September 2012 Current Events: World News
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Here are the key events in world news for the month of September 2012.
Violence Continues in Syria (September 1): Opposition fighters seize an air base in Deir el-Zour. Along with the base, they capture 16 Syrian soldiers, weapons, and ammunition. (Sept. 4): The United Nations reports that more than 100,000 people fled Syria in August. The surge accounts for 40 percent of the 234,000 people who have registered with the United Nations for assistance since the fighting in Syria began. The surge of refugees coincides with President Bashar al-Assad's government increase in attacks on areas in Syria where the opposition is strong. (Sept. 5): Iran resumes sending military equipment to Syria to aid the government in its fight against the opposition. Iran is using Iraq's airspace to send the supplies. Iraq's role in the operation shows what little influence the United States has over them. The Obama administration has pressed Iraq to shut down the air corridor that Iran uses to ship the supplies to Syria.
Gunmen Storm U.S. Embassy in Libya (September 11): Armed gunmen storm the American consulate in Benghazi and shoot and kill U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other embassy officials. Stevens, a widely praised diplomat who was an advocate for the opposition in Libya, is the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in the line of duty since 1979. The attack coincides with violent protests at the U.S. embassy in Cairo over the release of a YouTube film, Innocence of Muslims, produced in the U.S., that insulted the Prophet Muhammad and criticized Islam. U.S. officials say they believe that given the weapons used-antiaircraft weapons and rocket-propelled grenades-the attack had been orchestrated in advance. In response to the assault, the U.S. sends 50 marines to protect the embassy in Tripoli. (Sept. 14): Libyan authorities arrest four people who are suspects in the U.S. embassy attack in Benghazi. U.S. officials believe the attack may have been planned in advance. President Obama vows to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
More U.S. Embassies Attacked over YouTube film (September 13): The U.S. embassies in Egypt and Yemen are attacked in protest over a film which demonstrators feel insults Islam. At least 15 people are injured, some by gunfire, at the U.S. embassy in Sanaá, Yemen. In Cairo, demonstrators climb into the U.S. embassy compound and rip down the American Flag. At least 200 protestors gather at the U.S. embassy in Kuwait. Demonstrations are also held at U.S. missions in Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia. At the U.S. consulate in Berlin, Germany an employee becomes ill after opening a mysterious envelope. Afterwards, the consulate is partially evacuated. (Sept. 14): Attacks spread throughout the Middle East as protesters attack the German Embassy in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and climb into the U.S. Embassy compound in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. In Tripoli, one protestor is killed in a clash with security forces after demonstrators set fire to an Arby's and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Protests even spread to Indonesia and Pakistan where hundreds carry banners criticizing the United States and the filmmakers.
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