Syria
Senior Syrian official in US and co-operating with intelligence agencies
Monthly Archives: December 2012
Syria
As Envoy Meets Syria’s Assad, Russia Signals New Pessimism
Egyptian forces intercept 17 rockets headed for Gaza
On Monday, an attempt to smuggle 17 short-range rockets into Gaza was foiled by Egyptian security forces.
Syria
UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met with President Assad but made little progress toward a negotiated solution for the civil war. Rebels surrounded three air bases in northern Syria but were unable to stop government jets from launching attacks. Russian advisers are manning some of Syria’s air defenses.
Egypt
The Egyptian Army in northern Sinai thwarted an attempt to smuggle rockets into Gaza. Demonstrations were held in Cairo denouncing alleged rigging of the constitutional referendum. Egyptian judges began investigating the allegations.
US drone strikes kill Jordanian, Yemeni AQAP operatives
A Yemeni al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighter who escaped from prison two years ago was killed in the airstrike. The attack is the first reported US drone strike in Yemen in seven weeks.
Insider attack kills 5 Afghan police in Jawzjan
A former Taliban commander who had become a police commander opened fire on his colleagues at a security checkpoint before escaping to the Taliban.
Egypt
As Egypt Constitution Passes, New Fights Lie Ahead
Djibouti
‘Swedes did not commit crime against America’
Israel
An Israeli TV crew manages to enter into Syria
Afghan policewoman kills US military adviser inside Interior Ministry
An Afghan policewoman assigned to the “gender and equality department” at the Interior Ministry is said to have shot an American civilian adviser in the head at close range.
Nigeria
Security forces conducted a house-to-house search in Kano, where they found explosives in various locations and made some arrests. The military said the measures were taken to thwart a major terrorist attack planned to disrupt Christmas celebrations in the city.
Indonesia
Indonesia is beefing up security around Christian churches for the holiday period, to prevent terrorist attacks. A rights group said intrafaith and interfaith attacks and intimidation in the country rose by 24% in 2012.
United States
Terrorism charges were filed against Mohamed Yusuf, 29; Ali Yasin Ahmed, 27; and Mahdi Hashi, 23, in a New York federal court for training and serving with Shabaab starting in 2008. Yusuf and Ahmed are Swedish citizens. The three men were arrested in August while trying to travel from Africa to Yemen.
Pakistan
Mullah Nazir banned cellphones with cameras and memory cards in Wana in South Waziristan. Following the assassination of ANP leader Bashir Bilour, the party is pushing for an operation to clear North Waziristan of insurgents.
Afghanistan
The government released 36 prisoners from Bagram jail; the Helmand governor said he had taken up their cases with the High Peace Council. Joint forces arrested Haqqani Network leaders and operatives in Logar, Khost, and Paktika provinces. The foreign ministry rejected Taliban demands for the revision of the Afghan constitution and the formation of a […]
Pakistan
Pakistan – VIEW : Abysmal state of democracy in FATA
Yemen
A court sentenced three al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula operatives to terms of two to six years in prison. The military launched an offensive against “tribesmen” who continue to attack an LNG pipeline in Marib.
Syria
Israel says Syria chemical weapons are secure for now
Syria
An airstrike by government jets killed 90 people in Hama province. Some 200 government troops guarding Damascus airport defected to the rebels.
Egypt
As Egypt Constitution Passes, New Fights Lie Ahead
Egypt
Egyptian voters approved a new constitution, preliminary results showing 64% voted in favor. Opposition groups claimed election fraud and said that they would continue their protests. An opposition coalition said it would form a single political party.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan deny Taliban demands regarding peace process
Afghanistan
Afghan Currency Market Does Not Finance Taliban: Market Leaders
Somalia
Somali pirates released a ship and 22 crew members held captive for 33 months; the vessel was besieged by Puntland maritime police on Dec. 10, and a few days later the police killed three pirates and captured three more. It is unclear if a ransom was paid.
Nigeria
The Nigerian Islamist group Ansaru claimed the kidnapping of a French engineer, saying it was retribution for France’s ban on the niqab and the French role in Mali. Ansaru is believed to be an offshoot of Boko Haram. The UK added the al Qaeda-linked Ansaru to its terrorist list last month.
Tunisia
Authorities announced on Friday the arrest of 16 members of a cell linked to Ansar al Sharia; the group later released photos of FBI agents. Hundreds of Islamists affiliated with the ruling Ennahda party broke up a meeting of the secular Nidaa Tounes party. The attack was blamed on the League for the Protection of […]
Al Qaeda
Alabama terror case could hinge on relationships
Mali
Ansar Dine vowed that all mausoleums will be destroyed in Timbuktu. The al Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine and allied Islamist groups have destroyed a number of historic sites in northern Mali since July. The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa amputated the hands of two people in Gao and warned that amputations would continue.
Afghanistan
Pakistan’s army chief makes Afghan peace “top priority”