US kills AQAP bombmaker, 9 fighters in pair of strikes in Yemen
Two Egyptians, a Tunisian, a Saudi, and a Bahraini were among the seven AQAP fighters killed in one of the strikes. Abdullah Awad al Masri, a senior al Qaeda bombmaker, was also killed.
Category Archives: Long War Journal
US adds Saudi al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan to terror list
Mansur al Harbi runs an al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan, and helps foreign fighters enter the country. He has close ties to top al Qaeda leaders, including Saif al Adel.
Lawyer who defended suspected al Qaeda militants in Turkey killed in Aleppo
Turkish jihadist websites announced the “martyrdom” of Osman Karahan, publicly known as the lawyer defending al Qaeda members in Turkey.
‘Global jihadists’ overrun Egyptian Army outpost on Israeli border
More than 10 Egyptian soldiers were killed as an al Qaeda-linked terror group overran an outpost, seized two armored personnel carriers, and crossed into Israel. Israeli troops destroyed one of the APCs, and killed six terrorists. In a separate operation, the Israeli Air Force targeted a Mujahideen Shura Council “terrorist squad” that was plotting future attacks.
Al Qaeda emir for Kunar, deputy, and facilitator killed in airstrikes
Mufti Assad, the emir for Kunar, and his deputy, Yusuf, were killed in the Aug. 3 airstrike in the Watahpur district. Both al Qaeda leaders were Pakistani citizens. Fatah Gul, an al Qaeda facilitator who ran training camps, was killed in a separate strike.
US drone strike kills 5 AQAP fighters in eastern Yemen
The strike is the first recorded in Yemen in more than a month, and took place as al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula killed more than 20 people at a funeral in southern Yemen.
IMU announces death of emir, names new leader
The al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has announced the death of its emir, Abu Usman Adil, in a drone strike in Pakistan in April, and named Usman Ghazi to replace him. Adil was responsible for ramping up the IMU’s activities in Afghanistan.
Al Qaeda-linked fighters killed in airstrike in Kunar
Several “al Qaeda associated insurgents” were killed in the airstrike in the Watahpur district in Kunar, where two al Qaeda and two Lashkar-eTaiba leaders have been killed since the end of May.
Spain arrests 3 al Qaeda suspects
Spanish authorities announced the arrests of three suspected al Qaeda operatives who had allegedly amassed enough explosives to destroy a bus, or do even more damage.
Hamas frees al Qaeda-linked jihadist leader in Gaza
Abu al Walid al Maqdisi, the leader of the Tawhid and Jihad Group in Jerusalem, was freed after more than a year in prison. His release was announced by Masada al Mujahideen, one of six major jihadist groups operating in Gaza.
Egypt requests release of al Qaeda explosives expert
The Egyptian government has requested the release of Tariq Mahmoud Ahmed al Sawah from Guantanamo. Al Sawah was a top al Qaeda explosives expert before his capture, and designed the prototype of the shoe bomb used by Richard Reid, as well as magnetized limpet mines. He was originally a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the leaked JTF-GTMO file for his case notes that the US government has been spying on the Brotherhood.
Afghan intel kills 5 members of Haqqani Network suicide cell in Kabul
The Haqqani Network cell was planning to take over a high-rise building in Kabul. Three trucks packed with explosives, suicide vests, and weapons were seized during the raid.
Taliban deny media report that they seek split with al Qaeda
A report that the Taliban were prepared to sever ties with al Qaeda was written “without any confirmation by the cultural commission or an official of the Islamic Emirate,” the top spokesman said.
Senior Haqqani Network leader urges Turks to wage jihad in Afghanistan
Mullah Sangeen Zadran calls on Turks to fight in Afghanistan and elsewhere, and says that through jihad, “We will make Islam prevail in the world!”
Ex-Guantanamo detainee surrenders to Saudis
An ex-Gitmo detainee named Adnan al Sayegh has reportedly turned himself into Saudi authorities. Al Sayegh was a member of al Qaeda’s 55th Arab Brigade, which fought alongside the Taliban in pre-9/11 Afghanistan. He joined al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula after his release from Guantanamo.
Mujahideen Shura Council calls attack in Israel a ‘gift’ to Zawahiri and al Qaeda ‘brothers’
The Egyptian terror group again claimed credit for last month’s cross-border attack in Israel that killed a construction worker, and said it is “continuing with our pledge of allegiance on the path of jihad.”
6 Uzbeks killed in North Waziristan drone strike
The strike took place in Mir Ali, a known terrorist haven where the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and the Islamic Jihad Group, an IMU splinter group, are based.
Army of Islam fighter from Gaza killed in Syria
The Palestinian jihadist was detained for several years by Hamas in Gaza before leaving to fight with “his monotheist brothers” in Syria. Currently 7 jihadist groups are known to be operating in Syria.
NCTC director: ‘We remain at war with al Qaeda’
During testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security on July 25, National Counterterrorism Center director Matthew Olsen provided his organization’s view of the ongoing fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.
ISAF targets al Qaeda-linked leader in southeastern Afghanistan
Special operations forces conducted an airstrike against an “al Qaeda-associated insurgent leader” in the Gelan district in Ghazni province.
Special operations forces target al Qaeda-linked leader in Nuristan
Kanjar, an insurgent leader affiliated with both the Taliban and al Qaeda, was killed during a raid in the Waygal district.
Al Qaeda in Iraq claims nationwide attacks that killed more than 100 Iraqis
The Islamic State of Iraq said the offensive was launched “in application of the directives of Sheikh Mujahid Abu Bakr al Baghdadi,” the terror group’s emir.
Slain Syrian official supported al Qaeda in Iraq
Assef Shawkat, a top Syrian official killed in a bomb blast last week, was a key ally of al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). Leaked State Department cables show that General David Petraeus repeatedly warned of the collusion between Syrian officials, including Shawkat, and AQI’s top foreign fighter facilitator.
ISAF kills IMU leader in Afghan north
Special operations forces killed Khadim, an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader and explosives expert who recruited and trained fighters for suicide attacks, during yesterday’s raid in Kunduz.
US drone strike kills 12 ‘militants’ in North Waziristan
The attack took place in the al Qaeda and Taliban-controlled Shawal Valley, and is the first in 16 days.
Taliban release video of Haqqani Network suicide assault on FOB Salerno
The video, released on Voice of Jihad, shows the suicide bombing at the outer wall, and Haqqani Network fighters entering the base.
Omar Farouq Brigade calls on Muslims to wage jihad in Syria
The group is named after a top al Qaeda leader and senior lieutenant to Osama bin Laden. A video released by the group implores Turkish jihadists to fight in Syria.
Taliban attack rival militias in Pakistan
The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan claimed credit for both a suicide attack in Hangu and a bombing in Upper Dir that targeted anti-Taliban militias.
Report highlights emails from Fort Hood shooter to al Qaeda cleric
The Webster Commission released its final report on the FBI’s handling of evidence regarding Major Nidal Malik Hasan prior to the Nov. 5, 2009 Fort Hood shootings. Hasan sent a number of emails to al Qaeda cleric Anwar al Awlaki prior to the attack.
ISAF captures IMU leader in Afghan north
Special operations forces have conducted three raids this year in Takhar against the al Qaeda and Taliban-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.