North Korea
Missile defence systems deployed to counter North Korea threats: interactive
Monthly Archives: April 2013
Afghanistan
Quetta council in Pakistan blamed for deadly attack in Farah
Indonesia
Buddhists, Muslims from Myanmar brawl in Indonesian detention center, killing 8
Al Qaeda
Key figures in al Qaeda’s North African branch
Somalia
The British Foreign Office issued an advisory warning that “terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks in Mogadishu.” Suspected Shabaab militants detonated a bomb outside the headquarters of Somalia’s biggest bank in Mogadishu on April 2, after warning the bank to cease operations in areas under the terror group’s control.
Mali
Chadian troops are being redeployed from the Ifoghas Mountains to Kidal, which is occupied by MNLA forces but is not fully secure. The French foreign minister visited Mali to discuss plans for the French withdrawal.
France
Foreign Minister Fabius proposed that France would keep 1,000 troops in Mali as a counterterrorism force to support UN peacekeeping operations. He also called on the Tuareg MNLA to disarm and join the political process. France hopes the UN peacekeeping force can be approved in the next few weeks.
Increased targeting of IMU continues in Afghan north
ISAF operations to kill or capture high-value targets from the al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan are at their highest frequency in the 11-year war.
Hamas
Iran Seeks to Retain Influence in Palestinian Affairs
Hamas
Assad suffers new blow as Hamas switches sides to aid rebels
Hamas
Why is the West doing business with Sudan?
Canada
Mauritania’s consul in Montreal said Mauritania has been holding Canadian citizen Aaron Yoon, an acquaintance of two Canadian jihadists killed during the In Amenas attack in Algeria. Yoon was arrested “months ago,” well before the attack, and is part of an investigation on “serious matters.”
Philippines
Some 8,000 US and Philippine troops began a joint two-week military drill, simulating battles and disaster responses. The Foreign Secretary suggested that the US may be allowed a great military presence in the Philippines given increasing regional threats.
Thailand
Suspected Islamist militants bombed the motorcade of the Yala province deputy governor as it drove through Yala’s Bannang Sata district. The remotely-detonated bomb killed the deputy governor and another official in the car, and severely wounded the driver.
Salafi jihadists begin hunger strikes amid ongoing Hamas arrest campaign
While Hamas appears to be continuing its arrest campaign against Salafi jihadists, some Salafi jihadists currently imprisoned in Gaza have begun hunger strikes in protest.
Pakistan
Three French jihadists from Orleans were deported to France; they had been held in Pakistan since May 28, 2012 after entering the country illegally from Iran. They were detained with al Qaeda operative Naamen Meziche, whose arrest was announced in June 2012. Pakistani officials said at the time he was likely going to Somalia, but […]
Egypt
Sensing their vulnerability, kidnappers find Christians easy prey in Egyptian province
Afghanistan
A US fighter pilot died when his F-16 crashed 10 miles south of the Bagram Field runway last night in eastern Afghanistan. A Taliban commander and four fighters were killed in the Dangam district of Kunar province. Officials claimed that a NATO airstrike in Ghazni killed a civilian and four Afghan police.
Palestinian Territories
Palestinian Authority President Abbas plans to suspend unilateral moves at the UN to give US attempts to restart the peace process a chance. Palestinians and Israeli security forces clashed in Hebron. Fatah’s Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades threaten to retaliate against Israel for the death of a Hamas terrorist. UNRWA was forced to close many of […]
Egypt
Egyptian officials requested clarifications from Hamas as to why terrorists in Gaza have been permitted to fire rockets at Israel in recent days. A Togolese-flagged ship carrying an assortment of weaponry off the coast of Egypt was seized by Egyptian authorities. An EU envoy expressed concern regarding proposed legislation on civil society and NGOs in […]
Israel
The prime minister’s national security adviser said UN observers in southern Lebanon have done a poor job tracking Hezbollah armament buildup. Israel called on the UN to condemn recent rocket fire from Gaza.
Israel
Israeli reporters covering Palestinians face threats
Israel
New IDF commander charged with preventing another intifada
Libya
On a visit to Libya, US Senator John McCain dismissed rumors that the US plans to put troops on the ground to help with security, but said the US would help with training and equipment if so requested by the Libyan government. He also said that the spread of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb […]
The anatomy of green-on-blue tensions in Panjwai
An examination of the factors that lead to insider attacks and tensions in the volatile district and across Afghanistan.
Al Qaeda in Iraq leader’s fate highlighted in Facebook postings
Jihadist social media sites are asking supporters to pray for Abdullah Azzam al Qahtani, an al Qaeda in Iraq leader who admittedly proposed an attack against the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Al Qahtani, the sites say, was scheduled to be executed inside Iraq this week.
Tunisia
Security forces monitored Tunis airport after Salafist websites called for a big turnout to welcome Imed ben Salah, a.k.a. Abou Abdallah Ettounsi, who was ordered out of Egypt for helping produce false documents for jihadists traveling to conflict zones. The judiciary is investigating a jihadist recruiting network that sends fighters to Syria.
Algeria
The army has launched its biggest offensive so far this year against al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, arresting a senior commander and several fighters who were planning to execute suicide attacks in Ghardaia. Operations are ongoing in the southern provinces of Bechar, Adrar, Tindouf, Ghardaia, Laghouat and al-Bayadh. Security forces also killed seven armed […]
Netherlands
Some 150 Dutch young people of Moroccan origin are said to have gone to Syria to fight. The government has raised the terrorist threat level to ‘substantial’ due to concerns about jihadists returning from conflict zones, and estimated that nearly 100 people had recently left the Netherlands for jihad. Many of them are said to […]
Hezbollah
Syrian government guerrilla fighters being sent to Iran for training