Counterterrorism Blog
The first multi-expert blog dedicated solely to counterterrorism issues, serving as a gateway to the community for policymakers and serious researchers. Designed to provide realtime information about terrorism cases and policy developments.
June 2008 Archives

(Israel) Rocket lands in Israel, straining Gaza truce -- fourth attack since June 19th truce

(U.S.) Court Rules on Guidelines for Trying Terrorism Suspects in Guantanamo -- federal appeals court rules reliable and verifiable evidence needed to hold suspect as "enemy combatant"

(U.S.) Terror Case Judge: Iran Must Identify U.S. Assets - Judge ordered Iran to identify all real estate holdings, financial assets, other property in U.S.

Iraqi guards kill female suicide bomber - updated report on Sunday attack

(Afghanistan) US-led, Afghan forces kill 33 militants: Afghan officials -- see also AP report -- Nimroz, Helmand provinces

(Afghanistan) Taliban aims to control rural phones -- forces night outages by threatening towers

(Pakistan) Twin blasts rock Rawalpindi

(Pakistan) Missile kills 9 in Pakistan's FATA Khyber Agency - targeting home of Haji Namdar, who is reportedly safe

(Pakistan) NWFP Swat: Pakistan: Deadly attacks as pro-Taliban militants end talks -- update: at least 6 killed in bombings around Swat area - Taliban calls for enforcement of Sharia -- DAWN report -- 2 soldiers killed in Swat attack

(Pakistan) Taliban shura backs Baitullah Mehsud -- in suspending all talks on FATA and NWFP

(Pakistan) Amid Policy Disputes, Qaeda Grows in Pakistan - NYT on failures in U.S. hunt for AQ leaders, including aborted raid in Pakistan

(U.S.) Diploma Mill Concerns Extend Beyond Fraud - Potential for terrorists to use bogus degrees to obtain U.S. visas -- see also Michael Cutler's June 29 posting

(India) Assam blasts triggered by IED

Iran: 'Israeli spy' sentenced to death

'Israel, Syria to conduct more talks'

Somalia: Islamists Ambush Troops Outside Mogadishu -- between Belidogle and Yaqbaraweyne

Somalia: Ethiopian Troops Come Under Attack in Town Overnight -- Guri-el town

Somalia: Religious Leaders Call for Re-Opening of Mosques in Capital - some deserted by residents due to frequent fighting in areas where they are located

(Norway) Bomb experts probe blast -- in Oslo

Swiss Government Reveals Euro Terror Threats -- there were further threats of terrorist attacks at EURO 2008 obtained during the tournament

(Philippines) 19 killed as Philippine troops battle leftist rebels - update on battles with Communists

(Philippines) Military rescue operations for Basilan workers suspended - kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf

(Philippines) U.S. Embassy reopens for normal operations - after suspicious powder scare

(Pakistan) Taliban set up illegal courts in FATA, NWFP -- Taliban spokesman says "delivering quick and inexpensive justice" per Quran and Sharia law

(Pakistan) Blast destroys barber's shop - near FATA Khyber Agency

UAE dismisses terror warnings -- issued by US and British embassies

8 killed in India market bomb blast (updated) - in NE Assam region

Israel approves prisoner swap with Hezbollah (updated)

U.S. escalating covert operations against Iran: report -- Congressional leaders agreed last year to funding request

(Iraq) Occupation Plan for Iraq Faulted in Army History - US Army to release its own account of Iraq war

(Iraq) Truck bomb kills 7 people north in Iraq - in Duluiya

(Iraq) Reported U.S. Raid Triggers Outrage -- in Karbala

(Afghanistan) In Courts, Afghanistan Air Base May Become Next Guantanamo -- lawsuits seek habeas rights for Bagram detainees

British soldier killed in Afghanistan blast -- in Helmand

India Rebel Attack -- communist rebels attack police boat, drown 40 police officers

(Colombia) Is this truly a farewell to the revolution? (Commentary) - Former Mexican Foreign Minister on FARC's future

Iraq police find 7 bodies, suspected al Qaeda jail - in Samarra

(Iraq) US reports military pressure on al-Qaeda north of Baghdad -- in Sharqat, Kirkuk, Bulayj, Mosul

(Iraq) US forces arrest Police commander of N. Iraq region -- in Salah Eddin province

(Kuwait) Eye on sleeper terror cells

(Afghanistan) US coalition: 32 militants killed in south Afghan clashes - in Uruzgan province - coalition statement on Thursday battle

(Pakistan) NWFP: Taliban bring vigilante law to Peshawar - Taliban enforce Sharia by gunpoint in daylight to businesses, individuals -- see also Jeffrey Imm's June 10 posting

Pakistan launches offensive against Taliban - in FATA Khyber Agency loyal to Mangal Bagh - outside NWFP's Peshawar -- also AFP report

Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud says he is pulling out of peace talks in wake of military offensive - in FATA Khyber Agency - freezing talks until a final decision is made by Taliban's executive council

(Pakistan) Taliban warn of revenge if 'harmed' - in FATA Khyber, NWFP Peshawar

(Pakistan) FATA: Thousands Cheer as Pakistani Militants Decapitate Afghans - update on FATA Bajaur report - 5,000 chant "Allahu Ahkbar" as Taliban wave bloody head to cheering crowd

(Pakistan) Taliban free 8 tribesmen - in FATA South Waziristan's Jandola

(U.S.) DOJ Settles Hatfill Suit for $5.8 Million -- Ex-AG Implicated the Former Army Scientist in the 2001 Anthrax Attacks

(UK) Court orders release of top al-Qaeda operative -- Appeal Court judges rule that Algerian prisoner 'U' should be released despite allegations that he is a senior terrorist -- LT commentary -- BritishJihad.com summary on "U"

Iran: Israel is no match for the Islamic republic's capabilities -- Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari -- also AFP report -- Report: Iran will use oil as weapon if attacked

(Lebanon) Security officials: 1 killed, 28 wounded in bomb explosion in northern Lebanon -- also KUNA report says 2 killed -- see also MSNBC report The blast ripped through an apartment building in Tripoli. The five-story building in the Bab el-Tabaneh district, whose Sunni Muslim residents support the government.

(West Bank) Israeli troops kill teenage militant in West Bank clash -- Mohammed Alameh threw firebomb Molotov cocktails at patrol

Saudi Arabia report that terrorists planned suicide car bombing (my title) -- Jihadist cells included Saudis, Iraqis, Yemens, Mauritanians

Yemeni court refuses bail to top Al-Qaeda militant -- Jaber al-Banna

Somalia: Islamist Fighters Seize Central Town -- Beledweyne town the provincial capital of Hiran region

(Russia) Nine dead, four injured in North Caucasus clashes -- in Dargo and Makhachkala

(Canada) Ottawa Trial: Accused made bomb detonator, Crown says -- Mohammed Momin Khawaja trial

(Thailand) 2 soldiers wounded in roadside bomb in South - in Yala

(U.S.) Congress erases terror label from Mandela's name - Removes Nelson Mandela from terrorist watch lists

US handover of Iraqi province delayed

PKK rebels attack Turkish convoy

Indian army continues anti-ULFA offensives

Iraq: Police say al-Qaeda has infiltrated force -- in Falluja

(Afghanistan) Three U.S.-led soldiers and Afghan interpreter killed - in Wardak, southwest of Kabul

(Pakistan) FATA: Taliban slit throats of 'US spies' in Pakistan - in the Bajaur region - crowd chants Allahu Akbar

Pakistan Foreign Office: Foreign govts, militants creating unrest -- in FATA and NWFP

(U.S.) Jailed professor in terror case faces contempt charges -- Sami Al-Arian - see IPT News report

US Businessmen Accused of Military Sales to Iran - Hassan Keshari and Traian Bujduveanu -- Victor Comras quoted

(U.S.) Virginia's Islamic Academy on Shaky Legal Ground - by Patrick Poole - states corporate charter revoked in 2004 and has never filed required tax forms with the IRS -- Virginia State corporation documents -- see also Andrew Cochran's June 27 updated posting

'Israel allows vast sums to reach Hamas'

Israel may free 450 prisoners in exchange for soldier -- list provided to Hamas

Jordan charges three men with plotting suicide attacks - updated report

North Korea destroys nuclear reactor tower -- see also Michael Kraft June 27 posting

(Iraq) Roadside bombs kill 4 US soldiers in spike of violence against American forces - update - Baghdad bombing - in addition to Ninevah bombings previously reported

Afghanistan sacks police chief over jail break - in Kandahar

(Pakistan) NWFP: Militants set five girl schools on fire -- Matta area of Swat

(Pakistan) PM approves NWFP operation -- to clear Tribal Areas of militants -- while it continues negotiations "with local elders to isolate hardcore militants" -- Carrot-and-stick plan to tackle militancy

(U.S.) Guantanamo Detainee to File Habeas Petition -- Mohammed Sulaymon Barre

(U.S.) Arizona: Iranian engineer pleads guilty in nuke plant case -- Mohammad Reza Alavi