Yemen
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula offered its condolences for the death of Hakeemullah Mehsud, the former emir of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan. Five people were killed and seven more were wounded in a grenade attack in Damar.
Author Archives: Bill Roggio
Senior Haqqani Network leader killed in Pakistan
Nasiruddin Haqqani, a senior leader and financier in the al Qaeda-linked Taliban subgroup, is reported to have been killed during a clash in Pakistan.
Afghanistan
Security forces killed 18 “rebels” in airstrikes in Zabul,
Yemen
The government has begun the trial of a cell of eight al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters who plotted to kill President Hadi. Fighting between Salafists and Houthis has resumed in Dammaj in Sadda province.
US continues to claim al Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan is minimal
Although Obama administration officials and the military have stated for the past four years that al Qaeda has a minimal presence in Afghanistan, the group and its allies continue to sustain operations in the country.
Pakistani Taliban threaten US for killing leader in drone strike
The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan also praised former emir Hakeemullah Mehsud for “the consolidation of the idea of global Jihad and the Caliphate,” and claimed “sorcery” was responsible for a lingering illness.
Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant killed five people in two bombings outside a Sunni mosque in Baghdad, two policemen in a bombing in Fallujah, and three soldiers in an attack in Anah. Security forces found the body of a wanted al Qaeda leader near Kirkuk and detained nine wanted al Qaeda fighters […]
Al Qaeda
Somalia: Shabaab ousts traditional elders in favor of loyalists
Al Qaeda
Suicide bombers in Tunisia, from one decade to another
Libya
The Army of Islamic State of Libya: Derna’s mystery militia
Yemen
The Yemeni Air Force killed five al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in a series of air strikes in Al Mahfad area of Abyan province over the past three days. The area is a known stronghold for AQAP.
Mullah Fazlullah’s appointment indicates business as usual for Pakistani Taliban
Negotiations are unlikely, attacks will continue, alliance with al Qaeda will remain, and the US drone program will have to expand beyond Waziristan to target the group’s top leaders.
Pakistani Taliban’s new deputy emir directed suicide operations, is an ‘intellectual’
Sheikh Khalid Haqqani, the new deputy emir of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, was involved in suicide attacks as far back as 2008 and has been featured in the group’s propaganda.
Pakistani Taliban to target military, government to avenge leader killed in drone strike
Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani claimed that civilians would not be targeted, even though civilians are regularly targeted by the Taliban.
Afghanistan
The Taliban killed three intelligence officials in an IED attack in Khost. On Nov. 3, Afghan forces killed nine Taliban fighters while repelling an attack in Ghazni. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s nephew was arrested for the murders of a policeman and a civilian.
Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham killed three soldiers in a suicide attack in Ana, four civilians in a bombing in Karbala, two more civilians near Baghdad, and four policemen in an IED attack in Amiriyah. Police killed a suicide bomber in Baghdad. Security forces captured eight ISIS fighters in Ninewa.
Pakistani Taliban name Mullah Fazlullah as new emir
The firebrand cleric from Swat replaces Hakeemullah Mehsud to lead the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan. Fazlullah led the Taliban takeover of Swat and neighboring districts in 2007. He is currently sheltering in Afghanistan’s Kunar province.
Al Qaeda
US holds talks about Yemen detention center for Guantanamo inmates
Afghanistan
The bodies of seven Afghan soldiers who were captured by the Taliban last week and then executed were found in Zabul. Security forces killed seven Taliban fighters in Kandahar, Wardak, and Paktika. The NDS captured a Taliban suicide attack planner and executioner in Paktika.
Iraq
An Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham suicide bomber killed seven policemen after ramming an explosives-laden oil tanker into a police station in Al Salam. “Gunmen” killed a senior judge in Mosul. Security forces captured al Qaeda’s deputy governor for Baghdad during a raid in Taji.
Afghanistan
A Taliban suicide bomber killed a British soldier in Lashkar Gah in Helmand; another suicide bomber killed only himself in Spin Boldak in Kandahar. Five Taliban fighters and a policeman were killed in a clash in Nangarhar. Security forces captured two IMU fighters in Kabul.
Afghan intel captures 2 IMU fighters in Kabul
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan fighters trained in Pakistan’s Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan and were involved in recent fighting in the northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan.
Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq killed 13 people, including three soldiers, four policemen, and an Awakening commander, in attacks in Mosul, Kirkuk, Fallujah, and Baghdad. The death toll in Iraq has surpassed 5,500 for this year. Security forces captured five al Qaeda fighters in Ninewa.
Afghanistan
Afghan security officials claimed that police and army units killed 17 Taliban fighters during operations. The Taliban killed an ISAF soldier on Nov. 3. President Karzai denounced the US’ killing of Pakistani Taliban emir Hakeemullah Mehsud.
Afghanistan
As US withdraws from Afghanistan, poppy trade it spent billions fighting still flourishes
Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant killed 12 people and wounded more than 30 in a series of bombings and attacks in Baghdad, Hawijah, Taji, and Mosul. In the Hawijah attack, a pair of suicide bombers killed two policemen outside the gate of a police station.
Shabaab
Somalia’s future relies on an army that does not yet exist
Pakistani Taliban publish picture of Hakeemullah before burial
Umar Media, official propaganda outlet of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, published the photograph of their emir, who was killed by the US on Nov. 1.
Iraq
A suicide bomber killed two policemen in an attack in Tal Afar. Terrorists killed two soldiers in Mosul and a police major in Baghdad. Insurgents bombed an oil pipeline near Kirkuk. Iran criticized Iraq for increasing oil exports.
Yemen
More than 58 people, including three today, were killed during clashes between Houthi rebels and Salafists in Dammaj in Saada province. The government has called for a ceasefire, and the International Red Cross said it has been denied access to Dammaj. An intelligence officer was wounded in a bombing in Aden.