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Analysis: Islamic State sleeper cells a threat to Turkey
Turkey’s lax border policies backfire as the Islamic State threatens to bite the hand that feeds.
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Analysis: Qatar embraces admitted al Qaeda operative
Qatar continues to celebrate the release of Ali Saleh Kahlah al Marri, an admitted al Qaeda sleeper agent, from a US federal prison last week. The prime minister of Qatar has even reportedly called al Marri to congratulate him.
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Analysis: Freed former al Qaeda operative was part of intelligence dispute
The story of how Ali Saleh Kahlah al Marri was first identified and arrested became a key part of the dispute between Democrats on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the CIA. Al Marri, who was recently released from a US prison, admitted that he was an al Qaeda sleeper agent.
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Analysis: Former al Qaeda operative freed, sent home to Qatar
Ali Saleh Kahlah al Marri, who served as an al Qaeda sleeper operative, has been released from an American prison and returned to Qatar.
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Analysis: Reported ban of Haqqani Network unlikely to end Pakistan’s support of group
Groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba have previously been banned in Pakistan, but continue to receive the support of the military and intelligence establishment.
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Analysis: Al Qaeda and other jihadists repeatedly threatened French magazine
It is too early to tell who was responsible for today’s attack on Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine. Al Qaeda and other jihadists have repeatedly threatened the publication. By itself, however, this does not mean they were responsible.
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Analysis: Osama bin Laden’s documents pertaining to Abu Anas al Libi should be released
A top al Qaeda operative known as Abu Anas al Libi has died in US custody while awaiting trial. Several documents recovered in Osama bin Laden’s compound discuss al Libi after he was released from Iranian custody in 2010. These files should be released to the public.
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Analysis: Islamic State snuff videos help to attract more followers
Brutal beheading videos attract young militants to the Islamic State. But the group’s leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi has struggled to recruit established jihadists.
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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.
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Analysis: Al Qaeda’s ‘Resurgence’ focuses on Indian Subcontinent
Al Qaeda released its new English-language, online magazine “Resurgence” earlier this week. At 117 pages, the magazine covers a number of themes, but it focuses on the Indian Subcontinent more than any other region.
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Analysis: Al Nusrah Front explains decision to release UN peacekeepers
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, explained its decision to release more than 40 UN peacekeepers in a video released earlier this week. The group disputes published reports saying that it demanded to be taken off the UN’s list of designated terrorist organizations. And it says the hostages were freed in compliance with sharia law.
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Analysis: Boko Haram focuses on seizing territory
Boko Haram is seeking to hold territory in northeastern Nigeria. In a recent video, Boko Haram’s leader declared that his jihadists rule over the town of Gwoza as a “state among the Islamic states.” This was widely interpreted to mean an Islamic caliphate, but that does not appear to be the case.
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Analysis: What the Gaza war means for Iran
As the war in Gaza continues, Iran’s political, military, and religious calculations ascribe similar but not identical values to the ongoing conflict. The ways in which Iranian leaders codify events on the ground vary depending on their interests at home and abroad.
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Analysis: Islamic State advertises war crimes in video
A video disseminated by the Islamic State celebrates the group’s depravity. Warning: This article includes graphic images of violence.
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Analysis: Mullah Omar addresses governance of Afghanistan, war against ‘invaders’ in new message
Mullah Omar discusses the Taliban’s governance efforts at length in a message commemorating the end of Ramadan.
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Analysis: Al Qaeda attempts to undermine new Islamic State with old video of Osama bin Laden
Al Qaeda has posted a video featuring Osama bin Laden from mid-2001. Al Qaeda is attempting to undermine the legitimacy of the Islamic State’s announced caliphate by highlighting bin Laden’s testimony. Bin Laden spoke of the “pillars” necessary for building a “strong Islamic state.”
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Analysis: Islamic State’s ‘caliph’ leads prayers in Mosul
The Islamic State’s video of Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, now known as ‘Caliph Ibrahim’, is intended to answer critics of the newly-announced caliphate.
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Analysis: A protracted struggle ahead for Iraq
While Sunni Iraqi support of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham is not monolithic, the central government’s security forces are unlikely to decisively uproot the terrorist organization from the more distant provinces of Iraq anytime soon.
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Analysis: ISIS, allies reviving ‘Baghdad belts’ battle plan
The Islamic State of Iraq appears to be using the same plan it implemented in 2006, when it seized Baghdad’s surrounding “belts” and launched attacks into the capital.
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Analysis: Blowback from the Syrian jihad has begun
In well over a dozen countries, evidence has emerged that jihadists who trained or fought in Syria are engaging in terrorist activities in their home countries and elsewhere.
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Analysis: Shifting dynamics of rebel infighting in Syria
Recent infighting between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham and other Islamist groups, including the Al Nusrah Front, has not yet risen to an all-out confrontation.
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Analysis: Afghan Taliban say drone strikes are proof US is a ‘paper tiger’
The Taliban claim that the US’ reliance on drones to target their leaders is not only ineffective, but also is evidence of American decline. The group uses Osama bin Laden’s own words to describe the US as a “paper tiger.”
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Analysis: Resilient Boko Haram an increasing threat
Boko Haram’s recent brazen assault on a military base in northern Nigeria has shown that the insurgency has not been quelled and the group is capable of shifting its tactics. Given the group’s history of attacks during the Christmas holiday, authorities have reason to be apprehensive.
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Analysis: Al Qaeda seeks to spin capture of top operative
Adam Gadahn, an al Qaeda propagandist and spokesman, has released a video denouncing the capture of top al Qaeda operative Abu Anas al Libi. While calling for vengeance, Gadahn tries to portray al Libi as an innocent who was wrongly detained.
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Analysis: Formation of Islamic Front in Syria benefits jihadist groups
The formation of the Islamic Front has been characterized as a blow to al Qaeda, but the new Islamist alliance shares al Qaeda’s goals and continues to fight alongside the global jihadist group.
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Analysis: Targeted killing of Haqqani leaders a successful tactic that falls short of an effective strategy
The recent deaths of top Haqqani Network leaders Nasiruddin Haqqani and Ahmad Jan will hurt the organization, but without a comprehensive strategy to fight jihadist groups beyond the tactic of targeted killings, will not lead to its collapse.
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Analysis: UN adds Benghazi suspect to al Qaeda sanctions list
The UN added Muhammad Jamal al Kashef to its al Qaeda sanctions list on Oct. 18. The US government previously designated Jamal on Oct. 7. The UN noted Jamal’s ties to the Sept. 11, 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, whereas the US government’s announcement did not. Jamal’s network continues to plan attacks.
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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.
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Analysis: Al Qaeda’s Iraqi, Syrian affiliates jointly battle Kurds
Despite a dispute between the emirs of the Al Nusrah Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the two al Qaeda branches are jointly fighting against their Kurdish enemies.
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Analysis: Zawahiri’s letter to al Qaeda branches in Syria, Iraq
Al Jazeera has published a letter purportedly written by Ayman al Zawahiri to al Qaeda’s franchises in Iraq and Syria. Two US intelligence officials say the letter is genuine. In the letter, Zawahiri rules on a dispute between the two al Qaeda branches and appoints a new representative in the region.
