Voice of America Al-Shabab Claims Responsibility for Deadly Truck Bombing in Somali Capital By Harun Maruf The al-Shabab militant group claimed responsibility for Saturday's truck bomb attack in Mogadishu, which killed at least 80 people and wounded 78 others.The official spokesman for the group, Ali Mohamud Rageh, known as Ali Dhere, made the statement via the group's official station, Radio Andalus.Ali Dhere said the group's target was a Turkish convoy and security forces at the city's busy Ex-Control junction.  "On Saturday, the Mujahedeen executed an attack at Ex-Control, targeting an enemy Turkish convoy and the militias who were guarding them," he said. "It hit the convoy and inflicted heavy losses on the Turks and the apostate militias who were protecting them."The al-Shabab spokesman admitted civilians were killed in the explosion. While he said he regretted the loss of civilian lives, he also justified it, saying, "Protecting religion comes before saving...

Somalia strikes at al-Shabaab 'with US drones' after deadly truck bomb The Sydney Morning Herald By Abdirahman Mohamed and Mirjam Schmitt Mogadishu: Several members of the Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab have been killed in drone attacks in Somalia.The strikes were in retaliation against a bombing in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday that killed nearly 100 people, Somali state media reported. There has been no claim of responsibility although many suspect that al-Shabaab may be behind the attack.The strikes occurred near the town of Kunya-Barow, reports said, adding that elite Somali forces were involved, but without giving more details. Media reports said at least one high-ranking commander was killed.Somalia itself has no powerful armed drones, but relies on the help of its allies. "We have international partners who help us in the fight against the terrorists," the intelligence sources said on Sunday. Read more: https://www.smh.com.au/world/africa/somalia-stikes-at-al-shabaab-with-us-drones-after-deadly-truck-bomb-20191230-p53nhv.html...

US Embassy compound in Baghdad under siege as crowds protesting airstrikes break through gateBy Greg Norman, Edmund DeMarche | Fox News Crowds of angry Iraqis protesting America’s recent airstrikes against an Iran-backed militia laid siege to the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad Tuesday, chanting “Down, Down USA!” as they stormed through a main gate and prompting U.S. troops to fire back tear gas in response.On Tuesday afternoon the chaotic scene was still unfolding in the Iraqi capital. At least six U.S. soldiers were seen standing on the roof of the main building pointing their firearms at the demonstrators and sounds of gunfire could be heard.Two Iraqi foreign ministry officials initially told Reuters the U.S. ambassador and staff were evacuated, but U.S. officials pushed back, telling Fox News that the embassy has not been evacuated. Further, an official said Ambassador Matthew H. Tueller was not evacuated but has been out of...

  Shooting Reinforces Need for Armed Security at Houses of Worship, Former FBI Agent Says NBC DWF 5 Two parishioners killed in a shooting Sunday at West Freeway Church of Christ By Katy Blakey    Former FBI agent and security expert Greg Shaffer said what happened Sunday inside the West Freeway Church of Christ is proof all houses of worship need armed security. He pointed to the quick actions of the church’s armed security team in shooting and killing the gunman. “This incident certainly drives home the critical need of having an armed response,” Shaffer said. “Had they not been there, there would have been dozens upon dozens of casualties in that church.” Video from the church’s livestream on YouTube shows armed members of the congregation taking action within seconds. One church member can be seen shooting the suspect.Shaffer spent 20 years with the FBI and now teaches companies how to...

WLNY CBS New York New York Synagogue Attack: Machete-Wielding Suspect Captured In NYC After At Least 5 People Wounded In Monsey MONSEY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – At least five people have been stabbed in an attack at a synagogue in New York’s Rockland County. That attacker is now reportedly in custody after fleeing the scene.CBS2’s Tony Aiello has confirmed a man entered Rabbi Rottenburg’s synagogue on Forshay Road in Monsey and stabbed several people just before 10 p.m. Saturday.The suspect has been identified as 37-year-old Grafton Thomas, of Greenwood Lake, New York, in Orange County.Thomas, covering his face with a scarf, reportedly entered the building and pulled out a machete to attack the victims during a Chanukah celebration. Thomas reportedly chased after and stabbed victims as they fled the synagogue before running off and escaping in a gray Nissan Sentra. “He took out his knife, sword from a holder and started...

  Texas church shooting gunman had 'something not right' about him, witness says; ex-FBI agent reportedly shot suspect By Travis Fedschun | Fox News The gunman who pulled out a shotgun during a church service in Texas on Sunday and opened fire on worshipers appeared to be in disguise when he entered the sanctuary, according to a woman who said he made her feel uncomfortable when he sat feet away from her.Two men were killed when the gunman opened fire at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, as more than 240 parishioners were inside. Within seconds, he was shot to death by two congregants who fired back.At a news conference Sunday night, White Settlement Police Department Chief J.P. Bevering told reporters the gunman – who has yet to be identified – had sat down in a pew before getting up, taking out a shotgun and firing at a...

Clarion Project by By Alex VanNess Michigan Terror Supporters Seek to Influence Gov’t Policy Michigan terror supporters – which include professionals such as a law professor, an attorney and a publisher – are seeking to dictate Michigan state policies, specifically who the state can engage with and learn from.These individuals are ticked that, over the past few months, several of Michigan’s senior government officials have visited Israel to engage with the country’s tech industry and to learn about cyber security to protect Michigan’s elections, businesses and more.They weren’t satisfied that the trip that Michigan’s Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, joined was a bipartisan delegation from the National Association of Secretaries of State and that the delegation also met with Palestinian civic and business leaders in Ramallah.Read more: https://clarionproject.org/michigan-terror-supporters-seek-to-influence-govt-policy/...

Foreign Policy U.S. To Ramp Up Counterterrorism Efforts In Sahel Region Despite years of U.S. and international efforts to fight terrorism in the area, extremist groups are gaining ground. By Robbie Gramer The Trump administration is preparing to create a new special envoy position and task force to deal with security threats in the Sahel region of Africa, reflecting a growing alarm in Washington about the rise of extremist groups in West Africa, including ones affiliated with the Islamic State.The measure comes as extremist groups carry out increasingly deadly attacks in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso and spread their reach further south. Officials and experts warn that the extremist groups are gaining strength despite U.S.-led special operations raids and drone strikes, and yearslong efforts by Western countries and West African governments to root out the groups. The administration is preparing to appoint a special envoy who would head an interagency...

Stars And Stripes Afghan Official: Hundreds Of ISIS Members Surrounded, Detained By ASSOCIATED PRESS KABUL, Afghanistan — The Afghan government said Saturday it has detained about 700 Islamic State group fighters and family members in eastern Afghanistan over the past six months.The Afghan intelligence service, the National Directorate for Security, said among the 700 are at least 75 women and 159 children. Many of the group are from foreign countries. Many were arrested, but some turned themselves in.The NDS said all of the fighters and family members were transported to the NDS compound in Kabul. Earlier, security forces had surrounded dozens of remaining fighters in their homes in various districts in the region. The NDS said the operation was ongoing. There was no way to independently confirm that the prisoners the government presented to reporters and photographers at the NDS compound Saturday are affiliated with the Islamic State group. Read...

  The Jerusalem Post ISIS Used Drones To Attack Three Refineries In Syria The oil and gas markets have been suffering significant losses, estimated to be as high as 74 billion dollars due to the civil war which began in 2011. By YASSER OKBI/MAARIV Three refineries were attacked simultaneously in the city of Homs north of Damascus, using drones, in what was called by the mineral resources and oil ministry in Syria as “terrorist activities” The refineries’ manager in Homs, Haythem Massucar, has said that two refineries and two gas facilities in the area were attacked early Saturday morning. Fire fighters managed to quickly douse the fire which broke out at the facilities. The Syrian Oil Ministry reported on its Facebook  regarding the occurence of “systematic terror attacks on three of [its] oil facilities” which includes refineries in the Homs area, and gas stations located central Homs and the “Rian”...

  U.S. News By Keith CoffmanDENVER (Reuters) - While the North American Aerospace Defense Command stays alert for any signs of a North Korea missile launch – what officials in Pyongyang have described as a "Christmas gift" – it is also tracking the legendary figure who delivers presents to children across the world, the command said on Monday.Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, NORAD is a combined U.S. and Canadian military command whose mission is to issue aerospace and maritime warnings and controls across North America.For more than six decades, it has also offered real-time animated tracking of Santa Claus, also known as Kris Kringle, as his reindeer-powered sleigh traverses the globe delivering Yuletide gifts to children.“As NORAD conducts its primary mission of defending North America from threats, we’re proud to continue our tradition of tracking Santa’s journey around the world,” NORAD said in a statement. NORAD’s Santa tracking website www.noradsanta.org...

35 civilians killed in Burkina Faso terrorist attack UPI By Darryl Coote Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Jihadists killed at least 35 civilians, mostly women, during an attack on a military base in northern Burkina Faso, authorities said.The attack on the Arbinda, Soum province, military base was carried out Tuesday morning by dozens of jihadists and lasted several hours before the attackers were driven back by the air force and armed forces, resulting in seven soldiers and 80 jihadists killed, the army said. "A large group of terrorists simultaneously attacked the military base and the civilian population in Arbinda," the army said in a statement.No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2019/12/25/35-civilians-killed-in-Burkina-Faso-terrorist-attack/2191577250707/...

One America News Network President Trump wishes troops a Merry Christmas OAN NewsroomPresident Trump spent Christmas Eve thanking our armed forces. The president spoke with members of all five military branches at his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, and thanked them for their bravery and vigilance. He also took a moment to tout the government’s newest military branch, the Space Force, and noted it will be the first time in 70 years a new branch has been added to the military.President Trump ended the teleconference by wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The president is cutting it close this year when it comes to selecting a Christmas present for his wife, the First Lady. During his video call with U.S. troops, the president said he’s “still working on it” when asked what he got Melania for Christmas. Read more: https://www.oann.com/president-trump-wishes-troops-a-merry-christmas/...

Spectrum News Glens Falls Christmas Eve March Honors Service Members By Erika Leigh Glens FallsThe annual Christmas Eve Road March honoring veterans and active duty service members stepped off in Glens Falls on Tuesday morning for the 16th year in a row."I wouldnt be any other place," said Dana Marcotte of Lake Luzerne. When Sergeant First Class Art Coon started the annual Christmas Eve march in 2004, he was working as a recruiter for the National Guard."Our soldiers from the local armory were deployed to Iraq, and we could easily be home in our pajamas sipping hot cocoa. I didn’t want them to think we had done that — forgotten them," Sgt. Coon said. "So I thought 'what could I do to grab their attention?' I’m like, ‘I’m gonna do a road march!’ "Marcotte has been coming since that first year."My children were deployed over Christmas, so I know what...

Washington Times Trump makes Christmas Eve video call to U.S. troops: 'You're tremendous warriors' By S.A. Miller - The Washington Times President Trump praised America’s “tremendous warriors” Tuesday in a Christmas Eve video call with U.S. troops stationed around the world.In wishing the service members a Merry Christmas and happy new year, the president extolled some of their achievements in 2019.“You’re tremendous warriors, and we appreciate it so much,” he said in the call. “You kept the Taliban running scared. You are incredible people.” Read more: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/dec/24/trump-makes-christmas-eve-video-call-us-troops-you/...

Deutsche Welle Germany: Nine Terror Attacks Prevented Since Berlin Christmas Market Killings Police say two terror-related incidents were prevented last month alone. Germany has been on heightened alert for fresh atrocities following the death of "Islamic State" (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October. Since the 2016 terrorist attack in Berlin's Breitscheidplatz, German authorities have prevented a further nine attacks of a similar nature, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) said Sunday.Indeed, last month alone, two acts of terror were thwarted, the BKA told Germany's Welt am Sonntag.The head of the organization's recently formed department for "Islamist-motivated terrorism / extremism," Sven Kurenbach, told the newspaper that the death of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October may provoke more attacks. Kurenbach said: "After the death of the IS leader, there was an increasing call for terror in the West in radical Islamist circles." Read more: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-nine-terror-attacks-prevented-since-berlin-christmas-market-killings/a-51773479...

ABC News Police kill gunman who wounded 2 outside busy Phoenix mall Police shot and killed a gunman outside a busy Phoenix mall filled with Christmas shoppers, saying he wounded two people during an attempted carjacking By The Associated Press PHOENIX -- Police shot and killed a gunman Monday outside a busy Phoenix mall filled with Christmas shoppers after he wounded two people during an attempted carjacking, authorities said.The incident began when the attacker held a woman at gunpoint outside Desert Sky Mall and demanded she drive him someplace.A bystander who heard her screams tried to help and was shot as she escaped, police spokeswoman Mercedes Fortune said. A stray bullet hit a woman in another car.Police say the gunman used the stolen car to hit a patrol vehicle and refused to stop. He was shot and died at the scene, Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/police-kill-gunman-wounded-busy-phoenix-mall-67902112...

Tulsa World Tulsa Police officers shower family in need with Christmas gifts, tree, cookies and decorations By Kelsy Schlotthauer Tulsa World A bad situation was made a little better on Sunday when Tulsa police officers showered a family in need with almost everything necessary for a traditional Christmas. How officers came into contact with them wasn't ideal — it began as a morning domestic call that culminated in an arrest — but a realization at the jail ultimately sent Officer Ralph Travis back to the family's home. Travis said he was at the jail filling out paperwork, recalling what had happened and picturing the house, when something caught his attention in his mind's eye. Read more: https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/tulsa-police-officers-shower-family-in-need-with-christmas-gifts/article_fd6d4faa-74bb-5a07-a3d1-3a0a7365835c.html...

USA TODAY US service member is killed in combat in Afghanistan; Taliban claim bombing attack by Rahim Faiez The Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan – An American service member was killed in combat Monday in Afghanistan, the U.S. military said, without providing further details, while Taliban militants claimed they were behind a roadside bombing in northern Kunduz province that killed the U.S. soldier.The latest fatality brings the number of American deaths in Afghanistan this year to 20. There have also been three non-combat deaths in 2019. More than 2,400 Americans have died in the nearly 18-year conflict.The Taliban now control or hold sway over practically half of Afghanistan but continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials – even as they hold peace talks with a U.S. envoy tasked with negotiating an end to what has become America’s longest war. Scores of Afghan civilians...

Berlin Police Give All-Clear After Closing Christmas Market US News & World Report BERLIN (Reuters) - Berlin police gave the all-clear on Saturday after earlier evacuating a Christmas market that was the scene of a fatal attack three years ago to investigate a possible suspicious object, which they did not find.Tunisian Anis Amri ploughed a truck into the Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in 2016, killing 12 people. Amri, who had Islamist militant ties, was later shot dead by Italian police after he fled Germany. "Our police measures around #Breitscheidplatz are finished. A dangerous object has not been found," Berlin police tweeted. "In the evening, our colleagues had found two people who behaved suspiciously at the #Breitscheidplatz and checked them."Daily newspaper Bild quoted a police spokesman as saying that the two men were stopped after leaving the square at a conspicuously fast pace and that, on taking their names, officers believed...