Taliban touts more elite ‘Red Unit’ fighter training on social media
The Taliban again highlighted the Red Unit, the group’s special operations unit that spearheads its assaults throughout Afghanistan.
Author Archives: Bill Roggio
AFRICOM kills ‘foundational’ Shabaab leader in strike
AFRICOM has stepped up its air campaign against Shabaab since the beginning of the year, targeting the group 33 times.
Taliban touts training camps ‘still going on’ that prepare fighters for ‘war’
As U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls for the Taliban to honor a non-existent commitment to “reduce violence,” the Taliban continues to train for war.
Northern Afghan district falls to the Taliban
The district Yamgan in in Badakhshan has been under siege for several months before falling to the Taliban today.
Taliban attacks against Afghan security forces continue unabated
The Taliban has taken credit for 17 attacks per day against Afghan security forces. Despite promises from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the Taliban would “destroy” Al Qaeda, the Taliban has not lifted a finger against the group.
State designates Iran-backed League of the Righteous as Foreign Terrorist Organization
Additionally, the group’s leader, Qais al Khazali, and his brother, Laith al Khazali, have been listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Both Qais and Laith were in U.S. custody up until the withdrawal from Iraq in December 2011.
Dozens of Afghan security personnel killed in Taliban insider attack
The deadly assault in Zabul takes place as U.S. military officials continue to ponder if the Taliban’s drumbeat of daily attacks is part of the group’s overall strategy or the efforts of a “splinter” cell.
CENTCOM commander wrongly suggests ‘splinter’ Taliban group carrying out large number of attacks in Afghanistan
The U.S. military wonders if a “splinter” Taliban groups is responsible for attacks that are occurring in nearly every Afghan province. Meanwhile, the Taliban is claiming the attacks in its own name.
Since agreement with U.S., Taliban has attacked Afghan forces in 27 of 34 provinces
The Taliban has launched attacks in 27 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces against Afghan security forces since it signed an agreement with the U.S. that ensures American troops withdraw from the country.
Taliban religious decree calls for its emir to rule ‘Islamic government’ in Afghanistan
In a religious ruling, the Taliban said it “shall continue waging armed jihad” until it establishes the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan with its emir, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, in charge.
U.S. military perplexed by Taliban living up to letter of agreement
The agreement signed by the U.S. and the Taliban made no such stipulations that the Taliban must halt attacks on Afghan forces. Yet the U.S. military is surprised that the Taliban is striking Afghan forces.
AFRICOM kills Shabaab commander behind Manda Bay Airfield attack
U.S. Africa Command said it killed the Shabaab commander was “in charge of planning and directing terrorist operations” along the Kenyan border, including the raid on the Manda Bay Airfield. Three Americans were killed in that attack.
Taliban fighters train at Mullah Mansoor ‘Military Camp’
Taliban fighters are training in the open in a mountainous area that should be easily identified by the U.S. and Afghan militaries.
Taliban kidnaps American citizen as U.S. presses for ‘peace’
The kidnapping took place less than three months after the Taliban and the U.S. conducted a prisoner exchange that freed three senior Haqqani Network leaders and two America professors. The Haqqani Network is thought to be behind the latest kidnapping.
Taliban promotes ‘mujahideen’ graduates from one of its military training camps
The Mahmud Ghaznawi Military Camp. was previously identified by the Taliban as a training center for its “commandos.”
U.S. Air Force communications aircraft crashes in Taliban controlled district
Deh Yak district, where the E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node aircraft is said to have crashed, is one of the 11 districts in Ghazni that are under Taliban control.
Taliban admits ‘peace’ negotiations with U.S. are merely means to withdraw ‘foreign forces’
The Taliban could not be more clear about its unwillingness to share power with the Afghan government. “They shall continue to remain an insignificant party when it comes to major issues,” the group said in an official statement.
U.S. military buries press release that would announce killing of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent’s emir
The U.S. military has suppressed a press release announcing the death of Al Qaeda In the Indian Subcontinient’s emir for three months as his presence with the difficult. Asim Umar, his courrier to Ayman al Zawahiri, his staff, and even his wife were embedded with the Taliban in Helmand province when he was killed.
Taliban kills 2 U.S. soldiers in IED attack
The Taliban claimed responsibility for an IED attack in the southern province of Kandahar earlier today that killed two U.S. soldiers and wounded two more.
Iran launches ‘ballistic missiles’ at U.S. bases in Iraq
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the attack was “launched from Iran” and that it “targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military & coalition personnel at Al-Assad & Irbil.” No casualties have been reported.
Qods Force commander Soleimani’s carelessness put him in the U.S. military’s crosshairs
Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani became “complacent” while traveling to and from Iraq, and did not believe the U.S. would target him, U.S. military officials told FDD’s Long War Journal. The military was able to reliably track his movements at times.
Taliban says it ‘has no intention of declaring a ceasefire’
The Taliban has denied press reports, which it described as “false and baseless,” that it was on the cusp of declaring a ceasefire in Afghanistan.
Taliban launches suicide assault against Bagram Air Base as negotiations resume
The Taliban suicide assault takes place as the US and the Taliban have reopened negotiations that would allow the former to extricate itself from Afghanistan.
Analysis: How the U.S. arrived at this critical crossroads in Afghanistan
The decades of mistakes and deceit has led us to the brink of a major foreign policy failure. A peace deal will absolve the Taliban for its decades of steadfast alliance with al Qaeda.
U.S. offers $15 million for information on IRGC and commander behind Karbala attack
Abdul Reza Shahlai is one of Qods Forces’ most dangerous commanders.
3 senior Haqqani Network leaders to be freed in prisoner exchange
In exchange for two kidnapped U.S. and Australian professors, the Afghan government freed dangerous Taliban and Haqqani Network leaders Haji Malik Khan, Anas Haqqani, and Qari Abdul Rasheed Omari.
Taliban overruns district HQ in Zabul
Security in the southeastern Afghan province of Zabul continues to deteriorate as the Taliban presses it offensive there.
Afghan intelligence confirms death of AQIS emir
Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security claims it has confirmed that Asim Umar, the emir of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, was killed during a Sept. 23 raid in Helmand province. Other key AQIS leaders were also killed in the fighting.
Taliban commemorates 18 years of war that was fought to defend al Qaeda
In 2001, Omar was unwavering in his position that the Taliban was religiously obligated to protect Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda cadre. The Taliban has remained true to Omar’s words, and fought an 18 year long war to defend the terror group.
Taliban attacks Takhar’s provincial capital
The Taliban continues to use rural areas it controls to threaten major population centers, including provincial capitals.