Jabir Jubran al Fayfi, a former Gitmo detainee who fought in Afghanistan and Kashmir, has been arrested in Yemen. Along with other former Gitmo detainees, al Fayfi joined al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
Said al Shihri, an ex-Gitmo detainee who is one of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s most senior leaders, issued an audiotape earlier this month seeking the support of Saudi soldiers and security officers. Al Shihri’s tape echoes the messaging of al Qaeda cleric Anwar al Awlaki, who has sought to convince Muslim soldiers to serve al Qaeda.
A former Gitmo detainee who rejoined al Qaeda after being repatriated surrendered to authorities in Yemen.
According to a new report by the US State Department, Usama Abu Kabir, a former Gitmo detainee, was arrested in Jordan in April 2009 while plotting a terrorist attack against Israel. Kabir was allegedly the leader of a terrorist cell.
Abdul Rauf Khadim, a former Gitmo detainee, sent a handwritten note threatening Afghan tribal elders who cooperate with Coalition forces and the Afghan government. Khadim is one of two former Gitmo detainees who are part of Mullah Omar’s inner circle.
Issa Khan, who had been detained at Guantanamo for nearly three years, has been arrested in the Bannu district of northwestern Pakistan. Khan reportedly rejoined the Taliban after his release and became a Pakistani Taliban commander.
Although the Saudi government has not identified the 25 terrorists released from Guantanamo Bay who are known to have returned to jihad, 15 of them can be identified.
Othman Ahmed al Ghamdi, a former Gitmo detainee, has risen within al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s ranks to commander. He is featured in a tape, along with other AQAP leaders, that celebrates the Fort Hood shooting and the failed Christmas Day 2009 attack, and also threatens further attacks on America.
