Operations

Moscow is pushing through deliveries of Russian-built helicopters to Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar Assad despite international efforts to block the sale. 

American and NATO commanders are considering carrying out their own cross-border raids into Pakistan to root out terror cells along the country's border with Afghanistan. 

Iran is gloating that its nuclear program is going strong after reports Stuxnet was designed to stop operating after Sunday.

Taliban gunmen have killed at least 18 people at an Afghanistan hotel north of Kabul after storming the hotel Friday morning and taking dozens hostage.

Afghan officials said five gunmen held guests hostage in the hotel for 12 hours as they battled with Afghan security forces, according to reports from Kabul, before the five gunmen were killed by those forces.

The Associated Press reported that at least 18 people were killed in the attack, and some reports had the number slightly higher.

An al Qaeda plot to attack several foreign embassies in Yemen's capitol of Saana was foiled on Wednesday, as American-backed government forces continue to hammer away at the group's strongholds in the south. 

Wednesday's decision could further strain relations between Washington and Kabul as 32,000 American troops begin rotating out of Afghanistan.

The top investigator overseeing Afghanistan reconstruction is looking into how and why Kabul has been taxing American companies supporting the reconstruction effort. 

Pakistan has arrested a European al Qaeda operative who has ties to the 9/11 attacks, according to reports from Islamabad, a development that could ease soured U.S.-Pakistan relations.

Pakistani officials arrested French national Naamen Meziche during a raid near the Iran border, The Associated Press reported, but the officials did not say when the raid took place.

Meziche is an al Qaeda member, and The Wall Street Journal has reported he had ties to Mohammed Atta, one of the 9/11 hijackers. He was also connected to Younis al-Mauritani, who was arrested in Pakistan last year, and Pakistani officials said his interrogation led to Meziche's capture, according to the AP.

Democrats expressed concerns the powers could target American citizens, but Republicans say it is a necessary tool to combat terrorism.

Iran, Syria, Russia and China are planning a joint war games exercise involving 90,000 troops from the four countries, according to Iranian media reports, but Russian and Syrian officials are denying that the report is accurate.

Iran’s semi-official FARS News Agency reported that the joint amphibious exercises along the Syrian coast were scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.