Sunday, February 3, 2013

Feb. 03., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

2/03/2013 02:37:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban improvised explosive device attack coordinator in Khanabad district, Kunduz province, Feb. 1.

The detained Taliban IED attack coordinator planned and executed IED attacks throughout Khanabad district. He is believed to have conducted attacks against Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials as well as Afghan and coalition forces.

During the operation, the security force also seized IED-making materials.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition force detained two insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban senior leader in Baghlan-e Jadid district, Baghlan province, Feb. 3. The Taliban senior leader is alleged to command a cell of 25 Taliban fighters in Baghlan-e Jadid district and oversees IED operations.

East

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader in Khost district, Khost province, Feb. 1. The detained Haqqani leader is an IED expert and believed responsible for IED facilitation and attacks in Khost district. He is accused of coordinating the acquisition and transfer of homemade explosives, weapons and IEDs for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained one suspected insurgent and seized multiple assault rifles as a result of the operation.

Feb. 03., 2013. - RC-East operational update

2/03/2013 02:35:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan National Security Forces cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 2.

Wardak Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sayed Abad district.

Khowst Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Gurbuz district.

Nangarhar Province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Surkh Rod district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

At least 30 killed, 70 injured in attacks on Iraqi police station

2/03/2013 02:24:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

Iraqi firefighters and soldiers work at the site of a suicide bomb attack in Kirkuk, on Feb. 3, 2013. At least 30 people were killed and some 70 others wounded in a coordinated car bomb and suicide attack on a police headquarters in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk, a local police source said. (Xinhua/Dina Assad)

A car bomb set off by a suicide attacker and followed by gunmen storming a police headquarters in the north Iraqi city of Kirkuk, killed 30 people and wounded 70 others on Sunday, a police general said.

Militants had apparently sought to take control of the compound, but were unsuccessful, Brigadier General Natah Mohammed Sabr, the head of the city's emergency services department said.

The attackers struck at morning rush hour in the city centre, Sabr said, with the militants armed with guns, grenades and suicide vests looking to force their way into the police headquarters in the chaotic aftermath of the car bombing.

In addition to the casualties, the attack caused massive damage to nearby buildings, Sabr said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday's coordinated attack, but Sunni militants including Al-Qaeda's front group in Iraq frequently target security forces and government land marks in a bid to destabilize the country.

Kirkuk lies at the heart of a swathe of disputed territory claimed by both the central government and Iraq's autonomous northern Kurdish region.

The unresolved row is persistently cited by diplomats and officials as the biggest threat to Iraq's long-term stability.

Militants often exploit a lack of coordination between the two sides' security forces and launch deadly attacks in the city, which remains one of the most violent in Iraq, and also in nearby towns.

The deadly violence shattered a relative calm in Iraq in recent days.

Baghdad has been grappling with a political crisis that has pitted Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki against his former government partners amid weeks of protests calling for him to resign.

from AL ARABIYA
Sunday, 03 February 2013

more photos from XINHUA (SOME GRAPHIC WARNING): http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2013-02/03/c_132148087.htm

R.I.P. - Chris Kyle

2/03/2013 01:47:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

A former Tarleton State University student who wrote the best-selling book, "American Sniper," was one of two victims shot and killed at Rough Creek Lodge Saturday.

Chris Kyle, 38, and another man were found dead at Rough Creek's shooting range between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday, according to Sheriff Tommy Bryant.

Eddie Ray Routh, an Iraqi war veteran, was arrested hours later after a manhunt led authorities to Lancaster where Routh was taken into custody just before 9 p.m. Saturday.

Routh, 25, is expected to be charged with capital murder.

Investigators had not released the name of the second victim at press time, but reports indicate he may have been Routh's neighbor.

Bryant said the three men were at the shooting range Saturday when Routh shot the victims at point-blank range before fleeing in Kyle's truck .

Kyle was a former Navy SEAL who served four tours of duty in Iraq, where he was given the nickname "The Devil of Ramadi" by insurgents.

In 2008, he made his longest successful shot after he spotted an insurgent with a rocket launcher near a U.S. Army convoy at a range of 2,100 yards (1.2 miles).

Kyle was recently honored by the Tarleton Alumni Association as the Outstanding Young Alumnus for 2013.

"Our hearts go out to Chris’ family and friends at this tragic moment,” Tarleton State University President, Dr. Dominic Dottavio, said. “We are proud of his exemplary service to our nation and are deeply saddened to hear the news of this tragic event.”

Kyle leaves behind a wife, Taya, and two children.

from Your Stephenville TX.com
by Sara Vanden Berge
Posted: Saturday, February 2, 2013 8:40 pm | Updated: 10:22 pm, Sat Feb 2, 2013.

---

from SOFREP by Jack Murphy:
February 2, 2013

Chris Kyle, Another Brother Lost

I am saddened to have to announce the tragic loss of another one of our own. This has been a hard year for the Special Operations community, perhaps the SEAL community most of all.Today Chris Kyle was shot and killed at a shooting range at the Rough Creek Lodge in Texas, murdered along with a second individual.

Chris had been volunteering his time to help Marine Corps veterans suffering from PTSD and mentoring them. Part of this process involved taking these veterans to the range where one of them snapped and killed Chris and his neighbor for reasons that remain unknown at this time. The perpetrator then stole Chris’ vehicle in an attempt to escape but we have received word that the police have since arrested him.

Chris Kyle served as a sniper in the US Navy SEALs and is best known to the American public from writing his memoir, “American Sniper.” After his service, Chris ran a training program called The Craft. Although recognized as America’s deadliest sniper, Chris was known to friends as a very down to earth and humble man. He was also a friend of SOFREP and worked closely with Brandon Webb on a recent project of ours.

I just got off the phone with Brandon who is understandably upset over losing another friend not long after laying Glen Doherty to rest a few months ago. The entire SOF community is still in shock over this incident, and we will have more to say on the matter as the situation develops.

Right now it is simply the time to have a moment of silence for Chris Kyle and his friend who was murdered alongside him.

Read more: http://sofrep.com/16838/chris-kyle-another-brother-lost/#ixzz2Jq6jeOhI

IED blast kills two, injures three soldiers in Orakzai

2/03/2013 02:18:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

ORAKZAI AGENCY: Two security personnel, including an officer, were killed while three others sustained injuries in an IED blast in Ghunda Mela village of upper Orakzai Agency, officials said.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed that two soldiers “embraced martyrdom” while three others were injured in the blast during search of an old compound.

Tehsildar Orakzai Agency Nauman Khan has also confirmed that the security forces convoy was hit by a discarded improvised explosive device when they were searching an abandoned compound.

The deceased were later identified as Captain Hasnat Ali and Naib Subedar Arif Khan.

Earlier, suicide bombers had attacked a military checkpost in Lakki Marwat early on Saturday, killing 13 soldiers and 11 civilians.

Banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) later claimed responsibility of the attack.

from DAWN

Feb. 02., 2013. - RC-East operational update

2/02/2013 01:31:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained five insurgents and cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 1.

Ghazni province

Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Gelan district.

Coalition forces detained an insurgent in Ghazni district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Laghman province

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

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

Paktya province

Afghan and coalition forces detained four insurgents during an operation in Chamkani district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

Nigeria: 17 Boko Haram Members, Soldier Die in JTF Raids

2/02/2013 01:30:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

A series of raids launched by the Joint Task Force (JTF), code named Operation Restore Order (ORO) in suspected camps of the Boko Haram sect, has claimed 17 terrorists and a soldier.
The task force, which confirmed the casualty figure yesterday, said the victims died during gun battles in two special operations supported by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter gunship.

In a statement issued yesterday by the JTF spokesman, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, he said the raids were launched to dislodge Boko Haram terrorists' camps in Sambisa Game Reserve in Bama Local Government Area and Farin-Ruwa forest in South-West/East of Demboa Local Government of Borno State on Wednesday and Thursday.

Musa said the camps were properly sighted and fortified and had training facilities; armoury, accommodation, drugs store/medical, kitchen, vehicle holding area, latrine and water points (river).

According to him, the camps were used to conduct training and carry out recent attacks, killings and bombings in Maiduguri, Musari, Konduga, Biu, Bama, and Demboa communities.

Musa said, "Efforts by JTF troops to destroy the camps led to fierce exchange of fire that resulted in the death of 17 Boko Haram terrorists with one JTF personnel killed. The camps were destroyed and are being monitored. The following items were recovered: 6 Ak 47 rifles, 2 G3 rifles, 3 pistols, 1 rocket propelled grenade bomb (RPG), 1 RPG tube, 20 RPG chargers, 2 double barrel rifles."

"Others are 2,543 assorted ammunition, 33 assorted empty magazines, 3 laptops computers,10 assorted Motorola walkie talkies, 20 telephone handsets, 40 assorted primed IED canisters, 3 bags of rice and 2 bags of beans, 2 jerry cans of palm oil, 1 bag of salt, 1 generating set, and light green uniforms (sown and unsown)."

The JTF spokesman reiterated the need for local communities to give credible and timely information to the task force/ security agencies. He urged members of the public to pass any credible information to the JTF through the hot lines, which he gave as 080-64174066, O81-54429346.

from allAfrica/Leadership
By Sadiq Abubakar, 2 February 2013

Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law arrested in Turkey

2/02/2013 01:25:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

English: Osama bin Laden interviewed for Daily Pakistan in 1997; (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to Turkish media agecnies, Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law Suleiman Abu Gheith was arrested by Turkish security forces in Ankara following a tipoff from U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
According to reports Suleiman Abu Gheith was the former spokesman of the terror network and reportedly escaped Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 and settled in a camp in Iran.

The location of Suleiman Abu Gheith was reportedly disclosed to Turkish intelligence agency (MIt) by US intelligence after he entered Turkey on a false passport.

He was detained at a hotel in Çankaya district of Ankara, Hurryiet Daily News reported, quoting the Daily Milliyet.

In the meantime another Turkish media agency reported that Suleiman Abu Gheith was intending to seek political asylum in Turkey.

The man is the husband of Fatima Bin Laden who currently lives in Saudi Arabia. Abu Gheit is a Kuwaiti national who had citizenship revoked.

There has been no official comment from either Turkey or the United States on any possible link between Suleyman and the perpetrators of Friday’s suicide bombing at the United States Embassy.

It remains to be seen if there will be any friction between the two NATO allies, should Turkey deport Suleyman to Iran without giving the CIA an opportunity to interrogate one of Osama Bin Laden’s closest surviving relatives.

from KHAAMA
By Meena Haseeb - 02 Feb 2013, 2:11 pm

22 killed as army camp attacked in NW Pakistan

2/02/2013 01:19:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

Pakistani troops keep guard near the site of an attack in the Sari Norang area of Pakistan's northwest district of Lakki Marwat, on Feb. 2, 2013. At least 22 people were killed and a dozen others injured when a security camp was attacked in Lakki Marwat on Saturday morning, local media reported. Banned outfit of Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. (Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 22 people were killed and a dozen others injured when a security camp was attacked in Pakistan's northwest district of Lakki Marwat area on Saturday morning, local media reported.
Urdu TV channel Geo said that the killed people include eight security personnel and 12 militants.

Banned outfit of Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, and a Taliban spokesperson revealed that they sent 30 trained militants including four suicide bombers to launch attack at the military camp.

Ahsan Ullah Ahsan, the Taliban spokesperson, said the attack was the revenge of deaths of two Taliban commanders in U.S. drone strikes.

Army sources confirmed that 10 of the assailants were shot dead in the counter attack by security forces and 20 others fled the scene.

They said that the militants' plan to incur huge loss to security forces was foiled by the soldiers on duty, who fought bravely against the attackers.

Some local TV channels quoted unidentified security officials as saying that the escaped militants are hiding in a residential area near the security camp.

The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where several of them were in critical condition. Hospital sources confirmed that there were at least eight soldiers among the injured people.

The attack was launched at about 4:00 a.m. local time when 30 militants equipped with sophisticated weapons stormed the army camp located in the Saraey Noor Rang area of Laki Marwat, a restive district located in the country's northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The attack was followed by a gun battle between security forces and militants which lasted for more than four hours.

Both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf condemned the attack and directed the hospital administration to provide best medical treatment to the injured people.

from XINHUA (<- more photos)
2013-02-02 14:34:55
Editor: Lu Hui

Yemeni warplanes strike al-Qaida-held sites in south

2/02/2013 01:12:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni warplanes carried out strikes against al-Qaida hideouts in the southern province of Abyan on Saturday, but no casualties were immediately reported, an army officer told Xinhua.

About two suspected al-Qaida-held positions and other checkpoints manned by terrorists in the mountainous areas of Maraksha in Abyan province were bombed with several rockets, the local army officer said on condition of anonymity.

"The military aircraft struck the al-Qaida-held sites in Maraksha region in Abyan with an effective operation," the army officer said.

"The two air strikes targeted a large group of al-Qaida terrorists who were preparing to establish training camps in Abyan 's mountainous areas," the army officer added.

However, the army officer did not mention the number of casualties amongst the al-Qaida members.

On Thursday, the pro-government militiamen backed by a unit of the armed forces clashed with al-Qaida militants in the mountainous region of Maraksha, leaving at least 14 people killed on both sides, the Defense Ministry said in a brief text message obtained by Xinhua.

The Yemen-based al-Qaida branch, known locally as Ansar al- Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), took advantage of a political upheaval in 2011 in Yemen to take over several towns of the southern restive regions.

The militants were targeted by Yemeni security authorities after a U.S.-backed offensive launched in the southern Abyan province months ago routed the militants out of their strongholds that they had controlled for nearly a year.

The Yemeni government along with the United states and oil-rich Saudi Arabia have beefed up anti-terror operation since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took office in February 2012.

from XINHUA
2013-02-02 18:07:28