JULY 2008 . VOL 1 . ISSUE 8 Recent Highlights in on their positions. The fighters also June 18, 2008 (JORDAN): A Jordanian mined roads leading into the Taliban military court sentenced Ziad Khalaf Terrorist Activity occupied villages, which were seized on Raja al-Karbouly, an Iraqi al-Qa`ida June 16. – AFP, June 17 operative, to death for planning terrorist June 16, 2008 (UNITED STATES): attacks on Jordanians in Iraq. According The U.S. government designated June 17, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): Four to an AP report, “The ruling was the the Philippines-based group Rajah British soldiers were killed in an second time the court had sentenced al- Solaiman Movement (RSM) as “specially explosion in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Karbouly to death in the case. Following designated global terrorists.” The Province. The Taliban took credit for the initial verdict in March 2007, a decision will freeze the assets of RSM the operation. – CNN, June 18 Jordanian Appeals Court asked military and its leaders. On June 4, the United judges to retry him to verify his claims Nations had previously declared that June 17, 2008 (PHILIPPINES): The that he suffered a mental illness.” – AP, the RSM was linked to al-Qa`ida. Abu Sayyaf Group released well-known June 18 – Bloomberg, June 16 journalist Ces Drilon, her cameraman and a university professor, all of whom June 18, 2008 (THAILAND): A roadside June 16, 2008 (IRAQ): Four bombs had been held hostage since June 8. They bomb ripped through a police vehicle in targeting homes and vehicles of Iraqi were freed on Jolo Island. The hostages Pattani Province, killing a police colonel security force members detonated recounted their experience, saying that and his driver. After the explosion, simultaneously in Mosul, Ninawa the ASG fighters, some of whom were insurgents immediately opened fire, Province. One policeman was killed. as young as 12-years-old, threatened wounding five policemen. – Reuters, June – Reuters, June 16 to behead them. Philippine authorities 19 said that at least $112,700 was paid June 16, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): in ransom in exchange for the release. June 19, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): Approximately 500 Taliban fighters – AP, June 18; Reuters, June 20 NATO and Afghan government officials seized control of seven villages in announced that the Taliban have Kandahar Province’s Arghandab June 17, 2008 (UNITED KINGDOM): A been cleared from the villages they district. It is believed that some of the prominent extremist Jordanian cleric recently seized in Arghandab district fighters were recently freed during the with suspected ties to al-Qa`ida was in Kandahar Province. Approximately June 13 Sarposa prison break. Afghan released on bail. The cleric, Abu Qatada, 1,000 NATO and Afghan soldiers were and NATO forces, however, dispute has been labeled Usama bin Ladin’s part of the counter-offensive against the high number of Taliban troops. “spiritual ambassador in Europe,” yet Taliban forces. An Afghan official said – Washington Post, June 17 British courts have ruled that he cannot that 56 Taliban fighters were killed, be deported back to Jordan and therefore many of them foreigners; the actual June 17, 2008 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber should be released from detention in death count may be much higher. An on a motorcycle attacked a checkpoint the absence of a conviction or trial. ISAF spokesman said that the joint in Baghdad, killing four anti-al-Qa`ida Nevertheless, British judges recognize forces are now in the “closing stage of Sunni fighters. – Bloomberg, June 17 that Abu Qatada is still a security threat the operation.” – AFP, June 18 and have ordered him to a 22-hour per June 17, 2008 (IRAQ): A truck bomb day house arrest. He is prohibited from June 19, 2008 (GERMANY): A German exploded in a bustling market in a using a cell phone or computer and is court sentenced Ibrahim Raschid to predominately Shi`a area of Baghdad, not allowed to connect to the internet. three years in prison for spreading killing 63 people. The U.S. military – Reuters, June 18 internet links to audio and video believes that the attack was actually messages of al-Qa`ida leaders. The carried out by a Shi`a splinter group led June 18, 2008 (UNITED KINGDOM): Iraqi refugee was arrested in October by Haydar Mehdi Khadum al-Fawadi Home Secretary Jacqui Smith told 2006. Speaking about the sentencing, (also known as Haydar al-Majidi) in reporters that an appeal would be a prosecutor said, “For the first time, a order to “incite (Shiite) violence against filed against a ruling that prevents German court has appraised the domain Sunnis; that his intent was to disrupt authorities from deporting extremist of Islamist activities on the internet and Sunni resettlement in Hurriyah in order Jordanian cleric Abu Qatada, who was shown that they are punishable under to maintain extortion of real estate freed on bail—albeit on strict house German law.” – AP, June 20 rental income to support his nefarious arrest—on June 17. Smith said, “I am activities.” – Reuters, June 17; AP, June 19 appealing to the House of Lords to June 20, 2008 (UNITED KINGDOM): reverse the decision that it is not safe A British court ruled that extremist June 17, 2008 (IRAQ): A car bomb to deport [Abu] Qatada and the other Muslim cleric Abu Hamza should be exploded outside the police headquarters Jordanian cases.” – BBC News, June 18 extradited to the United States where he in Ba`quba, Diyala Province, killing one faces terrorism charges. The Egyptian- policeman. – Reuters, June 17 June 18, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): born Abu Hamza had been fighting Afghan and NATO forces launched the U.S. extradition request in British June 17, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): Taliban a major offensive against Taliban courts, but the judges ruled against fighters destroyed bridges in Arghandab positions in Arghandab district in him. At one point the cleric ran the district in anticipation of an Afghan Kandahar Province. – Washington Post, Finsbury Park Mosque in north London. government and NATO military assault June 19 – guardian.co.uk, June 20 JULY 2008 . VOL 1 . ISSUE 8 June 20, 2008 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber June 22, 2008 (SOMALIA): A video June 23, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): A exploded at a checkpoint in Mosul, statement of al-Qa`ida operative Abu suicide car bomber attacked an Italian wounding at least five policemen. Yahya al-Libi was posted on Islamist NATO convoy in Shindand district of – CNN, June 20 web forums, in which the leader urges Herat Province, killing five civilians. Islamist fighters in Somalia to fight – Reuters, June 23 June 20, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): A a United Nations peacekeeping force suicide bomber detonated his explosives that may soon be deployed there, and to June 23, 2008 (THAILAND): near a NATO convoy in Gereshk district establish an Islamic state in the country. Approximately 200 soldiers and police of Helmand Province. At least five He criticized the June 9 peace deal raided a jungle hideout used by Muslim civilians and one NATO soldier were between Somalia’s Transitional Federal separatist insurgents in Yala Province, killed. – International Herald Tribune, June 20 Government and the opposition Alliance killing six of the fighters. – Reuters, June for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. – AP, 23 June 20, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): June 23 Taliban fighters ambushed U.S.-led June 24, 2008 (IRAQ): U.S.-led coalition coalition forces in Zerok district of June 23, 2008 (SOMALIA): The deputy forces killed al-Qa`ida in Iraq’s amir for Paktika Province, near the Pakistani chairman of the Somali opposition Mosul, according to a press statement border. Approximately 55 Taliban group, the Alliance for the Re-Liberation from Multinational Force-Iraq. The fighters were killed in the engagement. of Somalia (ARS), Abdirahman leader’s name was later identified as – Reuters, June 23 Abdishakur, criticized a June 22 Abu Khalaf. – MNFI-Iraq.com, June 24; AP, statement by al-Qa`ida operative Abu June 26 June 20, 2008 (SOMALIA): Somali Yahya al-Libi, in which Abu Yahya opposition and military leader Yusuf denounced the June 9 peace deal between June 24, 2008 (IRAQ): A bomb ripped “Indha Ade” Mohamed Siad told a the ARS and Somalia’s Transitional through a Baghdad council meeting, Mogadishu-based radio station that Federal Government. “I do not think we killing 10 people. The dead included he rejects the recent June 9 peace deal are interested in al-Qaida’s statements two U.S. government employees and between Somalia’s Transitional Federal and they have nothing to do with Somali two U.S. soldiers. The U.S. military Government and the opposition Alliance issues,” Abdishakur said. “Al-Qaida blamed “rogue elements” of the Mahdi for the Re-Liberation of Somalia. “I know has not got any base in Somalia and Army. – Reuters, June 24 nothing about that peace deal, therefore they always issue statements against it does not concern us,” he said, adding any peace process. I do not think their June 24, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): that “the fighting will continue until statements are relevant to the Somali Germany announced that it would Somalia is liberated from Ethiopian people.” – Voice of America, June 23 increase the number of its soldiers troops.” – Garowe Online, June 20 available for use in Afghanistan by June 23, 2008 (IRAQ): Two U.S. soldiers 1,000. Once the change takes effect, June 21, 2008 (AFGHANISTAN): An were killed in Madain (also known as Germany will have 4,500 soldiers IED killed four soldiers from the U.S.- Salman Pak) in Baghdad Province after a deployed to the country. According led coalition in Kandahar Province. disgruntled local official opened fire on to one press report, however, “Some – Reuters, June 21 them after a municipal council meeting.