The ISIS insurgency in the Sinai continues despite Egyptian Army efforts
Islamic State attacks in the Sinai persist despite Egyptian military operations against it.
Category Archives: Long War Journal
Ansaru publicly returns to Nigeria
The attack, the group’s first since 2013, announces its operational return to Nigeria.
U.S. military buries press release that would announce killing of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent’s emir
The U.S. military has suppressed a press release announcing the death of Al Qaeda In the Indian Subcontinient’s emir for three months as his presence with the difficult. Asim Umar, his courrier to Ayman al Zawahiri, his staff, and even his wife were embedded with the Taliban in Helmand province when he was killed.
The DFLP and the Resistance Brigades promote militant activity on Telegram
The DFLP has been taken off the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list, but continues to promote their militant activities via Telegram.
Islamic State kills almost 100 soldiers in Niger
Over the last month, the jihadist group has killed at least 174 Nigerien soldiers in three separate attacks.
Federal lawsuits target both Iran and private firms for allegedly financing Taliban and Al-Qaeda operations that killed U.S. troops
More than 500 members of American military families, including over 100 Gold Star families, have filed two lawsuits: one against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and another against eight multinational companies that operate in Afghanistan.
Taliban kills 2 U.S. soldiers in IED attack
The Taliban claimed responsibility for an IED attack in the southern province of Kandahar earlier today that killed two U.S. soldiers and wounded two more.
Islamic State video details operations across the Sahel
The large video details several major Islamic State operations inside the Sahel over the last few years.
Deadly raid in Kenya carried out under ‘direction’ of al-Qaeda leadership, Shabaab says
Ali Mohamud Rage, a senior Shabaab official, has released a video concerning the group’s assault on the Manda Bay Airfield earlier this week. Three Americans were killed during the attack, which Rage says was “carried out under the guidance and direction” of Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Air strike that targeted Soleimani and Muhandis also killed key aides
The killing of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis last week reportedly claimed the lives of eight lesser-known colleagues as well. The death of these aides indicates that those who serve designated terrorists may suffer the same fate as their superiors.
Iran launches ‘ballistic missiles’ at U.S. bases in Iraq
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed the attack was “launched from Iran” and that it “targeted at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military & coalition personnel at Al-Assad & Irbil.” No casualties have been reported.
U.S. suffers casualties during Shabaab raid on Kenyan airfield
One U.S. service member and two Defense Department contractors were killed during a raid by Shabaab on the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya earlier today. U.S. AFRICOM accused the al-Qaeda arm of exaggerating the effects of its operation, which is true. But the jihadists still managed to infiltrate an airfield used by the U.S. and its allies to combat the group.
Shabaab assaults Kenyan airfield used by U.S. forces
Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s regional branch in East Africa, assaulted the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya earlier today. The extent of the damage is unclear, but at least some aircraft and equipment was set ablaze.
Muqtada al Sadr reactivates Mahdi Army, Promised Day Brigade
Muqtada al Sadr has reactivated two of his longstanding militia forces in Iraq in response to the U.S. killing Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani.
Iranian-backed Bahraini militias eulogize Soleimani, Muhandis
The rare joint statement both eulogizes Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and offers vague threats of retaliation in Bahrain.
Qods Force commander Soleimani’s carelessness put him in the U.S. military’s crosshairs
Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani became “complacent” while traveling to and from Iraq, and did not believe the U.S. would target him, U.S. military officials told FDD’s Long War Journal. The military was able to reliably track his movements at times.
U.S. kills Iran’s Qods Force commander and Iraq’s deputy PMF leader in strike in Baghdad
Qods Force commander Qassem Soliemani and Popular Mobilization Forces deputy Abu Mahdi al Muhandis were terror and insurgency masterminds who were revered in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and beyond for their support of the Iranian-backed Shia militias and terrorist groups that have destabilized several countries in the Middle East.
Bahraini militias decry U.S. airstrikes on Hezbollah Brigades
This is the second time that several Iranian-backed militias in Bahrain have voiced their support of the Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades after U.S. airstrikes on the group.
Taliban says it ‘has no intention of declaring a ceasefire’
The Taliban has denied press reports, which it described as “false and baseless,” that it was on the cusp of declaring a ceasefire in Afghanistan.
Hezbollah Brigades threatens retaliation after U.S. airstrikes
Following a deadly rocket attack on a U.S. base in Iraq and subsequent U.S. airstrikes in response, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah Brigades threatens to further retaliate by continuing to target U.S. troops.
Islamic State kills dozens of soldiers in Niger
The Islamic State continues to make inroads in the Sahel, conducting several high-profile raids in the border region between Mali and Niger.
Taliban launches suicide assault against Bagram Air Base as negotiations resume
The Taliban suicide assault takes place as the US and the Taliban have reopened negotiations that would allow the former to extricate itself from Afghanistan.
Analysis: How the U.S. arrived at this critical crossroads in Afghanistan
The decades of mistakes and deceit has led us to the brink of a major foreign policy failure. A peace deal will absolve the Taliban for its decades of steadfast alliance with al Qaeda.
Analysis: Taliban continues to lie about presence of foreign fighters in Afghanistan
FDD’s Long War Journal reported earlier this month that the Turkistan Islamic Party released new images of its men fighting and training in Afghanistan. The Taliban, which is currently seeking to downplay the presence of foreign terrorist groups in Afghanistan, subsequently issued a statement claiming that the montage was “falsified.” That is a lie.
U.S. offers $15 million for information on IRGC and commander behind Karbala attack
Abdul Reza Shahlai is one of Qods Forces’ most dangerous commanders.
Turkistan Islamic Party touts captured equipment, training camp in Afghanistan
The video shows TIP’s men with captured Afghan military equipment, as well as recruits undergoing training.
U.S. unseals indictment against American serving as top Shabaab figure
The Department of Justice has unsealed an updated indictment against Jehad Serwan Mostafa, an American who has long served as a senior figure in Shabaab. The FBI alleges that Mostafa has played a role in Shabaab’s explosives department, among other jobs. In 2011, he served as an emissary for Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Analysis: Islamic State claims attack in London by al Qaeda-inspired terrorist
The Islamic State claims that Usman Khan, who killed two people on London Bridge, was one of its fighters. But long before its so-called caliphate, Khan was inspired by Anwar al-Awlaki and al-Qaeda.
Abdullah Azzam Brigades dissolves itself in Syria
After a long-hiatus, the al Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades announces its dissolution inside Syria.
Islamic State claims rare attack in Algeria
The Islamic State claims its men killed eight Algerian soldiers during a counterterrorism raid. Despite declaring a “province” in Algeria in Nov. 2014, the group rarely claims operations in the country. And its latest claim hasn’t been verified.