Free Syrian Army
Syria – The Revolution Betrayed
Monthly Archives: December 2013
Syria
At least 19 rebels have been killed in three days of fighting with regime troops for control of the Deir Izzour military airbase. Foreign Minister Muallem said yesterday that Syria wants Iran to attend the Geneva II talks. The UN asked the regime and rebels to allow aid into the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus. […]
Caucasus Emirate
In Wake Of Repeated Bombings, A Question: Why Volgograd?
Russia
A suicide bomber detonated on a crowded trolley in Volgograd, killing at least 14 people, the second such attack in two days in the city. Yesterday a Caucasus Emirate-linked “Black Widow” suicide bomber from Dagestan detonated inside the Volgograd central train station, killing at least 17 people. Islam Atiev, a Caucasus Emirate member, was killed […]
Yemen
“Gunmen” thought to be from the Southern Separatist Movement killed 10 soldiers and overran a military outpost in Lahj. Officials are reportedly questioning senior generals over possible involvement in al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s suicide assault on the Ministry of Defense in Sana’a in early December.
Egypt
A high-level security official said 70 policemen have been killed in North Sinai since June 30. The army spokesman announced the seizure of a weapons cache in North Sinai. A court banned protests at universities without a permit, while 139 pro-Morsi protesters received two-year prison sentences. Authorities arrested three reporters affiliated with al Jazeera.
Israel
The next batch of Palestinian prisoners was released by Israel. Defense Minister Ya’alon said Sunni jihadists may have been responsible for recent rocket fire from Lebanon into northern Israel. A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel.
Israel
Wary of rockets, IDF beefs up security on Golan Heights
Islamic Front
Obama’s Failed Outreach to Syria’s Islamic Front
Hamas
Will Iran, Hamas resume relations?
South Sudan
A 20,000-strong militia loyal to former vice president Riek Machar has been persuaded to retreat from Bor. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni visited South Sudan in an attempt to find a political solution to the unrest.
Somalia
Mogadishu’s mayor has criticized the clan-based ‘4.5 system‘ that favors the four major tribes of Somalia, and he said that some elements within the security forces are “worse than Shabaab.” The Somali military will soon undertake more operations in and around the town of Beledweyne. Djibouti will contribute an additional battalion of troops to AMISOM. […]
Kenya
Four police officers escaped unhurt after their car set off a landmine in Dadaab refugee camp near the border with Somalia. Regional leaders are in Nairobi to discuss the crisis in South Sudan.
Nigeria
The military killed 56 Boko Haram fighters in Alafa forest in Borno state, during a raid aimed at ensuring a peaceful holiday period. Two government soldiers were also wounded in the battle, while Boko Haram militants were seen fleeing toward Chad and Niger. In a major reshuffle, the army chiefs of logistics and armored corps, […]
Shabaab experiences setbacks in Bay region
Somali and Ethiopian troops have successfully captured key areas near the town of Bardale in Bay region.
Ansar al Sharia Tunisia denies emir was captured by US forces in Libya
Press reports from North Africa indicated that Seifallah ben Hassine (a.k.a. Abu Iyad al Tunisi) was captured by US and Libyan forces, but the Tunisian terror group and the US have denied the rumors.
Suicide bomber strikes again in southern Russia
A trolley was demolished in a blast that is thought to have been carried out by a male suicide bomber. The attack is the second suicide bombing in Volgograd in two days.
Mali
The UN said French and Chadian troops have destroyed almost six tonnes of explosives and weapons that they found recently in two caches located about 95 miles southwest of Tessalit. In September nearly a tonne of explosives was found near Anefis.
Libya
Media reports claimed that Ansar al Sharia Tunisia leader Saifallah Benhassine, a.k.a. Abu Iyadh, was captured today in Misrata along with several other people. The terrorist group and the US military both dismissed the reports. In Benghazi, gunmen fired on a passport official, and a Free Libya Martyrs Battalion commander lost his hand when a […]
Tunisia
Both Ansar al Sharia Tunisia and the US Embassy in Tunisia denied reports that Seifallah Hassine, the leader of Ansar al Sharia Tunisia, was captured by US forces in Libya. Police arrested seven Salafists in Kasserine yesterday who distributed leaflets banning New Year’s celebrations and threatening bakeries.
Syria
Syria Has Yet to Move Arms as Deadline Draws Near
China
Police in the restive Xinjiang region fatally shot eight people during an alleged terrorist attack near the southern city of Kashgar. Police recently shot and killed 16 members of an extended Uighur family, including six women, in Saybagh near Kashgar; two policemen also were killed in the clash.
Iran
State TV quoted Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi as claiming that Iran has decided to not put 1,000 second generation centrifuges into operation at one of its nuclear fuel enrichment sites. Salehi also said Iran currently has 19,000 operating centrifuges, and is now developing third and fourth generation-type centrifuges, and that Tehran is in […]
Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham killed 18 people in a series of bombings and attacks. In Mosul, a suicide bomber killed eight soldiers, including a brigadier general. Four more soldiers were killed in Garma and four Awakening fighters were killed in Baghdad.
Syria
An opposition activist group claimed that regime airstrikes and barrel bombs in and around Aleppo over the past two weeks have killed 471 civilians, 34 rebel fighters, and 12 Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham fighters. The UN has completed 24 humanitarian flights to Qamishli via Iraq in an airlift that began Dec. 15, […]
Yemen
A court sentenced nine al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters to jail terms ranging between two to 10 years in prison. The AQAP fighters were convicted of plotting to assassinate President Hadi by detonating an IED as he traveled to his presidential palace.
Algeria
Threats Push Tunisia, Algeria to Strengthen Ties
The New York Times whitewashes Benghazi
Left out of the Times‘ account of the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the US mission in Benghazi are the many leads tying the attackers to al Qaeda’s international network.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan gains will be lost quickly after drawdown, US intelligence estimate warns
Al Qaeda
Congress, in bipartisan tone, disputes report Al Qaeda not involved in deadly Benghazi attack