The Pentagon has announced a reduction down to 2,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan before President-elect Biden takes office. Afghan officials fear the cuts will encourage the Taliban to keep fighting.
Tag: Al Qaeda
Iran Denies That Al Qaeda Leader Was Killed in Tehran
The denial came in the wake of a New York Times report that quoted intelligence officials as saying the terror group’s No. 2 leader was killed on the street in Tehran in August.
Al Qaeda’s Abu Muhammad al-Masri Secretly Killed in Iran
Israeli agents shot Abu Muhammad al-Masri on the streets of Tehran at the behest of the U.S., officials said, but no one — Iran, Al Qaeda, the U.S. or Israel — has publicly acknowledged the killing.
U.S. Troops Are Still Leaving, but Afghans Hope Biden Will Help
Afghans fear the Taliban are subverting the peace process, and hope a Biden administration will bring more accountability.
Gunmen Attack Afghanistan’s Kabul University, Killing at Least 19
The siege lasted six hours as Afghan forces and U.S. commandos hunted and killed three gunmen. An Afghan branch of the Islamic State was reported to have claimed responsibility.
Al Qaeda Feels Losses in Syria and Afghanistan but Stays Resilient
American drones and U.S. allies killed several Qaeda leaders and operatives in the past week. But the organization has “ingrained itself in local communities and conflicts,” according to the U.N.
‘It’s a New Day’: Sudan Exults in Move to Take It Off List of Terror States
President Trump said on Monday that the U.S. plans to lift Sudan’s 27-year designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, enabling Sudan to access international financial networks.
U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Qaeda Financier Who Trades in Gems
The action shows that the U.S. government remains concerned about how extremist groups like Al Qaeda and the Islamic State continue to creatively raise and distribute money around the world.
State Dept. to Remove Sudan From List of Terrorist States
The move clears the way for the African nation to seek international assistance and potentially to normalize relations with Israel, which officials said could happen in days.
Trump’s Tweets on Troop Withdrawals Unnerve Pentagon
The president’s demands to draw down forces in Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria seek to fulfill a campaign promise. But officials warn rapid troop reductions could bolster adversaries.