R.I.P. - SCH Harold VORMEZEELE (FR)(Foreign Legion - Mali, Operation Serval)

 On February 19, shortly before 11 o'clock, the French elements consist of a section of paratroopers, backed by a forward air controller and an armored patrol on a reconnaissance mission in the massif of Adrar fifty kms South Tessalit were attacked by terrorist groups.

During the clash, Sergeant-Chef VORMEZEELE, NCO Group paratroopers of the 2nd REP in Calvi, was fatally wounded. It is the second French soldier to be killed in combat since the launch of Operation Serval Mali.

Born 24 July 1979 in Belgium, Sergeant Harold VORMEZEELE

At age 19, February 24, 1999, he enlisted for five years in the Foreign Legion as a committed volunteer. After his initial training at the 4th Foreign Regiment of Castelnaudary, he joined July 22, 1999 the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment as grenadier voltigeur ( Infantry Riflemen).

As of 19 August 2000, he was led, in the same regiment, to exercise the responsibilities of radiographiste operator. Legionnaire serious and motivated, it appears appropriate and effective, being particularly rigorous in the execution of assignments. February 1, 2002, he was elevated to the distinction Legionnaire first class.
Appointed to the rank of corporal, Attended CME Basic NCO Course, This course is the NCO academy and resembles Ranger School energetic and determined, it is distinguished by its remarkable investment and excellent physical condition. Showing great potential, he then joined the paratroopers section is then naturally oriented body of NCOs and was appointed to the Attended CM1 Advanced NCO school Resembles BNOC and a combination of Ranger school rank of sergeant July 1, 2005. He then perfected in the third dimension and obtained his patent upper technician Army (BSTAT). His deep attachment to France made him file a naturalization he gets 7 May 2010. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant 1st July of the same year.
Always showing a remarkable dedication to his craft and availability flawless Sergeant VORMEZEELE conducted several field missions: Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2000, Gabon in 2001, Djibouti in 2001 and 2011, New Caledonia in 2003, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire in 2006, the Central African Republic in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
January 23, 2013, in the "CHEETAH", it is intended in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. On the night of January 27 to 28, during Operation "Serval" he parachutes with his unit in the city of Timbuktu in Mali. Paratrooper commando particularly competent and experienced, it proves once again to pitch in this crisis.
Sergeant-chef VORMEZEELE held four three quotes with attribution of the Cross of Military Valour and one with awarding the gold medal to national defense.
Sergeant -Chef VORMEZEELE was also holder of French commemorative medal with clasps "former Yugoslavia" and "Afghanistan," Medal with Overseas staples "Republic of Côte d'Ivoire" and "Central African Republic" Cross the fighter and national defense medal - gold level.

Harold VORMEZEELE soldier, a hero, an example, rest in peace.

from www.socnet.com

Official French link: [In memoriam] Mali : décès du sergent-chef Harold Vormezeele

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Pirates Demand $1.3 Million for Foreign Hostages

Nigerian authorities say a search is underway for pirates demanding a $1.3 million ransom for six foreigners kidnapped from an oil vessel Sunday.

A police spokesman in Bayelsa state said Wednesday that one of the suspected kidnappers called authorities to demand the payment to release the crew members.  He said three of the abducted crew members are from Ukraine, two from India and one from Russia.

The foreigners were taken hostage after pirates attacked their ship off the coast of Nigeria.  The vessel is operated by Century Group, a Nigerian-based oil servicing company.

In an interview with VOA, International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Director Pottengal Mukundan said weak enforcement of maritime laws has contributed to an increase in piracy off Nigeria's coast and across the Gulf of Guinea region. 

"Nigeria has in the past year-and-a-half caught a few gangs and they are in the process of going through their trials at the moment," said Mukundan. "But, a lot more needs to be done and these kinds of crimes which started in Nigeria have spilled over the border into Benin, Togo and lately as far away as the Ivory Coast." 

The IMB says incidents off Nigeria's coast rose from 10 in 2011 to 27 last year.

Earlier this month, gunmen fired on a chemical tanker in Lagos.  A crew member was killed in that incident.

Mukundan says the IMB, which runs a piracy reporting center, is seeing a mixture of attacks along Africa's West Coast.

"You have the armed thefts for the ships," said Mukundan. "You also have the cases where product tankers are hijacked by these gangs in order to steal a small part of the cargo, around 2 - 4,000 tons of product oils from the ship.  And then, the ship and the crew are normally released within 7 to 10 days." 

Mukundan says the IMB has recorded 10 piracy attacks along Africa's west coast so far this year.   

He says a total of 44 crew members have been taken hostage aboard vessels. He says an additional 11 were kidnapped and held at other locations.

from VOA News
February 20, 2013

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16 Afghan militants lay down arms in N. province

Taliban fighters attend a surrender ceremony in Balkh province in north Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2013. Up to 16 Taliban militants renounced violence and joined the government-initiated peace and reconciliation process in Balkh on Wednesday, local police said. (Xinhua/Azorda)

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Up to 16 Taliban militants renounced violence and joined the government- initiated peace and reconciliation process in the northern Afghan province of Balkh on Wednesday, police said.

"A total of 16 Taliban, including their commander Amir Gul, give up fighting and joined the peace process Wednesday," the deputy provincial police chief Abdul Rizaq Qadri told Xinhua.

The former militants were active in Dihdadi district, the police official said, adding they also handed over 14 rounds of weapons to security authorities during a welcoming ceremony held in Mazar-i-Sharif earlier in the day.

With the former insurgents' surrender, peace and stability would be further strengthened in the province 305 km north of capital Kabul, he said.

The Afghan government set up a 70-member High Peace Council in the summer of 2010 to encourage Taliban to disarm and give up militancy against the government.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have not made any comment yet.

from XINHUA
2013-02-20 19:00:31
Editor: Lu Hui

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Roadside bomb kills 2 Afghan police, wounds 1

Districts of Kunar., Nari in green(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ASSADABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two personnel of Afghan Border Police Force were killed and another sustained injuries as a roadside bomb struck a police van in Kunar province, 185 km east of Kabul on Wednesday, a local official said.

"A mine planted by militants on a road in Narai district, struck a vehicle of Border Police Force at 09:00 a.m. local time today as a result two personnel were killed and another sustained injuries,"border police officer Ayub Hussainkhil told Xinhua.

Taliban militants who have been fighting the government and largely relying on suicide and roadside bombings have yet to claim responsibility.

from XINHUA
2013-02-20 18:27:17

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3 dead, 2 wounded in Nigeria suicide bomb attack

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Three people including a suicide bomber were killed after the explosion on Wednesday in Nigeria's northeastern city Miaduguri, local military confirmed.

Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) said the suicide bomber suspected of links to the West African country's Boko Haram sect targeted a patrol team at Post Office Round About in Maiduguri metropolis.

"An Improvised Explosive Device targeted at JTF patrol team exploded at Post Office roundabout in Maiduguri metropolis at about 1:00 p.m. today," he said in a statement reaching Xinhua. The explosion led to the death of 3 people including the bomber and wounded two others, he said, adding the JTF vehicle was damaged.

Musa declined to give further details of the incident as efforts are being made to clear the debris and rescue the affected persons.

Maiduguri, seen as the base of the Boko Harm militia, has witnessed a series of deadly attacks in the past two years.

from XINHUA
 2013-02-21 00:28:20

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20 insurgents killed in Laghman, Ghazni

The location of Laghman Province within Afghanistan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

JALALABAD/GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Twenty insurgents, including three suicide bombers, were killed and several others wounded by security forces in eastern Laghman and southern Ghazni province, officials said on Wednesday. 

Fifteen fighters have been killed and 17 others wounded during an ongoing operation by the Afghan army and police in the Alingar district of Laghman, Sarhadi Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He claimed four villages --- Kachoor, Hakimabad, Noori and Salingar -- had been cleared of militants as a result of the operation. The dead included rebel commanders Qari Almas and Omari, as well as four Pakistani citizens.

Security personnel had also captured 21 kilograms of opium from the house of a local Taliban commander named Mullah Ghafoor, Zwak said.

A Taliban spokesman, meanwhile, acknowledged the loss of only three militants and injuries to five others in Laghman. Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the fighters had killed 10 security personnel and torched three vehicles in clashes.

Separately, a suicide bomber was among five guerrillas killed as a result of an airstrike by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the Andar district of Ghazni, said the administrative head of the town, Mohammad Qasim Desiwal.

A car driver was hired to take suspected militants to the district centre or Ghazni City, Desiwal said, explaining the four fighters intended to attack security personnel. But ISAF targeted them before reaching their target, the district chief added.

On the other hand, a resident of the area, Lutfullah, said that were six people in the car, including the driver, were killed in the air raid.

from Pajhwok
By Saifullah Maftoon & Mahbob Shah Mahbob Feb 20, 2013 - 17:02

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Somali Troops Liberate More Areas From Al-Shabaab

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

The Somali National army, supported by Ugandan units of AMISOM, on Monday (February 18th) captured the strategic airfield of Jowhar, located 100kms north east of Mogadishu. A Ugandan spokesman, Major Henry Obbo, said the airfield, 20 kms from Jowhar town, was taken over after minimal resistance from fleeing Al-Shabaab fighters.

Allied forces had no losses. The town of Jowhar was taken by Somali government forces and AMISOM in December. The Ugandan contingent commander, Brigadier Michael Ondoga, said Somali troops and AMISOM forces will continue to pressure the weakening Al-Shabaab until it completely disengages from terrorist activities, to provide a more conducive atmosphere to the Somali peace process.

The capture of Jowhar airfield will widen the Somali Government's area of control and provide better opportunities to ensure protection for large areas of Middle Shabelle region including the regional capitalof Jowhar. It will also improve opportunities for reconstruction in the transport sector and other infrastructure.

Balidoogle air base and KM-50 airfield which were recently captured from Al Shabaab have already begun to receive flights; plans are underway for the renovation of both. Four days before the capture of Jowhar airfield, Al-Shabaab was also pushed out of three towns in Lower Shabelle.

from allAfrica
20 February 2013

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Feb. 20., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force killed three insurgents and detained one other during an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Charkh district, Logar province, today.

As the security force approached the Taliban leader’s suspected location, insurgents maneuvered toward the Afghan and coalition troops. After positively identifying the lethal threat, the security force engaged the insurgents, killing three.

The Taliban leader is believed responsible for distributing weapons to insurgent forces in Logar province, and for planning and executing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

The security force also seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, multiple RPG rounds, multiple AK-47s and one machine gun as a result of this operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

An Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban leader, Mohammad Akhund, and one other insurgent with a precision strike during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, yesterday. Mohammad Akhund was responsible for directing attacks against Afghanistan and coalition forces. He was also crucial in coordinating the production and emplacement of improvised explosive devices in Helmand province.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani facilitator and four other insurgents in Kandahar city, Kandahar province, today. Prior to the operation, the detained Haqqani facilitator was responsible for managing supply routes from Kandahar city to various other provinces. He was also believed instrumental in the acquisition and distribution of lethal aid to Haqqani fighters for use in attacks against Afghanistan and coalition forces.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested three insurgents during an operation in search of a Haqqani leader in Terayzai district, Khost province, today. The Haqqani leader is believed responsible for multiple IED attacks in Terayzai district. The security force also seized an AK-47 and two bolt action rifles as a result of this operation.

An Afghan and coalition force killed five insurgents during a security operation in Andar district, Ghazni province, yesterday. The security force positively identified insurgents involved in nefarious activity and conducted a precision strike, killing the five insurgents.

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Feb. 20., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces cleared six improvised explosive devices, discovered one weapons cache, and detained five suspected insurgents during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 19.

Paktya province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared a vehicle-borne IED in Chamkani district.

Logar province
Afghan National Security Forces detained four suspected insurgents in Pul-e Alam district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

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

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Dehyak district.

Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Qarah Bagh district.

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

Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Nadir Shah Kot district.

Parwan rovince
Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Bagram district. The cache contained two rockets. Afghan forces diffused and removed both rockets.

Nangarhar province
Afghan National Security Forces detained one suspected insurgent during an engagement in Behsud district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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7 French Tourists Kidnapped in Cameroon

Seven French tourists, including four children, have been kidnapped in Cameroon by what French President Francois Hollande says is a Nigeria-based "terrorist group."

During a visit to Greece on Tuesday, Hollande told reporters that he believed the gunmen had crossed the border from Cameroon into Nigeria with the hostages.

"The most likely thing is that they have been taken to Nigeria," he said. "We are doing everything in our power to prevent them [from] being captured and trapped in this country.  But we warn also all the tourists that are in the area of Cameroon to avoid exposing themselves [to such dangers].  But we also have to do everything to find our compatriots."

The seven hostages are members of the same family.  The French energy firm GDF Suez says one of its employees based in the capital, Yaounde, was abducted along with his family while on vacation in northern Cameroon.

The incident occurred a day after the Islamist group Ansaru claimed responsibility for kidnapping seven foreigners in northern Nigeria.

Those captives, employed by a Lebanese-owned company, were taken hostage when gunmen stormed a construction site in Nigeria's Bauchi state.

Ansaru also claimed responsibility for kidnapping a French national in December.

The group said both incidents were motivated by what it called the European Union's transgressions against Islam in countries such as Mali and Afghanistan.

France sent forces into Mali last month to help drive out Islamist militant groups that controlled the country's north and were moving in the direction of the capital, Bamako.

Western countries have expressed increasing concern about Nigerian militant groups linking up with similar groups -- especially al-Qaida's North African branch, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

Nigeria's best-known militant group is the Islamist sect Boko Haram, which is blamed for more than 1,000 killings since 2009.

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

from VOA News
February 19, 2013

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Feb. 19., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition security forces confirmed today the death of Taliban senior leader, Khan Mohammad, and another insurgent during an operation in Musa Qal'ah district, Helmand province, Sunday.

Khan Mohammad, also known as Shams, was a critical Taliban command and control link within the Musa Qal'ah district network. He coordinated direct attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and participated in Taliban kidnapping operations. He facilitated the supply of weapons to insurgents.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout
Afghanistan:

South
An Afghan and coalition force arrested a Taliban leader in Panjwa'i district, Kandahar province, Monday. The leader was believed responsible for coordinating improvised explosive device operations against Afghan Local Police. As an IED facilitator, he was responsible for IED emplacement operations against Afghan and coalition forces, as well as Afghan civilians. He procured, transferred and delivered weapons, IED-making materials and supplies to insurgents operating in the province.

In Arghistan district, Kandahar province, yesterday, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader. The leader was allegedly responsible for an improvised explosive device attack network in Spin Boldak, Arghistan and Maruf districts, Kandahar province. He was responsible for the coordination and distribution of ammunition and heavy weapons to insurgents in the province.

An Afghan and coalition force detained three insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban leader in Arghistan district, Kandahar province, Monday. The leader is believed responsible for the direct acquisition and distribution of weapons and attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

East
Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents in Ghaziabad district, Kunar province, Monday. During the operation, the security force observed two individuals conducting insurgent activity. The security force engaged the insurgents with a precision strike, killing both individuals.

An Afghan and coalition force killed an insurgent during a security operation in Andar district, Ghazni province, Monday. The security force positively identified the insurgent and conducted a precision strike, killing him.

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Feb. 19., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed five insurgents and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 18.

Kunar province
Coalition forces killed two insurgents during an engagement in Sar Kani district.

Afghan and coalition forces killed three insurgents during an engagement in Dangam district.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Qarah Bagh district.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sabari district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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