Elements of the insurgency are believed to be moving outside of Mogadishu after the crackdown in the city, and are targeting areas along the Ethiopian border. The Baidoa and Bakool regions are said to be areas of interest. Ethiopian troops launched mortars and rockets into a Mogadishu suburb after fighting with Shabaab claimed 10 killed and 15 wounded.

A Coalition airstrike killed Mullah Sainy, the Taliban commander who kidnapped an Italian journalist last March; four other Taliban died in the raid. Coalition spokesmen said Sirajuddin Haqqani is misusing his father’s legacy. A suicide bomber killed four near a construction site. While a vast majority of Afghans support the Coalition and ISAF efforts, support for the Taliban has grown in Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

The declassified version of the US National Intelligence Estimate stated Iran halted its military nuclear weapons program in 2003 and will not be able to produce enough enriched uranium for a bomb until 2010 to 2015. Iran still maintains the capacity to switch its program from civilian to military use. Read the full report [PDF.]

A bomb at the Qila Saifullah, which has been frequented by senior Taliban leaders including Mullah Omar, killed six. Maulana Fazlullah said he approves of military checkpoints in Swat; 26 Taliban were detained in the district. Nawaz Sharif, who has been linked to Osama bin Laden, has been banned from running for office. Sharif said Musharraf is following US orders.

Matt Dupee takes a look at the Taliban takeover Musa Qala in Afghanistan one year on. The Taliban still control the Helmand district after the British withdrew in November 2006 and the Taliban overran the district center in February 2007.

Well-Trained Insurgent Force in Swat

Is London Tora Bora?

Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujaheedin nabbed in Kashmir

5,960 Civilians Killed In Mogadishu In ’07

Trouble on a Vital Road in Afghanistan

Musharraf Rival Linked to Bin Laden

Germany Sends PKK Suspects to Turkey, Wants Turkey to Return Al-Qaeda Suspect

Somalia’s Prime Minister announced he has formed his government and said he would negotiate with “the Asmara group” based out of Eritrea to end the insurgency. Four were killed in Mogadishu as security forces are conducting operations in the capital.

Guards of Sunni MP handled explosives: Iraq

ISAF and Afghan security forces killed over 40 Taliban fighters and captured 14 during operations in Kandahar province. Afghan forces conducted operations in Chenartu in Kandahar. The Afghan Army is expected to reach full strength by March 2008. Three Taliban were killed while planting an IED in Paktia.

Taliban In Maximum Effort To Drive Out International Forces

Pakistan must take control in tribal areas: Bhutto

Operation Iron Reaper has begun in the north. The head of the Diyala Salvation Council escaped an assassination attempt. Iraqi soldiers killed eight al Qaeda fighters and wounded four in Diyala. Kirkuk police arrested 12 insurgent suspects in Hawijah; Iraqi soldiers captured another 17. One al Qaeda operative was killed and 16 captured during raids nationwide.

Four Muslims including a village leader were killed by insurgents. One Muslim insurgent was killed and another captured, while one policeman was wounded during a raid in Pattani province.

Six civilians were killed and 15 wounded in mortar exchanges between the Taliban and the army in North Waziristan. Three Taliban were killed and three wounded in fighting in Bajaur. Seven Taliban were captured in Upper Dir after fleeing the fighting in Swat.

Militancy to rise if polls rigged, warns Benazir

The military claims to have restored the writ of the government in most of Swat but several major centers are still under Taliban control. Police and paramilitary units are feared to be infiltrated.

Iraq Sunni Arab leader says under house arrest

Bush handed blueprint to seize Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal

President Abdullah Gul reiterated his country is prepared to strike PKK positions inside of Iraq. The Turkish military said it inflicted “significant losses” after an attack on a PKK base inside Iraq.

Iran said sanctions will not stop it from pursuing its nuclear program. Four were wounded in a bomb blast outside an insurance company in the western province of Kurdistan.

2 killed, 13 injured in Waziristan

US calls for political progress to back up surge

Israeli strike kills 5 militants in Gaza
