Gaza on verge of famine as war escalates, ceasefire talks stall    Gaza crisis, trade on agenda as Trump hosts Starmer in Scotland    Obama calls for aid access to Gaza, says 'no justification' for withholding food    Egyptian president follows up on initiatives to counter extremist thought    Egypt's SCZONE eyes deeper investment, port digitalisation ties with Singapore    Egypt's gold prices slip slightly on July 28th    Egypt's Housing Min. reviews HDP marketing plan    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egypt, South Africa pledge to deepen development cooperation at G20 meeting    Egypt's PM orders road maintenance review, tougher penalties to curb accidents    Egypt, Novartis explore expanding collaboration in oncology, cardiology    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Midar partners with Adeer to develop Boulevard project in Mostakbal City with EGP 70bn investment    Association of Real Estate Developers seeks urgent meeting over threatened land deallocation on Northwest Coast    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Sudan's ambassador to Egypt holds reconstruction talks on with Arab League    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Egypt welcomes 25-nation statement urging end to Gaza war    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Egypt, Senegal sign pharma MoU to unify regulatory standards    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt foils terrorist plot, kills two militants linked to Hasm group    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Al-Qaeda's Iraq campaign gains momentum
Published in Daily News Egypt on 29 - 07 - 2012

Iraqi police stop vehicles at a checkpoint in central Baghdad, July 24, amid tightened security. Al-Qaeda's Iraq front group claimed a wave of attacks that killed 113 people on Monday in Iraq's deadliest day in two and a half years Ahmad al-Rubaye
The “Destroying the Walls" campaign pledged last week by Al-Qaeda's local Iraqi branch is in full swing. Al-Qaeda militants clashed with the country's security forces on Thursday, leaving at least 12 dead, including five Iraqi policemen and seven militants, and destroying an Iraqi helicopter, the Associated Press reports.
The fighting began Wednesday in the town of Hadid, once a stronghold for rebels and insurgents. It escalated violently through Thursday.
“It was fierce fighting and lasted several hours between the security forces and Al-Qaeda fighters," said Blaer Hassan, a provincial security official in Diyala.
“The Hadid area is a stronghold for al-Qaeda and constitutes a danger to the province and also to Baghdad."
“This is a setback because we are worried about the capacity of Iraqi forces in the face of the growing strength of al-Qaeda," Hassan said.
The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) said the “Destroying the Walls" campaign, announced by Al-Qaeda leader Abu Bakr El-Baghdadi it on the jihadist website, Honein, is attempting to usher in a new era of jihad and retake ground lost in the 2003 US invasion.
In related news, the nearby city of Baquba saw fifteen elected neighbourhood officials resign from their posts, stating that the government could not protect them from al-Qaeda.
The officials were mukhtars –literally meaning ‘the chosen' and were elected liaisons between the people and the government. They resigned due to threats against them and their families from violent militants, threats they did not believe the government could protect them from.
Eight mukhtars have been killed this past year in Baquba, along with seven family members.
The ISI under El-Baghdadi has also announced its support for Syrian rebels and opposition groups fighting against Bashar Al-Assad's oppressive system. Iraqi officials have expressed concern about al-Qaeda activities on both sides of the Iraq's long border with Syria.
The attacks and the resignations come only days after the first offensive of the “Destroying the Walls" campaign. The first wave of attacks was a coordinated offensive that spanned the entire country last week, leaving 116 dead. It was considered by many the worst attack Iraq had seen in two and a half years.


Clic here to read the story from its source.