Sunday, December 9, 2012

AU, Somali Troops Capture Rebel Stronghold

African Union forces and Somali government troops have captured the town of Jowhar from al-Shabab militants.

Witnesses said troops entered the town Sunday morning and briefly fought with militants before gaining control.

Several al-Shabab members have confirmed that their forces have pulled out of Jowhar.

The town is about 90 kilometers north of the capital, Mogadishu and is the regional capital of Middle Shabelle region.  It has been under Islamist control since 2009.

The capture deals a blow to al-Shabab as the Somali government now controls large parts of the country's south, including the capital and the port city of Kismayo.

from VOA News
December 09, 2012

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from allAfrica/Shabelle

9 December 2012

Somali government forces backed by African union forces have taken control of the key town ofJowharin middle Shabelle region, according to officials and eyewitnesses.

The joint forces of Amsiom and Somali army seized the town without a fight after fighters from the militant group of Al shabab deserted the town.

"Jowhar is liberated and its residents are not under oppression any longer" said a government security official.

Most of the residents in the town remain indoors, observing the transition of control with caution. Jowhar is located 90 kilometres south ofMogadishuand it was under the control of Al shabab since 2009.

Eyewitnesses say that fighters fled the town after government forces and African union forces came close to the town last night.

The fall of Jowhar is a big blow to Al shabab but a boost for the Somali government which now controls large parts of south Somalia after, with a help from African Union forces, pushed Al shabab from major cities and towns including Mogadishu, Kismayo and Baidoa.

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Dec. 09., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent, detained six, and cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours Dec. 8.

Khowst province

Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces killed one insurgent and detained four during an engagement in Khowst district. The detainees were transferred to a base for questioning.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Sabari district.

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

Afghan Border Police and coalition forces detained one insurgent during an engagement in Terezayi district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Logar province

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

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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Al-Qaida gunmen kill 3 Yemeni military officials in Marib

Map of Yemen showing Ma'rib governorate.
Map of Yemen showing Ma'rib governorate. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
SANAA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qaida militants killed three Yemeni military officials in an ambush Saturday in the country's oil-producing province of Marib, officials said.

"General Nasser Mahdi Farid, the chief-of-staff of the central military region in Marib, and two other military officers were killed when their convoy was intercepted and attacked by militants of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)," an interior ministry official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

About 11 soldiers who escorted the convoy were seriously injured with gunshots in the attack, said the official.

The AQAP confirmed the attack in a statement obtained by Xinhua, saying that "the Mujahideen set up an ambush in al-Dhameen area against a military convoy en route to Safer area, killing the convoy's commander General Nasser Mahdi Farid and several others."

"The al-Qaida fighters also seized two vehicles of the military convoy," it said.

The attack, which took place near Wadi Abida area of the northeastern province of Marib, came one day after tribal gunmen of the same area bombed the country's main oil export pipeline for the fifth time in less than a month.

The army on Friday launched a major assault on the area's tribesmen whom the local authorities accused of repeatedly attacking the main crude line, according to the officials.

The government has failed to repair the line due to continuing conflicts in Marib, highlighting the persistent insecurity in the country even one year after a political upheaval.

U.S. drones and Yemeni warplanes have regularly targeted the Yemen-based al-Qaida wing, which exploited security vacuum during Yemen's unrest last year. Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said fighting the AQAP tops his daily agenda when he was elected in February.

from XINHUA
2012-12-09 05:53:20
Editor: Mu Xuequan

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US Drone Attack on Sunday Kills 3 in North Waziristan

US airstrike kill 3 suspeted militants in North Waziristan
from KHAAMA
By Sajad - Sun Dec 09, 12:16 pm


An unmanned US drone fired a barrage of missiles in North Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border, killing at least three people on Sunday.

The strike took place in Tabbi village, 5km north of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan.

“US drones fired four missiles on a militant compound, killing three rebels,” a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Sunday’s U.S. drone strike is the 38th of its kind (counted on daily basis) in Pakistan in 2012. At least 269 people have been killed in such strikes since this year.

Pakistan has long been opposing US drone attacks in its tribal belt that borders Afghanistan, where US and its ally forces are station.

Tabbi village, which is very close to the Afghan border, is said to be a hideout for militants belonging to several groups including those from Hafiz Gul Bahadur and the Haqqani network.

The al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network, blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan, is one of the thorniest issues between Islamabad and Washington.

Washington has long demanded that Pakistan take action against the Haqqanis, whom the United States accused of attacking the US embassy in Kabul in September last year.

This comes as Abu Zaid was killed in the drone strike on a hideout in Pakistan’s North Waziristan, one of the tribal regions near the border with Afghanistan, early on Thursday, the sources said. Zaid had just moved to the hideout a few days ago, they said.

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US drone kills three in North Waziristan

from GEO.TV
December 09, 2012 - Updated 1123 PKT

MIRANSHAH: An unmanned US drone fired a barrage of missiles in North Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border, killing at least three people on Sunday, Geo News reported.

Sources said the drone targeted a house in Tabbi area of Ghulam Khan road in Miranshah, main town of North Waziristan Agency.

The sources said that the unmanned aircraft fired four missiles in the area. They said that the drone was still hovering over head in the area.

Pakistan has long been opposing US drone attacks in its tribal belt that borders Afghanistan, where US and its ally forces are based.

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US drone attack kills four in North Waziristan

from ARYNEWS.TV
 Updated :   Sunday  December  9 , 2012  12:24:31 PM
A United Stated drone attack in Pakistan’s tribal region of North Waziristan, killing at least four people and injuring several others, political sources said on Sunday.

According to the sources US unmanned drone fired four missiles at a compound in Miran Shah, capital city of North Waziristan, and killed at least four people. Several other sustained injuries in the US attack.

The sources further stated that the death toll may increase as several injured were stated to be in critical condition.
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US citizen rescued from Taliban

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs
Date Posted:12.08.2012 18:48


KABUL, Afghanistan – United States Forces – Afghanistan rescued a U.S. citizen, Dr. Dilip Joseph, today during an operation in eastern Afghanistan.

Joseph was abducted Dec. 5 by Taliban insurgents in the vicinity of Sarobi district, Kabul province.

“Today’s mission exemplifies our unwavering commitment to defeating the Taliban,” said Gen. John R. Allen, the commander of USFOR-A. “I’m proud of the American and Afghan forces that planned, rehearsed and successfully conducted this operation. Thanks to them, Dr. Joseph will soon be rejoining his family and loved ones.”

Allen ordered the mission when intelligence showed that Joseph was in imminent danger of injury or death.

Joseph is now undergoing evaluations.


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2 killed, 9 wounded in eastern Afghan blast

Districts of Khost (not showing the Shamal Dis...
Districts of Khost (not showing the Shamal District). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
KHOST, Afghanistan, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- A bomb exploded near an Afghan army patrol Saturday in the country's eastern Khost province, killing two civilians and wounding nine others, a statement issued by the provincial government said.
"A bomb went off near an army unit patrolling in the main bazaar in Bak district at around 12:08 p.m. local time, killing two innocent civilians and injuring five civilians and four army personnel," the statement said blaming Taliban insurgent for the attack in the province 150 km southeast of capital Kabul bordering Pakistan.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since the militant group launched annual spring offensive on May 3 against Afghan government forces and about 100,000 NATO-led troops stationed in the country.

The insurgent group has warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people against supporting government and foreign troops.

from XINHUA
2012-12-08 19:16:08

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