February, 2024 | FDD's Long War Journal

Generation Jihad Ep. 140 — New UN report on al Qaeda and Islamic State: here’s what to know

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | February 5, 2024

Bill and Caleb are joined again by Edmund Fitton-Brown — former coordinator of the UN’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team — to discuss the group’s latest report on the threat posed by al Qaeda and the Islamic State. They unpack the report’s highlights and key takeaways, including uncertainty surrounding the new IS leader and why the reason behind it could be “earth-shattering;” West Africa’s slide into even deeper chaos; how only one ‘member state’ (🤔) denied that al Qaeda’s leader is inside Iran, the state which Edmund says is “the spider at the center of the web;” and more.

Hezbollah rocket fire continues as US, French diplomats arrive in region

Seth Frantzman | February 5, 2024

Hezbollah continued to fire rockets at Israel on February 4 and 5, as Israel’s Minister of Defense warned that Israel’s air force is “pointing” north and as the Israel Defense Forces released new data on strikes against Hezbollah. US envoy Amos Hochstein was in Israel at the same time France’s Foreign Minister visited Jerusalem.

U.S. strikes target IRGC and affiliated militias in Iraq and Syria

Joe Truzman & Bill Roggio | February 2, 2024

It is unclear if the U.S. response is retaliatory in nature, or if the strikes are designed to force Iran to get its proxy terror militias to cease their attacks.

Generation Jihad Ep. 139 — A little less conversation, a little more targeting (please)

Bradley Bowman & Bill Roggio | February 2, 2024

Bill is joined again by FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) senior director Bradley Bowman to discuss broader U.S. military posture in the Middle East amidst the the death of three American service members last weekend in Jordan. Housekeeping note: This was (naturally) recorded just hours before the U.S. announced that retaliatory strikes are in fact underway in Iraq and Syria on Friday, February 2. Keeping this in mind while listening, all points are still relevant.

Islamic State describes intense campaign against Shabaab in northern Somalia

Caleb Weiss | February 2, 2024

The Islamic State documents at least 36 clashes between its men and Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s East African wing, between March and December 2023.

Al Qaeda opens 8 new training camps, 5 madrasas, and a facilitation network to Iran in Afghanistan

Bill Roggio | February 1, 2024

Al Qaeda continues to build its network and infrastructure in Afghanistan after the fall of the Afghan government. Al Qaeda opened eight new training camps, five madrasas, a weapons depot and safe houses in Afghanistan that are used to facilitate the movement of its members to and from Iran.

U.S. and Houthis continue to trade fire in and off the coast of Yemen

Bill Roggio | February 1, 2024

Despite the incessant attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis and Iranian proxy militias in Iraq and Syria, the Biden administration continues to insist it is not at war with Iran.

IDF contends with threats in northern Gaza

Seth Frantzman | February 1, 2024

IDF forces operated in northern Gaza against terror threats as concerns emerged over whether Hamas seeks to infiltrate northern Gaza to reconstitute its influence. In Khan Younis, Israeli operations focused on western Khan Younis near the Mawasi humanitarian zone.