Somalia
Shabaab has closed the offices of telecommunication and money transfer companies in central and southern Somalia. US “spy planes” have been spotted circling near the city of Beledweyne.
Author Archives: Bill Roggio
Muslim Brotherhood
A US diplomat admitted officials have met with members of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political front. “We have had direct contacts with senior officials of the Freedom and Justice party,” the diplomat said.
Spain
A Spanish judge ordered the release of five men detained on Sept. 27 on suspicion of supporting al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The men are still under investigation and the judge ordered the men to report to authorities twice a month.
Hezbollah
Religious Allegiances among Pro-Iranian Special Groups in Iraq
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
AQIM Returns in Force in Northern Algeria
Afghanistan
Special operations forces captured the Haqqani Network’s top commander in Afghanistan, along with his deputy and bodyguard. Afghan intelligence captured the Taliban leader who plotted the assassination of the head of the High Peace Council. Security forces killed and captured several Taliban commanders and fighters in Kandahar, Helmand, Khost, Wardak, and Laghman.
Iraq
General Perkins said al Qaeda has been severely weakened in the north. Security forces killed a suicide bomber in Mosul. Insurgents killed a doctor who works with the Army in Mosul and a security guard in Baqubah.
Yemen
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters killed three Yemeni soldiers in the contested city of Zinjibar. A Yemeni official claimed the government provided key intelligence that led to the deaths of Anwar al Awlaki and Samir Khan.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula bomb maker Ibrahim Hassan Tali al Asiri is also thought to have been killed in yesterday’s Predator strike that killed Anwar al Awlaki and Samir Khan. AQAP has yet to confirmed that Asiri, Awlaki, and Khan have been killed.
Somalia
Five people were killed during fighting between Shabaab and government forces in Mogadishu. US warplanes reportedly struck Shabaab camps in the El Bur area. Shabaab fighters chopped off a boy’s hand and foot for stealing and tore down advertisements in Mogadishu.
Special operations forces capture Haqqani Network’s top commander in Afghanistan
Haji Mali Khan served as the top Haqqani Network commander in Afghanistan. He established and ran training camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan, supported operations, and served as a key link to the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan.
Afghanistan
Afghans give Pakistan evidence in Rabbani killing
AQAP bomb maker Asiri thought killed in Yemen Predator strike
Ibrahim Hassan Tali al Asiri is considered to be al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s top bomb maker.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Awlaqi is first hit for new drone base
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Relief, anger at mosque where al-Awlaki preached
Pakistan
President Obama said the US
Afghanistan
The Afghan government plans to suspend peace talks with the Taliban. Security forces killed and captured several Taliban commanders and fighters in Kapisa, Khost, Kunduz, and Jawzjan. A CH-47 landed after taking ground fire.
Iraq
Insurgents killed 17 people in a car bombing at a funeral in Hillah. Security forces detained 23 wanted men in Basrah and 16 more in Diyala. Iraq may purchase more F-16 fighters.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
US and Yemeni officials said that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leaders Anwar al Awlaki and Samir Khan, both US citizens, were killed in a Predator strike in Al Jawf province. Five other AQAP operatives are also said to have been killed.
Al Qaeda
US on Uncharted Ground as Drone Kills 2 Americans
Afghanistan
No Afghanistan solution without Pakistan: Mullen
Somalia
Shabaab forces launched a three-pronged offensive in the town of Dhobley in southern Somalia. Thirteen people, mostly fighters from a pro-government militia, were killed. Kenya has deployed forces to the border.
Yemeni jihadi claims Anwar al Awlaki, Samir Khar killed in airstrike
“We consider him as a martyr and we ask mercy,” the jihadist stated about Awlaki in a post on an al Qaeda-linked forum.
Nigeria
Police claimed to have arrested a “top commander” for Boko Haram and five fighters. A Christian extremist group known as Akhwat Akwop threatened to retaliate against Boko Haram attacks.
Yemen claims AQAP cleric Anwar al Awlaki ‘killed’ in airstrike
The Defense Ministry claimed Awlaki and Samir Khan were killed in an airstrike in Al Jawf, but tribal sources claimed he was killed in Marib. President Obama called Awlaki’s death “a major blow to Al Qaeda’s most active operational affiliate.”
US Predators strike again in South Waziristan
The strike is the third in Pakistan this week, and follows a previous strike in the tribal agency on Sept. 27.
Afghanistan
Suicide attacks v2.0 bleeds Afghan police
Libya
Exclusive: Concern grows over militant activity in Libya
Pakistan
Pakistan never backed Haqqani network-spy chief
Pakistan
Any US attack on militants in Pakistan unacceptable: Pasha