Moroccan jihadist killed in Somalia airstrike

By Bill Roggio - February 24, 2012. - LWJ

Moroccan jihadist Abu Ibrahim. Image from the SITE Intelligence Group.

A Moroccan jihadist was among several Shabaab fighters, including other foreigners, who were killed in an airstrike in southern Somalia today.

In a web posting today, a jihadist forum member who also serves as an operative in Somalia said that Abu Ibrahim, who was also known as Hassan al Toor and Abu Qatada, was killed in an airstrike south of Mogadishu. The jihadist announced Abu Ibrahim's death in a statement that was released on the al Qaeda-linked Shumukh al-Islam forum and translated by the SITE Intelligence group.

While the jihadist forum member did not give an exact date for Abu Ibrahim's death, his statement indicates that Abu Ibrahim was killed in an airstrike that took place in the K60 area of the Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia (K60 is an area 60 kilometers south of Mogadishu near the coastal city of Merca).

"The knowledge [sic] knight dismounted his horse as a result of an airstrike in area of 60 in Lower Shabelle province..," the statement said.

Reports from Somalia said that several aircraft, thought to be helicopters, struck two vehicles traveling at night in the K60 area, killing four to six Shabaab operatives, including "foreigners."  
Mareeg Online claimed that a Kenyan known as Sheik Abukar Hajji Ahmed was among several Kenyans killed in the attack. The Internet jihadist said that Abu Ibrahim was killed along with two others, who were known as Abu Ahad al Muhajir and Abu Bakr a Ansari al Muhajir. The two men were likely foreigners, as Muhajir means "immigrant."

The jihadist also stated that Abu Ibrahim was killed after his "dream" of Shabaab merging with al Qaeda was realized.

"The Sheikh was keen to have al Qaeda take the helm of jihad in this land... The Sheikh departed after some of his dream came true, and there are still some things to be done
by those after him...," the Internet jihadist stated.

Shabaab officially merged with al Qaeda on Feb. 9 [see LWJ report, Shabaab formally joins al Qaeda]. Today's airstrike in K60 is the first reported in that area since the merger.

The jihadist claimed to personally know Abu Ibrahim, presumably from the jihadist web forums, and said that he had, along with al Qaeda leader Bilal al Berjawi, encouraged and helped Abu Ibrahim enter Somalia. The jihadist said he first met Abu Ibrahim in the Somali city of Baidoa. The city was controlled by Shabaab for the past three years before the terror group abandoned it just this week to advancing Somali and Ethiopian forces.

Abu Ibrahim attempted to join al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi prior to his death in June 2006. The jihadist claimed Abu Ibrahim "arrived in Turkey and then returned," but did not give the reasons for why he could not enter Iraq.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/02/moroccan_jihadist.php#ixzz1nR0OyzP3

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6 Afghan police die while defusing bomb

photo by  Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace - via Wikipedia

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense says six Afghan soldiers have been killed and 16 others wounded while trying to defuse a roadside bomb.

The ministry says the soldiers died Saturday in Mukar district of Baghdis province in western Afghanistan. 

Deputy provincial governor Abdul Ghani Sabir confirming the incident said, based on the preliminary information the explosion took place as a result of an improvised explosive device which was brough inside the military base to be defused by the Afghan security forces.

Mr. Sabir further added, at least 10 people were killed and more than 15 others were injured following the incident.

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2 U.S. Advisers shot dead inside the Afghan interior ministry

KABUL, Afghanistan — A gunman killed two American advisers inside a heavily guarded government compound in Kabul on Saturday, officials said, as protests against the burning of copies of the Muslim holy book roiled the country for a fifth day.

U.S. officials said the assailant remained at large as neither an apology from President Obama nor gunfire from Afghan police could quench public outrage over what NATO insisted was an inadvertent desecration of the Quran.

Two Afghan officials said the ministry shooting did not involve any Afghans. They spoke anonymously to discuss a NATO incident. One of the officials noted that the shooting occurred inside a secure room at the ministry that Afghan staff do not have access to.

NATO confirmed that two service members were killed, but spokesman Lt. Col Jimmie Cummings said “initial reports say it was not a Western shooter.” He declined to provide further information.

A U.S. official in Washington confirmed that the two killed were American. The official spoke anonymously to discuss information that had not been publicly released.

“The assailant is unknown, and an aggressive search is underway to determine who is responsible,” Pentagon press secretary George Little said.
---
"All foreign military advisers pulled out of Afghan ministries in Kabul; all those outside Kabul told heighten awareness: ISAF directive"
---

ISAF Commander Condemns Attack on ISAF Personnel at GIRoA Ministry  

I condemn today's attack at the Afghan Ministry of Interior that killed two of our coalition officers, and my thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the brave individuals lost today," said Gen. John R. Allen, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force.

"We are investigating the crime and will pursue all leads to find the person responsible for this attack. The perpetrator of this attack is a coward whose actions will not go unanswered."

"For obvious force protection reasons, I have also taken immediate measures to recall all other ISAF personnel working in ministries in and around Kabul," continued Gen. Allen.

"We are committed to our partnership with the Government of Afghanistan to reach our common goal of a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan in the near future."

Related articles

• Nato officers shot dead in Kabul (bbc.co.uk)
• R.I.P. - Lt. Col. John D. Loftis (sgt-jim.blogspot.com)

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Feb.25., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Feb. 25) – In Qarghah’i district, Laghman province, multiple insurgents were killed while placing improvised explosive devices Thursday.

Afghan and coalition security forces positively identified the insurgents and called in close air support assets to engage their position. After the strike, security forces confiscated heavy machine guns, firearms, and ammunition from the scene.

No civilians were harmed during the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, today. The facilitator purchased and transported weapons for use in attacks against coalition forces throughout Helmand province. One additional suspected insurgent was detained.

An Afghan-led and coalition-supported security force discovered a drug cache during an operation in Baghran district, Helmand province, Wednesday. The cache consisted of approximately 660 pounds (300 kilograms) of opium, 660 pounds (300 kilograms) of poppy seeds, 110 pounds (50 kilograms) of morphine base and two drug-processing vats. The security force also discovered several firearms during the operation. The drugs and weapons were destroyed on site without incident.

An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province, today. The leader provided weapons and bomb-making materials to insurgents for use in attacks against Afghan forces in Kandahar City.

An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in Nawa-ye Barakzai district, Helmand province, today. The leader conducted roadside bomb attacks and supported suicide bombers throughout the district.

East
An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Taliban facilitator in Khogyani district, Nangarhar province, today. The facilitator distributes explosives and other supplies to suicide bombers, and suspected of providing safe haven to insurgent fighters. Two suspected insurgents were also detained during the operation

An Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Haqqani network facilitator in Nadir Shah Kot district, Khost province, today. The facilitator is responsible for roadside bombings and organizes attacks against coalition installations throughout the district. During the operation, security forces detained two suspected insurgents and seized multiple firearms.

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• Taliban group members detained in southern Afghanistan (khaama.com)

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Joshua A. Born, R.I.P. - Cpl. Timothy J. Conrad Jr.

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
        
 They died Feb. 23, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their unit came under small arms fire.  They were assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            Killed were:

            Sgt. Joshua A. Born, 25, of Niceville, Fla., and

             Cpl. Timothy J. Conrad Jr., 22, of Roanoke, Va.

           For more information media may contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at 912-435-9879.

Sgt. Joshua A. Born, 25, of Niceville, Fla., died Feb. 23,
in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered
when his unit came under small arms fire.

He was assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion,
16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne),
XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Sgt. Born was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal. He leaves his wife Megan, his parents and other family members.

Cpl. Timothy J. Conrad Jr., 22, of Roanoke, Va., died Feb. 23,
in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered
when his unit came under small arms fire.

He was assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion,
16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne),
XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Sgt. Conrad was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal. He leaves his wife, Holly and their 7 month old son, Bentley, his mother, Mikki Wray, father Tim Conrad Sr., sisters Alex Conrad and Amanda Meland and brother, Austin Wray.

Related articles

• Afghan Soldier Kills Two Nato Troop in Afghanistan (sgt-jim.blogspot.com)
• http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/26/3452756/relatives-mourn-soldiers-deaths.html

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General Allen Visits Attacked Base

The Commander of ISAF and US troops in Afghanistan, General John Allen, has been to visit the base in the east of the country where two US soldiers were killed yesterday by a man wearing an Afghan army uniform.
General Allen was accompanied on his trip by General Sher Mohammed Karimi, the Afghan National Army's Chief of Staff. At the time of the incident, the base was under attack by protestors demonstrating against the burning of Koran at the detainee facility in Parwan.

Produced by Alessandro Pavone.

English subtitled/close-captioned version is here

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Qur'an burning protests rage as death toll reaches 23 in Afghanistan

Afghan National Army soldiers fire towards
protesters during a protest
in Kabul February 24, 2012. - photo: Omar Sobhani

Twelve people killed Friday as anti-US sentiment spreads for fourth straight day in wake of holy book burning at Nato base

Twelve people were killed on Friday in the bloodiest day yet in protests that have raged across Afghanistan over the desecration of copies of the Muslim holy book at a Nato military base with riot police and soldiers on high alert braced for more violence.

The burning of the Qur'ans at the Bagram compound earlier this week has deepened public mistrust of Nato forces struggling to stabilise Afghanistan before foreign combat troops withdraw in 2014.

Hundreds of Afghans marched towards the palace of Afghan president Hamid Karzai in Kabul, while on the other side of the capital protesters hoisted the white flag of the Taliban.

Chanting "Death to America!" and "Long live Islam!", protesters also threw rocks at police in Kabul, while Afghan army helicopters circled above.

Friday is a holy day and the official weekly holiday in Afghanistan and mosques in the capital drew large crowds, with police in pick-up trucks posted on nearby streets.

Armed protesters took refuge in shops in the eastern part of the city, where they killed one demonstrator, said police at the scene. In another Kabul rally, police said they were unsure who fired the shots that killed a second protester.

Seven more protesters were killed in the western province of Herat, two more in eastern Khost province and one in the relatively peaceful northern Baghlan province, health and local officials said. In Herat, around 500 men charged at the US consulate.

Read more : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/24/afghanistan-quran-burning-protests-23-dead?CMP=twt_gu

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US adds Indonesian group, 3 leaders to terrorism list

A supporter of Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir wears a jacket with a portrait of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as they gather after Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir's hearing verdict at the South Jakarta District Court on June 16, 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia. --- --- Image by Getty Images via @daylife

from Bill Roggio - February 23., 2012. - LWJ

The US government has added an Indonesian group and three of its leaders who are responsible for attacks in the country to the list of terrorist organizations and individuals.

Today the State Department added the Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT), or the Partisans of the Oneness of God, to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorist entities. The Treasury Department added Mochammad Achwan, the terror group's emir; Son Hadi bin Muhadjir, its spokesman; and Abdul Rosyid Ridho Ba'asyir, a JAT leader involved in recruiting members and financing operations, to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

"JAT is responsible for multiple coordinated attacks against innocent civilians, police, and military personnel in Indonesia," the State Department said in its designation of the terror group. "JAT seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia, and has carried out numerous attacks on Indonesian Government personnel and civilians in order to achieve this goal," the State designation continued.

Among the attacks carried out by JAT are the Sept. 25, 2011 suicide bombing at a church in Central Java that wounded dozens of worshipers, and a suicide attack at a mosque in West Java on April 15, 2011 that wounded 28 policemen.

The US government said that JAT was founded in 2008 by Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader and cofounder of Jemaah Islamiyah, an al Qaeda affiliate in Southeast Asia that has been behind numerous terror attacks in Indonesia. Bashir was arrested by Indonesian police in August 2010 on terrorism charges. In June 2011, a court found Bashir guilty of "committing a criminal act of terrorism" by founding and supporting a terrorist group known as al Qaeda in Aceh. One year later, he was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/02/us_adds_indonesian_g.php#ixzz1nJN37rcS

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Explosion kill and injure at least 7 in Khost province

Image via Wikipedia

According to local authorities in eastern Khost province, at least 7 people were killed and injured following a roadside Improvised Explosive Device explosion in this province.

The officials further added, the incident took place at Spin Jomat area at eastern Khost city.

According to eyewitnesses at least 1 civilian was killed and 6 others were injured following the explosion.

In the meantime provincial public health chief for eastern Khost province Dr. Hedayatullah said, at least 7 civilians who were injured during the explosion were brought to the hospital so far.

He also said, an Afghan woman was also among those who was injured following the incident.

Provincial security chief for eastern Khost province Gen. Yaqoub Mandozai said, at least 3 civilians were injured following the incident.

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

Local officials blamed the Taliban group for such incidents as the Taliban militants frequently use Improvised Explosive Device to target Afghan and coalition security forces which normally leads to civilian casualties.

from KHAAMA

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Suicide bombers kills four Pakistan police in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: 

The Sheikh Abdullah Azzam faction has claimed the responsibility of Peshawar police station attack that killed four policemen including an SHO Friday morning, Geo News reported. The brigade has avenged the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Badar Mansoor in recent drone attack.

According to head of bomb disposal unit IG Shafqat, the ammunition used in today’s attack and Thursday’s Kohat bus stop blast are similar in nature. Finger prints and body remains of the attackers have also been obtained for DNA tests.

IG Shafqat told that three suicide attacks were conducted on the police station each using 7 kg of high quality explosive material including ball bearings. He told that the earlier bus stand blast and police station attack are connected in nature.

KP Minister of Information Mian Iftikhar told that two attackers resemble each other and could possibly be brothers while they could have affiliation with Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

At least four policemen were killed and six others injured in a pre-dawn attack by the armed militants on Kotwali Police Station in interior Peshawar on Friday, police said.

City police Chief Imtiaz Altaf said, three suicide bombers exploded themselves as they were enclosed by the police inside the police station. However militants' precipitate attack with firing and hand grenades and three policemen including a sub inspector were killed. The attack also inflicted heavy damage on the police station building.

Pakistani volunteers carry the body of a policeman following a bomb blast at a police station in Peshawar on February 24, 2012. - photo: A. Majeed

***GRAPHIC CONTENT*** - Pakistani policemen inspect a damaged room and the remains of a suicide bomber following a bomb blast at a police station in Peshawar on February 24, 2012. - A. Majeed

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