Syria’s senior diplomat in London resigned, saying he could no longer represent the Assad regime. In Aleppo, government forces stepped up their attacks, and claimed to have overrun some rebel-held areas; 200,000 refugees have fled the city. Rebels captured a military base.

Eight Shabaab fighters were reportedly killed during fighting with Somali forces in Gedo. Shabaab claimed it assassinated the head of a government militia in Gofgudud.

Police released a photo of Muhamed Libani Hajji, a known Shabaab terrorist from Somalia. Hajji is thought to have entered Uganda to conduct attacks.

A suicide bomber killed a policeman in an attack at a government office in Sokoto. Eight people, including four Boko Haram fighters and two soldiers, were killed in attacks in Kano.

As Syrian War Drags On, Jihad Gains Foothold

US aid projects in Afghanistan ‘may fall into disuse after handover to Kabul’

Iran unmoved by sanctions: Israel’s Netanyahu

Ansar Dine buried an “adulterous” couple up to their necks, then stoned them to death. Spain has urged all of its citizens remaining in Mali to leave the country.

Pakistan to push for intel share at US talks

The Egyptian terror group again claimed credit for last month’s cross-border attack in Israel that killed a construction worker, and said it is “continuing with our pledge of allegiance on the path of jihad.”

The Foreign Office is investigating a report that Britons were among the group of jihadists holding two Western cameramen captive for a week in Syria. The two men said they were freed by members of the Free Syrian Army.

Hezbollah releases film of attack that started 2006 Lebanon war

Egypt unnerved by rising religious fervor

Seven “militants,” including six Uzbek fighters, were killed in a drone strike in North Waziristan. The Taliban killed one person in a bombing outside a movie theater in Manshera, and bombed a girls’ school in Swabi.

Afghan truckers a forgotten front in a war growing deadlier by the day

The Taliban killed a district governor in Wardak and two ISAF soldiers in the west. Security forces killed 17 Taliban fighters and detained 18 more during operations throughout the country.

Taliban want to make Afghans doubtful about their future: MoI

Afghan forces deaths outstrip NATO’s 5-1: Officials

Conflict In Syria Forcing Iraqi Refugees Out

The drastic decline of Pakistani minorities

ISI, CIA chiefs to meet in August: drone attacks will be main agenda

Insurgents killed seven Iraqi policemen in separate attacks in Fallujah and Karma. Security forces detained an al Qaeda in Iraq explosives expert in an area just north of Karbala.

ISAF spurns Pak notifications on border crossings

Afghan Official says Pakistan Supports Insurgents

AL Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is suspected of killing the son of a Yemeni tribal chief with a parcel bomb in Baydah. Yemeni warplanes bombed two AQAP camps in the Al Mahfad area in Abyan. A guard at the Italian embassy was kidnapped in Sana’a. Tribesmen loyal to former President Saleh took control of the Interior Ministry for a brief period.

Syria’s Conflict Intrudes on Antakya, Turkey

Indian PM tries to calm sectarian violence in Assam

Heavy fighting continued in the city of Aleppo. Rebels repelled the first attacks, however the main government assault has yet to begin. Fighting ended in Damascus.

Taking tea with Afghanistan’s most fearsome warlord, General Abdul Rashid Dostum
