Terrorism

Today, the United States designated Nigeria-based groups Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. In the last several years, Boko Haram and Ansaru have been responsible for thousands of deaths in northeast and central Nigeria, including dozens of attacks on churches and mosques, targeted killings of civilians, and the 2011 suicide bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja that killed 21 people and injured dozens more.

U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Jen Psaki on the release of two Americans held by pirates off the coast of Nigeria.

The recent government advances also could give Assad's government a stronger position in proposed peace talks that the United States and Russia have been trying to convene since May.

Militants have security capacities such as access to security force vehicles, weapons, the uniforms that their members wear and the tools they use, in addition to identity cards and arrest or movement warrants if need be.