Katibat Imam al Bukhari, also known as the Imam Bukhari Jamaat, has claimed an ambush on Afghan troops in northern Afghanistan in a statement released through the terrorist group’s Telegram channel. The statement did not specify the Afghan province where the attack occurred.
According to the statement, KIB jihadists destroyed three Afghan humvees in improvised explosive device (IED) blast before opening fire on soldiers. Additionally, the group claimed to kill four Afghan troops. Pictures showing the explosions and subsequent ambush were released alongside the statement.
This is not the first time KIB has advertised its role in Afghanistan. Last year, the group released two videos from the northern part of the country, depicting training camps for both general indoctrination and lessons on the manufacturing of IED’s, along with combat footage. One video only showed IED attacks, while one focuses on the capture of an Afghan outpost.
KIB swears allegiance to the Taliban leadership and has also played a prominent role in northwestern Syria fighting alongside al Qaeda’s forces there. According to RFE/RL, the Syrian wing is led by a veteran of the jihad in Afghanistan who was sent to Syria by the Taliban and Sirajuddin Haqqani, one of the Taliban’s top deputies and leader of the powerful al Qaeda-linked Haqqani Network.
KIB took part in the al Qaeda-led 2015 offensive that took over Idlib Province, as well as the al Qaeda-led offensive in the southern Aleppo countryside and renewed clashes in Latakia last year. It has also advertised its training camps in the country, including at least two for children.
Photos released by the group:
Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
