US concentrates Somalian air campaign around Jilib
Strikes in 2018 have been concentrated in and around the town of Jilib, whihc has been identified as a Shabaab safe haven.
Author Archives: Bill Roggio & Alexandra Gutowski
US kills four Shabaab jihadists in Somali airstrike
US forces killed four Shabaab terrorists in a strike in southern Somalia. The strike is the second since Feb. 19.
US conducted a record 131 airstrikes in Yemen last year
The United States conducted 131 counterterrorism strikes in Yemen, CENTCOM told FDD’s Long War Journal.
US conducts 10 counterterrorism strikes in Yemen
US forces conducted a record 120 strikes in Yemen in 2017 and appears to be operating at a similar tempo thus far in 2018.
Afghan and Coalition forces prepare for 2018 offensive against the Taliban
Afghan forces will be on the offensive in the coming year, but have significant challenges ahead.
US strike kills 4 Shabaab terrorists
The operation occurred approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo, the site of another recent airstrike.
US killed three ‘key’ AQAP leaders in Yemen
CENTCOM identified the AQAP operatives who were killed as “key Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leaders.” Their responsibilities included “external operations facilitator,” an operative who paves the way for attacks outside of Yemen, an arms facilitator, and a member of its proselytizing council.
US strikes Shabaab outside Somali capital
In the first strike of 2018, US forces have again halted an imminent car bomb attack intended for Somalia’s capital.
2017: A record year for US counterterrorism strikes
The pattern of operations in 2017 in what the Obama administration used to call areas outside of active hostilities indicates that the US will continue the reinvigorated air campaign in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya in the coming year.
US strikes Shabaab outside of Kismayo
The attack killed eight Shabaab fighters and destroyed one vehicle, according to the AFRICOM press release.
AFRICOM strike halts Shabaab car bomb attack
The US military has launched 32 strikes in Somalia since the beginning of 2017, more than doubling last year’s total of 15.
US strikes AQAP in Yemen’s Bayda
While announcing the strike, US Central Command provided a rare look into the targeting of AQAP’s network. Until now, the US military had provided few details on its efforts during 2017 to defeat the al Qaeda branch.
US targets Islamic State in northeastern Somalia
US Africa Command again struck the Islamic State’s network in the semi autonomous region of Puntland, killing one fighter.
US strike kills over 100 Shabaab fighters northwest of Mogadishu
US forces conducted a strike that killed 100 Shabaab fighters northwest of the capital, adding to a record month for the air campaign in Somalia.
Coalition kills 2 Islamic State external operations commanders in Iraq and Syria
Coalition forces killed 15 senior and mid-level Islamic State leaders and commanders, including two external operations planners, in a series of airstrikes that have taken place in eastern Syria and Western Iraq over the past two months.
November already AFRICOM’s most active month yet in Somalia
Although the month of November is only halfway complete, it is already the most active month of the Somalia air campaign against Shabaab and the Islamic State since its inception.
Map: US hits Islamic State in Yemen as jihadist attacks intensify in Aden
The US has stepped up its air campaign on the Islamic State’s network in Yemen as the group has intensified its attacks on Yemeni security forces in the alternate capital of Aden.
US launches 3 more strikes in Somalia
The US military continues to intensify its air campaign in Somalia against Shabaab and its rival, the Islamic State.
Iraqi forces recapture contentious Kirkuk in overnight offensive
The Iraqi government quickly capitalized on its victory against the Islamic State in the adjacent city of Hawija and turned its energy on the secessionist Kurds in Kirkuk. The rapid offensive exposes deep fault lines in the anti-Islamic State coalition and within Kurdish politics.
LWJ Map Assessment: Taliban controls or contests 45% of Afghan districts
As the United States enters a new phase of its war in Afghanistan, FDD’s Long War Journal presents a renewed assessment of the Taliban’s strength and disposition, with new interactive features.
US drones strike jihadists in Pakistan
The US is likely to step up drone strikes in Pakistan after President Trump accused Pakistan of harboring and supporting jihadist groups last month.
AFRICOM hits Shabaab with 3 ‘precision airstrikes’
AFRICOM has stepped up operations against al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa. The US military has now targeted Shabaab forces five times and killed 10 fighters over the past week.
US kills 4 Shabaab fighters in 2 separate airstrikes
The US military has stepped up its attacks on al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa after the jihadist outfit has regained ground over the past two years. AFRICOM has targeted Shabaab 10 times since the beginning of June.
Taliban overruns 2 districts in Afghan east
The Taliban continues to demonstrate that it can conduct concurrent operations across the country, while Afghan forces largely remain on the defensive.
Mapping terrorist groups openly operating inside Pakistan
For decades the country has permitted a number of jihadist groups to openly operate under its aegis. A map highlights the more prominent groups openly operating inside Pakistan.