July 1, 2011 (UNITED STATES): Leon Panetta, the former head of the Central Intelligence Agency, was sworn in as secretary of defense. – Voice of America, July 1
July 1, 2011 (GERMANY): German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich warned that the terrorist threat to Germany has not decreased, and the number of radicals continues to grow. – AP, July 1
July 3, 2011 (IRAQ): Gunmen killed five policemen in a drive-by shooting near Rutba, Anbar Province. – Voice of America, July 3
July 3, 2011 (PAKISTAN): Approximately two dozen Taliban fighters attacked a police checkpoint in Shangla District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, killing three policemen. – AFP, July 2
July 4, 2011 (PAKISTAN): Pakistan’s military launched an offensive against Taliban fighters in Kurram Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. – Wall Street Journal, July 4
July 5, 2011 (MAURITANIA): Suspected militants from al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb attacked a military base in Bassiknou, Mauritania. The militants fled toward neighboring Mali after the attack. – AP, July 6
July 6, 2011 (GLOBAL): U.S. officials warned that al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula may attempt to surgically implant an explosive device in an air traveler, with the aim of blowing up an airplane. – Wall Street Journal, July 7
July 6, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): Taliban fighters attacked multiple Afghan border police checkpoints in Nuristan Province, killing an estimated 23 police officers. Three women and two children were also killed. – New York Times, July 7
July 6, 2011 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani troops and Taliban fighters clashed in Miranshah, located in North Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. According to Agence France-Presse, “witnesses said Wednesday’s clashes broke out after Pakistani troops started to blow up a private hospital used by the Taliban and other militants, one day after a nearby bomb attack killed three troops and wounded another 15.” – AFP, July 6
July 7, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): Canada formally ended its combat mission in Afghanistan. According to the Associated Press, “Canada is the sixth largest troop-contributing nation, behind the U.S. and European countries. While 2,850 Canadian combat troops are going home, 950 others have started streaming into the country to help train Afghan security forces.” – AP, July 7
July 7, 2011 (NORTH AFRICA): Al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb reportedly swore allegiance to new al-Qa`ida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. – Middle East Media Research Institute, July 7
July 9, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters that the United States is “within reach” of defeating al-Qa`ida. According to Panetta, “Now is the moment, following what happened with bin Laden, to put maximum pressure on them [al-Qa`ida’s leaders], because I do believe that if we continue this effort that we can really cripple al-Qaeda as a threat to this country…I’m convinced that we’re within reach of strategically defeating al-Qaeda.” – Washington Post, July 9
July 11, 2011 (PAKISTAN): A suspected U.S. drone killed 12 alleged militants in Gorvak village of North Waziristan Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. – AP, July 11
July 11, 2011 (PAKISTAN): A suicide bomber killed seven people at a political rally in Battagram District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. – AP, July 11
July 11, 2011 (PHILIPPINES): Two U.S. citizens and one Filipino were kidnapped in Zamboanga City. Authorities blame the Abu Sayyaf Group, and they believe that the hostages were brought to Basilan Province. – GMANews.tv, July 13
July 12, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): Ahmed Wali Karzai, a prominent Afghan politician and the half-brother of President Hamid Karzai, was assassinated at his home in Kandahar city. The assassin was apparently one of Wali Karzai’s security guards. According to an Afghan police chief, “As he [the assassin] entered Wali’s room, Wali came out of his bathroom. Mohammad [the assailant] fired twice at Wali without any conversation passing between the two. Wali received one bullet in the chest and second in the head.” The killer was then shot dead by other security guards. – Pajhwok Afghan News, July 12
July 12, 2011 (RUSSIA): A suicide bomber attacked a police checkpoint in Ingushetia, located in the North Caucasus. The bomber was the only casualty. – RIA Novosti, July 12
July 13, 2011 (TURKEY): Turkish authorities foiled a plot to attack the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, arresting 15 suspected al-Qa`ida-linked terrorists. – ABC News, July 13
July 13, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): A suicide bomber killed five French soldiers guarding a meeting between Afghan tribal elders and NATO officers in Kapisa Province. As reported in the New York Times, “the French soldiers, local leaders and tribal elders had gathered to discuss potential road projects, new dams, bridges and other development projects that are important elements of the military’s attempts to build goodwill among Afghans and restore the country’s shattered infrastructure.” – New York Times, July 13
July 13, 2011 (INDIA): Three blasts ripped through Mumbai, killing more than 20 people. Authorities suspect that the Indian Mujahidin is responsible. – NDTV, July 13; Time Magazine, July 13
July 14, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): A suicide bomber targeted the funeral services for Ahmed Wali Karzai at a Kandahar mosque, killing four people. – National Journal, July 14
July 14, 2011 (YEMEN): U.S. drones and fighter jets reportedly attacked militants belonging to al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula in Abyan Province. At least eight fighters were killed as they slept in a police station which they had overrun. – New York Times, July 14
July 16, 2011 (ALGERIA): A suicide bomber killed a police officer and a city hall employee at a public security headquarters in Boumerdes region. Al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb later claimed responsibility. – AP, July 16; Reuters, July 20
July 18, 2011 (PAKISTAN): According to Pakistani officials, Taliban insurgents released a video showing them executing 16 Pakistani men, most of whom appear to be police officers. – New York Times, July 18
July 19, 2011 (YEMEN): Senior al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula militant Ayad al-Shabwani was killed near Zinjibar, according to Yemen’s Defense Ministry. – AP, July 21
July 20, 2011 (GERMANY): German authorities arrested “Omid H.,” identified as a 21-year-old Afghan national, on suspicion of recruiting or fundraising for al-Qa`ida and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. – Reuters, July 21
July 20, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): Taliban fighters killed at least three Afghan policemen during a two-hour firefight in Kandahar city. – Vancouver Sun, July 20
July 20, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): A suicide bomber on a bicycle killed four people in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif. – New York Times, July 20
July 21, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): The British Ministry of Defense announced that two Britons, a male and a female, were arrested in Afghanistan in a joint operation between Afghan forces and British soldiers. They are suspected of involvement in terrorism. – BBC, July 21
July 22, 2011 (UNITED STATES): Mohammed Zazi, the father of New York subway bomb plotter Najibullah Zazi, was convicted of lying to authorities. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the two charges. – Christian Science Monitor, July 22
July 22, 2011 (NORWAY): A car bomb exploded outside government buildings in downtown Oslo, killing eight people. Shortly after, a gunman shot to death 69 people at a youth camp on Utoeya island. The man responsible for both incidents was identified as Anders Behring Breivik, a right-wing Norwegian extremist. – BBC, July 24; AP, July 29
July 24, 2011 (PAKISTAN): A suicide bomber attacked an army checkpoint in South Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, killing one Pakistani soldier. – AP, July 24
July 24, 2011 (PAKISTAN): A local tribal militia clashed with Taliban fighters in Kurram Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The tribal militia was supported by Pakistani forces. Approximately 27 militants and four tribesmen were killed in the fighting. – AFP, July 25
July 24, 2011 (YEMEN): A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden truck at an army camp in Aden, killing nine Yemeni soldiers. Yemeni officials claimed that the bomber was a Saudi member of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula. – AFP, July 24; UPI, July 26
July 26, 2011 (GLOBAL): The leader of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula, Nasir al-Wihayshi, swore allegiance to new al-Qa`ida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. “I and your loyal fighters announce our loyalty to you [al-Zawahiri] and on fighting the enemies of God,” he said. “We are doing fine and making progress both at the domestic and foreign levels and in line with the plan you have drawn for us.” Al-Wihayshi also said, “The crusader American foe has stood impotent before the situation in Yemen.” – AP, July 26; Bloomberg, July 26
July 26, 2011 (UNITED STATES): Matthew Olsen, President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, said that attacking the U.S. homeland remains a “significant goal” for al-Qa`ida. “That threat is not so much from the senior (al Qaeda) leadership in Pakistan with one unified goal, it is now diffused in various regional locations under various leaders and with various goals,” he explained. – Reuters, July 26
July 26, 2011 (UNITED STATES): The U.S. State Department issued a global travel warning telling Americans to take precautions about terrorist threats. As reported in the Associated Press, “It said al-Qaida and other groups are planning terror attacks against U.S. interests in Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East. The department said attacks may be in the form of suicide operations, assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings. Americans should consider the potential for attacks on transportation systems and tourist infrastructure, it said. It noted such attacks in Moscow, London, Madrid, Glasgow and New York in recent years. The department also warned Americans to avoid demonstrations in Arab countries because they can turn violent.” – AP, July 28
July 26, 2011 (ALGERIA): A suicide bomber detonated his explosives to avoid arrest in the eastern Algerian town of Bouhamza. There were no other casualties. – AFP, July 27
July 27, 2011 (GLOBAL): Al-Qa`ida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri released a new video message, praising Syrian protesters seeking to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Criticizing al-Assad for being the “leader of the criminal gang” and the “descendent of the traitors,” al-Zawahiri also tried to frame the uprising as an Islamic battle against U.S. and Israeli interests. “Tell America and Obama…we are waging a battle of freedom and liberation, freedom from corrupt tyrants and the liberation of the religion of the Muslims,” he said. Al-Zawahiri argued that the United States wants to replace al-Assad with “a new ruler who follows America, protects Israel’s interests and grants the (Muslim) nation a few freedoms.” – AP, July 28
July 27, 2011 (UNITED STATES): Police arrested Naser Jason Abdo, an AWOL U.S. Army soldier, for allegedly plotting to attack fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas. Authorities found an article from Inspire magazine in his possession. – USA Today, July 29
July 27, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): A suicide bomber killed the mayor of Kandahar city, Ghulam Haidar Hamidi. The bomber apparently concealed the explosives in his turban. – Reuters, July 27
July 28, 2011 (UNITED STATES): The recently retired head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Michael Leiter, told reporters that al-Qa`ida would like to attack the United States using “simple forms of chemical or biological weapons.” He also warned that “smaller scale terrorist attacks are with us for at least the foreseeable future.” – AP, July 28
July 28, 2011 (IRAN): According to the Associated Press, “The Obama administration accused Iran on Thursday of entering into a ‘secret deal’ with an al-Qaida offshoot that provides money and recruits for attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Treasury Department designated six members of the unit as terrorists subject to U.S. sanctions…Treasury said a branch headed by Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil was operating in Iran with the Tehran government’s blessing, funneling funds collected from across the Arab world to al-Qaida’s senior leaders in Pakistan. Khalil, the department said, has operated within Iran’s borders for six years.” – AP, July 28
July 28, 2011 (JORDAN): A Jordanian military court convicted Palestinian-born Isam Mohammed Taher al-Barqawi to five years in prison. Al-Barqawi was the mentor of Abu Mus`ab al-Zarqawi, the slain leader of al-Qa`ida in Iraq. He was found guilty of “plotting terrorism,” as well as recruiting individuals in Jordan to fight with the Taliban in Afghanistan. – AP, July 28
July 28, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): Taliban fighters launched a complex assault on Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan Province. Using suicide vests, assault rifles and a car bomb, Taliban militants killed at least 19 Afghans. The assault may have involved as many as seven suicide bombers. – Wall Street Journal, July 29; New York Times, July 28
July 28, 2011 (PHILIPPINES): Philippine soldiers engaged in a five-hour battle with Abu Sayyaf Group fighters on Jolo Island in Sulu Province. Seven Philippine soldiers were killed. – AFP, July 28
July 29, 2011 (PAKISTAN): The Pakistani Taliban said that they have custody of two Swiss tourists who were kidnapped earlier in the month while traveling through Baluchistan Province. In exchange for their release, the Taliban demanded that the United States free Aafia Siddiqui, a female Pakistani scientist convicted of trying to kill Americans. – AP, July 29
July 30, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): Afghanistan’s intelligence agency said that an Afghan army officer has been arrested on accusations of being a member of the Taliban and intending to organize suicide and terrorist attacks in Kabul. – AFP, July 30
July 31, 2011 (AFGHANISTAN): A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle outside the police headquarters in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, killing approximately 12 Afghan police officers and a child. – Los Angeles Times, July 31
