Iran
As Sanctions Bite, West And Tehran Play Risky Game
Monthly Archives: October 2012
Libya
A police colonel escaped an assassination attempt in Benghazi. Three civilians were killed and 35 injured by a Grad rocket bombardment of the besieged city of Bani Wali, a holdout of Ghaddafi loyalists.
Mali
A spokesman for the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, one of the Islamist groups that have seized northern Mali, threatened to retaliate against France by killing and kidnapping French citizens, including French President Hollande, who is visiting Africa. The group said it would “open the doors of hell” if France kept pushing […]
Al Qaeda
US intelligence set back when Libya base was abandoned
Pakistan
UK bars entry of Bilour, anti-Islam filmmaker: Report
Egypt
Senior Egyptian Islamist: Don’t Disarm Sinai Groups
Al Qaeda
Obama administration’s wishful thinking on terrorism
Mullah Fazlullah ordered assassination of Pakistani schoolgirl
Although Pakistanis are expressing outrage at the attempted murder of a 14-year-old girl who has spoken out against the Taliban, the anger will likely fade as it has with similar incidents in the past.
Al Nusrah Front seizes Syrian base in joint operation with Free Syrian Army
The al Qaeda-linked group teamed up with the supposedly secular Free Syrian Army to capture an airbase outside Aleppo that houses Scud tactical ballistic missiles and anti-aircraft missiles.
Syria
US, allies girding for worst-case scenario with Syria’s WMD
Iran
US warning reflects fears of Iranian cyberattack
United States
Defense Secretary Panetta warned of the increasing danger of cyberattacks on US civilian infrastructure; the US is “in a pre-9/ll moment,” he said. Cyberattacks have already in some instances breached systems for US financial institutions; public transportation; and chemical, water, and electrical plants. The Pentagon is preparing new rules of engagement for cyberwarfare and has […]
Saudi Arabia
Anti-Islam film prompts Saudi call for net censorship body
ISAF captures IMU ‘financial facilitator’ in Kunduz
Special operations forces have conducted at least 31 raids against the IMU in eight of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces so far this year; 13 of those raids have occurred in Kunduz.
Afghanistan
The Taliban killed four Afghan soldiers in Kunar and a policeman and five civilians in Faryab. ISAF killed 10 Taliban fighters and four civilians in an airstrike in Ghazni.
Iraq
Security forces detained eight al Qaeda in Iraq fighters in Kirkuk. Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed credit for the Sept. 27 assault and jailbreak at the Tasfirat prison in Tikrit. The military agreed to purchase 28 Czech-made military aircraft worth $1 billion.
Syria
Rebels captured an air defense base near the northern city of Aleppo; the al Qaeda-linked Al Nusrah Front participated in the attack. Rebel offensives across the country killed 100 government troops in two days.
Egypt
A draft of Egypt’s new constitution was released to the public. Protests in Cairo led to clashes between supporters and opponents of Egypt’s President Mursi. More than 100 were injured.
Somalia
Shabaab claimed that its “Counter-Intelligence Units” assassinated a senior militia commander. The district commissioner of Huriwa survived an assassination attempt.
Al Qaeda
10 Years After Bali Bombings, Local Militants Still Pose Threat
Pakistan
Pakistani Teenager in Hiding After Blasphemy Accusation, Police Say
Russia
Suspect In Cleric Shooting Case Detained In Russia
Russia
Russian muftis admit most Moslems in Moscow are migrants
Mali
The UN Security Council passed a resolution authorizing the use of military force to help the Malian government retake the large portion of the country that has been seized by Islamist militants. The unanimous resolution makes the Islamist extremists liable for war crimes and endorses the deployment of ECOWAS troops to Mali.
Afghanistan
Pakistan – Imran Khan Calls Fighting In Afghanistan ‘Jihad’
France
President Hollande said while Islamic terrorists must not be allowed free rein in the African Sahel, it is up to Mali, ECOWAS, and the African Union to mount a military response to the threat. France would provide logistical support and training but not combat troops to the effort in Mali. He also said negotiations with […]
Al Qaeda
European official: Al Qaeda threat in northern Africa ‘spreading’
United Kingdom
Seven Royal Marines from a commando brigade have been charged with murder relating to an incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan in 2011 that involved a Taliban insurgent. No civilians were involved.
Afghanistan
Malala Yousafzai: Pakistan’s Taliban policy in spotlight
Pakistan
Malala Yousafzai attack: The view from Swat