insurgents

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Attacks Mar Iraq Election, Kill 25

But Iraqis resolute in turnout in historic vote

(Newser) - Iraqis voted today in an election testing the mettle of the country's still-fragile democracy as insurgents killed 25 people, unleashing a barrage of mortars intent on disrupting the historic day. About 19 million Iraqis are eligible to vote for who will lead the country after US forces pull out, in...

Bombers Hit Baghdad as Early Voting Starts

Voters casting ballots in parliamentary elections are targets

(Newser) - A string of blasts across Baghdad targeting voters killed at least 17 people today, ratcheting up fear as many Iraqis cast early ballots ahead of Sunday's nationwide parliamentary elections. The blasts hit voters outside polling stations. "Terrorists wanted to hamper the elections, thus they started to blow themselves up...

Stunning Kabul Attack Shows Taliban Moving Into Cities

'Nobody is ready to make any kind of deal'

(Newser) - Yesterday's militant assault in the heart of Kabul succeeded not only in paralyzing the city for hours—it also exposed the vulnerability of the US-backed Afghan government, demonstrated the resilience of the Taliban, and left the usually quiet city with a lingering sense of fear. The morning rush-hour attack offered...

Afghan Suicide Blast Kills 8 Americans
Afghan Suicide Blast Kills 8 Americans
updated

Afghan Suicide Blast Kills 8 Americans

Victims at base may have been military contractors

(Newser) - A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest at a military base in eastern Afghanistan today, killing eight Americans. The explosion occurred at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost province near the Pakistan border. In Kabul, a spokesman for the international coalition force in Kabul said no US or NATO troops...

CIA Terminates Blackwater Deal
 CIA Terminates Blackwater Deal 

CIA Terminates Blackwater Deal

Security firm helped load killer drones in Afghanistan, Pakistan

(Newser) - The Central Intelligence Agency has severed ties with private security firm Blackwater, whose employees helped load the drone aircraft tasked with killing targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan. CIA chief Leon Panetta killed the contract, a rep tells the New York Times , which was instrumental in revealing the firm’s ties...

Miracle Dog, Owner Survive Iraqi Blast

Pet and family reunited after house is leveled

(Newser) - The owner of a dog that miraculously survived a massive bombing returned to his collapsed home today to be reunited with his pet, stunning neighbors who thought he was dead. The ginger-colored dog was spotted chained to a roof railing and standing on a wall ledge over the collapsed home...

US, Afghans Recruit Taliban With Jobs

Drive will be similar to the 'Sons of Iraq' program

(Newser) - Afghanistan has launched an initiative to convert Taliban foot soldiers with the promise of jobs and protection. Backed by the US military, the plan is modeled on its “Sons of Iraq” program; Stanley McChrystal even lured a key architect of that program out of retirement to help with it....

Blasts in Pakistan Kill 24
 Blasts in Pakistan Kill 24 

Blasts in Pakistan Kill 24

Insurgents his air force facility, bus headed to wedding

(Newser) - A suicide bomber killed seven people near a major air force complex in northwest Pakistan today, while an explosion killed 17, including three children, on a bus heading to a wedding elsewhere in the region. The attacks are the latest in a surge of militant strikes this month, coinciding with...

Taliban Surrenders in Swat
 Taliban Surrenders in Swat 

Taliban Surrenders in Swat

Maulana Fazlullah either surrounded or arrested as Pakistani offensive continues

(Newser) - A Taliban-controlled pirate radio station announced the militant group's surrender in the Swat Valley, after yet another key leader was said to have been arrested by the Pakistani military, the Telegraph reports. Though some reports claim that Maulana Fazlullah is surrounded by Pakistani forces, sources tell the Telegraph that he...

Iraqi Officers Behind $4.8M Bank Heist

(Newser) - The Iraqi robbers who killed eight security guards and stole $4.8 million from a Baghdad bank this week were army officers, not insurgents, the Los Angeles Times reports. Iraqi police revealed today the arrest of four elite officers assigned to guard Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi. "It was...

Baghdad Gunmen Kill 8, Grab $7M in Bank Heist

Theft may be to back insurgency: official

(Newser) - Gunmen killed eight security guards and made off with nearly $7 million today during an early morning robbery at a bank in central Baghdad that police say is the work of insurgents attempting to finance their operations. It’s the second deadly robbery in a week in Baghdad's commercial Karradah...

US, Brits Press Plans for Taliban Talks

(Newser) - British commanders backed by US officials aim to use the success of recent offensives to persuade mid-level Taliban leaders to come in for talks and give up the fight, the Guardian reports. Conditions are right for the "second-tier" leaders who control large numbers of fighters in southern Afghanistan to...

Taliban's No. 2 a Fierce, Intelligent Opponent of US

Mullah Omar's lieutenant may be really running the insurgency

(Newser) - Though most Americans know of Mullah Omar, head of the Taliban’s insurgency in Afghanistan, few know his capable lieutenant, Mullah Baradar. As a high-profile US target, Omar has kept a low profile over the last 3 years—while Baradar commands day-to-day operations, Newsweek reports. But Baradar’s cunning leadership...

Forget Pakistan's Claims: Taliban Is Only Hiding Out

Military's paltry victory gives fighters opening to reclaim stronghold

(Newser) - Pakistan is crowing over its victories against militants in the Swat Valley, but the Taliban has simply retreated to fight another day, Jane Perlez and Pir Zubair Shah write in the New York Times. Pakistan, which only controls roads and urban centers, hasn't even killed one Taliban leader. "Most...

20 Killed in Somali Bombing
 20 Killed in Somali Bombing 

20 Killed in Somali Bombing

(Newser) - A suicide bombing outside a hotel in western Somalia killed at least 20 people today including the national security minister. The Somali president accused al-Qaeda of being behind the attack. A witness said a small car headed toward the gate of the Medina Hotel in Belet Weyne, then drove into...

Afghanistan Attacks at Record High

(Newser) - Violence in Afghanistan is the worst it’s been since 2001, the US commander of forces in the region announced today. Insurgents staged more than 400 attacks during the past week, compared to less than 50 per week in January 2004, the BBC reports. Gen David Petraeus said allied forces...

Afghan Peace Talks Hinge on US Pullout

Militants negotiate with intermediaries, but no likely deals yet

(Newser) - Peace talks are under way in Afghanistan between militant leaders and intermediaries, but the insurgent groups—which include the Taliban—continue to insist on US withdrawal as a condition for peace, the New York Times reports. The Afghan government is backing the talks and optimistic about American backing, even as...

Pakistan PM Claims 700 Taliban Killed

Army has already killed 700 militants: minister

(Newser) - With more than a million of its citizens fleeing violence within its borders, Pakistan's prime minister said today the army has killed more than 700 militants in the last two weeks, in an operation in which "the very existence of the country was at stake.” Syed Yousaf Raza...

60 Killed in Baghdad Double Bombing

125 wounded in attack near top Shiite shrine

(Newser) - Back-to-back suicide bombings killed 60 and injured at least 125 today outside the most important Shiite shrine in Baghdad, the AP reports. The bombers detonated explosive belts within minutes of each other near the tomb of a prominent Shiite saint, shortly before the start of Friday prayers, as worshipers streamed...

Sri Lanka Kills 1K Civilians in Raid: Rebels

Government denies claim, says noncombatants escaped from rebel areas

(Newser) - Sri Lanka's Tamil rebels said today that 1,000 civilians died in a government raid on their territory, an operation the military says freed thousands of noncombatants from the war zone. Government forces deny the accusation, and say they rescued thousands of civilians yesterday after they broke through a barrier...

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