Iraq
Insurgents killed seven people, including three Iranian pilgrims, in an IED attack in Balad. Iraqi clerics issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from marrying or doing business with members of terror groups.
Monthly Archives: November 2012
Yemen
Security forces detained a suspected al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighter during a raid in Ibb province. The suspected AQAP fighter is thoguht to have fought for the terror group in Zinjibar and Jaar.
Kenya
Police arrested “dozens” of suspected Islamists during a series of raids in Garissa. The Islamists are thought to be involved in the killing of two policemen in Garissa on Nov. 16.
Turkey
In Cairo, Prime Minister Erdogan promised support for Palestinians in the Gaza strip; he also said Turkey would pressure Hamas to stop rocket attacks on Israel if the US “provides guarantees.” The jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party urged supporters to stop their hunger strike.
Mali
After yesterday’s failed offensive by the Tuareg MNLA to retake Gao, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb sent hundreds of fighters from Timbuktu to Gao as reinforcements. The AQIM-allied Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa said it is “in control of the situation”; the Tuaregs no longer control any towns in two-thirds of […]
Afghanistan
Afghan Peace Council Seeks Immunity, Lift on Sanctions for Taliban
Iran
Iran Set to Double Nuclear Fuel Capability
Pakistan
Pakistani Taliban Turn to Kidnapping to Finance Operations
Afghanistan
Pakistan May Release More Taliban Prisoners
Algeria
The military is building a 50-km-long electric fence on the border with Mali, and the defense ministry plans to set up a system of electronic surveillance, checkpoints, and aerial operations along the Malian and Libyan borders. On Nov. 6, border security personnel arrested a Nigerian suicide attacker from the Movement for Tawhid and Jihad in […]
ECOWAS
Mali military intervention countdown begins
Al Qaeda
Sahel terror alliances start to fray
‘Invincible’ Boko Haram leader reportedly killed in Nigerian raid
Nigerian security forces claim to have killed a senior Boko Haram leader suspected of facilitating the assassination of General Shuwa Mohammad earlier this month. Six other Boko Haram affiliates were also killed in the operation.
Pakistan ‘frees’ dangerous Taliban commander as part of Afghan reconciliation process
Anwar ul Haq Mujahid is the commander of the Tora Bora Military Front, a Taliban subgroup based in Nangarhar province that has been behind numerous attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces as well as civilians. His father was close to Osama bin Laden.
United States
The CIA is launching an internal investigation into the conduct of David Petraeus when he was director of the agency. Adis Medunjanin, a US citizen from Bosnia who plotted with two other men to conduct suicide attacks on the New York subway system, was sentenced to life in prison.
Afghanistan
The Taliban killed 17 civilians in an IED attack in Farah, four policemen in an ambush in Badakhshan, and two ISAF soldiers in the east. The US added the Taliban shadow governor of Helmand to its narcotics kingpin list.
Iraq
The government freed Hezbollah commander Musa Ali Daqduq. Insurgents killed three Iraqi policemen in Mosul. Security forces arrested al Qaeda’s commander for Karma.
Iran
The US, China, Russia, France, the UK, and Germany planned to meet to discuss negotiation strategy over Iran’s nuclear program; it is unclear if Iran is ready to participate in negotiations. Iran state TV reported the arrest of people plotting bomb attacks with the support of Western and Israeli spy agencies.
Yemen
An al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula suicide bomber killed three pro-government tribesmen in Zinjibar. A spokesman for the Houthis accused the US of killing hundreds of Yemenis in drone strikes.
Hamas
Israel moves on reservists after rockets target cities
Sinai jihadist group urges Egyptians to fight Israel if army won’t
In a statement released to jihadist forums, al Salafiyya al Jihadiyya has questioned why the Egyptian army is not doing more to protect Palestinians in Gaza.
US adds Taliban shadow governor of Helmand to narcotics kingpin list
Mullah Naim Barich, the Taliban’s leader for the southern Afghan province, was added “for the significant role he plays in international narcotics trafficking,” Treasury stated.
United States
Former CIA Director David Petraeus told Congress that he knew shortly after the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi that Ansar al Shariah and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb were involved; their names were later deleted from the CIA’s report, however. The Treasury Department designated Mullah Naim Barich, the Taliban’s shadow governor for […]
Egypt
US-Egypt relations challenged by escalating Middle East violence
Hamas
Israel and Hamas wage social media fight via social media platforms
Israel
Hamas rocket attacks in southern Israel killed three people. Hamas also launched rockets targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel responded with air, tank, and gunboat attacks on Gaza. Further air attacks continued on Friday. Israel mobilized 16,000 army reservists for a possible ground attack on Gaza.
Egypt
President Morsi expressed support for Hamas, saying Egypt “will not leave Gaza on its own.” Prime Minister Qandil visited Gaza and denounced Israeli attacks.
Syria
The UK and US held off recognition of the new Syrian opposition coalition. European nations debated whether to overturn an arms embargo on Syria.
Syria
Where Syria’s opposition groups get their rockets
Iraq frees Hezbollah commander who helped mold Shia terror groups
Musa Ali Daqduq, who was tasked with establishing a Hezbollah-like Shia terror group in Iraq, and who was involved in the 2007 attack on US troops in Karbala, has been freed from Iraqi custody and is now in Lebanon.