Dense jungle surrounds the Payamino River, an important waterway in Ecuador. This river, along with countless others in the eastern provinces of Ecuador, serve as a lifeline for local communities, the Ecuadorian military and illegal armed groups. Recognizing the importance of Riverine operations, the U.S.

Security forces in Somalia's northern semi-autonomous region of Puntland say three people have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a judge late Wednesday in the commercial port town of Bosasso.  The assassination may be linked to a Puntland cell of al-Shabab, a militant group linked with al-Qaida. According to witnesses, two masked gunmen ambushed the judge, Sheik Mohamed Abdi Aware, as he left a mosque. Aware died after being shot several times in the head and chest.

Relations between Turkey and Iran appear to be getting closer and those ties are raising concerns among some of Turkey's Western allies. This past weekend, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said at a meeting in Ankara that his country is keen to bolster relations with neighboring Iran.   Increasing closeness between Turkish leaders and Iran, and Turkey's quest for better ties in the broader Muslim world, have fueled concerns in the West that this key U.S.

The mediator appointed by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS has been meeting with a coalition of Niger's opposition and civil society groups in Abuja in a bid to find a solution to the West African country's constitutional crisis. A meeting involving a 41-member opposition delegation and ECOWAS-appointed mediator, former Nigerian military ruler Abdulsalam Abubakar, explored ways of narrowing differences between Niger's government and the opposition before a wider stakeholder forum at a later date. Abubakar held talks on Monday with a 22-member government delegation

The vehicle borne improvised explosive device which detonated on Jalalabad Road in Kabul, Afghanistan, around 8 a.m. today, injured nine ISAF service members, 10 civilian contractors and several Afghans. No ISAF service members were killed. "The insurgents use indiscriminate attacks like this to attempt to intimidate international forces and our Afghan partners, but we will continue our important efforts in support of the Afghan people," said Navy Capt.

For the first time since the re-formation of the Iraqi air force, an Iraqi pilot fired a missile from an aircraft Nov. 4, at a target on a bombing range near Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.  A three-man Iraqi aircrew from Squadron 3 fired an AGM-114 Hellfire missile from an AC-208 Caravan, officials at Multinational Force Security Transition Command Iraq announced in a Nov. 10 press release. The event marked a milestone for the Iraqi military as they become increasingly responsible for their own security.

Airmen flew a C-5M Super Galaxy into the official record books Oct. 30 when a previous world-record-attempt flight was certified by U.S. National Aeronautic Association officials. A Dover Air Force Base, Del., aircrew flying a C-5M named The Spirit of Normandy consisted of eight 512th Airlift Wing reservists and four 436th Airlift Wing active-duty members set 41 records in a single flight that included various altitude, payload and time-to-climb records. "I am pleased to announce that all 41 of the records claimed in the C-5M on Sept.

Military prosecutors have charged Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan with 13 counts of premeditated murder in the Nov. 5 attack at Fort Hood, Texas.  The charges fall under Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the case will be heard in the military system. “These are initial charges, and additional charges may be preferred in the future, subject to the ongoing criminal investigation,” said Chris Grey, spokesman for U.S.

Amphibious Squadron 11, USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46) with embarked Marines got underway from White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 12 for an exercise with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. Annual Exercise 21G (ANNUALEX) is a yearly bilateral training exercise for U.S.