Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Al-Qaida beheads 3 Yemeni security agents linked to U.S. drone strikes

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)
SANAA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's interior ministry said Tuesday that al-Qaida wing has beheaded three Yemeni men after accusing them of allegedly collaborating with Yemeni-U.S. joint intelligence unit that killed several al-Qaida members by drone strikes.

The unidentified headless bodies were found dumped earlier Tuesday in the streets of the oil producer Marib province, some 170 km northeast of the capital Sanaa.

According to the ministry, three recorded video tapes were found with the bodies, in which the men admitted of working as agents for the Yemeni-U.S. joint intelligence unit and planting a number of tracking devices linked to U.S. unmanned warplanes that had killed several al-Qaida members.

The Yemeni-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), known locally as Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) has yet to issue a statement in its jihadi websites to comment on the incident.

Yemen has already undertaken a political transition leads by the U.S.-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the stepping down of former leader Ali Abdullah Saleh earlier this year under a peaceful transfer of power backed by the United Nations.

Restoring security in Yemen has become an international priority after last year's unrest has created security vacuum which was exploited by the insurgent al-Qaida wing to control swaths of remote land and expand activities to major cities. The militants were drove by a U.S.-backed offensive in June.

On Saturday, the Yemeni defence ministry said it aborted an attempt by two al-Qaida suicide bombers from bombing their explosives-laden car near an air force base used by the U.S. Marines in the southern Yemeni province of Lahj.


from XINHUA
2012-10-09 19:41:48

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2 Separate explosions kill, injure 6 in Helmand province

According to local authorities in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, at least 6 Afghan civilians were killed or injured in two separate incidents in this province on Tuesday.

The officials further added the first incident took place in Nad-e-Ali district of southern Helmand province after a civilian vehicle struck with a roadside bomb early Tuesday morning killing three Afghan civilians.

Provincial governor spokesman Ahmad Zerak confirming the report said the second incident took place while Afghan police forces were looking to defuse a roadside bomb.

He said at least one Afghan police officer was killed and two others were injured after explosive device went off.

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

Local officials blamed Taliban militants for such incidents saying that the Taliban fighters are using roadside bombs as the weapon of their choice to target Afghan and coalition security forces which normally leads to civilians casualties.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Tue Oct 09, 2:48 pm

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Oct. 09., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Daily Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Taliban facilitator and improvised explosive device producer in Kandahar province today.

The arrested facilitator is suspected of managing the construction of large quantities of IEDs, and organizing the transfer of the IEDs and other weapons to support the insurgency.

He was also believed to be directly involved in organizing and executing IED placement, targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

The security force detained multiple suspected insurgents and seized two pounds of illegal narcotics as a result of the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani member in Paktika province today. The arrested member is believed to be responsible for the January and May, 2012 suicide bombings in Paktika province and has direct ties to the recent suicide bombing in Khost province. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents and seized multiple firearms as a result of the operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Haqqani member in Paktiya province today. The member is alleged to develop and execute complex attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Additionally, he facilitated the transport of weapons to support other insurgent attacks. The security force seized a fully configured remote-controlled IED, bulk explosives, multiple IED components, grenades and fuses during the operation.

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed today the arrest of a Taliban leader during an Oct. 4 security operation in Ghazni province, which also resulted in the arrest of a Taliban facilitator and IED manufacturer. During the operation, the security force also detained one other insurgent.

An Afghan and coalition force killed a Taliban leader in an operation in Kunar province, Monday. The Taliban leader, Abdullah, was accused of shooting down a CH-47 Chinook helicopter July 25, 2011 in Kunar province. During the operation, the security force positively identified Abdullah with two other militants engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians. The security force conducted a precision airstrike, killing Abdullah and two additional insurgents.

An Afghan and coalition force killed a Taliban leader in an operation in Kunar province, Monday. The leader, Manzoor, was a weapons facilitator for the Taliban. During the operation, the security force positively identified Manzoor with two other militants engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians. The security force conducted a precision airstrike, killing Manzoor and the two additional insurgents.

Afghan and coalition forces killed a Taliban leader and arrested another Taliban leader during a security operation in Ghazni province Monday. As the security force attempted to take the Taliban leader, Abdul Rahman, into custody, the armed leaders attempted to fire upon the Afghan and coalition troops. The security force positively identified the threat and engaged, killing Abdul Rahman. Abdul Rahman, also known as Mola Kaka, is alleged to have recruited suicide bombers for assassination attempts on Afghan Local Police leadership and organized the safe passage of Taliban leadership. The arrested leader is believed to have conducted attacks against Afghan citizens and to have been behind an IED attack that targeted a coalition convoy. The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents and seized multiple assault-style rifles as a result of the operation.

An Afghan and coalition force killed a Taliban leader and another insurgent in an operation in Wardak province Sunday. During the operation, the security force positively identified the Taliban leader, Izzatullah, and another militant engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians. The security force conducted a precision airstrike, killing Izzatullah and the additional insurgent. Izzatullah was believed to be responsible for financial and logistical support.

Afghan and coalition forces killed an insurgent during an operation in Ghazni province Sunday. After positively identifying the insurgent was engaging in insurgent activity and ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged with a precision airstrike, killing him.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Nangarhar province, Saturday. The arrested leader is suspected of being a part of the Shirafat Attack Network operating in Nangarhar and is believed to be associated with multiple kidnappings and murders. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents and seized multiple firearms as a result of the operation.

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed the death of a Haqqani leader, Saturday, killed during a security operation in Logar province Friday. During the operation, the security force positively identified the senior leader, Suleiman, and one other insurgent placing an IED for a future attack. After ensuring no civilians were in the vicinity, the security force engaged with a precision airstrike, killing both.

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4 killed, 5 injured in roadside bomb blasts in Afghanistan

English: Cropped version of a larger map to sh...
English: Cropped version of a larger map to show detail around Lashkar Gah (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Up to four people were killed and five others injured in separate roadside bombings in Afghanistan on Tuesday, authorities said.

"Three civilians were killed when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in Luchak area of Nad Ali district, Helmand province early Tuesday morning," a provincial government spokesman, Ahmad Zarak, told Xinhua.

He said as the police forces arrived in the area to respond they found another roadside bomb or Improvised Explosive Device ( IED) in the area.

"Unluckily, as the police forces were defusing the IED the explosive detonated leaving a policeman dead and two policemen wounded," Zarak said, blaming Taliban insurgents for the attacks.

In addition, three civilians were wounded in an IED explosion along a main road in Nangarhar province, 120 km south of Kabul earlier Tuesday.

The Taliban militant group, who have been waging an insurgency of more than one decade, have often attacked Afghan and NATO-led forces with IEDs and roadside bombs but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group launched an annual spring offensive dubbed "Al-Farooq" from May 3 against Afghan and NATO-led troops stationed in the country.

Two Afghan security forces were killed and 15 people including 14 civilians were wounded in Taliban suicide car bombing in Helmand's provincial capital Lashkar Gah on Monday afternoon.

from XINHUA
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U.S. citizen on al-Qaida wanted list arrested by Yemeni security forces

ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- An American who is believed to be linked to the al-Qaida group was arrested by the Yemeni security forces in the country's restive southeastern province of Shabwa on Monday, a police officer told Xinhua.

A patrol of the police forces detained the American who appeared on a wanted blacklist by the country's security authorities in downtown Ataq, the provincial capital of Shabwa, and transferred him with a military helicopter to the capital Sanaa, the police officer said on condition of anonymity.

The captured U.S. national was a Muslim and had three passports in his possession -- two American and one German, according to the officer.

"The U.S. citizen was arrested while having a meal in a hotel, but his entry into Shabwa province, was unclear and suspicious," the officer said.

The security authorities suspected the American might have links with terrorists in Shabwa, the ancestral homeland of the slain U.S.-Yemeni cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, al-Qaida's most dangerous English-speaking propagandist in Yemen, the source added.

The Yemeni government troops have launched an intensive military campaign with the support of the United States and Yemen 's oil-rich neighbor Saudi Arabia to uproot the al-Qaida militants in the southern regions.

from XINHUA
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Oct. 09., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces located a weapons cache and cleared six improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 8.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Ghazni district. The cache contained 14-20 kilogram barrels of homemade explosives.

Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared two improvised explosive devices in Qarah Bagh district.

Khowst province
Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Shamal district.

Laghman province
Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Mehtar Lam district.

Logar province
Afghan National Police found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Pul-E Alam district.

Nangarhar province
Afghan Uniformed Police found and safely cleared an improvised explosive device in Shinwar district.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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