FDD's Long War Journal

Afghanistan

Is terror not far away from Swat Valley in Pakistan? Taliban consolidating to recapture Swat

US adds Saudi al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan to terror list

Mansur al Harbi runs an al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan, and helps foreign fighters enter the country. He has close ties to top al Qaeda leaders, including Saif al Adel.

Afghanistan

Afghan Commerce Minister Wary of Antagonizing Pakistan

A judge ruled that Eldar Magomedov (a.k.a. Ahmad Avar) and Muhammad Adamov can be detained unconditionally. Magomedov, a former member of the Russian special forces, had received terrorist training in Pakistan; Adamov was trained in Afghanistan. The pair allegedly plotted with al Qaeda facilitator Cengiz Yalcin to bomb targets in Gibraltar via remote-controlled aircraft.

Afghanistan

ISAF killed al Qaeda’s emir and deputy emir for Kunar, and a facilitator in an airstrike on Aug. 3. Three Taliban commanders were killed during infighting in Balkh. President Karzai accepted parliament’s dismissal of the defense and interior ministers over cross-border attacks from pakistan.

Afghanistan

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of backing Taliban enemy

Infighting kills 3 Taliban commanders in northern Afghanistan

Infighting between two Taliban factions left eight militants dead, including three local commanders, and injured 10 others. Some Taliban survivors of the clash later defected to the Afghan government.

Al Qaeda emir for Kunar, deputy, and facilitator killed in airstrikes

Mufti Assad, the emir for Kunar, and his deputy, Yusuf, were killed in the Aug. 3 airstrike in the Watahpur district. Both al Qaeda leaders were Pakistani citizens. Fatah Gul, an al Qaeda facilitator who ran training camps, was killed in a separate strike.

Haqqani Network

US thinktank reveals Haqqani, Pakistan nexus

IMU announces death of emir, names new leader

The al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has announced the death of its emir, Abu Usman Adil, in a drone strike in Pakistan in April, and named Usman Ghazi to replace him. Adil was responsible for ramping up the IMU’s activities in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Afghan lawmakers vote to dismiss security ministers

Al Qaeda-linked fighters killed in airstrike in Kunar

Several “al Qaeda associated insurgents” were killed in the airstrike in the Watahpur district in Kunar, where two al Qaeda and two Lashkar-eTaiba leaders have been killed since the end of May.

Burma

Pakistan’s extremists whip up frenzy over Burma’s Muslims

Spain arrests 3 al Qaeda suspects

Spanish authorities announced the arrests of three suspected al Qaeda operatives who had allegedly amassed enough explosives to destroy a bus, or do even more damage.

Hamas frees al Qaeda-linked jihadist leader in Gaza

Abu al Walid al Maqdisi, the leader of the Tawhid and Jihad Group in Jerusalem, was freed after more than a year in prison. His release was announced by Masada al Mujahideen, one of six major jihadist groups operating in Gaza.

Egypt requests release of al Qaeda explosives expert

The Egyptian government has requested the release of Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed al Sawah from Guantanamo. Al Sawah was a top al Qaeda explosives expert before his capture, and designed the prototype of the shoe bomb used by Richard Reid, as well as magnetized limpet mines. He was originally a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the leaked JTF-GTMO file for his case notes that the US government has been spying on the Brotherhood.

Afghan intel kills 5 members of Haqqani Network suicide cell in Kabul

The Haqqani Network cell was planning to take over a high-rise building in Kabul. Three trucks packed with explosives, suicide vests, and weapons were seized during the raid.

Afghanistan

Pakistan and US sign troop supply deal

Afghanistan

US and Pakistan sign NATO Afghan convoy deal

Afghanistan

Pakistan, US ink MoU on NATO supplies

Senior Haqqani Network leader urges Turks to wage jihad in Afghanistan

Mullah Sangeen Zadran calls on Turks to fight in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and says that through jihad, “We will make Islam prevail in the world!”

Afghanistan

Haqqani Network Threatens US-Pakistani Ties

United Kingdom

Ayan Hadi, the wife of suspected terrorist Richard Dart, was charged with withholding information about acts of terrorism. Dart and two other men face charges relating to travel to Pakistan for terrorism training. Radical cleric Abu Qatada was denied release on bail.