Boko Haram
Alarm bells over Nigeria Islamist group: US Congress
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Egypt
Ultraconservative Islamists make gains in Egypt
Iraq
Insurgents killed eight Iraqis in attacks in Taji and Sharqat. The government executed six terrorists. The US has transferred control of the Victory base complex to the Iraqi military.
Somalia
Kenyan warplanes attacked Shabaab bases in Bardhere; no casualties have been reported. Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abu Musab said the terror group would conduct further suicide attacks in Mogadishu.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Security forces detained Mohamed Salem Ould Mohamed Lemine, a radical Salafist preacher who supports al Qaeda, during a raid in Nouakchott. Eighteen other Salafists were also arrested.
Afghanistan
From medieval Taliban to a tech-savvy militia
United Kingdom
Muslims Against Crusades, a banned British group, protested outside the US Embassy in London against US drone strikes on terrorists in Pakistan. At least 20 protesters were arrested.
Afghanistan
After NATO strike, Pakistan adjusts rules of engagement
Pakistan cleared ISAF airstrikes that killed its own troops
So much for the Mohmand strike being an “unprovoked” and “deliberate act of aggression.”
Afghanistan
Pakistan cuts supply lines, but US has options
Afghanistan
Doubts over real target of Uzbek ‘terror’ blast
Afghanistan
Pakistan Cleared Fatal Hit, US Says
Al Qaeda
Mansoor Ijaz, the man who stirred up Pakistan’s ‘Memogate’ storm
Anti-Taliban tribal leader killed in northwest Pakistan
A key anti-Taliban militia commander died in a sophisticated IED attack in Hangu City. Taliban fighters operating in Khyber and Arakzai are likely suspects in the attack.
United States
Senate approves $662 billion defense bill
Afghanistan
The Taliban killed three Afghan police in Baghlan and kidnapped seven Pakistani engineers in Logar. Security forces killed and captured several Taliban fighters and commanders in Kandahar, Ghazni, Khost, Paktia, Paktika, Lorgar, Wardak, and Nangarhar. Twelve insurgents reconciled with the government in Balkh.
Zawahiri claims al Qaeda is holding US citizen hostage
Zawahiri demands the US free all al Qaeda and Taliban leaders and fighters to secure the release of Warren Weinstein, who was captured in Lahore, Pakistan.
Egypt
Egypt’s Islamists poised to dominate parliament
Iran
Norway closes Iran embassy
Al Qaeda
Al Qaeda leader al-Zawahiri claims responsibility for kidnapping American
Iraq
Insurgents killed 10 Iraqis in a bombing in Khalis and eight more in shootings that targeted the families of former Awakening officials in Buhriz. An insurgent died in a premature detonation while planting an IED in Mosul.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan may have to slash size of forces due to shortfall
Afghanistan
Russia’s Afghan drug problem
Iran
The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office says Iran plans to attack US Air Force bases in Germany to disrupt supplies should Iran’s nuclear program become the target of airstrikes. Israeli officials claim Iran is developing advanced cruise missiles capable of carrying nonconventional warheads. Iran has released 11 hardline protesters detained for storming the British Embassy and […]
Al Qaeda announces death of Atiyah Abd al Rahman
Ayman al Zawahiri confirmed that Atiyah was killed in a US Predator drone strike in August. Atiyah was one of al Qaeda’s top leaders.
Egypt
Islamists Claim Egypt’s Mandate in Early Voting
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia accused of repression after Arab Spring
Somalia
Somalia’s prime minister has asked Qatar to help reconciliation efforts between the various Somali factions and to assist with reconstruction. A Burundian defense official says the African Union Mission in Somalia must double the size of its peacekeeping force in order to hold territory secured in Mogadishu and move into Shabaab areas outside the capital. […]
Kenya
The Singapore-registered chemical tanker MT Gemini was released yesterday, 215 days after it was hijacked off the Kenyan coast. Somali pirates released 21 of the tanker’s crew members, but took four South Korean nationals ashore to a safe haven in Somalia. Kenyan forces continue to pursue al Shabaab fighters who stormed a Kenyan security post […]
Jihadists announce deaths of 21 Turks linked to the Haqqani Network
Another Turkish fighter is said to have been killed in a recent US Predator airstrike in Mir Ali, Pakistan.