Afghanistan
Hebrew treasure found in Afghanistan
Monthly Archives: January 2013
Israel
As concern over the Syrian civil war escalates, Israel said it would build a fortified fence along its Syrian frontier, warning that radical Islamist forces have taken over the area. The fence would be similar to a recently completed structure built along its Egyptian border.
Syria
President Assad in a public speech presented a plan for ending the country’s civil war. He also called his opponents “terrorists” and said he had no intention of leaving office. The opposition Syrian National Coalition, the EU, the UK, and Turkey rejected the plan.
Egypt
The government swore in 10 new cabinet ministers, strengthening the role of Islamists. The reshuffle comes as a delegation from the International Monetary Fund meets with authorities to discuss a $4.8 billion loan and economic restructuring.
France
Mali crisis paving way for militant attacks on France: judge
Officials: Hundreds of jihadists operating in the Sinai
According to a new report, several hundred jihadists are operating in the Sinai Peninsula, some of whom may be from Yemen and Somalia.
Libya
Mohamed Magarief, the head of Libya’s parliament, survived an assassination attempt while on a state visit to the city of Sebha, in an area declared a closed military zone last month; three of his guards were wounded in the attack. About 10 percent of the powerful Supreme Security Committee’s militiamen have accepted the government’s invitation […]
Mali
Fighters from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Ansar Dine traveled in a 100-vehicle convoy from Timbuktu to the northern city of Moti, in an apparent advance on new territory. Malian Prime Minister Diango Cissoko met with Mauritanian officials to discuss ways to wrest northern Mali from Islamist control.
France
The top antiterrorism judge warned that French Muslims from Africa have “found their jihad” in Mali, and said authorities are currently investigating four Malian terrorist cells, most involving dual nationals. He also said that the Internet has enabled female jihadists to take on a full role.
Omar Hammami’s personal dispute with Shabaab
The American jihadist’s rants against Shabaab indicate a personal feud with the al Qaeda affiliate, and not a wider split between Somali jihadists and foreign fighters.
US drones strike again in South Waziristan
A Taliban commander loyal to Hafiz Gul Bahadar was the target of the strike; 17 people, including a Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan commander who directed suicide operations, are reported to have been killed.
Pakistan
Pakistani officials claimed that at least 25 mortar shells fired from Afghanistan struck the border area of Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan. Seven unidentified bullet-riddled bodies were found dumped near Sarobi in North Waziristan. Tribesmen held a massive rally in South Waziristan demonstrating against the US drone campaign.
Iran
Iran began developing software to control social media networking sites. Although the specific sites was not disclosed, both Facebook and Twitter are popular in the country.
Syria
Government artillery and aircraft bombarded rebel strongholds in the suburbs of Damascus. Fighting also raged south of the capital. The government claims it captured Mohamed al Zawahiri, brother of al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri.
Iran
Iran-Turkey Rivalry Worsens Over Patriot Deployment
Afghanistan
McChrystal takes blame for Rolling Stone article
Yemen
Saudi Arabia denied that its Air Force has targeted al Qaeda militants in Yemen. Efforts are reportedly underway to convince former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to leave the country and go possibly to an Arab Gulf state, in hopes his exit will aid in the political transition process.
Afghanistan
Freedom of Taliban to boost insurgency in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Pakistan Closes Torkham Border Again
China
Fleeing North Korea Is Becoming Harder
Al Qaeda
Radical al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki ‘purchased plane tickets for 9/11 hijackers’
Nigeria
Suspected Boko Haram militants staged a brazen attack against the Nigerian Prison Service Farm Center in Maiduguri, freeing several jailed inmates. The previous day, Boko Haram militants and Nigerian state security forces clashed near Maiduguri and Marte, leaving at least seven killed.
Somalia
A UN report shows that increasing cooperation between Somalia’s Shabaab and the Ugandan rebel group Allied Democratic Forces is spreading instability across the region. African Union forces launched a major offensive against Shabaab militants along the Ballidoogle-Leego road, approximately 120 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu.
Libya
Gaddafi-era security official Lieutenant Colonel Nasser al Magrabi was found shot to death at his farm near Benghazi. The day before, the head of Benghazi’s criminal investigations department, Abdelsalam al Mahdawi, was kidnapped at gunpoint. Libyan officials said the trial for Saif al Islam, Libya’s former Intelligence Chief and a son of Gaddafi, will begin […]
Taliban promise ‘sacred jihad’ if US forces remain in Afghanistan past 2014
The Afghan Taliban said they reject any security agreement that allows “even a single American soldier” to remain in country. “War and destruction will continue in the region” if US forces stay in Afghanistan after 2014.
Algeria
An Algerian newspaper reported that Izza Rezki, the head of finance for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, was killed along with six other terrorists in an operation on Jan. 1. Rezki was also reported killed in late November 2012.
United Kingdom
An appeals court overturned the conviction of Ahmed Faraz, a Birmingham bookseller who was sentenced in 2011 to three years in prison for publishing and distributing extremist material. The court said the prosecution should not have relied on the fact that Faraz’s texts were found in the homes of terrorists.
Pakistan
Pakistan – Cell phone networks have become terror networks: Rehman Malik
Afghanistan
Pakistan condemns drone attacks in Waziristan
United States
About 400 US troops are deploying to Turkey this week to man two US-supplied Patriot missile batteries along the Syrian border. President Obama signed a defense bill restricting transfers of detainees from Guantanamo and Parwan prisons, but attached a signing statement challenging some of the bill’s provisions.