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Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claims responsibility for Charlie Hebdo attack
In a newly released video, a senior AQAP official states his organization planned the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo’s offices. AQAP chose the target and financed the operation, he says.
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Representative of Ayman al Zawahiri reportedly captured in Turkey
Abd al Baset Azzouz, an al Qaeda operative who served as Ayman al Zawahiri’s representative in Libya, was captured in Turkey in mid-November. Azzouz is reportedly being investigated for his possible ties to the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi.
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Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent calls for jihadist unity against US-led coalition
Usama Mahmood, the spokesman for al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), has released a statement calling on all jihadists to unite against the US-led coalition, which is bombing targets throughout Iraq and Syria.
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AQAP continues to portray US-led bombing campaign as a ‘Crusade’
In a pair of videos released in late October, two leading AQAP ideologues preached jihadist unity in the face of the US-led coalition’s bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria. One of the videos also included thinly-veiled criticisms of the Islamic State’s declared caliphate.
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AQAP profiles slain media operative tied to Ayman al Zawahiri’s brother
On Oct. 20, AQAP released a biography for Mustafa Ali, an Egyptian who was killed in a US drone strike in late 2013. The group says he sought “knowledge” from Mohammed al Zawahiri, the younger brother of Ayman al Zawahiri, while imprisoned in Egypt.
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State Department adds Osama bin Laden’s doctor to terrorist designation list
Ramzi Mawafi was added to the US government’s list of specially designated global terrorists today. Mawafi has been publicly identified as the emir of al Qaeda in the Sinai Peninsula, which serves as a platform for funneling al Qaeda’s assistance to allied jihadist groups.
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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.”
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Al Qaeda leader claims key operative in so-called ‘Khorasan group’ was killed
A senior al Qaeda leader known as Sanafi al Nasr has tweeted that Muhsin al Fadhli was killed in the bombing raids in Syria last week. Both Nasr and al Fadhli are part of the so-called “Khorasan group.” Al Fadhli may have been killed, but his death has not been confirmed. And there are sound reasons to treat Nasr’s tweets with skepticism.
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Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent claims attacks on Pakistani ships were more audacious than reported
Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), the newest branch of al Qaeda’s international network, has released a nine-page statement giving its version of the attacks on two Pakistani frigates on Sept. 6. AQIS claims that all of the operatives, except one, were “serving officers in the Pakistani Navy.”
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Al Qaeda official warns against Islamic State in new speech
A senior al Qaeda official known as Abu Dujana al Basha urges jihadists not to join the Islamic State, a former branch of al Qaeda that was disowned by al Qaeda’s senior leaders in February.
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Senior al Qaeda strategist part of so-called ‘Khorasan group’
An al Qaeda leader known as Sanafi al Nasr is a part of the so-called “Khorasan group,” which was dispatched to Syria by Ayman al Zawahiri. Like another member of the group, Nasr was once the head of al Qaeda’s Iran-based network.
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State Department designations target al Qaeda’s international network
Four of the al Qaeda operatives designated by the State Department have supported the jihad in Syria. One of them may be tied to a key leader in the so-called “Khorasan Group,” which was planning attacks in the West. A fifth al Qaeda veteran designated today was sent to Libya by Ayman al Zawahiri in 2011.
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Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent claims 2 attacks in Pakistan
AQIS has claimed two attacks in Pakistan. On Sept. 2, the group assassinated a Pakistani officer. An AQIS spokesman claims that the group attempted to take over a docked Pakistani ship on Sept. 6 and fire missiles at American warships.
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Al Qaeda members mourn Ahrar al Sham, Islamic Front leaders on Twitter
Several influential al Qaeda members have used their Twitter feeds to mourn the slain leaders of Ahrar al Sham and the Islamic Front. The jihadists were killed in an explosion earlier today. One well-connected jihadist, who appears to be an al Qaeda media operative, claimed that the head of the Islamic Front had been in communication with Ayman al Zawahiri.
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AQAP endorses new branch of terror network in the Indian subcontinent
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has congratulated its “brothers” in al Qaeda for creating a new branch in the Indian subcontinent. AQAP offers “special congratulations” to “our Sheikh and good Emir,” Ayman al Zawahiri.
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Shabaab names new emir, reaffirms allegiance to al Qaeda
Less than one week after Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed in an American airstrike, Shabaab has named a new leader and publicly reaffirmed its allegiance to al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri.
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Islamic Front and Al Nusrah Front promote ‘liberation’ of border crossing
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, and the Islamic Front, a coalition of several rebel groups, are using their social media pages to highlight their involvement in the rebels’ assault on the Quneitra border crossing.
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Ansar Jerusalem beheads 4 Egyptians accused of being Israeli ‘spies’
A little more than one week after the Islamic State released a video featuring the beheading of an American photojournalist, Ansar Jerusalem has released a video online showing four Egyptian civilians being executed in the same manner. The video marks an escalation in the tactics Ansar Jerusalem is willing to broadcast in its propaganda.
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Well-connected jihadist tweets, then deletes, explanation of al Qaeda’s oath to Mullah Omar
A Twitter user known as “Shaybat al Hukama” tweeted, and then quickly deleted, his explanation of al Qaeda’s relationship with the Taliban. Al Hukama appears to be well-connected to al Qaeda media operatives and leaders.
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Al Qaeda renews its oath of allegiance to Taliban leader Mullah Omar
In the first edition of its new online newsletter, Al Nafir, al Qaeda renews its oath of allegiance to Taliban leader Mullah Omar. The move is likely a response to the Islamic State’s claim that it rules over a caliphate with its leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, serving as the new caliph. Last week, al Qaeda released a video of Osama bin Laden discussing his oath of allegiance to Mullah Omar.
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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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AQIM rejects Islamic State’s caliphate, reaffirms allegiance to Zawahiri
In a statement attributed to AQIM’s propaganda arm, the al Qaeda branch rejects the Islamic State’s caliphate and reaffirms its loyalty to Ayman al Zawahiri. The statement also reveals that AQIM has played a role in the mediation efforts between the Islamic State and its jihadist rivals in Syria.
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Social Media Jihad: Zawahiri on how to build an Islamic state
Sanafi al Nasr, a senior al Qaeda operative, reposted part of a message from Ayman al Zawahiri that was released in January. The excerpt deals with how al Qaeda thinks an Islamic State should be built. It is intended as a rebuttal to the Islamic State’s announced caliphate, which al Qaeda still has not officially addressed.
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Al Qaeda ally calls for statement on Islamic State’s caliphate
Hani Sibai, a longtime ally of Ayman al Zawahiri, has called on al Qaeda to issue a statement regarding the Islamic State’s announced caliphate.
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AQAP praises Ayman al Zawahiri, defends jihadist scholars against ‘slander’
Nasir al Wuhayshi, who is the emir of AQAP as well as al Qaeda’s general manager, has released a poem praising Ayman al Zawahiri as the “Sheikh father.” A video from two leading AQAP ideologues decrying the “slander” of jihadist leaders was released shortly afterwards. Al Qaeda members are trumpeting the messages as rebuttals to the Islamic State and its newly announced caliphate.
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Influential Jordanian ideologue argues against Islamic State’s caliphate
Abu Muhammad al Maqdisi fears that the Islamic State will use its recent land grab and claim of ruling over a caliphate to go after its jihadist rivals.
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Ansar al Islam claims attacks against Iraqi military, police
Ansar al Islam, a jihadist group founded in northern Iraq in September 2001, has claimed a number of attacks against the Iraqi government since the rebel offensive began earlier this month.
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US captures Benghazi suspect, but most attackers remain free
Ahmed Abu Khattalah is the first suspect in the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi to be held by the US. Most of his accomplices remain free.
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Jihadists celebrate release of influential ideologue from Jordanian prison
The jihadist ideologue known as Abu Muhammad al Maqdisi has been released from a Jordanian prison. Officials in the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, and other jihadists are celebrating Maqdisi’s release.
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Ansar al Sharia Tunisia leader says gains in Iraq should be cause for jihadist reconciliation
Abu Iyad al Tunisi, the head of Ansar al Sharia Tunisia, has released a statement calling for jihadists in the Levant to reconcile based on recent events in Iraq.
