At least 60 soldiers killed in fighting with al-Qaida in southern Yemen: official

SANAA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 60 government soldiers were killed in ongoing battles with al-Qaida militants in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Monday, a security official told Xinhua.

"According to the latest security report from the ongoing battles with al-Qaida in Lauder town, we have lost at least 60 soldiers from the 111th Armored Army Brigade," the official in Abyan's neighboring province of Aden told Xinhua by phone on condition of anonymity.

He declined to provide further information, but said "the situation in Abyan is quite bad and we get update reports every 30 minutes... until now, we do not have the specific number of casualties among the al-Qaida group."

The fighting broke out early Monday morning after the terrorist group raided outpost of the government troops in Lauder town, 150 km northeast of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan. The official said the town is still under control of the government troops.

However, a spokesman of the resurgent al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) spoke to Xinhua from the AQAP-held town of Jaar in Abyan, some 480 km south of the capital Sanaa, "most parts of Lauder were still under control of the government troops, but we have captured many areas in the town and seized a large quantity of heavy weapons from the army, and killed scores of them."

"The battle is still ongoing with 111th military brigade in Lauder. Three of Mujahideen (holy warriors) were killed, and 13 others were wounded, including three in critical condition," the spokesman said anonymously.

"We will collect information about the casualties and issue a statement about the whole situation in Lauder after the battle ends," he added.

Earlier in the day, a security official in Aden told Xinhua that the death toll from both sides reached 23 and dozens of others were wounded.

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R.I.P. - Constructionman Trevor J. Stanley

DOD Identifies Navy Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom Horn of Africa.

            Constructionman Trevor J. Stanley, 22, of Virginia Beach, Va., died April 7 while deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.  Stanley, a Seabee, was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, homeported in Port Hueneme, Calif.

            For further information related to this release, contact Lt. Cmdr. Dave Benham at 011-39-081-568-4727 or by email at david.benham@eu.navy.mil .

from wikipedia

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“The Camp is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our shipmates,” Capt. Scott Hurst, commander of Camp Lemonnier, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Sailor’s family during this difficult time.”

 

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Explosion injure 7 people in Baghlan province

Afghanistan-Baghlan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local security officials in northern Baghlan province, at least 7 people were injured following a roadside bomb explosion in this province.

The officials further added, the incident took place in Nahrin district of northern Baghlan province after an improvised explosive device planted under a culvert went off.

District security chief for Nahrin Gen. Noor Gul confirming the incident said, at least 7 people including 3 Afghan intelligence officers and 4 civilians were injured following the incident.

Gen. Noor Gul further added, at least 1 of the injured individual was in a critical condition and was taken to Pul-e-Khumri for treatment purposes.

He said, the incident took place while the officials were on their way back to Nahrin district from Burka district.

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

Local officials Taliban militants for such incidents as Taliban fighters frequently use improvised explosive device and roadside bombs to target Afghan and foreign troops which normally leads to civilians casualties.

Author: Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.
from KHAAMA

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Apr.09., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Evening Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – In Nad ’Ali district, Helmand province, a coalition force seized illegal drugs during a patrol, April 9.

While conducting a patrol the force witnessed numerous bags being off-loaded from a vehicle next to a field. A subsequent search revealed approximately 396 pounds (180 kilograms) of suspected narcotics.

All of the narcotics were confiscated from the scene to be destroyed at a later date.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

A Provincial Response Company along with Afghan and coalition forces recovered a significant quantity of drugs and weapons during an operation in Baghran district, Helmand province last week. As the combined force entered the area armed insurgents opened fire with small arms and heavy weapons. The force returned fire, killing multiple insurgents. In a subsequent search the security forces located several narcotics caches containing 3,190 pounds (1,450 kilograms) poppy seed, 198 pounds (90 kilograms) of wet opium and a number of weapons. The ANSF destroyed the narcotics and illegal material in place and also detained numerous insurgents.

West

A Provincial Response Company supported by coalition forces confiscated drugs and improvised explosive device components during an operation in Gulistan district, Farah province, April 7. During the patrol multiple suspected insurgents were detained and a subsequent search of their compound resulted in the discovery of hashish, multiple IED components and three Afghan police uniforms. All of the items were confiscated and later destroyed by the force.

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Somalia market bombing in Baidoa kills 11

At least 11 people have been killed by a bomb in the market area of the central Somali town of Baidoa.

The governor of the region, Abdifitah Mohamed Gesey, told the BBC that more than 30 other people had been badly injured - mostly women and children.

In February Ethiopian troops seized Baidoa from the Islamist militia al-Shabab.

Witnesses said the bomb exploded shortly after Somali government troops entered the market.

Mr Gesey blamed al-Shabab for the attack, but so far no organisation has said it was behind the attack.

African Union peacekeepers for the first time recently deployed to the town, which is on a strategically important route.

It is one of the biggest attacks in the area since Ethiopian and Somali forces took control.

Baidoa, 250 kilometres (155 miles) north-west of the capital Mogadishu, had been one of the most important al-Shabab bases.

Al-Shabab said it had withdrawn its forces as part of a "tactical retreat" and threatened to start a guerrilla war in response.

from BBC

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3 killed, 4 injured in attacks in Iraq

BAGHDAD, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and four others injured Monday in a suicide bomb attack and a gunfire in Iraq, the police said.

In Salahudin province north of Baghdad, gunmen opened fire on the car of Sheikh Hussein Awad Khalifa, leader of a local government-backed Awakening Council group, while driving in the town of Tuz-Khurmato, some 220 km north of Baghdad, killing him and one of his bodyguards, a provincial police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The Awakening Council group, also known as Sons of Iraq movement or Sahwa, consists of mostly anti-U.S. Sunni insurgent militant groups, who turned their rifles to fight al-Qaida network after Sahwa's leaders became dismayed by al-Qaida's brutality and religious zealotry in the country.

The ethnically mixed town of Tuz-Khurmato is part of disputed areas claimed both by the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan and Baghdad central government.

In a separate incident, a suicide bomber drove his explosive- laden car into the entrance of Ghazaliyah district in western Baghdad and blew it up, killing one civilian and injuring four others, an Interior Ministry source anonymously told Xinhua.

The blast also destroyed several nearby civilian cars and buildings at the scene, the source said.

Violence is still common in the Iraqi cities despite the dramatic decrease since its peak in 2006 and 2007 when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

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Separate incidents claim seven lives in Balochistan

QUETTA: Seven people lost their lives Monday in different acts of violence in Balochistan, while two others were injured, DawnNews reported.

Levies sources said two men were shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Mand Blo area of Turbat. According to eyewitnesses, the two men were standing by the roadside when they were shot by the assailants who were riding motorcycles.

In another incident, two bullet-riddled dead bodies were found from Sorab area. The bodies of the two men, who had suffered bullet wounds on their skulls, were shifted to the hospital for identification.

Meanwhile, a land dispute in Osta Mohammad led to an armed clash between two tribal groups, resulting in three men being killed and two others being injured.

from Dawn

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Al-Qaida attacks army base in southern Yemen, 23 killed

Yemen division 20120311(wikipedia)

ADEN, Yemen, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qaida militants attacked a military base of the Yemeni army on Monday morning in the southern province of Abyan, leaving 23 people killed and dozens of others wounded, a security official told Xinhua.

"During the fighting between al-Qaida and government troops in an army base in Abyan, 11 government soldiers and 12 terrorists were killed and dozens of others from both sides were wounded," the local security official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The al-Qaida offensive sparked deadly clashes with the army troops of the 111th and 119th Armored Army Brigades positioned in the outskirts of Lauder town, about 150 km northeast of Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan, he said.

The militants were attempting to overrun the Lauder town, but the government troops, with support of pro-government tribesmen, foiled the al-Qaida attack, the official said.

Fierce fighting still continues between the two sides in the region, he added.

"Dozens of the al-Qaida insurgents were armed with RPGs, heavy machine guns and grenades. They want to seize the Lauder town. But tribal fighters and the soldiers could defeat them," a tribal chief told Xinhua anonymously.

"But we fear that al-Qaida may launch suicide bomb attacks against our checkpoints in retaliation after the deadly clashes," the tribal chief said.

Taking advantage of the one-year-long political conflicts in Yemen, the resurgent Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), locally known as Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), has taken control of several cities and swathes across the country's restive southern provinces. Yemen's newly-elected President Abd- Rabbu Mansour Hadi said fighting the AQAP tops his daily agenda.

On Sunday, Yemeni-U.S. joint air raids bombed al-Qaida hideouts in Abyan province, killing at least 16 militants, the defense ministry said on its website.

The warplanes also launched another strike on al-Qaida targets in neighboring province of Shabwa, killing up to eight militants. However, the terrorist group denied anyone of its fighters were killed in the Shabwa air raid.

U.S. drones and Yemeni warplanes have regularly targeted the AQAP in southern Yemeni regions, which were seized by the group in May 2011 following a surge of violence, killing and injuring scores of terrorists.

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Yemeni intelligence officer killed, al-Qaida claims responsibility

English: Map of the modern state of Yemen. Map of Yemen. Map of Yemen, Saudi Arabia being north of it.(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SANAA/ADEN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A senior Yemeni intelligence officer was killed by al-Qaida gunmen in the southern province of Taiz on Sunday, a provincial official said.

"Colonel Ismail Bawli of the political security organization ( intelligence) was shot dead inside his car by two gunmen on a motorbike in Sainah area in Taiz," the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Bawli was ambushed by unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike while he was on his way home from the military intelligence headquarters in the Sainah area in downtown Taiz city, he said.

Later in the day, a spokesman of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) told Xinhua by phone that "the colonel was killed by two fighters of al-Qaida network." He declined to provide further information, but said "intelligence personnel are on our assassination list."

The incident was the second of its kind in Taiz in less than a month after the AQAP claimed responsibility for murdering a U.S. English-language teacher. People affiliated with Yemeni intelligence services and U.S. nationals working in Yemen are frequently targeted by the AQAP.

The activities of the resurgent terrorist group, which exploited security vacuum in Yemen, challenged newly-elected President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi who said fighting the AQAP tops his daily agenda.

Earlier in the day, Yemeni-U.S. joint air raids bombed al-Qaida hideouts in the southern province of Abyan, killing at least 16 militants, the defense ministry said on its website.

The warplanes also launched another strike on al-Qaida targets in neighboring province of Shabwa, killing up to eight militants. However, the terrorist group denied anyone of its fighters were killed in the Shabwa air raid, in an e-mail statement.

U.S. drones and Yemeni warplanes have regularly targeted the AQAP in southern Yemeni regions, which were seized by the group in May 2011 following a surge of violence, killing and injuring scores of terrorists.

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14 'terrorists' killed in Pakistan, Orakzai Agency

ISLAMABAD: Military Helicopter gunships attacked terrorist hideouts in a tribal area near the border with Afghanistan on Sunday, killing 14 suspected terrorists, military sources said.

Ten suspected terrorists were attacked in the operations in two areas of Orakzai Agency. The casualty figures provided by military could not be independently verified.

Terrorists often dispute official accounts. Army and air force have been conducting operations in Orakzai and the neighbouring Kurram tribal region since the beginning of the year.

Taliban, al Qaeda and other terrorist groups fighting Western forces in Afghanistan are also active in some areas of Pakistan's northwestern tribal region. A number of military offensives have been launched to clear the region.

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5 injured in northern Afghan blast

PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Five people were injured Monday when a bicycle bomb went off in northern Afghan province of Baghlan, a police source said.

"A bomb attached to a bicycle was detonated when a vehicle with the National Directorate of Security (NDS) was passing by a road in Nahrin District's bazaar at about 11:45 a.m. local time," police chief of the district Noor Gul told Xinhua.

The injured include four civilians and a security member of NDS or intelligence agency, the police chief said.

The wounded people, who sustained serious injuries in the explosion, had been admitted to a district hospital in the province some 160 km north of capital city of Kabul, Gul added.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far but Taliban militants have been behind most suicide and roadside bomb attacks across the post-Taliban country.

Afghan and NATO military officials said recently that impressive Taliban-led attacks would occur in the coming weeks and months as spring and summer, known as "fighting season", are drawing near in insurgency-hit country.

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Nigeria: Maiduguri - Three Killed in JTF, Boko Haram Gunfight

Maiduguri — Three suspected members of the Boko Haram sect were reportedly killed in Maiduguri yesterday while two others were arrested during a gun duel between the sect members and operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) at Bulabulin area of the state capital.

The spokesman of the JTF in Borno State, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, told journalists that the suspects were responsible for the killing of 11 people, including nine Igbos and three Kanuris at the Maiduguri Monday Market on Wednesday.

Though the Boko Haram sect was yet to make pronouncement on the killings at the market, the JTF spokesman said they were able to track down the suspects following a tip off.

According to him, "information received from good Samaritans revealed that the Boko Haram terrorists responsible for the killings in Monday Market were in Bulabulin.

"Consequently, the exact area was cordoned off and searched in the early hours of today (yesterday) which resulted in an attack on the hideout that led to the death of 3 and arrest of two suspected Boko Haram members," he said.

Sagir said one FN ripple, 185 rounds of assorted ammunitions were recovered.

He added that the bomb disposal arm of the JTF had succeeded in demobilizing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which was planted by the roadside along Gamboru road in Maiduguri.

According to him, "the explosive device was discovered at Kwanar Yobe at about 15.30 hours today (yesterday)."

Meanwhile, one Abdullahi Ali Fika, popularly known as Ukari was killed Saturday night in Maiduguri.

Witnesses said two gunmen killed Ukari at a pharmacy store at Bulabulin area in Maiduguri metropolis around 6pm.

from allAfrica

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Seven armed insurgents killed and 11 others arrested by Afghan National Police

Coat of Arms for the Afghan National Police (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Seven armed insurgents killed and 11 others arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched seven joint operations in Kunduz, Faryab, Helmand, Zabul, Maidan Wardak, Logar and Paktiya provinces.

As a result of these operations, seven armed insurgents were killed and 11 others were arrested by Afghan National Police.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated 90 kilograms of opium, 13 different types of mines and amount of light and heavy weapons.

During the same 24 hour period, Afghan National Police discovered and defused an anti-vehicle mine as a result of security operation in the Showak Distrcit of Paktiya province.

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained eight individuals accused of kidnapping and theft in the 1st, 5th and 6th Districts of Kabul-City.

from moi.gov.af

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Two senior insurgent leaders killed during operations in northern Afghanistan

Districts of Faryab. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

KABUL, Afghanistan (Apr. 9) — An Afghan Special Operations Unit and coalition troops killed a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader during an operation in Almar district, Faryab province, earlier this week.

The leader, Osmani Sahib, was one of multiple IMU members killed in an exchange of fire that resulted from the insurgents' attempt to attack the combined Afghan and coalition force during the operation.

Osmani was recently promoted to replace Makhdum Nusrat, the former highest ranking IMU insurgent in Afghanistan, after Makhdum was killed during an operation by an Afghan special unit supported by coalition troops in Shirin Tagab district March 26.

In addition, the security force captured an insurgent facilitator along with an additional insurgent, and destroyed several AK-47s and bomb-making materials.

During a separate operation in Warduj district, Badakhshan province, an operation planned by an Afghan Special Operations Unit and coalition troops killed Shamsuddin, a senior Taliban leader, with a precision air strike Saturday.

Shamsuddin was the Taliban leader associated with multiple recent insurgent attacks in Warduj, including the April 2 attack of an Afghan National Police checkpoint. Three policemen were killed and 11 were captured. Last December, he directed the attack against Aq Shirah Village that left four Afghan policemen dead.

Shamsuddin was also responsible for several improvised explosive device attacks and suicide bombings against Afghan and coalition forces in the area.

After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force called for the air strike. A follow-on assessment of the area after the strike determined no civilians were harmed.

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Apr.09., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Apr. 9) — An Afghan and coalition security force discovered an improvised explosive device cache during a patrol in Zurmat district, Paktiya province, yesterday.

The cache consisted of approximately 4,650 pounds of ammonium nitrate and several IED components. Security forces secured the cache and detained several suspects for questioning.

In other ISAF news throughout Afghanistan:

South

A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache and detained two suspected insurgents during a patrol in Nad 'Ali district, Helmand province, yesterday. The cache consisted of approximately 2,200 pounds of opium. Security forces destroyed the drugs on site and detained two suspects for questioning.

In Marjah district, Helmand province, a coalition force seized illegal drugs during a patrol yesterday. While conducting a patrol the force witnessed numerous bags being off-loaded from a vehicle into a field. A subsequent search revealed approximately 640 pounds of opium. All of the narcotics were confiscated from the scene to be destroyed at a later date.

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Another Bomb blast rocks central Nigerian city of Jos

Jos – There was an explosion Sunday night in Tudun Wada area of Jos, injuring a seven year old girl and others. But no life was lost.

It was learnt that the blast occurred at about 8pm near a shop and was believed to have been planted near a motorcycle parked close to the shop.

A 505 Station wagon car was destroyed by the explosion alongside the motorcycle.

Media Officer of the Special Task Force, Capt. Mdahyelya Markus confirmed the incident. He said the  girl sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital.

NEMA spokesman, Yishau Shuaib also confirmed the blast.

Police spokesman in the Plateau capital, ASP Samuel Dabai, who confirmed the incident,said  that a suspect, riding on a motorcycle threw the explosive device and escaped.

He said the injured had been taken to the Plateau Specislist Hospital. Dabai said no arrest had been made, adding that investigation had gone underway to identify those behind the incident.

The Govenor’s Lodge and office, the police command’s headquarters and the seat of the military Special Task Force deployed to maintain law and order in the state are situated in the area under attack.

Only last Thursday, the Commissioner of Police in Plateau, Emmanuel Ayeni, announced a ban on the operations of motorcycles in the state from 7 p.m. on that day to 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

Making the announcement at a parley with representatives of security agencies and leaders of religious groups, Ayeni said the measure was part of efforts to ensure hitch-free Easter celebrations.

Sunday’s explosion paralysed social and night life in the Plateau capital as revellers scampered to safety. Most drink joints were instantly put under lock by their operators. (NAN)

from vanguardngr

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Would-be bomber among 7 held in Kandahar

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): A would-be suicide bomber was among seven insurgents detained in a string of intelligence operations in southern Kandahar province over the past week, the governor said on Sunday.

The detainees included three commanders who led their groups, each containing 10 members, in Shah Walikot and Takhta Pul districts against local and foreign troops, Tooryalai Weesa told a press conference in Kandahar City, the provincial capital.

The detainees, who were shown to media personnel at the press briefing at the National Directorate of Security office, confessed to involvement in the insurgency.

A would-be bomber, Asadullah, a resident of Spin Boldak district, told reporters his father had sent him to a religious school in Pakistan’s Bachistan province. But he was trained as a suicide bomber at the school in the Chaman border region.

Weapons and explosives recovered from the detainees were also shown to reporters.


from Pajhwok
by Bashir Ahmad Naadem

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Somalia: 10 People Killed in Renewed Fighting in Central Somalia

El-Bur — At least 10 people were killed in a renewed fighting between Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a, pro-government fighters and Al Qaeda-affiliated Al shabab militants in central Somalia, witnesses said Sunday.

The gun battle which the locals described was the fiercest took place after Al shabab fighters ambushed Ahlu Sunna forces who were conducting overnight security operations at El-Qohle,a small village locates near the town of El-Bur, central Somalia and a former rebel-stronghold before Ahlu Sunna backed Ethiopian forces rolled in.

News reports said the figures on the casualties were from both warring sides in the area. The stuationa is calm and Ahu sunna still maintain the control as residents started their daily business activities.

Neither Al-shabab nor Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a has made comments on the combat so far.

from allAfrica

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R.I.P. - Spc. Antonio C. Burnside

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Spc. Antonio C. Burnside, 31, of Great Falls, Mont., died Apr. 6 at Ghanzi province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

            For more information the media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at 910-432-0661.

---

According to the Montana National Guard, Burnside leaves behind his parents Annie Burnside and Bob Burnside of Great Falls, his wife Christine, daughters Ariana, Heartlynn and Angel and son Tony Jr. He is also survived by a sister Ramona and brother Milo.

"The Burnside family is extremely grateful and honored by the outpouring of support and condolences from across the state and nation in response to their loss," said Major Tim Crowe, public affairs officer with the Montana National Guard.

"Antonio was proud and honored to serve his country and chose to do so as a member of the airborne community within the U.S. Army. He served with great pride, dignity and honor. We welcome Antonio home."

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