Pakistan/United States/Terrorism: US missiles killed 15 in North Waziristan

At least 15 suspected terrorists have been killed and dozen others wounded when a US drone fired six missiles targeting terrorist hideouts in a tribal area in northwest Pakistan on Friday, security officials said.

According to the source, the misses hit a house in a village in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan.

On Thursday, a US drone aircraft targeted a compound of suspected terrorists in Mir Ali in North Waziristan killing at least three people.

Last month, Al-Qaeda's reputed No. 3 leader, Mustafa al-Yazid, was killed in a similar strike in the North Waziristan region.

Iraq/Terrorism: 13 killed in Baghdad blasts

At least eight people were killed and more than 10 wounded when a car bomb exploded near an Iraqi army patrol in Baghdad on Thursday, an Interior Ministry official reported.

According to the source, the explosives-laden car went off at the military check point of al-Amria district, as a joint patrol of Iraqi soldiers and members of the so-called Awakening Council were passing.

Those killed in the blast include soldiers, civilians and members of the government-backed Sahwa militia of Sunni ex-insurgents. 

In a separate attack, four people were killed and three wounded when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden car in a market of Tikrit in Salahuddin province.

No group has claimed responsibility for either of the attacks so far.

Russia/Security: Police stormed the house with suspected police attackers

Media reported on Friday that police in Russia's Far East stormed a house in the city of Ussuriysk where a group of suspects involved in a series of attacks on police was hiding, killing two and detaining a third. One police officer was also injured in the attack. At the moment the last gang member remains in the house. Negotiations with him are still ongoing.

The gang was allegedly involved in several attacks, including shooting of a policeman on May 27. The gang also carried out two other attacks that left three police officers wounded and setting fire a police station.

The motive behind the suspected gangs' attack  remains unclear, but  media point at the fact that all gang members were in the past arrested by local police and even beaten, so one of the versions is that the gang wanted to express the protest against “corruption and abuse of power’ in the police.

Afghanistan/Terrorism: bomb blast killed nine in Kandahar

At least nine civilians, including women and children were killed and eight others wounded when a roadside bomb struck a Toyota mini bus in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar on Friday, officials said.

Zalmai Ayobi, Kandahar provincial spokesman stated that the vehicle struck the bomb on the main highway in Maywand district of the province after leaving neighboring Helmand.

Reportedly, five of the wounded were in critical condition and were airlifted by NATO forces to a military hospital.

The Afghan interior ministry condemned the blast and blamed terrorists behind it. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing so far.

Kyrgyzstan/Civil unrest: At least 17 killed in clashes in Osh

Riots in the southern Kyrgyzstan city of Osh have left at least 17 people killed and more than 200 wounded, a health ministry spokesman said on Friday.

Reportedly, hundreds of youths armed with steel bars set fire to shops and cars. Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the interim government, describes the riots as a "local conflict" possibly fuelled by a conflict in a casino.

According to Ministry spokeswoman Yelena Bayalinova,  most of the casualties had sustained gunshot wounds, adding that at least  126 people are under treatment in various hospitals.

Police detained five rioters so far. The interim government has sent troops to control the situation and an emergency  state has been imposed in Osh and three neighboring regions.

Italy/Security: Italian police carried out nationwide raids against mafia

Media reported that Italian police targeted the mafia in raids across the country on Thursday. Reportedly, around 200 special agents with 19 arrest warrants carried out raids, detaining suspected Cosa Nostra mafia members and businessmen in Palermo, capital of Sicily.

According to the police officials, the charges include fraud in the awarding of public and private building contracts, extortion, and money laundering. Mafia property to the value of hundreds of millions of euros was confiscated during the operation.

Seperately, police in Naples and Caserta located in southern Italy carried out raids against 27 members of one of the Camorra mafia clans. Those arrested were accused of extortion, corruption and illegal possession of weapons.

Pakistan/Terrorism: One killed and three injured in Karachi bomb blast

Media reported that at least one person was killed and three others injured when a roadside bomb exploded outside a Pakistan Navy Office in the southern port city of Karachi on Thursday.

According to Pakistani Police official Iqbal Mahmood, the bomb was hidden in a motorcycle that was in a parking area for two-wheelers outside the office at the Naval Colony in Baldia town area.

The identity of the dead and injured is not yet ascertained. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Uganda/Civil unrest: clashes between opposition and police in Kampala

Local media reported on Thursday that Dr Kizza Besigye, the Forum for Democratic Change President, has been beaten by the police and Kiboko squad as he led a demonstration against the Electoral Commission in Kampala on Wednesday.

Reportedly, the incidence occurred at Clock Tower Playground where Dr Besigye and his supporters had gathered for another rally after the first one was blocked by the police. According to police, the rally was not officially authorised.

Nigeria/Terrorism:  MEND says clash with army in Niger Delta

Media reported that Nigeria's main armed group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) clashed with soldiers of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the creeks of Delta state in the oil-producing Niger Delta on Thursday.

MEND spokesman Jomo Gbomo stated that the fight broke out when one of the group's patrols ran into two gunboats of the JTF at Ogulagha in Delta state. According to him, the fighting lasted for 30 minutes and none of MEND fighters were injured during the gunbattle, however he added that the JTF lost 4 soldiers with an unspecified number injured.

Meanwhile, governmental officials refused to confirm information about the incident.

Russia/Security: Ten rebels killed in Chechnya

Russian news agencies reported on Thursday that Russian Special Forces killed ten rebels, including a Jordanian during an operation in Chechnya.

The operation took place in a forest in the Vedeno region of southwest Chechnya.

The leader of the rebel group identified as Yassir Amarat was suspected of numerous crimes against soldiers of the Russian Federation and local residents.

In a separate incident, Russian Security Services detained Ali Taziyev, a terrorist leader also known as Magas, in Ingushetia on Wednesday.

Taziyev was involved in several terrorist acts in the Caucasus, including the attack in Nazran, city in Ingushetia and an assassination attempt on Ingushetia’s President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov in June 2009.

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) stated that Taziyev was one of the leaders of the Caucasus Emirate, the main Caucasus terrorist group.

United States/Security: Former Pakistani-American student gets 15 years for aiding Al-Qaeda terrorists

U.S. Federal Officials stated that a Pakistani-born US citizen Syed Fahad Hashmi was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Manhattan Federal Judge on Wednesday for helping a friend sending material support to the Al-Qaeda terrorist network in Pakistan.

Hashmi admitted that between January 2004 and May 2006, he helped Mohammed Junaid Babar, his friend from New York to transport the equipment to terrorists in Pakistan for being used while fighting U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Hashmi, also known as "Fahad" was arrested on June 6, 2006 at Heathrow Airport in London, shortly before boarding a flight to Pakistan. He was transferred to the United States in May 2007.

Sudan/Security: Darfur rebels released 35 Sudanese soldiers

Media reported that Darfur's main rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) announced on Wednesday that they released 35 Sudanese soldiers captured in recent clashes.

Senior JEM Official Al-Tahir al-Feki said they had handed over 35 prisoners of war in south Darfur. Nine of them are injured.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed the release of the soldiers, and stated that the captives have been taken and transferred by them on Wednesday to the army in Nyala, capital of South Darfur state.

According to African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), nearly 600 people died in rebel and tribal clashes in May.

 

Afghanistan/Terrorism: Explosion at wedding in Kandahar kills 40 

Media reported on Thursday that bombing at a wedding ceremony in Arghandab district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Wednesday killed 40 people and wounded at least 74 others.

Interior Ministry of Afghanistan said the death toll could rise as some of the victims were critically injured.

The International Security Assistance Force (IASF) confirmed the bombing but did not specify information on causalities. IASF troops and Afghan forces have secured the area.

Meanwhile, Taleban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi denied the responsibility and condemned the attack.

Somalia/Insurgency: Fighting and blast kills at least 12 in Mogadishu

Media reported on Thursday that clashes between government forces and rebels, and a roadside blast left at least 12 people dead and 22 others wounded in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia on Wednesday.

Separately, five policemen on patrol were killed and one wounded in another roadside blast in Mogadishu. There were no immediate comments available either from government officials or from the rebels’ side.

Meanwhile, Somalia's main terrorist group Al-Shabaab released a video on Jihadist websites of a French hostage Denis Allex held in the Horn of Africa country citing the demand of his captors.

Demands repeated by Allex included an immediate end to French support for the Somali government and the withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers.

Iran/Terrorism: Three Iranian policemen killed in roadside bombing

Media reported on Thursday that a roadside bomb detonated by suspected Kurdish rebels of the Party for Free Life in Kurdistan (PEJAK) left three policemen killed near the town of Piranshahr, in west of Tehran.

According to the Iran daily General Faramarz Hosseinzadeh, the Local Chief of Border Police, and two other policemen were killed during the incident.

In May, five Kurdish activists were hanged in Iran on charges of involvement bombings and linkages to terrorist groups.

PEJAK is Iranian wing of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and is frequently engaged in armed clashes with Iranian Security Forces along the country's western borders with Iraq.

Sudan/Security: renegade militia flees south Sudan oil state

On Wednesday, South Sudan's army announced that it had chased a renegade militia commander out of his base in oil-producing Unity state. However, the army warned that he could be planning a counter-attack backed by Khartoum.

Galwak Gai is one of the three militia leaders are angry at alleged fraud in the April national election and have taken up arms against south Sudan's government.

Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Spokesman Kuol Diem Kuo said their troops have chased Galwak Gai out of his base. Kuol said it had killed 21 of Gai's fighters and captured 35 since it started hunting for his forces in Unity in late May.

According to the spokesman, Gai managed to slip out of Unity with more than 50 followers on Monday night and was last seen heading towards the oil- producing area of Heglig.

Colombia/Insurgency: Three people kidnapped by suspected ELN guerrillas

Columbian media reported that suspect guerrillas from the National Liberation Army (ELN) kidnapped three people as they were travelling between the Colombian departments of Choco and Risaralda on Tuesday.

Reportedly, the three men were abducted somewhere between the Choco town of Tado and Pueblo Rico in Risaralda after guerrillas set up a false check point on the highway.

The abducted persons have been identified as employees of the Metrocorredores 8 Construction Company contracted to work on the road connecting the western cities of Pereira and Quibdo.

Meanwhile, Colombian Military has launched an investigation in the area to rescue the abducted men.

Russia/Security: Afghan drug traffic aids terrorists in North Caucasus

Russia's Drug Control Chief Viktor Ivanov stated on Wednesday that Afghan drug traffic benefits terrorists in the volatile North Caucasus. His statement comes ahead of the International Anti-Drug Forum started in Moscow on June 9.

According to Ivanov, Security Forces called for international cooperation in fighting against the growing drug trafficking. He added that Afghan drug trafficking as a global problem which feeds translational terrorism all over the world.

Around 200 experts, politicians and drug-control specialists from 40 countries will take part in the forum which will be held until June 10.

Thailand/Terrorism: Bomb blast near mosque wounds 23 in southern Thailand

Thai Security Officials said that at least 23 people were wounded in a drive-by bombing near a mosque in Yala city’s Muang district late on Tuesday.

Police Superintendent Colonel Piyawat Chalermsri stated that two men on a motorcycle threw an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a government pickup truck in Yala, but the bomb missed the vehicle and landed just across the street from the mosque.

Two victims were in intensive care, including a 14-year-old girl in critical condition.

According to Chalermsri, Islamist terrorists targeting the government stand behind the attack. So far no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

 

Iraq/Terrorism: security forces foiled suicide bomb attack

Iraqi security forces prevented a terror attack on Wednesday after arresting a 16-year-old Al-Qaeda recruit who intended to blow himself up and assassinate a Shi'ite cleric Hashim Antar in Tal Afar, 60 km west of the restive city of Mosul in Northern Iraq, security officials said.

According to Handhal, security forces nabbed the teenager minutes before he use the vest. Handhal said they received specific information in advance that Al-Qaeda was planning to target a Shi'ite figure in the town.

The cleric, imam of the Shi'ite al-Sadiq mosque in Tal Afar, said he had survived six terrorist attacks in the past two years.