US kills AQAP bombmaker, 9 fighters in pair of strikes in Yemen

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

By Bill Roggio - August 7, 2012 - LWJ

The US launched two drone strikes against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen today, killing a senior bomb maker and nine other fighters. The US has now conducted three strikes in Yemen in the past four days. Meanwhile, jihadist named one of the AQAP fighters killed in Saturday's drone strike.

In the first strike, the unmanned Predators or Reapers several missiles at two vehicles traveling in the town of Rawdah in Baydah province, The Associated Press reported. Yemeni officials said that Abdullah Awad al Masri, a wanted bomb maker who is also known as Abou Osama al Maribi, was killed in the strike. It is unclear if he is a Yemeni, however his surname, al Masri, indicates he is an Egyptian.

Two Egyptians, a Tunisian, a Saudi, and a Bahraini were among the seven AQAP fighters killed in the strike. Their identities have not been disclosed.

In the second strike, a drone killed three AQAP fighters as they were traveling in a vehicle in the Zoukaika region of Hadramout province. The identity of those killed has not been disclosed.

Today's strikes follow another on Aug. 4, which also took place in Hadramount. Five AQAP fighters were killed in the strike. Jihadists said that Abu al Bara'a al Saya'ari was one of those killed, according to a statement that was released on internet forums and was translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. Al Saya'ari's role in AQAP was not disclosed; the jihadists said he was the driver of the car.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/08/us_kills_aqap_bombma.php#ixzz22tKvu2jN

Read More

Aug. 07., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained nine, located one weapons cache and cleared eight improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 6.

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

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Sayyidabad district. The cache contained grenades and homemade explosives being used to construct IEDs.

A coalition airstrike killed an insurgent in Gelan district who was emplacing an IED.

Kunar province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces detained an insurgent who was found in possession of IED making materials in Khas Kunar district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Logar province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs, one in Pul-E Alam district and one in Muhammad Aghah district.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained eight insurgents and killed one who were emplacing an IED in Kharwar district. The IED was cleared and the detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs, one in Sharan district and one in Sar Howzah district.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sayyidabad district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

Read More

Yemeni army arrests 5 al-Qaida members over suicide bombing in Abyan

ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Yemeni army forces on Monday arrested five al-Qaida members who are linked to a deadly suicide bombing that killed more than 46 pro-government tribesmen two days ago in southern province Abyan , a government official told Xinhua.

The army forces managed to arrest five al-Qaida members who were accused of masterminding Saturday's suicide bombing at a funeral in Jaar town in Abyan province, the local security official said on condition of anonymity.

"Soldiers of the armed forces and tribal militiamen stormed a house in Jaar based on intelligence tips and arrested the criminals," the government official said.

The soldiers also seized heavy weapons and ammunition including assault rifles, according to the official.

On Saturday night, an al-Qaida suicide bomber detonated his concealed explosive belt at a funeral and killed pro-government tribesmen who supported the army in its campaign against al-Qaida in Abyan province earlier this year.

The suicide attack left more than 46 tribesmen killed and 48 others injured, according to the country's Defense Ministry.

Backed by the United States, the Yemeni government waged a month-long intensive offensive in May against hundreds of al-Qaida militants, driving them out of strongholds they had controlled for nearly a year.

Combating al-Qaida militants in the restive south is one of the challenges confronting Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has promised to restore security and uproot the country's branch of al-Qaida.

from XINHUA
2012-08-07 01:37:32

Read More

Bomb blast kills five insurgents in Khyber Agency

PESHAWAR: A remote bomb exploded in Khyber Agency, killing a militant commander among five other insurgents.

At least five insurgents including a militant commander were killed in remote controlled bomb blast here in Bara on Monday.

According to the government sources, the bomb was planted on the roadside in Akkakhel area of Tehsil Bara. The explosion occurred when banned outfit Lashkar e Islam’s commander Syed Rehman along with his associates were patrolling in the area.

 Security forces has put the security cordon in the area and launched search operation.

from nation.com.pk, allvoices.com

Read More

11 local policemen defect to Taliban

LASHKARGAH (PAN): Eleven members of the local police force, including a commander, surrendered to Taliban insurgents in the Musa Qala district of southern Helmand province, officials said on Monday.

Commander Mohammad Khan also turned in 11 Kalashnikovs assault rifles and two machine guns to the militants late on Sunday, the district chief, Niamatullah Zamaray, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, verified a dozen personnel of the NATO-funded force had defected to the movement, but the Ministry of Interior repudiated the claim as baseless.

from Pajhwok
by Zainullah Stanikzai on Aug 6, 2012 - 14:25   

Read More

Suicide blast kill district security chief in Ghor province

According to local authorities in western Ghor province of Afghanistan, a number of provincial governor officials were killed following a suicide bomb blast in this province.

The officials further added district security chief for Chaharsada Gul Ahmad was killed and district development chief along with operations director were injured following the blast.

Provincial governor spokesman Abdul Hai Khatibi said the incident took place around 9:30 am local time at Chaharsada district while the vehicles convoy of the provincial officials were crossing the area.

Mr. Khatibi further added an Afghan civilian was also killed following the blast.

Taliban militants group claimed responsibility behind the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Mon Aug 06, 1:45 pm

Read More

6 armed Taliban killed, 3 wounded and 8 arrested by ANP (Aug.06.2012.)

Publish Date: Aug 06, 2012

Six armed Taliban killed, three wounded and eight arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched four joint clearance operations in Logar, Ghazni and Herat provinces.

As a result of these operations, six armed Taliban were killed, three wounded and eight others were wounded by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated six different types of weapons, one motorcycle and some amount of ammunitions and IEDs.

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained 11 individuals accused of theft and murder in the 5th, 9th and 11th Districts of Kabul-City.

Read More

Aug. 06., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces conducted an operation to find the Haqqani leader Hakimi in Muhammad Aghah district, Logar province, yesterday.

Hakimi served directly under the Haqqani leader for Muhammad Aghah and was directly involved in the transport of explosives and weapons to insurgent throughout the region.

During the operation the security force positively identified Hakimi and engaged him with a precision airstrike.

After the strike, the Afghan and coalition security force conducted a follow-on assessment and confirmed the strike had killed Hakimi. The force also confirmed the strike had not injured any civilians or damaged any civilian property.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

In Achin district, Nangarhar province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation to arrest a Taliban leader, today. During the operation, an armed group of insurgents attempted to attack the Afghan and coalition troops. The security force positively identified the armed insurgents and engaged them with a precision airstrike. While conducting a post-strike assessment, the security force confirmed the strike had killed several of the insurgent attackers. The security force also confirmed the strike had not injured any civilians or damaged any civilian property. As a result of the operation, the force also detained one suspected insurgent.

Afghan and coalition forces conducted a security operation in search of a Haqqani leader in Tsamkani district, Paktiya province, yesterday. During the operation the security force engaged a group of insurgents with a precision airstrike. After the strike, the Afghan and coalition security force conducted a follow-on assessment and confirmed several insurgents had been killed in the strike. They also confirmed the strike had not injured any civilians or damaged any civilian property.

In Terayzai district, Khost province, today, an Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, conducted an operation to apprehend a Haqqani leader. The Haqqani leader is responsible for conducting several attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in recent months. He is also responsible for acquiring weapons for insurgents in the province. As a result of the operation, the security force detained several suspected insurgents.

Read More

Aug. 06., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Aug. 6, 2012) – Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained 15, located one weapons cache and cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Aug. 5.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared two improvised explosive devices, one in Gelan district and one in Ghazni district.

Khowst province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces detained five insurgents who were emplacing an improvised explosive device in Sabari district. The improvised explosive device was cleared and the detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan Border Police and coalition forces detained five insurgents during an engagement in Gurbuz district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Sabari district. The cache contained ammunition.

Nangarhar province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces detained two insurgents who were emplacing an improvised explosive device in Bati Kot district. The improvised explosive device was cleared and the detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed two insurgents and wounded two in Jani Khel district during an engagement. The wounded received medical care and were transferred to a base for questioning.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two improvised explosive devices, one in Sayyidabad district and in Maidan Shahr district.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained an insurgent who was found with improvised explosive device making materials in Maidan Shahr district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

Read More

Kiwi soldiers killed in Afghanistan named

LCPL Pralli Durrer (L) and LCPL Rory Malone

The families of the two New Zealand soldiers slain in Afghanistan on Saturday night say they are proud of their commitment to the army.

Lance Corporals Rory Malone and Pralli Durrer, both 26, were killed after a fierce three-minute gun fight in a village near Do Abe, in the north east of Bamiyan Province.

They were deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Provincial Reconstruction team in April 2012.

The families of the men both released statements at a press conference today, expressing their loss and speaking of the commitment they had made to the armed forces.

"Rory's family is extremely proud of his service to the NZ Army. Rory went to Afghanistan to do what he considered an important job which contributed to the greater good of the region.

"He did his job with honour and pride. Rory will be dearly missed by his family," Malone's family said.

Durrer's family said: "We are all thankful for the 26 years we had with Pralli and are proud af all that he accomplished in his short time with us.

"He has had a rewarding career as a soldier and we know he had a positive effect on all those he worked alongside throughout his time with the NZ Army."

Malone, from Auckland, joined the Territorial Force in November 2002 and transferred to the Regular Force as a rifleman in September 2005. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in July 2011.


Durrer, from Christchurch, joined the New Zealand Army in June 2004 as a rifleman. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 2012.

Minister of Defence Jonathan Coleman said the families could be "extremely" proud of the men's service records.

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones again expressed his sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased on behalf of the NZDF.

"Both Lance Corporal Malone and Lance Corporal Durrer are now in Bagram Air Base while arrangements are made for their repatriation to New Zealand.

He said the NZDF hoped to have the fallen soldiers home by the middle of the week.

Both the families have asked for privacy and time to grieve by themselves.

Six other New Zealand soldiers were also wounded in the attack, and are recovering in hospital. One of the men was shot in the neck and is in a critical condition.

"We also wish the six wounded men a speedy recovery. they are in good hands and we are looking forward to them being safely back home," Coleman said.

The deaths are the first double fatality on Afghan soil that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has suffered since the war began.

Jones also said today the base in Do Abe was attacked by insurgents again last night, but there were no casualties.

Read more: http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/kiwi-soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan-named-5007796

Read More