-
US government adds Gaza-based jihadist ‘umbrella’ group to terrorist designation lists
The US government today added the Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem (MSC) to the foreign terrorist organization list and labeled the group a specially designated global terrorist entity.
-
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.”
-
Taliban calls for reconciliation in Syria, avoids mentioning Islamic State’s caliphate
The Taliban’s statement avoids any explicit mention of the Islamic State or its announced caliphate, even though the Islamic State has claimed that all Muslims must pledge allegiance to its leader.
-
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.
-
Iran’s stance on Iraq: neither new nor improved
As Iraq plummets further into chaos, and the United States incrementally but cautiously steps forward, Iranian officials have been busy forming and casting narratives about the crisis facing their next-door neighbor.
-
ISIS and the threat to Turkey
The recent hostage crisis in Mosul is only the latest sign that Turkey’s new neighbor, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham, poses a serious threat to Turkey’s national security.
-
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.
-
Iranian perspectives on the crisis in Iraq
Recent statements by Iranian political and religious leaders suggest that Iran’s keen interest in the current Iraqi crisis could lead it to intervene in some fashion.
-
Previously obscure al Qaeda leader responds to dissenters
In March, a group of nine al Qaeda jihadists wrote a letter supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS), a group that has been disowned by al Qaeda’s general command. Al Qaeda has now published a response written by a little-known ideologue named Abu ‘Amer al Naji.
-
Zawahiri again addresses jihadist infighting in Syria
In a newly released three-page statement, Ayman al Zawahiri again says that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) owed its allegiance to al Qaeda’s senior leadership before disobeying orders. Any pledges of allegiance collected by the ISIS since then “are null pledges, because they arose from a direct violation of my command as his direct emir,” he states.
-
Al Nusrah Front rejects Syrian rebels’ revolutionary covenant
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, has rejected a charter signed by a number of other leading insurgency groups. Al Nusrah argues that the charter is not rooted in proper Islamic principles, among other supposed flaws.
-
Al Nusrah Front collects donations for new Islamic institute via Twitter
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, is using Twitter to raise funds for a new Islamic institute.
-
ISIS suspected in car bombing at Syrian-Turkish border
A car bomb exploded near the Syrian-Turkish border, killing 43 people. Reports suggest that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham may have been behind the attack.
-
ISIS spokesman blames Zawahiri for infighting in Syria
The spokesman for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) has rejected an overture by the head of al Qaeda, Ayman al Zawahiri.
-
Al Nusrah Front says it will comply with Zawahiri’s orders
The Al Nusrah Front has issued a statement saying it will comply with Ayman al Zawahiri’s orders with respect to the ongoing dispute with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS).
-
Zawahiri makes another attempt at reconciliation in Syria
Ayman al Zawahiri offers an olive branch to the head of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS), which has been disowned by al Qaeda. But he also details the history of ISIS and its predecessor in Iraq, saying the leadership of this group was a part of al Qaeda.
-
Abu Qatada provides jihadists with ideological guidance from a Jordanian prison
Prior to 9/11, Abu Qatada inspired numerous al Qaeda operatives. Now imprisoned in Jordan, he is providing ideological guidance to jihadists in Syria and North Africa.
-
Head of al Qaeda’s ‘Victory Committee’ survived battle in Syria
Sanafi al Nasr, a senior al Qaeda leader who was reportedly killed in Latakia, Syria in late March, is alive. Nasr leads an al Qaeda committee responsible for the group’s strategic planning and policy.
-
Al Nusrah Front sharia official uses social media to condemn killing of fellow jihadist
Abu Sulayman al Muhajir used his Twitter account to condemn the killing of Abu Muhammad al Fateh, the Al Nusrah Front’s leader in the province of Idlib, Syria. Sulayman says that Fateh joined al Qaeda in Iraq in 2005 and went on to become a confidante of Abu Muhammad al Julani, Al Nusrah’s emir.
-
Al Qaeda’s general manager threatens America in video of large gathering
A video of Nasir al Wuhayshi, al Qaeda’s general manager, has sparked renewed interest in the media. Wuhayshi threatens the US in the video. His “core” leadership role gives him influence across al Qaeda’s international network.
-
Social Media Jihad: Still tweeting Ayman al Zawahiri
Jihadist ideologues have mounted a social media campaign to ask Ayman al Zawahiri to more fully explain al Qaeda’s conflict with its former branch, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS).
-
Al Nusrah Front official explains al Qaeda’s strategy, conflict with former branch
A video released by the Al Nusrah Front stars Abu Sulayman al Muhajir, a jihadist ideologue who serves as a sharia official in the group. Sulayman discusses al Qaeda’s organizational scheme and hierarchy, as well as the ongoing conflict with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS).
-
Social Media Jihad: Tweeting a message to Zawahiri
Three prominent Al Nusrah Front officials have now tweeted a message to Ayman al Zawahiri. The message asks him to address specific hot button issues in the infighting between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham and Al Nusrah.
-
Jihadist ideologues call on Zawahiri to detail problems with former al Qaeda affiliate
A group of jihadist ideologues has published a message addressed to Ayman al Zawahiri. They call on Zawahiri to address the specific problems they have encountered with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS), which has been disowned by al Qaeda.
-
Al Qaeda shura council member addresses infighting in Syria
Abu Khalil al Madani has released an audio message calling on the jihadist groups in Syria to form a common sharia committee, as well as a security committee. Much of his message echoes the mediation efforts of the past.
-
Social Media Jihad: Banner dedicated to Zawahiri’s main representative in Syria
A banner dedicated to Abu Khalid al Suri is being posted on Twitter. The banner shows him both after his “martyrdom” and as a younger man.
-
Zawahiri eulogizes al Qaeda’s slain Syrian representative
Ayman al Zawahiri has released an audio message eulogizing Abu Khalid al Suri, who was killed on Feb. 23. Zawahiri confirms that he knew al Suri since before the 9/11 attacks and that they had been in direct communication after the beginning of the Syrian revolution.
-
Report: Former head of al Qaeda’s network in Iran now operates in Syria
Muhsin al Fadhli, a senior al Qaeda leader from Kuwait, is now operating inside Syria as part of the Al Nusrah Front. Al Fadhli has been tied to a string of plots against Western interests.
-
Al Nusrah Front video features veteran al Qaeda military leader
An Al Nusrah Front video features Abu Hammam al Shami, an al Qaeda veteran who swore allegiance to Osama bin Laden and has served al Qaeda’s senior leaders since the late 1990s. Abu Hammam criticizes the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) in the video.
-
Social Media Jihad: (Updated) No interview with Ayman al Zawahiri on Syrian conflict
Al Maqreze Media has released a statement saying that Ayman al Zawahiri “will not be speaking on our station. We will be raising crucial questions for all concerning the conflict in Syria.”
