R.I.P. - Pfc. Theodore M. Glende

DOD Identifies Army Casualty
            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Pfc. Theodore M. Glende, 23, of Rochester, N.Y., died July 27, in Kharwar, Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

            Glende was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

            For more information pertaining to this release, media may contact the U.S. Army Europe public affairs office in Heidelberg, Germany at 011-49-162-271-6685.

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from ynn:

Local Soldier Killed While Serving in Afghanistan
Family has confirmed that a local soldier has died while serving in Afghanistan.

Family says PFC Theodore Matthew Glende, often called "Matt", died trying to give medical aid to one of his fellow soldiers.

The 23 year old was married in April.

According to social media, he attended McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester and Niagara University before serving overseas in the Army.

The family says it plans to travel to Dover, Delaware to meet Matt's body when it's returned home to the United States.

According to Glende's mother, Matt ended up saving the lives of five men including the fellow soldier he was working on when he was killed.

Matt was in the was 503rd infantry, 173rd airborne.

Meantime, Niagara University's president has released a statement in response to Glende's death, saying:

"The Niagara University community is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own. Matt was called to serve and made the ultimate sacrifice for God and Country. We extend our sincerest sympathy and prayers to the Glende family during this most difficult time."

Joseph L. Levesque, C.M.
President, Niagara University

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Gunmen take over Sanaa interior ministry building: official

(Reuters) - About 100 armed tribesmen stormed the Interior Ministry building in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Sunday demanding to be enlisted in the police force, a ministry official said.

The tribesmen, who have taken control of the building, briefly held some employees hostage before freeing them a few hours later, the official said, but they were still occupying the building.

Tribesmen have fought alongside government troops in a U.S.-backed offensive against al Qaeda-linked militants that drove insurgents out of several towns in the south of the country last month. Many tribal fighters also sided with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh who was toppled by a popular uprising.

(Reporting by Mohammed Ghobari; writing by Rania El Gamal)
SANAA | Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:25am EDT
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Police Officer: Yemeni Police Forces storm Interior Ministry headquarter

A group of Police soldiers stormed the Ministry of Interior's headquarter in the capital Sana’a, including the Minister's office, a senior officer at the ministry told the Yemen Observer at 2:24 pm.

The officer, who requested anonymity for the sensitivity of the subject, said that some 300 soldiers of the police department called al-Najdah (Police) stormed the Ministry demanding due payments be paid as well as the removal of the head of the Police Department who was recently appointed by President Abdu Rabo Mansour Hadi.

“An hour ago, groups of the Police Department at the Ministry of Interior stormed the ministry, closing all offices. They also closed the minister’s office demanding due payments and removal of the head of the Police Department, Hussain al-Rathi,” said the officer.

The officer said that the Police Department personnel, along with other security soldiers, had due payments for about seven years now, which was expected to be paid in July.

The officer said that the riot forces are expected to go to the ministry to break it up. “But it is unlikely that the riot police will use force against them as they are also having the same problems,” the officer said.

from Yemen Observer
Written By: Shuaib M. al-Mosawa
Article Date: Jul 29, 2012 - 2:54:14 PM

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Somalia: Senior Al Shabab Commander Killed in Bay Region

Map of Somalia Bay Region of Somalia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

BAIDOA (Sh.M.Network)-Unidentified Armed groups are reportedly shot and killed a senior Al shabab commander in Ufurow area of Bay region, southern horn of Africa Somalia.

Witnesses said two masked men armed with pistols have carried out the assignation against the Al shabab agent as he went out from a mosque in Ufurow village after performing the dawn prayer at about 5:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.

Sources indicated that the victim, whose name has only been released as Abu Salim was one the top militant leaders in Bay region of southern Somalia and his death is a big blow to the Al shabab insurgents-affiliated with Al Qaeda.

The exact motive of the assignation is unclear and the assailants were reported to have escaped from scene of the shooting.

In separate incident, a building engineer was killed by gunmen dressed in military uniform at government controlled Lafole area, located on the outskirts of Mogadishu on Saturday, locals reported.


Shabelle Media Network
July 28, 2012

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17 Taliban militants killed in joint Afghan operations

Afghan Interior Ministry following a press release on Sunday announced, at least 17 Taliban militants were killed following military operations by Afghan security forces during the past 24 hours.

The source further added the operations were jointly conducted by Afghan police, Afghan army, Afghan intelligence and coalition security forces.

The operations were conducted in Nangarhar, Kunduz, Balkh, Ghazni and Helmand provinces of Afghanistan, Afghan Interior Ministry said following the statement adding that at least 18 Taliban militants were also detained following the operations.

Afghan Interior Ministry officials also said Afghan security forces seized some weapons, ammunitions and explosives during the operations.

In the meantime Taliban militants group following a statement denied the reports by Afghan Interior Ministry and said heavy casualties were incurred to Afghan and coalition security forces.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Sun Jul 29, 11:13 am

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US drone strike kills four in North Waziristan (2xUPDATED)

UPDATEs at the bottom

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MIRAMSHAH: A US drone attack on Sunday killed at least four militants in Pakistan’s restive northwestern tribal area, security officials said.

The missiles struck a compound in Khushhali Turikhel village of the troubled North Waziristan tribal district on the Afghan border.

“US drones fired six missiles into a militant compound. At least four militants were killed,” a security official told AFP.

Local intelligence officials confirmed the attack and casualties.

from DAWN


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U.S. drone strike kills 3 in NW Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, July 29 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed when a U.S. pilotless plane attacked a tribal region in northwestern Pakistan Sunday afternoon, local media reported.

from XINHUA
Editor: Mo Hong'e
2012-07-29 20:00:22

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UPDATE1:

from DAWN, 2 hours ago:

MIRAMSHAH:A US drone attack Sunday killed at least seven militants in North Waziriatan, officials said, days before the country’s intelligence chief visits Washington with the contentious raids likely to be discussed.

Attacks by unmanned American aircraft are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, which says they violate its sovereignty and fan anti-US sentiment, but US officials are said to believe the attacks are too important to give up.

In Sunday’s attack, the second in the month of Ramazan, missiles struck a compound in Khushhali Turikhel village of the troubled North Waziristan tribal district, which lies on the border with Afghanistan.

“US drones fired six missiles into a militant compound. At least seven militants were killed,” a security official told AFP.

“It is not immediately clear if there was an important militant killed in the attack.”The toll might rise as militants search for colleagues buried under the rubble of the compound, the official said, adding that missiles also hit and destroyed two militant vehicles.

Local intelligence officials confirmed the attack and casualties.

Khushhali Turikhel lies around 35 kilometres (20 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan which is considered a stronghold of militants.

Drone strikes are likely to be a major issue when Pakistan’s spymaster, Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam, holds talks in Washington on August 1-3 with his CIA counterpart.

Washington regards Pakistan’s semi-autonomous northwestern tribal belt as the main hub of Taliban and al Qaeda militants plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan.

Ten militants were killed on Monday in a similar attack in Shawal area of North Waziristan. In a drone attack at the start of July, six militants were killed and an attack on June 4 killed 15 militants, including senior Al-Qaeda figure Abu Yahya al-Libi.

There has been a dramatic increase in US drone strikes in Pakistan since May, when a Nato summit in Chicago could not strike a deal to end a six-month blockade on convoys transporting supplies to coalition forces in Afghanistan.

On July 3 however, Islamabad agreed to end the blockade after the United States apologised for the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in botched air strikes last November.

Islam’s trip on Wednesday marks the first Washington visit in a year by the head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and signals a thaw in relations beset by crisis since US troops killed Osama bin Laden near Islamabad in May 2011.

In protest at US drone attacks, local Taliban and Pakistani warlord Hafiz Gul Bahadur have banned vaccinations in North and South Waziristan, putting 240,000 children in the region at risk.

They have condemned the immunisation campaign as a cover for espionage. In May, a Pakistani doctor was jailed for 33 years after helping the CIA find bin Laden using a hepatitis vaccination programme as a cover.

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UPDATE2:

6 Uzbeks killed in North Waziristan drone strike

By Bill Roggio July 29, 2012 - LWJ

Six Uzbek fighters were among those reported killed in the latest US drone strike in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan.

The remotely piloted Predators or the more advanced Reapers fired at least six missiles at a compound and a vehicle in the village of Khushhali Turikhel near Mir Ali, according to reports from Pakistan. The Uzbek fighters were "visiting a spring for leisure" when they were attacked, a Pakistani intelligence official told The Express Tribune, which put the number of Uzbeks killed at six. AFP reported that seven "militants" were killed.

No senior al Qaeda or allied jihadist commanders from foreign terrorist groups are reported to have been killed in the strike.

The Uzbek fighters were likely members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, or the Islamic Jihad Group, an IMU splinter. Both groups are closely tied to al Qaeda and the Taliban, and are known to operate in the Mir Ali area.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/07/six_uzbeks_killed_in.php#ixzz223YiaAoh

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Yemeni warplanes bomb two al-Qaida hideouts

map by Evan Centanni - www.polgeonow.com

ADEN, Yemen, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni fighter jets bombed two al-Qaida hideouts in the southern province of Abyan on Saturday, a security official told Xinhua without giving the number of casualties in raids.

The air forces bombed two compounds belonging to the al-Qaida militants near Mahfad town in Abyan province, while they were preparing to launch a fresh assault at government soldiers patrolling the restive area, the security official said on condition of anonymity.

"It was not immediately clear if any of the al-Qaida militants or some of their local leaders were killed in the air strikes. The bombing was in response to Wednesday's al-Qaida attack on pro- government checkpoints," the official said.

A local resident told Xinhua anonymously that "huge black smokes and fire erupted in one of the targeted compounds after military aircrafts fired some rockets on it."

"An abandoned al-Qaida training site was also pounded in the air shelling," he added.

The Yemeni government forces have been fighting al-Qaida militants in the southern province of Abyan for years, and hundreds of soldiers have lost their lives.

In the past two months, a U.S.-backed offensive managed to expel al-Qaida militants from their major strongholds in the southern province of Abyan, which they had controlled for nearly one year during the political unrest in Yemen.

However, the al-Qaida militants still have a strong presence in the Mahfad town and some mountainous areas in Abyan.

Fighting al-Qaida militants in the restive south is one of the challenges confronting current Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has promised to launch a national dialogue to settle disputes among all political factions and to uproot the Yemeni branch of al-Qaida.

from XINHUA
2012-07-28 23:03:15

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July 29., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (July 29, 2012) — An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, today.

During the operation, two armed insurgents attacked the security force. They force responded to the threat killing both attackers.

After the engagement, the security force conducted a follow-on assessment and confirmed no civilians had been injured.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested multiple suspected insurgents during an operation in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, today. The suspected insurgents are believed to be members of an insurgent group controlled by a senior Taliban leader in the province.

East

Today Afghan and coalition officials confirmed the Taliban insurgent killed yesterday during an operation in Surkh Rod district, Nangarhar province, was Umar, the leader of a Taliban explosives network.   As the leader of the network, Umar trained insurgents on how to use improvised explosive devices and oversaw the emplacement of IEDs throughout the district.

An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, detained several suspected Haqqani insurgents and seized several weapons during an operation in Sabari district, Khost province, today. The suspected insurgents are believed to be associated with a Haqqani attack cell that targets Afghan and coalition forces in the region.

Also in Sabari district, Khost province, an Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected Haqqani insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani leader today. The Haqqani leader coordinates improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district.

In Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, an Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents and seized several weapons and explosives during an operation today. The suspected insurgents are believed to be associated with a Taliban weapons supplier who provides firearms and explosives to insurgents in the area.

An Afghan and coalition security force detained multiple suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani bomb maker in Muhammad Aghah district, Logar province, today. The bomb maker constructs improvised explosive devices used by insurgents to attack Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region.

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District chief shot dead by unknown gunmen in Wardak

Districts of Wardak. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local authorities in Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan, unknown gunmen on Sunday morning assassinated Chak district chief in this province.

The officials further added Mohammad Ismail Wafa was shot dead by unknown gunmen early Sunday morning while he was on his way towards his work place.

Reports suggest his son was also injured following the incident.

Local authorities said no suspected militant has been detained in connection to the incident so far and Afghan security forces have launched a search operation in this regard.

In the meantime provincial governor Halim Fedai condemned the

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Sun Jul 29, 11:24 am
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Wardak Provincial Governor: Insurgents killed a true public servant

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs
Courtesy Story
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Insurgents assassinated the Chak district governor and his young son while traveling from their home to the district center office in Wardak province at about 8:40 a.m. today.

After receiving reports of gunfire, the ANA arrived on site, secured the area and provided medical assistance. District Governor Mohammad Ismail Wafa died on site. His son was moved to a medical facility where he later died of his wounds.

Wardak Provincial Governor Mohammad Halim Fadai strongly condemned the insurgent attack that “killed a true public servant who was indeed serving his people during harsh times.”

The governor has ordered an investigation and “ordered security officials to arrest the perpetrators of this horrific act and bring them to justice as soon as possible.”

Despite the efforts of the enemies of the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, ISAF forces in eastern Afghanistan remain committed to partnering with their Afghan National Security Forces counterparts to secure a stable and prosperous future for the Afghan people.

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Al shabab attacks Somali army in Hudur, Bakol region

Map showing the distribution of the Afro-Asiatic Somali language in the Horn of Africa. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

HUDUR (Sh.M.Network)-Al Qaeda linked insurgents in Somalia have carried out an offensive against pro-government forces in Hudur, the capital of Bakol region, reports said on Saturday,

Locals said the fighting erupted after heavily armed fighting belonging to Al shabab launched an ambush attack on Somali troops positioned at a base near the southwestern Somali town of Hudur, sparking face-to-face clashes that raged for several hours.

“They [Al shabab] attacked our bases at the dusk of Friday and the national army managed to fend off the attackers from the area. Our troops inflicted heavy loss upon the Al shabab fighters during the fighting,” said Mohamed Mo’alin, the DC of Hudur for TFG.

It is the latest battle between Al shabab and Somali forces in the region since the start of the holy month of Ramadan. The situation returned into normal and Somali troops are in control of the city and its surrounding villages.

Al shabab has not comments on the attack.

Shabelle Media Network
July 28, 2012

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Fighters killed by own bombs, banned fertiliser seized

Map of Afghanistan with Kandahar highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): Three militants were killed when the roadside bombs they were planted exploded prematurely in southern Kandahar province, an official said.

Javed Faisal, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the incident happened in the Chowal village of Shorabak district late on Friday night.

Following the blast, police recovered five landmines, two hand grenades, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a walkie-talkie and a motorbike from the scene.

Elsewhere in the province, security forces seized 4,000 kilograms of a banned fertiliser used in making roadside bombs in Takhta Pul district, the spokesman.

He said the ammonium nitrate was seized from a house during an overnight raid on the basis of an intelligence report. The raiding party also recovered 100 kilograms of explosives.

“The area is about 159 kilometres from the district centre. Since the explosives could not be transported safely to district headquarters, they were defused at the site.”

from Pajhwok
by Bashir Ahmad Naadem on Jul 28, 2012 - 20:39   

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