MOGADISHU -- Al Shabaab gunmen have killed counter-terrorism taskforce official in a drive-by shooting in Mogadishu's Wadajir district on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.
The assailants initially trailed Intelligence official Mohamed Qeyne in a vehicle and afterwards sprayed his car with bullets, sources stated. Witnesses say, among those who were confirmed dead along with Qeyne were bodyguards.
Beleaguered Al Shabaab group immediately claimed credit for the killing, saying they targeted the official and his security escorts in planned attack.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/14/2014 00:00 ||
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[Hot Air] Judicial Watch announced today that it has obtained 130 pages of new State Department documents revealing that local security guards working for Blue Mountain Group (BMG), the firm hired to protect the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, repeatedly abandoned their posts "out of fear of their safety " he months leading up to the deadly terrorist attack on the special mission compound.
According to the documents, on June 30, 2012, three months before the Benghazi terrorist attack, a Quality Assurance Compliance Report from Blue Mountain Libya to Department of State Contract Specialist Neal Kern warned that the number of local security guards leaving their posts had put the U.S. Benghazi Mission at risk:
Due to the amount of local guard force members leaving out of fear of their safety and the long process to security check individuals, it makes it very difficult to quickly react to a large drop in staff in quick succession as has been occurring with all the incidents especially when additional staff are requested. More smoke in the teepee. I'm confident BMG holds the key to what went wrong in Benghazi.
#2
Someone at Foggy Bottom obviously wanted the local guard force contract continued in spite of the warnings and pleas. The argument centering around the requested U.S. Special Forces personnel not being covered by a SOFA appears to be a red herring. Interestingly, the absence of a SOFA agreement has not hindered current troop deployments to the USEMBASSY Baghdad.
The arrow continues to point back to State. I'd like to get Bangkok Billy's take on all of this.
2. Refusal of requests for additional security, security improvements, etc.
3. Refusal to make physical security improvements.
3. Blame Congress for not providing money, while doing such necessary improvements at other State facilities as solar charging stations for embassy vehicles in Austria.
4. Blame Congress for not providing money, yet build a "media center for public use" in a "temporary facility" (the ambassador was ostensibly there for opening ceremonies for the new media center.)
4. Contracting with a small, relative unknown UK firm that had little to no experience in embassy security over other, more experienced security firms.
6. Refuse to extend rotation of US military security teams to the temporary facility . Pull back to Tripoli what US military security teams were present.
#4
Perhaps this will explain why some Republicans object to the Benghazi hearing: From Daily Caller:
"Sussing out the White House’s response to Benghazi is a critical step in clearing the shadows from the incident, but there are other players in the drama as well, including Rep. Rogers, and possibly also including a private military contracting firm that until recently was run by his wife, Kristi Rogers. Mike and Kristi Rogers are quintessential Washington insiders. A seven-term Republican from Michigan, Mike Rogers climbed the political ladder to become chairman of the Intelligence Committee in January 2011. Kristi Rogers, after years of government service in mid-level administrative positions, moved to the private sector, joining the British-based security contractor Aegis Defense Services to help open its U.S. subsidiary. The newsletter Intelligence Online noted that thanks to Ms. Rogers’ efforts, “Aegis won several major contracts with the U.S. administration.”
#5
4. Contracting with a small, relative unknown UK firm that had little to no experience in embassy security over other, more experienced security firms. Pappy
Thanks Pappy.
THIS my friends, is the rock that very desperately needs flipping over.
#8
Interestingly enough, information obtained so far is all open-source. It didn't take much to find out that BMG's (first?) on-scene management had experience in "personal security" and no mention of being able to manage security of a government installation - in a threat zone with a history of attacks against embassy/NGO personnel - that involved foreign nationals (and local militia to boot) as part of the security force.
Then again, I'm not a journalist. Maybe there's a secret handshake involved.
Posted by: Barbara ||
09/14/2014 12:55 Comments ||
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#10
Maybe that should be "professional journalist." People like badanov do a pretty good job of doing what a journalist should be doing. We just need a lot more of them.
#11
People like badanov do a pretty good job of doing what a journalist should be doing. We just need a lot more of them.
Agree with that. The rest of us can help spread the word by posting links to the useful stuff & poking holes in the silly stuff.
[AnNahar] Ugandan security forces stopped a cell of Somalia's al-Qaeda linked Shabaab gunnies apparently "planning for an imminent attack," the U.S. embassy said Saturday.
Arrests were made, police said, in raids two weeks after Ugandan troops, fighting in Somalia, reportedly provided intelligence that helped U.S. special forces kill the Shabaab's chief in a devastating air strike.
"Ugandan authorities reported the discovery of an al-Shabaab ... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda... terrorist cell in Kampala," the U.S. embassy said in a statement, adding that forces were working to see "whether there are members of the cell still on the lam."
Citizens were urged to stay at home on Saturday.
"We remain in close contact with our Ugandan counterparts as investigations continue into what appears to have been planning for an imminent attack," the U.S. added.
Police front man Fred Enanga said forces had "made arrests" but gave no details of how many people were tossed into the calaboose.
"Joint security agencies in Uganda have foiled a terrorist attempt at one of its installations," Enanga told Agence La Belle France-Presse, without giving any further information.
Security forces have boosted patrols around major sites, the U.S. said, in a warning statement to its citizens in the east African nation.
"At this point we are not aware of specific targets, and the Ugandan authorities have increased security at key sites, including Entebbe International Airport," the embassy said.
Last Monday the U.S. embassy warned that Shabaab gunnies may try to exact Dire Revenge™ for a U.S. air strike that killed the Lion of Islam group's commander.
"Stay alert to the ongoing potential for terrorist attacks in Uganda," it said.
"We also caution U.S. citizens of the possibility of retaliatory attacks in Uganda by al-Shabaab in response to the U.S. and Ugandan military actions in Somalia last week which killed al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Godane."
Uganda's government said the country -- a major contributor to AMISOM, the African Union ...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful... (AU) force fighting the Shabaab -- was "happy" at death of Godane, and had provided the U.S. with key intelligence on his whereabouts.
Uganda's Ministry of Internal Affairs said immigration officers had carried out an "operation on undocumented Democrat workers in different parts of Kampala" on Saturday morning, with 69 people tossed in the slammer Maw! They're comin' to get me, Maw! It was not clear if the raids were connected.
The Shabaab gunnies have claimed recent attacks in Kenya and Djibouti, and at home in Somalia.
During the World Cup final four years ago, Shabaab gunnies killed at least 76 people after setting off kabooms that destroyed two restaurants in Kampala.
In July, the U.S. embassy warned of a "specific threat" by an unknown group to attack Entebbe international airport, which serves the capital Kampala.
It also warned its citizens of a general threat of attacks which could target hotels, restaurants, clubs, malls, diplomatic missions, government buildings and transport.
The Shabaab grabbed credit for the assault on the Westgate shopping center that killed at least 67 people in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi in September last year as well as for attacks on coastal regions.
The strike against Godane came days after AU troops and Somali government forces launched "Operation Indian Ocean," a major offensive aimed at seizing key ports from the Shabaab and cutting off multi-million dollar exports of charcoal, one of their key revenue sources.
AU troops in Somalia said Saturday in a statement they had attacked a Shabaab base in the south of the war-torn country, inflicting "heavy losses" on the bad boys, including killing several imported muscle. It was not possible to independently verify the report.
[AnNahar] Boko Haram ... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... bully boyz attacked a market outside the key northeast Nigeria ... a particularly crimson stretch of Islam's bloody border... n city of Maiduguri, local people who witnessed the incident told Agence La Belle France-Presse on Saturday.
About 50 gunnies on cycle of violences stormed the weekly market in Ngom village, some 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the Borno state capital, at about 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) on Friday and opened fire, they said.
The attack came hours after a fierce fight with the Nigerian army in the town of Konduga, 35 kilometers from Maiduguri, during which the military said Boko Haram fighters were routed, lost equipment and suffered heavy casualties.
"They (Boko Haram) came on cycle of violences and opened fire on the market. They killed many people," said Tanimu Goni, who fled to Maiduguri in the wake of the attack.
Another trader, Nafiu Umarari, added: "They fired indiscriminately and killed a lot of people."
Neither witness gave a precise figure and there was no official word from the military, although one report on the Premium Times website said four non-combatants were killed.
The men said the bully boyz seized vehicles and looted sacks of grain before fleeing but were pursued by a team of soldiers and civilian vigilantes from Maiduguri.
"The soldiers and the civilian (vigilantes) succeeded in killing dozens of the Boko Haram fighters but many of them escaped into the bush," Goni said in an account supported by Umarari.
Nigeria' military, under pressure to stop the bully boys' rapid capture of towns and villages in the northeast, had hailed their claimed success in Konduga as a victory.
On Twitter, top brass on Saturday encouraged greater national support for its troops in the region by calling for positive messages using the hashtag #VictoryforNigeria.
Fears have mounted in recent days about a possible attack on Maiduguri after the influential Borno Elders' Forum of retired military and civilian officials warned that Boko Haram had effectively surrounded the city.
The military dismissed the claim as "alarmist" but the market attack in Ngom indicated that the rebels were in the nearby area.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
09/14/2014 00:00 ||
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Russian officials have notified the US government that three members of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's defense team falsely identified themselves as FBI employees when they went to Russia to investigate the case, prosecutors said Friday. The allegation was made in a legal filing in US District Court in Boston, where Tsarnaev faces a possible death penalty for his role in the bombings.
Prosecutors wrote, "While conducting interviews in Russia, the members of the defense team reportedly refused to produce documents confirming their legal status and identified themselves as employees of the FBI. As a result, the Russian government . . . expelled them."
Russian officials also said that members of Tsarnaev's defense team members claimed that the purpose of their recent visit was tourism.
Separately on Friday, lawyers and prosecutors agreed on plans for the jury selection process in the trial.
#4
Dzhokhar's surviving the Boston PD shootout was probably an accident. I doubt he'll ever be tried, too many snoopy lawyers, too many inconvenient facts. I don't recommend he pick up any coffee tables in anger, or use threatening language. Just say'n.
After the administration released details of the July mission to rescue journalist James Foley and others in Syria, intelligence suggests ISIS dispersed the remaining hostages to multiple locations, making them harder to locate, a military source told Fox News.
In addition, the source added guard forces around the hostages doubled while widely publicized reporting about the scope of new aerial surveillance in the region caused ISIS to change its pattern of behavior on the ground.
"Any time you (disclose) very highly sensitive tactical information, you're giving away your road map if you will, your strategy," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee receives regular intelligence briefings. "It's very highly damaging to the hostages."
The details about the rescue mission were released by the Defense Department and National Security Council one day after a video was posted online Aug. 19 of Foley's execution.
The administration said its hand was forced because unnamed reporters had learned about the raid to rescue Foley and other hostages, believed to include Steven Sotloff, who was also later executed by ISIS.
Asked about the ramifications of providing the information in such a public way, Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said Friday it was still the right call.
"We regret it at the time we had to talk about this," Kirby said. "There was absolutely no intention of ever having to talk about that rescue attempt but because of leaks to certain reporters, it forced our hand to try and provide some context to that. So it's not about do I now regret it. We regret it at the time. We still regret that we had to talk about it."
The military source said the disclosures, which included specific details about the mission itself -- including personnel and hardware -- increased the risk for special operations forces in the future.
Two separate sources also told Fox the release of information was damaging because the Foley case was considered "an ongoing mission" after the raid did not locate him and the others near the ISIS stronghold of Raqaa, Syria.
Some Republicans, including McCaul, believe the administration shoulders some of the blame.
"It's all because the administration leaked this information that is highly sensitive," he said. "and quite frankly is in violation of the law."
Asked about ISIS' response to the disclosures, a National Security Council spokeswoman said she could not discuss intelligence matters, adding the administration had nothing to do with the original leaks to reporters, describing those claims as "baseless."
Posted by: Ebbomosh Hupemp2664 ||
09/14/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
that was clearly a CYA "we tried!!" disclosure to protect Champ's feckless golfing
kinda like Slow Joe's Osama disclosures
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/14/2014 7:30 Comments ||
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#2
If we were actually at war I would be appalled by this situation.
#3
Once again, stupidity or treason? There is ample historical evidence with regard to the moving of prisoners and hostages for security reasons. I've discounted stupidity.
#6
The WH can't stop blabbing. As Frank G. said, it was a CYA moment. This administration can always be counted on to put politics above national security and country.
#8
There was absolutely no intention of ever having to talk about that rescue attempt but because of leaks to certain reporters, it forced our hand to try and provide some context to that.
Yeah, and I thought I'd better join the Army before I got drafted too.
#9
There was absolutely no intention of ever having to talk about that rescue attempt but because of leaks to certain reporters, it forced our hand to try and provide some context to that.
[IsraelTimes] Riots continued Saturday in Jerusalem's Arab neighborhoods after several protesters were incarcerated Drop the heater, Studs, or you're hist'try! during festivities with police the day before.
Light rail trains were attacked with stones in three separate incidents. One attack left two windows broken on a train. No injuries were reported.
On Friday, six Paleostinians were arrested following festivities with police in two different locations in East Jerusalem.
Three were arrested after they hurled stones and firecrackers at police forces near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City.
Following Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque, several masked men began charging at a border police post near the entrance to the Temple Mount. The rioters were blocked by Waqf forces, and the three demonstrators were subsequently arrested. They were transferred to a nearby cop shoppe for questioning.
Later, police apprehended three protesters for similar offenses in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.
Also on Friday, Likud MK Miri Regev urged police to take a tougher stance against rock-throwing in the capital.
"The security situation in Jerusalem is a disgrace," Regev wrote in a Facebook post, following a tour of East Jerusalem's neighborhoods.
"In recent months, there has been a significant increase in incidents of the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails at the cars and homes of Jews."
"This situation in Jerusalem must change, the public security minister should allocate more security forces in East Jerusalem," she said, adding that she would work to pass legislation aimed at increasing jail time for stone throwers.
Earlier this week, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said Jerusalem's security forces were to get reinforcements to combat a continued rise in violence. Aharonovitch did not provide details about the type of reinforcements the city would receive in the wake of violent riots in the capital, following the death last Sunday of an East Jerusalem teen shot by police during a demonstration last week.
#2
expel the attackers, and their families, to Gaza
raze the homes
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/14/2014 7:31 Comments ||
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#3
Paleostinians don't need trains anyway, it's not like muslims go to work, or do anything constructive like that.
Posted by: Herman Munster ||
09/14/2014 7:34 Comments ||
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#4
Paleostinians don't need trains anyway, it's not like muslims go to work, or do anything constructive like that.
In Israel the Palestinians work, Mr. Munster. The complaint from the Territories, despite all that international funding, is that they can't get more permits to work in Israel... so they sneak over to work illegally. In fact, the complaint throughout the Arab world is that there aren't enough jobs, not that the dole payments aren't high enough.
#7
And in fact, Mr. Munster, the Times of Israel today reports that the Israeli government just decided to approve 5,000 more work permits for West Bank construction workers, and will even pay for their transportation, taking the total up to 37,500 permits. This echoes the reason so many Arabs were willing to flee to the surrounding nations in 1948: most had arrived only in recent years to take the new jobs the Jewish economy was generating, and it was easy enough for them to go back home for what was to be a brief and bloody Arab conquest.
Muslims in America tend to be hard working as well, as are most immigrants. The situation in Britain and Europe is quite different, but Britain and Europe imported them for a very different reason, and are now reaping what they sowed.
[IsraelTimes] Bedouin civilian was seriously maimed Friday when he was shot in the chest by an IDF officer during an altercation in the Tzeelim military base, in Israel's southern Negev desert.
The incident took place during an army training exercise in a desert shooting range located near the base, according to Channel 2. The officer reportedly said that during the exercise, several Bedouin civilians entered the area in which the exercise was taking place, riding two ATVs.
In an official statement on the matter, the IDF said that "there was an ATV that was moving in an area that was out of bounds, near a military base in southern Israel. An IDF force attempted to drive it away several times. At some point, the suspect pointed a knife at the officer, who opened fire in response. A hit was confirmed."
According to the officer, the Bedouins confronted him, and one of them wanted to stab him with a knife. Feeling threatened, he shot at the man twice, hitting him in the chest.
The man was evacuated to a hospital for treatment.
The military was investigating the incident.
All sorts of possibilities. I vote for the 48 hour rule, and await further information.
[IsraelTimes] Israeli security personnel forcibly closed the offices of Amara al-Aqsa wa al-Muqadasat, an Islamic institution located in the Israeli Arab city of Nazareth.
The offices were shut down last Wednesday in a joint operation with the police following an internal recommendation by the Shin Bet, the security service said in a blurb Thursday.
Amara al-Aqsa wa al-Muqadasat was outlawed by the Defense Ministry in August after intelligence revealed that the institution was responsible for starting a spate of riots at the Temple Mount and was cooperating with Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, personnel in Jerusalem.
The institution was founded in Nazareth in 2009 by the Islamic Movement in Israel, a religious organization based in the so-called Triangle, a region that is heavily populated by Arabs.
The Shin Bet said that Amara al-Aqsa wa al-Muqadasat's goals were to maintain a permanent Islamic presence on the Temple Mount and was alleged to be monitoring Jewish activity in the area and trying to prevent "Jewish domination" of the compound.
The Temple Mount, which holds the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque, is considered the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site to Jews as it was the location of the two ancient Jewish temples.
By law, under arrangements Israel instituted after capturing the area in 1967, Jews are not allowed to pray at the site. The Islamic Waqf of Jerusalem is currently the sole religious authority at the compound.
The Temple Mount is often the site of violent festivities between Israeli Border Police forces and Paleostinians.
The Shin Bet maintained that the activities of Amara al-Aqsa wa al-Muqadasat undermined "the safety of visitors and undermined the security of the compound."
The statement, however, emphasized that the closure of the offices was "not meant to harm, in any way, the Moslem religious activity on the Temple Mount and the al-Aqsa Mosque."
#1
Maybe a way to handle mosques that preach, foment, and are involved in jihad and hatred of the West? (I know they will use our 1st Amendment against us). CAIR, the ACLU, and a bunch of other alphabet soup organizations will come out of the woodwork. Oh well, I like the way it sounds.
Six New People's Army (NPA) militants have surrendered to military authorities in the Philippine province of Bukidnon. They were identified as Ramil Tun-an, Yonifin Ped-Ak, Rene Tun-an, Angelo Ped-Ak, Reynaldo Ped-ak, and Toto Guilay.
Philippine army commander Lieutenant Colonel Lynart Castisimo said the NPA militants surrendered to his troops on Thursday night. The surrender came following a series of negotiations.
Local train services were suspended in Thailand's far south after a bomb destroyed a section of the track in Narathiwat's Rangae district yesterday morning. Workers are expected to start repairing the tracks today so trains can resume service on the route as soon as possible.
The blast damaged 20 meters of track, creating a crater three meters wide and a meter deep. An investigation indicated that a home-made bomb was placed inside a gas cylinder and detonated by a communication radio.
Terrorists Insurgents hiding in a nearby wooded area detonated the bomb as six-member patrol team were near the railway line. There were no injuries.
"It's been a while since we we properly terrified the Western infidels, Mahmoud, and those Brits are getting uppity. Release the video!"
"Yes, your Caliphness. I've had it cued up for weeks, awaiting your order."
[IsraelTimes] The Islamic State jihadist group claimed it executed British aid worker David Haines, in retaliation for British leader David Cameron entering a coalition with the United States against the militants.
This would be the third such execution in recent weeks, after two US journalists taken hostage in Syria were shown murdered. The beheading of James Foley was shown in a video released on August 19, and the killing of Steven Sotloff in a video released on September 2. Foley and Sotloff were both American journalists. Sotloff also held Israeli citizenship.
The Islamist group released a video, available late Saturday on the website of private terrorism monitoring group SITE, purportedly showing a masked militant beheading Haines.
Britain's Foreign Office said it was seeking to verify the authenticity of the video. If true, the killing would mark "another disgusting murder," it said.
The video was entitled "A Message to the Allies of America." Haines' purported killer, who appeared to be the same man speaking with a British accent as in the previous videos, tells the British government that its alliance with the US will only "accelerate your destruction" and will drag the British people into "another bloody and unwinnable war."
Haines was abducted in Syria in 2013 while working for an international aid agency.
The clip, which appeared authentic, featured Haines reading an Islamic State script in which he said he held British Prime Minister David Cameron directly responsible for his execution. "You followed Americans into Iraq, following the trend of British Prime Ministers who cannot find the courage to say no to Americans," he said. "Unfortunately, it is we the British public, that in the end that will pay the price for our parliaments selfish decisions."
Posted by: trailing wife ||
09/14/2014 00:10 ||
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#1
I look forward to the British response. I hope it is more than a stern speech.
Posted by: Bobby ||
09/14/2014 8:37 Comments ||
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#2
I look forward to the British response. I hope it is more than a stern speech.
#3
The press tries to make a case for ISIS being so evil--much more than AQ. If one recalls, KSM (AQ) took credit for the beheading of Daniel Pearl. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (AQ in Iraq) also was into making snuff videos (beheadings) before he was killed in Iraq in an air strike. Jihad John (ISIS), the current macabre wanna-be bad guy is into beheading. He will get his too. The point is, that all of these groups are into beheading for shock value--these various groups are all evil and to discuss one group being more evil than the next in like counting angles (or devils as in this case) on the head of a pin. Distinctions without a difference. They are all head loppers. Even out so-called allies, SA uses this as a method of punishment when exercising Sharia Law. Beheading is antithetical to Western culture. There will be more beheadings. Islamics know this gets to us. I personally like the post yesterday for addressing this. General Mathis quote:
“I come in peace. I didn��™t bring artillery. But I��™m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I��™ll kill you all.”
#4
Ond telling feature about these beheadings is that all of those who were beheaded had their hands tied behind their backs. That would indicate the beheaders are basically cowards.
Posted by: Barbara ||
09/14/2014 12:58 Comments ||
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#7
Beheading is such a catchy image, but the victims are no deader afterwards than if they'd been hanged or shot or bombed. I must admit that a pyramid of severed heads rotting in a town square has a visceral power almost nothing else can match. Especially after a few days in the sun.
[AnNahar] The General Directorate of State Security has placed in durance vile Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! three runaways wanted on Interpol warrants, al-Jadeed television reported on Saturday.
The three men include a "dangerous" member of the jihadist al-Nusra Front group, al-Qaeda's official Syrian branch, al-Jadeed added.
It identified the man as Sami Mohammed Dib Bakir, aka Minaa.
"He is a Syrian who was born in Tal Kalakh" in the central Homs province near the border with Leb, al-Jadeed added.
Later on Saturday, state-run National News Agency confirmed that State Security has arrested a "dangerous runaway" wanted on "several Interpol warrants."
The army on Friday carried out raids in the northern city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... and arrested a Syrian man accused of belonging to a "terrorist" organization.
The raids came in the wake of alleged "moves by Nusra-linked gangs," Voice of Leb radio (93.3) reported.
It said troops arrested Syrian national Adham Hajj Hamidi in Tripoli's Abi Samra on charges of belonging to a "terrorist group."
[AnNahar] Rebels including al-Qaeda loyalists have seized most of the Syrian side of the armistice line with Israel on the Golan Heights, a monitoring group said on Saturday.
Al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front and its allies launched a major offensive against government forces in Quneitra province last month, capturing the sole crossing point over the armistice line to the Israeli-occupied sector of the strategic plateau.
"The regime is on the retreat before the advancing rebels," Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told Agence La Belle France-Presse. "The regime has now lost control of about 80 percent of towns and villages in Quneitra province."
The regime has lost control of much of the east to jihadists of the Islamic State group, including all of Raqa province and much of Deir Ezzor.
The air force carried out strikes on an IS training base in Deir Ezzor province on Saturday, killing eight of its Lion of Islams, the Observatory said.
More than 40 IS jihadists were maimed in the raids, it added.
The Assad regime has stepped up its air campaign against IS in the east in recent weeks, but the near-daily strikes have exacted a heavy toll among civilians in Lion of Islam-controlled towns.
[Ynet] Activists say Syrian warplanes and helicopter gunships have struck targets in a central village in what appears to be preparations for a ground offensive on the rebel stronghold.
The Britannia-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian warplanes conducted at least eight air strikes on the town of Kfar Zeita in Hama province. It had no word on casualties.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
09/14/2014 00:00 ||
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[Ynet] Opposition sources in Syria report that rebels have taken over the village of Al Hamidya not far from Quneitra. Earlier reports said that rebels also captured the village of Raqadi, also in the Golan region.
Meanwhile, ...back at the the conspirators' cleverly concealed hideout Montefiore's foot was still stuck and the hound had completely soaked his uniform with slobber... heavy artillery fire by regime forces was reported in the areas surrounding the villages, both of which are very close to the border with Israel.
[NEWS.YAHOO] Syrian refugee Ibrahim Abbas Ali and his family awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of gunfire outside their tent in Leb, and for a second time they raced off into the fields, fleeing a war that now seems to have followed them across the border.
The gunnies who attacked the makeshift camp housing around 200 refugees set fire to several of the tents, including the two used by Ali, his two wives and 15 children, destroying the few belongings they had managed to bring with them from Syria, including their official documents and U.N. refugee cards.
"We lost all the aid we received from the U.N. and all we were left with are the clothes we are wearing," he said days later as he surveyed the blackened remains of the tents.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
09/14/2014 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
MOGADISHU -- Al Shabaab gunmen have killed counter-terrorism taskforce official in a drive-by shooting in Mogadishu's Wadajir district on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.
[AnNahar] 
[IsraelTimes] Israeli security personnel forcibly closed the offices of Amara al-Aqsa wa al-Muqadasat, an Islamic institution located in the Israeli Arab city of Nazareth.
Six New People's Army (NPA) militants have surrendered to military authorities in the Philippine province of Bukidnon. They were identified as Ramil Tun-an, Yonifin Ped-Ak, Rene Tun-an, Angelo Ped-Ak, Reynaldo Ped-ak, and Toto Guilay.
[IsraelTimes] The Islamic State jihadist group claimed it executed British aid worker David Haines, in retaliation for British leader David Cameron entering a coalition with the United States against the militants.
[AnNahar] The General Directorate of State Security has 
[AnNahar] Rebels including al-Qaeda loyalists have seized most of the Syrian side of the armistice line with Israel on the Golan Heights, a monitoring group said on Saturday.
