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Iranian military commander killed fighting in Ramadi
Commander Jassem Nouri is likely a member of Qods Force, the external operations branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Qods Force. He was advising Shiite militias, such as Hezbollah Brigades, who are engaged in fighting in Iraq’s Anbar province.
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Syria
According to SOHR, an Assyrian fighter captured and beheaded an Islamic State jihadist in an act of revenge in Hasakeh province. A newly released video purports to show Turkish intelligence operatives arming Syrian rebels. Jaysh al-Fatah took the city of Ariha, giving the group almost complete control over Idlib province. The US-led coalition conducted four airstrikes in Syria in the past day; three near al Hasakah and one near Kobani.
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US support for Iranian-backed Shiite militias ‘should not alarm us,’ General Allen says
US officials and generals continue to downplay the involvement of Iranian-backed Shiite militias in offensives in Iraq, and their dominance of the Popular Mobilization Committee.
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Analysis: Al Nusrah Front ‘committed’ to Ayman al Zawahiri’s ‘orders’
Earlier this week, Al Jazeera aired the first part of its interview with Abu Muhammed al Julani, who is the emir of the Al Nusrah Front. Julani stressed that his organization is “committed” to Ayman al Zawahiri’s “orders,” thereby dispelling erroneous reports that his group was going to “break” with al Qaeda.
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Jihadists claim victory in battle for one of the last regime-controlled towns in Idlib
Jihadists, including al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, have claimed victory in the battle for the town of Ariha. The town was one of the last regime-controlled areas in the province of Idlib.
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Jaish al Muhajireen wal Ansar leader accuses Islamic State of creating ‘fitna’ between jihadist groups
Salahuddin al Shishani also accused the Islamic State of attempting to assassinate him after his failed attempt to mediate a dispute between the group and al Qaeda’s branch in Syria.
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Another al Qaeda veteran reportedly killed while leading Jund al Aqsa in Syria
Said Arif, an al Qaeda veteran, has reportedly been killed in an airstrike in Syria. Jihadists on social media have identified Arif as a senior figure in Jund al Aqsa, an al Qaeda front group.
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Pakistani Taliban rejects Islamic State’s ‘self-professed caliphate’
The Pakistani Taliban has released a lengthy statement rejecting Abu Bakr al Baghdadi’s claim to be the new caliph. The group praises Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, as well as deceased al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and his successor, Ayman al Zawahiri.
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Nigeria
Members of Boko Haram raided the village of Pambula-Kwamda in Adamawa state and “hacked 10 people to death.” Unidentified gunmen attacked Iorza village in Benue state, killing at least 30.
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Former Taliban shadow governor appears in new propaganda video depicting recent combat in Badakhshan province
The former Afghan Taliban shadow governor for Badakhshan province appears in a new propaganda video featuring recent clashes in Warduj District. Taliban fighters show off captured Afghan army and police vehicles and eulogize the jihadist leader who was killed last summer.
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Islamic State reportedly seizes all of the Al Waleed border crossing in Iraq
The capturing of the Iraqi side of the Al Waleed border crossing comes just days after the jihadist group captured the Syrian side.
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Iranian-backed militias lead Iraqi counteroffensive to retake Ramadi
Iranian-supported militias, including Hezbollah Brigades, a US-listed Foreign Terrorist Organization, are advancing against the Islamic State east of Ramadi. The US is providing air support.
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Osama bin Laden’s Files: Taliban mourned senior al Qaeda leader as US attempted negotiations
A newly-released file recovered in Osama bin Laden’s compound shows that the Taliban offered its condolences on the death of a senior al Qaeda leader in May 2010. Other documents reveal that Mullah Omar’s representative corresponded with bin Laden’s chief lieutenant even as he negotiated with the State Department.
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2 French suicide bombers used in Islamic State assault on Haditha
Haditha is one of the few towns in Anbar that have resisted the Islamic State’s onslaught in Anbar province.
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Islamic State seizes Syrian side of Al Waleed border crossing with Iraq
The fall of the strategic location means that the Syrian regime has lost control of all crossings with Iraq.
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Syria
The Islamic State has released media after its conquest of the city of Palmyra. The jihadist group also seized Syria’s last border crossing with Iraq and is estimated to control half the country by SOHR. At least 65 civilians were executed by the Islamic State in northern Syria; 56 of them were Kurds. Al Nusrah and its allies took a hospital from regime forces in Jisr al-Shughour.
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Egypt
Leaked audio seems to reveal that Egypt and the UAE have transferred weapons to pro-government forces in Libya. Islamic State affiliates in the Sinai have pledged to murder judges and security personnel after the execution of six jihadists ordered by a military court.
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Islamic State releases media from Palmyra
After taking the city of Tadmur, the Islamic State has released both photographs and videos from the highly strategic city.
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Islamic State breaks Iraqi defensive line outside of Habbaniyah
According to Iraqi police and tribal officials, the defensive line that was established outside of Habbaniyah with the help of the US has been breached.
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‘Iraqi forces not driven from Ramadi, they drove out of Ramadi’
The US military is issuing bizarre spin about events in both Iraq and Syria.
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Islamic State seizes Syrian city of Palmyra
The jihadist group may destroy ancient ruins in the city, as it has done in Mosul and elsewhere. The Islamic State is now said to control half of Syria.
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Coalition airstrikes kill 14 Al Nusrah Front members
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, claims that 14 fighters were killed in recent coalition air strikes in Syria.
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French forces kill two al Qaeda leaders in Mali
The special forces raids killed an al Qaeda leader known for kidnapping and murdering Western hostages.
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Nearly all of Osama bin Laden’s files should be released
Earlier today, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a set of files recovered from Osama bin Laden’s compound. These are but a fraction of the files that should be released to the public.
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Islamic State, Shiite militias square off east of Ramadi
The Islamic State is attacking Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shiite militias that have regrouped at Habbaniyah, the last major city between Ramadi and Fallujah.
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Tunisia
The Tunisian jihadist group Mujahidin of Kairouan has sworn allegiance to the Islamic State. The Tunisian government has taken a number of recent steps to fight radicalization.
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Algeria
The defense ministry announced that the army ambushed and killed 22 jihadists affiliated with the Islamic State in Bouira province. Algeria and the US held security talks regarding Libya and North Africa.
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Nigeria
A suicide bomber killed at least eight people at a market in Garkida village in Adamawa state. Boko Haram killed three and abducted seven women in the Madagali district of Adamawa. Former female captives of Boko Haram testified to mass rape by the jihadist group.
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Al Nusrah Front and allies claim victory at Al Mastoumah, Idlib
With victory over Assad’s forces at the military camp, the al Qaeda-led coalition continues to overrun regime positions in Idlib province.
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Al Qaeda graduation day in Idlib, Syria
Propaganda photos posted by the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, show what appears to be more than one hundred new graduates at a camp in Idlib.
