President Obama’s ‘successful’ counterterrorism strategy in Yemen in limbo
US officials are now telling Reuters that counterterrorism operations in Yemen are “paralyzed.”
Author Archives: Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio
US airstrike targets al Qaeda in Syria
The US military’s airstrikes in Syria show that there is no firm dividing line between al Qaeda’s so-called Khorasan Group and the Al Nusrah Front, which is al Qaeda’s official branch in the country.
Analysis: CENTCOM draws misleading line between Al Nusrah Front and Khorasan Group
CENTCOM denied that the five airstrikes on Nov. 5 targeted “the Nusrah Front as a whole” but instead were directed at the Khorasan Group. This is a distinction without difference, as the Khorasan Group is part of the Al Nusrah Front.
Discord dissolves Pakistani Taliban coalition
The spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban announced that he and five other leaders had defected to the Islamic State this week. The bulk of the organization had already broken off earlier this year.
Jihadist group loyal to Taliban, al Qaeda claims to have captured Afghan district
Both the Taliban and Junood al Fida, a jihadist group loyal to the Taliban and al Qaeda, have claimed that the Registan district in the southern Kandahar province has fallen to the jihadists. Afghan officials quickly denied the claim as “exaggerated.”
US strategy against Islamic State to mirror counterterrorism efforts in Yemen, Somalia
Obama described the counterterrorism strategy in Yemen and Somalia as “one that we have successfully pursued … for years.” However, several years of cooperation with willing partners have yielded questionable results.
Shabaab leader calls for mediation in Syria, says Zawahiri is ‘our Sheikh and Emir’
Abu Zubayr, the emir of Shabaab, restates his support for Ayman al Zawahiri and calls for mediation in Syria.
Analysis: Recent embassy closures triggered by Zawahiri communications with multiple subordinates
The Long War Journal has confirmed a report by the Daily Beast saying that multiple al Qaeda operatives were involved in the intercepted communications that led to the closure of more than 20 US diplomatic facilities.
AQAP’s emir also serves as al Qaeda’s general manager
Nasir al Wuhayshi, the emir of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, has been appointed the overall general manager of al Qaeda. Osama bin Laden’s letters contain a description of the general manager’s role.
Al Qaeda-linked group claims credit for kidnappings in Algeria
A terrorist group headed by Mokhtar Belmokhtar has claimed credit for the raid on a natural gas field in Algeria. Belmokhtar is a longtime Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb commander, but split from the group last year. Belmokhtar’s spokesman has said that he still answers to al Qaeda central.
Al Qaeda’s Al Nusrah Front denies reports of death of its emir
The group said that Abu Muhammad al Julani is alive and well, and also confirmed that two Zarqawi associates, Abu Anas al Sahhaba and Abu Julaybib, are senior commanders.
Zarqawi’s brother-in-law reported killed while leading Al Nusrah Front unit
Iyad al Tubasi is thought to have been killed in Daraa. He is believed to have been replaced by Abu Anas al Sahhaba, another associate of former al Qaeda in Iraq emir Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
Iraq frees Hezbollah commander who helped mold Shia terror groups
Musa Ali Daqduq, who was tasked with establishing a Hezbollah-like Shia terror group in Iraq, and who was involved in the 2007 attack on US troops in Karbala, has been freed from Iraqi custody and is now in Lebanon.
Analysis: The Taliban’s ‘momentum’ has not been broken
President Obama claims that the Taliban’s “momentum” has been broken in Afghanistan. Other officials have made similar claims. The Long War Journal has examined several sources that measure the insurgency’s capacity for violence and finds that the Taliban’s momentum has not been broken. The overall level of violence in Afghanistan today remains worse than prior to the surge.
Analysis: Nearly all of bin Laden’s documents should be released
Only a tiny fraction of Osama bin Laden’s files have been released. Nearly all of them should be.
‘We in MYC are now part of al Qaeda East Africa’
The Muslim Youth Center, Shabaab’s affiliate in Kenya, said that the groups would fight “under the banner of AQEA (al Qaeda East Africa).” AQEA has long reported to al Qaeda’s most senior leadership.
Shabaab formally joins al Qaeda
The announcement formalizes the longstanding close working relationship between the two terror groups.
Ansar al Islam names new leader
Ansar al Islam, an al Qaeda-linked terror group based in northern Iraq, named Abu Hashim Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman al Ibrahim as its new emir.
US cannot rely on Pakistan for counterterrorism operations
A major weakness in the US’s strategy to fight al Qaeda’s central command is its reliance on Pakistan.
US designates Hamas operative linked to Iran, al Qaeda
Hisham Muhammad Isma’il Abu Ghazala is also linked to Ansar al Islam and has served as an IED and attack facilitator in northern Iraq.
Haqqani Network directed Kabul hotel assault by phone from Pakistan
Badruddin Haqqani and Qari Younis were recorded while providing tactical guidance to the fighters who assaulted the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul in June. The Haqqani commanders called from Pakistan.
Norwegian police dismiss jihadist role in Oslo attacks
Early reports suggested that Friday’s terrorist attack in Norway was the work of jihadist groups. However, updated accounts suggest that it may be the work of a right-wing extremist.
Senior Shabaab commander rumored to have been killed in recent Predator strike
Ibrahim al Afghani fought in Afghanistan, traveled to Pakistan, is linked to top al Qaeda and Shabaab leaders, and is mentioned in the GITMO documents. The report of Afghani’s death is unconfirmed.
Tora Bora Military Front commander speaks at funeral of former Gitmo detainee
Anwar ul Haq Mujahid, who had formerly been detained and released by Pakistan, spoke at Awar Gul’s funeral in Nangarhar province. An official Taliban statement was read, praising Gul as “the renowned commander.” In addition, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for the release of a top Taliban official from Guantanamo.
Al Qaeda leader linked to Iran may have been killed in recent Predator strike
Press reports indicate that Atiyah Abd al Rahman, who is Osama bin Laden’s ambassador to Iran, was killed in a recent airstrike in northern Pakistan. US intelligence officials cannot confirm Atiyah’s death, but do confirm that he has relocated from Iran to northern Pakistan.
Al Qaeda’s #3 misidentified again
An al Qaeda leader named Sheikh Younis al Mauritani has been identified as al Qaeda’s external operations chief and number three in the organization. According to US intelligence officials contacted by The Long War Journal, he is neither.
Report: Osama bin Laden ordered Mumbai-style attacks in Europe
Osama bin Laden ordered the recent Mumbai-style plot against cities in Europe. Multiple like-minded jihadist organizations assisted al Qaeda in the operation.
Suicide bomber strikes police station in Tajikistan
One policeman was killed, 30 were wounded, and one is missing after a suicide bomber rammed a car packed with explosives into a police headquarters in Khujand.
Mullah Omar orders Taliban to attack civilians, Afghan women
Mullah Omar has ordered his Taliban forces to capture or kill Afghan civilians, including women, who cooperate with Coalition forces. Omar’s order directly contradicts the Taliban’s 2009 Code of Conduct, which called for limiting civilian casualties.
Martyrdom tape of failed Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad released
Shahzad said jihad is a “pillar” of Islam and that the “Muslims’ war has just started.”