Some remarkable facts about the ‘US Strategy for Counterterrorism’
The US is shifting its counterterrorism focus to Yemen, Somalia, and North Africa, as it believes al Qaeda has been defeated in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Yearly Archives: 2011
Pakistani Taliban take revenge for slain al Qaeda media operative
The Taliban claimed they killed three Pakistani Rangers to avenge the killing of GIMF operative Abd al Moeed bin Abd al Salam.
US continues drawdown of military forces in Afghanistan
The US has announced the second stage of its drawdown of forces from Afghanistan, apparently.
Mali
Security forces detained a hotel manager and a tour guide in connection to the kidnapping of two Frenchmen in Hombori. The two were kidnapped by al Qaeda in the Islamic Mahgreb. Tourism has plummeted since the spate of recent kidnappings.
Afghanistan
Panetta, Speaking to Troops, Says US Has Edge on Taliban
Afghanistan
Iran against US-Afghan military treaty: FM
Afghanistan
Afghanistan does not want involvement in US-Iran hostilities
Pakistan
In mountain camps, Pakistan Taliban train for death
Afghanistan
Afghan Women Wary Of Taliban Talks
Pakistan
Children Describe Torture Dungeon At Pakistani Madrasah
Pakistan
Prime Minister Gilani said President Zardari went to Dubai for medical treatment after receiving death threats. Five Taliban fighters and a policeman were killed during a clash in Peshawar. The Taliban bombed a girls’ school in Tank.
Iraq
Obama confronted al-Maliki on “secret alliance” with Sadr – White House source
Syria
Inside Syria: Soldiers defecting to join rebels
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Falluja celebrates the US withdrawal by burning American and Israel flags
Afghanistan
Afghan and Coalition forces killed a Taliban commander and three of his bodyguards in Kandahar. A roadside bomb killed the Reg district governor in Helmand province. Britain may withdraw its forces from Afghanistan in 2013.
Russia
Russian soldiers shot dead four suspected rebel fighters in a mountainous area of Kabardino-Balkaria. Insurgents killed a senior police investigator in the Caspian Sea port of Kaspiisk. Three Russian Army engineers were injured by a remote-controlled bomb in Ingushetia.
Iran
IRGC General Gholam Reza Jalali says Iran will move its uranium enrichment facilities to safer locations underground if necessary. Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if attacked. Iran and Saudi Arabia held a rare high-level security meeting in Riyadh.
Syria
Syrian government troops attacked the rebellious city of Hama with an armored assault. For the second time in two day, rebels attacked Syrian army troops, killing 8. A US State Department official said “Our view is that this regime is the equivalent of dead men walking.”
Egypt
Egypt held its second round of parliamentary elections; Islamist parties won 65 percent of the seats in the first round. Rival Islamic parties are seeking to extent their first round lead.
Egypt
What the Salafists Want: Egypt Faces a Hardline Islamic Future
Afghanistan
Tense Pak-US ties bad omen for Afghan security
Iraq
US F-16 Sale to Iraq Remains a Distant Target
Syria
Syria: Christmas celebrations ‘muted in solidarity with opposition’
Hamas
Hamas marks anniversary, hails Arab Spring Islamists
Iran
Iran may soon start nuclear work in bunker: sources
Afghanistan
US focus to beat al-Qaeda shifting to Africa
Belgium
Liege attacks: Belgian gunman Nordine Amrani had ‘grudge against society’
Afghanistan
Pakistan blames Afghan refugees for Rabbani murder
Libya
Clashes erupted south of Tripoli last night, just after local officials agreed on a ceasefire following a standoff between the town of Zintan and the neighboring El Mashasha tribe. Nearly 600 protesters staged a second day of demonstrations in the eastern city of Benghazi expressing their discontent with the country’s new interim leaders.
Kenya
Kenyan troops and their Somali allies said they will push deeper into insurgent-controlled territory in Somalia now that rains have stopped. Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki called on the Somali leaders and rebel factions to stop their “senseless civil war.”