Egypt
As Sinai becomes a ‘terror zone,’ Netanyahu’s options are limited
Monthly Archives: April 2012
Al Qaeda
The new battlefront: Cyber warriors strike al-Qaeda online
Iran
A member of parliament said Iran had the capability to build nuclear weapons but will never do so. Turkey’s prime minister said he believed Iran did not wish to build nuclear weapons. The US told Iran it would accept a civilian nuclear program if Iran did not develop nuclear weapons.
Yemen
Forces loyal to the former commander of Yemen’s air force, the brother-in-law of former President Saleh who was dismssed on Friday by President Hadi, shut down the airport in Sana’a. The capital was plunged into darkness as forces loyal to Saleh attacked power lines from Marib.
Syria
Syria’s death toll surged; over 150 were reportedly killed today. The violence set off an exodus of refugees to Turkey and Lebanon. Turkey expressed its alarm over the worsening situation.
Afghanistan
Pakistan – War in the north sparks refugee exodus
Egypt
The Egyptian army launched an assault against terrorist groups in northern Sinai. The assault came days after militants fired rockets into southern Israel and a gas pipeline was bombed.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan – Herat security improved last year: police chief
Afghanistan
Taliban Have No Option But Negotiate With Afghan Govt: Patey
Hamas
Hamas chief vows to kidnap more Israeli soldiers to push Israel to free Palestinian prisoners
United States
Obama Embraces National Security as Campaign Issue
North Korea
North Korea promotes nuclear and missile chiefs as Kim Jong-un consolidates power before rocket launch
European Court of Human Rights
Scotland – Cardinal Keith O’Brien urges Christians to ‘proudly’ wear cross
Yemen
Yemen air force grounds flights at Sana’a airport
Somalia
Shabaab claimed that African Union forces “have lost the initiative” in Mogadishu after the terror group conducted a “tactical withdrawal” last summer. The Somaliland government detained two journalists in Los Anod.
Mali
The Tuareg rebel National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad’s representative in Paris said the group “has clearly stated its demarcation from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb” and said it is prepared to “act within the framework of a mobilization of all countries concerned by this curse.”
United States
Maryland resident Antonio Martinez, a.k.a. Muhammad Hussain, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempting to detonate a car bomb at a military recruiting center in Catonsville, Md. Martinez said he had renounced terrorism, but officials recently found evidence to the contrary in his cell.
‘We do jihad,’ says Lashkar-e-Taiba emir Hafiz Saeed
Saeed’s sermon calling for jihad against the US was delivered the same day Pakistani officials claimed that Saeed was involved with “de-radicalization and rehabilitation of former jihadis” in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
ISAF captures IMU suicide attack facilitator, financier in raids in Afghan north
One raid took place in the remote province of Badakhshan, which has seen an uptick in activity by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. The other took place in Faryab, where the IMU’s top leader in Afghanistan was killed more than a week ago.
Al Qaeda
Abu Musab al-Suri, the New Mastermind of Jihad
Afghanistan
Hafiz Saeed calls for jihad against America
Pakistan
A Pakistani intelligence official claimed Lashkar-e-Taiba emir Hafiz Saeed is involved in de-radicalizing jihadists in Punjab. Security forces detained 12 terrorists and seized suicide vests in Peshawar. The Taliban bombed a girls’ school in Mohmand.
Afghanistan
The Taliban killed the head of Kunar’s peace council in a suicide attack, four policemen in separate attacks in Helmand, and an ISAF soldier in the east. The foreign minister said US drone attacks would no longer be launched from Afghanistan after 2014.
Iran
China warned against using force on Iran, saying an attack would invite devastating retaliation that would envelop the region. The US continued to tighten sanctions.
Syria
Attacks on the Syrian opposition continued. Thousands demonstrated across the country demanding an end to the regime. The UN Security Council urged the Syrian government to halt attacks. Turkey told the UN it needed help with Syrian refugees.
Yemen
An al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula suicide bomber killed himself in a premature detonation while attempting to assassinate an intelligence official in Aden. President Hadi fired the chief of the air force, who is also former President Saleh’s half brother.
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates detained two members of a US pro-democracy organization and barred a third from leaving the country. Two other pro-democracy organizations, an American and German, were shut down.
Somalia
Ethiopian and Somali forces took control of two more towns in Bay province. “Gunmen” killed a Somali journalist outside of his home in Beledweyne. Somaliland security forces detained three men and a woman with French passports.
Nigeria
A prominent Shia sheikh said the US and the CIA are behind the bombings in northern Nigeria. The US and the United Kingdom issued travel advisories for citizens visiting Nigeria.
On the ‘merchant of death’
Viktor Bout has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. His amoral flexibility allowed him to serve everyone from al Qaeda and the Taliban, on the one hand, to military contractors in Iraq.