Two militants, five soldiers killed in Yemen

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgoenow.com)

Two militants and five soldiers were killed on Thursday during a Yemeni army raid on a mountainous area where insurgents linked to al-Qaeda have been holed up since they were driven out of two southern towns last year, military sources said.

Two suspected members of Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) were also captured in the raid, launched on Thursday morning with army tanks and artillery.

Yemeni military sources said the campaign was aimed at flushing out militants who have taken refuge in caves in the area after they were driven out of Jaar and Zinjibar in a U.S.-backed Yemeni military offensive last year.

Ansar al-Sharia, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), took advantage of a power vacuum during the 2011 popular protests against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to seize the two towns.

Most of the militants fled to the desert or into remote mountain regions, where they have been waging hit-and-run attacks on army installations or military personnel.

“Five army soldiers were killed, 10 were injured and one popular committee member was killed,” said an army source referring to local militiamen allied with the government.

The United States and its allies are concerned about the presence of AQAP and its affiliates next door to the world’s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, and close to key global shipping lanes.

AQAP is believed by Washington to be the most active branch of the global network and has plotted a number of botched attempts against U.S. targets. U.S. drones have repeatedly launched air strikes against its members.

The Yemeni army is waging a separate operation to the north-east against suspected Islamist militants in al-Bayda province, where three Western hostages are believed to be held.

At least six insurgents and 14 government soldiers have been killed in the fighting since it began on Monday with some 8,000 Yemeni soldiers involved. Eleven of the 14 soldiers died in a suicide bombing outside the town of Radda.

The fighting was suspended on Wednesday while tribal leaders tried to secure the release of the hostages -- a Finnish couple and an Austrian man who were kidnapped by tribesmen last month but were later sold to the insurgents.

from AL ARABIYA
Last Updated: Thu Jan 31, 2013 19:51 pm (KSA) 16:51 pm (GMT)

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Taliban district chief killed in eastern Afghanistan

According to local security officials in eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan, a senior Taliban leader and district chief was killed in Andar district.
Provincial security chief for eastern Ghazni province Zarawar Zahid confirming the report said the Taliban district chief Mullah Adam Khan also known as Mullah Jan was killed in this province.

Mr. Zahid further added Mullah Adam Khan was killed following a military operation by Afghan national police forces in Ali village at Andar district on Wednesday night.

Ghazni is among the most volatile region in eastern Afghanistan where Taliban militants and other insugent groups have increased their acitivities during the recent years.

Increased insurgency in Ghazni province forced local residents to pick weapons against the militants which led to an overall public uprising across the province.

In the meantime provincial security chief Zarawar Zahid said the Taliban district chief killed was one of the prominent member of the Taliban group who was coordinating attacks against the Afghan and coalition security forces.

Taliban militants group yet to comment regarding the report.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 31 Jan 2013, 2:53 pm

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Jan. 31., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent, located two weapons caches and cleared eight improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 30.

Paktika province

Coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sharan district.

Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared two IEDs in Zerok district.

Paktya province

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

Ghazni province

Afghan National Security Forces discovered an IED cache during an operation in Deh Yak district. The cache contained four remote controlled IEDs. Afghan National Army soldiers safely cleared all of the devices.

Coalition forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Ghazni district. The cache contained several dozen mortar rounds and barrels of an unknown substance.

Khowst province

Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent during an engagement in Nadir Shah Kot district.

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

Laghman province

Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared three IEDs in Alishing district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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10 militants killed in Helmand

LASHKARGAH (PAN): Two bomb planters were among 10 insurgents killed in two separate incidents in the southern province of Helmand, officials said on Thursday.

Eight rebels were killed and three others wounded on Wednesday during an operation by police in the Nahr-i-Siraj area of Grishk district, the governor’s spokesman, Ahmad Zirak, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Two weapons, a walkie talkie, hundreds of bullets, a car and four motorcycles were seized by police as a result of the operation, he said. A policeman was also injured in the offensive, he added.

Meanwhile, two bomb planters were killed by their own explosives when they wanted to plant a roadside bomb on the Kandahar-Helmand highway in the Sarkar Veyala area of the province, a local police commander, Col. Abdul Satar Noorzai, said.

However, a Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, claimed they killed two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers in Grishk and a policeman in Sangin district.

from Pajhwok
By Shams Jalal Jan 31, 2013 - 12:30

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AQIM, Ansar al-Din bosses flee Kidal

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

Malian and French forces recaptured Kidal on Wednesday (January 30th), forcing the main Islamist chiefs to flee their last holdout in northern Mali, AFP reported.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) katibat leader Abou Zeid and Ansar al-Din chief Iyad Ag Ghaly have reportedly retreated to the Adrar des Ifoghas mountain region bordering Algeria and Niger.

Meanwhile, at a donor conference in the Addis Ababa Tuesday, African leaders and international officials pledged more than 340m euros to support Mali.

Lack of cash and equipment has hampered the deployment of nearly 6,000 troops in the African-led force for Mali (AFISMA).

from MAGHAREBIA
30/01/2013

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22 killed or injured following explosions in Afghanistan

At least 22 people including children and women were killed or injured following separate explosions in eastern and northern parts of Afghanistan on Wednesday.

According to local authorities in northern Faryab province of at least 15 people including three Afghan police officers were injured and an Afghan woman was killed following a blast in this province.

Provincial security chief spokesman Syed Massoud Yaqoubi confirming the report said the incident took place after explosives packed in a motorcycle went off in Pashtun Kot district.

In the meantime local authorities in eastern Afghanistan said a bomb exploded in an open-air market in Khost province, killing two small children.

Provincial governor media office following a statement said the bomb was hidden under a stall in the main bazaar in Sabari district.

The source further added it went off Wednesday while a group of police officers were passing by. The statement says no police officers were affected, though another four civilians were wounded in the blast.

No group including the Taliban militants has so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

from KHAAMA
By Sayed Jawad - 30 Jan 2013, 7:59 pm

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Jan. 30., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested two Taliban leaders in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, today.

The first detained Taliban leader is believed to be directly responsible for orchestrating assassinations of Afghan National Security Force members, overseeing attacks on Afghan Local Police checkpoints and directing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He is also accused of having organized the acquisition and transfer of multiple heavy weapons and improvised explosive devices to Taliban fighters operating in Nahr-e Saraj district.

The second detained Taliban leader is believed to be directly responsible for the transportation and financing of IED-making materials, IED emplacement operations and the execution of IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

During the operation, the security force also detained four other suspected insurgents.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Khanabad district, Kunduz province, today. The detained Taliban leader is accused of being directly involved in planning and executing IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces as well as Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials. He is also believed to have provided financial and logistical support to Taliban and suicide bomber operations throughout Kunduz province. The security force detained two other suspected insurgents and seized several firearms as a result of the operation.

East

An Afghan and coalition force killed two insurgents and detained nine others after being fired upon during a security operation in search of a Taliban facilitator in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, today. The Taliban facilitator is suspected of providing logistical support to Taliban leaders traveling throughout western Nangarhar province. The security force also seized several firearms and associated ammunition as a result of the operation. No civilians were harmed during the operation.

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Jan. 30., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained two insurgents and cleared two improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 29.

Logar province
Coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Mohhamad Aghah district.

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

Afghan and coalition forces detained two insurgents during two separate operations in Khowst district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility for Mogadishu Bombing

Somali soldiers patrol at the front gate of the presidential palace following a suicide bomb attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, January 29, 2013.

Somali militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Mogadishu Tuesday that killed at least two people, including the bomber.
The bomber set off his explosives on a street that is near the presidential palace, the prime minister's residence and Somalia's National Security Agency.

A statement on al-Shabab's website says the blast killed seven security agents.  Somali officials say the bomber killed himself and one soldier, and that three other soldiers were wounded. 

British Ambassador to Somalia Matt Baugh condemned the bombing and voiced support for the Somali government.

“It’s yet another sad and horrific piece of evidence to show that there are those in Somalia who are against peace and stability of this country," he said.  "And we stand resolutely with both the federal government of Somalia and the people of Somalia in helping them achieve a more peaceful, more stable country."

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was not in Mogadishu at the time of the blast, while Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid was reported to be unharmed.

African and Somali government forces have driven al-Shabab from its former strongholds in Somalia but the group still carries out periodic suicide and guerilla attacks.   The group said it was behind a suicide attack in September targeting President Mohamud, who escaped harm.

Somalia's information minister said Tuesday's bomber was a former member of the National Security Agency.

A witness told VOA's Somali Service the bomber tried to enter the agency's headquarters, then walked toward the home of the prime minister.  The witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said guards told the man to go back but the man detonated his explosives.

Somalia went more than 20 years without a stable central authority until U.N.-backed efforts to form a new government succeeded last year.

A new parliament sworn in six months ago elected Mohamud as president, ending eight years of an ineffective and often chaotic transitional government.

from VOA News
January 29, 2013

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IMU commander captured in northern Afghanistan

Districts of Baghlan. Burka in blue (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Patrick Megahan - January 29, 2013 - LWJ

Afghan and Coalition forces arrested an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) commander today during an operation in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) reported capturing the member of the al Qaeda-linked IMU in the Burkah district, making this the second IMU operative captured in that district so far this year.

According to ISAF, "the leader conducted assassinations directed by insurgent leadership in the province." He also coordinated the supply of weapons to insurgents for attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces. However, when asked by The Long War Journal where he was acquiring the weapons, ISAF said it could not verify the location but that the detainee is of "Afghan-Uzbek nationality."

The last reported operation targeting an IMU operative occurred on Jan. 11, also in the Burkah district of Baghlan province. In that raid, Afghan and Coalition forces captured a Taliban leader who also serves as an IMU commander and was responsible for rooting out disloyal fighters within both organizations. This followed a Jan. 10 operation conducted in neighboring Takhar province that killed an IMU facilitator by the name of Mazlum Yar. Yar facilitated suicide bombers and organized IED emplacement throughout Takhar and Baghlan provinces.

continue and read more on The Long War Journal 

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• IMU commander captured in northern Afghanistan (longwarjournal.org)

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