The Insider: Daily Terrorism Report

Jan. 9 -- The Department of Homeland Security announced today that the terror threat level is being lowered to "yellow," or elevated level, down from the present "orange," or high level. DHS Secretary Tom Ridge said that the threat level is been lowered due to what the U.S. government sees as a downturn in credible terrorist threats. Ridge stressed, however, that particular sectors will continue to be monitored with vigilance, such as aviation. In the last three weeks there has been a spate of credible terror threats to the airways causing at least 15 international flight cancellations and major delays, with some commercial flights being escorted by military jets. The country has been on orange alert since December 21.

THE WAR ON TERROR

INVESTIGATIONS & THREATS

United StatesEasing Threat?The U.S. government today lowered the national terror threat level to "elevated" from "high" risk of attack, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge said. (Reuters)

The CIA's 'Anonymous' No. 2 Low-profile deputy director leads agency's analytical side. (Washington Post)

SwitzerlandSwiss Authorities Arrest 8 Linked to Terror PlotSwiss authorities have arrested eight people in connection with the May 12 attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia, federal police said Friday. (AP)

ThailandThai Officials Probe Tie to Al Qaeda in Attacks Thai officials are investigating whether a wave of bomb and arson attacks in southern Thailand, a predominantly Muslim region, is linked to al Qaeda, the country's new national security adviser said Thursday. (Washington Post)

PakistanPakistan Army Operation In Tribal Area Ends, No Al Qaeda Suspects FoundPakistan troops have found no foreign terror suspects during a major operation in a remote tribal area bordering Afghanistan, military officials said. (AFP)

South KoreaTerror Threat Sparks Security Alert in South KoreaThe South Korean government has ordered a heightened security alert after a terrorist threat was mailed to its embassy in Thailand, officials said. (AFP)

MoroccoNewspaper Receives Letter BombThe Moroccan newspaper Al Ahdath received a letter on Monday containing the same type of explosive material used in the May 16th Casablanca bombings. Investigations are underway to determine the source of the letter. (Asharq Al Awsat)