Taliban suicide bomber kills 20 in Pakistan’s northwest
The movement of the Taliban claimed credit for the suicide bombing in Pakistan’s contested tribal agency of Bajaur.
Author Archives: Bill Roggio
Afghanistan
Two Taliban fighters and a soldier were killed in fighting in Kunar. Six Taliban fighters died in a premature detonation in a mosque in Paktia. Security forces foiled a suicide attack in Kabul and captured an IMU leader in Kunduz.
United Kingdom
Ground-based air defence systems tested in Olympics security exercise
Yemen
In the latest release of Inspire magazine, slain al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leader Anwar al Awlaki called for chemical and biological attacks against the US. Former President Saleh’s son stepped down from commanding the 3rd Brigade of the Republican Guard.
Somalia
Kenyan troops opened fire on Shabaab military camps in Qoqaani. Shabaab is recruiting students from schools in Kismayo. “Gunmen” killed a Somali journalist in Galkayo.
Bin Laden told Shabaab to hide al Qaeda ties
The letter from al Qaeda’s emir to Shabaab leader Sheikh Muhktar Abu Zubayr confirms an August 2010 report from LWJ that detailed al Qaeda’s instructions to downplay links between the two terror groups.
Bin Laden advised relocation of some leaders to Afghanistan due to drone strikes in Waziristan
In late 2010, the al Qaeda emir said some of the group’s leaders and operatives should relocate from North and South Waziristan to the eastern Afghan provinces of Kunar, Nuristan, Ghazni, and Zabul.
ISAF captures IMU leader in Kunduz
Special operations forces have targeted two different IMU leaders in the Imam Sahib district over the past three days.
Afghanistan
Army procurement switch puts boot into Afghan dream
Al Nusrah Front claims attack at Iranian Consulate in Damascus
The terror group called the attack “a double special operation” as it targeted both Syrian security personnel and the Iranian Consulate.
Afghanistan
A Taliban suicide assault team attacked a civilian compound in Kabul, killing five people just hours after President Obama left the country. The Taliban announced the beginning of its 2012 spring offensive, and killed two ISAF soldiers in the east. Security forces killed 25 Taliban fighters.
Yemen
The Yemeni military said it killed 15 al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in airstrikes on a camp in Ja’ar. A second Yemeni security guard died of wounds from yesterday’s attack on a convoy in Hadramout. AQAP is distributing free gas and electricity to people living in areas under its control.
Somalia
Shabaab arrested four businessmen and clan elders in Afgoye for links to the Somali government. AMISOM appointed a Ugandan general to lead forces in Somalia.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, an al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb offshoot, demanded $30 million for the release of two European women aid workers and $20 million for the release of seven Algerian diplomats. The group also wants Algeria to free prisoners.
Taliban announce start of Al Farooq spring offensive
The “Al Farooq Jihadi spring operation” offensive will begin on May 3, and will target foreign and Afghan security forces, Afghan political and government officials, the Afghan High Peace Council, and anti-Taliban militias.
Taliban launch suicide assault in Kabul following Obama’s departure
Five Taliban fighters and five civilians were killed in the assault on a civilian compound in the Afghan capital. The attack took place just hours after President Obama reiterated that the US seeks a negotiated settlement with the Taliban to end the war.
Afghanistan
President Obama is in Afghanistan to sign a security pact with President Karzai. Security forces killed 19 Taliban fighters. Insurgents killed three policemen and two security guards in an attack on a NATO convoy in Farah.
Iraq
Insurgents killed 88 civilians, 20 soldiers, and 18 policemen in attacks in April. Iraq’s crude oil exported reached the highest level in decades.
Yemen
“Gunmen” in Hadramout province wounded Total’s French security chief and killed his Yemeni bodyguard. A Swiss teacher who has been kidnapped by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula pled with the Swiss government to negotiate her release.
Somalia
A suicide bomber killed three members of parliament and another Somali in an attack in Dusamareb. Eleven people were killed after Shabaab attacked Somali and Ethiopian troops in Hudur.
Nigeria
“Gunmen” killed three Christian traders in an attack in Potiskum. Security forces killed a Boko Haram fighter during a raid in Kano.
Shabaab suicide bomber kills 3 members of Somali parliament
The al Qaeda affiliate has executed 10 suicide attacks in Somalia already this year.
Droning on
A discussion at C-SPAN on the US’s use of unmanned aircraft in counterterrorism and military operations.
ISAF captures Taliban leader linked to Musa Qala suicide attack
The Taliban leader was involved in the assassination attempt against Haji Abdul “Koka” Wali, the chief of police for Musa Qala in Helmand province.
ISAF targets IMU leader in Kunduz
Special operation forces have conducted at least 16 raids against the al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan so far this year.
Yemen
Security forces killed 12 al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters outside of Lawdar. AQAP confirmed that Mohammed Saeed al Umda was killed in the April 22 US drone strike; al Umda served as Osama bin Laden’s bodyguard in Afghanistan.
Somalia
AMISOM claimed it has defeated Shabaab in Mogadishu, and the al Qaeda-linked group has been expelled from the capital. Shabaab took control of Radio Markabley in Bardere.
Nigeria
A Boko Haram suicide bomber killed 11 people and wounded more than 20 in an attack on a police convoy in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba state. A senior police official who was traveling in the convoy escaped unhurt.
Al Qaeda names new emir for Pakistan: report
Farman Shinwari, like his predecessor, has close ties to the Harakat-ul-Mujahideen and the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan.
AQAP confirms commander linked to Osama bin Laden killed in drone strike
Mohammed Saeed al Umda, who was killed in the April 22 airstrike in Marib, served as a member of Osama bin Laden’s “special bodyguard” before returning to Yemen to become a military commander.