Osama bin Laden’s endorsement of the Somali al Qaeda affiliate Islamic Courts Union has caused some consternation within the organization. Osama bin Laden referred to the Islamic Courts as “our kinfolk and brother mujahidin,” and implored them to “Seek God’s help and prepare the necessary means, especially tank mines and anti-armor RPG’s. Be patient like […]
Mullah Dadullah on Al Jazeera. Kabul, Afghanistan: Kabul remains calm as demonstrations failed to materialize following Friday’s day of pray in the mosques throughout the city. Afghan, Coalition and United Nations intelligence feared further protests would be organized to punctuate fiery sermons from radical mullahs, but there were no reports of protests or violence in […]
Recent activity on the Afghan-Pakistan border. Click to Enlarge. The latest estimate of Taliban casualties during the fighting over the past few days is approaching 200, with 25 Coalition, Afghan security forces and civilians killed. The Daily Times of Pakistan reports the fighting around Kandahar City, which was initiated by two separate Coalition operations, resulted […]
The debate over Iraq being a safe haven and training ground, or a magnet and killing ground for terrorists has been ongoing since the inception of al Qaeda’s terrorist attacks in the summer of 2003. The reality is there is merit to both arguments. al Qaeda has managed to establish enclaves for small periods of […]
The Army Times’ Sean Naylor has a fascinating article on Task Force 145, which has replaced Task Force 626 and 121, and the hunt for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, which I have summarized below: – Zarqawi was nearly captured in Yusufiyah by Special Operations Forces nine days prior to the release of his videotape. Segments of […]
Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas Yesterday’s rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy and NATO’s International Security Assistance Force compound in Kabul, Afghanistan highlights the increased level of violence throughout the country. Coalition and Afghan troop have seen a marked increase in suicide bombings, IED (roadside bombing) attacks and platoon and company-sized […]
The London Times reports plans are in the works for “the second liberation of Baghdad” after the new government forms; operational developments in Iraq
Another senior al Qaeda middle-manager taken down in Iraq; said to have ties to bin Laden and Zawahiri
A joint brigade-sized Afghan and U.S. operation in Kunar Province
Sistani, Talabani and Sunni parties call for an end to the political deadlock for the selection of the Iraqi Prime Minister
Pakistan reacts to Taliban attacks in North Waziristan after a week of fighting on the Afghan/Pakistan border; Taliban active in Tank, Khyber and Peshawar Agencies
More reports of possible divisions between SCIRI and Jaafari’s Dawa party, and the greater game with Iran
Multinational Forces – Iraq reports Iraqi Special Forces led the fight against the Madhi militia in Baghdad.
U.S. and Iraqi forces mix it up with Sadr’s Mahdi Army at a Baghdad Mosque, around 20 Madhi fighters killed
More fighting in Talibanistan, and Helmand province, Afghanistan
An update on North & South Talibanistan, and across the border in Afghanistan
Drawing the battle lines on the Afghan-Pakistani border
Fighting continues in North Waziristan; Shariah law declared in South Waziristan; The worst-case scenario
Political developments, where’s the civil war, and Operation Tribal Chivalry launched in Anbar – by tribal sheikhs?
The strike in Danda Saidgai, suicide bombing in Karachi & fighting in Miranshah make Pakistan’s “miscreant” problem difficult to paper over
Pakistani Army initiates an offensive in Waziristan as President Bush begins tour of the region
The bombing at the Golden Mosque has not instigated civil war in Iraq
A status report on the violence in Iraq and prospects for civil war; Sadr’s role
Refinery in Saudi Arabia attacked following the destruction of the Golden Mosque in Samarra
al Qaeda likely conducted attacks; attack can lead to civil war or provide opportunity for Sunnis and Shiites to unite; al Qaeda may have made yet another miscalculation
Al Bawaba reports “US, Iraqi forces closing on al Zarqawi” in northern Iraq
A recent upsurge in violence in Pakistan’s tribal regions (or Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province) is a cause for great concern for the United States and her allies in the War on Terror. In the past, Pakistani forces conducted several offensives in the region, with mixed results. The tribal area of […]
HUSAYBAH, IRAQ: The morning began with a patrol in the darkness to a home on the far side of Husaybah. 1st Platoon of Lima Company, 3rd Marines, 6th Battalion, received a tip that am Improvised Explosive Device was located outside the home. After a scan of the property, the joint Marine & Iraqi Army squad […]
Reports from Pakistan indicate that senior al Qaeda operative Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, also known as Abu Musab al-Suri (the Syrian), has been arrested in a raid. Andrew Cochran has a roundup of links at The Counterterrorism Blog, including a profile by Evan Kohlmann and a discussion by The Investigative Project‘s Lorenzo Vidino on al-Suri’s relationship […]
While President Ahmadinejad’s call for the annihilation of Israel elicited (and rightly so) a great deal of international outcry even among the Iranian regime’s staunchest defenders, at some point one must consider that it is far more important what the Iranian government does than what it says. Towards that end, I would like to call […]