R.I.P. - Kingsman David Robert Shaw

Kingsman David Shaw dies from wounds sustained in Afghanistan
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Kingsman David Robert Shaw from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on Wednesday 16 January 2013 from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.

Kingsman Shaw sustained a gunshot wound when his checkpoint came under attack from insurgents in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province on Monday 14 January 2013.

Kingsman David Shaw, from Barrow-in-Furness, was born on 13 October 1989 and joined the Army in February 2008. He successfully completed the Combat Infantryman’s Course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick and was posted to 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

Following this, Kingsman Shaw deployed to British Army Training Unit Suffield, Canada, in the summer of 2009 with Corunna Company where he was employed as a rifleman in a mechanised platoon. He then conducted pre-deployment training for Operation Herrick 12 and deployed with Corunna Company in March 2010 to Nad ‘Ali district in southern Helmand.

Kingsman Shaw performed strongly with 10 Platoon working out of Patrol Base Silab. Upon returning to the UK, Kingsman Shaw remained with Corunna Company and successfully qualified as an Assault Pioneer.

As the battalion prepared to deploy back to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 17 in October 2012, Kingsman Shaw was the voice of experience for the junior soldiers, deploying not only as an Assault Pioneer but also as a qualified sharpshooter. All new soldiers in Corunna Company looked up to Kingsman Shaw and followed the excellent example that he set.

This was demonstrated when he was involved in an incident in Afghanistan where 4 local children had fallen into a canal following a vehicle accident. The children were taken by local nationals to the nearest security forces checkpoint where Kingsman Shaw did not hesitate to administer first aid to the children; his swift actions and assistance to the medics were of the highest calibre.

Faultless in his motivation and resolve, Kingsman Shaw was usually at the centre of any outbreak of morale and could be guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any Kingsman.

Read more from GOV/MOD.UK

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Malian Army Re-Takes Central City From Rebels

The Malian army says it has re-taken control of the central town of Konna, as French and regional forces continue to pour into the country to fight a rebel offensive.

The army says it has gained "total control" of the city after inflicting "heavy losses" on the Islamist rebels there. The militant takeover of the town last week prompted France to intervene in its former colony.

The Malian army has previously reported military successes in Konna, but the claims are difficult to verify, since journalists have had difficulty accessing the city.

The one-week-old counter-offensive by French and West African regional troops appears to have stopped the southward advance of the al-Qaida-linked fighters, but has encountered heavier than expected resistance.

Heavy fighting between French soldiers and militants was reported Thursday in the town Diabaly, which was seized this week by the rebels.

French officials say 1,400 troops are now in Mali. A total of 2,500 soldiers are expected to deploy in the coming days. France says they will stay until the situation is stable.

On Thursday, the United States agreed to help France airlift troops and equipment into the country, though the Defense Department says it has no plans to send troops to the conflict.

Meanwhile, West African military chiefs say 2,000 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Togo will soon arrive in Mali as part of a U.N. authorized force.

As the foreign intervention entered its second week, new signs of a worsening humanitarian condition have emerged.

Doctors Without Borders Friday said civilians are in danger and that it is not able to deliver supplies to the battle-torn town of Konna. The French aid agency said all roads leading to the central town have been closed by the Malian military, despite "repeated requests" for access.

The U.N. refugee agency says it expects an increased wave of Malians to flee their homes in the coming months. An agency spokesperson said Friday it is preparing for 300,000 to be displaced inside the country and for 400,000 to leave for neighboring countries.

Al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremists seized control of northern Mali after renegade soldiers toppled the government in March, leaving a temporary power vacuum.  The militants have imposed harsh conservative Islamic law across the north.

from VOA News
January 18, 2013

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Jan. 18., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained three, located one weapons cache and cleared five improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 17.

Ghazni province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared three IEDs in Gelan district.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Ghazni district. The cache contained small arms ammunition, weapons components and a small arms rifle.

Khowst province

Afghan Uniform Police found and safely cleared an IED in Nadir Shah Kot district.

Kunar province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed two insurgents during an engagement in Narang district.

Logar province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained one insurgent in Pul-E-Alam district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained two insurgents during an operation in Bermel district. The insurgents were captured while in the process of wiring together suicide vests. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Wardak province

Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared an IED in Sayed Abad district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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Foreign govts voice alarm over Algerian hostage raid

A bloody Algerian military raid on a gas field seized by Islamist militants has resulted in the death of at least several foreign nationals. Foreign governments have expressed concern at being kept in the dark over the operation.

Algerian security forces stormed a gas plant seized by Islamist militants in eastern Algeria on January 17, but several hostages were killed along with the captors in what appears to have been a highly questionable and chaotic rescue attempt.

At least seven foreign nationals were killed after Algerian forces launched the operation, according to a security source quoted by Reuters. However, the kidnappers report that 34 captives died in the assault.

There are no official figures as yet, and several conflicting reports on the number of dead, injured and missing.

Local and foreign sources said the site was still surrounded early Friday by Algerian special forces and some hostages remained inside.

Militants originally stated they were holding 41 foreign nationals and more than 150 Algerians after they seized control before dawn on Wednesday. The hostage-takers demanded Algeria close its airspace to French fighter jets bombing Islamist targets in northern Mali and on France to end its military intervention there.

Several Algerian sources said security forces were given the green light to attack the Islamists after the heavily armed kidnappers asked for safe passage to leave the country with the hostages.

the report continues here, read more from FR24
Latest update: 18/01/2013

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5 people killed, 27 wounded in car bombs south of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and some 27 wounded in two car bomb attacks in two towns south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Thursday, the police said.
In one of the attacks, at least five people were killed and 10 wounded when a car bomb went off near al-Qasim Football Stadium in the southern part of Hilla city, the capital of Babil province, some 100 km south of Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Another car bomb detonated at a parking lot near the Shiite holy mausoleum of Imam Uon, just north of the holy city of Karbala, some 110 km southwest of Baghdad, a local police source anonymously told Xinhua. The blast wounded 17 people, including four Pakistani Shiite pilgrims, the source said.

The attacks apparently are part of car bombings that struck the Iraqi cities on Thursday morning, as the police reportedly said earlier that twin car bombings hit the town of Dujail, killing at least seven people and wounding 25 others. Violence and sporadic high-profile bomb attacks are still common in the Iraqi cities despite the dramatic decrease in violence since its peak in 2006 and 2007, when the country was engulfed in sectarian killings.

from XINHUA
2013-01-17 16:19:51
Editor: Lu Hui

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Jan. 17., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and detained several suspected insurgents in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province, Jan. 17.

The leader oversaw insurgents conducting direct fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He facilitated the transfer and delivery of weapons and IEDs to insurgents operating within the province.

Prior to his detention, he was involved in the coordination of an assassination attempt.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

During an operation in Daman district, Kandahar province, Jan. 16, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader. The leader planned and conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and oversaw the acquisition of weapons and ammunition to insurgents in the province. At the time of his arrest, he was involved in the transfer of rockets from a weapons cache for use in an attack.

An Afghan and coalition security force detained three armed insurgents during an operation in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, Jan. 15. After positively identifying the armed insurgents conduct an attack on Afghan civilians, the security force followed and detained the armed insurgents.

In Maiwand district, Kandahar province, Jan. 16, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader. The leader was responsible for coordinating improvised explosive device operations and complex attacks. He oversaw the acquisition of multiple types of IEDs and weapons for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the province.

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Jan. 17., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained six insurgents, located one weapons cache and cleared two improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 16.

Khowst province

Afghan National Security Forces discovered a weapons cache in Nadir Shah Kot district. The cache contained mortar rounds, ammunition and IED-making materials.

Afghan Border Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Bak district.

Laghman province

Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared an IED in Mehtar Lam district.

Afghan National Security Forces detained six insurgents during an engagement also in Mehtar Lam district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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Insider Attack: Afghan police kill commander in Kandahar

Districts of Kandahar. Panjwai is shown in dark green (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

According to local authorities in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan, a local police officer opened fire on his commander and killed him.

The officials further added the incident took place late Tuesday night in Panjwai district.

Provincail governor spokesman Javid Faisal confirming the report said the assailant local police officer poisoned his comrades and then opened fire on his commander.

He said the assailant local police officer managed to flee the area and took some weapons with him.

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

The threat of insider attacks has become so serious that international soldiers working alongside Afghan security forces are often looked over by so-called guardian angel troops on duty to provide protection.

Foreign troops are not the only targets of such attacks, and the number of Afghan deaths in such incidents is estimated to be at least double the number of ISAF soldiers and trainers killed.

A gunman believed to be an Afghan soldier killed a British service member earlier this month, when he opened fire on ISAF and Afghan soldiers, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

The “insider” attack occurred on a patrol base in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The victim was part of an engineer’s regiment, MoD spokesman Tom Bennett said in a statement. Six other ISAF soldiers were wounded in the attack, another MoD spokesman said.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - January 17 2013, 10:03 am

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Bomb explosion kills 2 suspected terrorists in Kenya

GARISSA, Kenya, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least two suspected terrorists died early Thursday when bombs they were carrying exploded in a refugee camp in northern Kenya.
Charlton Mureithi, a regional police commander, confirmed the incident at the Hagdera refugee camp in Dadaab by telephone, saying the suspects were believed to be suicide bombers.

"We have not established what their mission was at the camp. Their bodies were badly damaged and we suspect they were carrying IEDs (improvised explosive devices), which went off and exploded on them," Mureithi said.

He said he had ordered an investigation into the attack, which came as political parties held their primaries Thursday to nominate candidates for the March 4 general elections.

Residents told Xinhua on Thursday they thought the suspected suicide bombers might have been targeting passersby and security officers who normally patrol the areas.

The latest incident comes amid rising fears among communities along the porous border with Somalia. Islamist groups fleeing a military assault in the south of the Horn of Africa nation have been looking to carry out revenge attacks on civilians across the border in Kenya.

Kenya blames Al-Shabaab for the wave of recent bomb and grenade attacks particularly in northern Kenya.

The East African nation has been involved in efforts to bring stability and peace to Somalia, its northern neighbor, with Kenyan troops serving in the UN-backed African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Along with government and allied forces, AMISOM has been liberating large parts of Somalia from the control of Al-Shabaab militants, as well as supporting progress on its political front.

from XINHUA
2013-01-17 16:15:18

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Al Qaeda-linked group claims credit for kidnappings in Algeria

By Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio January 16, 2013 - LWJ

Al Qaeda commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Image from the SITE Intelligence Group

A notorious al Qaeda commander named Mokhtar Belmokhtar has claimed credit for kidnapping more than 40 foreign nationals at a BP oil field in eastern Algeria today, according to multiple press reports.

A Frenchman, a Briton, and an Algerian security guard are reported to have been killed in the initial attack. Seven Americans, five Japanese citizens, and several Europeans are said to be among those who are being held hostage. The precise number of hostages remains murky.

According to Reuters, BP said that armed men still occupy the "facilities at the gas field, which produces 9 billion cubic meters of gas a year (160,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day), more than a tenth of [Algeria's] overall gas output."

A spokesman for Belmokhtar's terrorist organization, the al-Mua'qi'oon Biddam (Those who Sign with Blood) Brigade, said the assault and kidnappings were retaliation for the French-led invasion of neighboring Mali.

"Algeria's participation in the war on the side of France betrays the blood of the Algerian martyrs who fell in the fight against the French occupation," the spokesman said, according to a translation provided by the SITE Intelligence Group.

In a subsequent statement, also translated by SITE, the group demanded that France end its fighting in Mali. The group said that its "blessed invasion" was retaliation for the French trying to "to break the Islamic ruling system in" Mali, "while the Muslims are moaning under the butcher Bashar al Asad in wounded Syria, in the sight and ear shot of the whole world."

"This invasion comes in the global campaign of fighting the Jews and the Crusaders," the statement reads, echoing al Qaeda's many calls for global jihad.

Belmokhtar, who is also known as Khalid Abu al Abbas, long served as an al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) commander, but had a falling out with the group's senior leadership. Late last year, he formed his own splinter group, but that group still answers to al Qaeda's senior leadership.

In an interview with the Associated Press in December, one of Belmokhtar's confidants confirmed the move and explained his motivation.

"It's true," said Oumar Ould Hamaha, who has held positions in AQIM, Ansar al Din, and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad (MUJAO). Hamaha continued: "It's so that we can better operate in the field that we have left this group which is tied to the 'Maghreb' appellation. We want to enlarge our zone of operation throughout the entire Sahara, going from Niger through to Chad and Burkina Faso."

The AP added: "Hamaha said, however, that while he and Belmokhtar have left the North African branch, they remain under the orders of al Qaeda central."

Belmokhtar was designated an al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist by the United Nations in 2003. The UN described him as "a former Algerian soldier with experience in training camps in Afghanistan" and explained that he had belonged to the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), as well as its successor, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Belmokhtar has compiled an extensive dossier of illegal activity, according to the UN, including kidnappings, gunrunning, robbery, "forming terrorist groups," and murder. He also reportedly runs an extensive cigarette smuggling operation.

In March 2008, an Algerian court sentenced Belmokhtar "in absentia to lifetime imprisonment for the murder of 13 custom officers." In December 2008, he was involved in the kidnapping "of two Canadian diplomats working for the United Nations." Dozens of other kidnappings also have been attributed to Belmokhtar.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/01/al_qaeda_commander_c.php#ixzz2IE8qxSjk

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