US concentrates Somalian air campaign around Jilib
Strikes in 2018 have been concentrated in and around the town of Jilib, whihc has been identified as a Shabaab safe haven.
Category Archives: Threat Matrix
Tuareg militias battle Islamic State-loyal militants in northern Mali
The operations, which occurred alongside French special forces, were to reportedly kill or capture Abu Walid al Sahrawi, the leader of the so-called Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.
Shabaab claims deadly assault on presidential palace in Mogadishu
The coordinated suicide bombings and subsequent assaults are the first major attack of its kind to hit Mogadishu this year.
Bahraini militant group adopts IRGC branding
The new branding further highlights Saraya al Ashtar’s role within the Iranian-led “Axis of Resistance” in the Middle East.
US kills four Shabaab jihadists in Somali airstrike
US forces killed four Shabaab terrorists in a strike in southern Somalia. The strike is the second since Feb. 19.
French soldiers killed by IED in northern Mali
The deadly IED blast comes just a week after major French raids on JNIM positions and leaders near the borders with Algeria.
US strike kills three Shabaab fighters in Somalia
US forces have conducted four strikes in Somalia in 2018, all of which targeted Shabaab.
Taliban still intent on ruling Afghanistan after ‘peaceful’ message to US
The Taliban has consistently stated over the past decade that it does not seek to share power with the Afghan government, and the only peace possible begins with the US abandoning the country.
20 jihadists killed or captured in French raids in northern Mali
French forces conducted near simultaneous raids and airstrikes on three jihadist targets belonging to al Qaeda’s Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
US conducted a record 131 airstrikes in Yemen last year
The United States conducted 131 counterterrorism strikes in Yemen, CENTCOM told FDD’s Long War Journal.
Palestinian jihadist group in Syria issues call to arms to refugee camp in Lebanon
The leader of Saraya Ghuraba Filistin invites Lebanese jihadists, and specifically other Palestinians in the Ain el Helwe refugee camp, to join his group and fight inside Syria.
At its Umar Khattab training camp, Taliban trains in the snow
The Taliban previously publicized this training facility in a video that was released in July of 2016. Since 2014, the Taliban has disclosed the existence of 17 training camps.
US officials estimate Taliban strength at a minimum of 60,000 fighters
The estimate has tripled from 20,000 a few years ago. However, one US official somehow remains “hopeful many fighters are not ideological and will eventually lay down their arms,” despite the fact that the Taliban has demonstrated a commitment to the fight for over 16 years.
JNIM directs hostage video towards Pope Francis
The video acts as a proof-of-life video for Gloria Narvaez, a Colombian nun kidnapped in southern Mali last year. She was last seen in a video released in July 2017.
Uighur group in Syria creates Palestinian sub-unit
Uighur jihadist group in Syria, Katibat al Ghuraba al Turkistan, has created a Palestinian sub-unit to accommodate its Palestinian and Arab members.
Uzbek group shows ambush in northern Afghanistan
The video does not make clear where the ambush took place, but Katibat Imam al Bukhari has advertised its role fighting in the northern Afghan province of Faryab in the past.
US strike kills 4 Shabaab terrorists
The operation occurred approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Kismayo, the site of another recent airstrike.
US strikes Shabaab outside Somali capital
In the first strike of 2018, US forces have again halted an imminent car bomb attack intended for Somalia’s capital.
Iran-based jihadist group claims attack on oil pipeline
Ansar al Furqan, an al Qaeda-linked jihadist group, claims to have bombed an oil pipeline in the area of Ahvaz, Iran. However, the group’s claim could not be independently verified.
US targets Shabaab fighters, car bomb
At least 17 Shabaab fighters were killed and a suicide car bomb was destroyed in two strikes that have taken place in Somalia over the past four days.
Podcast: Hezbollah’s Narco-Terror Nexus in Latin America
Iranian-backed Hezbollah is leveraging its growing global network to launder huge amounts of money, traffic weapons, and engage in a long list of illicit activities that are increasingly overlapping with the work of Latin American narcos.
US strikes Shabaab outside of Kismayo
The attack killed eight Shabaab fighters and destroyed one vehicle, according to the AFRICOM press release.
Chechen commander killed in northern Syria
The well-known Chechen jihadist commander was reportedly killed in the northern Hama countryside. Several prominent jihadists in Syria have already eulogized him, including his former group.
Tunisian al Qaeda wing claims IED ambush
Yesterday’s claim was just the second released by the group this year. However, al Qaeda Tunisian branch has continued to harass both the local security forces and the local population.
US strikes AQAP in Yemen’s Bayda
While announcing the strike, US Central Command provided a rare look into the targeting of AQAP’s network. Until now, the US military had provided few details on its efforts during 2017 to defeat the al Qaeda branch.
Yemen’s Saleh killed by former allies
The assassination of former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh follows a strain in the opportunistic cooperation between his forces and the Houthis.
US targets Islamic State in northeastern Somalia
US Africa Command again struck the Islamic State’s network in the semi autonomous region of Puntland, killing one fighter.
Podcast: Sifting through Osama bin Laden’s terrorist treasure trove
The editors of FDD’s Long War Journal were featured as guests on the debut episode of a new podcast from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) titled Foreign Podicy to discuss Osama bin Laden’s files.
US air campaign in Libya moves south
The United States conducted two strikes against the Islamic State in central Libya, its southernmost strikes in the Libyan air campaign.
US strike kills over 100 Shabaab fighters northwest of Mogadishu
US forces conducted a strike that killed 100 Shabaab fighters northwest of the capital, adding to a record month for the air campaign in Somalia.