Somalia
African Union forces have advanced outside of Mogadishu for the first time to battle Shabaab forces. Six people were killed in a suicide attack at a refugee camp in Mogadishu. A Somali militia claimed it killed a Shabaab leader in Dusamereb.
Yearly Archives: 2012
Israel
Israeli intelligence arrested 10 members of an Islamic Jihad cell suspected of plotting attacks against Israeli military and civilian targets. The group is in merger talks with Hamas, and its armed wing, Al Quds Brigades, claims to have 8,000 fighters. The Israeli army arrested the Palestinian parliamentary speaker, a member of Hamas.
Nigeria
Authorities offered a bounty of $310,000 for information leading to the recapture of Boko Haram bomber Kabiru Umar, a.k.a. Kabiru Sotoko, who escaped shortly after his arrest on Tuesday. The head of Nigeria’s police is likely to lose his job over the incident.
AQAP commander says ‘the Islamic Caliphate is coming’
Tariq al Dhahab, the brother-in-law of Anwar al Awalki, has called for the release of al Qaeda prisoners in Yemen and the imposition of sharia, or Islamic law.
Caucasus
Author Q&A: ‘The Insurgency in Chechnya and the North Caucasus’
Afghanistan
Karzai Aide Says US Isn’t Providing Enough Details About Taliban Talks
Indonesia
Atheist Indonesian in protective custody after being beaten by mob
India
Salman Rushdie pulls out of Jaipur literature festival
Sweden
A Gothenburg court acquitted three men, a Somali and two Swedes, of plotting to murder cartoonist Lars Viks, but convicted them of weapons violations. Media reports suggested the men were linked to Shabaab.
Norway
A man who posted a video threatening Norwegian leaders and promoting a demonstration against Norway’s presence in Afghanistan was arrested in Skien. Authorities are investigating whether the suspect, a Muslim convert of Central American parentage, collaborated with others.
France threatens withdrawal after Afghan soldier kills 4 French troops
France has suspended its training mission, while the defense minister and prime minister warned that withdrawal is an option.
Bangladesh
Islamist link to foiled anti-India coup plot in Bangladesh?
Pakistan
Pakistan – Militants raising funds from kidnappings: FC
Afghanistan
US report: Afghan officer who killed Americans was anti-US
Afghanistan
US sees new interest from Taliban in peace talks
Senior al Qaeda leader killed in recent drone strike: report
Aslam Awan, a Pakistani from Abbottabad, is thought to have been killed in the Jan. 11 strike in North Waziristan. He was a deputy to al Qaeda’s external operations chief.
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China begins to turn against Iran
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Navy actions help cut Somali pirate hijacking
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Not-so-covert Iran war buys time but raises tension
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Russian Says Western Support for Arab Revolts Could Cause a ‘Big War’
Pakistan
The foreign minister said relations with the US are “on hold” as Pakistan reevaluates the relationship. The foreign ministry’s spokesman said ties with the US will be restored soon. Pakistan snubbed the US’s special envoy to the region by refusing him a visit.
Afghanistan
The Taliban claimed credit for the suicide attack that killed seven Afghans outside Kandahar Air Field. Twelve Taliban fighters and two policemen were killed during clashes in Helmand. The government has closed hundreds of NGOs, according to an official.
Iran
Russia said a military assault on Iran could cause a “chain reaction” that would destabilize the world. The US said it was ready for any contingency and that Iran was helping Syria export oil and evade sanctions. The EU is expected to agree on an oil embargo against Iran and a freeze on the assets […]
Iran
New Bid to Stifle Iran Aid to Syria
Syria
Arab League monitors ended their mission although killings persisted, and will release their report this weekend. Syrian troops withdrew from a mountain town, allowing the opposition to take control. The EU planned new economic sanctions. Russia said it would block any Western military intervention in Syria.
Yemen
Tareq al Dhahab, the leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, said his forces would quit the town of Rada’a if the government frees more than 400 prisoners. Dhahab also demanded the imposition of sharia law in Rada’a.
Somalia
Shabaab released the pictures and identities of Kenyan hostages who were captured during a raid in Kenya’s Wajir district earlier this week. Medecins Sans Frontieres closed several medical centers in Mogadishu after its employees were killed in December.
Nigeria
Bail has been granted for six Boko Haram fighters who are accused of executing a bombing at the Independent National Electoral Commission in Suleja last April. The attack killed 16 people.
Norway
Norway Jewish community shrinking
Nigeria
Nigeria investigates $4 billion fuel subsidy fraud