2012: New Year's Honours for Service personnel and Defence civilians

119 UK Service personnel have been granted state honours by Her Majesty The Queen in her annual New Year's Honours list. 48 civilians have also been honoured either for work in the Ministry of Defence or in other aspects of UK Defence. The full Defence New Year's Honours list for 2012 is below: ROYAL NAVY As Knight Commander Vice Admiral Paul LAMBERT CB APPOINTMENTS...

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Dec. 31., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 31) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered several small weapons caches while conducting routine patrols in La’lpur district, Nangarhar province, yesterday. The weapons caches consisted of one anti-tank mine, 25 sticks of dynamite, over 1,000 rounds of small arms ammunition, one fragmentation grenade, one bolt action...

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Son of infamous al Qaeda family killed by Ethiopian forces

Abu al Bara'a Abdul Aziz bin Attash, a son of a notorious al Qaeda family, has been killed by Ethiopian forces in Somalia near the Kenyan border, according to a biography posted on the al Fida' forum. The SITE Intelligence Group has translated the posting, which details Abu al Bara'a's life. By Thomas Joscelyn, December 30, 2011, LWJ Abu al...

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AQAP kills Houthi military commander

In addition to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's increasing activity in southern Yemen, the terror group has also been conducting operations against the Shia Houthis in the northern province of Sa'ada. In a statement released on jihadist websites, AQAP claimed it killed a Houthi military commander. An excerpt of the statement, which has been translated by the SITE Intelligence...

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2 NATO troops, 4 civilians killed in Afghanistan bombings

KABUL, Afghanistan — Two NATO service members died Friday in roadside bombings in southern Afghanistan, while allied and Afghan forces killed three senior Taliban figures and captured 11 fighters and sympathizers, the alliance said. Also Friday, a roadside bomb killed four civilians and wounded one in the Tirin Kot district of Uruzgan province, some 250 miles southwest...

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NATO helicopter crash in Northern Afghanistan

Friday, December 30, 2011 – According to local authorities in northern Afghanistan, a NATO-led International Security Assistance Force helicopter crashed in northern Sar-e-Pul province. The officials further added, the incident took place on Thursday night in this province. Sar-e-Pul provincial Security Chief Syed Janangeer said, the helicopter belonged to the special forces of the NATO troops and crashed in Sayad district of northern Sar-e-Pul province. Mr. Janangeer further added, the helicopter crashed near the base of the NATO troops...

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Israel kills leader of al Qaeda-linked Army of Islam in Gaza airstrike

The Israeli Air Force killed the emir of the al Qaeda-linked Jaish al Islam, or Army of Islam, in an airstrike in northern Gaza. The airstrike is the latest by Israel that has targeted al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Israeli fighter-bombers killed Muaman Abu Daf, the leader of the Army of Islam, in a strike in the Zeitoun district in Gaza City today....

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Powerful blast kills 9, injures 18 in Quetta

QUETTA: A powerful blast on Arbab Karam Khan Road near Raisani Chowk has killed nine and injured 18 people in Quetta, Geo News reported. The blast ripped through a residential neighborhood outside the house of former federal minister Naseer Mengal's son Shafiq Mengal. Many houses caught fire after the blast. A senior police official, while talking to Geo News feared...

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Dec. 30., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 30) — An Afghan led and coalition supported security force captured two Taliban leaders during an operation in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today. Both leaders planned attacks against Afghan forces and moved weapons and explosives to include rocket-propelled grenades throughout Zharay district. Multiple firearms were confiscated during...

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R.I.P. - Captain Tom Jennings, Squadron Leader Anthony Downing

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Captain Tom Jennings, Royal Marines, who was killed in Afghanistan on 22 December 2011. Capt Jennings died after the vehicle he was travelling in struck an explosive device whilst on an operation to the south of Kabul. Squadron Leader Anthony Downing RAF, whose death was announced separately by the Ministry of Defence, had been travelling in the same vehicle. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/CaptainTomJenningsKilledInAfghanistan.htm  ...

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R.I.P. - Petty Officer Stacy O. Johnson

DOD Identifies Navy Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Petty Officer Stacy O. Johnson, 35, of Rolling Fork, Miss., died July 18, while supporting operations in Bahrain. Johnson was a master-at-arms assigned to Naval Security Force Bahrain. For further information related to this release, contact Naval Support Activity Bahrain Public Affairs at 011-973-1785-45...

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At least 30 people killed in Turkish Air Raid

Thursday, December 29, 2011 – At least 30 people have been reported killed following air raids by Turkish warplanes near a Kurdish village close to the with Iraq. Mayor of Uludere in Sirnak province Fehmi Yaman said, “We have 30 corpses, all of them are burned. The state knew that these people were smuggling in the region. This kind of incident is unacceptable. They were hit from the air.” According to local officials, drums of diesel carried by the group had exploded.Turkish warplanes strike militant targets regularly in the region in...

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Afghan Intelligence detain 2 Pakistani militants

Thursday, December 29, 2011 – Officials in Afghan Intelligence Department, National Directorate for Security announced to detain at least two Pakistani militant suspects in eastern Kunar province. The Afghan Intelligence Department named the detained suspects as Mohsen Shah resident of Charasada at Peshawar Pakistan and Bashir also known as Ibrahim resident fo Qadam...

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Noah M. Korte, Spc. Kurt W. Kern, Pfc. Justin M. Whitmire

DOD Identifies Army Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Dec. 27, in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. Killed were: Sgt. Noah M. Korte, 29, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., Spc. Kurt W. Kern, 24, of McAllen, Texas, and Pfc. Justin M. Whitmire, 20, of Easley, S.C....

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10 Afghan Policemen Killed in Helmand Blast

At least ten Afghan policemen were killed in a roadside bomb blast in southern Helmand province on Thursday, local officials said. The incident took place in Nad Ali district when a police vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, Dawood Ahmadi, a spokesman for the provincial governor said. No group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. Insurgents...

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Two ISAF members shot dead by ANA

ISAF release: KABUL, Afghanistan – An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against two International Security Assistance Forces service members in eastern Afghanistan today, killing both service members. ISAF is investigating the incident. It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities. --- other sources: - Taliban spokesman in an SMS to the media claimed responsibility of NATO soldiers killed saying it was their man in ANA uniform in Tagab. - from...

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Dozens of militants killed and detained in Afghan operations

Thursday, December 29, 2011 – At least 2 militants were killed and 28 others were detained following Afghan National Security forces operations. Afghanistan Ministry of Interior Affairs following an statement said, the operations were conducted jointly by Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Intelligence Forces in conjunction with the NATO-led International...

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Dec. 29., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 29) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a routine patrol in Panjwa‘i district, Kandahar province, today. The cache consisted of approximately 2,200 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of hashish. The security force destroyed all the drugs on site without incident. In other International Security Assistance...

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Nigeria: Arabic School Attacked by Bomb

VOA News 28 December 2011 Police in southern Nigeria say assailants have thrown a bomb into an Arabic school, wounding seven people days after a string of deadly church bombings across the country. Authorities in Delta state say the homemade bomb went off after it was thrown from a car late Tuesday. Six children were among the wounded. The attack follows a string...

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Russia Completes Tests of New ICBM

                                     Image via WikipediaDecember 28, 2011Associated Press MOSCOW -- A ballistic missile that is to be a cornerstone of Russia's nuclear arsenal has completed...

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Dec. 28., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Evening Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered an explosives cache during a routine patrol in Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, today. The cache consisted of nearly 12,000 pounds (5,454 kilograms) of homemade explosives. The security force destroyed all the explosives on site without incident. In other International Security Assistance...

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Gunmen assassinate development council chief in Helmand

Wednesday, December 28, 2011 – Unknown gunmen assassinated chief of the development council for Nawzad district of southern Helmand province. According to local officials, Abdul Baqi chief of the Nawzad development was killed along with his son and grandson on Tuesday evening while he was on his way to his home.Provincial governor media office officials said, Abdul Baqi...

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Taliban commander killed in NATO troops operation

Wednesday, December 28, 2011 – According to local officials in southern Afghanistan, NATO-led International Security Assistance Force killed a Taliban commander in southern Helmand province. Helmand provincial governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi confirming the report said, the Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Rahim was killed by coalition forces in Jazi area while he struggling...

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3 NATO service members killed in Afghanistan

Image via WikipediaWednesday, December 28, 2011 – NATO-led International Security Assistance Force officials following a press release on Wednesday said, at least 3 NATO service members were killed following a roadside improvised explosive device explosion. The statement further added, the three NATO service members were killed following an explosion on Tuesday. The statement...

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Israel kills 'Global Jihad affiliated-terrorists' in Gaza airstrikes

The Israeli Defense Forces killed three al Qaeda-linked terrorists during two airstrikes in the Gaza strip over the past 24 hours. During an airstrike today in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF killed Rami Daoud Jabar Khafarna and Hazam Mahmad Sa'adi Al Shakr, both described as "Global Jihad-affiliated" terrorists, the IDF said in a press release on its website. The IDF uses the term "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorist" to describe members of Salafist groups linked to al Qaeda's network in the region.  By Bill Roggio, December 28,...

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Dec. 28., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 28) — A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a routine patrol in Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province, today. The cache consisted of approximately 660 pounds (300 kilograms) of opium. The security force destroyed all the drugs on site without incident. In other International Security Assistance Force...

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before you jump in: Mullah Omar and the FBI List

read it before jump in :) today many tweets came out: Mullah Mohammad Omar removed from the FBI's Most Wanted List Alex took his time and ran around some circles: --- Storified by Alex Strick v L Rumours spun out of control on twitter when it was suggested that Mullah Mohammad Omar had been removed from the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list.Pakistani blogs and media...

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