Open Source INTSUM: Monday, Oct. 31, 2005

[Airbornelawyer]

From Various Sources:

Middle East

• Security incidents in Iraq, Oct 31 (Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• Troops Numbers – Top Up, Draw Down, Overlap and FOB Closings (Source: Bill Roggio's blog, The Fourth Rail)

• Coverage of U.N. sanctions on Syria: Syria faces sanctions vote at UN and Syria Faces U.N.

• U.S., Iraqi forces sweep up 49 terror suspects. "Task Force Baghdad Soldiers, along with Iraqi Security Forces, conducted major combat assaults, dubbed Operation Clean Sweep, Oct. 28-29 in south Baghdad. The operation netted 49 terrorists and a large weapons cache. …"(Source: Multinational Force - Iraq)

• Syria accuses US of launching lethal raids over its borders. "Syria has accused the United States of launching lethal military raids into its territory from Iraq, escalating the diplomatic crisis between the two countries as the Bush administration seeks to step up pressure on President Bashar Assad's regime. …" (Source: The Telegraph)

Asia

• Afghanistan: U.S., British Troops Killed In Latest Surge Of Violence. "U.S. and Afghan authorities say that at least 23 people have been killed in a surge of violence in Afghanistan over the past several days. The dead include Afghan civilians, suspected Taliban militants, and American and British soldiers. The violence comes as Afghanistan awaits the release of the final list of winners of the country's 18 September legislative elections. …" (Source: RFE/RL)

• Amphibious Exercise Sea Eagle Begins. " More than 500 Royal Australian Navy and Army personnel are on the move to Cowley Beach, north of Townsville, to participate in the Australian Defence Force’s amphibious training exercise, Exercise Sea Eagle.The two week long exercise conducted from 31 October – 11 November 2005 is part of the ADF’s ongoing efforts to develop its amphibious capability for the defence of Australia and its interests…." (Source: Australian Department of Defence)

• Lankan military commander shot dead. "Unidentified attackers shot dead the head of a Sri Lankan army intelligence unit near his home in the capital Colombo on Sunday, police and army officials said. …" (Source: Daily Times (Pakistan))

• Sri Lanka: Security Situation Report. (Source: Sri Lanka Army)

• South Asia Terrorism Update (Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal)

Africa

• NATO, U.S. European Command working in Africa (Source: U.S. European Command)

• ERITREA: Gov't says UN has failed to keep peace in Horn of Africa "The Eritrean government has accused the UN Security Council of failing to maintain peace in the Horn of Africa, where a stalemate over border demarcation and the recent grounding of UN helicopters has increased tension between Eritrea and Ethiopia…" (Source: Reuters Alertnet)

• Somali warlord threatens planes. "Somali warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow has threatened to shoot down any plane flying over the capital, Mogadishu, known to be diverted to other towns. …" (Source: BBC)

• Algerian forces kill 9 suspects "Algerian forces killed nine suspected militants in separate raids in western Algeria that were part of a new security sweep, local officials and the official news agency said. …"(Source: Khaleej Times)

The Americas

• 'Drug lord' arrested in Colombia. "Police in Colombia have arrested an alleged leader of a powerful drug cartel who is wanted in the US for drug trafficking and money laundering. John Eidelber Cano Correa was detained in north-west Colombia after special forces backed by four helicopter gunships stormed a ranch. …" (Source: BBC)

• USSOUTHCOM Headline News (Microsoft Word format)

Europe

• USA Defence Collaboration Office gives a Seminar for Special Forces. "From October 25 to October 27, 2005 in the framework of Annual Plan of Collaboration between USA Defence Collaboration Office in Tirana and MOD, a Seminar for the Special Forces unites has been held in ‘Sheraton’ Hotel in Tirana." (note: this is a translation from Albanian, so their terminology is a little off.) (Source: Ministry of Defense of Albania)