FDD's Long War Journal

Analysis: US seeks extradition of Bin Laden loyalist imprisoned in France

Thomas Joscelyn | January 18, 2018

The US is seeking the extradition of Christian Ganczarski from France, where he has been imprisoned since 2003. A French court convicted Ganczarski on terror-related charges for his role in the Apr. 11, 2002 suicide bombing at a synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia. The bomber called Ganczarski beforehand to receive his “blessing.” A newly-released indictment focuses on Ganczarski’s other ties to al Qaeda, including a plot targeting American interests in Australia.

US drone strike inside Pakistan targets ‘Afghan extremist’

Bill Roggio | January 17, 2018

The last five US counterterrorism strikes have all taken place inside Pakistan’s Kurram tribal agency. The Afghan Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, is known to operate inside Kurram and use it as a base to attack Afghanistan.

Pakistan pits CENTCOM commander against Trump administration

Bill Roggio | January 14, 2018

In a conversation with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, the Pakistani military claimed CENTCOM commander General Joseph Votel said the idea that the Taliban uses Pakistan as a safe haven is “undermining … Pakistan’s contributions in war against terrorism” in Washington.

Widespread protests force Tunisian army deployment

Alexandra Gutowski & Grant Rumley | January 11, 2018

The army will be protecting government installations, following an incident in which protesters burned a security headquarters near the Algerian border, prompting police to flee.

US killed three ‘key’ AQAP leaders in Yemen

Bill Roggio & Alexandra Gutowski | January 11, 2018

CENTCOM identified the AQAP operatives who were killed as “key Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leaders.” Their responsibilities included “external operations facilitator,” an operative who paves the way for attacks outside of Yemen, an arms facilitator, and a member of its proselytizing council.

Saudi-led coalition turns the tide in Yemen conflict

Alexandra Gutowski | January 10, 2018

Backed by Saudi air power, Yemeni forces are advancing on a number of critical fronts including Yemen’s northern border and western coast.

Pakistan frees jihadist leader behind deadly uprising

Bill Roggio | January 9, 2018

Sufi Mohammed was responsible for the Taliban uprising in Swat and the peace agreement that put jihadists in control of a significant area of Pakistan from 2007 to 2009.

Al Qaeda maintains operational tempo in West Africa in 2017

Caleb Weiss | January 5, 2018

At least 276 attacks in Mali and its neighboring countries were linked al Qaeda in 2017. This includes a significant shift of violence to central Mali, as well as northern Burkina Faso.

State Department designates 3 al Qaeda figures as global terrorists

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | January 4, 2018

One of the leaders “planned” the March 2015 Bardo Museum attack in Tunis, which was claimed by the Islamic State. Another serves as Shabaab’s deputy emir.

2017: A record year for US counterterrorism strikes

Bill Roggio & Alexandra Gutowski | January 3, 2018

The pattern of operations in 2017 in what the Obama administration used to call areas outside of active hostilities indicates that the US will continue the reinvigorated air campaign in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya in the coming year.

Trump blasts Pakistan for its ‘lies & deceit’

Bill Roggio | January 2, 2018

If Trump is serious about hitting back at Pakistan, expect the US to ramp up drone strikes against jihadists, and not just in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Coptic church attacked by Islamic State loyalist, group says

Thomas Joscelyn | December 29, 2017

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack outside of a Coptic Church in a southern suburb of Cairo earlier today. The assault is one in a series of operations targeting Coptic Christians in Egypt since 2016.

Islamic State claims its men planted bomb at St. Petersburg supermarket

Thomas Joscelyn | December 29, 2017

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Dec. 27 bombing at a supermarket in St. Petersburg, Russia. The city has been targeted by jihadists several times this year. The US claimed earlier this month that another major plot inside St. Petersburg had been thwarted.

Islamic State’s Khorasan ‘province’ claims responsibility for attack on cultural center in Kabul

Thomas Joscelyn | December 28, 2017

Dozens of civilians were killed during a bombing at the Tabayan cultural center in Kabul, Afghanistan earlier today. The Islamic State’s Khorasan “province,” which regularly targets Shiite civilians and places of worship in Afghanistan, quickly claimed responsibility.

Top Iraqi-Shiite cleric endorses incorporation of PMF into the state

Amir Toumaj & Romany Shaker | December 28, 2017

Iraqi-Shiite Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani announced his support of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and “requested that all weapons come under government’s control.”

Islamic State video promotes Somali arm, incites attacks during holidays

Thomas Joscelyn and Caleb Weiss | December 27, 2017

On Dec. 25, the Islamic State released a video promoting its fighters in Somalia and inciting attacks in the West. The group’s propagandists referred to the cadre as the Islamic State’s Somali “province.”

US kills Afghan Taliban commander in drone strike inside Pakistan

Bill Roggio | December 26, 2017

Jamiuddin, was a “trusted man” within the Haqqani Network, a subgroup of the Afghan Taliban, who helped fighters move from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

AQAP propaganda official reportedly killed in US drone strike

Thomas Joscelyn | December 22, 2017

Pro al Qaeda jihadists reported on social media that Abu Hajar al-Makki, an Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) propaganda official, was killed in a US drone strike earlier this week. The US has been targeting AQAP’s propagandists throughout the year and has also done so in the past.

Houthis fire another missile on Riyadh

Alexandra Gutowski | December 19, 2017

The Houthis claim the missile used was a Burkan-2H, which recent evidence suggests is Iranian-supplied.

Long Island woman allegedly used Bitcoin to fund ISIS

Thomas Joscelyn | December 15, 2017

Zoobia Shahnaz allegedly defrauded financial institutions as part of a scheme to fund the Islamic State. She is also accused of seeking to join the so-called caliphate this past summer. Shahnaz was stopped for questioning at JFK International Airport on July 31, but not arrested until this week.

Shabaab targets Somali police academy in suicide attack

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | December 14, 2017

The explosion, which took place as Somail police were parading, killed at least 18 people and wounding at least another 15. Shabaab claimed credit for the attack.

Taliban features its ‘Umari Martyrdom Battalion’

Bill Roggio | December 13, 2017

The video is the latest in a series of propaganda that promotes Taliban units and the network of training camps.

AFRICOM strike halts Shabaab car bomb attack

Bill Roggio & Alexandra Gutowski | December 12, 2017

The US military has launched 32 strikes in Somalia since the beginning of 2017, more than doubling last year’s total of 15.

New York City bomber ‘did it for the Islamic State’

Thomas Joscelyn | December 12, 2017

“I did it for the Islamic State,” Akayed Ullah, who is charged with carrying out the failed bombing in Times Square yesterday, allegedly told authorities.

Bomber targets New York City transit system with improvised device

Thomas Joscelyn | December 11, 2017

Akayed Ullah, a 27-year-old man from Bangladesh, attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device in midtown Manhattan earlier today. No one was killed in the failed bombing, but several people suffered minor wounds. Jihadists have repeatedly targeted New York City since the 9/11 hijackings.

Al Qaeda seeks to incite violence after US recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Thomas Joscelyn | December 8, 2017

Al Qaeda’s general leadership and regional branches have released statements denouncing the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

US targets Taliban drug facilities in Helmand

Bill Roggio | December 8, 2017

F/A-18 Super Hornets, flown from a US Navy aircraft carrier, targeted and destroyed the Taliban drug labs in Helmand province.

US Treasury adds Jamaica-based Islamic State recruiter to terror list

Thomas Joscelyn | December 6, 2017

The US Treasury Department has designated Abdullah Ibrahim al-Faisal, a Jamaica-based Islamic State recruiter, as a terrorist. Faisal has “influenced” a number of terrorists since 2001, according to Treasury.

Analysis: Reported link between Houthi and Iranian ballistic missiles

Behnam Ben Taleblu | December 5, 2017

At the strategic level, if Iran’s provision of ballistic missiles to the Houthi rebels is confirmed, it could be seen as an indicator Tehran’s increased tolerance for risk in a distant conflict theater, one which has sought to weaken Saudi Arabia by any means possible.

US killed commander of Taliban’s ‘Red Unit’

Bill Roggio | December 5, 2017

Mullah Shah Wali, the leader of the Red Unit’s forces in Helmand , was killed in a US airstrike in the Taliban-controlled district of Musa Qala. The Red Unit has served as the Taliban’s shock troops and special forces.