Nigeria’s claims that an Iran-backed cell was planning attacks on US and Israeli interests as well as former Nigeria officials were rejected by Iran. The allegations were “made up as the result of the ill will of the enemies of the two countries’ good relations,” according to Iran’s deputy foreign minister.
Iran appears to advance in construction of Arak nuclear plant
The ruling Islamist Ennahda party named hardliner Ali Lareyedh, an interior minister, to replace resigning Prime Minister Jebali. The names of a number of prominent Tunisian journalists and politicians are appearing on published Salafist hit lists.
Two suicide car bombings in Tessalit killed at least five people, including civilians. Malian and French forces killed 15 Islamists in Gao; four Malian and two French soldiers were wounded, and six Malian military vehicles were destroyed. Russia sent humanitarian aid. The ICRC warned of the plight of Malian civilians
Police arrested three men in Torrelavega and Madrid who had infiltrated a Spanish NGO to spy on Iranian dissidents and report back to Iran. One of the suspects worked at the Iranian Embassy.
Following the conviction of three Birmingham men for plotting a mass terror attack, a senior police officer said the “threat from Birmingham remains very high.” The plot had allegedly been blessed by key al Qaeda operative Khalid al-Kuwaiti, a.k.a. Khalid Abdurrahman al-Husainan, who was reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Pakistan in December […]
Police arrested a Taliban fundraiser and four “militants” in Karachi. Pakistan requested that Afghanistan extradite former Taliban commander Faqir Mohammed. Police have initiated a blasphemy probe against Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US.
Cyprus Trial Spurs Call for E.U. to Act Against Hezbollah
The telecommunications regulator blocked at least two websites and removed other blog posts for “spreading hatred, provoking social disorder and hurting religious feelings.” Two bloggers critical of the Jamaat-e-Islami party have been killed in the past month. Thousands of JI activists protested in Dhaka and other cities calling for punishment or death of anti-Islam bloggers.
Philippine leader criticises gunmen in Malaysia
Freed Afghan Taliban fighters return to insurgency
Nasrallah Threatens Israel Again
Analysis: Iran economy far from collapse as sanctions tighten
Analysis: Power struggle, not nuclear deal, priority for Iranian elite
Al-Qaeda’s 22 tips for dodging drone attacks: the list in full
Test for NATO: US Plans Mini-Force in Post-2014 Afghanistan
Iran began installing a new generation of high-speed uranium enrichment centrifuges at its nuclear plant in Natanz. UN inspectors confirmed that nearly 200 “IR-2m” centrifuges have been fully or partially installed so far.
Al Qaeda targets French citizens abroad as no-go zones grow
Central Damascus was hit by a wave of car bomb and mortar attacks. A massive car bomb exploded near the ruling Ba’ath Party headquarters and Russian embassy, killing more than 50 people, including children. Within hours, two more bombs went off in the city and a mortar attack hit the army’s central command.
“Gunmen” killed four Iraqi soldiers at a checkpoint in Duluiayah. Police captured 12 al Qaeda fighters near Mosul. The Army shut down three tunnels to Syria in Al Qaim.
UN notes a sharp increase in US drone strikes in Afghanistan
Taliban dismiss UN report on civilian casualties in Afghanistan
Security Transition Driving Troop Casualties Up: Afghan MoD
US criticises Egypt’s lack of leadership
Youth apathy fuels Morocco extremism
President Shimon Peres called on the EU to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Yesterday a terror suspect in Cyprus admitted conducting reconnaissance work for Hezbollah in Europe. Genie Energy, an American-Israeli company, has been given permission by the Israeli government to begin oil drilling in the Golan Heights.
Fatah officials slammed ongoing indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel. Hamas officials at first denied the negotiations were occurring, but have since admitted that negotiations on humanitarian issues are taking place. Salafi jihadists in Gaza said Hamas has arrested some of their members in recent days and tortured them. Hamas said six of its members […]
A spokesman said Egyptian Armed Forces “will continue to carry out their assignments in Sinai until all tunnels in Rafah are destroyed and all terrorist hotbeds eliminated.” Hamas reiterated its displeasure with Egypt’s decision to target the smuggling tunnels. The Muslim Brotherhood is believed to be running an “intelligence-gathering network” outside of those tied to […]
Six people were wounded in a grenade attack in the Bakara Market in Mogadishu. Shabaab commander Hassan Dahir Aweys denied any involvement in the killing of a prominent cleric in Puntland.
“Gunmen” killed seven people in the village of Malele near the Somalia border. A Kenya official claimed they were shot inside a mosque, but a witness said they were killed inside their homes.