The Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), an al Qaeda-affiliated group that operates in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Syria, has released photos showing its fighters with an American-made Humvee.
The two photos were released online via the TIP’s official Twitter account with the logo of its official media wing, Islam Awazi. In the tweet, the group noted the vehicle was one its “spoils” from recent fighting with the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). In the same line of tweets, the group also identified several fighters who were killed in battles with the ANSF.
TIP fighters have been killed by Coalition forces in Afghanistan and by US drone strikes in Pakistan in the past. A senior al Qaeda leader also eulogized Turkistan Islamic Party operatives killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2013. In Syria, the TIP operates alongside the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch there. At least two TIP fighters have launched suicide operations in support of Al Nusrah. The group also operates at least one training camp for children inside Syria.
