Pakistan released Raymond Davis after the US paid “blood money” to two families; the US denied making the payments. US Predators killed five Taliban fighters in North Waziristan. The Taliban killed a driver and torched four NATO fuel tankers in Mastung. Security forces captured a “facilitator” involved in a recent suicide attack in Peshawar.
The US soldiers have been suspended while an investigation is underway into the deaths of two Afghan boys who were watering a field at nighttime.
Security forces killed and captured several Taliban and Haqqani Network commanders and fighters in Helmand, Kunar, Khost, Paktika, and Nangarhar. ISAF suspended a ground commander and a helicopter crew during an investigation into civilian deaths in Kunar. An Afghan military official said the Taliban killed 21 Afghan soldiers in the past 25 days.
Insurgents killed a policeman in Baqubah. Security forces detained 13 wanted men in Diyala. A court sentenced Baathist leaders Tariq Aziz, Ali Abed Hmoud, and Hussein Khidhierv to life in prison.
An Iraqi court sentenced Munaf al Rawi, al Qaeda in Iraq’s former leader in Baghdad, and five of his lieutenants to death for their involvement in several major bombings in Baghdad. Rawi gave up information that led to the deaths of Abu Ayyub al Masri and Abu Omar al Baghdadi, AQI’s top two leaders, in […]
Twenty more people were killed during shelling by both Shabaab and African Union forces in Mogadishu. The US said it was “disappointed” with the Transitional Federal Government for extending its mandate.
The Turkish Air Force ordered an Iranian plane destined for Syria to land at Diyarbakir airport. The Iranian plane is being inspected for suspected nuclear-related cargo.
The Israeli Defense Forces displayed more than 50 tons of weapons and ammunition, including advanced anti-ship missiles, seized from the Liberian-flagged Victoria cargo ship that was chartered by Iran. The IDF believes the arms were destined for Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Six people, including two policemen, were killed after security forces attacked a protesters’ camp in the capital of Manama. Security forces deployed armored vehicles and helicopters against the protesters, and succeeded in clearing the square.
More than 10,000 supporters of President Saleh attacked a group of 4,000 anti-government protesters in Sana’a, the capital. More than 120 people are reported to have been wounded in the attack.
Pakistan has freed Raymond Davis, the CIA contractor who shot and killed two Pakistanis in Lahore, after the US agreed to pay “blood money” to the families of those killed. Reuters reports: A CIA contractor was acquitted of two murder charges and released by a Pakistani court on Wednesday after a deal to pay “blood […]
Datta Khel is a known safe haven for al Qaeda and allied terror groups. Today’s strike is the fifth in Pakistan’s tribal areas in six days.
The Justice Department charged Ferid Imam, a Canadian Muslim, with aiding Najibullah Zazi in the failed NYC subway suicide bombing plot. Imam, who is still on the loose and thought to be in Pakistan, aided Zazi and two others in traveling to Pakistan for training with al Qaeda.
Police arrested Ricardo Ayeras, a founding member of the Rajah Solaiman Movement, a group of Christian converts to Islam that has allied with Islamist terror groups. Ayeras was arrested and released two times, in January and August 2007, and accused police of torture.
Security forces killed six Taliban fighters in Hangu and killed another Taliban fighter in Peshawar. The Taliban bombed two NATO fuel tankers in Kalat.
General Petraeus testified to Congress on Afghanistan. The Taliban killed a provincial council member in Laghman and a high school principal in Nangarhar. Security forces killed and captured several Taliban, HIG, and IMU fighters in Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Khost, Paktika, and Logar.
The full text of ISAF commander General David Petraeus’ testimony to Congress today is offered below, without commentary. Mr. Chairman, Senator McCain, it’s a privilege to be here today with Undersecretary Flournoy to report on the situation in Afghanistan. However, before I proceed, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the people of […]
Insurgents killed three civilians and a policeman in Anbar, and kidnapped five Yazidis in Mosul. Security forces detained nine Baathists in Diyala, and captured several wanted men in Baghdad.
Twenty people were killed in Mogadishu during mortar exchanges between Shabaab and African Union and government forces. Shabaab claimed the government’s offensive in central Somalia has failed, and said 20 Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a fighters were killed.
The Shabwan tribe in Marib province attacked a pipeline and cut off the flow of 120,000 barrels of oil a day. The government accused the Joint Meeting Parties of collaborating with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Houthi rebels.
US officials told The Long War Journal that Omar Hammami is believed to be alive. Somalia’s defense minister said last week that Hammami had been killed.
The king of Bahrain declared martial law to clamp down on protests from Shia minorities. More than 1,000 Saudi troops have deployed to Bahrain, while the United Arab Emirates promised to deploy 500 policemen.
In a message released by As Sahab, al Qaeda ideologue Abu Yahya a Libi attacked the West for supporting authoritarian governments and urged Muslims not to succumb to other dictators. “These uprisings showed that the infidel governments of the West only know their interests and the interests of their own people,” he said.
Forces loyal to President Gaddafi continue to march east toward Benghazi. Government troops are clashing with rebel forces in Brega, as rebels are reinforcing Ajdabiyah after airstrikes. The UN Security Council is still debating the imposition of a no-fly zone.
The Israeli Defense Forces intercepted a cargo ship laden with weapons for Hamas. “According to assessments, the various weaponry on-board the vessel was intended for the use of terror organisations operating in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF said.
A Taliban suicide bomber killed 37 Afghans at an Army recruitment center in Kunduz. The Taliban killed a civilian in an IED attack in Nangarhar. Security forces killed and captured several Taliban, HIG, and IMU fighters in Helmand, Kunar, Kandahar, Zabul, Ghazni, Khost, and Baghlan.
A suicide bomber killed nine soldiers in an attack on an outpost in Kanaan in Diyala. Insurgents killed a policeman in Mosul and a civilian in Baghdad.
US Predators killed six Taliban fighters in a strike in the Miramshah area of North Waziristan. The Taliban bombed a girls’ school in Khyber. Six more people were killed in violence in Karachi.
Shabaab claimed it defeated government forces in Beletweyne and took control of a military base. Shabaab denied it lost control of several of its bases in Mogadishu.
Protesters in Al Jawf province stormed a security headquarters and killed a general and two sergeants. Protesters also torched a police station in Aden. Yemen evicted four US and British journalists.