Suspected jihadists attack Malian base near Ivory Coast
The attack in southern Mali, which is a rare occurrence, is part of the trend of increased jihadist attacks in the central and southern portions of the country.
Author Archives: Caleb Weiss
Islamic State used US-made anti-tank missiles near Palmyra
The jihadist group, which has published pictures of BGM-71 anti-tank missiles before, again shows the usage of these weapons at Palmyra. Many of these systems have been employed by jihadist groups or have been used to assist jihadist groups.
Islamic State touts jihadists from the Balkans
The new propaganda film focuses on several Balkan fighters, as well as the events in the Balkans in the 1990’s. The video is just the latest attempt to showcase foreign fighters within its ranks.
Islamic State shows off ‘spoils of war’ from recent battles near Fallujah
The video features footage from recent fighting near the town of Karmah, just northeast of Fallujah.
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claims 2 attacks in Mali
The attacks targeted a UN base and a UN convoy, which included the heads of the UN’s military and police forces in Mali, near the city of Timbuktu. The claims come after conflicting reports from a Mauritanian news agency that first reported Al Murabitoon claimed the attacks.
Islamic State reportedly seizes all of the Al Waleed border crossing in Iraq
The capturing of the Iraqi side of the Al Waleed border crossing comes just days after the jihadist group captured the Syrian side.
Islamic State seizes Syrian side of Al Waleed border crossing with Iraq
The fall of the strategic location means that the Syrian regime has lost control of all crossings with Iraq.
Islamic State releases media from Palmyra
After taking the city of Tadmur, the Islamic State has released both photographs and videos from the highly strategic city.
French forces kill two al Qaeda leaders in Mali
The special forces raids killed an al Qaeda leader known for kidnapping and murdering Western hostages.
Al Nusrah Front and allies claim victory at Al Mastoumah, Idlib
With victory over Assad’s forces at the military camp, the al Qaeda-led coalition continues to overrun regime positions in Idlib province.
Izzat Ibrahim al Douri emerges in new audiotape
The audio, which features Al Douri discussing recent events, refutes reports that he was killed last month in the Hamrin Mountains.
Alleged statement from Mokhtar Belmokhtar denies his group swore allegiance to the Islamic State
The statement also confirms that he and his group, the Al Mulathameen Brigade, are still loyal to Zawahiri and al Qaeda. The Long War Journal cannot independently verify the statement’s authenticity.
Turkistan Islamic Party had significant role in recent Idlib offensive
The new video shows the group’s role in the recent fighting at Jisr al Shughur. The Turkistan Islamic Party has long fought in Syria alongside the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria.
Islamic State releases new video from the Baiji oil refinery
The jihadist group shows more fighting that has taken place at the facility. It is unclear when some of the footage was recorded, as some scenes have been previously featured in photo reports. While the Iraqi Security Forces have claimed to have regained control of the refinery after a recent Islamic State offensive, attacks are still occurring at the complex.
Islamic State releases video of recent battles near Ramadi
Footage shows the jihadist group battling Iraqi Security Forces in the Al Sufiyah area of Ramadi. The area is said to be “75 percent” cleared, but fierce fighting is still ongoing.
Jihadists celebrate in key Idlib city after defeating Syrian regime
Many jihadist groups, including those within al Qaeda’s network in Syria, have published videos of their forces celebrating in or near Jisr al Shughur in Idlib province.
Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria involved in new Idlib offensive
The Turkistan Islamic Party, an al Qaeda-affiliated group that also operates in Afghanistan, Pakistan and China, operates in Syria under the moniker “Katibat Turkistani.”
Al Murabitoon claims Ansongo suicide attack
The explosion killed three civilians and left 16 wounded, including nine Nigerien UN peacekeepers. The group said that it was directly targeting Nigerien troops because of Niger’s president Mahamadou Issoufou’s response in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
Islamic State publicizes use of child soldiers in Baiji fight
Two children fire a howitzer towards Iraqi Security Force positions in the Baiji oil refinery. Prior to this video, the Islamic State has shown kids conducting and assisting in executions. They are part of the “Cubs of the Caliphate,” which is what the jihadist group calls those children it trains in various training camps in Iraq and Syria.
Islamic State uses drones to coordinate fighting in Baiji
In a new video from Baiji, the Islamic State highlighted the use of a drone to gather intelligence for its “operations control room” directing the fighting at the oil refinery complex. The jihadist group has showcased the use of drones before, most notably at the Brigade 93 base in Raqqah last summer.
French forces free Dutch hostage in Mali
Dutch national Sjaak Rijke has been freed from captivity after being held in Mali since 2011. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al Qaeda’s official branch in North Africa, is still believed to be holding two other men captured with Rijke in Timbuktu.
Islamic State releases photos from Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus
The photos show its forces engaging Palestinian factions in the camp, including beheading two members of Aknaf Bayt al Maqdis, a group loyal to Hamas.
Islamic State releases photo report from Syria’s Hama province
The photo report details the fighting at Sheikh al Hilal near the city of Al Salamiyah in Hama province. The Islamic State was able to seize a nearby town, as well as release a video showing the execution of several regime soldiers. In the south, the jihadist group was able to enter the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp but is now fighting for control against Jaish al Islam and a group loyal to Hamas.
Iranian-backed Shiite militias still operating in Tikrit
Several Iranian-backed Shiite militia groups continue to operate in Tikrit, despite claims by US government officials that most of these militias had left the battle. The US continues to launch airstrikes to support Iraqi forces and these militias, many leaders of which are responsible for killing US and Coalition servicemen during the Iraq War.
Jund al Aqsa launches suicide bombings in support of Idlib offensive
The two suicide bombers, one Kuwaiti and one Saudi, were deployed in conjunction with a larger assault on the regime-held Idlib city. Several rebel groups, including the Al Nusrah Front, Jund al Aqsa, Ahrar al Sham and others have joined forces in a coalition called Jaish al Fateh.
Al Nusrah Front, allied rebels capture Syrian helicopter crew
Four of the crew are reported to have been captured with a fifth being executed on the spot. The fate of the sixth crew member remains unknown. No official statement has come from the Al Nusrah Front but the chopper went down in a Nusrah stronghold of Idlib province.
Foreign suicide bombers launch assault on Ramadi
At least 13 suicide bombers, including jihadists from Belgium, Australia, Uzbekistan, Chechnya, Syria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia launched a coordinated assault on Anbar’s provincial capital.
In pictures: Shiite militias operating near Tikrit
Several Shiite militias, which are supported by the Iranian Qods Force, and the Iraqi Security Forces have taken over several surrounding towns of Tikrit. These militias have published several photos and videos from these towns in recent days.
Rocket attack on UN base in Kidal kills 3, injures 12
The rocket barrage has not yet been claimed, but al Qaeda-affiliated groups have launched similar attacks on the UN in the past. This comes one day after a terrorist attack, perpetrated by group loyal to al Qaeda, occurred in Mali’s capital.
Al Murabitoon attacks nightclub in Mali capital
The assault, which has been claimed by the Al Qaeda-affiliated group, is the first of its kind in Bamako.