Social Media: An Important Tool Used By Palestinian Militant Groups
Hamas and other aligned Palestinian militant organizations have taken advantage of social media to spread propaganda to supporters.
Category Archives: Long War Journal
UN reports veteran al Qaeda leader likely back in action in Afghanistan
The U.S. captured al Qaeda key commander Abu Ikhlas al Masri in 2010. He was freed from Bagram prison after the Taliban takeover in 2021, and is thought to have reformed an Al Qaeda unit.
Pakistani Taliban kills scores in mosque bombing in Peshawar
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, claimed credit for the deadly attack. The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan denied involvement, while it and the Afghan Taliban cynically claimed it would never strike a mosque.
Kabul Attack Network commander brags about suicide assaults in TV interview
One of the co-leaders of the deadly Kabul Attack Network bragged about his role in deadly attacks in the Afghan capital. The Taliban commander, known as Taj Mir Jawad, is the Taliban’s deputy minister of intelligence.
Analysis: U.S. Military kills key Islamic State leader in Africa
U.S. Special Operations Forces killed Bilal al-Sudani, a key Islamic State operative responsible for coordinating the group’s finances and activities across central, eastern, and southern Africa (and beyond).
Generation Jihad Ep. 87 — Jihadis in the Sahel
Host Bill Roggio is joined again by (semi-official?) co-host Caleb Weiss to discuss Jihadi control in Africa. In the last several years, Jihadists have moved toward central and southern Mali and are now threatening Bamako, the capital of Mali. In Burkina Faso, Jihadis control around 40% of the country. Bill and Caleb walk through past and present Jihadi attacks, offenses, and operations.
Shin Bet: Hamas Attempting to Recruit Palestinians in the West Bank
Israel’s security agency revealed on Wednesday that it thwarted another operation by Hamas in Gaza to recruit Palestinians living in the West Bank.
U.S. military strikes Shabaab in central Somalia
The U.S. military targeted Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, in a pair of strikes in central Somalia over the past several days. The first attack took place on Jan. 20 near the town of Galcad in Somalia’s central region of Galguduud. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said it killed at least 30 Shabaab members […]
Northern Mali clans swear allegiance to JNIM
Several communities in Mali’s northern Menaka Region have turned to al Qaeda’s men in the face of extreme pressure and violence from the Islamic State’s local wing.
Generation Jihad Ep. 86 — An update on Russia’s war in Ukraine
Host Bill Roggio is joined again by John Hardie, deputy director of FDD’s Russia Program, to discuss the latest developments from Russia’s war in Ukraine, including Russia’s recent change in command of its forces.
Al Qaeda’s JNIM pushes closer to Malian capital
Over the last two weeks, al Qaeda’s West African branch has made a more concerted effort to advance closer to the Malian capital of Bamako.
Moscow Shakes Up Command of Its Forces in Ukraine (Again)
Moscow’s latest command shake-up likely reflects internal power politics and bodes poorly for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
State places $10 million bounty on Kenyan Shabaab commander
Mohamoud Abdi Aden is the second Kenyan-Somali the U.S. State Department has placed a $10 million bounty on in the last week. Shabaab now has five leaders with $10 million bounties, the most for any Sunni jihadist group.
U.S. offers $10 million bounty for top Shabaab military commander
The U.S. has now placed a $10 million bounty on Maalim Ayman, the leader of Shabaab’s military wing in Kenya. Maalim Ayman now joins the ranks of other high-profile Sunni jihadis around the world demanding a similar price tag.
Islamic State Sympathizer Arrested for Carrying Out Jerusalem Bombings
Israeli authorities announced the arrest of an Islamic State sympathizer involved in the November 23 Jerusalem bombings.
UNIFIL Peacekeepers Come Under Fire in Southern Lebanon, Hezbollah Denies Involvement
UNIFIL convoy in southern Lebanon was attacked by small arms fire, Hezbollah is suspected of being involved.
Estimating Russia’s Kh-101 Production Capacity
Data from downed Kh-101 cruise missiles suggests that despite sanctions, Russian production of these (and perhaps other) missiles not only persists but may be greater than some previously thought.
U.S. kills Islamic State officials during raid in Syria
The U.S. military has targeted the Islamic State’s top tier leadership cadre with raids and strikes at least five times since the beginning of the summer of 2022.
Analysis: West Bank Violence Trending Upward
After a brief lull in violence during the month of November, West Bank militant groups have increasingly carried out attacks against IDF troops and Israeli settlements in recent weeks.
German national freed in the Sahel after years of jihadist captivity
German national Jorg Lange was finally freed after being held captive by Islamic State militants in the Sahel since 2018.
U.S. designates Al Qaeda, Pakistani Taliban leaders based in Afghanistan
All four terrorists, including the emir of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent and the deputy emir of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, are based in Afghanistan.
Islamic State announces death of its caliph, appoints successor
The Islamic State announced the death of its emir, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, and has chosen a new leader, an individual identified only as Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi.
JNIM claims deadly assault in northeastern Togo
This is the third such JNIM claim of responsibility for an attack inside northern Togo.
Generation Jihad Ep. 85 — The Islamic insurgency in Mozambique
Hosts Bill and Caleb are joined by Ryan O’Farrell, a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation (where Caleb is also a senior analyst) to discuss one of the more obscure Islamic insurgencies in the world: the conflict in Mozambique.
Taliban ends ceasefire with Pakistani government, vows ‘revenge attacks’ across the country
The TTP claimed that it ended the ceasefire after “the army and intelligence agencies continue to raid and attack” its forces. “And now our revenge attacks will continue in the whole country.”
Another long hotel siege ends in Mogadishu
Another hotel siege perpetrated by Shabaab in Mogadishu was ended by Somali security forces almost twenty four hours after it began. The al Qaeda branch continues to lash out against civilians in response to military operations against it.
Bombings Target Jerusalem Area, Palestinian Militant Organizations Laud Attacks
Two bombs exploded near bus stops in the Jerusalem area Wednesday morning. One Israeli-Canadian was killed and two dozen people were injured.
Jihadis issue vague threats against World Cup
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as al Qaeda’s general command, have issued communiques denouncing Qatar and the World Cup as a means to degrade the morals of the Arabian Peninsula. The Islamic State’s supporters have additionally issued their own infographics, calling for attacks on the games.
Drone Launched from IRGC Base Targets Liberian-Flagged Oil Tanker
U.S. Central Command alleges that Iran is behind drone attack on commercial shipping vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
Generation Jihad Ep. 84 — Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson
Bill is joined again by John Hardie — Deputy Director of FDD’s Russia Program — for an update on Russia’s war in Ukraine, particularly to unpack Russia’s Kherson retreat. Where does Putin go from here?