Tunisia Archives

Social Media Jihad: Ansar al Sharia Tunisia honors slain AQAP leader

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Jul 23, 2013

Ansar al Sharia Tunisia has released a DVD honoring Said al Shihri, who was killed in a US drone strike. The group has used social media to honor al Shihri before.
Former ‘head’ of al Qaeda in Italy an ‘organizer’ of Ansar al Sharia rally

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

May 17, 2013

Agence France Presse interviewed Sami Ben Khemais Essid, describing him as one of the “organizers” of Ansar al Sharia Tunisia’s planned conference this weekend. Essid was formerly the “head” of al Qaeda’s operations in Italy, according to the US State Department.
Ansar al Sharia Tunisia member: ‘Rome shall be conquered’

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

May 14, 2013

In a video posted online on April 30, Sheik Kamel Zarouq, a member of Ansar al Sharia Tunisia, endorsed al Qaeda’s global jihad.
Social Media Jihad: Cheerleading al Qaeda’s new ‘Islamic State’

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Apr 9, 2013

Jihadist groups, including the al Qaeda-linked Ansar al Sharia Tunisia, are cheering on the announcement that al Qaeda’s affiliates in Iraq and Syria are henceforth to be known as the “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.”
Social Media Jihad: John McCain visits Tunisia

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Apr 5, 2013

In a Facebook posting, Ansar al Sharia Tunisia took issue with “Jewish” Senator John McCain’s visit to Tunisia this week. McCain met with prime minister Ali Larayedh, who has been in a war of words with Ansar al Sharia Tunisia’s leader.
Social Media Jihad: Soccer fanatics with a ‘jihadist mentality’

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Apr 1, 2013

Members of an Egyptian ultras group market a t-shirt featuring Osama bin Laden and other jihadist leaders on Facebook to their fellow soccer fans. These same fans fly a flag with bin Laden’s face on it before and after soccer games.
Social Media Jihad: Drones over Tunisia?

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Mar 28, 2013

Ansar al Sharia has alleged that American drones are flying overhead inside Tunisian territory. We have no independent information confirming the use of drones in Tunisia. The group is using the allegation as part of its propaganda campaign.
Social Media Jihad: Tunisian ‘martyrs’ in Syria

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Mar 25, 2013

The role of Tunisians in the Syrian war has become a hot topic in recent weeks. Ansar al Sharia Tunisia continues to lionize Tunisian “martyrs” and recently devoted a chant to them on its Facebook and YouTube pages.
Magharebia: ‘Tunisian salafist[s] announce al-Qaeda support’

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Mar 21, 2013

Magharebia reports that a Salafi jihadist leader in Tunisia has “officially announce(d)” his support for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s call for jihad.
On the Ansar al Sharia Facebook pages

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Feb 1, 2013

The Ansar al Sharia Facebook pages analyzed by The Long War Journal contain valuable information, in addition to bluster. Two Facebook pages we reported on have been taken down since our articles first appeared.
Benghazi suspect’s brother is al Qaeda facilitator

Thomas Joscelyn

Threat Matrix

Jan 11, 2013

The Daily Beast reported that the brother of a key suspect in the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi is an al Qaeda in Iraq facilitator.