AQIM

A mortar attack on a United Nations base in northern Mali’s Kidal early Saturday killed at least three people, including two U.N. peacekeepers and a contractor, said the mission spokesman.

After a week in which Europe was rocked by terrorism on the streets of Paris, gunmen entered the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, the capital of Mali. A hostage situation unfolded and French and Malian security forces battled for control of the building. It is a hotel that is known to be frequented by foreigners and represents an escalation of violence that has been building in Mali during 2015.

From the perspective of a U.S. national security specialist, we live in a dark and gloomy world.

The word “terrorism” paints a broad stroke across diverse circumstances, disparate ideologies, and groups with varying degrees of organization.

Abou Zeid death confirmed: A day after the death of al-Qaeda commander Abou Zeid was confirmed, his replacement was named.