Iraqi troops clashed with protesters in Hawijah; 20 protesters and six soldiers are said to have been killed. Seven soldiers and one “insurgent” were killed in clashes in Ramadi and Tuz Khurmato. Al Qaeda killed five family members of an Awakening leader. Security forces captured an al Qaeda governor in Babil.
Israel alleged that Syrian government forces had used chemical weapons, but US officials remained skeptical. Two Syrian bishops who had been abducted were reportedly freed; they are said to have been kidnapped by non-Syrians who spoke Arabic. The reports of their release have not been confirmed.
Three Yemeni soldiers and eight AQAP fighters were killed after AQAP attacked a base in Rada’a. A court sentenced 11 AQAP fighters to up to 10 years in prison.
Shabaab and Kenyan troops clashed in Dhobley; Shabaab claimed that it killed 12 Kenyan soldiers in the ambush. Another journalist was gunned down in Mogadishu. Ethiopia said it is preparing to withdraw all of its troops from Somalia.
A court sentenced Mokhtar Belmokhtar and four other jihadists to death in absentia. Four other defendants were sentenced to 13 years in prison. The government denied that Ansar Dine is seeking refuge on Algerian soil as military operations are underway in Mali.
Bomb suspect influenced by mysterious radical
Boston suspect: We learned how to make bombs from Inspire magazine
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Security problems persist in Tripoli
A massive car bomb destroyed much of the French embassy in Tripoli and wounded two guards. The Foreign Ministry said a French-Libyan team would investigate the “terrorist act.” On April 19, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb threatened to retaliate against France for its military mission in Mali. A soldier was shot in Benghazi, and […]
A senior police official said two suspects involved in a plot to blow up a train received “support from al Qaeda elements located in Iran.” A Linkedin page of one of the suspects displayed al Qaeda’s black banner.
Authorities arrested two men linked to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, following a lengthy investigation. Nou Mediouni, 23, an Algerian thought to have trained with AQIM in Mali, was detained in Zaragoza; Hassan El Jaaouani, 52, a Moroccan also with ties to AQIM in Mali, was detained in Murcia. Jaaouani had contact with those […]
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader “coordinated operations between IMU and Taliban networks” and directed suicide operations in Balkh province.
Boston bomb suspect: My brother was the mastermind
An appellate court refused the government’s bid to overturn a ruling that prohibits the deportation of extremist cleric Abu Qatada. He remains in prison following his arrest in March for violating bail conditions, and authorities are sifting through a large quantity of alleged extremist material seized from his home at the time.
Charges were filed in federal court in Massachusetts against Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. As a US citizen, he will not be tried in a military tribunal. He was given Miranda warnings, and could face the death penalty. The US agreed to an arms sale with Israel. Federal officials postponed implementation of a policy […]
Canadian authorities disrupted a major terror plot, arresting Raed Jaser, 35, in Toronto, and Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, in Montreal. The al Qaeda-linked terrorists planned to bomb a passenger train in the Toronto area and possibly other targets. The plot was said to be in the planning stage and not imminent. The US is helping in […]
The Taliban captured 11 people, including eight Turks and a Russian pilot, after their helicopter landed in Logar due to bad weather. ISAF killed a senior IMU commander in Balkh and a senior Taliban leader in Kandahar.
Insurgents killed six Iraqis in an IED attack at a restaurant in Fallujah and two construction workers at a jobsite in Nakhib near the border with Saudi Arabia. Security forces detained 12 wanted men in Mosul.
The EU for the first time relaxed Syrian sanctions, in order to ease shortages and provide economic support in rebel-held areas; the export of crude oil from those areas will be allowed, as will EU investments and the import of gas and oil technology. Gunmen kidnapped a Greek Orthodox bishop and an Assyrian Orthodox bishop […]
Qatar is focus as US weighs concerns about arming Syrian extremists
Mali: Who controls Kidal?
An Israeli delegation arrived in Turkey for discussions with Turkish officials on the potential for compensation for victims in the May 2010 flotilla incident. Defense Minister Ya’alon hinted that Israel had previously “acted” in Syria to prevent the transfer of advanced weaponry to Hezbollah. Ya’alon’s comment is believed to be in reference to the January […]
Authorities discovered weapons and drugs in a raid in the Sinai. At least one person was detained in the raid. Egypt announced plans to restart its nuclear program with the help of Russia. Prime Minister Qandil said the Egyptian cabinet will be reshuffled next week.
Why the FBI Didn’t Make Much of Russia’s Request to Probe Boston Bomber
Six people were killed as Shabaab and government forces clashed in Hudur. The government arrested six Shabaab fighters in Hiran and accused the terror group of killing a journalist in Mogadishu.
Boston’s Jihadist Past
Pakistan Building Up Second Gate in Eastern Nangarhar
Taliban’s Promotional Activities Rise in Kandahar
Jordan is said to have opened two corridors of airspace to unmanned Israeli drones, allowing them to monitor the situation in Syria. The government plans to ask the UN for help in dealing with the mounting Syrian refugee crisis. Foreign Minister Judeh reiterated Jordan’s call for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful transition of power in […]