Islamist forces on all-terrain vehicles and stolen armored military carriers reached the village of Bourmei, just 25 miles from territory held by the Malian military. The al Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine refused to comment on the reports that Islamist fighters have moved closer to the line of control.
The foreign ministry admitted to “failure” in its attempt to bring two Swedish citizens home from Djibouti after they had left a Shabaab training camp in Somalia. The two men, of Somali origin, were extradited to the US to face terror charges along with a British suspect.
News Analysis: Will Taliban release lead to Afghan national reconciliation?
The Taliban killed a policeman and two civilians in an IED attack on a police van in Lakki Marwat, and killed two security personnel in another bombing in Mohmand.
Insurgents killed three Iraqi soldiers in an IED attack on a military vehicle in Habbaniyah in Anbar province. The Sunni Endowment is organizing religious courses to fight terrorism and sectarianism.
Hezbollah Weighs Its Options
Iran Targets Dissidents With 30,000-Strong Spy Army
Ansar al-Din threat stokes Sahel fears
A Kuwaiti court sentenced a man to two years in prison for insulting the country’s ruler on Twitter. Security forces dispersed several hundred demonstrators protesting against parliamentary elections.
A court confirmed life sentences for 13 dissidents for their part in anti-government protests in 2011. The 13 were among 20 opposition leaders and activists convicted by a military court for plotting to overthrow the state.
President Abbas ordered the government in the West Bank to be renamed from the “Palestinian Authority” to “State of Palestine.” Abbas also warned that the government was is in “extreme jeopard”‘ because of an unprecedented financial crisis.
Security forces foiled a car bombing attempt in northern Sinai. It is suspected the militants were from Gaza and had entered Egypt through underground tunnels.
Kajaki Dam Will Not Finish Before 2015: Officials
Malmö hate crimes go unpunished: report
Some 84 fighters from the Tuareg separatist group MNLA fled Mali for Mauritania, turning over vehicles, weapons, and ammuntion to the Mauritanian Army. The men were admitted to the M’berra refugee camp.
One of two assailants died in an assassination attempt on Ahmed Abu Khattala, who is a suspect in the attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi and the murder of rebel commander Abdelfattah Younes. The Defense Ministry ordered all military personnel to rejoin their units.
A British paper incorrectly reported that Mohammed al Zawahiri was arrested in Syria.
Egyptian authorities seized a car laden with explosives and weapons in the city of Rafah, near Gaza.
Counterterrorism police killed seven militants in several raids against a new terrorist group that seeks to foment unrest between Muslims and Christians. The group operates out of Poso in Sulawesi province, and conducts terrorist training in the city.
Kabul to Seek More Control Over US Aid
Indonesia Envisions More Religion in Schools
Syria crisis: US decries Assad ‘Western puppets’ speech
Afghan policy debate fueled White House, Pentagon mistrust: book
President Obama nominated Chuck Hagel to replace retiring Secretary of Defense Panetta, and John Brennan to head the CIA, in place of David Petraeus, who resigned in November. Suspected al Qaeda plotter Abid Naseer pled not guilty to terror charges in New York. Wanted bank hacker Hamza Bendelladj was arrested in Thailand; he will be […]
Reprisal fears cloud Libya probe into US consulate attack
Security forces killed three militants in Kabardino-Balkaria suspected of plotting to attack churches on the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday. Authorities said the suspects were killed after opening fire on security forces; the suspects’ vehicle, which caught fire, was said to contain weapons and explosives.
A pair of Taliban suicide bombers killed five people in an attack on a tribal meeting at the Spin Boldak district center in Kandahar. Security forces captured several Taliban commanders and fighters.
The Taliban claimed credit for an attack on tribal leaders at the district center in Kandahar’s Spin Boldak. The Mullah Dadullah Front likely carried out the suicide bombings.
Al Qaeda killed an Awakening leader and his son in Abu Ghraib. Volunteers for the Awakening are growing. Police arrested eight al Qaeda fighters in Anbar near the Syrian border.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is preparing to retake areas in Abyan and Lahj provinces. The government claimed that AQAP has been driven out of Al Mahfad district in Abyan. A court sentenced five AQAP fighters to up to 10 years in prison.