
US forces killed four Shabaab terrorists in a strike in southern Somalia. The strike is the second since Feb. 19.

The United States conducted 131 counterterrorism strikes in Yemen, CENTCOM told FDD’s Long War Journal.

US forces conducted a record 120 strikes in Yemen in 2017 and appears to be operating at a similar tempo thus far in 2018.

Afghan forces will be on the offensive in the coming year, but have significant challenges ahead.

The operation occurred approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo, the site of another recent airstrike.

CENTCOM identified the AQAP operatives who were killed as “key Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leaders.” Their responsibilities included “external operations facilitator,” an operative who paves the way for attacks outside of Yemen, an arms facilitator, and a member of its proselytizing council.

In the first strike of 2018, US forces have again halted an imminent car bomb attack intended for Somalia’s capital.

The attack killed eight Shabaab fighters and destroyed one vehicle, according to the AFRICOM press release.

The US military has launched 32 strikes in Somalia since the beginning of 2017, more than doubling last year’s total of 15.

While announcing the strike, US Central Command provided a rare look into the targeting of AQAP’s network. Until now, the US military had provided few details on its efforts during 2017 to defeat the al Qaeda branch.

US Africa Command again struck the Islamic State’s network in the semi autonomous region of Puntland, killing one fighter.

US forces conducted a strike that killed 100 Shabaab fighters northwest of the capital, adding to a record month for the air campaign in Somalia.

Coalition forces killed 15 senior and mid-level Islamic State leaders and commanders, including two external operations planners, in a series of airstrikes that have taken place in eastern Syria and Western Iraq over the past two months.

Although the month of November is only halfway complete, it is already the most active month of the Somalia air campaign against Shabaab and the Islamic State since its inception.

The US has stepped up its air campaign on the Islamic State’s network in Yemen as the group has intensified its attacks on Yemeni security forces in the alternate capital of Aden.

The US military continues to intensify its air campaign in Somalia against Shabaab and its rival, the Islamic State.

The Iraqi government quickly capitalized on its victory against the Islamic State in the adjacent city of Hawija and turned its energy on the secessionist Kurds in Kirkuk. The rapid offensive exposes deep fault lines in the anti-Islamic State coalition and within Kurdish politics.

As the United States enters a new phase of its war in Afghanistan, FDD’s Long War Journal presents a renewed assessment of the Taliban’s strength and disposition, with new interactive features.

AFRICOM has stepped up operations against al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa. The US military has now targeted Shabaab forces five times and killed 10 fighters over the past week.

The Taliban continues to demonstrate that it can conduct concurrent operations across the country, while Afghan forces largely remain on the defensive.

For decades the country has permitted a number of jihadist groups to openly operate under its aegis. A map highlights the more prominent groups openly operating inside Pakistan.
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Our dedicated team combines diverse skills and shared passion to bring innovative solutions to life. Together, we collaborate, create, and strive to exceed expectations every day. Learn more about the people driving our mission forward.
Alex Johnson
Project Manager
Oversees project timelines and ensures seamless collaboration among team members to deliver results on schedule.
Alex Johnson
Project Manager
Oversees project timelines and ensures seamless collaboration among team members to deliver results on schedule.
Alex Johnson
Project Manager
Oversees project timelines and ensures seamless collaboration among team members to deliver results on schedule.