FDD's Long War Journal

Afghanistan

Afghan police deaths double as foreign troops withdraw

A district intelligence chief in Mogadishu was gunned down outside of his home. A government official was killed in an IED attack in the capital. Heavy fighting between Shabaab and Somali troops was reported in El Barde.

Still more questions about the proposed US military intervention in Syria

The Obama administration has so far failed to articulate a coherent strategy towards Syria. Will punitive airstrikes serve US interests?

Taliban suicide team hits base at border crossing with Pakistan

The fighting forced the closure of the Torkham-Jalalabad road in Nangarhar, a key route from Afghanistan that is used to ferry NATO supplies from Pakistan. Dozens of trucks carrying fuel and supplies for NATO forces were destroyed.

Pakistan

Jihadist Teachings Drawn Back Into Classroom In Pakistani Province

Chechnya

Chechen Leader Pulls Out Of Russian-Landmark Contest, Charging ‘Fraud’

Al Qaeda

Insight: As Obama blinks on Syria, Israel, Saudis make common cause

United States

Drug Agents Use Vast Phone Trove, Eclipsing N.S.A.’s

Pakistan

TTP raids house of sacked Punjabi Taliban chief

Afghanistan

Rahmatullah Nabeel appointed as Afghan intelligence chief

France

Interior Minister Valls said that France “cannot go it alone” on Syria and would wait for the US Congress’ decision. The government released an intelligence assessment blaming the Assad regime for the Aug. 21 attack in Damascus and describing the regime’s extensive chemical weapons arsenal. The leaked French intelligence report claims that the Assad regime […]

United Kingdom

Foreign Secretary Hague said the UK would offer only diplomatic support to its allies in any Syrian military intervention. A British colonel denied claims that UK troops abused, mutilated, or executed Iraqis after a fierce battle near Majar al-Kabir in southern Iraq in May 2004.

Afghanistan

India to Boost Commando Presence in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

MoFA Approves Plan to Open Taliban Office Outside Afghanistan

United States

The Obama administration is lobbying Congress to support a proposed military intervention in Syria. Secretary of State Kerry claimed that traces of sarin gas were found in samples from Damascus on Aug. 21. The USS Nimitz carrier strike group headed towards the Red Sea; the US naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean has doubled in […]

Jordan

Abu Qatada’s Jordan trial to start within ten days

Supreme Military Council

Planning Under Way for Possible Syrian Collapse

Pakistan

Ansarul Muhajideen killed nine Frontier Corps troops in an IED attack in North Waziristan. The Taliban killed a member of a pro-government militia in Swat. The government denied it is conducting peace talks with the Taliban.

Iraq

The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq claimed that Iraqi soldiers guarding the camp killed 44 of its members; two Iraqi soldiers are also reported to have been killed. The United Nations said that more than 800 Iraqis were killed during fighting in the month of August.

Syria

The Arab League passed a resolution urging the UN and the international community to “take the deterrent and necessary measures against the culprits … that the Syrian regime bears responsibility for.” Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said his country would back a US strike if the Syrian people did. A rights group said that 110,371 people […]

Ansarul Muhajideen kills 9 Pakistanis in IED attack in North Waziristan

The terror group’s spokesman claimed the attack was carried out to avenge yesterday’s US drone strike that is said to have killed four members of the Turkistan Islamic Party.

Shabaab deploys ‘new batch of Mujahideen fighters’

The al Qaeda affiliate said it was sending newly trained fighters to serve in the “Ali bin Abu Talib” battalion in central Somalia.

Syria

Skepticism Runs High On Capitol Hill After Classified Syria Briefing

Israel

Authorities announced that they had foiled a Hamas terror plot aimed at a Jerusalem mall. Most of the reserve soldiers recently called up in preparation for possible strikes in retaliation for Western strikes in Syria were sent home. Prime Minister Netanyahu called on government ministers not to publicly respond to President Obama’s decision to request […]

Egypt

The public prosecutor announced that former president Morsi will be tried for inciting violence. Authorities destroyed a number of homes near Gaza as a ‘prelude’ to the possible construction of a buffer zone with the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave. A top jihadist recently arrested in the Sinai admitted to being responsible for the recent killing of […]

Hamas terror plot targeting Jerusalem mall foiled

Israeli authorities announced that they have successfully foiled a Hamas-backed terror plot aimed at a Jerusalem mall. They said the plot shows that Hamas continues to attempt to carry out attacks from the West Bank.

Somalia

Shabaab claimed it killed 16 Ethiopian and 12 Somali soldiers in an attack in Ceelbarde, and 12 more Ethiopian troops in Bay. Shabaab also said that newly trained “Mujahideen fighters” are being deployed to Hiran and Galgaduud and are to serve with the “Ali bin Abu Talib” battalion.