Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Bomb attack injures three pro-government militiamen in southern Yemen

map byEvan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)
ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- At least three pro-government militiamen were wounded in a bomb explosion in Yemen's southern province of Abyan on Tuesday night, a security official told Xinhua Wednesday.
The bomb went off outside the pro-government militiamen headquarters in Jaar town in Abyan province, injuring at least three people at the scene, the local security official said on condition of anonymity.

"A huge blast took place near a building held by pro-government militiamen in Abyan. The building was partially damaged. However, it caused no loss of life and only three people were injured," the security source said.

Witnesses told Xinhua that the two-floor building in Jaar town "was hit by an explosive that seemed large" and "small damage" was caused.

The bomb attack was perpetrated by attackers of the al-Qaida terrorist group, according to local officials.

The al-Qaida militants frequently use improvised explosive devices, including roadside bombs, against the security forces, pro-government militiamen and intelligence officials in southern regions.

The Yemen-based al-Qaida branch, known locally as Ansar al- Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), took advantage of a political upheaval in 2011 in Yemen to take over several towns of the southern restive regions.

The militants were targeted by Yemeni security authorities after a U.S.-backed offensive launched in the southern Abyan province months routed the militants out of the strongholds that they had controlled for nearly a year.

The Yemeni government along with the United states and oil-rich Saudi Arabia has beefed up anti-terror operation since President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi took office in February 2012.

from XINHUA
2013-02-13 16:09:59

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Afghan civilians killed in NATO airstrike in E. province: official

Districts of Kunar.
Districts of Kunar. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
ASADABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 Afghan civilians were killed overnight in a NATO airstrike originally targeting a militants' hideout in the country's eastern province of Kunar, the provincial governor said on Wednesday.

"The NATO-led coalition forces carried out an air raid attack against a compound in Sheltan area of Shegal district at about 11: 00 p.m. Tuesday," Seyyed Fazlullah Wahidi told Xinhua.

He said the raid claimed the lives of 10 civilians besides killing four armed militants.

"Our initial reports said that the killed civilians included five children, four women and a man," Whahidi said, adding five children were also wounded in the incident in the province 185 km east of capital Kabul.

"We are aware of an operation (in eastern Afghanistan) and at this time we are trying to get information," a spokesman with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) told Xinhua.

The ISAF took seriously the allegations of civilian casualties, he said, adding more information would be released to the media as appropriate.

The number of civilian casualties has been soaring in Afghanistan as more than 3,400 Afghan civilians reportedly were killed last year in the militancy-hit country.

The deaths of Afghan civilians in NATO-led troops' operations against Taliban have long been a contentious issue between the Afghan government and U.S. and NATO forces stationed in the country.

Afghan officials had in the past stressed such deaths would further undermine the war against Taliban and terrorist groups and inflame an anti-foreign sentiment in the country.

from XINHUA
2013-02-13 15:10:20

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Feb. 13., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces killed Taliban leader, Shadi Mama, during an operation in Nad ‘Ali district, Helmand province, Tuesday.


Shadi Mama was a Taliban leader operating in the Marjeh and Trek Nawa areas of Helmand province. He was responsible for improvised explosive device and direct fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He facilitated heavy weapons to insurgents operating throughout Nad ‘Ali district.

During the operation, the security force positively identified Shadi Mama engaging in nefarious activity in an isolated area away from civilians. The security force conducted a precision strike, killing him.

A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no property was damaged as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

An Afghan and coalition force killed Taliban leader, Mojib, during a security operation in Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, today. Mojib, also known as Mansoor, conducted direct fire attacks against Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials as well as Afghan and coalition forces. He was directly associated with Taliban senior leadership operating in Khugyani district. He procured rocket-propelled grenades to be used in an attack on a coalition aircraft. During the operation, the security force seized multiple assault rifles with associated gear, several grenades and a pistol.

Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents during an operation in Ghaziabad district, Kunar province, Tuesday. During the operation, the security force observed two individuals engaged in insurgent activity. The security force engaged the insurgents with a precision strike, killing both. A post-operation assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani leader in Terayzai district, Khost province, today. The detained Haqqani leader is accused of conducting direct fire and IED attacks as well as kidnapping operations throughout Terayzai district. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents and seized multiple grenades, an assault rifle with associated ammunition, an Afghan National Army (ANA) uniform and two ANA identification cards as a result of the operation.

South

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, Tuesday. The detained Taliban facilitator was is believed responsible for coordinating and conducting insurgent operations throughout Shah Wali Kot district, to include oversight of the acquisition of supplies and lethal aid to insurgents for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

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Feb. 13., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained two, cleared four improvised explosive devices and discovered one weapons cache during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 12.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs in Shamal district.

Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Shamal district. The cache contained 50 pounds of homemade explosives and IED-making materials.

Ghazni province
Afghan forces killed two insurgents and detained two suspected insurgents during an operation in Ab Band district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Kapisa province
Afghan forces found and safely cleared an IED in Tagab district.

Paktya province
Afghan and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Lajah Ahmadkhel district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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