Islamic Jihad Union claims to control areas along Afghan-Tajik border
The IJU claims it is “controlling many territories bordering Tajikistan,” and released photographs purporting to show a small unit crossing into northern Afghanistan.
Author Archives: Bill Roggio
Taliban overruns outpost in eastern Afghanistan
As the jihadist group mounts offensives in the northern province of Kunduz and the southern province of Helmand, it has also been consolidating its grip on areas in eastern Afghanistan, including within the Haqqani Network stronghold of Paktika.
US kills 7 ‘militants’ in drone strike in South Waziristan
The strike took place in an area in Paksitan’s tribal agency of South Waziristan that is administered by Sajna Mehsud, who heads a splinter faction that broke away from the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (TTP) in May 2014.
Pakistani Taliban assaults Air Force camp near Peshawar
The Movement of the Taliban is capable of organizing, training and executing attacks such as today’s assault on the Air Force camp near Peshawar despite the military offensive that is targeting the group in North Waziristan.
Mullah Omar’s brother and son swear allegiance to new Taliban emir
Mullah Manan and Mullah Yacoub’s pledge to Afghan Taliban emir Akhtar Mohammad Mansour closes a major rift that existed after Omar’s death was announced on July 31.
Al Qaeda leader killed in eastern Afghanistan, NDS claims
The raid that killed “Khuram,” the al Qaeda leader, took place in the same district in Paktika province where 15 Pakistani Taliban fighters were reported killed last week.
Taliban suicide assault team overruns prison, frees hundreds
The Taliban freed more than 140 of its fighters and 200 prisoners in a coordinated suicide assault on a jail in the southeastern Afghan province of Ghazni.
US airstrike kills 15 Pakistani Taliban fighters in eastern Afghanistan
Both the Taliban in Pakistan and its ally, al Qaeda, have stepped up their presence in eastern Afghanistan over the past several years.
Debunking the myth that al Qaeda doesn’t seek to control territory like the Islamic State
Al Qaeda’s branches and allies have held or continue to control ground in Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Mali, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Libya, contrary to the narrative that only the Islamic State seeks to take territory.
Taliban flaunts al Qaeda links in latest issue of its official magazine
Among those who eulogized Mullah Omar in the September 2015 edition of Al Sumud include al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri, former Islamic Caucasus Emirate leader Abu Usman Gimrinsky, al Qaeda-linked cleric Abdullah al Muhaysini, and Specially Designated nationals Hani al Siba’i and Sheikh Hamid bin Abdallah al ‘Ali.
Dissident Taliban commander claims Pakistani intel ordered him to conduct assassinations, attacks in Afghanistan
Mullah Mansour Dadullah, who has rejected the appointment of Mullah Mansour to replace Mullah Omar, also said that the Taliban’s leadership is based in Pakistan. He has not expressed a desire to join the Islamic State.
Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades suspected of kidnapping Turkish workers
One Iraqi soldier was killed today as the military raided a Hezbollah Brigades headquarters while searching for 18 Turkish construction workers who were kidnapped in Baghdad.
12 Ugandan troops killed as Shabaab assaults base in Somalia
The Ugandan military confirmed that 12 of its troops were killed after the al Qaeda branch assault a base in Janale near the capital of Mogadishu. Shabaab had claimed fighters from its Sheikh Abu Zubayr Battalion killed 50 troops while overrunning the facility.
3 Uzbeks among 5 ‘militants’ killed in drone strike in North Waziristan
The Uzbeks may have been members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, whose leader recently swore allegiance to the Islamic State, or the splinter Islamic Jihadi Union, which remains loyal to the Taliban and al Qaeda. Both groups are known to operate in North Waziristan.
Afghan intel captures Taliban’s shadow governor for Faryab
As the shadow governor for Faryab, Qari Salahuddin is responsible for directing the Taliban’s political and military activities. He was one of the first governors to swear allegiance to the Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour.
Taliban decries US designation of ‘low-ranking ‘ Haqqani Network commander
The jihadist group has reacted similarly to the designation of Haqqani Network leaders in the past. Additionally, the Taliban disputed the claim that Abdul Aziz Haqqani is “a senior member of the Haqqani Network,” as State said.
Islamic State kills 2 senior Iraqi generals in suicide assault near Ramadi
The Islamic State claimed credit for killing Major General Abdel Rahman Abu Raghif, the deputy commander for the Anbar Operations command, and Brigadier Safin Abdel Majid, the commander of the 10th Iraqi Army Division, in a six-man suicide assault on a military headquarters near Ramadi.
Taliban mass in northern Afghanistan to swear allegiance to new emir
Hundreds of Taliban fighters gathered in the open in Kunduz to witness Mullah Abdul Salam, the Taliban’s shadow governor, and other senior commanders swear allegiance to Mullah Mansour.
2 Coalition troops killed in insider attack in Afghanistan
The insider or green-on-blue attack, where a member of the Afghan security forces or a Taliban infiltrator kills Coalition personnel, is the third of its kind recorded this year.
Taliban takes another district in southern Afghanistan
The fall of Musa Qala puts the Taliban in effective control of northern Helmand, and will allow it to threaten the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.
US adds Haqqani Network commander to list of global terrorists
Siraj Haqqani’s brother, Abdul Aziz, is a key military commander who directs operations for the Haqqani Network and also is a member of the Kabul Attack Network. He is the 14th Haqqani network leader added to the US list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists since 2008. All have ties to al Qaeda.
Jundallah emir killed in northern Afghanistan, NDS claims
Hazrat, who is also known as Abu Hazefa, was killed in Kunduz, where a number of jihadist groups are fighting Afghan forces. He served as a Taliban military commander and also was a member of al Qaeda.
Pakistani Taliban faction assassinates Punjab minister
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar’s spokesman said that the Punjab home minister was killed in “revenge for the martyrdom” of Malik Ishaq, the head of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi who was killed by Pakistani police in late July.
Full statement of Mullah Mansour accepting al Qaeda’s oath of allegiance
The full text of Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour’s statement, entitled “New Amir of Islamic Emirate thanks and accepts all who pledged allegiance.”
US drones target AQAP near eastern stronghold in Yemen
The US continues to target al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s network in the eastern city of Mukallah. The city fell to AQAP in April.
Taliban raise flag over captured district in Helmand province
The Taliban took control of Now Zad in Helmand province in late July even though Afghan forces were backed by US air support, video from the fighting shows.
Taliban continues terror attacks in Afghan capital
The attacks in Kabul and elsewhere over the weekend have caused top Afghan officials to accuse the Pakistani government of continuing to back the Taliban even while hosting peace talks.
US drone strike targets Haqqani Network in North Waziristan
Five suspected jihadists were killed in the strike, which took place in the al Qaeda and Taliban haven of Datta Khel.
Jalaluddin Haqqani supports new Taliban emir, calls for unity
The influential veteran jihadist leader has endorsed Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour as the new emir of the Taliban, and urged others to pledge to him, according to the Taliban.
Former Guantanamo detainee Mullah Zakir supports new Taliban emir
According to a letter attributed to Mullah Adbul Qayoum Zakir, the former Quantanamo Bay detainee denied reports that he is at odds with new Taliban emir Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour.