Ansar al Sharia
Yemen says Islamists retreat from southern town
Monthly Archives: June 2012
Pakistan
Twenty-five people were killed in a bombing at a market in Khyber. Seven policemen were killed in a bombing in Kohat. Hafiz Gul Bahadar stopped polio vaccinations in North Waziristan because of drone strikes.
‘Good’ Taliban commander halts polio vaccinations over drone strikes
“Polio campaigns are also used to spy for America against the mujahideen (holy warriors), one example of which is Dr. Shakil Afridi,” a statement released by Hafiz Gul Bahadar said.
United States
Pentagon to soon deploy pint-sized but lethal Switchblade drones
United States
Drones over America. Are they spying on you?
Egypt
Egypt’s Revolution Stalls In Divide-and-Conquer Politics
Germany
German Commentators Welcome Action against Salafists
Afghanistan
Thirteen Taliban fighters and three policemen were killed during fighting throughout the country. The Taliban killed a civilian in an IED attack in Kandahar.
Iraq
Thirty-two people were killed in a pair of car bombings that again targeted Shia pilgrims in Baghdad. Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed credit for this week’s bombings that killed 70 people.
Turkey
Police arrested eight suspected al Qaeda members in raids in the western provinces of Bursa and Balikesir. The men are believed to have trained in al Qaeda camps and recruited other members. Bulent Yildirim, the president of the IHH, a humanitarian relief foundation, is being investigated on suspicion of providing financing for al Qaeda.
Yemen
Yemeni troops killed 21 al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in Azzan in Shabwa and the Hassan Valley in Abyan. One solider was also killed during the fighting.
Somalia
A Shabaab suicide bomber detonated a car packed with explosives on a base in Afgoye; casualties have not been disclosed. Shabaab claimed the attack and said “more than 200 TFG intelligence personnel & troops” had gathered on the base.
Egypt
Egypt began presidential elections. The two-day process pits Mohammed Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, against Ahmed Shafiq, a former prime minister in President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.
Afghanistan
Russia Worried Over Afghanistan Becoming a Terrorist Haven
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Prince Salman seen as likely heir to throne
Russia
Russia Sending Air and Sea Defenses to Syria
Syria
US holds high-level talks with Syrian rebels seeking weapons in Washington
Al Qaeda
Pakistan militants ban polio jabs, threaten action
Mali
Iyad Ag Ghali, the leader of the al Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine in northern Mali, rejected the idea of an independent state in the north of the country. Calling for the imposition of sharia law throughout Mali, he said, “Whoever is for a secular state is our enemy and will fought by all means.”
Afghanistan
Worry Replaces Hope In Race To Restore Ancient Afghan City
Al Qaeda in Iraq claims credit for recent bombings
Thirty-two more Iraqis were killed in bombings that targeted Shia pilgrims in Baghdad.
Egypt
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood has its eye on Islamic banking
Al Qaeda
Obama Admits US Is Fighting Al Qaeda in Somalia and Yemen
United States
President Obama informed Congress that the US military has taken direct action against Shabaab, al Qaeda’s affiliate in Somalia, and against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen. The Pentagon said the information was made public because of the “growing significance” of the US military’s actions in these areas in the US’s “overall counterterrorism […]
Afghanistan
Security forces killed a Haqqani Network commander and several fighters in Paktika and a Taliban leader and several fighters in Badakhshan, and captured several fighters in Logar and Khost. The Taliban killed two ISAF soldiers in the south and east.
India
Pakistan boasted of nuclear strike on India within eight seconds
Shabaab
More Shabab militants defect to join Somali forces
Al Qaeda
US declassifying counterterror campaigns in Yemen and Somalia; no mention of drones
Iran
Iran arrested suspects who are thought to be behind the killing of two nuclear scientists. Iran’s intelligence ministry claimed the suspects had ties to Israel.
Syria
The head of the UN monitoring team in Syria warned of intensifying violence as the UN peace plan fails. Russia said it would not discuss plans for a post-Assad Syria. China rejected further sanctions. The US has stepped up support for Syrian rebels.