FDD's Long War Journal

JNIM claims suicide bombing in northern Mali

THREAT MATRIX By Caleb Weiss | November 14, 2018

Monday's suicide bombing in Gao was the first claimed suicide bombing of JNIM since July. Read more →

Analysis: Coalition, Iraqi forces target Islamic State leaders and fighters

By Thomas Joscelyn | November 14, 2018

The US-led coalition and Iraqi forces recently hunted down senior Islamic State personnel responsible for "overseeing operations conducted within Salah ad Din, Kirkuk, Ninewah and northern Anbar provinces." The Islamic State claims that is men are especially prolific in these same areas. Over a six-week period from Sept. 27 to Nov. 7, the Islamic State claimed a total of 313 operations in Iraq, with more than 100 occurring in Kirkuk province. Read more →

US Treasury adds Qods Force, Hezbollah officials to list of global terrorists

By Bill Roggio | November 13, 2018

While the Treasury designation focuses on the four Iraqis' links to Hezbollah, which is described as "a terrorist proxy for the Iranian regime that seeks to undermine Iraqi sovereignty and destabilize the Middle East," it practically ignores the fact that one of them is the Secretary General of the Imam Ali Battalions, or Kata’ib Imam Ali, a key component of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an official military arm of the Iraqi state that reports directly to the prime minister. Read more →

Taliban routs commando company in one of Afghanistan’s most secure rural districts

By Bill Roggio | November 12, 2018

Another company of the elite Special Forces commandos was overrun, this time in the once impenetrable district of Jaghuri in Ghazni province. Afghan forces are being besieged by the Taliban on a daily basis. Read more →

At Moscow conference, Taliban refers to itself as the “Islamic Emirate” 61 times

By Bill Roggio | November 9, 2018

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is the name of the Taliban's government before the US deposed it after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack by al Qaeda. The Taliban insists that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan be restored and recognized as the true representatives of the Afghan people. Read more →

Shabaab claims series of suicide bombings in Mogadishu

THREAT MATRIX By Caleb Weiss | November 9, 2018

Much like other assaults on popular hotels, restaurants, or various targets inside Mogadishu, Shabaab was quick to claim credit for the operation on social media. Read more →

Islamic State claims its ‘fighter’ carried out stabbings in Melbourne

By Thomas Joscelyn | November 9, 2018

The Islamic State claims that one of its "fighters" carried out a stabbing attack in Melbourne, Australia earlier today. One person was killed and two others wounded in the terrorist's assault. The attacker used the same crude methods employed in previous small-scale Islamic State attacks. Read more →

“The international status of the Islamic Emirate will be strengthened” due to Moscow meeting, Taliban brags

By Bill Roggio | November 8, 2018

The Taliban said that the Moscow conference serves as a propaganda and diplomatic coup for the group, as it has sought international legitimacy for its cause. It reitered that it refuses to negotiate with the Afghan government and is seeking the withdrawal of US forces. Read more →