Ethiopian troops have begun to withdraw, and the TFG says the first AU peacekeepers will arrive by Friday. The US would like to talk to ICU leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. A US Air Force AC-130 gunship has launched a second air strike against suspected al Qaeda operatives in southern Somalia.
Three people were killed and 133 wounded in factional fighting yesterday, until the strike was called off last night. PM Siniora announced he would remain in office, and businesses struggle to recover. Siniora also blamed Iran and Syria for the strike. He said of Hezbollah, “The decisions made by the opposition in Lebanon are decisions […]
Iran is supporting the insurgency in Afghanistan. A senior cleric and a politician openly criticize President Ahmadinejad’s policy of confrontation with the US. 38 IAEA nuclear inspectors are barred from entering the country.
Around 40 masked gunmen claiming to be members of al-Qaida stormed an empty beach resort and blew up a reception hall on Tuesday. They said they were sending a message to Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan, a close ally of President Abbas. An explosion ripped through the office of Arabiya satellite station in Gaza Strip last […]
Ayman Al Zawahri released a video to “mock Bush’s plan.” The video appears timed to coincide with the State of the Union address. He reminds the American people of past offers of security by reaching an “understanding” with Muslims, and warns that if they continue to follow the policies of Bush and his administration, then […]
London’s Counter Terrorism Command and local police officers arrested five men in northern England under security laws in two separate operations on Tuesday. They are suspected of assisting terrorists with logistical work and “terrorist support and facilitation.” Home Secretary John Reid has suggested the Home Office be split, with a security department focused on anti-terrorism […]
A Hezbollah-led strike against the government began, paralyzing Lebanon. In December, Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies similarly gathered hundreds of thousands to force a change in government. Arutz Sheva reports that one government supporter is dead and nine more are wounded this morning.
[Update 2] Iraqi and Coalition forces have conducted an even amount of raids against Sunni insurgents and Sadr’s Mahdi Army. Sixteen high level Mahdi commanders have been captured and 1 killed. Five are Sadr City commanders. Over 600 Mahdi fighters are in custody awaiting trial. Thirty Three Sunni extremist cell leaders have been captured as […]
Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, the former leader of the ICU, has surrendered to the Kenyan government. Ethiopian troops captured two Islamic Courts backers in a targeted raid. The commander of Ethiopian forces in central Somalia survived an ambush.
At least 78 Iraqis were killed and 156 wounded during a coordinated double suicide attack in a Shia section of Baghdad. al Qaeda claims to have shot down the US Blackhawk helicopter in Diyala over the weekend. A Sunni-Shai meeting condemned the sectarian war in central Baghdad.
The Pakistani military claims NATO forces bombed a Pakistani Army unit in North Waziristan, killing 1 and wounding two. NATO claimed it attacked Taliban firing rockets from within the border in Paktika. A suicide bomber detonated amid a crowd of workers outside Camp Salerno in eastern Afghanistan, killing 10 and wounding at least 14 others. […]
Three Pakistani soldiers were killed and 9 wounded in a suicide bombing in North Waziristan. NWFP Governor Aurakzai presses to keep the Waziristan accord alive. So does Taliban supporter and MMA leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Baitullah Meshud, who openly operates from South Waziristan, warns the Taliban will give a “tougher fight this year than last […]
The ten day Shi’ite rite of Ashura begins, commemorating the death of Husain in Kerbala. 19 American troops were killed in Iraq, including 12 dead in a helicopter crash and 5 in Kerbala. Moqtada al-Sadr called an end to his party’s two-month boycott of parliament, smoothing over a rift with its Shi’ite allies. One terrorist […]
President Ahmadinejad said that U.N. Security Council resolutions against Tehran would not affect Iran’s nuclear policies even if 10 more of them were passed. Iran began a three-day testing of its missiles. Ahmadinejad may be losing political power in Iran. Democrats say Bush cannot launch an attack against Iran without first seeking approval from lawmakers.
The pro-government Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), led by the former LTTE commander Karuna, ambushed a group of fifty LTTE men fleeing the coastal town of Vaharai and killed 13 of them in Kirimichchai. The Sri Lankan navy also reported destroying two Tamil Tiger naval boats. The ceasefire is effectively ended.
Muqtada al-Sadr’s spokesman Abdul Hadi al-Daraji and an al Qaeda in Iraq leader have been captured by Coalition forces. 15 members of al Qaeda’s Omar Brigade have been killed by US-supported elite Iraqi police forces.
Times of London correspond Zahid Hussein chronicles the failure of the 2004 Pakistani military campaign in Waziristan and claims that there are 15 terrorist training camps around Wana and Shakai. Intelligence agencies believe al Qaeda’s revitalization is due in part to its safe haven in northern Pakistan.
4 Sri Lankan government troops were killed as control of Vakarai, the eastern stronghold of the LTTE, was seized. Several thousand civilians are fleeing the renewed violence. The Sri Lanka government says it is working to share power with Tamils.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah is in Damascus to hold talks with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal. He is expected to call for early elections if a unity government is not formed. President Bashar Assad says Syria ready to “stand alongside” Iraq after diplomatic visit from President Talabani. Potential US discussions with Syria are heavily […]
The African Union approved a plan to send nine battalions of African peacekeeping troops to Somalia. Gunmen in Mogadishu attacked a convoy of Ethiopian troops. The president’s palace was unsuccessfully assaulted.
Thai intelligence agencies claim al Qaeda linked Jemaah Islamiah is involved with the Bangkok New Year’s Eve bombings. The Thai government still claims the attacks are “related to people who lost political benefits,” implying ousted PM Thaksin and his party are responsible.
A bomb exploded in a crowded bus station in the state of Assam, killing two people and wounding 10, police said. The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is suspected.
A prominent follower of Muqtada Al-Sadr, a high-level, illegal armed group leader according CENT-COM, was arrested. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visits Iraq. Iraqi police and soldiers are targetted in violence in Anbar province. In Samarra, Iraqi Police Forces captured the suspected leader of several Al Qaeda in Iraq terror cells.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet Hamas political chief Khalid Mesha’al in Damascus tomorrow to work on an agreement. Israel will free $100 million in frozen tax funds for Abbas. Hamas doubles the number of prisoners it wants released in exchange for Gilad Shalit.
Over 400 fighters from the Mahdi Army have been arrested. PM Nuri al-Maliki says Iraq would need far fewer U.S. troops if the United States gave Iraqi security forces sufficient weapons. Over 20 were killed in violence in Baghdad. “The Council,” a terrorist group, is defeated.
One of the five IRGC members arrested by US forces in Irbil, Iraq is wanted by Austria for killing 3 Kurds in Vienna in 1989. Ali Larijani, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator and head of security council, is traveling to Syria for talks. Russia sold Iran modern, short-range TOR-M1 anti-aircraft systems, and plans on selling more […]
Captured Taliban spokesman Muhammad Hanif said Mullah Omar is living in Quetta. “He is protected by the ISI.” Pakistani authorities are hunting Abu Nasser, “who holds a senior position in Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network.” He was thought to have been injured in the Zamazola strike.
NATO forces captured the Taliban commander of Panjwai district, Kandahar in Helmand province. An Afghan security guard and an interpreter stopped a suicide bomber outside of a US base in Kabul. US SecDef Gates considers sending more US troops to Afghanistan after meeting with President Karzai.
The Philippines has confirmed Abu Sulaiman, one of the top five leaders of Abu Sayyaf with a U.S. bounty of $5 million, has been killed in fighting on Jolo island. Abu Sulaiman, believed to be the mastermind behind the 2004 ferry bombing, and Bonia Ysmael were also killed by Philippine forces. The Philippine military denies […]
Russian security forces are on heightened alert at rail stations and airports after warnings of terrorist attacks. 546 Chechen fighters have accepted amnesty since August 1, 2006, and 8 more surrendered despite the deadline expiring on January 15.