LEBANESE MILITARY TAKES REBEL STRONGHOLD
Violent clashes in Tripoli – Lebanon’s second largest city – have prompted a military offensive against al-Qaedamilitants who have used the city as a stronghold for years. Tanks and helicopters supported Lebanese Army units who had taken control of the city by Tuesday. The fighting left 11 soldiers and five civilians dead, making this the deadliest bout of fighting in the city since the start of the Syrian civil-war three years ago. The military offensive earned praise from Washington, which condemned "those who seek to sow chaos in Lebanon”. (Middle East Eye October 27, 2014; Al Jazeera October 28, 2014)
HOUTHIS BATTLE AL-QAEDA WITH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Yemeni army airstrikes, artillery and rockets supported an offensive against al Qaeda by Shi’ite Houthi rebels once opposed to the government. The fighting, in Yemen’s lawless south, saw Houthis do battle with the al-Qaeda-allied Ansar al-Sharia. The Houthis quickly took over the al-Manasseh area, one of Ansar al-Sharia’s “main southern strongholds” and are advancing on other southern areas under Ansar’s control. Tribal sources reported that the al Qaeda affiliate evacuated the city without casualties to a nearby district. Reports also indicate that the U.S. conducted a drone strike against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula members during the fighting, killing three of them. (Reuters October 26, 2014; The Long War Journal October 24, 2014)
FIGHT AGAINST ISIS UPDATE
Iraqi Kurdish forces “will not engage in ground fighting in the Syrian town of Kobani” but will provide artillery support, according to a Kurdish spokesman. The Iraqi Peshmerga are joining the fight against ISIS in Kobani after after a vote by the Kurdish region’s parliament approved the motion last week. ISIS militants have continued their onslaught of attacks against the city despite losing “hundreds” of fighters and stiff resistance from the Syrian Kurds. Elsewhere, the German intelligence service expressed concern during a confidential briefing last week that ISIS fighters possess anti-aircraft weapons that could be used to down a passenger airliner. While some of the weapons date back to the 1970s, some are “modern and advanced” and may originate from Russia, Bulgaria or China. (Reuters October 27, 2014; Al Arabiya October 27, 2014)
HOPES DWINDLE FOR BOKO HARAM CEASEFIRE
Just one week after the Nigerian government announced it had reached a ceasefire with Boko Haram, the group is being charged with kidnapping 30 boys and girls in Nigeria and a separate series of attacks in Cameroon. A local government official in Nigeria said that Boko Haram had stormed a town and took boys aged 13 and above and girls 11 and above. Meanwhile, troops in Cameroon announced that they killed 39 Boko Haram fighters during attempted raids after militants crossed the border from Nigeria. The week before, Cameroon announced it had killed over 100 Islamist fighters and lost eight soldiers. (CNN October 27, 2014; The Sydney Morning Herald October 27, 2014)