Sunday, February 10, 2013

Malian military on high alert after suicide attack

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)
BAMAKO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Malian military were on high alert and reinforced security in the northern largest city of Gao on Saturday, a day after an Islamist suicide bomber targeted a checkpoint on the city's outskirts in the country's first suicide attack.

The Malian troops in Gao were fortifying checkpoints with sandbags and heavy machine guns and patrolling the city in heavy rotation, as the Friday suicide blast raised new concerns about the insurgence in the West African country.

On Friday, a young Tuareg man riding a motorcycle detonated an explosive belt at the checkpoint, killing only himself and wounding a soldier, according to reports.

The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) claimed responsibility for the attack against the Malian soldiers "who chose the side of the miscreants, the enemies of Islam," the reports said.

The MUJAO as well as other rebel groups took advantage of a military coup in the distant capital Bamako on March 22, 2012 to sweep through northern Mali.

Fears of suicide bombing attacks have been high since the discovery of industrial-strength explosives in Gao earlier this week.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned on Thursday that the armed groups and terrorist elements in Mali that fled amid French troops' offensive might come back and stage reprisal attacks, although the French operations there so far have been effective and successful.

France intervened in its former colony on Jan. 11, after the Islamic militants began pushing south, raising alarm that they were inching closer toward the capital.

Moreover, a gunfight in Bamako between rival factions of the Malian army on Friday exposed the weakness and division of Mali's military.

Government troops exchanged fire with paratroopers loyal to former President Amadou Toumani Toure, who was ousted in the March 2012 coup, as they fired into the air to protest an order deploying them elsewhere.

Two people were killed and 13 others injured in the confrontation at the 33rd camp of the Djicoroni paratroopers brigade, who are commonly known as the red berets, the government said in a statement.

The government "deplored the death of two adolescents and the injuring of 13 other people" during an attack against the paratroopers' camp by green berets and the police who wanted to push the red berets out of the camp, it said.

Interim President Dioncounda Traore condemned the clashes, calling for a "definitive end" to the internecine fighting.

"I am deeply saddened by the clashes within the Malian army," Traore said on state-run television.

The arrival of the first European Union (EU) contingent, comprising 70 military instructors, came as a boost to the Malian army.

Its head, Colonel Bruno Heluin, told the press in Bamako that the mission will assist in "reforming Mali's army so that it is able to safeguard the country's national territory and respond rapidly when called upon."

The EU decided to dispatch hundreds of trainers to reinforce the capacity of the Malian army, following a request for support by the country's senior military officials, who wanted their soldiers to be well trained and equipped to fight rebel groups in northern Mali.

Mali has been unstable since Toure was ousted on March 22, 2012.

In December 2012, then Prime Minister of the transitional government Cheick Modibo Diarra announced resignation and dissolved the cabinet after being arrested by troops supportive of ex-coup leader Amadou Sanogo.

Northern rebels continued its southward push in January 2013, briefly taking the key town of Konna in central Mali and threatening the Bamako-based government of transition, which is recognized by the international community.

The Malian army launched counter-offensives with the backing of other African countries and France, the former colonial ruler of Mali.

The rebels have retreated in disarray since the French military intervention, with the Malian government taking back the northern towns of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal.

Although Mali's transitional President Dioncounda Traore has announced that elections are scheduled for July 31 to end the crisis, analysts see uphill challenges ahead to restore territorial integrity and constitutional rule in the aftermath of the coup and rebellions.

from XINHUA
by Editor: Bi Mingxin
2013-02-10 12:20:43

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New commander takes over NATO Afghan mission

Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis hands the U.S. Forces Afghanistan colors to U.S. Marine Corps Gen, Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. during the ISAF Change of Command ceremony held in Kabul, Afghanistan, February 10. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Joann Moravac, HQ ISAF)
Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr assumes command of ISAF
   

Courtesy Story
International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs


KABUL, Afghanistan (Feb. 10, 2013) – U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force from U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen at a change of command ceremony Feb. 10.

The ceremony was attended by senior Afghan, NATO and U.S. officials, including German Army Gen. Hans-Lothar Domröse, Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum; U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, Commander, U.S. Central Command.

"Today is not about change, it's about continuity," said Gen. Dunford, addressing the audience on his vision for Afghanistan and the coalition. "I'll endeavor to continue the momentum of the campaign and support the people of Afghanistan as they seize the opportunity for a brighter future."

Gen. Dunford takes over from his fellow Marine and friend of 35 years. Gen. Allen's 19 months at the helm, beginning in July 2011, make him the longest-serving ISAF commander in the 11-year-old campaign.

Under his leadership, the Afghan National Security Forces, what Gen. Allen has called the "defeat mechanism of the insurgency," reached their target strength of 352,000 and are now leading the vast majority of operations across the country.

Gen. Allen also played a critical role in stabilizing relations with neighboring Pakistan after a series of crises in 2011 had threatened to fracture the partnership.

Gen. Dunford previously served as Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. He has also served as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division; Director, Operations Division, Plans, Policies and Operations, HQMC; and Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations; and Commanding General, I MEF and Commander, Marine Forces Central Command.

Among other distinguished highlights of his career, Gen. Dunford served as the Marine Officer Instructor, College of the Holy Cross; as a member of the Commandant's Staff Group; and as the senior aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Joint assignments include service as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Chief, Global and Multilateral Affairs Division; and Vice Director for Operations.
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Car Bomb Kills 5 Soldiers in Southern Thailand

Authorities in southern Thailand say suspected militants have killed five soldiers and wounded one other with a car bomb in the troubled province of Yala.

Police say the bomb was detonated Sunday morning, as the troops passed by in their patrol vehicle. Two rubber plantation workers were also injured in the blast.

Islamist separatists have been waging an insurgency in the Muslim-dominated provinces of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani since 2004.

More than 5,000 people have died in the fighting.

from VOA News
February 10, 2013

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Suspected militants with ANA, Pak Army uniforms and explosives arrested in KP

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (red), in Pakistan...
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (red), in Pakistan (pink). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
PESHAWAR: Security forces conducted different raids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday arresting four suspects, including two key commanders, besides seizing uniforms of Pakistani and Afghan National Army along with a huge quantity of arms and explosives.

Security sources told Dawn.Com that the law enforcement agencies conducted a raid in Samar Bagh area of Lower Dir district and seized uniforms of Pakistan Army and the Afghan National Army (ANA) and arrested two suspects, who were shifted for further investigations.

The sources further claimed that seven hand grenades, six detonators, three kilograms of explosives, nine mines, 7 mm gun, one  Kalashnikov and several Chinese made guns were recovered from the suspects.

The officials added that five uniforms of Pakistan Army and Afghan National Army each and the suspects were planning to conduct an attack disguised as ANA or Pakistani army personnel.

In another raid in Nowshera district’s Jaroba area in Pabbi tehsil, law enforcement agencies arrested two suspected key commanders affiliated to a militant group. The arrested men were suspected to be the militant’s main source of weapons supply in Tirah Valley.

The official sources added that the suspected militants were shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

— Contribution by Zahir Shah Sherazi

from DAWN
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Feb. 10., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – During a security operation in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, Feb. 9, Afghan and coalition forces killed Taliban leader, Abdul Baki.

Abdul Baki, also known as Ruzi, was known to operate as part of an extensive insurgent network in Uruzgan, Helmand and Kandahar provinces. He was responsible for coordinating complex attacks utilizing suicide operatives against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force conducted a precision strike, killing him.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

Afghan and coalition security forces arrested two Taliban leaders in Kunduz district, Kunduz province, Feb. 9. The first leader is accused of gathering materials and facilitating logistics to conduct improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan government officials as well as Afghan and coalition forces. The second detained Taliban leader is believed to be an IED cell member and weapons facilitator operating in Baghlan-e Jadid district. He is accused of facilitating the movement of rockets and small arms to insurgents in Baghlan province.

East

In Zurmat district, Paktiya province, Feb. 9, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader accused of executing IED emplacements against Afghan and coalition forces. The detained leader is also believed to have overseen nearly 45 insurgent fighters. The security force detained one suspected insurgent and seized an assault-rifle with associated gear and ammunition.

An Afghan and coalition security force killed two armed insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban senior leader in Baraki Barak district, Logar province, Feb. 9. The senior leader holds a prominent leadership position in the district Taliban network. He executes guidance on direct and indirect fire as well as IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the security force seized multiple hand grenades and an assault rifle with associated gear and ammunition.

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Feb. 10., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained two and cleared four IEDs during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 9.

Additionally, Afghan National Security Forces discovered a weapons cache in Khowst Province and cleared an IED in Ghazni Province during operations Feb. 8, according to late reports.

Kapisa Province
Coalition forces and Afghan National Security Forces killed two insurgents during an operation near Tagab District.

Khowst Province
Coalition forces detained one insurgent in Gurbuz District. The detained insurgent was transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Khowst District.

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Terezayi District.

Afghan National Security Forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Gurbuz District Feb. 8, according to late reports. The cache contained more than 300 kilograms of explosives, 40 hand grenades, 40 fuses, five small arms rifles, video cameras, hand-held radios and small arms ammunition.

Kunar Province

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Asadabad District.

Logar Province
Afghan National Security Forces detained one insurgent and safely cleared an IED in Pul-e Alam District. The insurgent was detained while emplacing an IED. The detained insurgent was transferred to a base for questioning.

Ghazni Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared a bicycle rigged with explosives in a parking area of Ghazni City Feb. 8, according to late reports.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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Explosion kill six Afghan civilians in Helmand province

According to local authorities in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, at least six Afghan civilians were killed following a roadside improvised explosive device blast in Nad-e-Ali district.

Nad-e-Ali district security chief Omer Jan Haqmal said at least two women were also among those killed following the blast.

He said the incident took place on Friday night after the vehicl of the civilians struck with a roadside bomb.

No group including the Taliban militants has so far claimed responsibility behind the incident. Local officials blame Taliban group for the incident as Taliban fighters frequently use improvised explosive device to target Afghan and coalition security forces which normally leads to civilians casualties.

In a separate incident at least one Afghan border protection police officer was killed and three others were injured following a blast in Gulran district of Herat province.

A local security official said the incident took place after the vehicle of border protection police forces struck with a roadside bomb.

In the meantime at least two Taliban militants were killed following armed clashes with the Afghan security forces in western Badghis province of Afghanistan.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 09 Feb 2013, 2:35 pm

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Men Wearing Explosives Arrested in Mali

Malian soldiers stand by a motorcycle used by a suicide bomber at the entrance of Gao, northern Mali, Feb. 8, 2013.
Malian officials say two men who were allegedly wearing explosives were arrested near Gao on Saturday, a day after a suicide bomber attacked a military checkpoint near the northern city.

A Malian military spokesman and witnesses say the two men were detained on a road that leads into Gao.

Malian troops bolstered security after Friday's attack. A local journalist said the bombing occurred less than 10 meters from the military checkpoint.

The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) claimed responsibility for the Friday blast and vowed to carry out more attacks against Malian soldiers who sided with what it called "enemies of Islam."

MUJAO is one of several military groups that had strongholds in northern Mali before French forces intervened in January.

Radio France Internationale said Saturday that Malian authorities had issued arrest warrants for the leaders of MUJAO as well as Ansar Dine and the Tuareg separatist group MNLA. All three militant groups have been linked to unrest in the country's north.

Friday's violence overshadowed the arrival of 70 European Union military trainers. They were the first of 500 military instructors who are being deployed to help strengthen the Malian army.

The Mali crisis began in early 2012 when the Tuareg separatist group MNLA launched a rebellion in the north. The MNLA and Islamist militants seized control of the north after the March coup in Bamako, but the MNLA was soon swept aside as the militants imposed harsh Islamic law on the region.

At the request of Mali's government, France entered its former colony last month to drive back the al-Qaida-linked militants who had begun moving in the direction of the capital, Bamako.

France wants to begin handing over its four-week-old military operation to the Malian army and African forces.  But officials say any transfer will have to wait until Mali's security situation stabilizes.

France has proposed the United Nations establish a peacekeeping mission in Mali.  Diplomats have said privately that a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing the mission is not likely before the end of February.  It could take another two months after that to transition the African forces into U.N. peacekeepers.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

from VOA News
February 09, 2013

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2 IMU leaders captured in northern Afghanistan


(file photo)

2 IMU leaders captured in northern Afghanistan


The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) captured two Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan commanders during separate raids in northern Afghanistan over the past two days. Special operations forces have captured five IMU operatives during five raids in the Afghan north so far this year.

Today, ISAF forces captured a a leader from the al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and another "insurgent" in Baghlan's Burkah district. The leader "is believed to have overseen intelligence operations for an IMU network and for coordinating IED emplacement in the province," ISAF stated in a press release. He also served as "a Taliban facilitator who provided safe haven for Taliban insurgents traveling through Burkah district."

And on Feb. 8, ISAF forces captured another IMU commander during an operation in Yangi Qal'ah district, Takhar province. The captured leader was an explosives expert who was "assisting with the planning of an impending high profile attack," according to ISAF. He is also known to have coordinated the building of IEDs and their movement in the province. One other suspected insurgent was detained during the raid.

The last operation targeting the IMU, which took place on Jan. 29, captured a IMU commander in Baghlan province. The commander was responsible for conducting assassinations and coordinating the supply of weapons to insurgents. That operation followed two other raids in early January which killed an IMU facilitator and captured an IMU leader who also served as a Taliban commander.

In the five raids reported by ISAF that targeted the IMU this year, three have taken place in Baghlan and two have taken place in Takhar. All three raids in Baghlan have occurred in the district of Burkah, which has long served as a safe haven for the IMU and the Taliban.

Additionally, on Feb. 7, ISAF also reported that its forces captured a senior Taliban leader who worked closely with the militant group Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) during an operation by Afghan and Coalition forces in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province. The commander is believed to facilitate suicide operations and "manages the recruitment, training and movement of insurgents to conduct attacks." He is also accused of using his "village leadership position to recruit suicide bombers and insider attack facilitators" from the local high school.

Both HIG and the IMU are known to have bases in the tribal regions of Pakistan and to support suicide bomber facilitation inside Afghanistan. On Sept. 18, 2012, a female HIG suicide bomber killed 12 people, mostly foreign workers, in an attack on a bus near Kabul International Airport.

Background on the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan

continue & Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/02/imu_leader_captured.php#ixzz2KUpQmLaL
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Feb. 09., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader in Sabari district, Khost province, Feb. 8.

The detained Haqqani leader is believed responsible for conducting direct attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. He is also accused of being involved in weapons and ammunition facilitation and coordinated the transfer of improvised explosive devices and weapon systems.

The security force also detained one suspected insurgent and seized a large amount of IED-making materials, homemade explosives, rocket-propelled grenade ammunition, multiple hand grenades, machine gun ammunition, mortar rocket charges and 150 rounds of loose ammunition as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout
Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator in Khash Rod district, Nimroz province, Feb. 8. The detained Taliban facilitator is believed to have coordinated the movement of lethal aid, weapons and ammunition to insurgent networks throughout Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province. He is accused of being directly responsible for preparing, organizing and transporting a large shipment of illegal material, and directing fighters in ambush attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the security force also detained one other suspected insurgent.

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed Feb. 8 the arrest of a Taliban leader during a security operation in Panjwa'i district, Kandahar province, FEb. 8. The detained Taliban leader, who operated out of central Kandahar City, is believed responsible for organizing IED operations targeting Afghan and coalition forces, to include coordinating the movement of IED materials into the province and then the transfer and distribution of this material to Taliban insurgents.
The security force also detained two suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.

North

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in Burkah district, Baghlan province, Feb. 8. The detained IMU leader is believed to have overseen intelligence operations for an IMU network and for coordinating IED emplacement in the province.
He is also accused of being a Taliban facilitator who provided safe haven for Taliban insurgents traveling through Burkah district. During the operation, the security force also detained one suspected insurgent.

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Feb. 09., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security Forces cleared two IEDs, detained five suspected insurgents and discovered one weapons cache during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Friday.

Afghan and coalition forces also discovered a weapons cache during an operation Wednesday in Wardak province, according to late reports.

Khowst province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Terezayi district.

Kunar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Nurgal District.

Ghazni Province
Afghan National Security Forces discovered a weapons cache and detained five suspected insurgents during an operation in Qarah Bagh district.
The cache contained several rocket propelled grenades and mortar rounds.
The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Wardak Province
Late reports indicate that Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Maidan Shar District, Wednesday. The cache contained small arms weapons and ammunition, IED making materials, combat uniforms, 17 mortar rounds, and a bag of hashish.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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