Congo
UN wants to use drones for peacekeeping missions
Monthly Archives: January 2013
United Arab Emirates
Dubai’s police chief said a militant cell detained in the United Arab Emirates had links to al Qaeda in Yemen. The cell had planned bomb attacks in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other states in the region.
Syria
Rebels released 48 Iranian hostages in exchange for the release of 2,130 rebel prisoners held by the Assad regime. The Iranians were captured by the Free Syrian Army in early August and were suspected of belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Afghanistan
In Old Taliban Strongholds, Qualms About What Lies Ahead
Algeria
Terror risk persists in North Africa, survey shows
Somalia
Two Puntland politicians appear to have been interviewed by two radio outlets affiliated with Shabaab. A judge freed the killer of two foreign medical aid workers who were gunned down in December 2011.
India
Pakistan must arrest Hafiz Saeed to improve ties with India: Editorial
West African jihadist group forms 4 ‘battalions,’ names 3 after al Qaeda leaders
The al Qaeda-linked Movement for Tawhid [Unity] and Jihad in West Africa created the Abdullah Azzam, Al Zarqawi, and the Abu al Laith al Libi battalions, as well as the Martyrdom-Seekers Battalion. These join the previously established Osama bin Laden Battalion.
Al Qaeda
Syria: The Story of How Jihad Was Declared
Mali
African Union chairman Thomas Boni Yayi called for NATO to intervene in Mali as it has done in Afghanistan, though with an African-led force. Ansar Dine fighters led by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb commanders attacked a Malian army unit in Savare. The Islamist forces are seeking to take over the airport in Mopti, […]
United Kingdom
Whitehall is said to be increasingly concerned that Syrian chemical weapons may fall into the hands of extremists. A British team was sent to observe an exercise by US and Jordanian special forces on contingency plans to secure the weapons, but there are no plans at present to deploy British troops for the purpose.
United States
A Brooklyn court sentenced Agron Hasbajrami, 28, an Albanian resident of the US, to 15 years in prison for seeking to provide support to terrorists. He had sent money to a jihadist group claiming to have murdered US soldiers, and was arrested at JFK airport with a one-way ticket to Pakistan.
Indonesia
National police announced that seven terrorists shot last week during raids that also netted four suspects were planning to bomb tourist locations in Bima on Sumbawa Island and Tana Toraja in south Sulawesi. Five of the dead men were said to have been followers of most-wanted terrorist Santoso. The country aims to adopt legislation next […]
Philippines
A suspected US drone was found floating in the waters off Mastabe Island and turned over to Philippine naval authorities. The US Embassy, which is investigating the matter, said the vehicle was unarmed and not used for surveillance.
Ahrar al Sham
Analysis: Study shows rise of al Qaeda affiliate in Syria
Afghanistan
The Obama administration hasn’t ruled out a full withdrawal from Afghanistan. An Afghan soldier killed a British soldier and wounded six more in Helmand. ISAF killed three “militants,” including two “foreigners,” in an airstrike in Kunar.
Iran
Iran’s oil minister acknowledged that oil exports have fallen by more than 40 percent due to economic sanctions. Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, warned the Iranians not to criticize upcoming presidential elections.
Syria
Fighting between pro and anti regime factions within a Palestinian refugee camp flared up. Half of the camp’s 150,000 residents fled during fighting in mid-December. Government forces shelled rebel positions on the outskirts of Damascus.
Yemen
Ali Hassan al Ahmadi, Yemen’s national security chief, said that “the use of friendly aircraft” to target al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula would continue. Iran’s ambassador to Yemen denied that his country was running spy networks in the country.
Sudan
The US added two Sudanese jihadists to the list of Specially Designated Global terrorists. Abdelbasit Alhaj Alhasan Haj Hamad and Mohamed Makawi Ibrahim Mohamed assassinated a USAID employee and his driver on Jan. 1, 2008 in Khartoum. Makawi is linked to al Qaeda.
Syria
Chemical Weapons Showdown With Syria Led to Rare Accord
Tunisia
A Tunisian court freed Ali Harzi, a key suspect in the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. The National Forces Alliance, which holds the largest share of seats in the Congress, withdrew from Libya’s first elected assembly, citing its “poor performance” and “unacceptable practices,” including security problems and delays […]
Afghanistan
Stanley McChrystal criticises reliance on drones as strikes hit Pakistan
Tunisia frees Benghazi suspect
The Tunisian government has freed Ali Harzi, a key suspect in the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. The FBI questioned Harzi in December, and Ansar al Sharia Tunisia released photos of the investigating agents online.
US adds 2 Sudanese al Qaeda operatives to list of terrorists
Abdelbasit Alhaj Alhassan Haj Hamad and Mohamed Makawi Ibrahim Mohamed murdered a US diplomat and his Sudanese driver in Khartoum in January 2008.
Afghan soldier kills 1, wounds 6 in latest insider attack
An Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on British and Afghan troops at a patrol base in Helmand, killing one British soldier before being shot while attempting to flee.
US drones launch 2 strikes in North Waziristan
Two compounds were hit in the Mir Ali area. The US has now launched six strikes in Pakistan so far this year.
Mali
Islamist forces on all-terrain vehicles and stolen armored military carriers reached the village of Bourmei, just 25 miles from territory held by the Malian military. The al Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine refused to comment on the reports that Islamist fighters have moved closer to the line of control.
Sweden
The foreign ministry admitted to “failure” in its attempt to bring two Swedish citizens home from Djibouti after they had left a Shabaab training camp in Somalia. The two men, of Somali origin, were extradited to the US to face terror charges along with a British suspect.
Afghanistan
News Analysis: Will Taliban release lead to Afghan national reconciliation?