Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian-born “underwear bomber” who tried to blow up an airliner over Detroit on Christmas 2009, has been sentenced to life in prison. The would-be suicide bomber was unrepentant for his role in the plot, which had been approved by al Qaeda ideologue Anwar al Awlaki.
Seven terrorists are reported to have been killed in a village near Miramshah, and 12 more, including Uzbeks, were killed near Mir Ali.
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Insurgents assassinated a general in Baghdad and killed a civilian in Mosul. The Iraqi military seized a media center for al Qaeda’s Islamic State of Iraq in Mosul.
UN urges Iraq to move Iranian dissidents to new camp
“Gunmen” killed an Army official and four others in Baydah, and a soldier in Marib. Houthi rebels killed five children and a woman during shelling in Hajjah. Yemeni forces intercepted an Iranian weapons shipment destined for the Houthis.
A new leader of al Qaeda’s network in Iran has been reportedly named. Muhsin al Fadhli is a longtime al Qaeda operative who was involved in al Qaeda in Iraq’s operations as well as al Qaeda’s 2002 attack on a French naval vessel.
The Somali military claimed it defeated Shabaab forces at the Afgoye control point near Mogadishu. A spokesman for Shabaab commander Sheikh Mohamed Saeed Atom claimed his forces killed 15 Puntland troops in Sugare north of Bosaso.
Thai police found a possible link between the recent bombings in Thailand and India. Three Iranian suspects have been arrested; a fourth suspect, Rohani Leila, a 32-year-old woman, is at large. Thai police said the bombings were most likely assassination attempts. Iran denied any role in the attacks.
The State Security Services said a former soldier known as Habibu Bama is wanted for his involvement with Boko Haram. Intelligence gained from the cell phones of Kabiru Sokoto has linked him to a variety of politicians, businessmen, and bankers who support Boko Haram. Former President Ibrahim Babangida denied supporting Boko Haram.
Iran announced advancements in its nuclear program, including first use of domestically-made nuclear fuel. Iran sent a letter to the EU’s foreign policy chief stating it was now ready to resume talks over its nuclear program.
Egypt’s state-run newspaper accused the US of spreading anarchy. The Muslim Brotherhood backed the military’s position on US-sponsored pro-democracy groups. A Salafist preacher called for Egypt to replace US aid with local donations. The government slated presidential elections for May.
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The Syrian army launched an attack on the city of Hama. For the first time since the uprising began, Syrian army units occupied an area within Damascus. President Assad said a referendum on the draft constitution will be held Feb. 26.
Mullah Krekar, an Iraqi Islamist who moved to Norway in 1991 and founded the al Qaeda-linked Iraqi terror group Ansar al-Islam in 2001, admitted the threats he made about Norwegian leaders but said he is “not guilty.” In 2009 he condoned suicide bombings against Americans and said the US deserved the 9/11 attacks. He is […]
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Zabihullah Mujahid insists the US must free al Qaeda-linked Taliban leaders and remove others from UN and US sanctions and bounty lists before negotiations can proceed. Al Qaeda is not mentioned in the interview.