Counterterrorism forces raided an al Qaeda hideout in Jader, just north of Sanaa, capturing two al Qaeda operatives. Target lists and a quantity of IEDs, suicide vests, and bombmaking materials were seized. The cell, which used motorbikes, may be linked to the assassinations of 40 officers in Yemen in 2012 by attackers on motorbikes.
Gunmen opened fire on the armored car of the Italian consul general in Benghazi, then escaped; no one was injured. Italy condemned the Jan. 12 attack as “a vile act of terrorism.” Libya is considering the establishment of a diplomatic protection force.
In the fourth day of the French military intervention in Mali, Islamists counterattacked, seizing the town of Diabaly, 250 miles north of Bamako. The fighters had come from an area near the Mauritanian border. Abou Dardar, a leader of MUJAO, one of the Islamist groups in Mali, vowed to “strike at the heart of France […]
Cleric leading thousands of protesters promises a Pakistani ‘Tahrir Square’
The Foreign Ministry said Germany would provide cargo planes and medical personnel to assist France in the military intervention in Mali, but ruled out deploying troops. Germany remains involved in European Union planning for a military training mission in Mali.
The defense minister said the military intervention in Mali was “developing favorably.” The foreign minister said the intervention would last a “matter of weeks” and that the French had no intention of staying in Mali. France has deployed about 550 troops to Bamako, the capital, and Mopti. The al Qaeda-linked MUJAO threatened retaliation against French […]
Shabaab displayed the body and equipment of a French commando who was wounded and captured late last week following a failed hostage rescue in Somalia, and later died. The terror group also said the “fate” of hostage Denis Allex will be announced soon.
Mohammed Zahinga, a wanted Boko Haram leader behind “most of the suicide attacks and bombings in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos and Potiskum” was arrested near Maiduguri. Zahinga, a.k.a. Mallam Abdullahi and Alhaji Musa, was plotting attacks against civilians and security personnel in the city,
Rape ‘being used as widespread weapon of war in Syrian conflict’
Computer malware targets Europe agencies
President Obama notified Congress that US warplanes “briefly” entered Somali airspace on Jan. 11 to assist the botched French rescue mission in Somalia. The fighter jets were based out of Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.
The Mujahideen Ansar, an Uzbek group, took credit for the IED attack in North Waziristan that killed 14 Pakistani soldiers. The Taliban killed three more soldiers in an IED attack in Charsadda.
Afghan officials claimed ISAF killed seven civilians and four Taliban fighters during airstrikes in Wardak; ISAF denied it launched airstrikes or killed civilians but said it conducted a ground raid with Afghan forces. The Taliban executed a female activist in Wardak.
Insurgents killed three Iraqi soldiers in a hand grenade attack at a checkpoint in Samarra. The finance minister, who has been in a dispute with the prime minister, survived an assassination attempt near Abu Ghraib; two bodyguards were wounded.
The government condemned France’s attempt to free Denis Allex, who is being held by Shabaab. Witnesses in Daaydoog claimed the French troops killed civilians before attempting the rescue, which led Somalis to warn Shabaab of the raid. Shabaab executed two civilians in Jilib.
A Dane tells of his life as a spy inside the al-Qaida network
Success in former Taliban stronghold was hard-won; the next challenge is making it last
Analysis: French early strike shakes up Mali intervention plan
Assailants threw Molotov cocktails and fired birdshot at anti-Morsi protesters camped outside the presidential palace, injuring 15. An appeals court ordered the retrial of former President Mubarak. Mubarak had received a life sentence for the deaths of protesters in 2011.
Rebel and government forces fought over the strategically important neighborhood of Dariya in Damascus. Heavy fighting continued across northern Syria. Qatar called for an Arab force to intervene in Syria if UN envoy Brahimi’s mission failed.
Denmark – New controls over PET announced in wake of media Storm
The Mujahideen Ansar took credit for the IED attack in Razmak. The attack took place just one day after Hakeemullah Mehsud called for jihadists in North Waziristan to stop attacking the Pakistani military and focus efforts on NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Taliban out to defame local police: Azizi
US Confident of Troop Immunity in Afghanistan: Ambassador
Cease-fire Brokered in Central African Republic
Britain ‘could help train Malian army’, says minister
Saudi Arabia’s king appoints women to Shura Council
French military airstrikes against Islamist forces continued for the third straight day. France is finding the Islamists surprisingly “well-trained, well-equipped, and well-armed.” A key Ansar Dine commander was killed in Konna. Troops from Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, Togo, and Benin are expected to arrive soon in Bamako to assist the Malian military.
Judge okays group prayers for Muslim inmates in Indiana
Analysis: Mali – one African war France could not avoid