Suicide bombers kill more than 30 in Syrian capital
Additionally the Al Nusrah Front claimed credit for a suicide attack outside of Damascus two days ago.
Category Archives: Long War Journal
Ansar al Sharia Egypt founder ‘honored to be an extension of al Qaeda’
During an interview with a Cairo-based publication in late October, Ahmed Ashush repeatedly praised and defended al Qaeda. Ashush also said, “We are at war with the United States and Israel.”
Mujahideen Shura Council: We are not truly a party to the ceasefire with Israel
The Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem has released a statement on the Israeli Operation Pillar of Defense to jihadist forums. According to the group, it is not truly a party to the ceasefire agreement currently in place.
Pakistan offers high bounty for Taliban spokesman
The $2 million reward for Ihsanullah Ihsan is more than three times higher than that of the group’s emir, Hakeemullah Mehsud, Waliur Rehman Mehsud, and other top Taliban leaders.
ISAF analysis shows Afghan violence remains worse than before surge
During a speech last week, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that ISAF’s analysis of the Afghan insurgency shows that the level of violence has decreased in 2011 and 2012. That is true when compared to 2010, a peak year for violence. But the level of violence remains worse than prior to the surge.
Another IMU ‘weapons facilitator’ captured in northern Afghanistan
Reports of raids against al Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan have decreased over the past two months, but “that does not indicate there were no missions executed, just that there was not a release issued,” ISAF told LWJ.
Boko Haram suicide bombs kill 11 at Nigerian military church
The al Qaeda-linked Nigerian terror group has carried out at least 19 suicide attacks this year. Boko Haram’s targets have included churches, mosques, newspapers, government officials, and security forces.
Tawhid and Jihad official praises fellow Gazan jihadists and calls for unity
A leading media official from Tawhid and Jihad Group in Jerusalem has praised his fellow Salafi jihadists in Gaza for their recent fighting against Israel. In addition, he has called for unity between the groups.
Al Nusrah Front claims suicide attack at hospital, joint operation with Chechen fighters
The suicide attack targeted a military headquarters at a French hospital in Aleppo. In Handarat, Al Nusrah launched an assault on an air defense brigade base with a “battalion of Chechen emigrants.”
US adds Pakistani hawala, 2 Taliban financiers to terrorism list
Rahat Ltd., a Pakistan-based hawala, its owner, and the owner of the Quetta branch, were added to the terrorism list for supporting the Taliban, including Mullah Barich, the shadow governor of Helmand province.
From al Qaeda in Italy to Ansar al Sharia Tunisia
Two convicted members of an al Qaeda-affiliated terror network in Italy are now senior members of Ansar al Sharia Tunisia. One of them, Sami Ben Khemais Essid, was the head of al Qaeda’s operations in Italy and plotted to attack the US Embassy in Rome in early 2001.
Bus bombing in Tel Aviv injures at least 21
On Wednesday, a bomb exploded on a public bus in Tel Aviv, injuring at least 21 people. Israeli authorities are currently searching for the perpetrators of the attack.
Ansar al Sharia Egypt releases founding statement
Ansar al Sharia Egypt has released a statement outlining its 16 goals. In addition to working toward the implementation of sharia law, the group says it will support the mujahideen opposed to the “Zionist-Crusader” coalition. The group is headed by Ahmed Ashush, a jihadist with longstanding ties to al Qaeda.
Treasury adds Hezbollah leader who was in US custody last year to terrorism list
Musa Ali Daqduq has been added to the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. He was in US custody a mere 11 months ago before being transferred to Iraq and subsequently freed, and his terrorist activities were well known.
Pro-Taliban Pakistani Islamist leader targeted in suicide attack
Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the former emir of the Jamaat-e-Islami, was unhurt in the suicide attack, which took place in the tribal agency of Mohmand.
Taliban release Nuristan attack video
The Taliban website has uploaded a 35-minute-long video depicting a series of attacks against Afghan security forces in the Kamdesh district in Nuristan province.
US, France assemble coalition to confront Islamists in Mali
The Islamist takeover of two-thirds of Mali this year has spurred the West as well as neighboring African countries to find a way to drive out the extremists.
Pakistan ‘frees’ dangerous Taliban commander as part of Afghan reconciliation process
Anwar ul Haq Mujahid is the commander of the Tora Bora Military Front, a Taliban subgroup based in Nangarhar province that has been behind numerous attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces as well as civilians. His father was close to Osama bin Laden.
US adds Taliban shadow governor of Helmand to narcotics kingpin list
Mullah Naim Barich, the Taliban’s leader for the southern Afghan province, was added “for the significant role he plays in international narcotics trafficking,” Treasury stated.
Iraq frees Hezbollah commander who helped mold Shia terror groups
Musa Ali Daqduq, who was tasked with establishing a Hezbollah-like Shia terror group in Iraq, and who was involved in the 2007 attack on US troops in Karbala, has been freed from Iraqi custody and is now in Lebanon.
Al Nusrah Front claims 2 suicide attacks, joint operations with jihadist groups in Syria
The al Qaeda-linked group claimed it carried out joint operations with the Ahrar al Sham Brigades and Suqur al Sham. Al Nusrah has now claimed credit for 34 of the 42 suicide attacks that have been recorded in Syria since December 2011.
ISAF data show insurgent attacks, civilian casualties increased in September
Data released by ISAF show that the number of insurgent attacks increased slightly in September 2012, as compared to September 2011. And the number of civilian casualties has increased dramatically.
Israel kills top Hamas military commander in Gaza airstrike
Ahmed Jabari, the leader of the Ezzedine al Qassam Brigades, and his aide were killed in a series of airstrikes that targeted Hamas military leaders and rocket launch sites.
Zawahiri calls on Muslims to implement sharia
In a statement released online, al Qaeda’s emir provides several goals for Muslims to strive toward. While ignoring the toll that al Qaeda’s violence has taken inside the Muslim world, Zawahiri says that Muslims must resist the “Crusader” alliance and implement sharia law.
Moroccan government dismantled ‘Ansar al Sharia’ terrorist cell
The Moroccan Interior Ministry announced earlier this month that it had disrupted planned terrorist attacks by an organization calling itself Ansar al Sharia in the Islamic Maghreb. The group allegedly sought the support of al Qaeda’s allies in northern Mali, and reportedly partnered with an unnamed Egyptian from the Sinai.
Insurgency encroaching on central Afghanistan
New Zealand’s 145-man unit tasked with stabilizing one of Afghanistan’s most vulnerable, yet once secure, regions has dismantled crucial forward operating bases in preparation for an early withdrawal in 2013.
Afghan soldier kills ISAF trooper in Helmand
An ISAF soldier was also wounded in the insider, or green-on-blue, attack. There have been 42 such attacks this year, resulting in the deaths of 60 ISAF personnel.
Egypt arrests a number of wanted jihadists in Sinai
Since Wednesday, Egyptian authorities have reportedly arrested a number of wanted jihadists operating in the Sinai Peninsula. The brother of one of the arrested has threatened to carry out attacks if his brother, Ahmed Allam el Hefny, is not released.
Suicide bombers kills 20 Syrian troops
There have been two suicide attacks against the Syrian military in the past six days, and 40 such attacks in less than a year.
More al Qaeda links to Cairo terror cell reportedly found
Egyptian authorities continue to investigate the Nasr City terrorist cell, which they say has ties to al Qaeda and the Sept. 11 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.