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Terrorism
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Yemen al Qaeda
Urges Jihad, Wants Red Sea Blockaded
Source: Thomson-Reuters
The Yemen-based wing of al Qaeda called for a regional Muslim holy war and a
blockade of the Red Sea to cut off US shipments to Israel, a further sign of the
group's ambitions to mount new strikes outside its base. Western powers and
neighboring Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, fear that Yemen's
growing instability as it struggles with northern Shi'ite rebels and southern
secessionists, may allow al Qaeda to strengthen its operations.
New Somalia
Government Offensive Against Al Shabaab
Source: The Christian Science Monitor
A long-awaited offensive by the weak, transitional Somali government has the
potential to spread outside of Somalia. The offensive is targeting the militant
Islamist Al-Shabaab rebel group who have threatened to launch a jihad, or holy
struggle, against Kenya for its reported military support for President Sharif’s
government.
Explosives Find
Raises Fear Portugal Has Become ETA Base
Source: The Times of London
Police have seized half a ton of explosives at a house in Portugal linked to the
terrorist group ETA. The discovering of the cache, which also included
bomb-making equipment, has raised fears that Basque separatists are using the
country as a base for attacks.
Iranian Weapons,
Supplies Reach Syria, Hezbollah & Hamas
Source: DEBKAfile
Iranian and military sources report the war threats from Damascus this week were
backed by massive Iranian airlifts for boosting Syria's missile arsenal. Fresh
supplies also reached the Lebanese Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza. His message that
all four extremist allies had formed a mutual defense pact against Israel raised
temperatures to a dangerous level in the region.
Twin Suicide
Bombs Kill 25 in Karachi
Source: Sky News
Suicide bombers have rammed into a bus in Karachi then hit a hospital to which
casualties were being ferried, killing 25 people in the second round of attacks
on Shi'ites in the Pakistani city in weeks. The attacks in a city largely
isolated from Islamist insurgent violence highlighted the terrorist threat in
Pakistan, which is on the front line of the US war on Al-Qaeda. Militants have
killed over 3,000 people in Pakistan since 2007.
US Believes
Pakistani Taliban Leader Is Dead
Source: AP/FOX News
US counterterrorism officials believe Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud
is dead following a missile attack last month, a senior intelligence official
said Wednesday in the strongest signal that Washington has offered about the
militant's fate. Mehsud's death would be the latest successful strike against
suspected terrorists by the US and its allies.
Pakistani Female
Scientist Guilty of US Murder Attempt
Source: BBC News
A US court has found a female Pakistani scientist guilty of attempting to murder
US agents while she was detained for questioning in Afghanistan. The jury in
Manhattan found her guilty of attempted murder, armed assault and using and
carrying a firearm. She faces a maximum term of life in prison. Sentencing is
due on 6 May.
US Officials
Warn al Qaeda 'Certain' to Try Attack Soon
Source: The Wall Street Journal
The US's top intelligence officials said Tuesday that an attempted al Qaeda
attack on the US in the next three to six months was "certain." Al Qaeda will
remain intent on attacking in the US at least until Osama bin Laden and his
second in command, Ayman al Zawahiri, are killed or captured, Mr. Blair said. Al
Qaeda's many affiliates are also of great concern to the spy agencies. The
Yemeni affiliate, which is believed to have directed the attempted Christmas Day
attack, will continue to attempt additional attacks on the US, Mr. Blair said.
Somali Rebels
Unite, Profess Loyalty to al Qaeda
Source: AlertNet.org/Thomson-Reuters
Somalia's hard-line al Shabaab insurgents have agreed to join forces with a
smaller southern militia and both groups professed their loyalty to al Qaeda.
The failed Horn of Africa state has not had an effective central government for
nearly two decades. Western security agencies say the country has also become a
safe haven for Islamist militants, including foreign jihadists, who are using it
to plot attacks across the region and beyond.
Female Suicide
Bomber Kills 41 Shiite Pilgrims in Baghdad
AFP/Yahoo! News
A female suicide bomber blew herself up among a crowd of Shiite pilgrims on
their way by foot to a shrine city in central Iraq on Monday, killing 41 people,
including women and children, officials said. The attack took place at a female
search point at a rest station where the pilgrims had stopped as they made their
long journey to Karbala, 68 miles south of the Iraqi capital, for a religious
festival.
US Intelligence
Finds 5,000 Hezbollah Trained to Seize Israeli Towns
Source: DEBKAfile
US intelligence, gathered over months, has revealed detailed war plans by Iran,
Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas to send five Hezbollah brigades sweeping across the
Israeli border to seize five sectors of Galilee, while also organizing a massive
Israeli-Arab uprising against the Jewish state. Hamas would open a second front
in the south and in the east. Syria is expected to step in at some stage.
Pakistan: Taliban
Leader Hakimullah Mehsud Dead
Source: The Guardian
Pakistan's military said today it was scrambling to confirm a report on state
television that the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud, has been
killed. The report said Mehsud, a target of CIA-directed drone attacks over the
past month, has already been buried. The source of the information was not
clear.
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Averaging 4.8 attacks
per day since 9/11/2001 |
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