ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

GAO, Mali — The migrants arrive by coach. Diadie picks them out from the other travelers by their swollen backpacks and their apprehensive looks. Up until this point, most of their journeys’ have been legal. They come from Gambia and Senegal, Guinea and parts of southern Mali, and, as such, they hold passports that permit them visa-free travel within the 15-country regional bloc of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The moment they make a deal with Diadie, however, they become illicit human cargo on one of the most dangerous smuggling routes on Earth. Diadie, who asked to be identified by only his first name, organizes transport for dozens of Europe-bound migrants each week. Wearing a black leather jacket and a maroon scarf wrapped around his head so that only his eyes and the bridge of his nose are visible, the 30-year-old  coxeur  — a middleman, or agent, who links migrants and smugglers — says Arab and Tuareg drivers crossing the Sahara to Algeria tel...

FILE IMAGE: the US Navy There was a combined change of command and squadron establishment of the Submarine Development Squadron 5 (DEVRON 5) at Naval Undersea Warfare Center on September 26. Capt. Stephen Mack, from Silver Spring, Maryland, relieved Capt. Robert Gaucher, from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as commodore during the ceremony held at Barb Hall, according to  the US Navy website . Gaucher’s next assignment will be as the chief of staff for Commander at Submarine Force Atlantic in Norfolk. Gaucher assumed command of DEVRON 5 on March 23, 2016. He oversaw the successful deployments of the Seawolf-class fast attack submarines and their maintenance. Under his leadership, the command supported the development and launch of the Navy’s first unmanned undersea vehicle squadron. It is fitting then, that in addition to welcoming a new commodore, Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Squadron (UUVRON) 1 was established. Gaucher called this a historical day for the Navy. “ Tod...

Government troops near Hawija. Click to see the full-size image On Wednesday, the Iraqi Army and  the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU)  captured the strategic Fatha and al-Harariat areas southwest of Hawija town according to the PMU media wing. Iraqi government forces also captured the following 14 villages in Hawija area: Hawd 7, Yassen Taha, al-A’aliah, Khalaf al-Asuad, al-Safra, al-Rafia’a, Nayif Ibrahim, al-Sa’ay diyah, Rbiyda, al-Jaburiyah, al-Nafylah, Kazan Qarha, al-Dibs, al-Ghaziyah. Government forces also besieged ISIS fighters inside the strategic al-Riyad town east of Hawija town. Moreover, according to the PMU media wing dozens of ISIS fighters were killed, and 6 VBIEDs of ISIS were destroyed by government forces on Wednesday. Iraqi forces cross the Zab river: Meanwhile, the PMU Intelligence reported that ISIS leader in Hawija area threatened ISIS fighters with death if they kept withdrawing from the villages around Hawija town. According to the...

FILE IMAGE: AP/Emrah Gurel On October 3, the Turkish authorities announced that security forces arrested ISIS commander Abu Yousef, also known as Khaider Kareem, during a security operation in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Abu Youssef is an Iraqi citizen; Iraqi authorities declared before that he was killed. Abu Youssef had been an active member of al-Qaeda terrorist group since 2011. He defected from al-Qaeda in 2014 and joined ISIS. After joining ISIS, Abu Youssef became one of ISIS commanders in al-Anbar governorate in Iraq. Turkish authorities said that the Special Investigations Office of Sakarya province Public Prosecution Office received information that Abu Youssef was alive and living in Ankara city. Based on the investigation of the Special Instigations Office, Turkish counter-terrorism force raided Abu Youssef house and arrested him. Turkish counter-terrorism units also found 40 fake ID cards in Abu Youssef house. Abu Youssef was handed over to Sakarya province ...