United Kingdom
(UK/Iran) Boarding of Persian Gulf ships will resume
Monthly Archives: April 2007
Palestinian Territories
The Israeli government has decided against conducting a large scale operation to dismantle Hamas and its rocket launchers in the Gaza strip. Egypt threatened to cut off ties with Hamas unless it stops firing rockets into southern Israel.
Iraq
US Allies Use Harsh Tactics in Falluja
Afghanistan
India to train Afghan Army
Yemen
Yemen Bans Shops from Trading Arms and Explosives
Iraq
On Iraq: A Rose-Colored Exit Strategy
Al Qaeda
[UPDATE2] Taliban military commander Mullah Dadullah told Al Jazeera that Osama bin Laden is alive, and currently planning military operations “in both Iraq and Afghanistan.” Dadullah said bin Laden personally planned “the martyr operation inside the Bagram base which targeted a senior US official [Vice President Dick Cheney]… that operation was a result of his […]
Al Qaeda
Britain’s Anti-Terror Chief Offers Somber View
Somalia
A suicide bomber killed 11 during an attack on a hotel south of Mogadishu. The Ethiopia Army is deploying tanks in central Mogadishu to fight the Islamic Courts. Rival clans that support the TFG are battling in Kismayo.
Al Qaeda
Poll: Muslims show only partial support for Al Qaeda’s agenda
Iran
Pakistan’s Quiet Fight For Iran’s Favor
Iraq
Iraqi Oil: More Plentiful Than Thought
Hezbollah
The Secrets of a Hizballah Renegade
Hezbollah
Israeli Arab Lawmaker allegedly helped Hezbollah
United Kingdom
(UK) Blair rejects calls for anti-terror leaks inquiry
Afghanistan
Taliban attacks in Paktika, Herat and Ghazni killed 19 Afghan soldiers and civilians. Thirteen Taliban were killed by ISAF and Afghan forces during fighting in Farah and Zabul. The Canadian Parliament defeated a bill advocating a pullout of Afghanistan in 2009.
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COIN: The Gravity Well
Al Qaeda
A leaked MI5 intelligence report indicates al Qaeda may be planning a major strike in Britain, possibly coincide with the step down of Prime Minister Blair. The report also indicates al Qaeda is operating from Iran. Over 150 Britons are believed to have traveled to Iraq to fight just last year.
Pakistan
The Pakistani government is close to capitulating to the demands of the Lal Masjid clerics for sharia law and the rebuilding of illegal mosques. Pamphlets were distributed in Bajaur calling for the release of jailed Taliban, or “extreme steps against the government and the political administration” would be taken.
The Lal Masjid showdown
Batan-wielding, burka-clad, sharia-enforcing women of the Lal Masjid. Click to view. Countdown to sharia: Pakistan on the precipice of caving to al Qaeda’s allies of the Lal Masjid The demands of the Taliban and al Qaeda friendly Lal Masjid clerics Maulana Abdul Aziz and Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi for the nationwide application of sharia, the […]
United Kingdom
London police arrested six terror suspects during raids in London and Luton. Among those arrested was Abu Izzadeen (aka Omar Brooks), who heckled Home Secretary John Reid. Izzadeen has been “linked to radical Islamic group al-Ghurabaa, an offshoot of al-Muhajiroun,” which was founded by Omar Bakri Mohammed.
Ethiopia
The Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) claimed responsibility for the attack on the Chinese owned oil company which resulted in the death of 74 workers, including 9 Chinese nationals. Seven Chinese nationals have been kidnapped.
Iraq
Talking of defeat is no way to win in Iraq
Somalia
The fighting between the Islamic Courts and the Ethiopian an dTFG forces in Mogadishu has entered its sixth day. A suicide car bomber struck a Ethiopian base south of Mogadishu. A car bomb killed 8 and wounded 12 south of Mogadishu. Eritrea withdrew from IGAD after a dispute over its involvement in Somalia.
Spinning the Fighting in South Waziristan
NWFP/FATA map. Red agencies/districts are openly controlled by the Taliban; yellow are under threat. Click map to view. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and I published an article titled Spinning the Fighting in South Waziristan – Musharraf’s government continues to promote its dangerous “peace deals” at The Weekly Standard . The article is an overview of the causes […]
Pakistan
Lal Masjid cleric Aziz declared the Musharraf government “un-Islamic” and stated it was every Muslim’s duty to wage jihad against the government. The outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammed will defend the Lal Masjid against any government operation.
Israel
The IDF is limiting the response to Hamas rocket attacks, and said they are designed to capture Israeli soldiers. Jordan’s King Abdullah told Israel that “we are in the same boat, we have the same problem. We have the same enemies.” That enemy is Iran.
Syria
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Syria against arms smuggling into Lebanon. The US has targeted 14 entities with sanctions designed to disrupt arms trading between Syria and Iran. Syria sentenced a human rights activist to 5 years in prison.
Palestinian Territories
Hamas fired 10 rockets into Israel on Israel’s Independence Day, and stated the cease fire is now over. Internecine fighting inside the Palestinian Territories killed one and wounded 7.
Iraq
Iraq: Doesn’t Look Lost To Me