistani journalists, tribal leaders and local politicians describe the situation in the region as dire. The Daily Times reports the Taliban have shut all newspapers in North Waziristan after the BBC Urdu division republished a month old story on an attack on a…
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Iraq
Key Bush-Maliki summit on Iraq delayed
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Embed Update
This post will remain at the top for several days, please scroll down for updates I’m heading to Iraq within the next week. I was able to secure the embed without going through an outside media organization, as I had to do in the past. I established a non-profit, called Public Multimedia, Inc., incorporated as a media company, and was able to obtain my own credentials. This is a great start to allow me to embed in the future, as well as potentially sponsor others who are interested in embedding. This also should put to rest any claims the military…
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Somalia
The Islamic Courts will invite “foreign fighters” if the UN arms embargo is lifted (note: al Qaeda is already there.) The Ethiopians and the ICU exchanged mortar fire in Puntland. Ethiopian forces have moved south towards Galkayo. A raido reporter was held for three days by the ICU and beaten.
