Islamic State
Syria’s Druze reject autonomous statelet despite growing ISIS threats
Author Archives: Lisa Lundquist
Syria
The Islamic State took over a number of villages near Ayn al Arab in northern Aleppo after YPG fighters withdrew. Islamic fighters and rebels battled both regime forces and the IS in Aleppo. The Al Nusrah Front clashed with Qabdat Al Shamal battalions and Omar Al Faroq battalions in Soran E’zaz in Aleppo over Al […]
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Embassy in London issued a statement refuting claims in the UK media that Saudi Arabia supports the Islamic State. Saudi Arabia has previously banned Islamic State predecessor ISIS, as well as the Al Nusrah Front, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Saudi branch of Hezbollah. In a recent interview, popular Saudi cleric Sheikh Mohammad […]
Iraq
Exclusive: Iraq tells UN that ‘terrorist groups’ seized nuclear materials
Tanzania
Eight people were wounded in Arusha, a key tourist destination, when an IED was thrown on July 7 into an upscale Indian restaurant popular with foreigners. On July 3, a bomb was thrown at the house of a Muslim cleric in Arusha, injuring him and another person. Police said they arrested two people in connection […]
Kenya
Security forces arrested some 70 suspects last in Lamu and Tana River in connection with last month’s violence in Mpeketoni, and charged two previously arrested suspects with murder. About 20 gunmen raided a police camp in Mpeketoni on the night of July 7, killing three people and burning down the camp. Unknown assailants attacked a […]
Somalia
President Mohamud fired his police and intelligence chiefs and replaced them, after yesterday’s Shabaab assault on the presidential palace in Mogadishu, the second this year. At least nine Shabaab fighters, most if not all wearing suicide belts, participated in the attack.
Libya
The UN is pulling “several dozen” of its mission staff from Libya due to deteriorating security. In Benghazi, a former revolutionary and political activist was shot dead, and a policeman was murdered; missiles blamed on Ansar al Sharia hit a TV station and the home of a doctor. Operation Dignity announced the arrest of four […]
Tunisia
The government raised the terrorism alert level following the recent deaths of 10 soldiers in two landmine explosions in El Kef. The army launched an operation in the Mount Ouergha area of El Kef yesterday. Four Islamist extremists faced charges on July 5 in Bizerte for violating the law on mosques.
Nigeria
The government has begun investigating links between several politicians and terrorist activities in the Balmo forest in Bauchi and Jigawa states, where security forces conducted a clearing operation over the weekend. Two former military heads of state met with President Jonathan and Adamawa governor Murtala Nyako and in an effort to stave off impeachment proceedings […]
Hamas
Hamas unveils bigger, better rocket arsenal against Israel
France
A French media report based on leaked documents indicated that suspect Ali M., an Algerian butcher in Vaucluse, corresponded for a year with a senior member of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb over a plot to bomb the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and a nuclear power plant; he was arrested in June before he […]
United Kingdom
Authorities are trying to track down Zahra and Salma Halane, 16, twin girls from Manchester who are thought to have traveled to Syria; one of their older brothers is said to be in Syria fighting for the Islamic State. Some 500 UK Muslims are thought to have gone to Syria to fight. Regarding an alleged […]
Iraq
ISIS Is About to Destroy Biblical History in Iraq
Israel
The military launched Operation Protective Edge, conducting airstrikes on over 150 targets in Gaza. Hamas’ Al Qassem Brigades claimed to have fired rockets at Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa. At least 17 Palestinians are reported to have been killed and over 100 wounded. Top Islamic Jihad militant Hafez Hamad, his two brothers, and his parents […]
Syria
Several rebel groups, including the Syrian Rebel Front and the Harakat Hazm, both active in Idlib, and the Al Nusrah Front, said they have created an elite force of 600 fighters to help stave off the regime attempt to take over Aleppo. In Deir Izzour, the Islamic State blew up houses of Al Nusrah commanders […]
Hamas
17 Dead, Over 100 Hurt as Israel Attacks Gaza and Hamas Shells Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv
France
Holder Urges Europeans to Step Up Antiterrorism Tactics
Lebanon
Security sources warned that suicide bombers from the Al Nusrah Front and other extremist groups are preparing to launch attacks, possibly in Shiite and Christian areas. Extremists from Syria infiltrated into Arsal and executed the father of a teenage boy who had been similarly executed in Arsal last month. Would-be Saudi suicide bomber Ali al-Thweni […]
Iran
Iran’s supreme leader calls for more nuclear enrichment capacity
Al Qaeda
Islamists Seek Support in German Prisons
Somalia
Three days after a Shabaab suicide attack outside the main gate of Parliament, a Shabaab assault team including suicide bombers launched an attack on the presidential palace in Mogadishu. Security forces repulsed the attackers after they had breached the perimeter wall, killing three of them. Suspected Shabaab militants bombed a Gedo restaurant at lunchtime on […]
Islamic State
Jihadis Tug at Edges of a Staunch American Ally
Europe
Is Obama’s Foreign Policy Too European?
Bahrain
Bahrain declared US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski “unwelcome” for allegedly interfering in Bahraini affairs, after he met with senior members of the country’s main opposition group, the Shiite organization Al-Wefaq. Various NGOs in Bahrain condemned the move. Malinowski had also met with leaders of other groups.
Al Nusrah Front
Fears of ISIS grow in Lebanon
Libya
Six people were murdered in Benghazi last night, including a Saiqa special forces soldier. Sabri police station in Benghazi was bombed to the ground in two attacks over the past two days. In response to recent Ansar al Sharia attacks on Benina Airbase, Khalid Haftar’s Operation Dignity forces bombed Ansar Al-Sharia and 17 February Brigade […]
Germany
The Interior Ministry said authorities have stepped up security at airports after a request by the US triggered by fresh concerns that al Qaeda may be trying to smuggle bombs on board airliners to the US. The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has warned that Islamist terrorism has become the number one threat to […]
United Kingdom
Birmingham residents Nahin Ahmed and Yusuf Sarwar, both 22, who had fought in Syria for jihadist groups and were arrested on their return to the UK, pled guilty to terrorism charges. Although police believe the two fought for the Al Nusrah Front, they had initially said they were planning to join the Emigrant’s Army, and […]
France
France set to prevent jihadists going to fight or train abroad