Homeland Security News

American warplanes have destroyed about 40 U.S.-supplied Humvees that the Taliban captured from Afghanistan’s military over the past several years, according to coalition military statistics provided to USA TODAY.

The statistics highlight a recurring problem: Taliban fighters have frequently attacked Afghan government outposts throughout the country, capturing U.S.-supplied equipment and then disappearing into the countryside. They have also run off with weapons and other equipment.

“In the event this type of military equipment is stolen, U.S. Forces-Afghanistan and the Afghan national defense and security forces work quickly to reacquire the equipment or eliminate it from the battlefield altogether so as not to allow the enemy an advantage,” Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell, a military spokesman, said in a statement.

Read more: USA Today

The US military carried out several drone strikes in Somalia in the last few weeks, targeting dozens of anti-government militants who the Pentagon said were associated with the local al Qaeda affiliate, al-Shabaab.

The US military conducted an airstrike Saturday that targeted a group of al-Shabaab militants about 26 miles southwest of Bosasso, Somalia, according to US Africa Command, which oversees US military operations on the continent.
Africa Command said Monday that 27 "terrorists" were killed in that strike.
On Thursday, US forces conducted an airstrike 30 miles southwest of Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. Africa Command said that strike killed 12 "terrorists."

Read more: CNN

A British man tried to strike at "the heart of democracy" with knives four weeks after the terror attack in Westminster, the Old Bailey has heard.

Khalid Ali, 28, was arrested by police near Parliament on April 27 carrying three knives, jurors were told.

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC said Mr Ali wanted to launch "a deadly terror attack" against MPs and the police.

Mr Ali denies preparing acts of terrorism in Britain and two charges of possessing explosives outside the UK.

The court heard Mr Ali, from Edmonton in north London, allegedly spent five years making bombs for the Taliban and fighting British forces in Afghanistan but returned in 2016 to deliver a "message" to the government.

Read more: BBC News

An air strike by Turkish warplanes “neutralised” at least six militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the military said on Twitter on Wednesday.

The air strike carried out on Tuesday targeted the Hakurk, Gara, Metina, Zap, Qandil, Avasin regions of northern Iraq, the Turkish military said, destroying 16 targets.

Turkey regularly carries out air strikes against PKK targets in northern Iraq, where the group is based in the Qandil mountains, and has also threatened operations in Sinjar.

“We have neutralised 4,500 terrorists in Afrin. They fled,” Erdogan said on Tuesday, referring to a Turkish military operation to drive Kurdish fighters from part of northern Syria.

“Qandil is next, Sinjar is next. We will face up to whoever is threatening, disturbing my country,” Erdogan said during a rally in Black Sea region of Eregli ahead of Turkey’s June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Read more:  Reuters

Virginia State Police were involved in an unusual police chase Tuesday evening as a stolen military vehicle sped down Interstate 95 at 40 mph.

Police received word of the stolen vehicle Tuesday evening around 8 p.m. local time, and began pursuing the armored personnel vehicle down a highway, according to Corinne N. Geller, public relations director for the Virginia State Police.

The vehicle was stolen by a soldier and driven off Fort Pickett, according to Virginia State Police Sgt. Keeli Hill said in a press conference. The vehicle is the property of the Virginia National Guard, and was not equipped with any weaponry.

Virginia State Police pursued the vehicle from Nottoway County, where Fort Pickett is located, to the city of Richmond, where the suspect stopped on his own accord and surrendered at roughly 9:40 p.m. local time.

Police blocked exit ramps during the chase for the safety of the public, Hill said. There were no injuries or accidents related to the pursuit.

The suspect is now in state custody with charges pending. The incident is under investigation.

Source:  ABC News