Boko Haram leader, 2 sub-commanders killed in northern Nigeria raid

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- A top Boko Haram leader identified as Abdulkareem Ibrahim and two sub-commanders of the sect have been killed in a raid carried out by Nigerian troops in Maiduguri, capital of northeastern Borno State, authorities of the military Joint Task Fiorce (JTF) said on Monday.

Spokesperson of the JTF in Borno State Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa confirmed the killing to reporters, saying the raid was carried out on Sunday by a combined team of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the military in the restive Nigerian state.

He said the operation was carried out mainly to capture the sect commander who had been on the military's wanted list.

According to Musa, arms and ammunition including AK-47 rifles were also recovered during the raid and ensuing gun battle that led to death of the sect commander and the two other sub- commanders.

"Ibrahim was a notorious terrorist commander who had been responsible for the recent spates of assassinations and bomb attacks in Maiduguri. He was one of the top commanders recently declared in the bounty list released by the JTF to members of the public," the troops spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, in a similar development, the police in Borno State have repelled an attack by suspected terrorists on its facility in Gamboru/Ngala area of the metropolis.

State commissioner of police Abdullahi Yuguda told reporters that the attackers invaded the Divisional Police Station in an attempt to cause pandemonium in the area. "I can only confirm to you that policemen successfully repelled the attack," he said.

"I'm still expecting more details from the Divisional Police Officer of the station," he added.

Maiduguri, located in Nigeria's northeastern region, is a Boko Haram flashpoint, where the Nigerian government had declared and lifted some curfews due to wave of attacks.

from XINHUA
2012-12-03 15:40:43
Editor: Fang Yang

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Bomb kills five in southern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – At least five people, including two women, were killed when a bomb targeting an army vehicle exploded in southern Afghanistan on Monday, officials said.

The remote-controlled bomb was placed on a motorcycle and hit an Afghan army patrol truck as it was passing in Trin Kot the capital of Uruzgan province.

“Two Afghan army soldiers and three civilians were killed in the blast,” provincial police spokesman Farid Ayal told AFP.

The Uruzgan governor’s spokesman, Abdullah Hemat, said two women were among those killed.

The blast also wounded eight others, including two soldiers, he said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but in the past such attacks have been claimed by the Taliban, who are waging an 11-year old insurgency to topple the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.

The attack in Uruzgan comes a day after Taliban suicide attackers struck at a NATO base on an Afghan city airport, killing five people and wounding several foreign troops.

from onepakistan

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Children wounded in Khost hand grenade attack

Khost city (PAN): Fourteen persons, mostly children, were wounded in a hand grenade attack in Nadir Shah Kot District of southeastern Khost province on Monday, an official said.

The 203 Thunder Corps spokesman First Lt Mashal told Pajhwok Afghan News that the incident took place in Shamboyat market on the outskirt of Zanikhel area in the district.

An unknown person lobbed a hand grenade in the busy market that wounded many civilians, he added.

Khost Civil Hospital Director Dr Majeed Mangal confirmed that 14 wounded victims, mostly children, were admitted to the hospital and they are in stable condition.

from Pajhwok
By Hidayatullah Khosti Dec 3, 2012 - 16:44

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Nigeria: Two Feared Dead As Explosion Rocks Kano

Kano — Two person were feared dead when an explosion rocked Plaza junction, by Kanti Kori in Kano during the morning rush hour on Monday.
Reports say that a security personnel and a passerby were killed in the blast. JTF officials have however, cordoned off the area while investigation into the attack has commenced.

Spokesman of the JTF in the city, Captain Ikediche Iweha confirmed the incident to Vanguard on the telephone, adding that he will volunteer details as soon as they are available.

In his words "our men are already at the scene, and I hope to feed you with details as soon as we have them."

from allAfrica/Vanguard
By Abdulsalam Muhammad, 3 December 2012

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Dec. 03., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested the senior Taliban leader for eastern Chimtal district, Balkh province, today.

The leader planned and conducted numerous attacks, including improvised explosive device attacks, against Afghan and coalition forces and provided direct support to other senior Taliban leaders in the province.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today that a local Taliban leader was arrested during a security operation in Sar-e Pul district, Sar-e Pul province, Saturday. The detained Taliban leader was responsible for planning and conducting improvised explosive device attacks throughout Sar-e Pul province, and provided direct assistance to senior Taliban leaders in the province.

South

In Shah Wali Kot district, Kandahar province, today, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a local Taliban leader who organized attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in eastern Shah Wali Kot district. He also facilitated the movement of Taliban fighters, weapons and ammunition within the district. During the operation, the security force also detained one suspected insurgent and seized several weapons.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a local Taliban leader during an operation in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, today. The leader controlled insurgents operating in the district and facilitated the movement of weapons to insurgents in the area. He was also responsible for executing both direct fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the security force also detained two suspected insurgents.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader today during an operation in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province. The leader controlled a group of insurgents, and facilitated the acquisition and movement of weapons and ammunition in central Pul-e ‘Alam and eastern Baraki Barak districts.

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Dec. 03., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained one, located one weapons cache and cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Dec. 2.

Khowst province
Afghan Border Police and coalition forces detained one insurgent during an engagement in Khowst district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Ziruk district.

Paktya province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Dzadran district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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USS Enterprise: Past, Present And Future

By KELLYALLEN – December 1, 2012 - NAVYLIVE.DODLIVE.MIL

Friends and family members of Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) gather on the flight deck for the ship’s final air power demonstration before its upcoming inactivation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman/Released)

 
By Rear Adm. Thomas J. Moore, Program Executive Officer, Aircraft Carriers

Today, December 1st, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) will inactivate and leave the Navy’s active carrier force forever. The inactivation of CVN 65 is not just a milestone for the Navy, it marks both the end of an era of a legendary ship and the start of a new era for Naval Aviation with the introduction of the GERALD R. FORD Class. USS ENTERPRISE, although the oldest ship in the fleet, performed the same Naval Aviation Strike Operations and Air Wing support as the newest aircraft carriers.

USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) will continue to serve on as more than $100 million of her equipment is reused and installed aboard NIMITZ and FORD class aircraft carriers. Seven ships have borne the name ENTERPRISE, and CVN 65 or “Big E” is a legend in itself as the most decorated warship in U.S. history. Pivotal in every U.S. conflict since its commissioning, the first nuclear aircraft carrier Enterprise changed the future of naval aviation. I had the privilege of serving aboard ENTERPRISE, being Program Manager at PEO Carriers for the long transition of the last NIMITZ class carrier USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77), and am now the PEO responsible for the new GERALD R. FORD Class. I am proud to see the Enterprise tradition of bringing unprecedented innovation and striking power to the fleet being continued in our newest class.

Read more, the full article here: http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2012/12/01/uss-enterprise-past-present-and-future/

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Taliban storm NATO base in Afghanistan, 14 dead

At least 14 people, including nine Taliban men, were killed Sunday when militants wearing suicide vests stormed a major NATO base in Afghanistan, media reports said.

Two civilians died in the attack in Jalalabad, capital of the eastern province of Nangarhar, around 120 km east of Kabul, Xinhua reported citing Tolo News.

There were conflicting reports about the number of casualties.

CNN said three Afghan soldiers were killed when the militants attacked three different points at Forward Operating Base Fenty, near the Jalalabad airfield, according to the NATO-led International Assistance Security Force (ISAF).

Three suicide bombers and six gunmen were killed in the blasts and the firefight that ensued, provincial police spokesman Havrat Hussain Mashriqwal told CNN.

The attack began around 6 a.m. when two suicide bombers rammed their explosives-laden vehicles into separate entrances of the NATO base, sparking a gunfight between the militants and security forces.

At least 14 Afghan soldiers and four civilians were wounded, police told CNN.

NATO helicopters were seen hovering over the area and firing on the attackers, a witness told Xinhua.

The blasts created a plume of grey smoke above the scene.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mujahid said there were two suicide car bombs and a suicide bomber with an explosive belt used in the attack, which he claimed killed at least 20 people.

Afghan officials told BBC eight suicide attackers were involved in the assault, and all were killed.

A NATO spokesman said the assault was a failure because the Taliban did not penetrate the base.

The force of the explosions is reported to have blown out windows a kilometre away, BBC said.

Local residents said helicopters had fired on the insurgents, and the fighting lasted about 20 minutes.

Sunday's attack was the latest in a series to target the base.

In February, nine people were killed and 12 wounded in a suicide bombing at the front gate of the base. Two moths later, four suicide bombers wearing burqas tried to launch an attack there, officials said.

NATO, which currently has around 130,000 troops in Afghanistan, is gradually handing security over to Afghan forces ahead of the departure of most combat troops in 2014.

from Afghanistan News.Net
Sunday 2nd December, 2012
---
BBC video is here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20571640 
---
AL JAZEERA video:

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• http://www.rc-east.com/news/news-releases/item/1012-ana-isaf-forces-repel-attack
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•  

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Dec. 02., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force killed the Taliban leader, Juma Gul Akhund, during an operation in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province, Dec. 1.

Akhund oversaw improvised explosive device operations in the Zharay, Panjwa’I and Maiwand districts of Kandahar province. He also organized the movement of weapons and IEDs throughout the province.


In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a local Taliban leader in Pul-e Khumri district, Baghlan province, Dec. 2. The leader built and distributed improvised explosive devices and was responsible for transporting IED components to insurgents throughout the district.

South
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, Dec. 2. The leader oversaw the emplacement of improvised explosive devices, conducted direct fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, and acquired and distributed IED-materials to insurgents. The security force also detained one suspected insurgent.

East

In Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, an Afghan and coalition security force on Dec. 1 arrested a Haqqani leader who was responsible for leading direct fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also facilitated the transfer of weapons and ammunition to insurgents operating throughout Pul-e ‘Alam district. During the operation, the combined security force also detained two suspected insurgents.

An Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during an operation in Sayyid Karam district, Paktiya province, Nov. 29. The cache contained 35,274 pounds of hashish. The security force destroyed the drugs on site and detained two suspected drug traffickers.

During an operation in Khost district, Khost province, Dec. 2, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader. The leader planned and conducted indirect fire attacks on Forward Operating Base Shan and directed improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province.

In Gelan district, Ghazni province, Dec. 2, an Afghan and coalition force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban leader who plans and coordinates attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the district, and provides direct assistance to senior Taliban leaders in the province. During the operation, the combined security force detained multiple suspected insurgents.

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Dec. 02., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces located two weapons caches and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Dec. 1.

Ghazni Province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Qarah Bagh District.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Waghaz District. The cache contained small arms ammunition.

Khowst Province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Gurbuz District.

Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Terayzai District. The cache contained small arms, and small arms ammunition, four blasting caps and two grenades.

Paktya Province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Zurmat District.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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