January 1, 2013 (PAKISTAN): A bomb exploded near a rally for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Karachi. The bomb killed four people. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility, adding that this was the first of a series of coming attacks on the MQM. – Daily News & Analysis, January 1
January 1, 2013 (PAKISTAN): Gunmen opened fire on charity workers involved in vaccinations and education in Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Seven of the workers, including six women, were killed. – Daily News & Analysis, January 1; BBC, January 29
January 1, 2013 (ETHIOPIA): An Ethiopian court convicted 10 people of having links to al-Qa`ida, in what marked the first trial in the country for al-Qa`ida suspects. One of those convicted is a Kenyan national. – AFP, January 1
January 1, 2013 (NIGERIA): Nigerian troops killed 13 suspected Boko Haram militants in Maiduguri, Borno State. – CNN, January 2
January 2, 2013 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. drone killed Maulvi Nazir, a top Taliban leader, in South Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Nazir was responsible for sending Taliban fighters across the border into Afghanistan to fight Afghan and coalition forces. He did not, however, attack targets inside Pakistan, and he had signed a peace treaty or non-aggression pact with the Pakistani government. Nazir’s Taliban faction frequently skirmished with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which is anti-Pakistan and also operates out of South Waziristan Agency. Nazir’s death is considered a blow to Taliban militants who use South Waziristan Agency as a sanctuary from which to execute attacks on soldiers in Afghanistan. – Reuters, January 3
January 3, 2013 (UNITED STATES): British authorities extradited Abid Naseer to the United States to face charges for his alleged role in a planned al-Qa`ida suicide bomb plot targeting New York City subways in 2009. According to the Associated Press, U.S. federal prosecutors said that they aim to “prove that Naseer collected bomb ingredients, conducted reconnaissance and was in frequent contact with other Al Qaeda operatives as part of a foiled New York plot and a second suspected plot to bomb a busy shopping area in the northern English city of Manchester.” – Reuters, January 3; Associated Press, January 3
January 3, 2013 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber in a vehicle killed at least 27 Shi`a Muslims at a bus station in Mussayab, 40 miles south of Baghdad. According to the New York Times, “The apparent targets were pilgrims returning from the holy city of Karbala, where Shiites observe the end of the 40-day annual mourning period for the death of Imam Hussein ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.” – Reuters, January 3; New York Times, January 3
January 3, 2013 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. drone killed three suspected militants in North Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Among those killed was Shah Faisal, identified as a commander for Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. – Los Angeles Times, January 3
January 3, 2013 (YEMEN): A suspected U.S. drone killed three al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in Bayda Province, including a “senior figure.” – al-Jazira, January 4
January 3, 2013 (SYRIA): A car bomb exploded at a fuel station in Damascus, killing at least 11 people. – The Times, January 4
January 4, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): Polish and Afghan forces captured Mullah Abdul Kabir, identified as a senior leader in the Afghan Taliban. – UPI, January 7
January 6, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): Two suicide bombers attacked a meeting of tribal elders at a government compound in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, killing five people. The Afghan Taliban claimed responsibility. – Voice of America, January 6
January 6, 2013 (PAKISTAN): U.S. drones killed at least 12 militants in South Waziristan Agency near the Afghan border. According to reports, some of the dead were members of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, while others were described as being members of Punjabi militant groups. – Australian, January 7
January 7, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): A member of the Afghan Army shot and killed a British soldier at a military base in Helmand Province. – BBC, January 8
January 8, 2013 (FRANCE): A French court sentenced Irfan Demirtas to eight years in prison for heading an effort to fund the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, an al-Qa`ida-linked terrorist group. – Wall Street Journal, January 8
January 8, 2013 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. drone killed eight suspected militants near Mir Ali, North Waziristan Agency. – Voice of America, January 8
January 9, 2013 (PAKISTAN): Pakistani police arrested five alleged Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan members suspected of killing female polio vaccinators and planning to attack Karachi airport. – Dawn, January 9
January 10, 2013 (PAKISTAN): An explosion tore through the Tablighi Markaz in the Swat Valley, killing 22 members of Tablighi Jama`at. It was unclear whether the explosion was an accident, or if a suicide bomber was responsible. – The News International, January 11
January 10, 2013 (YEMEN): Yemeni tribal leader Ali Abdul Salam, who mediated between the government and al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), was killed by armed men in an ambush in Abyan Province. Authorities blamed AQAP. – Reuters, January 10
January 10, 2013 (MALI): Islamist militants in control of northern Mali pushed further south, successfully seizing the town of Konna, just 40 miles from Mopti. Mopti is the last garrison town that protects the road to the country’s capital, Bamako. Among the ranks of the militants are members of al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb. – Telegraph, January 11
January 11, 2013 (MALI): French military forces intervened in northern Mali, attacking Islamist militants who control the north. French and Malian forces managed to retake the town of Konna, which the militants overran on January 10. Among the ranks of the militants are members of al-Qa`ida in the Islamic Maghreb. French President Francois Hollande said, “I have decided that France will respond without delay and alongside our partners, to the request of the Malian authorities. We will do it strictly in the framework of UN Security Council resolutions and we are ready to stop the terrorist offensive if it continues.” – Telegraph, January 11
January 11, 2013 (IRAQ): At least 12 prisoners, including members of al-Qa`ida in Iraq, escaped from Taji prison, 15 miles from Baghdad. Some of the escapees were on death row. – RFE/RL, January 11
January 11, 2013 (SOMALIA): French forces launched a rescue attempt to save Denis Allex, a member of France’s General Directorate for External Security (DGSE), who had been held by al-Shabab since July 14, 2009, in Somalia. A fierce gunfight erupted during the rescue attempt, in which two French soldiers and 17 militants were killed. French authorities said that Denis Allex was killed during the failed raid. Al-Shabab, however, claimed that Allex survived the raid, and on January 17 they announced his execution in retaliation for the French military operation. – CNN, January 12
January 12, 2013 (PAKISTAN): Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud circulated a leaflet calling for an end to the TTP’s attacks on Pakistani soldiers in North Waziristan Agency. The cease-fire, however, does not apply to the rest of Pakistan. – Reuters, January 13
January 13, 2013 (PAKISTAN): An improvised explosive device detonated near a Pakistani military convoy in North Waziristan Agency, killing 16 soldiers. According to Reuters, “A spokesman for the Mujahideen Ansar, a group dominated by Uzbek fighters, claimed responsibility and told Reuters the attack was retaliation for the Pakistani army’s complicity in drone strikes. The group is allied to Pakistan Taliban fighters.” – NBC News, January 13; Reuters, January 13
January 13, 2013 (NIGERIA): Nigeria’s military captured Mohammed Zangina, identified as a top Boko Haram member, in Maiduguri, Borno State. Zangina is reportedly a member of Boko Haram’s shura committee, the group’s governing body. – CNN, January 13
January 14, 2013 (YEMEN): Yemeni security forces arrested two members of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula near Sana`a, recovering suicide bomb vests, assassination manuals, explosives, and lists of targets for attack. – Reuters, January 14
January 15, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): The Afghan Taliban released a statement condemning France’s recent military intervention in Mali. According to the statement, “When France began its withdrawal process from Afghanistan in recent times it seemed as the French government would likely expand its anti-war stance to other regions in the world. However it broke off its commitment to peace by transgressing militarily on the soil of northern African nation of Mali.” The Afghan Taliban warned that the intervention will be “not only disastrous for Mali but also for France.” – AAP, January 15
January 15, 2013 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber killed Iraqi lawmaker Efam al-Esawi, a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc, in Anbar Province. The lawmaker’s bodyguard was killed as well. The Islamic State of Iraq took responsibility, describing al-Esawi as an “arrogant criminal.” – Reuters, January 15; AFP, January 21
January 15, 2013 (SYRIA): Two explosions tore through the Syrian city of Aleppo, killing more than 80 people. The blasts occurred between the University of Aleppo’s halls of residence and the architecture faculty on the first day of exams. According to the BBC, “State TV said ‘terrorists’ had launched rockets at the campus, but activists blamed missiles fired by warplanes.” – BBC, January 15
January 15, 2013 (YEMEN): A senior Yemeni official said that a Finnish couple and an Austrian man who were abducted in Yemen by tribesmen last month have been sold to al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). AQAP reportedly moved the hostages to Bayda Province. – Reuters, January 15
January 16, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): An estimated six militants attacked a building belonging to Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Kabul, killing an Afghan security guard. According to the BBC, “The NDS said that one suicide attacker drove a minibus which exploded outside the NDS building. Five others, armed with semi-automatic weapons and hand grenades, then fought the security forces for 15 minutes before being killed by guards.” – BBC, January 16
January 16, 2013 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber in a truck filled with explosives targeted the Kurdistan Democratic Party headquarters in Kirkuk, killing at least 25 people. – Reuters, January 16
January 16, 2013 (ALGERIA): Militants attacked a BP natural gas facility in Algeria, taking dozens of foreigners and Algerians hostage. The militants, who referred to themselves as al-Mua’qi’oon Biddam (Those Who Sign with Blood), identified their leader as Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Belmokhtar released a video dated January 17 in which he claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that “we at al-Qa`ida are responsible for this operation, which we bless.” He further said, “We are ready to negotiate with the West and the Algerian regime provided that [they stop] the attack and bombardment against the Muslim people of Mali…and respect their desire to implement Shari`a in their territory.” On January 17, Algerian security forces opened fire on militants attempting to escape with hostages. Security forces finally took control of the facility on January 19. Although nearly 700 Algerian workers and more than 100 foreigners escaped, initial reports suggested that at least 48 hostages were killed during the four-day siege. – Voice of America, January 17; Reuters, January 20
January 17, 2013 (UNITED STATES): A federal judge, citing lack of evidence, acquitted one of two south Florida imams accused of sending more than $50,000 to the Pakistani Taliban. Izhar Khan was freed from jail after the decision. – Reuters, January 17
January 17, 2013 (SOMALIA): The United States granted official recognition to the Somali government in Mogadishu for the first time in two decades. – CNN, January 17
January 17, 2013 (PAKISTAN): Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan gunmen assassinated Manzar Imam, a provincial lawmaker belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), in the Orangi neighborhood of Karachi. According to police, “A member of the Sindh provincial assembly was killed with three of his guards when gunmen on two motorcycles intercepted his car in Orangi neighborhood and shot them with automatic weapons.” – Dawn, January 17
January 18, 2013 (PAKISTAN): Pakistan reportedly plans to release all Afghan Taliban prisoners currently in detention, including the group’s former second-in-command, Mullah Baradar. The prisoner release is part of reconciliation efforts in neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistani officials did not specify when the detainees would be freed. – Reuters, January 18
January 19, 2013 (YEMEN): An explosion tore through a house in Bayda Province, killing more than 10 suspected members of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula. Militants reportedly used the home for assembling bombs, and authorities suspect that the explosion was accidental. – Reuters, January 20; Voice of America, January 20
January 19, 2013 (YEMEN): Suspected U.S. drones killed three alleged militants in Marib Province. – Reuters, January 20
January 20, 2013 (YEMEN): Suspected U.S. drones killed three alleged militants in Marib Province, marking the second set of drone strikes in the province in two days. – Reuters, January 20
January 21, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): Taliban militants stormed the headquarters of Kabul’s traffic police. According to CNN, “A suicide bomber detonated his explosives at the entrance gate of the traffic police compound. Two or three attackers then managed to charge inside the main building, armed with machine guns and more explosives.” Other reports suggested that there were multiple suicide bombings. At least three people were killed. – CNN, January 21; NBC News, January 21; CBS News, January 21
January 21, 2013 (SYRIA): A suicide bomber in a vehicle killed a number of pro-Assad militiamen in Hama Province. Jabhat al-Nusra, a Salafi-jihadi rebel group, claimed responsibility. – AP, January 28
January 21, 2013 (YEMEN): A U.S. drone killed three suspected members of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula in Marib Province. According to the Associated Press, “security officials said the five targeted Monday were traveling in a pickup truck when it was hit in Marib, about 25 miles outside its main city with the same name. Two were killed on site, while another died hours later of his wounds…Two of those killed were identified as Ali Saleh Toaiman and Qassim Nasser Toaiman…the third was identified as Ahmed al-Ziadi.” – New York Daily News, January 21; AP, January 21
January 21, 2013 (NIGERIA): Suspected Boko Haram militants attacked hunters selling bush meat in Damboa, Borno State, killing 18 people. According to the BBC, “strict Muslims are forbidden to eat this type of bush meat,” which consists of meat from monkeys and pigs. – BBC, January 22
January 22, 2013 (IRAQ): A car bomb exploded near an army camp in the town of Taji, Baghdad Province, killing seven people. – al-Jazira, January 22
January 22, 2013 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber killed five people at an army checkpoint in Mahmudiyah, Babil Province. – al-Jazira, January 22
January 22, 2013 (YEMEN): A U.S. drone killed four suspected members of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula in al-Jawf Province. – Reuters, January 22
January 22, 2013 (PHILIPPINES): Abu Sayyaf Group militants ambushed the Philippines elite Army Scout Rangers in Basilan Province, wounding seven of them. – Philippine Inquirer, January 22
January 23, 2013 (GLOBAL): Muhammad al-Zawahiri, the brother al-Qa`ida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, sanctioned violence against the West in reaction to the French-led military offensive in northern Mali. “All Muslims have the right to stop this aggression by any means,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press in Cairo. “They [the West] are making jihadists.” According to the Associated Press, “Al-Zawahiri, who is the younger brother of the al-Qaeda leader, was imprisoned for nearly 12 years under Egypt’s former president, Hosni Mubarak, including four years in solitary confinement. He was tortured during his time in prison, before eventually being freed after Mubarak’s ouster. Since his release, he has been appearing in street protests in defense of Shariah…and on Friday he was among some 200 ultraconservative Islamists and former jihadis who staged a protest in front of the French Embassy in Cairo.” – AP, January 23
January 23, 2013 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber disguised as a mourner killed an estimated 42 people during funeral services inside a Shi`a mosque in Tuz Khurmatu, Salah al-Din Province. – Reuters, January 23; AFP, January 23
January 23, 2013 (YEMEN): A U.S. drone killed six suspected members of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula near Sana`a. – Reuters, January 23
January 24, 2013 (YEMEN): A Yemeni government statement said that Said al-Shihri, second-in-command of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula, has died of wounds sustained during a U.S. drone attack in November 2012. It was not clear when he actually died. Al-Shihri, a Saudi national, was detained in 2001 by Pakistan and turned over to U.S. custody. He was imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay for six years, before being released to Saudi Arabia to participate in a rehabilitation program for militants. He then ended up in Yemen fighting for al-Qa`ida. – Voice of America, January 24; AP, January 24; ABC News, January 22
January 25, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): A suicide bomber in a vehicle killed five people in Kapisa Province. The Taliban said they attempted to attack a NATO convoy, but the bomber missed the convoy and crashed into a house. – CNN, January 25; RFE/RL, January 25
January 25, 2013 (SOMALIA): Al-Shabab’s Twitter account was suspended after it was used to threaten to kill Kenyan hostages. According to the BBC, “Twitter refused to comment on the suspension but its rules say that threats of violence are banned.” – BBC, January 25
January 26, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): A suicide bomber killed 10 policemen in a square in Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan. Abdullah Zemarai, the head of the local police counterterrorism department, was among the dead, as well as Sayyed Aslam Sadat, the head of the traffic police. – New York Times, January 26
January 26, 2013 (PAKISTAN): An estimated 300 Pakistani Taliban militants attacked the Ansaarul Islam pro-government militia in the Maidan area of Tirah in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. During the clashes, which lasted for days, at least 71 fighters on both sides were killed. – Reuters, January 26; Dawn, January 27
January 26, 2013 (MALI): French forces were in control of parts of Gao, northern Mali’s most populous city, after retaking the city from Islamist militants. – McClatchy Newspapers, January 26
January 27, 2013 (AFGHANISTAN): A roadside bomb killed 10 people on a police truck in Kandahar. Eight of the dead were police, and two were detainees. – New York Times, January 26
January 28, 2013 (YEMEN): A suicide bomber in a vehicle killed 11 soldiers at a military checkpoint in Ra`da, Bayda Province. – Bloomberg, January 28
January 29, 2013 (SOMALIA): A suicide bomber detonated explosives inside the presidential palace compound in Mogadishu, killing two people. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility. – AP, January 29; al-Arabiya, January 29
January 31, 2013 (IRAQ): The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) called on Sunni protesters to take up arms against Shi`a Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. According to Reuters, “Thousands of Sunni Muslims have rallied mostly in the western province of Anbar since December over frustrations they have been sidelined since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.” The ISI said, “You have two options, not three: either kneel before the apostates, though that will be impossible, or to take up arms.” – Reuters, January 31
