Iran
Blast That Leveled Base Seen as Big Setback to Iran Missiles
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Afghanistan
Five civilians were killed in a Taliban IED attack on a minibus in Uruzgan. Security forces killed and captured several Taliban fighters and commanders in Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul, Ghazni, Logar, and Balkh.
Iraq
Twenty-two Iraqis were killed in a car bomb attack that targeted Shia pilgrims in Hillah. Most of those killed were women and children; more than 60 civilians were wounded.
Syria
At least a dozen Syrian secret police have defected from an intelligence compound. The main opposition leader said that a post-Assad regime would would drop special ties to Iran. The Arab League won’t lift sanctions against Syria even after the country accepted its proposal on observers.
Palestinian Territories
Hamas is abandoning its headquarters in Syria and looking at other Arab states for a replacement. In response, Iran threatened to cut Hamas’ funds and arms supply.
Somalia
Prime Minister Ali said the Somali government is ready to negotiate with Shabaab. Four people were killed as Kenyan troops clashed with Shabaab fighters in Qoogani. A security guard was killed after “gunmen” attack a Turkish hospital in Mogadishu.
Kenya
A policeman was killed and three more were wounded in an IED attack on their vehicle at the Daadab refugee camp. Shabaab is known to operate at the camp.
DC court: Iran showed al Qaeda how to bomb embassies
On Nov. 28, a DC district court ruled that Iran and Sudan were culpable for al Qaeda’s 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. The attacks killed more than 200 people and were al Qaeda’s most successful operations prior to 9/11.
Haqqani Network
Pakistan – ISI always keeps its hand in politics: Ijaz
Afghanistan
Taliban could return, Karzai warns Bonn conference
Egypt
Egypt Runoff Exposes Tensions Between Islamists
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s allies pledge to stay for long haul
Afghanistan
Hamid Karzai ‘to hold on to power in Afghanistan after 2014’
Sweden
New eyewitness reports say that minutes after suicide bomber Taimour Abdulwahab blew himself up in downtown Stockholm on Dec. 11, 2010, an unidentified man took photographs of the body, then disappeared. The pictures have not been published.
Iraq
Amid Threats, US Tightens Security in Baghdad
Afghanistan
Top British commander says west must see the job through in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Security forces killed and captured several Taliban fighters and commanders in Kandahar, Helmand, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kapisa. India pledged to train more than 30,000 Afghan troops. Australia said it may withdraw its troops prior to 2014.
Pakistan
US ready for eviction of drones in Pakistan
Iran
The Iranian military claimed it shot down a US stealth RQ-170 drone in eastern Iran. ISAF said one of its UAVs crashed in western Afghanistan and said there was no indication it was shot down.
Iraq
Insurgents killed four policemen in Abu Ghraib. Two insurgents were killed in a premature detonation. Iraq is seeking help from Gulf countries to secure its airspace.
Afghanistan
Karzai Accuses Pakistan of Hindering Talks with Taliban
Afghanistan
Preparing for Withdrawal: German Military Fears Civil War in Afghanistan
Egypt
IDF fears terrorists ready for next Sinai border attack
Afghanistan
Obama to Pakistan’s president: NATO bombing not deliberate attack, US committed to full probe
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s women languishing in prisons 10 years after fall of Taliban
Egypt
Factbox: Policies of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood’s party
Egypt
Islamist success is democracy at work: Egypt’s Moussa
Afghanistan
US-Iran row overshadows Afghan conference
Somalia
Shabaab shut down medical clinics in Afgoye. Somalia was listed along with North Korea as the most corrupt nations on the planet.
Nigeria
Boko Haram killed six policemen in an attack on police stations and a bank in Azare in Bauchi state. The father of Boko Haram spokesman Usman Al-Zawahiri said his son is insane.