FDD's Long War Journal

Afghanistan

The Inside Story of How the White House Let Diplomacy Fail in Afghanistan

China

US Weighs Risks and Motives of Hacking by China or Iran

Iran announced it planned to build 3,000 advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges while it phased out 12,000 older generation centrifuges. In February, Iran began installing the new centrifuges at its main Natanz uranium enrichment facility. An Iranian dhow carrying Chinese antiaircraft missiles was seized off the Yemeni coast.

United States

From Hollywood to Kansas, drones are flying under the radar

Gulf States

The six monarchies of the Gulf Cooperation Council criticized the world’s inaction on Syria. They also condemned Iran’s interference in their internal affairs.

Hezbollah

Hezbollah-Israel Psychological War Continues in Nasrallah Speech

Syria

Rebels from the al Qaeda-linked Al Nusra Front and others overran a prison in northern Raqa province, releasing hundreds of prisoners. After a week of heavy fighting, rebels captured large parts of a police academy near Aleppo. Shiite fighters from Iraq and Lebanon joined Syrian Shiites defending a shrine south of Damascus.

Afghanistan

Helmand’s Remarkable Security Gains Remain Fragile

Afghanistan

Afghan MOD Asks ISAF to Halt Military Base Demolitions

Iran

In talks with Iran, reality tempers hopes on nuclear deal

Salafists

‘Harlem Shake’ pits students against Salafists

Palestinian Territories

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is requiring exit visas for Palestinians who wish to enter Israel or the West Bank. Hamas reportedly rejected recent shipments of weapons from Libya that had tracking devices that Israel could allegedly monitor. Hamas PM Haniyeh called on Palestinians to continue protests in the “prisoners Intifada.”

Egypt

US Secretary of State Kerry met with President Morsi and announced that the US will provide Egypt with $190 million to aid the Egyptian government’s budget. The Salafi Nour Party met with Jama’a al-Islamiya to discuss the formation of an alliance for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Israel

Prime Minister Netanyahu said Iran is using talks with world powers only to stall for time in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Israel plans to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing, which it closed following last week’s rocket attack from Gaza. Senior Israeli official Moshe Yaalon reiterated that Israel is closely watching the situation in Syria.

Libya

Extremists attacked a Coptic church in Benghazi on Feb. 28 and assaulted the priest and his assistant. Earlier in the week, 50 to 100 Copts were arrested on charges of proselytizing and deported to Egypt; Coptic authorities said the Copts were tortured while in Libyan detention. On Dec. 30, attackers bombed a Coptic church in […]

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Islamist threat haunts reopening Timbuktu schools

Tunisia

The government extended the state of emergency that has existed since the Tunisian revolution. Hundreds of Salafists in Sidi Bouzid demanded the release of a cleric arrested for links to a gunbattle between Salafists and police; the protesters chanted anti-Semitic slogans, including: “Oh Jews! The army of Mohammed will return.”

Conflicting accounts emerge over AQIM leader’s reported death

Evidence is mounting that AQIM leader Abdel Mejid Abou Zeid was recently killed in clashes with French and African security forces, but conflicting reports have emerged as to the events leading to his alleged death. Algerian authorities are conducting DNA analysis on the supposed remains of Abou Zeid.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh deaths rise as Jamaat protest strike begins

Report: airstrike killed Taliban shadow governor Sheikh Dost Mohammed

One of the most wanted Taliban commanders in eastern Afghanistan, Sheikh Dost Mohammed, was reportedly killed along with two other Taliban leaders in a US airstrike in the Ghaziabad district of Kunar province. The death of Dost Mohammed has been erroneously reported in the past.

Mali

A jihadist posted a message claiming that Mokhtar Belmokhtar was alive and “leading the battles” and would post a message himself soon. A French soldier and 15 Islamist fighters were killed in heavy battles with Islamist forces holed up in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains. The Malian army said it killed 52 Islamist rebels east […]

Nigeria

Boko Haram fighters attacked a military base in Monguno, killing at least 20 people; a military spokesman claimed that 20 “Boko Haram terrorists” had been killed. In a recent video, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau vowed to continue attacks until an Islamic state is established in Nigeria, and disavowed any connection to a “Sheikh Mohammed […]