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.
Yearly Archives: 2012
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.
Hamas
Hamas, Emboldened, Tests Its Arab Alliances
Afghanistan
US troops may remains in Afghanistan beyond 2014
Iraqi politicians backed into a corner on a Status of Forces Agreement?
The Obama administration’s insistence on a parliamentary debate may have doomed negotiations for a residual US force.
Libya
Extremists issued death threats against the head of a Sufi center in Tripoli, threw a bomb at three of his sons, and attacked another son, continuing a campaign of violence against Sufis that began in August. A Sufi mosque and a madrassa have been attacked, as well as Sufi shrines and graves, and citizens near […]
Mali
The Tuareg MNLA launched an offensive against the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) to retake Gao. MNLA announced jointly with Ansar Dine that it was ready for peace talks with the Malian government. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is arresting unveiled women in their homes in Timbuktu.
Afghanistan
‘Safe passage’ granted: Pakistan frees key Taliban commander, 13 others
Afghanistan
Pakistan to consider releasing former Taliban No.2
Afghanistan
Security forces killed eight Taliban fighters in Uruzgan and a Taliban commander in Ghazni. The Taliban is thought to have assassinated the former Hajj and Islamic Affairs director for Nimroz. Germany will withdraw more than 1,000 of its 4,800 soldiers out of the country in 2013.
Iraq
Security forces killed three al Qaeda in Iraq fighters and found four IEDs during a raid on a safehouse in Taji. Insurgents killed a reporter in a bombing in Baqubah.
Somalia
Shabaab called on Muslims to support the Palestinians against Israel after airstrikes killed Hamas’s military commander. The FBI added American citizen Omar Hammami to its list of most wanted.
Kenya
Explosion rocks Eastleigh, Kenya
Tanzania
Tanzanian Muslim cleric pleads not guilty to incitement
Sudan
Sudan’s Islamists need new blood: vice-president
Nigeria
The Joint Task Force claimed it killed Ibn Saleh Ibrahim and several of his lieutenants during a series of raids in Maiduguri. Ibrahim commanded Boko Haram forces in the city and is said to be responsible for killing a general.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan – US relents on bases in 1st round of security talks.s