Yemen's export gas pipeline blown up by al-Qaida suspects

English: Map showing the location of the Gulf of Aden, located between Yemen and Somalia. Nearby bodies of water include the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ADEN, Yemen, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Gunmen suspected of belonging to the al-Qaida terrorist group blew up a gas pipeline that transfers Yemen's liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Belhaf export terminal in the south early Tuesday, a security official told Xinhua.

The main pipeline, which transports supplies of gas to Yemen's Belhaf export terminal in the Gulf of Aden, was bombed by a squad of al-Qaida assailants in Safir oil-fields in eastern Maarib province, the local security official said on condition of anonymity.

Improvised explosive devices and remote-controlled bombs exploded underneath the gas pipeline in the oil-producing Maarib province, causing a huge explosion at the area, the security official said.

Tuesday's bombing comes days after the pipeline was repaired following a previous attack that occurred in neighboring Shabwa province.

On Saturday, Yemen LNG had announced that the pipeline had been repaired after an armed attack by al-Qaida suspects in August.

The 320-km pipeline, linking oil-producing Marib province to Belhaf LNG export facility in Yemen's restive south, has been repeatedly targeted by al-Qaida operatives.

Oil revenues make up more than 70 percent of the state budget, while oil and gas products account for over 90 percent of Yemen's exports.

Yemen's oil production rapidly declined from more than 400,000 barrels per day at the beginning of the past decade to the current 270,000 barrels per day.

Despite the army reinforcements and high security measures at the country's oil projects, al-Qaida militants have attacked the main LNG pipeline several times in recent months.


from XINHUA
2012-09-04 16:46:14

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Haqqani leader killed in NATO airstrike in Logar province

A Haqqani Network leader was killed following a NATO airstrike in eastern Logar province of Afghanistan on Sunday.

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force following a statement on Tuesday announced, “Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of Haqqani leader Shabeer following a precision airstrike in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, Sunday. Shabeer was believed to have been coordinating a high-profile attack using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and had spent the days prior to his death acquiring explosives, weapons and insurgents for the planned attack. A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.”

The source further added, The Afghan Special Operations Unit, supported by coalition troops, arrested a suspected Taliban explosives dealer during an operation in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today.

The detained explosives dealer is believed to be responsible for coordinating the purchase and transfer of explosive material and bomb-making equipment for Taliban insurgents throughout the region.

Prior to his arrest, the Taliban explosives dealer had acquired several components for building homemade bombs.

The Afghan Special Operations Unit also detained three suspected insurgents and seized more than 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of illegal narcotics as a result of this operation.

In a separate operation Afghan and coalition security force arrested a suspected Taliban improvised explosive device expert during an operation in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, ISAF said following the statement adding that the arrested IED expert is believed to be a leading figure in the movement and provision of explosives for attacks against coalition and Afghan security forces throughout eastern Nangarhar. At the time of his arrest, the Taliban IED expert was attempting to acquire several components used in the construction of roadside bombs. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents and seized several firearms, military uniforms and explosives as a result of this operation.

Anti-government armed militant groups yet to comment regarding the reports.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Tue Sep 04, 11:13 am

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• Sep. 04., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update (sgt-jim.blogspot.com)

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Kapisa Residents Take Fight to the Taliban

Dozens of eastern Kapisa province residents started an uprising against the Taliban in their local areas to drive them out after the militants threatened schools and other public services in the province.

The residents of Kapisa's Nijrab district said that they took up arms against the Taliban in order to reopen schools, clinics, and resume other social activities which were being stopped by their threats.

A resident of Nijrab told TOLOnews: "We don't want the Taliban insurgents in the district. We want to drive them out. They are threatening the residents and want to make the district insecure."

Another resident said: "We want peace in our district and Afghanistan. Every day, dozens of residents join with us and the tribe elders also help us in the uprising."

One resident said that the President, Hamid Karzai, did not care about the province and security was diminishing each day, to the concern of the people.

"We don't want the insurgents placing roadside bombs and being active in the district. If they do not leave the province, they will face the reaction of the people," he added.

In Nangarhar last week residents of Shigal and Dangam districts called on the Taliban insurgents to leave. The tribal elders had a meeting with residents and the decision was made to fight back. The warning was given by the elders that "if the insurgents do not leave the district, we will take up arms and launch an uprising against them."

Ordinary civilians fighting back against the militant Islamists was first reported in eastern Ghazni province in June. Since then it has continued to be reported in several parts of Afghanistan, including, Faryab and Laghman.

It comes as Afghan lawmakers recently raised concerns over the rise of "illegal" militia, and also whether another militant group Hezb-i-Islami is taking advantage of the uprisings in villages to wrest power from the Taliban.

They called for the government to closely monitor these situations in order to prevent other groups from gaining power in the upheaval.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS) has said that they will monitor the uprisings and prevent any enemy infiltration but rejected any suggestion of Hezb-i-Islami's involvement saying that people are tired of their cruelty and will never fight in favor of them.

Written by TOLOnews.com 
Tuesday, 04 September 2012 13:00

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Secret reports warn of a slew of TTP attacks

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

LAHORE: A secret report has issued specific warnings of terror attacks that around 16 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) recruits are allegedly planning to carry out in Rawalpindi and Islamabad over the next two weeks.

The report — circulated by the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) at the interior ministry and shared with all provincial home departments, provincial and federal police departments and the federal capital’s commissioner office – said that Adiala Jail is likely to be the main target of the assailants who  intend to free their accomplices in a prison break.

Additionally, the terrorists, all highly trained and reported to be currently residing in Attock, are expected to simultaneously target government installations and attempt kidnapping some high-profile people in the twin cities.

Another intelligence report, circulated amongst law enforcement agencies (LEAs) by NCMC, reveals that another group of terrorists is planning to target Pearl Continental Hotel, Rawalpindi along with Chaklala Airbase and the Benazir Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad.

Similarly, specific information received through various intelligence sources suggests that the Anisur Rehman alias Pir Farooq, a commander of TTP, has planned a series of targeted attacks on Pakistan Army posts along the Pak-Afghan border area.

Infiltration

A highly sensitive report reveals that two Afghanistan- based TTP Swat commanders namely Shakar and Kufar Kush along with 50 militants have left Kunar province to mount terror attacks in Dir. The militants are reported to have departed Kunar on August 13 and are headed towards Binashahi in Dir.

Threat to Chinese diplomats, engineers

The NCMC has also circulated another report indicating that Chinese diplomats and engineers, working in Pakistan on several development projects, are a prime target of TTP commander Aziz Mehsud. The report has been circulated to relevant agencies to ensure that adequate safety and security is provided to Chinese officials around the country.

from The Exprees Tribune
By Asad Kharal
Published: September 4, 2012

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R.I.P. - Spc. Kyle R. Rookey

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

             Spc. Kyle R. Rookey, 23, of Oswego, N.Y., died Sept. 2, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

             For more information related to this release, media may contact the Fort Carson Public Affairs Office at 719-526-7525.

---

from 9wsyr.com:

Oswego (WSYR-TV) -- A 23-year-old Oswego man died in a non-combat related incident in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on Sunday, according to the Department of Defense (DOD).

The young soldier has been identified as Spc. Kyle R. Rookey.

Rookey was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Further details surrounding the incident have not been released.

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• Fort Carson soldier dies in Afghanistan (gazette.com)
• RIP Kyle R Rookey (waronterrornews.typepad.com)

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Sep. 04., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan - The Afghan Special Operations Unit, supported by coalition troops, arrested a suspected Taliban explosives dealer during an operation in Zharay district, Kandahar province, today.

The detained explosives dealer is believed to be responsible for coordinating the purchase and transfer of explosive material and bomb-making equipment for Taliban insurgents throughout the region.

Prior to his arrest, the Taliban explosives dealer had acquired several components for building homemade bombs.

The Afghan Special Operations Unit also detained three suspected insurgents and seized more than 18 kilograms (40 pounds) of illegal narcotics as a result of this operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout
Afghanistan:

Southwest

Yesterday in Reg-e Khan Neshin district of Helmand province, International Security Assistance Force forces discovered a cache find comprising of 540 kilograms of wet and dry opium. Four individuals were also detained and the narcotics were destroyed at the site of the find.

East

Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of Haqqani leader Shabeer following a precision airstrike in Pul-e 'Alam district, Logar province, Sunday. Shabeer was believed to have been coordinating a high-profile attack using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and had spent the days prior to his death acquiring explosives, weapons and insurgents for the planned attack. A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.

Afghan and coalition forces conducted a security operation resulting in the death of two armed insurgents in Pul-e 'Alam district, Logar province, Monday. During the operation the security force positively identified two armed insurgents transporting weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, toward a populated area. After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged the armed insurgents with a precision airstrike, killing both of them. A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a suspected Taliban improvised explosive device expert during an operation in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, today. The arrested IED expert is believed to be a leading figure in the movement and provision of explosives for attacks against coalition and Afghan security forces throughout eastern Nangarhar. At the time of his arrest, the Taliban IED expert was attempting to acquire several components used in the construction of roadside bombs. The security force also detained several suspected insurgents and seized several firearms, military uniforms and explosives as a result of this operation.

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/94172/isaf-joint-command-morning-operational-update#.UEW7A3Z_Wgo#ixzz25UIcp63E

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Sep. 04., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed an insurgent, detained three and cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Sept. 3.

Ghazni Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs, one in Ghazni District and one in Andar District.

Kapisa Province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Tagab District.

Paktika Province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed an insurgent during an engagement in Giyan District.

Paktiya Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained two insurgents during engagements in Dzadran and Jaji Districts. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Wardak Province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sayyidabad District.

Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces detained an insurgent during an engagement in Jaghatu District. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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7 injured in twin blasts in S. Afghanistan Tuesday morning

LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- At least seven civilians were injured Tuesday morning in two successive blasts in Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of southern Afghan province of Helmand, the police said.

"Two explosive-laden tricycles went off in a quick succession near a car market in Lashkar Gah Monday morning, leaving the casualties," a provincial police spokesman, Farid Ahmad Farhang, told Xinhua.

The obvious target of the blasts was two Afghan military vehicles running the area but no security force member was injured in the incident, he said.

The explosive were placed under pastures in the vehicles and the first blast occurred at around 9:00 a.m. local time, Farhang said, adding that the initial probe suggests that the serial explosions were a "planned and coordinated" act.

The injured, including three children, were shifted to Emergency Hospital and their wounds were not life-threatening, a hospital source told Xinhua.

No group has claimed the responsibility for the attack so far.

Afghan National Police (ANP) have killed five Taliban militants and detained six injured militants after a clash in Khoshkabe, an area outskirts of Lashkar Gah and found two explosive-packed tricycle vehicles on Monday afternoon, according to Farhang.

In northern Kunduz province, two Afghan Local Police (ALP) members were injured when a roadside bomb went off near their patrol in Maidan Pukhta area in provincial capital Kunduz city at around 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning.

"A suspected man, who owned a remote control device, was detained by police shortly after the blast," police spokesman Seyd Sarwar Housaini told Xinhua.

The Taliban insurgents, who have been waging more than a decade- long insurgency, launched an annual spring offensive starting from May 3 to target Afghan forces and the U.S. and NATO troops across the country.

The Taliban insurgents have warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by the militants.

from XINHUA
2012-09-04 14:34:48

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