Dec 29, 2011 ~ Jim's Military News

Thursday, December 29, 2011

10 Afghan Policemen Killed in Helmand Blast

12/29/2011 11:42:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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 use Improvised Explosive Devices to target Afghan and foreign troops, but the victims of such attacks are often civilians.
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update:
meanwhile talibans claim responsibility in text message, and on tweeter

Two ISAF members shot dead by ANA

12/29/2011 11:33:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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.
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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 taliban tweet account: "Breaking: 3 french terrorists shot dead by Afghan soldier inside Shamshad named base in Tagab district (Kapisa) at 06:30 am today."

update:
Thursday, December 29, 2011 – According to local governmental officials in southern Afghanistan, at least two NATO-led French troops were killed in eastern Afghanistan.

The officials further added, the incident took place after an individual who had disguised himself in Afghan Army uniform opened fire on French troops.

Taliban militants group fighting the Afghan government and International Coalition Forces claimed responsibility behind the incident.

The Taliban group following a statement said, Ibrahim the attack was carried out by a Taliban militant who had joined the Afghan army in eastern Kapisa province, with a purpose to carry out such an attack.

The statement further added, the Taliban fighter was killed and martyred during the cross fire with the invader troops.

Dozens of militants killed and detained in Afghan operations

12/29/2011 11:27:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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 Security Assistance Force during the past 24 hours.

The source further added, at least two militants were also injured during the military operations.

According to Afghan Interior Ministry officials, the military operations were conducted in Nangarhar, Kandahar, Helmand, Logar, Ghazni and Paktika provinces.

Afghan security forces also seized around 67,800 kilograms of Ammonium Nitrate, 4 AK-47 assault rifles, an RPG-7 rocket launcher, a PK-47 machine gun, 8 improvised explosive devices, 13 hand grenades, 3 pistols, 120 different weapons, 38 kilograms of explosives, 84 kilograms of opium during the operations.

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

12/29/2011 09:57:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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 Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
An Afghan led and a coalition supported security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in Ghorak district, Kandahar province, today. The leader specialized in the construction of roadside bombs and coordinated attacks in the Sangin Valley. One additional suspected insurgent was detained during the operation.

East
In Gardez district, Paktiya province, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation today. The leader constructed bombs and planned attacks in the Gardez district. Multiple weapons to include firearms and combat knives were seized and two additional suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

Nigeria: Arabic School Attacked by Bomb

12/29/2011 02:43:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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 of four coordinated bombings Sunday that killed at least 39 people.
The radical Muslim sect Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the Christmas Day attacks.

Christians in northern Nigeria have warned that increased violence could lead to a religious war. In other violence, gunmen shot and killed a young girl and her parents late Tuesday in a Christian-dominated village near the central city of Jos. Officials suspect the attack was carried out by Muslim tribesmen.
Jos is the site of frequent clashes between Christians and Muslims.
Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education in sinful” in the Hausa language, wants to establish a strict Islamic state in Nigeria. It does not recognize the government or the country's constitution.
The country of 150 million is about evenly divided between Muslims, who mostly live in the north, and Christians who dominate in the south.
Hundreds of others have died this year in bombings and shootings blamed on Boko Haram.

Russia Completes Tests of New ICBM

12/29/2011 02:34:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

Image via Wikipedia

December 28, 2011

Associated Press

MOSCOW -- A ballistic missile that is to be a cornerstone of Russia's nuclear arsenal has completed its rocky test program and will be commissioned by the military, President Dmitry Medvedev announced Tuesday during a meeting with military officers.
The Bulava ICBM, intended to arm a new generation of nuclear submarines, is a three-stage missile that can carry up to 10 individually targeted warheads at a range of 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles).
The Bulava suffered a string of failures during tests that dragged on for years, raising doubts about the future of the most expensive military project in the nation's post-Soviet history. Several recent tests, however, have been successful, including last week's simultaneous launch of two Bulavas.

Russian officials have billed Bulava as a new-generation weapon, capable of dodging any potential missile defenses, thanks to its quick start and an ability to perform unusual maneuvers in flight. The Bulava would replace Soviet-built missiles approaching the end of their service lifetimes.
The Russian navy also has finished building the first of a new series of nuclear-powered submarines to be armed with the new missile, the Yuri Dolgoruky. Several other such submarines are under construction.

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

12/29/2011 02:31:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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 Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

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 large quantities of marijuana and hashish, totalling approximately 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms). The security force destroyed all the drugs on site without incident.

West

A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a routine patrol in Murghab district, Badghis province, yesterday. The cache consisted of approximately 210 pounds (95 kilograms) of hashish. Afghan National Army troops seized the drugs and detained two suspects for questioning without incident.

Gunmen assassinate development council chief in Helmand

12/29/2011 02:30:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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 and his son was killed on the spot while his grandson died of his wounds in Shorabak military hospital.

The officials further added, the gunmen managed to flee the area after opening fire on Abdul Baqi chief of the Nawzad development council.

According to reports, around 20 district development council members have been killed in insurgents attack at southern Helmand province during the past two years.

In the meantime, provincial governor for Helmand province Gulab strongly condemned the assassination of Nawzad district development council chief.

Taliban commander killed in NATO troops operation

12/29/2011 02:27:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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 to plant a roadside bomb.

Mr. Ahmadi further added, Mullah Abdul Rahim was recently elected as the commander of the Taliban militants in Nawzad district of southern Helmand province.

He was chosen as the commander of the Taliban to overlook Nawzad district following the assassination of Mullah Gulbuddin who was previously the commander of the Taliban group for the same region, Mr. Ahmadi said.

According to reports, a companion of the Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Rahim was also killed.

3 NATO service members killed in Afghanistan

12/29/2011 02:25:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

Australian and Afghan soldiers in September 2009

Image via Wikipedia

Wednesday, 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 did not provide further information regarding the exact location of the incident and identities of the deceased soldiers.

The NATO officials generally do not disclose the identity of the casualties, saying “It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities.”

However, U.S. forces mostly have been stationed in the eastern part of the insurgency-hit country.

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

12/29/2011 02:17:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

By Bill Roggio, December 28, 2011

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.
Both Khafarna and Shakr were previously members of Hamas prior to joining the unnamed Salafist group. Khararna "is known to have taken part in firing rockets at Israel," while Shakr "has planted and detonated explosive devices against IDF soldiers, along the border with the Gaza Strip."
The terrorists were members of a "squad" that "was previously known to the IDF due to its attempt in carrying out a terror attack on the Israel-Egypt border."
Today's airstrike followed another yesterday that killed Abdallah Telbani in Gaza city. Telbani was also described as a "Global Jihad-affiliated terrorist," and was involved in a plot to attack Israel from the Egyptian Sinai as well as with rocket and IED attacks along the Israeli-Gaza border, according to Reuters.
There are four main Salafist groups that operate in the Gaza Strip. All four groups have expressed their support for al Qaeda. Those groups are the Jaish al Islam, Jund Ansar Allah, Jaish al Ummah, and Jaish al Mu'minun. These groups have clashed with Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated terror group that rules Gaza and is supported by Iran and Syria.
Additionally, al Qaeda in the Sinai and its military arm, Ansar al Jihad, which announced its formation last week, are now operating in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula [see list below]. Al Qaeda in the Sinai has been establishing ties with the Gaza-based Salafist groups and is seeking to coordinate operations, a US intelligence official told The Long War Journal.
Security in the Sinai Peninsula has deteriorated since the popular uprising last winter that resulted in former President Mubarak's ouster. Hundreds of Islamists, many from Ayman al Zawahiri's Egyptian Islamic Group, have been freed from prisons, and some are thought to have returned to support terror groups.
Al Qaeda in the Sinai is also thought to have been involved in a series of attacks in August near the Israeli resort town of Eliat that killed eight Israelis, as well as bombings against a natural gas pipeline between Israel and Egypt.