Monthly Archives: January 2009

Afghanistan

The presidential election has been postponed until Aug. 20 to allow the US “surge” forces to provide for additional security. Coalition forces killed four Taliban fighters in Zabul province. Ten Afghan workers were abducted in Herat province while two aid workers were freed.


Al Qaeda

EU anti-terrorism chief: EU, US need time on Guantanamo


Iraq

Three candidates slain ahead of Iraq polls


Iraq

Briefing: Iraq’s provincial elections


Kuwait

Security forces detained a Saudi suspected of recruiting more than 20 Arabs to fight against Coalition forces in Afghanistan. The Saudi served as a noncommissioned officer in the Kuwaiti Army. One of his sons is in al Qaeda and another was killed fighting US troops in Afghansitan.


Somalia

Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca took control of the town of Dhusamareb after a battle with Shabaab. The deputy governor of Bay province said he is gathering forces to dislodge Shabaab from Baidoa, where sharia law has been declared. A battalion of Nigerian troops is prepared to deploy to Mogadishu.


Iraq

Three candidates for election in Iraq were killed in separate incidents. Iraqi security forces detained 22 insurgents in Baghdad. Police foiled a plot to bomb an oil well in Basrah; four suspects were detained. Eight Iraqi soldiers were wounded in an IED attack in Baqubah. Al Qaeda fighters bombed three homes in Kanaan.


Iraq

Sadrists back two independent parties


Iraq

Iraqis vote in al Qaeda’s last stronghold


Iran

US Navy searches cargo vessel for Iranian weapons


Iraq

Iraqi courts to decide fate of America’s detainees


Afghanistan

Battling Aghan drug dealers: NATO high commander issues illegitimate order to kill



Algeria

AQIM denies alleged germ warfare experiment gone wrong


Al Qaeda

Uzbek group linked to video terror threat against Germany



Pakistan

The Army said it would restore order in Swat. Eleven civilians and 10 Taliban were killed in fighting in Swat; eight more civilians were killed, then dumped in Mingora. Two policemen were wounded in an attack in Bannu.


Al Qaeda

Al Qaeda in Iraq released a 30-minute videotape calling for Muslims to become snipers and avenge the deaths in Gaza. “If you feel that your heart is being squeezed and you are sorry about what is happening to Muslims, become a sniper. … Then approach God’s enemy and his closest prophet and put a bullet […]


Syria

French envoy: Assad stopped Hezbollah action over Gaza war


The Jihadi Brothers

A DC court ruled that Ghaleb Nassar al Bihani, a detainee at Guantanamo, is being lawfully detained as an enemy combatant. Al Bihani is one of several brothers who have served al Qaeda in some capacity.


Israel

Report: Massive Hezbollah attack against Israeli target in Europe thwarted


Iran

President Ahmadinejad said the US must remove its forces from the Middle East and apologize for “the crimes they have committed against the Iranian nation.” Egypt’s foreign minister said Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas are conspiring to spark a regional conflict. A US congressman said “there’s no way and no chance to stop the Iranian nuclear […]


Somalia

Shabaab fighters chopped off the hand of a thief in Kismayo. Ethiopian forces have halted traffic along the Somali-Ethiopian border. Somaliland rejected the Djibouti peace process and reiterated its independence.


Pakistan

Pakistan claims Mumbai attack planned outside: Report



Afghanistan

The US military paid the families of 15 people killed during a raid in Kapisa province last weekend. The family of the targeted Taliban commander and other fighters were among those killed. ISAF estimated it killed around 100 civilians in 2008, while the Taliban killed 973 civilians. Coalition forces detained a Taliban commander in Zabul […]


Iraq

Early voting for the provincial elections has begun. Kurdistan leader Massoud Barazani rejected the formation of Awakening councils in the North. Four al Qaeda fighters were captured in Mosul. Two policemen were wounded in an attack on a polling station in Touz Khormato.


Afghanistan

FOXNews.com – US pays $40,000 to relatives of 15 Afghans killed in raid



Israel

Top reserve officer: Israel passed up ‘historic opportunity’ to wipe out Hamas