Jurail Bagsik, a suspected follower of slain Abu Sayyaf leader Khaddafy Janjalani, was arrested in the southern province of Basilan. Indonesia’s foreign minister, in Manila for an official visit, has expressed concern over the continuing smuggling of firearms between Indonesia and the Philippines.
US says no removal of Sudan from terrorism list for now
The Sunni Awakening Braces for an Iraq Without US
Beirut Bank Seen as a Hub of Hezbollah’s Financing
US plans major shift to advisory role in Afghanistan
Pakistani fertilizer ignites tensions with US
US defence chief in Djibouti for counter-terrorism talks
Norodine Amrani, 33, killed four people and injured 123 in an attack on a Christmas market in Liege. Amrani threw grenades and shot randomly into the crowd; he died in the attack. Authorities say he acted alone and that the attack did not involve terrorism.
The US has frozen $700 million in aid until it receives assurances that Pakistan will crack down on IED materials. ISAF commander General Allen said Pakistan is cooperating on border issues. The Lashkar-e-Islam killed five people in Khyber.
A roadside bomb killed six civilians, including women and children, in Helmand province. At least 18 insurgents were killed following military operations by Afghan police forces during the past 24 hours. Afghan forces killed a suicide-bomber intending to attack the airport in Badghis.
US Plans Afghan Shift to Lessen NATO Combat Role
Homs: ‘Capital of the Syrian revolution’
Three “militants” were killed in a shootout with police in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan. Security officials in Dagestan claimed that a special police operation in the Khasavyurt district killed Yusup Magomedov, the leader of the Khasavyurt gang, along with an unknown number of his associates.
Arrests in Iraq Raise Concerns About Maliki
The US Treasury placed sanctions on Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, chairman of Iran’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Revolutionary Guard Deputy Commander Abdollah Araqi. Iran’s judiciary has issued indictments against 15 “American and Zionist” spies.
Government forces killed 17 people while rebel soldiers killed seven police in an ambush. The head of the UN Rights Commission said the death toll has reached 5,000. Syria’s UN ambassador disputed the number, saying UN officials are “suffering from Syrianophobia”
Hezbollah has revealed the identities of CIA officers working undercover in Lebanon. France will make a decision on whether to downsize its UNIFIL contingent after the UN finalizes a report on the Lebanon-based forces.
Grenade Attack on Belgian Bus Shelter Kills 4 and Injures Dozens
An American military drone which had been used to monitor piracy off the East African coast has crashed at an airport on the island nation of Seychelles during a routine patrol. The US Embassy in Mauritius said the MQ-9 Reaper was not armed and that the crash caused no injuries.
US drone crashes at Seychelles airport
We can’t win Afghanistan war without winning Pakistan, says Panetta
US Focuses on Azerbaijan, Afghanistan Routes
NATO: Pakistan talking again to US-led coalition
Yemen’s official news agency says six al Qaeda fighters have been arrested while allegedly planning attacks on senior government officials as well as Arab and other foreign diplomatic missions. Saudi Arabia has promised to provide the newly formed government of Yemen with urgently needed aid, mainly petroleum products.
Malian police arrested several men suspected of having kidnapped five Westerners on behalf of al Qaeda. The terror group has released photos of the kidnap victims and demanded an end to Mali’s cooperation with the French government.
Libyan activists demand transparency from National Transitional Council
Pakistan 3rd biggest recipient of US aid
US lawmakers freeze $700 mln to Pakistan
NATO-bound trucks attacked, burned in Pakistan
US Terror Hearing Explores Use of Miranda Warning