North Africa
France: next stop Libya?
France has vowed to punish those responsible for the car bomb blast at its embassy in Tripoli. Two were arrested following a lightning investigation by a French-led team.
Tag: al-Qaeda
Greater Middle East
Has Syria crossed chemical ‘red line’?
Israel's claim that Syria has used chemical weapons comes as rebel militias have assumed positions near the line of control in the Golan Heights.
Iran
Iranian Qaeda connection rears its dubious head —in Canada
Following last month's claims about al-Qaeda biggie Sulaiman Abu Ghaith having been sheltered by Iran, Canadian authorities boast breaking up an Iran-backed Qaeda plot.
The Caucasus
Chechnya war comes to Boston —or not?
Voices on the left seek to play down jihadist involvement in the Chechen struggle, while the neocon right plays it up—ironically in line with Moscow's propaganda.
Greater Middle East
US pledges $100 million in aid to Syrian rebels
As the Friends of Syria summit opened in Istanbul, US Secretary of State John Kerry announced $100 million in new “non-lethal” aid to the Syrian opposition.
Africa
Somalia Supreme Court attacked by al-Shabaab
Al-Shabaab militants launched an assault on Somalia’s Supreme Court, resulting in at least 35 deaths—one of the worst attacks in years for the country’s capital of Mogadishu.
Iraq
Syria: Nusra Front merge with Iraq Qaeda wing
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, “emir” of al-Qaeda in Iraq, announced a merger with Syria’s Nusra Front to form a new organization, the “Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.”
Afghanistan
US transfers full control of Bagram to Afghanistan
The US turned over full control of Bagram Prison to Afghanistan, after long maintianing a special secretive wing for high-level Taliban and al-Qaeda detainees.
Greater Middle East
Syria massacres: regime, rebels blame each other
In a new massacre near Homs—one of several in Syria over the past weeks—the regime blames the Nusra Front rebels, while the opposition blames the pro-regime Shabiha militia.
Iran
Did Iran shelter Sulaiman Abu Ghaith?
Reports that Obama bin Laden’s co-conspirator and brother-in-law Sulaiman Abu Ghaith was sheltered in Iran could lubricate the war drive—but how credible are they?
North Africa
Mali: Tuareg rebels call for ICC war crimes probe
Tuareg rebels called on the International Criminal Court to investigate what they called war crimes committed by Malian government forces during the current conflict.
North Africa
Renegade AQIM commander killed in Mali?
Chad’s military announced that its forces in Mali killed renegade AQIM commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar in an assault on a “terrorist base” in the Adrar de Ifhogas mountains.