Taliban deny shadow governor killed in raid
The Taliban denied reports that Mullah Attaullah was killed by police forces. The Afghan government has a spotty track record when reporting on the deaths of Taliban commanders.
Tag Archives: Afghanistan
Clapper: US collects and analyzes more intelligence on jihadi groups now than ever
During a congressional hearing earlier today, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified that “violent extremism” — that is, jihadism — demands more intelligence collection and analysis now “than at any other point in history.”
Taliban claims it downed second Afghan helicopter
Afghan officials confirmed a helicopter encountered problems in Logar province, but said it “made a hard landing due to technical problems.”
Bagram suicide bomber reconciled with Afghan government in 2008
The Taliban suicide bomber who killed two American soldiers and two contractors at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan’s central province of Parwan on Nov. 12 had joined the Afghan government’s “peace process” and reconciled in 2008.
Taliban, Islamic State both claim to have shot down helicopter in central Afghanistan
The Taliban and the Islamic State have issued competing claims for attacks in Afghanistan in the past. The Taliban has had some success in shooting down US and Afghan military helicopters.
Taliban suicide bomber kills 4 in attack inside Bagram Air Base
The base has been the focus of high-profile Taliban and jihadist attacks in the past. Resolute Support did not say how a Taliban suicide bomber was able to penetrate security at Bagram Air Base.
Taliban claims suicide assault on German consulate
The Taliban claimed that it attacked the German consulate to avenge those killed in an airstrike in Kunduz, but another consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was targeted in a similar assault earlier this year. That attack highlights the interlinking web of jihadist networks.
Pentagon confirms death of senior al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan
The Pentagon confirmed today that Faruq al Qatani, a senior al Qaeda leader, was killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan on Oct. 23. Qatani was suspected of planning attacks against the US. He established safe havens for al Qaeda in Afghanistan several years ago and also worked with the Taliban in the insurgency against the Afghan government, US forces and their allies.
Taliban kills 2 US soldiers in Kunduz
The US soldiers were operating as part of Resolute Support’s “train, advise and assist mission.”
Analysis: US military assessment of Taliban control of Afghan districts is flawed
The US military’s estimate does not explain how the Taliban is able to support multiple concurrent offensives across the country and threaten five provincial capitals. Additionally, the military claims that only 3 of Helmand’s 14 districts are threatened by the Taliban.
Taliban overruns military base in Uruzgan
A Taliban spokesman released a video of an interview of fighters from the base. Like the recent ambush in Helmand’s capital, the Taliban fighters clearly are not concerned about either a counterattack or airstrikes.
US targeted 2 senior al Qaeda leaders in eastern Afghanistan
The US targeted Faruq al Qatani and Bilal al Utabi in an airstrike in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on Oct. 23. Both of them have been involved in al Qaeda’s anti-Western plotting, according to the Pentagon. Qatani was identified as a key al Qaeda commander in Osama bin Laden’s files.
Islamic State, Pakistani Taliban claim suicide assault in Quetta
Islamic State’s Khorasan province and the Karachi faction of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan both claimed credit for the attack on a police academy in Quetta that killed more than 60 cadets. Pakistani officials claimed the suicide assault was executed by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al Almi.
Taliban threatens another provincial capital in Afghan north
Six provincial capitals now are threatened by the Taliban. On Oct. 16, the Taliban assaulted Maimana, Faryab’s capital from three directions and attacked the city’s airport and an Afghan Army base, but were repulsed by Afghan forces.
Gunman in Afghan Army uniform kills US soldier, civilian in Kabul
The shooter is said to have been wearing an Afghan Army uniform. If the shooting is confirmed to be a green-on-blue or insider attack, where Afghan police or soldiers target Coalition personnel, then it would be the first recorded incident since April 2015.
Taliban details deadly ambush of Afghan military convoy
A Taliban video documents the aftermath of last week’s ambush on Afghan security personnel on the outskirts the provincial capital of Helmand which resulted in scores of troops killed and dozens more captured.
Taliban threatens 5 provincial capitals in Afghanistan
The Taliban threatens two capitals in the north (Kunduz City and Pul-i-Khumri), two in the south (Tarin Kot and Lashkar Gah), and one in the west (Farah City).
Taliban reportedly kills 100 Afghan troops in Helmand capital
Reports from Afghanistan indicate that hundreds of police and soldiers were killed, captured, or defected to the Taliban after they tried to negotiate a withdrawal.
Remote district in northwestern Afghanistan falls to the Taliban
The Taliban regain control of Ghormach district in Faryab province. The district has been contested since the Taliban controlled it one year ago.
Taliban promotes yet another jihad training camp
The Taliban’s “Real Men” video contradicts many of its public statements where the group claims it only seeks to liberate Afghanistan from occupation. Instead, it makes it clear that the Taliban views itself as a defender of Islam and part of the global jihad.
‘Tomorrow we take the White House,’ Taliban fighter in Kunduz threatens
“I say to Obama, today we take Kunduz, tomorrow … we will take the White House,” a Taliban fighter at a checkpoint in Kunduz threatened. The US military claimed Kunduz was cleared three days ago.
Islamic State claims it killed US soldier in Afghanistan
Achin district in Nangarhar remains a hub for the Islamic State’s Khorasan province. US and Afghan forces, as well as the Taliban, have fought to wrest areas of Nangarhar from Islamic State control.
Resolute Support claims Nawa district is ‘under government control’
Like in Kunduz, Resolute Support’s claim that Nawa district is under government control does not match press reporting from Afghanistan.
Press reports contradict Resolute Support’s claim that Kunduz is under ‘ANDSF control’
Resolute Support appears to be putting the best possible spin on the Taliban’s latest incursion into Kunduz City. Accounts from the city indicate that half of it is still occupied by the Taliban.
Taliban forces enter Kunduz city center
Taliban forces have entered the city of Kunduz once again. In late September 2015, the Taliban and its jihadist allies captured the city and briefly held it before being forced to retreat to the surrounding areas.
Taliban overruns another district in Helmand
Taliban forces killed Nawa’s police chief while seizing the district center. The Taliban now controls six of Helmand’s 14 districts and heavily contest another seven.
UNAMA ‘condemns killing of at least 15 civilians’ in Coalition airstrike
The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, issued a strongly-worded statement that “condemns” a US airstrike on Sept. 28 which targeted Islamic State fighters in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. United States Forces – Afghanistan is investigating reports that an airstrike in the Taliban controlled district of Achin in Nangarhar killed 15 civilians. […]
Pakistani Taliban, Haqqani Network, and al Qaeda operatives targeted in eastern Afghanistan
US and Afghan forces struck a group of leaders and operatives from the Pakistan-based Movement of the Taliban in South Waziristan, the Haqqani Network, and al Qaeda in the province of Paktika, according to reports from the region. At least one senior leader, known as Azam Tariq, is thought to have been killed in the strike.
US military is hunting al Qaeda in at least 7 Afghanistan provinces
General John W. Nicholson Jr., who leads NATO’s Resolute Support and US Forces Afghanistan, said yesterday that the US is hunting al Qaeda in Afghanistan’s Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Ghazni, Kunar, Nuristan and Nangarhar provinces. His comments are just the latest indication that al Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan has been underestimated.
US commander in Afghanistan downplays Taliban control of 10 percent of population
General John Nicholson said that while the Taliban control 10 percent of the Afghan population and contest another 20 percent, “the enemy is primarily in more rural areas that have less impact on the future of the country.”