Monthly Archives: July 2013

Algeria

Security forces ambushed a car carrying four terrorists in Bouira province on July 19, killing all four when the vehicle caught fire. Among the dead were Bourihan Rabah a.k.a. Ayadh Abou Aberrahmane, who was head of inter-zonal communications for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; and AQIM communications officer and Rabah deputy Lafi Lakhdar a.k.a. […]





Syria

Syrian Sunnis fear Assad regime wants to ‘ethnically cleanse’ Alawite heartland




NSA

Official: Snowden did not get ‘crown jewels’


United States

The House Intelligence Committee warily endorsed the administration’s plan to arm the Syrian rebels; the Senate Intelligence Committee gave its tentative approval last week. Pentagon chief Gen. Dempsey discussed options for a Syrian intervention, noting that a significant campaign against the Assad regime would cost “billions” and involve “thousands” of troops and “hundreds” of aircraft […]




Afghanistan

Five Taliban fighters and two members of the Afghan Local Police were killed in fighting in Laghman. The Taliban killed four soldiers in an IED attack in Zabul. Taliban members are eligible to receive voting identification cards. Denmark pulled the last of its combat troops from Afghanistan, well ahead of the planned withdrawal date of […]


Iraq

Al Qaeda in Iraq launched suicide assaults on prisons in Abu Ghraib and Taji; more than 500 al Qaeda leaders and fighters escaped Abu Ghraib, while the attack on Taji was defeated. Twenty-six policemen and 10 al Qaeda fighters were killed. A suicide bomber killed 23 Iraqi soldiers and two civilians in Mosul.


Syria

A top UN official said both sides in the conflict risk prosecution as war criminals for atrocities against children. A reporter for the pro-rebel Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was killed in Aleppo. Al Nusrah Front fighters targeted a military branch and a checkpoint with two suicide car bombs in Homs. Among a number of […]


Egypt

Clashes between supporters and opponents of former president Morsi wounded 112 people in Suez, and left at least four people dead near Cairo. A health ministry official said 21 people have been killed in attacks in the Sinai since Morsi’s ouster. Authorities arrested 18 terrorists who were reportedly planning attacks on foreign embassies, and extended […]


Israel

Authorities have taken a number of steps to help protect Eilat-bound planes from being targeted by jihadists operating in the Sinai Peninsula. Israeli officials welcomed the EU’s decision to designate the military wing of Hezbollah as a terror organization. Senior foreign ministry officials said the chance of a permanent settlement with the Palestinians is unlikely.


Palestinian Territories

President Abbas said any agreement with Israel would be brought up to a referendum. Abbas also said that “all options are open” if there is no progress in peace talks with Israel. Hamas official Abu Marzouk denied that the group’s al Qassam Brigades is operating in Egypt.


Malaysia

Malaysian Muslims ask Vatican to recall envoy over use of “Allah”









Somalia

Ethiopia is withdrawing troops from the former Shabaab stronghold of Baidoa and will redeploy them to other areas where the al Qaeda-linked militants maintain a greater presence. Some 8,000 Ethiopian troops with the AMISOM force are currently in the country. The UN recently accused Eritrea of continuing to support Shabaab by paying for Islamists to […]


NSA

NSA growth fueled by need to target terrorists



Egypt

Jackson Diehl: Egypt’s ‘democrats’ abandon democracy


EU adds Hezbollah’s military wing to terror list

European Union foreign ministers today reached a unanimous decision to designate the military wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. In the past, the terror group has denied that Hezbollah has separate political and military wings.