Islamic State launches assault on Ramadi
The Islamic State makes a push in Anbar’s capital and takes control of a district as Iraqi forces and Shiite militias are reportedly preparing an offensive in the western province.
Category Archives: Long War Journal
Haqqani Network promotes suicide, IED attacks, and ambushes in ‘Caravan of Heroes’
The video focuses on ambushes and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in the provinces of Kunar, Laghman, Wardak, Paktia, Paktika, Khost, and Ghazni.
Ansar al Sharia Libya relaunches social media sites
Ansar al Sharia Libya now operates a radio station in Benghazi and several Twitter feeds. The group is at war with General Khalifa Haftar’s forces, but is promoting its governance efforts even while in the thick of battle. While a senior sharia official has defected to the Islamic State, there is no indication the group as a whole has followed suit.
Afghan soldier kills American in insider attack
The attack in Jalalabad, which occurred at the government center, is the second insider or green-on-blue attack reported in Afghanistan this year.
Ex-Gitmo detainee reportedly a suspect in killing of Ugandan prosecutor
Ugandan authorities have reportedly arrested Jamal Kiyemba, an ex-Guantanamo detainee, in connection with the assassination of a top counterterrorism prosecutor late last month.
US adds Al Furqan Foundation to list of terrorist entities
The so-called “charitable organization,” which is based in Pakistan and Afghanistan, funds al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Taliban. Sheikh Aminullah, a dual-hatted al Qaeda and Taliban leader who runs a “terrorist training center” in Pakistan, has been funded by Al Furqan.
French forces free Dutch hostage in Mali
Dutch national Sjaak Rijke has been freed from captivity after being held in Mali since 2011. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al Qaeda’s official branch in North Africa, is still believed to be holding two other men captured with Rijke in Timbuktu.
Taliban laud Mullah Omar in ‘biography’
“Mullah Mohammad Umar ‘Mujahid’ is still the leader in the present hierarchy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” the Taliban stated in a hagiography of its emir.
Al Qaeda takes control of eastern Yemeni city
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula took control of Mukallah as President Hadi continues to lose his grip on the country.
Female suspects in New York City bomb plot influenced by AQAP and Islamic State propaganda
The complaint details many conversations between an undercover FBI agent and the two suspects about how to make homemade bombs from various chemicals, where to buy certain materials, and how to successfully conceal such activity from both neighbors and law enforcement.
AQAP storms Yemeni prison, frees jihadist leader
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) launched a coordinated attack in the coastal city of Mukallah, freeing 300 inmates from the city’s central prison, including AQAP leader Khaled al-Batarfi.
Shabaab massacres dozens in attack on Kenyan university
Shabaab terrorists raided a university in Kenya. According to initial reports, more than 70 people have been killed and dozens more wounded. The gunmen reportedly attempted to separate Muslims from non-Muslims during the assault.
Jordan closes border crossing as rebels, Al Nusrah Front advance
Fighters from the Free Syrian Army, the Al Nusrah Front, Ahrar al Sham, Jaysh al Islam and other groups overran the Nasib border crossing between Syria and Jordan. The anti-Assad forces have made gains in southern Syrian in recent weeks.
Al Nusrah Front leader preaches jihadist unity in Idlib
Abu Muhammad al Julani, the leader of the Al Nusrah Front, said the jihadist coalition that took control of Idlib should remain united. He also stated that the jihadists should avoid “terrorizing” the people in order to build more popular support.
Shiite militias, Iraqi troops enter central Tikrit
Militias that US military commanders claimed to have quit the fight have entered Tikrit.
Afghan intel captures Taliban commander involved in targeting ‘foreigners’ in Kabul
The Taliban commander is also thought to played a part in the March 19 assassination of Matihullah Khan, the chief of police for the southern province of Uruzgan.
Analysis: Iranian Reactions to Operation Decisive Storm
As Operation Decisive Storm got underway, Iranian outlets, analysts, and elites all prepared to frame the conflict between the Shiite Houthis in Yemen and the 10-member coalition as part of the larger Saudi-Iranian cold war. Such zero-sum statements indicate that any set-back for the coalition will be a win for Iran.
Interview with activist describes role of al-Khans’aa Brigade
The members of the Brigade are mostly foreign women who assume the role of finding wives for the fighters through their networks in Europe.
Jihadist coalition claims control of Idlib
The Jaysh al Fateh coalition has captured the city of Idlib, or much of it. Propaganda photos posted online show jihadist groups, including the Al Nusrah Front, controlling government buildings and key facilities.
US continues airstrikes in Tikrit despite involvement of Iranian-backed Shiite militias
A Pentagon spokeman’s statement that members of the Popular Mobilization Committee “have resumed their offensive operations on the ground in Tikrit” is an admission that the Shiite militias are still involved in the fighting.
Shabaab suicide assault team storms hotel in Somali capital
Shabaab took control of the hotel and trapped several government officials. The al Qaeda branch continues to strike at high-security locations in Mogadishu.
Jihadist coalition captures checkpoints around city of Idlib
Photos and videos posted on social media show that Jaysh al Fateh, a coalition of several jihadist groups, has captured a number of Syrian regime checkpoints surrounding the city of Idlib.
Saudi Arabia begins Operation Decisive Storm in Yemen
Saudi Arabia and other regional allies began an air campaign in Yemen targeting Houthi rebel positions throughout the country.
Boko Haram kidnaps hundreds from Damasak
As forces from Nigeria, Chad, and Niger continue to push Boko Haram from its strongholds in northeastern Nigeria, the group has continued to inflict damage upon civilians. Earlier this month, Boko Haram kidnapped over 400 young women and children from the Nigerian town of Damasak near the border with Niger.
US begins airstrikes against Islamic State in Tikrit, supports Shiite militias
The US has reversed its decision to avoid assisting Iranian-backed Shiite militias and is now providing direct air support in the battle for Tikrit. Many militia leaders and one militia fighting in Tikrit are on the US terrorism list.
State Department adds Islamic Caucasus Emirate leader to terrorist list
The State Department has added Aliaskhab Kebekov (also known as Ali Abu Muhammad al Dagestani), who heads the Islamic Caucasus Emirate, to the US government’s list of specially designated global terrorists. State notes that Kebekov has proclaimed his organization’s “structural subordination” to al Qaeda.
Al Qaeda and allies form coalition to battle Syrian regime in Idlib
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, and its allies have formed a coalition of groups to go on the offensive in Idlib. One of the coalition’s first propaganda videos features Al Nusrah fighters firing an American-made TOW missile on a Syrian regime target.
Analysis: Boko Haram loses ground, but remains in the fight
While Nigeria and its military partners are wresting control of northeast Nigeria from Boko Haram, it is becoming apparent that the fight against the jihadist group will continue regardless of the group’s ability to hold land.
US military, diplomatic personnel quit Yemen as country descends into civil war
US military advisors based at Al Anad Air Base have been withdrawn after AQAP briefly took control of a nearby city. The advisors were at the forefront in battling al Qaeda’s branch in Yemen.
Analysis: Why AQAP quickly denied any connection to mosque attacks
The Islamic State’s attacks on Houthi civilians are part of a deliberate strategy. AQAP tries to avoid such operations, but the permissibility of deliberately killing Shiite civilians is still debated in jihadist circles.