FDD's Long War Journal

Afghanistan

Tehran visit: Zardari likely to take up unmet $330m Iranian pledge

The US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces removed the judge from the case of Fort Hood shooter Major Nidal Hassan, citing the judge’s “appearance of bias” in requiring the defendant to appear in court clean-shaven and barring Hassan from using a courtroom latrine. The US military denied losing a drone over Iran.

Al Nusrah Front claims yet another suicide attack in Syria

The suicide attack is the 50th in Syria in the past 12 months; 41 of them have been claimed by the Al Nusrah Front.

Azerbaijan

Israel to use drones in Azerbaijan for possible Iran strike: report

United States

Defense Secretary Panetta said al Qaeda “continues to show up” in Afghanistan, where it is “looking for some kind of capability,” and that the US will continue to wage a counterterrorism mission against al Qaeda in Afghanistan after 2014. The Senate approved the imposition of new sanctions on Iran, to be added to the annual […]

Suicide bombers kill more than 30 in Syrian capital

Additionally the Al Nusrah Front claimed credit for a suicide attack outside of Damascus two days ago.

Somalia

“Gunmen” executed a tribal elder in Beledweyne; he was appointed the head of the elders in Hiran last week. Shabaab detonated a large bomb against African Union forces.

Al Nusrah Front claims 3 more suicide attacks in Daraa

The al Qaeda-linked terror group has now claimed credit for 39 of the 47 reported suicide bombings in Syria that the The Long War Journal has tallied since December 2011.

Spain

Authorities raided a company in Durango suspected of sending over a million dollars’ worth of dual-use energy machinery to Iran through Turkey in violation of international sanctions. Arrests were made and documents were seized, but the names and nationalities of those arrested were not disclosed.

Egypt

Will Mursi’s Egypt become a new Iran?

Hamas

Middle East shifts may weaken Iran’s influence with Palestinians

Turkey

The deputy prime minister revealed that Turkey is paying for Iranian natural gas with gold bullion, circumventing restrictions on using US dollars for payments to Iran. Russia, Syria, and Iran have condemned Turkey’s request for Patriot missiles from NATO.

Hamas

Middle East shifts may weaken Iran’s influence with Palestinians

Hamas

Qatar’s aid and Iran’s arms compete in battered Gaza

Hamas

For Israel, Gaza Conflict Is Test for an Iran Confrontation

Al Nusrah Front claims suicide attack at hospital, joint operation with Chechen fighters

The suicide attack targeted a military headquarters at a French hospital in Aleppo. In Handarat, Al Nusrah launched an assault on an air defense brigade base with a “battalion of Chechen emigrants.”

US adds Pakistani hawala, 2 Taliban financiers to terrorism list

Rahat Ltd., a Pakistan-based hawala, its owner, and the owner of the Quetta branch, were added to the terrorism list for supporting the Taliban, including Mullah Barich, the shadow governor of Helmand province.

Al Nusrah Front claims yet another suicide attack in Syria

The al Qaeda-linked group claimed credit for killing “not less than 60 elements” in an attack near the Turkish border.

Treasury adds Hezbollah leader who was in US custody last year to terrorism list

Musa Ali Daqduq has been added to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. He was in US custody a mere 11 months ago before being transferred to Iraq and subsequently freed, and his terrorist activities were well known.

Iraq

Insurgents killed seven people, including three Iranian pilgrims, in an IED attack in Balad. Iraqi clerics issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from marrying or doing business with members of terror groups.

US adds Taliban shadow governor of Helmand to narcotics kingpin list

Mullah Naim Barich, the Taliban’s leader for the southern Afghan province, was added “for the significant role he plays in international narcotics trafficking,” Treasury stated.

Iraq frees Hezbollah commander who helped mold Shia terror groups

Musa Ali Daqduq, who was tasked with establishing a Hezbollah-like Shia terror group in Iraq, and who was involved in the 2007 attack on US troops in Karbala, has been freed from Iraqi custody and is now in Lebanon.

Iraqi politicians backed into a corner on a Status of Forces Agreement?

The Obama administration’s insistence on a parliamentary debate may have doomed negotiations for a residual US force.

Al Nusrah Front claims 2 suicide attacks, joint operations with jihadist groups in Syria

The al Qaeda-linked group claimed it carried out joint operations with the Ahrar al Sham Brigades and Suqur al Sham. Al Nusrah has now claimed credit for 34 of the 42 suicide attacks that have been recorded in Syria since December 2011.

Somalia

The parliament approved the prime minister’s cabinet. Iran said it would open an embassy in Mogadishu. Shabaab claimed to have killed dozens of Ugandan and Kenyan troops.

Sudan

President Bashir threatened retaliation against Israel for an Oct. 24 airstrike on a Sudanese arms warehouse, and said Israel remains “the number one enemy.” Israel accuses Sudan of serving as a conduit for Iranian arms flowing into Gaza. Two Iranian warships recently arrived in Sudan.