Casualties reported in northern Mali suicide attacks

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

BAMAKO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Suicide bomb attacks caused casualties in northern Mali on Thursday and Friday, the latest in a series launched by rebels this month apparently in a counter- offensive to the Malian army and its allies, according to local sources.

The Malian military reported twin car bomb attacks near the northern town of Tessalit, killing at least five people including civilians and the suicide bombers.

The raid came one day after a suicide car bombing in another northern town of Kidal, killing a guard and the driver.

The suicide attacks were reported amid tensions in Gao, the biggest town in northern Mali, where five rebels were killed in battles with Malian and French troops on Thursday over its control.

The Malian military said the rebels, who lost control of the town last month after occupying it for nine months, managed to enter the city on Wednesday.

The Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) targeted the mayor's office, before repelled by the army.

Gao had previously witnessed two suicide attacks by rebels.

from XINHUA
2013-02-22 18:40:14
Editor: Wang Yuanyuan

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Turkish jets strike Kurd rebels in Iraq: military source

English: Members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (Kurdish Partiya Karkerên, PKK) in Kurdistant/Iraq Kurdî / كوردی: Gerîlayên Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê (PKK) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Turkey sent jets across its border with Iraq to strike separatists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a local military source said Thursday.
The jets bombed 12 targets in the Kandil Mountains in the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq on Wednesday, the source told AFP without providing any casualty figures.

Pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency confirmed the raid, saying it targeted two villages and destroyed many farms and orchards.

The raid comes amid nascent peace talks between Ankara and PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence in prison.

Turkey hopes the talks will yield a ceasefire and eventually bring an end to the almost three-decade Kurdish insurgency for self-rule in the southeast.

Last month, the Turkish army said it killed 14 rebels in the southeastern city of Hakkari as they were preparing to ambush a border post. A Turkish soldier was also killed in the ensuing shootout.

Ankara says the rebels use their hideouts in northern Iraq, where the PKK command is also located, to infiltrate Turkey for hit-and-run attacks on security forces.

Around 45,000 people are believed to have been killed in 29 years of fighting between Turkish security forces and the PKK, which took up arms in 1984.

from AL ARABIYA
Last Updated: Thu Feb 21, 2013 21:36 pm (KSA) 18:36 pm (GMT)

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French, Mali Troops in Gao Push Out Islamist Rebels

Malian soldiers fire a machine gun in Gao, February 21, 2013.

France's defense minister says that Malian and French troops have pushed out Islamist rebels who temporarily seized the town hall and mayor's residence in the city of Gao in northern Mali.

Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters Thursday in Brussels that five Islamists were killed in the fighting and that the situation is back to normal.

New clashes between the militants and government troops supported by French forces erupted Wednesday in Gao, which was liberated last month after an occupation by Islamist insurgents.  Reports say that the Islamists had returned to Gao overnight and took control of some government buildings.

A correspondent told VOA that heavily armed Islamist militants took up positions in the mayor's office.  He said the office was set on fire during fighting that ensued, along with the courthouse and part of a nearby market.

Malian officials and militants say the militants are part of the Islamist group known as MUJAO, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa. 

A Malian Defense Ministry spokesman told VOA that while Gao was liberated last month, "pockets of insecurity" remained in the city.

In another incident, a car bomb exploded near a military base in the northern city of Kidal, killing the bomber and one civilian.  The base was being used by French and Chadian forces.

In January, French troops entered Mali, a former French colony, at the request of the Bamako government to help drive back Islamist militants who had seized northern cities and were moving toward the capital.

After a series of swift military advances in Mali, France said its forces were planning to hand over military operations to the Malian army and an African force.  French officials have also urged the United Nations to establish a peacekeeping mission in Mali.

from VOA News
February 21, 2013

Related articles

• French, Mali Troops in Gao Push Out Islamist Rebels (voanews.com)
• Malian and French troops battle Islamists in northern Mali - euronews (euronews.com)

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Feb. 22., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban improvised explosive device expert, Zekeria, during a security operation in Chahar Darah district, Kunduz province, Feb. 21.

Zekeria’s IEDs were used to attack Afghan and coalition forces. His death will significantly degrade the ability of insurgents to conduct attacks in Charhar Darah district.

During the operation, the security force observed Zekeria conducting insurgent activity. The security force engaged the insurgent with a precision strike, killing him.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the death of a Taliban leader, Habib, during an operation in Charkh district, Logar province, Feb. 20. Habib was responsible for weapons facilitation in Charkh district. He also was instrumental in planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force engaged the insurgent with a precision strike, killing him.

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Feb. 22., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent, detained six suspected insurgents, located one weapons cache and cleared three improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Feb. 21.

Additionally, Afghan forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Kunar province Feb. 20, according to late reports.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security Forces killed one insurgent during an engagement in Sayed Abad district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Bati Kot district. The cache contained one ton of homemade explosives.

Logar province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Pul-e Alam district.

Nuristan province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Nugaram district.

Laghman province
Afghan National Security Forces found and safely cleared an IED in Mehtar Lam district.

Khowst province
Afghan and coalition forces detained five suspected insurgents in Khowst district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan and coalition forces detained one suspected insurgent in Terezayi district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Kunar province
Afghan National Security Forces discovered a weapons cache during an operation in Sar Kani District Feb. 20, according to late reports. The cache contained 200 kilograms of nitrogen fertilizer, four small arms rifles and four kilograms of opium.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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