4 militants killed in eastern Afghanistan

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) --
 Four militants were killed in an air raid operation in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province overnight, an official said on Monday. "Four armed militants were planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on Sunday night along a road in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, some 120 km east of capital Kabul, to target security forces in the area," district administration chief Mohammad Hassan told Xinhua.

He said based on intelligence reports, security forces carried out a precision air strike that left all militants dead on the spot.

Taliban insurgents have not made any comment yet.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group announced it would launch a rebel offensive starting from May 1 against Afghan and NATO-led troops in Afghanistan.

In the second phase of security transition process begun earlier this month, Afghan forces will take over security responsibility of provincial capital Jalalabad city and three other districts from NATO-led coalition forces in near future.

The process of taking over security duties from the over 130, 000-strong NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) begun in July this year would be completed by the end of 2014.

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Al Qaeda militants escape Yemen prison

SANAA, Yemen - Yemeni officials say several al Qaeda militants have escaped from a prison in the southern port city of Aden.

A prison officer says at least 10 convicts escaped on Monday morning through a tunnel dug by the inmates. He says an investigation is under way.

A security official says 15 militants fled, including several convicted of killing security officials and a bank heist.

The discrepancy in the number of escaped prisoners could not be immediately reconciled. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Yemen has been wrecked by months of political turmoil and unrest.


from CBSNEWS

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Pakistan Keeps Blocking Nato Convoys for Several Weeks, Gilani

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani said that his country continues blocking of Nato convoys into Afghanistan for several weeks, the BBC reported.

"Yes there is a credibility gap, we are working together and still we don't trust each other," the Premier told the BBC.
Pakistan blocked Nato supply routes into Afghanistan after recent Nato air strike which killed 24 Pakistani troops at their checkpoint last month.
The air strike on 26 November deteriorated the already strained relations between Washington and Islamabad.

The supply route of Nato troops in Afghanistan that passes through Khyber Pakhtonkhwa is a significant land supply route of the forces.
After the air strike Pakistani government asked the US to leave Shamsi airbase in southwest of the country.
Pakistani media earlier reported that the US has vacated the base this week.

from TOLONEWS

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21 militants detained by Afghan army soldiers

Monday, December 12, 2011 –
Officials in the ministry of defense of Afghanistan following a statement on Monday said, at least 21 militants were detained following military operations by Afghan security forces across the country.

The source further added, the suspects were detained in Ghaziabad district of eastern Kunar province, Qalat city in southern Zabul province, Batikot in eastern Nangarhar province, Hakim sahib village in eastern Ghazni province and Washir in southern Helmand province.

Officials in the media department of Afghan defense ministry also said, Afghan national army soldiers also managed to seize a large amount of weapons including ammunitions and explosives during the operations.

Afghan security forces did not suffer any casualties during the operations, officials said.

Related articles

• 21 militants detained by Afghan army soldiers (khaama.com)

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Dec. 12., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani leader during an operation in Ghazni district, Ghazni province, today.

The leader operated a bomb making cell and conducted both roadside bomb and direct attacks against Afghan forces.

The security force seized multiple firearms and detained seven additional suspected insurgents during the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout
Afghanistan:

South

A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban facilitator in the Musa Qal'ah district, Helmand province, today. The facilitator distributes weapons, supplies and finances for area Taliban networks. Multiple suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

East

Today, during an operation in Bati Kot district, Nangarhar province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader.
The leader conducted roadside bomb attacks against coalition forces in the Bati Kot district. Two additional suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Bati Kot district, Nangarhar province, today. The leader is involved in roadside bomb attacks against coalition forces in Bati Kot district. The security force detained one suspected insurgent during the operation.

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AQ linked Terrorism Continues to Spill into Kenya

VoA: Two bombs targeting Kenyan security forces exploded in the country's north, killing one policeman and injuring 12 policemen and soldiers.

Police say Sunday's blasts occurred in Kenya's North Eastern province near the country's border with Somalia.

In one incident, a remote-controlled device exploded in the town of Mandera, killing one policeman and injuring at least three others.

Another explosive device detonated near an army camp in the town of Wajir, injuring nine soldiers.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. However, officials say they appear to be in response to recent air and ground operations by Kenyan security forces along the Somali border aimed at crushing al-Qaeda associates, al-Shabab terrorists.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross on Sunday denounced an air attack that damaged a food supply center in the southern Somali town of Bardera on Saturday.

Related articles

• AQ linked Terrorism Continues to Spill into Kenya (waronterrornews.typepad.com)

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Islamists Set 4 Bombs in Nigerian Sports Bars

VoA: Officials in Nigeria say three bomb blasts at outdoor bars where people were watching a televised soccer (football) match killed at least one person and injured at least ten others in Jos.

The bombs went off late Saturday, as fans watched Real Madrid take on Barcelona.

One official says a fourth bomb found at one of the outdoor bars in Jos failed to detonate.

Jos, which lies between a region separating Muslim and Christians, has history of sectarian violence.

Nigeria has also been hit by a wave of deadly attacks by a radical Muslim group known as Boko Haram.

Boko Haram, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, has been blamed for staging several attacks over the past year as part of a campaign to implement strict Islamic Shariah law across the central African country's northern sector.

In August, Boko Haram was blamed for a suicide bombing at the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, the capital, which left at least two dozen people dead.

Related articles

• Islamists Set 4 Bombs in Nigerian Sports Bars (waronterrornews.typepad.com)

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Reintegration of five Taliban commanders in Qala-i-naw

Image via Wikipedia

QALA-I-NAW, Afghanistan –This morning in the Badghis Provincial Government facilities, former base of Spanish contingent- has been held the official ceremony of the incorporation to the peace program of 42 Taliban, including their commanders, who have decided to lay down their arms after many years of fighting .

The event was attended by the head of the PRT, Col. Felix Cortijo Eugenio Garcia, the Provincial Governor, Jam Arman and other local authorities

These insurgents were belonging to the Tazeh Mullah Gol (7), Mulla Jabar (7), Mullah Amanolah (8) and Mullah Maluk (10) groups operating in the Murghab valley, an area controlled by the Spanish Combat Out Post placed in Darra-i-Bum, those to who have joined another 10 men from the town of Ghare Ghal (Qades), belonging to the Mullah Najmedin group.

All of these combatants have fled their homes fearing reprisals for their willingness to lay down their arms. Their families were forced to flee along with them, in most of cases walking with nothing but their clothes and anything to survive.

The Spanish contingent has offered the aid of 600 kg flour, 600 kg rice, 600 l oil, six tents, 200 mats, 400 blankets, six stoves and about $1000 for the transport of this material, all to alleviate possible shortages of means that families of the just reintegrated could find.

This step forward of these Taliban commanders opens a door to hope for more than 80 youths from these families, still living in the area, to follow the footsteps of their elders and not to go swelling the ranks of Taliban.

The Afghan Government Peace Program, which advises and supports Spain, is an ambitious plan that aims to encourage the abandonment of weapons of the insurgency, facilitating, through various programs, their reintegration into Afghan society.

Badghis is one of the provinces with the highest number of Taliban who have laid down their arms.

 Story by: Lt. Col. José María Rivera Moreno
Regional Command-West Public Affairs

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R.I.P. - Lance Cpl. Jacob Levy

Greensboro, N.C. — A Camp Lejeune Marine and Greensboro native died Saturday evening after being shot by a sniper in Afghanistan, his family told WFMY News.

Lance Cpl. Jacob Levy, 21, was shot in the head Wednesday while patrolling on foot in the Kajaki district of the Helmand province, his relatives said.

Levy was flown to a U.S. military hospital in Germany, where his family joined him before he died.

His stepfather, Kevin Sheek, told WFMY News that Levy's death is "bittersweet."
"Jacob died doing a job he was willing to die for," Sheek said. "He was an awesome man and an awesome Marine."

Levy had volunteered to go on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, his stepfather said.
Sheek said that Levy was an organ donor, and "people will remember Jacob and live a long life because of him."

In addition to his stepfather, Levy is survived by his mother, Amanda Sheek; father, Chris Levy; and three stepbrothers, ages 14, 11 and 9.

Levy was born in Greensboro and moved to Ramseur as a teenager. He joined the Marines after graduating from Eastern Randolph High School in 2009, where he participated in the JROTC program.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/10489292/

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Dec. 11., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Evening Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a weapons cache during a patrol in Zharay district, Kandahar province, yesterday.

The cache consisted of 10 mortar rounds, approximately 22 pounds (10 kilograms) of high explosive material and various improvised explosive device components. All of the materials were destroyed on site without incident.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

In Maiwand district, Kandahar province a combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a patrol today. The cache consisted of approximately one ton (909 kilograms) of hashish. All of the hash was destroyed on site.

East

A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a weapons cache during a patrol in Andar district, Ghazni province, yesterday. The cache consisted of eight rifles and 5,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. All of the weapons and ammunition were destroyed on site without incident.

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