• Taliban doubles number of controlled Afghan districts since May 1

    The Taliban’s multiyear strategy of gaining influence in the rural districts to pressure the population centers is paying dividends.

    Taliban doubles number of controlled Afghan districts since May 1
  • Taliban’s deputy emir issues guidance for governance in newly seized territory

    In a message posted this week, Sirajuddin Haqqani provides guidance to the Taliban’s officials as they prepare to rule over newly seized territory. Haqqani explains that the campaign is evolving from a “military and jihadi” one into a “civilian situation,” meaning the Taliban is preparing to govern throughout much of the country.

    Taliban’s deputy emir issues guidance for governance in newly seized territory
  • Ep. 52 — Mapping the Taliban’s Offensive

    Hosts Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn discuss the Taliban’s massive offensive in Afghanistan. The campaign demonstrates, once again, that the “peace process” is a Western delusion. They also discuss how Bill’s map of the Taliban’s gains has evolved over time.  Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force in all of those areas, or even most of them. But jihadism has mushroomed into a worldwide movement, with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, ISIS and other groups waging guerrilla warfare and launching terrorist attacks on…

    Ep. 52 — Mapping the Taliban’s Offensive
  • Kunduz province in danger of falling to the Taliban

    The Taliban has gone on the offensive in northern Afghanistan and is on the verge of taking control of Kunduz province if Afghan security forces cannot stay the siege of Kunduz City. Kunduz is one of eight provinces in danger of falling to the Taliban before U.S. forces are scheduled to completely withdraw in September. The Taliban is currently in control of six of Kunduz’s seven districts and has surrounded Kunduz City. The Taliban massed outside of Kunduz City over the weekend and “seized the city’s entrance before dispersing throughout its neighborhoods,” The New York Times reported on June 20. Fighting…

    Kunduz province in danger of falling to the Taliban
  • Taliban enters Kunduz City, seizes control of more than 20 districts

    The Taliban took control of nine districts in Takhar and is fighting inside Kunduz City. The Afghan military has so far been unable to halt the onslaught, particularly in the north, where the Taliban has the momentum and is dictating the pace of the fighting.

    Taliban enters Kunduz City, seizes control of more than 20 districts
  • Al-Qassam Brigades announces military training camp for children and teenagers

    Al-Qassam Brigades will hold its yearly summer camp for Gaza youth looking to learn basic military training.

    Al-Qassam Brigades announces military training camp for children and teenagers
  • Analysis: Ivory Coast witnesses surge in jihadist activity

    Northern Ivory Coast has seen a substantial increase in suspected jihadist attacks since March of this year. Much of the violence is emanating from southwestern Burkina Faso, where al Qaeda’s Katibat Macina is expanding.

    Analysis: Ivory Coast witnesses surge in jihadist activity
  • Taliban takes control of 30 districts in past six weeks

    In the six weeks since the May 1 deadline for U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban has seized control of 32 additional districts, their reach spanning half of the country’s 34 provinces.

    Taliban takes control of 30 districts in past six weeks
  • Al Qaeda figure tied to kidnappings reported killed in Mali

    Baye Ag Bakabo is linked to several of AQIM’s kidnappings in Mali, including the operation that left two RFI journalists dead in 2013.

    Al Qaeda figure tied to kidnappings reported killed in Mali
  • Ep. 51 — How the U.N. assesses al Qaeda and ISIS

    Edmund Fitton-Brown joins hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio to discuss his team’s most recent report on Afghanistan. Fitton-Brown is a former British diplomat. He is currently coordinator of the U.N. Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force in all of those areas, or even most of them. But jihadism has mushroomed into a worldwide movement, with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, ISIS and other groups waging guerrilla…

    Ep. 51 — How the U.N. assesses al Qaeda and ISIS
  • U.N. report cites new intelligence on Haqqanis’ close ties to al Qaeda

    A report by a U.N. monitoring team cites new intelligence concerning Sirajuddin Haqqani’s ties to al Qaeda. The report also mentions the Hattin Shura, which U.S. officials say is the most important decision-making body within al Qaeda.

    U.N. report cites new intelligence on Haqqanis’ close ties to al Qaeda
  • Taliban seizes eight districts in the past week

    The disbursed locations of the Taliban attacks will force the already strained Afghan military to divide its forces if it wants to retake the districts.

    Taliban seizes eight districts in the past week
  • Analysis: 17 Palestinian militant factions identified in recent Gaza conflict

    More than a dozen Palestinian militants factions fought against the Israel Defense Forces during the recent conflict in Gaza.

    Analysis: 17 Palestinian militant factions identified in recent Gaza conflict
  • Ep. 50 — The Unknowns

    Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss the basic epistemological problems that plague analyses of al Qaeda nearly 20 years after 9/11. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force in all of those areas, or even most of them. But jihadism has mushroomed into a worldwide movement, with al-Qaeda, the Taliban, ISIS and other groups waging guerrilla warfare and launching terrorist attacks on a regular basis. Each week Generation Jihad brings you a new story focusing on jihadism around the…

    Ep. 50 — The Unknowns
  • UN report on Taliban controlled and contested districts tracks with LWJ data

    The United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team reports that as of April 2021, the Taliban contests or controls “an estimated 50 to 70 per cent of Afghan territory” and exerts “direct control over 57 per cent of district administrative centres.” LWJ’s analysis of the security situation is very similar.

    UN report on Taliban controlled and contested districts tracks with LWJ data
  • State Department announces reward for information on AQIM leader

    The U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up to $7 million for information concerning the leader of AQIM, Abu Ubaydah Yusuf al-Anabi. State says al-Anabi “is expected to play a role in al Qaeda’s global management.”

    State Department announces reward for information on AQIM leader