caucasus Archives

Analysis: Armenia–Azerbaijan deal worries Iran

Janatan Sayeh | August 12, 2025

The August 8 agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan that was brokered in Washington created the US-managed “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” and granted Azerbaijan a link to its Nakhchivan exclave. While the deal preserves Iran’s overland access to Armenia and Europe, Tehran sees it as a strategic setback that could weaken its role in regional trade, bolster Turkish and Azerbaijani influence, and reduce its leverage with the West.

Analysis: Iran reestablishes its presence in the Caucuses with Armenian arms deal

Janatan Sayeh | July 25, 2024

Iran signed a new arms agreement with Armenia, seeking to increase its influence in the Caucuses and counter Israel-Azerbaijan military ties.

Jihadists in the Caucasus, Philippines renew allegiance to Baghdadi

Thomas Joscelyn | June 27, 2019

As part of its “And the Best Outcome is for the Righteous” series, the Islamic State has released videos of jihadists from the Caucasus and the Philippines renewing their allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Islamic State claims church shooting in Dagestan

Thomas Joscelyn | February 18, 2018

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a shooting at a church in Kizlyar, a town in Dagestan, earlier today. Russian officials have confirmed that at least five people were killed and four more wounded.

Ex-Gitmo detainee, Islamic State’s leader in Chechnya designated by State Department

Thomas Joscelyn | July 13, 2016

The State Department has added a former Guantanamo detainee, Ayrat Nasimovich Vakhitov, to the US government’s list of designated terrorists. According to press reports, Vakhitov was recently arrested in connection with the terrorist attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport. Also designated today is Aslan Avgazarovich Byutukaev, who leads the Islamic State’s forces in Chechnya.

Head of al Qaeda’s Syrian branch threatens Russia in audio message

Thomas Joscelyn | October 13, 2015

Abu Muhammad al Julani, the head of al Qaeda’s Al Nusrah Front in Syria, addresses Russia’s intervention in an audio message. Julani calls for reprisal attacks against Russians and says the jihadists must strike Shiite villages in order to extract concessions from Bashar al Assad’s regime.

Amid defections, Islamic Caucasus Emirate publicly recognizes new leader

Thomas Joscelyn | July 6, 2015

The Islamic Caucasus Emirate (ICE) publicly recognized Muhammad Abu Usman as its new emir earlier this month. The ICE, which is affiliated with al Qaeda, has suffered a string of defections to the Islamic State since last year.

Rebel coalition in Syria mourns al Qaeda official killed in US airstrike in Yemen

Thomas Joscelyn | February 9, 2015

The Ansar al Din Front in Syria has released a statement mourning the death of Harith al Nadhari, a sharia official in al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula who was killed in a US drone strike on Jan. 31. The statement is further evidence that Ansar al Din is, at a minimum, closely allied with al Qaeda’s international network.

Al Qaeda sharia officials address Caucasus defectors in joint statement

Thomas Joscelyn | January 30, 2015

Sharia officials from both Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Al Nusrah Front, two official branches of al Qaeda, have signed a statement saying that the Islamic State’s ‘caliphate’ is invalid. The statement is addressed to the Caucasus jihadists who announced their allegiance to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in December.

Caucasus Emirate attacks police, press in Chechen capital of Grozny

Bill Roggio | December 4, 2014

Dozens of fighters fanned out across the Chechen capital and attacked police and other government targets. The Press House was set ablaze.

Ali Abu Muhammad al Dagestani, the new emir of the Islamic Caucasus Emirate

Bill Roggio | March 18, 2014

Ali Abu Muhammad al Dagestani quietly served as the senior sharia official for the Islamic Caucasus Emirate for three years before assuming the position of emir after Doku Umarov’s death.

Russian-speaking jihadists execute Syrians in Aleppo

Bill Roggio | March 7, 2014

Jihadists from either the Al Nusrah Front or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham carried out the execution. A mentally ill man is said to have been among those to be killed.

Islamic Caucasus Emirate claims suicide bombings in southern Russia

Bill Roggio | January 19, 2014

The emir of the “Mujahid Subversive Group of Ansar al Sunnah” said its suicide bombers attacked transportation targets in Volgograd at the end of last year. He also said the group has sworn allegiance to Doku Umarov.

Suicide bomber strikes again in southern Russia

Bill Roggio | December 30, 2013

A trolley was demolished in a blast that is thought to have been carried out by a male suicide bomber. The attack is the second suicide bombing in Volgograd in two days.

Danish jihadist killed while fighting for Muhajireen Brigade in Syria

Bill Roggio | May 7, 2013

Before waging jihad in Syria, Kenneth Sørensen spent time in Yemen at Zindani’s Imam University as well as in Lebanon, Egypt, and Libya.

Dagestani jihadist group issues statement on Boston bombings

Thomas Joscelyn | April 21, 2013

One of the Boston Marathon bombers made a trip to Dagestan and Chechnya last year. US officials are investigating whether or not he made contact with jihadist groups operating in the region. The investigation is ongoing.

Chechen commander forms ‘Army of Emigrants,’ integrates Syrian groups

Bill Roggio | March 28, 2013

Omar al Chechen has formed Jaish al-Muhajireen wa Ansar, or Army of the Emigrants and Helpers, and merged his Muhajireen Brigade with several Syrian jihadist groups.

Chechen commander leads Muhajireen Brigade in Syria

Bill Roggio | February 20, 2013

Omar al Chechen is a key leader in the Muhajireen Brigade, a jihadist group that fights alongside the Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant against the regime of President Bashir al Assad.

2 Islamic Caucasus Emirate leaders reported killed in Chechnya

Bill Roggio | January 24, 2013

Khuseyn Gakayev, one of the two commanders reported killed, split with Doku Umarov in the summer of 2010, but reconciled in July 2011 and was named commander of the terror group’s eastern front.

Caucasus

Lisa Lundquist | December 7, 2012

Journalists In Daghestan Face New Threat

Chechnya

Lisa Lundquist | September 2, 2012

Insight: Brutality, anger fuel jihad in Russia’s Caucasus

Caucasus

Lisa Lundquist | August 31, 2012

Assassination Of Daghestan’s Sufi Spiritual Leader Raises Specter Of New Violence

‘Black Widow’ assassinates moderate Muslim cleric in Russia’s Caucasus

Bill Roggio | August 29, 2012

The attack is the third in six weeks against prominent Muslim clerics who were working to promote moderate versions of Islam in Russia. Two others were targeted in Tatarstan in July; one was killed.