Somalia
Shabaab has banned the International Committee of the Red Cross from working in areas under its control. Ethiopian troops have moved across the border into Luq in southern Somalia.
Author Archives: Bill Roggio
ISAF, Afghan forces capture al Qaeda ‘facilitator’ in east
The al Qaeda facilitator “coordinated insurgent activity throughout the area and provided reports to senior al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan,” ISAF stated. He is the first al Qaeda operative reported as killed or captured in Afghanistan in two months.
Afghan, ISAF troops kill IMU leader in north
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader was responsible for last year’s Christmas Day suicide attack at a funeral in Taloqan that killed 20 Afghans, including a member of parliament. ISAF reporting on raids against the IMU and al Qaeda has dropped off considerably.
Afghanistan
ISAF and Afghan troops killed an IMU leader behind suicide attacks in the north. A member of the High Peace Council was kidnapped in Kunar. The government wants to hold talks with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia. Britain’s Chief of Defence Staff General called the Afghan mission “amateurish.”
Iraq
The Iraqiya party has ended its boycott of parliament. The US Department of Defense cannot account for more than $2 billion in funds for Iraq. Insurgents killed a civilian in Samarra.
Somalia
The Kenyan military said its forces captured Delbio during fighting last week; two Kenyan and one Somali soldier were killed. The town was described as a key center used to distribute weapons and explosives to the Kenyan refugee camps in Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, and Dadaab.
Kenya
Police arrested Aboud Rogo, a radical cleric for Shabaab, during a raid in Kikambala; weapons and explosives were found at his home. Police failed to arrest Natalie Webb, a British woman who is believed to be a Shabaab financier; she is thought to have left the country.
Nigeria
Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa threatened to carry out mass-casualty attacks in Sokoto if its fighters are not released from prison. Abubakar Shekau, the emir of Boko Haram, distributed pamphlets in Kano urging Muslims to support the jihad.
Hamas
Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, goes back to Jordan
Afghanistan
For CIA family, a deadly suicide bombing leads to painful divisions
Afghanistan
President Sarkozy said France will withdraw from Afghanistan in 2013, one year early. Police killed five Taliban fighters and detained several more. Eighty insurgents reconciled with the government in Baghlan.
Iraq
Insurgents killed a soldier in Mosul, the daughter and wife of an Awakening leader in Fallujah, and a civilian in Kirkuk. Police arrested two female members of Vice President Hashemi’s staff.
Yemen
President Saleh is traveling to the United States for medical treatment. The military said its forces killed four al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in Zinjibar.
Somalia
Shabaab fighters kidnapped five teenage soccer players from Afgoye. Gunmen executed a director of Shabelle in Mogadishu.
Nigeria
Soldiers killed 11 Boko Haram fighters during clashes in the city of Maiduguri. Boko Haram spokesman Abu Qaqa vowed to fight the government until it is brought “to their knees” and sharia is imposed nationwide.
Islamist Egyptian MP calls for Zawahiri’s return
Aboud al Zomor, who served as Egyptian Islamic Jihad’s first emir and was jailed for his role in Anwar Sadat’s assassination, said that Ayman al Zawahiri is no threat to Egypt and should be given safe haven.
United Kingdom
Shabaaz Hussain admitted to funneling an estimated $14,000 to three British men to train for jihad in Somalia. Police found a large amount of jihadist literature, including videotapes from Abu Hamza and Osama bin Laden, during a raid on his home.
Afghanistan
Security forces killed and captured several Taliban fighters in Helmand, Khost, Wardak, and Kunduz. The Taliban killed a British soldier in Helmand. France will resume its training of Afghan forces. Afghanistan signed a strategic pact with Italy. NATO fuel purchases are depleting supplies used by Afghans.
Al Qaeda releases video of Saudi al Qaeda fighter killed in Waziristan
Before he was killed in Waziristan in 2009, Abdullah bin Muhsin al Shahri, who was known as Abu Rawada, discussed an al Qaeda cell that operated in Gardez, Afghanistan.
Iraq
A suicide bomber killed 32 Iraqis, including 16 policemen, during a Shia march in Baghdad. An Awaking leader was assassinated in Garma.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb named Nabil Makhloufi (AKA Nabil Abu Alqama) as its emir of the Sahara Emirate. AQIM’s leadership replaced Yahia Djouadi, the Sahara Emirate’s former emir, as he was considered ineffective.
Somalia
Shabaab beheaded three civilians in a public execution in Masagaway. More than 80 Somaliland troops and 21 members of a local militia were killed during a clash in Buhodle.
Nigeria
“Gunmen” kidnapped a German citizen in Kano in northern Nigeria, where Boko Haram has been active. The home town of the recently sacked inspector general of police has been locked down to prevent an attack by Boko Haram.
United States
Pentagon: Army, Marines to shrink as budget slows
Al Qaeda
Bin Laden raid commander seeks global expansion
Afghanistan
A suicide bomber who targeted foreign aid workers killed four Afghan civilians in Helmand. Afghan civil society activists disputed President Obama’s claim that the Taliban are in retreat and said al Qaeda fighters still remain in the country.
Iraq
Insurgents killed 17 Iraqis in attacks in Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Sadiyah. Security forces captured an al Qaeda leader who escaped from a jail in Mosul.
Yemen
Twenty-two people were killed during fighting between Salafists and Shia Houthis in Saada. Thousands of Yemenis in Rada’a celebrated the withdrawal of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula from their town.
Somalia
Somali pirates holding another American hostage moved him three times and threatened to kill him if another rescue was attempted. Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a captured 10 Shabaab fighters in Beled-Hawo.
Nigeria
Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram, claimed that Nigerian police and soldiers, and not his fighters, killed the 186 people in Kano last week. President Jonathan Goodluck called for negotiations with Boko Haram.