Four members of a German al Qaeda cell headed by Abdeladim El-K., a Moroccan who had trained in Pakistan in 2010, went on trial. The cell was involved in a plot to conduct Mumbai-type attacks in Europe that had been approved by Osama bin Laden.
The Islamic State of Iraq said the offensive was launched “in application of the directives of Sheikh Mujahid Abu Bakr al Baghdadi,” the terror group’s emir.
Afghanistan – Taliban Threaten Panjwai Residents for Turning to Government
The Taliban killed seven children in an IED blast in Ghor, an American and two Afghan engineers in Bamiyan, and an ISAF soldier in the east. A police commander and 15 policemen in Farah defected to the Taliban. Security forces killed an IMU leader in Kunduz.
Pakistan – Racking up the bill: Thousands of NATO containers stranded
Afghans embrace social media as NATO pullout nears
Yemeni warplanes killed five al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in airstrikes in the Al Mahfad area in Abyan province. AQAP is said to have regrouped in Al Mahfad after losing control of several areas in Abyan and Shabwa.
The leader of the Middle Belt Youths Focus warned that it would retaliate if Boko Haram and allied Muslim herdsmen continue to attack Christians. The Joint Military Task Force ended operations in Jos that sought to root out those conducting attacks in the region.
Afghan NDS Detains 241 Suicide Bombers in Two Years: Taheri
Government troops launched an operation in Gorno-Badakhshan province against forces led by former warlord Tolib Ayombekov, in retaliation for the killing of an intelligence official. The clashes have killed 30 militants and as many as 20 government troops, including a special forces commander.
Arabic TV series depicting Islamic figure triggers backlash
If all goes well, Somalia soon may have a government
Syria fighting gives neither side decisive edge
Iran general warns ‘hated Arabs’ of reprisals for backing Syrian rebels
Iran hedges its bets on Assad and Syria
The European Union will send 50 experts to Niger to train its security forces to counter the emerging al Qaeda threat in Africa’s Sahel region. Niger, a major uranium exporter, needs assistance securing its border with Mali, where Islamists have seized half the country.
The European Union said it would support the deployment of West African troops to Mali to help stabilize the country. “We are extremely concerned about Mali,” said head EU diplomat Catherine Ashton.
Assef Shawkat, a top Syrian official killed in a bomb blast last week, was a key ally of al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). Leaked State Department cables show that General David Petraeus repeatedly warned of the collusion between Syrian officials, including Shawkat, and AQI’s top foreign fighter facilitator.
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said the team that carried out last week’s suicide bombing was “extremely experienced” and appeared to have arrived in Bulgaria a month before the attack. The European Union denied Israel’s request to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization; Israel blames Iran and its proxy, Hezbollah, for the bombing.
Special operations forces killed Khadim, an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader and explosives expert who recruited and trained fighters for suicide attacks, during yesterday’s raid in Kunduz.
In Syria conflict, US struggles to fill intelligence gaps
In Egypt, Rumor of Pyramids’ Demise Proves Flimsy
In a clumsy propaganda attempt, a report that was published at The Long War Journal on June 10 was made to look like a similar Washington Post report that ran six days later.
The Unresolved Mystery of Syria’s ‘Iraqi’ Chemical Weapons
Olympic security: 1,200 extra troops deployed to help secure Games
Bulgaria bomber ‘experienced’ and had accomplices, says prime minister
Tony Blair: ‘The West is asleep on the issue of Islamist extremism’
African viewpoint: Why Timbuktu matters
Stuxnet thwarted by control code update
India struggles to control ethnic violence in Assam