Taliban ‘fleeing’ Arakzai to Khyber
More than 419 Taliban fighters and only eight soldiers have been reported killed during clashes in Arakzai since mid-March.
Category Archives: Long War Journal
Pakistani airstrikes in Khyber kill 45
Dozens of civilians and members of the Lashkar-e-Islam were killed in an airstrike on a tribal meeting attended by the Taliban-like extremist group.
Taliban release video of captive US soldier
Private First Class Bowe Bergdahl was captured by the Haqqani Network in June 2009. He was last seen in a Taliban video released on Christmas Day 2009.
Iraqi forces capture two senior al Qaeda leaders in Mosul
Al Qaeda in Iraq’s emir for Mosul and the emir for eastern Mosul are thought to have been detained during separate operations in the city.
35 killed in attacks against civilians in Baghdad
Seven bombs were detonated in residential areas of the capital as al Qaeda in Iraq attempts to reignite a sectarian war between Sunni and Shia.
Taliban assault on US consulate in Peshawar repelled
The terror assault team attempted to breach the outer wall and storm the consulate in the provincial capital, but was stopped by Pakistani security forces. In Dir, a suspected suicide bomber killed 30 people at a political gathering.
Terror attacks near embassies rock Baghdad, kill 41
Three suicide bombers targeted the Egyptian, Iranian, and German embassies one day after an al Qaeda assault team attacked just south of the capital, killing 25.
Hizbul Islam spokesman invites bin Laden to Somalia
Moallim Hashi Mohamed Farah welcomed bin Laden and foreign jihadists to Somalia and asked them to fight against the government and African Union forces.
Iraqi forces strike blow to al Qaeda in Iraq’s northern leadership cadre
Al Qaeda in Iraq’s top emir in northern Iraq and Mosul is among six leaders killed or captured since mid-March.
US sanctions two Europe-based al Qaeda operatives
Ahmad Khalaf Shabib al Dulaymi supports al Qaeda in Iraq as well as the global network, while Atilla Selek supports the Islamic Jihad Union and has operated in Pakistan.
Taliban leader escapes ambush in Pakistan’s northwest
Maulvi Noor Jamal, the Taliban’s leader in Kurram, survived an assassination attempt in Arakzai.
Caucasus Emirate leader takes credit for Moscow suicide attacks
Doku Umarov claimed the attack was revenge for a February raid in the village of Arshty in Ingushetia. Umarov reiterated that attacks inside Russia would continue.
13 killed in double suicide attack in southern Russia
The first bomber detonated outside police headquarters in Dagestan, the second struck during rescue operations. The blasts took place just two days after the double suicide attack in Moscow’s metro.
US strikes kill 6 in North Waziristan
Unmanned US aircraft struck a compound in the village of Tapi. Pakistani military kills 36 Taliban in neighboring Arakzai.
‘Black Widow’ female suicide bombers kill 37 in Moscow metro blasts
The Chechen ‘Black Widows’ return to Moscow and strike during rush hour to maximize civilian casualties. One strike took place at a station that serves the FSB headquarters.
Iraqi terror group frees US hostage
The Iranian-backed League of the Righteous has released Issa Salomi, a US civilian contractor, who was captured in Baghdad in late January. The terror group claimed Salomi was freed as part of a prisoner swap with the US military.
Iraqi election results: What do they mean for the biggest winners, Allawi and Maliki?
After winning the election by two seats, Iyad Allawi and the Iraqi National Movement will have the chance to form a government in the turbulent political landscape of Iraq.
US strike kills 4 in North Waziristan
The latest airstrike hit a compound in the Mir Ali region, a haven for the Taliban and al Qaeda.
Allawi takes slim lead in Iraq election
Former Prime Minister Allawi takes a two-seat lead over current Prime Minister Maliki in the final count. The contest to form the next government will begin after the vote is certified.
US, UN sanction al Qaeda in Iraq leader
Muthanna Harith Sulayman al Dhari, the son of the leader of Iraq’s radical Association of Muslim Scholars, provides logistical and financial support for al Qaeda in Iraq.
Taliban counterattack in Arakzai, overrun military outpost
More than 100 Taliban fighters overran a Frontier Corps outpost, killing five troops, including a senior officer, before the military retook control of the base.
Pakistan strikes Taliban camps in Arakzai
Pakistani fighter-bombers struck at hideouts in the Taliban-controlled trial agency. One of the targets was a seminary run by the Tablighi Jamaat.
Large-scale arrests in Saudi Arabia illustrate threat to the oil supply
Saudi Arabia announced arrests of 113 alleged al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists whom it claims were planning attacks against oil facilities. Over the past six years, al Qaeda and other jihadi groups have come to see attacks against oil targets as one of the keys to their economic strategy.
Former Gitmo detainee targeting Afghan charities
Abdul Hafiz, a former Gitmo detainee, has reportedly rejoined the Taliban and is leading efforts to terrorize charities operating in Afghanistan. Hafiz was transferred to Afghanistan in December 2009 and is the first reported recidivist released by the Obama administration.
US kills 6 in strike against Haqqani Network
The strike targeted the Haqqani Network and is the fifth since March 16.
Former Gitmo detainee leads top Taliban council
Mullah Abdul Qayum Zakir is one of two top Taliban leaders designated on March 19 to replace Mullah Baradar, who was detained by Pakistan last month. Zakir was released from Guantanamo in 2007.
US judge orders release of 9/11 recruiter
A judge has ruled that Mohamedou Ould Slahi should be released from Guantanamo. Slahi was a key recruiter of 9/11 point man Ramzi Binalshibh, tactical commander Mohammed Atta, and two other suicide pilots, and was a top facilitator in the failed millennium bombing plots.
Hekmatyar’s ‘peace plan’ calls for NATO withdrawal by 2011
The al Qaeda-linked leader sent a delegation to meet with the Afghan government. Conditions include an end to military operations and the withdrawal of “foreign fighters” after a NATO withdrawal.
US strike kills 4 in North Waziristan
The airstrike is the fourth in the Taliban-controlled tribal area in six days. The Taliban murdered four “US spies” in North Waziristan.
Kurram lashkar cuts deal with the Taliban
After 10 days of fighting, the two groups have signed a peace agreement. The Pakistani military claims success in Arakzai.