Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Suicide bomber attack NATO convoy in Khost province

A heavy explosion rocked eastern Khost province of Afghanistan early Wednesday morning.

The incident took place in old airport in eastern Khost city after a suicide bomber detonated explosives packed in the vehicle near the eastern gate of the airfield.

Taliban group claimed responsibility behind the incident and said the main target of the suicide bomber was a joint military base used by Afghan and coalition security forces.

Afghan interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the attack was a suicide car bombing and happened near the entrance of Camp Chapman base in Khost, close to the border with Pakistan.

In the meantime a local police official said the assailant struck Wednesday as the convoy was traveling to the airport near the capital of Khost province, which borders Pakistan. NATO command could not confirm the attack and Afghan authorities had no further details.

from KHAAMABy Meena Haseeb - December 26 2012, 9:03 am

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from PAJHWOK
By Hidayatullah Khosti Dec 26, 2012 - 09:13

3 civilians killed in suicide attack on CIA centre


KHOST CITY (PAN): A suicide bomber on Wednesday detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at the entrance to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) office in southeastern Khost province, killing three civilians and injuring several others, officials said.

The incident occurred at around 7:30am when the bomber detonated his van in front of the high-security base on the outskirts of the provincial capital, where the CIA centre is located, resident Habibullah told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Many workers were entering the base when the car exploded, inflicting casualties on several people, he said, without giving casualty figures. There was smoke and chaos all around, he added.

Col. Mohammad Yaqub, the deputy police chief of Khost, confirmed the blast, saying foreign troops had cordoned off the scene. However, another security official said on condition of anonymity three civilians had been killed and several others wounded.

Two local workers and an Afghan soldier were killed and seven other civilians wounded in the suicide attack, said the provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Abdul Qayyum Baqi.

Public Health Director Dr. Amir Badshah Mangal said two dead bodies were brought to the Khost Civil Hospital. Six injured were rushed to the Komaki private hospital and their condition was stable, a doctor on duty said.

In response to an emailed query from Pajhwok Afghan News, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed that insurgents detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (IED) near the “FOB CHAPMAN”.

“Initial reporting indicates there were some civilians wounded in the attack, but we won't be able to confirm that until ISAF officials have conducted a full assessment of the situation,” the NATO-led force said.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, asserted responsibility for the suicide attack, saying dozens of Afghan and foreign soldiers had suffered casualties in the bombing that targeted the CIA centre.

In a 2009 suicide attack on the same US base near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, seven CIA employees and a Jordanian intelligence officer were killed. An Al Qaeda-linked Jordanian had been blamed for the deadly assault.
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Dec. 26., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and detained one suspected insurgent during an operation in Now Zad district, Helmand province, today.

The arrested leader coordinated and executed multiple direct fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the province.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

In Dzadran district, Paktiya province, today, an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a local Haqqani leader who was responsible for planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the district. He oversaw a number of insurgents who constructed, transported and emplaced improvised explosive devices. During the operation, the security force also detained one suspected insurgent.

An Afghan- led security force of more than 1,000 Afghan National Security Force soldiers and policemen, concluded a five day coalition-supported operation in Baraki Barak district, Logar province, yesterday. The operation was conducted by the Provincial Response Company Laghman, along with elements of the Afghan Local Police, the Afghan Uniformed Police, and the Afghan National Army. During the operation, the Afghan-led force killed multiple insurgents and detained dozens of suspected insurgents. The security force also seized improvised explosive device materials, suicide vests, weapons, ammunition, and a quantity of illicit drugs.

Capital

The Kabul Crisis Response Unit discovered a weapons and explosives cache during a coalition-supported operation in Surobi district, Kabul province, Saturday. This was the first mission planned and led by the CRU. The cache included 350 kilograms (772 pounds) of homemade explosives, a number of weapons and ammunition.

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Dec. 26., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained three insurgents, located one weapons caches and cleared one improvised explosive device during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Dec. 25.

Khowst province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces detained three insurgents during an engagement in Terezay district. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Logar province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared one 500 pound IED in Baraki Barak district.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces also discovered a weapons cache in Baraki Barak district. The cache contained 1,300 pounds of homemade explosives.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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6 Killed in Attack on Nigerian Church

Location of the four cities in north eastern N...
Location of the four cities in north eastern Nigeria where the Boko Haram conflict took place. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Gunmen in northeastern Nigeria killed at least six people early Tuesday when they opened fire at a church during a Christmas Eve service.

Officials and residents say the attack happened shortly after midnight in a village outside the city of Potiskum in Yobe state.  There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Yobe is next to Borno state, the home of Islamic radical sect Boko Haram.  Rights groups say the militants have killed well over 1,000 people in the past four years.

Boko Haram attacked churches at Christmas in both 2010 and 2011.  Last year's attacks killed more than 40 people.

The group is fighting to impose a strict form of Islamic law in northern Nigeria, where Muslims are the majority.

In his traditional Christmas message on Tuesday, Pope Benedict prayed for peace in Nigeria, where he said savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians.

from VOA News

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