The Andes
DEA sees Hezbollah link to Colombian cartel
The DEA claims that Shi'ite militant group Hezbollah is laundering money for the "Oficina de Envigado," successor organization to Colombia's legendary Medellín Cartel.
Tag: paramilitaries
The Andes
New post-conflict ‘Plan Colombia’ foreseen
President Juan Manuel Santos meets at the White House with Barack Obama to mark 15 years since the initiation of the Plan Colombia—and discuss a "post-conflict" aid package.
The Andes
Bolivia: arrest in ‘disappearance’ of socialist leader
Authorities in Bolivia announced the arrest of Felipe Molina AKA "El Killer"—long wanted in the 1980 "disappearance" and probable assassination of socialist leader Marcelo Quiroga.
The Andes
Colombia: paramilitary threat to peace seen
As the war between the Colombian state and the FARC guerillas winds down, conflict is escalating with right-wing paramilitaries in the north, leaving hundreds displaced.
Iraq
‘Staggering’ civilian death toll in Iraq: UN report
A UN report details severe impacts on civilians from the ongoing conflict in Iraq, with 19,000 non-combatants killed last year, 3.2 million displaced, and an estimated 3,500 held in slavery.
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.
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.