Afghanistan
Taliban drive to re-take Afghan opium heartland
The Taliban are pushing deeper into Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand province—a strategic stronghold due to its wealth in opium production.
Tag: paramilitaries
The Andes
Colombia: 1,500 civilians to face war-related charges
Colombian prosecutors say they will seek to charge some 1,500 civilians with conflict-related crimes allegedly committed by guerilla groups like the FARC as part of any peace deal.
The Andes
Colombia: official apology in 1988 massacre
At a public ceremony in the Colombian town of Segovia, the government formally acknowledged responsibility in the 1988 massacre of 43 residents by paramilitaries.
North Africa
Mali: French commando raid targets wrong group?
French special forces carried out a raid in northern Mali targeting the jihadist group al-Murabitoon—but a pro-government Arab militia said four of its fighters were killed.
Afghanistan
Pakistan: anti-narco ops militarize tribal areas
A military campaign against the Taliban in Pakistan's Tribal Areas has left a million displaced over the past year—and is now compounded with anti-hashish operations.
Mexico
Chiapas: roads blocked to protest paramilitarism
Chol Maya villagers blocked a main road through Mexico's Chiapas state to demand justice four months after the disappearance and murder of a community leader.
Iraq
Iraq: sectarian terror in battle for Baiji
After taking the oil refinery city of Baiji from ISIS, Iraqi Shi'ite militias reported the discovery of some 20 mass graves—said to contain the bodies of over 350 ISIS fighters.
Greater Middle East
AKP-ISIS collaboration in Ankara massacre?
Several PKK sympathizers have been arrested in connection with the Ankara suicide blasts—but the Turkish left charges that the ruling AKP collaborated with ISIS in the attack.
Southeast Asia
Philippines: mining link seen to paramilitary terror
Clergy and rights advocates in Mindanao see army-supported paramilitary groups behind a wave of killings of indigenous leaders opposed to gold-mining operations on traditional lands.
The Andes
Colombia accord to include trials for rights abuses
Colombia's government and the FARC rebels announced a six-month deadline for a peace deal, including establishment of a special justice system to try human rights abusers.
The Andes
Paramilitarism in Venezuela-Colombian border crisis
Venezuela closed the Colombian border and declared a state of emergency along the frontier, accusing Bogotá of allowing the infiltration of right-wing paramilitaries.
Greater Middle East
Turkey: state terror in ‘anti-terrorist’ guise
The Turkish state is lining up international support for its "anti-terrorist" campaign against the PKK—as it carries out air-strikes and harsh repression on Kurdish villages.