al-Qaida Terrorist Wars and Conflicts (1993-2009)
Rescue workers try to save lives after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center
The Islamist terror network al-Qaida apparantly made an attempt to attack the United States on Christmas Day, 2009. A Nigerian man named Abdulfarouk Umar Muttalab attempted to ignite an explosive device onboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it neared Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport on December 25, 2009. Early reports indicate Muttalab claimed a connection to al-Qaida, though later reports say he denied any such connection. However, Rep. Peter King (R-NY), the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, identified the suspect as a man who “definitely has connections” to Al Qaeda. The suspect later informed investigatores that he obtained the explosive device in Yemen, which is a nation dealing with a growing al-Qaida presence.
1993: (Feb.) World Trade Center bombing—6 killed, 1,040 wounded in suicide truck bombing. No U.S. retaliation. In 1995 Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman was convicted of conspiring to bomb the WTC. In 1998 Ramzi Yousef was convicted of plotting the attack.1993: Somalia—al Qaeda claims a role in the killing of American troops in Somalia.
1996: (June) Khobar Towers—Truck bombing of U.S. military housing in Saudi Arabia. 19 U.S. troops killed, hundreds wounded. No U.S. retaliation.
1998: (Aug.) East African bombings—American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania destroyed by suicide truck bombings—12 Americans, 212 Kenyans and Tanzanians killed, nearly 4,500 wounded. The U. S. retaliated with Tomahawk missile strikes at suspected al-Qaeda targets in Sudan and Afghanistan. The U.S. later admitted the Sudan attack was a mistake.
1999: (Dec.) Attempted bomb plot to attack targets in the U.S. during the Millenium celebrations. An astute border guard in Washington State noticed an Algerian man acting nervously at a border crossing. The man had an automobile full of explosives.
2000: (Oct. 17) Attack on USS Cole in Yemen—17 U.S. sailors killed, 39 wounded in suicide raft bombing. No U.S. retaliation.
2001: (September 11) Attacks on New York and the Pentagon. 3,044 killed. The U.S. retaliates by launching the War on Terror, beginning with the invasion of Afghanistan on 10-07-01.
2002: (April) Tunisia synagogue bombing—221 killed, including 14 German tourists.
2002: (May) Karachi, Pakistan car bombing of a hotel—14 killed, including 11 French citizens.
2002: (June) Karachi, Pakistan bombing outside the American consulate—12 killed.
2002: (Oct.) Nightclub bombing in Bali, Indonesia—202 killed, including many Australian citizens.
2002: (Nov.) Suicide bombing of an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa, Kenya—16 killed. Surface to air missiles were also fired at an Israeli passenger jet taking off from the Mombasa airport. No injuries in the missile attack.
2003: (May) Suicide bombing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—34 killed, including 8 Americans. The attacks were on areas known to house Americans and Europeans in Riyadh.
2003: (May) Four bombs explode in Casablanca, Morocco—24 killed. The bombs specifically targeted Spanish, Belgian and Jewish locations.
2003 (Aug.): Suicide car bomb kills 12, injures 150, at Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2003 (Nov.): Explosions rock a Riyadh, Saudi Arabia housing compound killing 17.
2003 (Nov.): Suicide car bombers simultaneously attack two synagogues in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 25 and injuring hundreds.
2004 (Mar.): Ten terrorists bombs exploded almost simultaneously during the moring rush hour in Madrid, Spain, killing 190 and injuing more than 1,800.
2007 Glasgow International Airport attack (June 30, 2007)--Two Islamic Militants drove a vehicle filled with propane canisters through the entrance to Glasgow International Airport in Scotland. Five people were injured, and one of the militants died of burns and injuries.
London Terror Bombings (July 7, 2005)--Islamic militants exploded bombs in the London subway system and on a double-decker bus in reaction to Britain's involvment in the Iraq War. The bombings claimed 52 victims, and caused nearly 700 casualties. The four suicide bombers also died.
London Terror Bombings (July 21, 2005)--Islamic militants exploded four bombs in London, and a fifth bomb failed to explode properly. No casualties.
2009 (December)--Suspected al-Qaida connection to an attempt to blow up Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day, 2009
Links and Resources:
A Very Bourgeois Would-Be Bomber--The Atlantic, Dec. 26, 2009
'Hero' Tells How He Foiled Jet Bomb Plot --SkyNews, Dec. 26, 2009
Restrictions Rise After Terrorism Attempt--New York Times, Dec. 26, 2009
Jet passengers overpowered would-be bomber--LA Times, Dec. 25, 2009
Statement by Department of Homeland Security Press Secretary Sara Kuban--Dept. of Homeland Security Press Release, Dec. 25, 2009
Bomb Attempt on U.S.-Bound Flight : Man on Flight to Detroit Claims al Qaeda Ties; Obama Tightens Security--WSJ, December 25, 2009
Osama bin Laden--Page detailing bin Laden and his network.
President Bush's speech of September 20, 2001--National address before a joint session of Congress.
Wars and Conflicts of Burma/Myanmar --The Wars and Conflicts of Burma/Myanmar from the Anglo-Burmese Wars to the pro-democracy Myanmar uprising of 2007.
Wars of Iran and Persia--Lists the wars and conflicts of Persia and Iran from the 18th Century to the present.
The 2007 Pro-Democracy Uprising in Myanmar--The current uprising in Myanmar.
North Lebanon Conflict (2007)--Fighting between the Lebanese government and a Jihadist Palestinian militia calling itself Fatah al-Islam.
bin Laden's Declaration of War Against the United States-- Long before 9/11, Osama bin Laden declared his hatred and his intent to harm America.
Current Wars of the World--A listing of current wars and conflicts around the world.
Military Coups in Turkey-A listing of military coups in modern Turkey (1960-1997).
Comparing America's Wars Duration in Months-A look at America's wars and comparing their length in months.
War in Afghanistan--Details on the origins of this ongoing war; part of the War on Terror
Ethiopia-Somalia War of 2006*New*--A brief description of the Ethiopia-Somalia War which began in 2006, and is a part of the larger Somali Civil War.
Ethiopia-Somali Wars and Conflicts*New*--Listing the wars and conflicts between Ethiopia and Somalia
Wars of Germany--The wars and conflicts of Germany from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 to the War in Afghanistan.
Iraq War: Links and Resources*New*--Links and resources on the Iraq War.
Iraq War: Prisoner Abuse and Abu Ghraib Links and Resources*New*--Links and resources on the Iraq War's biggest scandal.
Iraq War: Battles and Campaigns*New*--Links and resources on Iraq War battles and military operations.
Israel-Lebanon/Hezbollah War of 2006--*New*--Details and analysis on the warfare along the Lebanese border which began in July, 2006!
Israel-Lebanon Conflict--*New*--Background information on the decades-long warfare and conflict along the Israel/Lebanon border.
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict--*New*--Background information on the long-running warfare between Israel and the Palestinians!
Israeli-Palestinian Battles and Campaigns--*New*--Specific information on the warfare raids, battles, terrorist attacks, and retaliations between Israel and the Palestinians!
Waziristan War----The War on Terror expands to Pakistan's Northwest Frontier!
Hamas----The terrorist/resistance group now ruling the Palestinian Authority!
Wars of 2006--*--Wars and conflicts of 2006!