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Pakistan
Cleric leading thousands of protesters promises a Pakistani ‘Tahrir Square’
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Germany
The Foreign Ministry said Germany would provide cargo planes and medical personnel to assist France in the military intervention in Mali, but ruled out deploying troops. Germany remains involved in European Union planning for a military training mission in Mali.
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France
The defense minister said the military intervention in Mali was “developing favorably.” The foreign minister said the intervention would last a “matter of weeks” and that the French had no intention of staying in Mali. France has deployed about 550 troops to Bamako, the capital, and Mopti. The al Qaeda-linked MUJAO threatened retaliation against French interests “everywhere.”
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Shabaab releases photos of French commando captured in failed rescue mission
Shabaab displayed the body and equipment of a French commando who was wounded and captured late last week following a failed hostage rescue in Somalia, and later died. The terror group also said the “fate” of hostage Denis Allex will be announced soon.
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Nigeria
Mohammed Zahinga, a wanted Boko Haram leader behind “most of the suicide attacks and bombings in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos and Potiskum” was arrested near Maiduguri. Zahinga, a.k.a. Mallam Abdullahi and Alhaji Musa, was plotting attacks against civilians and security personnel in the city,
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Syria
Rape ‘being used as widespread weapon of war in Syrian conflict’
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China
Computer malware targets Europe agencies
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United States
President Obama notified Congress that US warplanes “briefly” entered Somali airspace on Jan. 11 to assist the botched French rescue mission in Somalia. The fighter jets were based out of Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.
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Pakistan
The Mujahideen Ansar, an Uzbek group, took credit for the IED attack in North Waziristan that killed 14 Pakistani soldiers. The Taliban killed three more soldiers in an IED attack in Charsadda.
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Afghanistan
Afghan officials claimed ISAF killed seven civilians and four Taliban fighters during airstrikes in Wardak; ISAF denied it launched airstrikes or killed civilians but said it conducted a ground raid with Afghan forces. The Taliban executed a female activist in Wardak.
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Iraq
Insurgents killed three Iraqi soldiers in a hand grenade attack at a checkpoint in Samarra. The finance minister, who has been in a dispute with the prime minister, survived an assassination attempt near Abu Ghraib; two bodyguards were wounded.
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Somalia
The government condemned France’s attempt to free Denis Allex, who is being held by Shabaab. Witnesses in Daaydoog claimed the French troops killed civilians before attempting the rescue, which led Somalis to warn Shabaab of the raid. Shabaab executed two civilians in Jilib.
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Al Qaeda
A Dane tells of his life as a spy inside the al-Qaida network
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Afghanistan
Success in former Taliban stronghold was hard-won; the next challenge is making it last
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Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Analysis: French early strike shakes up Mali intervention plan
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Egypt
Assailants threw Molotov cocktails and fired birdshot at anti-Morsi protesters camped outside the presidential palace, injuring 15. An appeals court ordered the retrial of former President Mubarak. Mubarak had received a life sentence for the deaths of protesters in 2011.
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Syria
Rebel and government forces fought over the strategically important neighborhood of Dariya in Damascus. Heavy fighting continued across northern Syria. Qatar called for an Arab force to intervene in Syria if UN envoy Brahimi’s mission failed.
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Denmark
Denmark – New controls over PET announced in wake of media Storm
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Uzbek terror group kills 14 Pakistani soldiers in North Waziristan
The Mujahideen Ansar took credit for the IED attack in Razmak. The attack took place just one day after Hakeemullah Mehsud called for jihadists in North Waziristan to stop attacking the Pakistani military and focus efforts on NATO forces in Afghanistan.
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Afghanistan
Taliban out to defame local police: Azizi
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Afghanistan
US Confident of Troop Immunity in Afghanistan: Ambassador
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Central African Republic
Cease-fire Brokered in Central African Republic
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France
Britain ‘could help train Malian army’, says minister
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Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s king appoints women to Shura Council
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Mali
French military airstrikes against Islamist forces continued for the third straight day. France is finding the Islamists surprisingly “well-trained, well-equipped, and well-armed.” A key Ansar Dine commander was killed in Konna. Troops from Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, Togo, and Benin are expected to arrive soon in Bamako to assist the Malian military.
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Afghanistan
Judge okays group prayers for Muslim inmates in Indiana
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France
Analysis: Mali – one African war France could not avoid
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France
Security was heightened in France after the French military began helping to repel the Islamist advance in Mali. The Islamist militants warned that France would pay a price for its intervention in Mali. President Hollande said France would not give in to “terrorist blackmail.” The Foreign Ministry stepped up security in Mauritania, Niger, and the Malian capital of Bamako; eight French nationals are being held hostage by Islamists in the Sahel.
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United Kingdom
Britiain is sending two RAF C-17s to provide logistical support for the Malian Army in its attempt to stem the advance of Islamist fighters. No British soldiers will be deploying in a combat role to Mali. Prime Minister Cameron offered to support the French military effort in Mali after a French pilot was killed there.
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Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Spiralling violence: Quetta residents plead for army control
