Feature Articles | FDD's Long War Journal

Generation Jihad Ep. 68 — Israel terror wave: 3 weeks. 4 attacks. 13 dead. Here’s what we know.

Bill Roggio | April 8, 2022

In just under three weeks, the most recent string of terrorism to strike Israel has so far included four high-profile attacks that left 13 dead and many more injured across Israel — including in heavily-populated civilian areas like Be’er Sheba and Tel Aviv. Just yesterday, a terrorist opened fire on civilians enjoying an evening out on Tel Aviv’s famous Dizengoff Street, known for its bustling nightlife. We’re approaching almost one-year since the 2021 Gaza Conflict. Is any of this related? Who is responsible? Are these lone-wolf attacks? Have any jihadi groups claimed responsibility? Should we believe them? To make sense of what’s happening, host Bill Roggio is joined by Long War Journal’s Joe Truzman to unpack and analyze the latest information from a variety of sources.

Generation Jihad Ep. 67 — Meanwhile in Africa

Bill Roggio | March 29, 2022

Host Bill Roggio is joined by two Long War Journal regulars, Caleb Weiss and Andrew Tobin, to give listeners an update on what’s happening on the ground in Africa from the Sahel — including that more than 400 Malians have been slaughtered in under one month — to “elections” and Shabaab attacks in Somalia.

Generation Jihad Ep. 66 — Negotiating with Terrorists

Bill Roggio | March 22, 2022

Host Bill Roggio is joined by FDD Senior Fellow Behnam Ben Taleblu to discuss America’s inability, or refusal, to understand its enemies and adversaries. In particular: how the Islamic Republic of Iran’s continued brazenness in targeting American security interests — including its latest missile attack in Iraq just days ago — cannot deter the United States from continuing to engage in nuclear negotiations (vis-a-vis the Russians, no less) with the world’s leading state-sponsor of terror.

Generation Jihad Ep. 65 — CDR Salamander on the Ukraine War

Bill Roggio | March 10, 2022

Host Bill Roggio is joined by Commander Salamander, a retired U.S. Navy Commander. Since 2003, like Bill, Sal has been closely tracking and analyzing military issues on his “Commander Salamander” blog and is widely seen as a trailblazer in the arena. The two discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine following Putin’s invasion.

Generation Jihad Ep. 64 — Minority Report: Ukraine

Bill Roggio | March 3, 2022

Bill Roggio provides an update on the current situation in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, including a clear-eyed and sober analysis of what’s actually happening on the ground. Bill reminds listeners that the West must understand the enemy and how — if we want to help Ukraine — we must be honest about its predicament.

Generation Jihad Ep. 63 — Know Thine Frenemy

Bill Roggio | February 23, 2022

Host Bill Roggio is joined by Hussain Haqqani, South and Central Asia Director at the Hudson Institute and Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the U.S., for an update on Pakistan — from the Taliban’s victory in resurrecting the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to the Pakistani state’s hospitality for jihadis and possible future scenarios for Pakistan, its neighbors, and the region.

Generation Jihad Ep. 62 — An Update on the African Jihad

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | February 20, 2022

Host Bill Roggio is joined by Caleb Weiss — a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation and long-time contributor to FDD’s Long War Journal — for an update on the latest surrounding various jihadist groups across the African continent.

Generation Jihad Ep. 61 — The State of the Jihad

Bill Roggio | February 15, 2022

Bill Roggio is joined by Edmund Fitton-Brown, Coordinator of the United Nations Security Council Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, to discuss the findings from his team’s latest report on the statuses of ISIS and al-Qaeda.

Generation Jihad Ep. 60 — Iran’s global terrorism strategy

Bill Roggio | February 10, 2022

Bill Roggio is joined by FDD’s Senior Vice President for Research Jonathan Schanzer to have a wide-ranging discussion about the Islamic Republic of Iran’s role as the world’s largest state-sponsor of terror — ranging from its illicit nuclear program to its destabilization of the region via its proxy terrorist groups.

Ep. 59 — After Qurayshi: The State of the Islamic State

Bill Roggio | February 4, 2022

Yesterday, the U.S. conducted a raid in Syria that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. Host Bill Roggio is joined by Craig Whiteside to unpack the raid and discuss what might happen next within ISIS — including what Qurayshi’s succession might look like. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around […]

Ep. 58 — The Year in Review

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | January 7, 2022

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss 5 key stories from 2021 and what they mean for jihadism going forward. Mentioned in the episode Tom’s article in The Dispatch: “The U.S. Must Better Explain Al-Qaeda to the Public” — read via FDD here. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll […]

Ep. 57 — The Emperor Was Nude All Along

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | October 14, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss Tom’s recent testimony before the Senate, why the Islamic State bombed a mosque in Kunduz, and the Pakistani Taliban’s ongoing jihad. 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 […]

Ex-Guantánamo detainee praises Taliban’s victory, threatens America in new AQAP video

Thomas Joscelyn | October 6, 2021

Ibrahim al Qosi, a former Guantanamo detainee who worked for Osama bin Laden prior to 9/11, praises the Taliban’s victory and threatens new attacks against America in a new video. Al Qosi, who is a senior figure in AQAP, claims that “upcoming operations” may not be a “carbon copy” of 9/11.

Testimony: The Biden Administration’s Policy on Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn | September 30, 2021

Note: On September 30, 2021, Thomas Joscelyn testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing titled, “To receive testimony on Afghanistan.” You can watch a recording of the hearing here, and you can read his full written testimony here. An excerpt, without footnotes, is below. Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Inhofe, members of the […]

U.S. targets suspected al Qaeda leader in Idlib, Syria

Thomas Joscelyn | September 21, 2021

The U.S. military said it targeted a senior al Qaeda leader in Idlib province, Syria on Sept. 20, but has offered few details concerning the airstrike.

Islamic State bombs Taliban convoys in eastern Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn | September 20, 2021

The Islamic State claims to have attacked multiple Taliban personnel and vehicles across the city of Jalalabad on Sept. 18 and 19.

Al Qaeda affiliated media group stresses importance of ‘idea development’ in 9/11 video

Thomas Joscelyn | September 18, 2021

On Sept. 11, Nasher al Khayr, an al Qaeda-affiliated media outfit, released a video celebrating the jihadists’ deadliest day. The video offers a history of the 9/11 plot, stressing the importance of “idea development” and jihadist safe havens.

Episode 56 — The Resurrection of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | September 16, 2021

Hosts Tom and Bill continue to explore the failures in American leadership that led to the resurrection of the Taliban’s regime. 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 […]

U.S. Treasury sanctions al Qaeda facilitators in Turkey

Thomas Joscelyn | September 16, 2021

The U.S. Treasury Department announced that five alleged al Qaeda facilitators in Turkey have been designated as terrorists. The designation highlights the ongoing work of an old school network of Egyptian jihadists and the younger personnel in Turkey who assist them.

France says drone strike killed leader of Islamic State in Sahara

Thomas Joscelyn | September 16, 2021

France says Abu Walid al Sahrawi, the leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, was killed in a drone strike in August. Al Sahrawi became a key figure in the global rivalry between the Islamic State and al Qaeda. His men were responsible for the Oct. 2017 ambush near Tongo Tongo, Niger that killed four U.S. soldiers.

Ayman al Zawahiri promotes ‘Jerusalem Will Not Be Judaized’ campaign in new video

Thomas Joscelyn | September 11, 2021

After a lengthy absence from the screen, Zawahiri returns to promote his vision for global jihad in a new video titled, “Jerusalem Will Not Be Judaized.”

Taliban’s government includes designated terrorists, ex-Guantanamo detainees

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | September 8, 2021

The Taliban has announced the “interim” leadership of its newly restored Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. FDD’s Lpng War Journal profiles 22 of these figures, many of whom were sanctioned by the U.N. in 2001, are designated terrorists, or are former Guantanamo detainees. Multiple Taliban leaders have worked with al Qaeda.

Taliban blames America for 9/11 in video celebrating its own suicide squads

Thomas Joscelyn | September 3, 2021

In a newly released video, “Victorious Force 3,” the Taliban blames America for the 9/11 hijackings while celebrating its own suicide squads. For the past 20 years, the Taliban has consistently blamed U.S. “policy” for 9/11 and has never accepted any responsibility for its own deep relationship with al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda praises Taliban’s ‘historic victory’ in Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn | August 31, 2021

Al Qaeda’s central media arm, As Sahab, released a two-page statement praising the Taliban’s “historic victory” in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda fought alongside the Taliban to resurrect its Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Islamic State claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Kabul

Thomas Joscelyn | August 26, 2021

The Islamic State’s Khorasan province has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing outside of the Kabul airport earlier today. 12 U.S. service members were killed and 15 others wounded in a pair of attacks inside the capital. Dozens of others were killed or wounded as well.

Taliban’s special forces outfit providing ‘security’ at Kabul airport

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | August 22, 2021

Taliban-affiliated social media accounts claim that men from the Badri 313 special forces unit are providing “security” at the Kabul airport. Badri 313 is responsible for some of the Taliban’s key battlefield successes and has also conducted complex suicide missions.

Pakistani Taliban’s emir renews allegiance to Afghan Taliban

Thomas Joscelyn | August 19, 2021

Noor Wali Mehsud has renewed the TTP’s allegiance to the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in the wake of the jihadis’ victory. The Taliban has released numerous TTP and al Qaeda figures from the former government’s prisons in recent weeks, including Faqir Mohammed.

Ep. 55 — Afghanistan Falls

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | August 16, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss the need for accountability after 20 years of failures. 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 […]

Ghazni City falls to the Taliban

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | August 12, 2021

Ghazni is the tenth Afghan provincial capital to fall to the Taliban in the past week. Al Qaeda has deep roots in Ghazni. Osama bin Laden identified the province as a key safe haven for his men.

Analysis: Somaliland’s lingering jihadi threat

Caleb Weiss | August 11, 2021

Terrorists haven’t launched major attacks in Somaliland in more than a decade. However, this does not mean it doesn’t face any real threats from Shabaab or the Islamic State.