august 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 8

Recent Highlights in and attributed the crash to a “technical July 6, 2009 (MALI): Malian President fault.” – AFP, July 3 Amadou Toumani Toure announced a Terrorist Activity “total struggle against al-Qa`ida.” His July 3, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Suspected statement comes after an incident on July 1, 2009 (UNITED STATES): The U.S. unmanned aerial vehicles launched July 3 and July 4 in which 20 Malian U.S. Treasury Department imposed missiles at Tehrik-i- positions soldiers went missing during clashes sanctions on an al-Qa`ida supporter in South Agency, killing at with al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb. and three leaders of Lashkar-i-Tayyiba least six people. – Washington Post, July 3 – AFP, July 7 (LeT). The al-Qa`ida supporter was identified as Fazeel-A-Tul Shaykh Abu July 3-4, 2009 (MALI): Malian soldiers July 7, 2009 (): Taliban Mohammed Ameen al-Peshawari. The and suspected al-Qa`ida in the Islamic fighters attacked government buildings three LeT leaders were identified as Arif Maghreb militants engaged in two gun in Barg Matal district in Nuristan Qasmani, Mohammed Yahya Mujahid battles that left 20 soldiers missing Province. During the fighting, eight and Nasir Javaid. – AFP, July 1 near Tessalit in northern Mali. Malian police were killed and another eight military sources were unsure whether kidnapped. Officials said that 21 Taliban July 1, 2009 (PAKISTAN): According the 20 missing soldiers were dead or fighters were also killed. – Reuters, July 8 to a new poll, most Pakistanis consider taken as hostages. – Reuters, July 6 the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qa`ida July 7, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A suspected as critical threats to the country. The July 4, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): Two U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle destroyed WorldPublicOpinion.org poll found U.S. soldiers were killed after Taliban a compound in the Zangara area of that 81 percent of respondents consider militants launched a multipronged South Waziristan Agency, killing 16 Islamist militants and local Taliban as attack on a U.S. base in Zerok district foreign and local militants. The target critical threats to Pakistan. The poll in southeastern . The was described as a former office for also found, however, that “the U.S. is attack involved small-arms fire and an Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of Tehrik- resented just as much as before, despite attempted truck bombing. The militants i-Taliban Pakistan. – AFP, July 7 the U.S. having a new president.” The also reportedly used a mortar round poll found that 62% of respondents had that contained white phosphorous. July 7, 2009 (PAKISTAN): An anti- low or no confidence that President Some reports placed the number of Taliban tribal elder, Malik Zardad Khan, Barack Obama would do the “right militants at 100. Approximately 30 of was kidnapped and murdered in Khyber thing” in world affairs. – Reuters, July 1 the militants were killed after troops Agency of the Federally Administered called in airstrikes. – Reuters, July 4; Los Tribal Areas. Malik Zardad Khan was July 2, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): The U.S. Angeles Times, July 5 forming a lashkar (tribal militia) to military announced that a U.S. soldier combat the Taliban. – AFP, July 8 was captured by Taliban insurgents July 4, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): Gunmen in eastern Afghanistan. According to abducted 16 mine-clearing personnel July 7, 2009 (PHILIPPINES): A bomb reports, the soldier was then “sold” working for the United Nations as they exploded in a commercial area of Jolo to the clan led by insurgent warlord traveled between Paktia and Island in the southern Philippines, Sirajuddin Haqqani. Three Afghan provinces. – AP, July 5 killing six people. Two hours later, a soldiers were also captured. The U.S. car bomb exploded next to a parked soldier went missing on June 30. – CNN, July 6, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): A military jeep in Illigan city, also in the July 2; The Australian, July 3 suicide car bombing at Kandahar airport southern Philippines, wounding seven killed two people. – CNN, July 6 people. A third bomb was found at the July 2, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A suicide Mount Carmel Catholic cathedral on bomber on a motorcycle exploded next to July 6, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): A Jolo Island, although it was defused and a bus carrying workers from Pakistan’s roadside bomb exploded in Kunduz did not cause any damage. Authorities main nuclear facility in Rawalpindi, Province, killing four U.S. soldiers and blamed the attacks on the Abu Sayyaf wounding 29 people. – Minneapolis Star two Afghan civilians. – New York Times, Group, although it was not clear if the Tribune, July 2 July 6 group claimed responsibility for the bombings. – The Age, July 7; AFP, July 6 July 3, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): A July 6, 2009 (EGYPT): An Egyptian suspected improvised explosive device newspaper reported that authorities July 8, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A Pakistani killed two U.S. soldiers in Paktika foiled an al-Qa`ida-affiliated plot to Army spokesman announced that the Province. – AFP, July 3 target gas lines running between Israel military had “credible” information and Egypt. Egyptian security forces that Pakistani Taliban leader Maulana July 3, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A Pakistani reportedly arrested three Belgians, a Fazlullah, who commands fighters in military helicopter crashed on the border Frenchman, a Briton, two Palestinian the Swat Valley, had been wounded between Orakzai and Khyber agencies brothers and five Egyptian nationals. during an offensive against the group. of the Federally Administered Tribal The men were all arrested in northern On July 22, however, Pakistani Taliban Areas, killing 26 security personnel. Sinai. They reportedly had in their spokesman Muslim Khan said that The Taliban later claimed credit for possession anti-tank rockets, car bombs Maulana Fazlullah was alive and downing the helicopter, although the and other weapons. – UPI, July 6 unharmed. – al-Jazira, July 9; Reuters, July 8; Pakistani military rejected those claims Reuters, July 23 august 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 8

July 8, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Suspected July 9, 2009 (IRAQ): Two roadside July 10, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani U.S. unmanned aerial vehicles fired six bombs targeted a police patrol near Taliban militants attacked a security missiles at Pakistani Taliban targets in a market in a Shi`a area of northern checkpoint near Khar in Bajaur South Waziristan Agency. There were Baghdad, killing nine people. – Washington Agency of the Federally Administered no immediate casualty counts. – Reuters, Post, July 10 Tribal Areas, killing three local tribal July 8 policemen. – BBC, July 10 July 9, 2009 (LIBYA): The Libyan July 8, 2009 (BANGLADESH): Security Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) released July 10, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Suspected forces in Bangladesh shot and wounded a statement reversing a 2007 decision to U.S. unmanned aerial vehicles bombed a would-be suicide bomber, who was merge with al-Qa`ida’s movement. The a communications center for Pakistani suspected of being a member of Jamaatul group criticized al-Qa`ida’s “targeting Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, Mujahidin Bangladesh. The militant of civilians” and “indiscriminate killing at least three people. The center took two people hostage at a government bombings.” The group’s statement is located in the Painda Khel region of building and exchanged gunfire with said that the 2007 decision to join South Waziristan Agency. – AP, July 10 security officers. A bomb was attached with al-Qa`ida was made without the to his body, although it did not explode. “agreement of the majority” of its ruling July 12, 2009 (NORTH AFRICA): Al- – Reuters, July 8 council. – Telegraph, July 9 Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released Werner Greiner, a Swiss July 8, 2009 (MALI): Al-Qa`ida in the July 9, 2009 (EGYPT): Egyptian national who had been held by the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released an authorities announced the arrests of 25 group since January 22, 2009. Greiner— online statement claiming that it had people accused of plotting attacks on oil who was abducted in Niger but held killed 28 Malian soldiers during a July 3 pipelines and ships in the Suez Canal. in Mali—was the last of six Western and July 4 clash with security personnel. Authorities said the group had ties hostages to be released by the group. AQIM also said it took three soldiers to al-Qa`ida and consisted of mostly One of the hostages, Briton Edwin Dyer, captive. The Malian military denounced Egyptian engineers and technicians, was executed in May. – BBC, July 12 the claim as propaganda. – Reuters, July 8; although their leader was a Palestinian. AFP, July 8 – AP, July 9 July 12, 2009 (PHILIPPINES): Abu Sayyaf Group militants finally released July 9, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): July 9, 2009 (SOMALIA): A new Eugenio Vagni, an Italian foreign aid Explosives on a timber truck killed audiotape from Abu Mansur al-Amriki, worker who was taken hostage in at least 24 people in . an American who left the United States the southern Philippines on January Sixteen of the dead were children. to join Somalia’s al-Shabab militant 15, 2009. Vagni, who worked for the According to reports, residents found group, appeared on Islamist web International Committee for the Red the timber truck overturned on the road forums. Al-Amriki criticized President Cross (ICRC), was the last of three with a punctured tire. When authorities Barack Obama, stating that “let this abducted ICRC workers to be released. arrived to clear the truck from the road, not come as a surprise to those who The other two workers were released on it exploded. Some officials believe that are mesmerized by Obama’s speech in April 2 and April 18. – GMANews.tv, July the truck bomb may have been intended Cairo, our positions…have not changed 12 for use in Kabul, which is located 30 in the least.” He further said that miles north on the highway. – BBC, July 9; President Obama’s speech came “not July 13, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): Rajab Washington Post, July 10; New York Times, July 9 because he loves the Muslims he lived Khan, the district police chief of Jalriz with in Indonesia as a boy, but rather in Wardak Province, was killed just July 9, 2009 (IRAQ): Two suicide it is because the only way to defeat the south of Kabul when a roadside bomb bombers executed a coordinated attack Muslims is by distracting them with destroyed his vehicle. Three of his in Tal Afar, Ninawa Province, and killed this temporary life.” – Fox News, July 9 bodyguards were also killed in the blast. 34 civilians. The first bomber entered – AFP, July 12 the home of a counterterrorism officer July 10, 2009 (UNITED STATES): and blew himself up, causing the house Mohammed Abdullah Warsame, a July 13, 2009 (YEMEN): A Yemeni to collapse. When neighbors gathered at 35-year-old Minneapolis man of Somali court sentenced six suspected al-Qa`ida the scene, the second bomber detonated descent, received a 92-month prison militants to death for their role in a his explosives among the crowd. Both sentence in federal court on one count series of deadly attacks on government bombers were reportedly disguised in of conspiring to provide material and Western targets in Yemen. Another police uniforms. – Washington Post, July 10 support to al-Qa`ida. According to 10 defendants, including a Saudi and UPI, “Court documents reveal that four Syrians, received sentences ranging July 9, 2009 (IRAQ): An improvised Warsame traveled from Pakistan to al- from eight to 15 years in jail on the same road mine exploded near a market Qaida terrorist camps in Afghanistan in charges. The group was convicted of in Baghdad’s Sadr City. One minute 2000 to undergo weapons and martial carrying out the January 2008 attack later, another mine was detonated arts training.” He allegedly met Usama that killed two Belgian female tourists, approximately 100 yards away. The two bin Ladin and other al-Qa`ida leaders. a March 2008 attack that targeted the blasts killed seven people. – Washington – UPI, July 10 U.S. Embassy in Sana`a, and a rocket Post, July 10 attack on a compound housing U.S. oil workers. The men were all accused of august 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 8 having ties to al-Qa`ida. – AFP, July 13; July 15, 2009 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber July 17, 2009 (MAURITANIA): Police Guardian, July 13 driving a minibus targeted Iraqi security in Mauritania arrested two suspects in forces in Ramadi, Anbar Province. One the June killing of American teacher July 13, 2009 (JORDAN): A military court policeman and five civilians were killed. Christopher Ervin Leggett. One of the sentenced Mohammed Ahmed Youssef – AP, July 16 men was wearing an explosives belt at al-Jaghbeer to death for his involvement the time of arrest. Both were accused of in the killing of U.S. diplomat Laurence July 16, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): having ties to al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Foley in October 2002. The sentencing Afghan Taliban commander Mawlavi Maghreb. – AP, July 24 marked al-Jaghbeer’s third re-trial. He Sangin said that his forces are holding is said to have ties to al-Qa`ida. – al- a missing U.S. soldier, who disappeared July 18, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): A U.S. Jazira, July 14 in Paktika Province on June 30. Sangin soldier captured by the Afghan Taliban said that the “soldier is fine and safe on June 30 appeared in an insurgent July 14, 2009 (SOMALIA): Two French and our leadership council will decide video posted on Islamist websites. The security advisers were kidnapped from about his fate.” – Reuters, July 16 Pentagon confirmed that the man in the their hotel in Mogadishu. The men were video is the captured U.S. soldier. The involved in training Somalia’s new July 16, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): A U.S. Defense Department has identified presidential guard. Various reports suicide bomber rammed a car into a the soldier as Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl. stated that the men were posing as police convoy in Nimroz Province, – AP, July 18; AP, July 19 journalists as a cover for their mission. killing three policemen. – AFP, July 16 Approximately 10 armed men—with July 18, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): A some reports identifying them as July 16, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A UN suicide bomber driving a car filled with “disgruntled government soldiers”— refugee agency official was shot to death explosives rammed into an Afghan army driving a truck arrived at the Sahafi Hotel during a failed kidnapping attempt near vehicle in , killing three in Mogadishu and went directly to the Peshawar, in northwest Pakistan. Four Afghan soldiers. – AFP, July 18 Frenchmen’s rooms, bringing them out of armed men tried to abduct the Pakistani the hotel at gunpoint. Later reports stated official, who was shot in the chest July 18, 2009 (SOMALIA): A senior that after negotiations broke down, the several times. A security guard was also member of al-Shabab announced that men were handed over to the opposition killed during the incident. – BBC, July 16 two French military advisers held groups Hisbul Islamiyya and al-Shabab, captive by the group will be tried with each group holding one hostage. July 17, 2009 (PAKISTAN): A suspected according to Shari`a, which carries a Later, however, both hostages ended U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle killed four possible death penalty. The men are up in the hands of al-Shabab. - New York alleged militants in North Waziristan charged with spying and working for Times, July 14; Telegraph, July 14; ABC News, July Agency. – BBC, July 17 the enemies of Islam. – Voice of America, 16; BBC, July 18 July 18 July 17, 2009 (INDONESIA): Two bombs July 14, 2009 (THAILAND): The Thai ripped through the JW Marriott and July 19, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): government extended emergency rule Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, killing at A suicide bomber killed two police for three months in its troubled southern least seven people. The two hotels were officers and a civilian during an attack provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and approximately 50 meters apart, and on a police post at the Torkham border Yala. – AFP, July 14 the attacks were coordinated as they crossing, which connects Afghanistan occurred within five minutes of each and Pakistan. – Reuters, July 19 July 15, 2009 (GLOBAL): A new audio other. Both of the blasts were the work message attributed to al-Qa`ida second- of suicide bombers. Police later said that July 19, 2009 (PHILIPPINES): A in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri they believe the architect of the attack spokesman for the Armed Forces of appeared on Islamist web forums. to be Noordin Mohamed Top, an alleged the Philippines (AFP) announced that In the message, al-Zawahiri urges terrorist tied to Jemaah Islamiya. – USA the AFP plans to defeat the Abu Sayyaf “every Muslim in Pakistan to rise up Today, July 16; Wall Street Journal, July 24 Group (ASG) by the end of 2009. The to fight” the Americans. According to spokesman said that the ASG has been al-Zawahiri, “the Americans are today July 17, 2009 (THAILAND): A car bomb weakened to only 300 members: “Their occupying Afghanistan and Pakistan.” killed a special task force deputy chief ranks have gone down and while they He also claims that the United States is and his aide in southern Thailand’s Yala have some new recruits, it is mostly trying to “break up this nuclear-capable Province. – Bangkok Post, July 18 young boys lured by the promise of country [Pakistan] and transform it into monetary rewards and the bearing of tiny fragments, loyal to and dependent July 17, 2009 (KYRGYZSTAN): Domestic arms.” – AFP, July 19 on the neo-crusaders.” – al-Jazira, July 15; media in Kyrgyzstan reported that security Guardian, July 15 forces arrested 18 people accused of July 20, 2009 (MALI): The main group coordinating a logistics supply network for of Tuareg ex-rebels in Mali agreed to July 15, 2009 (IRAQ): An improvised Taliban fighters in nearby Afghanistan. assist the Malian military in combating explosive device blew up at the entrance The group included citizens of Uzbekistan, al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb of a funeral tent in a predominately Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The men (AQIM). According to the BBC, “The Shi`a district of Baghdad, killing five apparently used to fight alongside the Tuareg know how to operate in the people. – New York Times, July 15 Taliban. – Reuters, July 18 desert perhaps better than anyone else august 2009 . Vol 2 . Issue 8 and could be the government’s best hope in a U.S. missile strike earlier in 2009. July 27, 2009 (UNITED STATES): U.S. of beating al-Qaeda in the region.” The The intelligence official told NPR that national Ahmed Omar Abu Ali was BBC report further stated that “under they were “80 to 85 percent” certain sentenced to life in prison for conspiring the deal special units of fighters from that Sa`ad bin Ladin was dead. – Reuters, with al-Qa`ida in a plot to assassinate the [Tuareg] Alliance for Democracy July 23 then-President George W. Bush. Abu and Change are to be sent to the desert Ali was previously sentenced to 30 years to tackle al-Qaeda.” – BBC, July 20 July 25, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): At for the plot in 2006, but that sentence least six suicide bombers tried to attack was overturned by an appeals court for July 21, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): Five the main police station in Khost, but being too lenient. Abu Ali was arrested Taliban suicide bombers attacked were killed in a gun battle with security in 2003 by authorities in Saudi Arabia government centers in Gardez, Paktia forces. A seventh militant was killed before being extradited to the United Province. The complex attack targeted after detonating his explosives in a vehicle States. – AFP, July 27 the provincial governor’s compound, outside an old military hospital in the the intelligence department and the city. At least 17 people were wounded in July 28, 2009 (GLOBAL): U.S. Special police department. Five bombers and the overall attack. – BBC, July 25 Envoy to Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke five Afghan security forces were killed. told European Union officials in Brussels – CBS News, July 21 July 25, 2009 (AFGHANISTAN): The that Taliban militants are receiving Afghan government forged a cease-fire more funding from sympathizers July 21, 2009 (IRAQ): Two improvised deal with Taliban insurgents in remote abroad—mostly from the Persian Gulf— explosive devices were detonated , which is located than from Afghanistan’s illegal drug seconds apart near a sidewalk in near the border with Turkmenistan. trade. Holbrooke said the United States Baghdad’s Sadr City, killing four people. Afghanistan’s presidential spokesman is creating an interdepartmental task Hours later, another bomb exploded at was described as saying that the force to address the issue. – AP, July 28 a crowded sheep market in Sadr City, government wanted to “make similar killing three people. – New York Times, July deals with the Taliban in other parts of July 28, 2009 (UNITED STATES): Salah 21 the country in a bid to improve security Osman Ahmed, a Minnesota Somali man, for the August 20 presidential election.” pleaded guilty to one count of providing July 21, 2009 (IRAQ): Two bombs – Reuters, July 27 material support to terrorists. Ahmed exploded at a popular market in northern went to Somalia in December 2007 with Baghdad’s Husseiniya neighborhood, July 26, 2009 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber the intention to fight against Ethiopian killing five people. – New York Times, July killed at least four people outside a troops. He said that he began attending 21 funeral tent near Falluja. The funeral secret meetings in Minneapolis in was being held for a police officer who October 2007, and he knew that the July 22, 2009 (UNITED STATES): was killed in another bomb attack. group was connected to al-Shabab, a According to newly unsealed court – Reuters, July 26 U.S. designated terrorist organization. papers, Bryant Neal Vinas, a 26-year- Ahmed faces up to 15 years in prison as old U.S. citizen from Long Island, was July 26, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Officials part of his plea deal. – AP, July 28 charged with giving al-Qa`ida details announced the arrest of Sufi Muhammad, about the New York City transit system a radical cleric who brokered a failed July 28, 2009 (MOROCCO): Abdelkader and the Long Island Railroad, in peace deal in the Swat Valley. He was Belliraj was sentenced to life in prison for addition to firing rockets at U.S. troops arrested for encouraging terrorism and planning terrorist attacks in Morocco, in Afghanistan. Vinas was also accused violence. Sufi Muhammad is also the robberies in Europe, arms trafficking of receiving military training from al- father-in-law of Taliban leader Maulana and large-scale money laundering. Qa`ida in 2008. He pleaded guilty on Fazlullah. – BBC, July 26 Belliraj, who is a dual Moroccan-Belgian January 28 in a closed hearing. Vinas national, was charged with 34 co- remains in the custody of the Federal July 26, 2009 (RUSSIA): A suicide defendants. The group has been called Bureau of Investigation. – Reuters, July 22 bomber in Russia’s Chechnya republic the “Belliraj Cell.” – AP, July 28 killed six people outside a theater in July 22, 2009 (LEBANON): The Grozny. The bomber detonated his July 29, 2009 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani Lebanese army recently arrested 10 explosives when he was stopped by Taliban gunmen entered the home of people accused of plotting attacks police before he could enter the concert a pro-government militia leader and against United Nations peacekeepers hall. – Voice of America, July 26 shot him to death. The leader, Khalilur in southern Lebanon. The suspects Rehman, was confronted by more are accused of belonging to a terrorist July 26-27, 2009 (NIGERIA): Islamist than 50 Taliban fighters at his home cell with connections to al-Qa`ida. militants and authorities clashed in in Shangla District in the North-West – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 22 northern Nigeria, resulting in the Frontier Province. He was the leader of deaths of more than 100 people. Much a lashkar (tribal militia) that had provided July 23, 2009 (GLOBAL): A report of the violence occurred after militants logistics support to groups fighting in U.S. National Public Radio (NPR), belonging to an Islamist fringe group, against the Taliban. – AFP, July 29 citing U.S. intelligence sources, said known as Boko Haram, attacked that one of Usama bin Ladin’s sons, police stations. Most of the dead were Sa`ad bin Ladin, was possibly killed militants. – BBC, July 27

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July 29, 2009 (ALGERIA): Militants attacked a convoy of Algerian soldiers in Tipaza Province, killing 14 of them. – Reuters, July 29

July 29, 2009 (INDONESIA): An internet message appeared on Islamist web forums claiming responsibility for the July 17 suicide bombings at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta. The message was from “al- Qa`ida Indonesia” and was purportedly signed by Noordin Mohammed Top, a key Jemaah Islamiya-linked terrorist leader in Southeast Asia. Authorities and analysts could not confirm the authenticity of the message. – AP, July 29; CNN, July 29

July 30, 2009 (IRAQ): A bomb exploded inside the headquarters of the Sunni Reform and Development Party in Diyala Province, killing eight people. – Voice of America, July 30

July 30, 2009 (YEMEN): Al-Qa`ida militants ambushed an army truck in Yemen’s Marib Province, killing two Yemeni soldiers and seizing military ammunition and equipment. Authorities then stormed the militants’ hideout and killed A’ed Saleh al-Shabwani, one of the militant leaders. A soldier was also killed in the fighting. – AFP, July 31

July 30, 2009 (NIGERIA): Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of a group known as the “Nigerian Taliban,” died in police custody. Yusuf and his Boko Haram sect are blamed for the violence that engulfed northern Nigeria in late July. Police claim Yusuf was shot after he tried to escape from custody. – AP, July 31

July 31, 2009 (IRAQ): Five Shi`a mosques across Baghdad were struck by bombs, killing at least 28 people. – Reuters, July 31

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