US designates Palestinian Salafist group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
Jaish al Islam, or Army of Islam, “subscribes to a Salafist ideology of global jihad together with the traditional model of armed Palestinian resistance.”
Category Archives: Long War Journal
Analysis: Al Qaeda’s interim emir and Iran
Al Qaeda’s interim emir is reportedly Saif al Adel, a longtime member of al Qaeda and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Al Adel has a decades-long relationship with Iran and was protected by the Iranians after 9/11.
Al Qaeda operative arrested in Karachi was ‘courier’ between bin Laden, Zawahiri: Pakistani officials
Muhammad Ali Qasim Yaqub was captured in Karachi on May 4, where he has lived with his family “for some time.” He is said to be linked to Anwar al Awlaki and Ramsi bin Alshib.
The Gitmo Files: An agent of Iran
A leaked threat assessment prepared at Guantanamo describes one current detainee and his father as “Iranian agents.” The detainee, Haji Hamidullah, allegedly “murdered 71 people.” The leaked file connects several others to Iran, including two members of Hamid Karzai’s government.
Islamic Caucasus Emirates confirms death of ‘Russian bin Laden’
Abdullah Kurd was a leader in the International Islamic Battalion, al Qaeda’s foreign legion in the Caucasus.
Suicide assault team defeated in Quetta
Pakistani officials said the attackers appeared to be “Uzbek or Chechen.” The Pakistani Army claimed to have captured a senior al Qaeda operative in Karachi.
Pakistani troops open fire on ISAF helicopters at Afghan border
Two Pakistani soldiers were wounded. Pakistan claimed that US helicopters had crossed the border and opened fire.
US Department of Justice plans to prosecute Hezbollah commander captured in Iraq
Ali Mussa Daqduq, a senior Hezbollah commander tasked to train and organize the Shia terror groups in Iraq, was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of US soldiers in Karbala in 2007. Justice wants to try him in the US.
US Predators kill 10 ‘militants’ in Mir Ali
The attack took place in an area that hosts a number of regional and international terror groups. Four “foreigners” were reported killed.
Senior Haqqani Network leader captured in Khost
The Haqqani Network commander is the brother of Jan Baz Zadran, who is considered to be the thrid in command of the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani Network.
Taliban deny Osama bin Laden’s death will impact Afghan war
The Taliban said the war would continue as long as Westerners “are bent on continuing their colonialist ambitions against the Islamic Ummah.”
US charges 6 Pakistani Americans, including 2 imams, with aiding Taliban
Two of the people charged, who are both imams, were arrested in Florida, and another person was arrested in Los Angeles. The other three are on the run in Pakistan.
The Gitmo Files: 2 of Afghanistan’s most wanted hid leadership roles while in US custody
Two of the Taliban’s most senior commanders successfully hid their leadership roles from interrogators and analysts at Guantanamo. Both were subsequently transferred to the custody of the Afghan government but were freed and rejoined the Taliban.
Taliban suicide bomber kills 80 at Pakistani Frontier Corps training center
“This was the first revenge for Osama’s martyrdom. Wait for bigger attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan,” a Pakistani Taliban spokesman said.
US Predators strike again in North Waziristan
The US has stepped up its Predator campaign after a lull in strikes that lasted several months. Today’s strike is the fourth in seven days.
American Shabaab commander speaks at rally for Osama bin Laden in Somalia
Omar Hammami appeared in public with other top Shabaab leaders and vowed to avenge the al Qaeda leader’s death. Hammami said that “the caliphate shall soon be reborn.”
US Predators strike in al Qaeda haven of Datta Khel
Several “foreigners” are said to have been killed in the North Waziristan strike. The US has launched three attacks in Pakistan’s tribal areas over the past week.
The Gitmo Files: Recidivist who targets charity workers deemed ‘high risk’
Abdul Hafiz, a former Guantanamo detainee who quickly rejoined the Taliban after being transferred, had been deemed a “high risk” by US officials less than two years earlier. His insurgency group had been trained by Pakistani military officers to attack Westerners in Afghanistan and had killed an ICRC worker.
US designates Badruddin Haqqani as terrorist
Badruddin is “an operational commander” in the Haqqani Network, sits on the Miramshah Regional Military Shura, and aids al Qaeda fighters operating in Afghanistan.
ISAF troops find French, Saudi passports during clash with al Qaeda cell in southeast
During a recent firefight in Qalat in Zabul province, 10 al Qaeda operatives were killed.
US Predators kill 4 in South Waziristan strike
The attack took place in an area controlled by Mullah Nazir, a Taliban leader supported by the Pakistani state. Nazir recently said he is “part of al Qaeda.”
Al Qaeda appoints new leader of forces in Pakistan’s tribal areas
Abdul Shakoor Turkistani, the leader of the Turkistan Islamic Party, is also in control of the terror camps. He was given the job just weeks before Osama bin Laden was killed.
Afghan National Army update, May 2011
A look at the development of the Afghan National Army, a key force in the fight against the Taliban.
Bin Laden directed al Qaeda’s global operations from ‘command center’ in Pakistan
“Bin Laden remained an active leader in al Qaeda, providing strategic, operational and tactical instructions to the group,” a top US official reports.
Taliban’s Quetta Shura calls death of bin Laden a ‘great tragedy’
“He was an indefatigable fighter against the Christian and Jewish aggressions in the Islamic World and was not sparing any effort in this cause,” the official statement said.
Al Qaeda vows to avenge Osama bin Laden’s death
The terror group called for the Pakistani people “to rise up and revolt” against the government and “cleanse” the nation of Americans.
US Predators kill 13 ‘militants’ in North Waziristan strike
“Foreigners” were among those killed in the al Qaeda hub of Datta Khel in Pakistan.
After bin Laden raid, Pakistan Army chief warns US against violating sovereignty, orders reduction of US forces in country
“Any similar action, violating the sovereignty of Pakistan, will warrant a review on the level of military / intelligence cooperation with the United States,” a statement released by the Pakistani military said.
US airstrike targets Saudi al Qaeda commander in Yemen: report
Two mid-level al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula commanders were reported killed in what is thought to be a US Predator airstrike.
‘Good’ Pakistani Taliban leader Nazir affirms membership in al Qaeda
“I am part of al Qaeda,” the South Waziristan Taliban chieftain said. He also said “the mujahideen from Afghanistan will join forces with the Arabs” to wage jihad in the Middle East.