Sunday's suicide terror attack that killed at least five commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps could have an impact far beyond the Islamic Republic's restive southeast border with Pakistan. Although the attack was orchestrated by the Sunni extremist group Jundullah — a separatist organization based among the Baluchi ethnic group that spans the Iran-Pakistan border and has for years conducted low-key terror strikes — many in Tehran blamed the bombing on a covert campaign by Western intelligence agencies to ...

Heavily armed militants put up a fierce fight on Tuesday to protect a Taliban stronghold in South Waziristan, Pakistan's military said. Taliban fighters attacked incoming troops in the village of Kotkai, using rocket launchers and heavy anti-aircraft machine guns, said a senior military official. More than 20 militants and four soldiers died, he said. Three soldiers were wounded. Kotkai is the hometown of Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud and Taliban commander Kari Hussain. In Tuesday's clashes, militants engaged troops in head-on ...

Pakistan's army said Sunday it killed 60 "terrorists" as it battles to wrest control of part of the country from the Taliban. Five soldiers were killed in the last 24 hours of the assault, the military said. Pakistani troops launched the massive ground offensive backed by air power this weekend in South Waziristan, a refuge and a power base for insurgents operating in Pakistan and along the Pakistani-Afghan border. The highly anticipated offensive comes after a wave of suicide attacks ...

Pakistani military jets bombed Taliban militant hideouts Tuesday in the country's lawless tribal region, a senior military official told CNN. The jet fighters struck Taliban hideouts in the villages of Makeen and Ladha in South Waziristan, the official said. Pakistani soldiers stationed at nearby military posts also fired on the hideouts, the official said. Pakistani military jets also launched airstrikes on militant hideouts in Bajaur Agency, the northern-most district in Pakistan's tribal region located along the Afghan border. The official ...

The new leader of the Pakistani Taliban vowed revenge on Pakistan, the United States and NATO forces for drone attacks along the Afghan border, two local journalists who attended a meeting with him told CNN. Leader Hakimullah Mehsud met reporters Sunday in South Waziristan, according to the journalists, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to the news media. Taliban commanders Wali-Ur Rehman and Qari Hussein, and spokesman Aazam Tariq, were at the meeting ...

Iran has notified the Swiss government that it can have access to three American hikers detained near the border with Iraq, two senior U.S. officials confirmed Tuesday. According to the U.S. officials, Iran said the Swiss can pay a "consular" visit to the three, meaning they can see them to check their condition. Iranian authorities detained Josh Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd after they were believed to have strayed into Iran in late July while hiking in a part ...

Mexican smugglers trying to find new routes into the United States are turning increasingly to the Pacific Ocean for a short sail to the California coast, where they drop off illegal immigrants and marijuana, U.S. officials say. The water route has become particularly popular in the past year. "We've seen a huge spike in smuggling by water," said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Diego, California. "It's become very, very risky and difficult ...

President Obama held his second prime-time news conference Tuesday. Before taking questions, he gave a brief speech. Here is the complete transcript from the news conference: President Obama: Hello, everybody. Please have a seat. Good evening. Now, before I take questions from the correspondents, I want to give everyone who's watching tonight an update on the steps we're taking to move this economy from recession to recovery, and ultimately to prosperity. Now, it's important to remember that this ...

Suspected Taliban militants blew up a bridge early Tuesday in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, suspending NATO supply lines. The blast occurred about 6 a.m. Tuesday in the Khata Kushta area of Jamrod in the Khyber Agency in Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The bridge connected Landi Kotal and Jamrod. Transport has been suspended, and authorities are assessing damages. Engineers also are on location and work is under way to open a temporary route. Details were unclear on ...

Eight years after September 11, the "war on terror" has gone the way of the dodo. And President Obama talks instead about a war against al Qaeda and its allies. HELMAND, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Eight years after September 11, the "war on terror" has gone the way of the dodo. And President Obama talks instead about a war against al Qaeda and its allies. What, then, of al Qaeda's enigmatic leader, Osama bin Laden, who has vanished like a wisp ...