News – February 2023


  • Pakistan: Two soldiers, one child martyred in North, South Waziristan attacks

    February 28, 2023

    Two soldiers and a child embraced martyrdom in separate incidents in North Waziristan and South Waziristan, officials confirmed. According to local officials, armed militants stormed a check post in the Noorkhel area of North Waziristan late Sunday night. Read more… Source: The Dawn  

  • Lawmakers press Pentagon on who is tracking US weapons in Ukraine

    February 28, 2023

    A senior Defense Department official on Tuesday said U.S. weapons and munitions in Ukraine are not being systemically misused after House lawmakers raised concerns over proper oversight of the billions of dollars in security aid flowing to Kyiv. Colin Kahl, the Pentagon’s under secretary of Defense for policy, told the House Armed Services Committee it has ...

  • Afghanistan’s demining program needs $18.3 million – OCHA

    February 28, 2023

    According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Afghanistan has one of the highest levels of explosive ordnance contamination globally. The statement tweeted on Monday saying that in 2023, some $18.3 million is needed for survey, explosive ordnance disposal, and landmine clearance. Read more… Source: Khaama Press  

  • EOD robots are potential confined space lifesavers

    February 28, 2023

    HILL AIR FORCE BASE – Generally, Liquid Fuels Maintenance and Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians don’t perform duties simultaneously for safety’s sake, but that’s what happened Feb. 8 near building 825 on Hill AFB. To avoid sending a human into a potentially dangerous confined space to perform a structural integrity inspection, EOD deployed robots equipped with video ...

  • Afghanistan: Taliban forces kill 2 top Islamic commanders in Kabul

    February 28, 2023

    The Taliban administration in Afghanistan claimed that two important Islamic State commanders were killed by its security personnel recently during a counter terrorism operation in Kabul. According to Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, one of the terrorists killed was Qari Fateh, who was known as the intelligence chief and a former minister of war for the Islamic ...

  • UK: Bomb disposal experts called to Rothbury

    February 28, 2023

    Northumbria Police cordoned off the Townfoot area after builders made the discovery on the site where the new Co-op is being built. The ordnance is believed to have been an artillery shell. Read more… Source: Northumberland Gazette  

  • Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer bonds with Navy working dog on battlefield

    February 28, 2023

    FORT BLISS, Texas – An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer developed an enduring bond with a Navy working dog during missions in Afghanistan. Capt. Jacob S. Rafalson, the EOD officer for the 1st Armored Division on Fort Bliss, Texas, served with a Navy working dog named Bongo during a deployment to Afghanistan in 2019. As a part ...

  • British Columbia: Police safely detonate bomb found in Kelowna

    February 27, 2023

    The RCMP explosives disposal unit has successfully detonated an explosive device found in the noon hour near the Wendy’s restaurant on Harvey Avenue. Police have confirmed to Castanet News the device was indeed a bomb. Read more… Source: Castanet News Related story: Bomb found near Kelowna, B.C., highway was ‘sophisticated,’ but not part of a targeted attack: RCMP  

  • India: Policeman killed in IED blast in India’s Chhattisgarh state

    February 26, 2023

    A policeman was killed Sunday after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by the Naxal rebels went off in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said. The blast occurred in the Orchha area of Narayanpur district, about 300 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. Read more… Source: Big News Network  

  • Philippines: Homemade explosive devices seized in Samar

    February 26, 2023

    Authorities seized two suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside liquor bottles at a house in Gandara, Samar Saturday, February 25, 2023. Through a search warrant for alleged violation of Republic Act 9516, or the Illegal Possession of Explosive, police conducted search and seizure operation at the house of the suspect, identified as Darwin Maasin in Purok ...

  • Pakistan: Five killed, 13 injured in Barkhan explosion

    February 26, 2023

    A deadly explosion rocked the Rakhni market in Barkhan city of Balochistan on Sunday morning, killing at least five people and injuring 13 others, according to police and health officials. Dr. Abdul Hameed, district health officer (DHO) of Barkhan, confirmed the death toll, saying the wounded had been transported to Rakhni Hospital for treatment. Read more… Source: Pakistan Today  

  • The Jordanian Army shoots down an explosive-laden drone coming from Syria

    February 26, 2023

    The Jordanian army announced in a statement that the Border Guard forces shot down yesterday a drone coming from Syria that tried to cross the kingdom’s borders while it was carrying hand grenades and a rifle. The statement quoted an official military source in the General Command of the Armed Forces as saying, “The Border Guard ...

  • Ukraine: How US-supplied anti-tank mines helped defeat a brigade of Russian marines in the battle for Vuhledar

    February 25, 2023

    Ukraine’s use of US-supplied remote anti-armor mines has helped stop Russian forces and destroyed its tanks and armored vehicles in the Donetsk region, where fierce fighting has been raging. Multiple videos have circulated on social media appearing to show Russian tanks driving into minefields and exploding. Read more… Source: Insider  

  • China reveals plans to train 5,000 soldiers from developing nations over the next five years

    February 25, 2023

    The announcement, which appeared in a paper on Beijing’s Global Security Initiative published earlier this week, comes amid a move to boost Beijing’s global security influence. According to SCMP, the report said: “Beijing plans to create more international platforms for exchange and cooperation to address security challenges in areas such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, biosecurity, and emerging ...

  • Pakistan: Bomb goes off near policeman’s house in Lakki city

    February 25, 2023

    A bomb planted near the house of a policeman went off here on Saturday. However, there was no loss of life or property, officials said. They said miscreants had planted an improvised explosive device near the house of constable, Wilayat Khan in Mohallah Railway Station in Lakki Marwat city. They added the blast was of low ...

  • Cameroon: Triple explosion in Buea during the 28th edition of the Race of Hope

    February 25, 2023

    On Saturday February 25, 2023, the city of Buea was shaken by three explosions, just before the start of the 28th edition of the Race of Hope. The first explosion occurred near the OIC market, about two kilometers from the Molyko Stadium. The other two explosions took place less than a kilometer from the stadium, including ...

  • Pakistan: IED attack leaves two policemen martyred in Khuzdar

    February 25, 2023

    In yet another incident of terrorism, two policemen were martyred and one other injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off when a police patrolling van passed by it in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district. Terrorism is again rearing its head in the country since the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced the end of the ceasefire in ...

  • UK: Former soldier admits making explosives at his Derbyshire home

    February 24, 2023

    A former soldier, who served his country for 15 years, has admitted making and possessing explosives. Dressed in a black hoodie and a grey t-shirt, Peter Galvin pleaded guilty to three different counts he appeared from custody at Derby Crown Court. The 43-year-old also admitted assaulting an emergency worker – a police officer – but denied ...

  • California: Felon wanted on explosives charges arrested in Temecula

    February 24, 2023

    A Temecula traffic stop Friday by Southwest Sheriff’s Station deputies resulted in the arrest of a felon wanted for outstanding charges, including explosives-related crimes, the agency reported. The stop was made Friday afternoon at Temecula Parkway and Kevin Place. Read more… Source: MSN News  

  • Turkish intelligence ‘neutralizes’ mastermind of last year’s Istanbul bombing

    February 24, 2023

    Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) on Wednesday “neutralized” Halil Menci, a PKK/YPG terrorist who played a key role in the planning and implementation of the last year bombing in Istanbul, security sources said on Friday. Menci, who directed the perpetrators of the Istanbul bomb attack, Ahlam Albashir and Bilal Hassan, and enabled Hassan to escape abroad, ...

  • Cambodia: Preah Sihanouk province officially declared landmine-free

    February 24, 2023

    Preah Sihanouk province was officially declared landmine free on February 24, making it the sixth province to be declared free of landmines. Authorities are committed to clearing 12 more provinces of landmines by the end of the year. The ceremony held to declare the province landmine free was presided over by Meas Sopheal, Senior Minister in ...

  • Kenya: Two cops killed, 2 missing after vehicle hits IED in Garissa

    February 24, 2023

    At least two police officers were Friday killed after their vehicle was hit by an explosive device in Dadaab, Garissa County. Witnesses and police said the Land Cruiser from Dadaab police station was racing on the Dadaab-Garissa main supply route at Hagarbul area when it ran over a set Improvised Explosive Device. Read more… Source: The Star  

  • Pakistan: Terrorist ‘involved in IED attacks’ killed in Balochistan

    February 24, 2023

    Security forces have gunned down a terrorist during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Balochistan’s Awaran district, the military’s media wing said. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement released Friday, said that the forces conducted the operation on a credible lead with regards to the presence of a hideout of terrorists involved in recent Improvised ...

  • UK: New IRA group is collaborating with criminal gangs in Northern Ireland

    February 23, 2023

    There’s nothing new about the New IRA, a catch-all label for renegade Irish republicans still fighting the same old war. It will soon be 30 years since the Provisional IRA declared its ceasefire, but the hardliners have never gone away. Read more… Source: Sky News