Eleven Pakistani soldiers and 24 Taliban fighters were killed in heavy fighting after the Taliban assaulted five checkpoints in Mohmand. Pakistani security forces reportedly detained Nasiruddin Haqqani, the top financier for the Haqqani Network. The US transferred more than $600 million to Pakistan to fighter terrorists groups.
Coalition and Afghan forces killed and captured several Taliban commanders and fighters in Kabul, Logar, and Ghor. Special operations forces accidentally killed two security guards in Kabul. The Taliban killed two civilians in a bombing in Khost.
Insurgents killed five civilians in Hillah, two policemen in Samarra, and a surgeon in Baghdad. Security forces detained eight wanted men in Hillah. Police arrested a father, who killed his daughter because she joined al Qaeda.
Shabaab’s spokesman appealed to al Qaeda to send more fighters to Somalia to wage jihad against African Union forces and the Transitional Federal Government. Al Qaeda is rumored to have relieved Shabaab’s leader of command and replaced him with Ibrahim Haji Jama; the report is unconfirmed.
The Interior Ministry plans to create counterterrorism units in Marib, Shabwa, Hadramout, and Abyan provinces. The US requested that Yemen take “forceful action” against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Southern separatists released a captive Army officer.
Iran cannot confirm that Pakistan has detained the new leader of Jundallah. The chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps claimed that Qatar is ready to deepen military ties with Iran. President Ahmedinejad claimed UN sanctions have failed.
ISAF has retracted its statement that a Taliban commander who smuggled weapons from Iran was also a Qods Force operative. My sources maintain that the Taliban commander is indeed linked to Qods Force. This BBC article, which notes that Qods Force members have been detained by Afghan security forces in the past, may provide some […]
Eleven Pakistani soldiers and 24 Taliban fighters were killed in heavy fighting after the Taliban assaulted five checkpoints in the tribal agency.
Nasiruddin Haqqani was reportedly detained after returning from the hajj in Saudi Arabia, where he conducted fundraising for the Haqqani Network.
Asmatullah Bhittani commanded forces in Jandola and Tank, and directed suicide attacks on Shia in Karachi.
Security forces arrested six suspected members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan during operations over the past two days in Sughd province. Fifteen IMU members have been detained over the past two weeks.
Security forces are searching for four Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives who are thought to be planning attacks in the city of Mumbai. The men were identified as Abdul Karim Musa, Noor Abul Elahi, Walid Jinnah, and Mehfooz Alam.
Coalition and Afghan forces killed and captured dozens of Taliban and Haqqani Network commanders and fighters in Helmand, Ghazni, Khost, and Kunar. ISAF forces may have accidentally killed two civilians in Faryab. A suicide bomber killed a policeman in Faryab.
Shabaab confirmed it absorbed Hizbul Islam and called for more attacks against Uganda and Burundi. “We, al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam have united and we warn Uganda and Burundi forces and their people that we shall redouble our attacks,” Shabaab’s spokesman said.
A court sentenced Abdel Hameed Othman to 50 years in prison after being convicted of assassinations of police and military personnel, and acts of terrorism. Othman was the spiritual leader of the Egyptian Islamic Group.
Police issued a “precautionary” terror alert after a grenade attack in neighboring Kenya killed three people. “We have urged members of the public to be cautious against possible terrorist attacks at large gatherings, such as at places of worship, markets and social events especially during the Christmas and New Year festivities,” a senior police official […]
A Pakistani Taliban commander who aided in the murder of three US Special operations troops in the Pakistani district of Dir in February 2010 may have been killed in a recent US airstrike in Afghanistan’s Kunar province. From Express News, via AKI: Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) [or Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan] leader Hafeezullah and […]
Muslim insurgents killed two Rangers and wounded two women in an attack in the Rangae district of Narathiwat province. The Rangers were returning from meeting members of a local village defense force.
The Taliban commander is linked to the Qods Force, which aided in the shipment of weapons from Iran to Kandahar province.
The Abu Sayyaf Group released two Malaysian hostages who were captured in February in the Malaysia state of Sabah and moved to the Philippines. The government hopes to hold talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in January.
Three Australian Muslims of Somali or Lebanese origin were convicted of plotting to carry out a suicide assault against an Army base in Sydney. They can face life in prison. Two other men were acquitted of terrorism charges.
Coalition and Afghan forces killed and captured dozens of Taliban and Haqqani Network commanders and fighters in Helmand, Ghazni, Kandahar, Logar, and Khost. Seven Taliban fighters and five civilians were killed during a clash with ISAF forces in Helmand. The Taliban assassinated a district leader and his son in Herat.
Security forces killed a Syrian al Qaeda in Iraq leader in Mosul, and detained 35 wanted men in Maysan and 10 more in Kirkuk. Insurgents killed a soldier and a member of the health ministry in Baghdad.
Shabaab removed checkpoints formerly manned by Hizbul Islam on the roads south of Mogadishu. A former Hizbul Islam leader urged the group’s fighters to join the government. President Sharif urged soldiers to stop chewing khat.
Several people were killed and wounded during clashes between Houthis and pro-government tribes in Sa’ada. Yemen gave the names of 36 wanted terrorists to Interpol.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula announced the death of Abu Hammam Qahtani in a statement released on jihadist forums. Qahtani founded the Malahim Media Foundation, AQAP’s propaganda arm.
Abu Hammam Qahtani founded the Malahim Media Foundation, AQAP’s propaganda arm, which publishes Inspire Magazine.
The UN reportedly has proof that Hezbollah was directly involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Indictments of Hezbollah officials are rumored to be coming by the end of the year.
US embassy cables: Taliban using opium stocks like savings nest egg
ISAF’s top spokesman said there was “absolutely no truth” to rumors that special operations raids would target the Taliban in Pakistan. Pakistan’s ambassador to the US insisted foreign troops could not operate on its soil. The Taliban torched two NATO container trucks in Khudzar.