US targets ‘senior leader’ for Shabaab in southern Somalia
The US has launched multiple airstrikes and raids against Shabaab’s leadership cadre over the past decade.
Category Archives: Long War Journal
Islamic State kills Qods Force general in central Iraq
Brigadier General Hamid Taqavi served as an “adviser to the [Iraqi] Army and the popular mobilization of the Iraqi people,” a reference to the Shiite militias.
Jihadists continue to advertise training camps in Iraq and Syria
New camps belonging to the Islamic State, the Al Nusrah Front, the Chechen Jaish al Muhajireen wal Ansar, the Syrian Harakat Fajr al Sham al Islamiya, the Uzbek group Imam Bukhari Jamaat, and Jaish al Islam have been identified.
Islamic State’s ‘provinces’ claim attacks in Egypt, Libya
In statements posted on Twitter earlier today, the Islamic State’s “provinces” in Egypt and Libya claimed recent attacks in both countries.
Captured Shabaab official previously identified as group’s ‘chief of intelligence’
Somali officials have reportedly captured Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, who has been identified by the State Department as Shabaab’s “chief of intelligence.” The UN has said that another Shabaab official held that role.
US targets emir of Punjabi Taliban in pair of drone strikes in North Waziristan
Asmatullah Muawiya is said to have been targeted in one of the two strikes that took place today in Shawal area of North Waziristan in Pakistan.
4 Gitmo detainees transferred to Afghanistan are veteran insurgents, files allege
On Dec. 20, the Defense Department announced the transfer of four Afghans to their home country. Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) deemed all four to be “high” risks to the US, its interests and allies. All four are veteran insurgents, according to JTF-GTMO.
Islamic State shoots down Jordanian warplane in Raqqah, captures pilot
The Jordanian Armed Forces confirmed that one of its aircraft has been shot down over Syria and its pilot is in the hands of the Islamic State.
Islamic State routs Hezbollah Brigades unit north of Baghdad
The Northern Baghdad Belt remains contested ground between the Islamic State and Iraqi government forces and their Shiite militia allies.
Leader of Iranian-backed militia killed in eastern Iraq
The leader of the Mukhtar Army, who was also the secretary-general of Hezbollah in Iraq, was killed in Diyala province. Supporters of the Islamic State claimed the group is responsible for his death.
Taliban publicize training camp in northern Afghanistan
The Taliban are training fighters in Faryab province and have overrun Khamyab district in Jawzjan province.
Al Qaeda condemns Pakistani Taliban’s attack on Peshawar school
The spokesman for al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has released a statement condemning the Pakistani Taliban’s attack on a Peshawar school earlier this week, calling it “un-Islamic.”
The oppression of women and girls in the Islamic State’s ‘caliphate’
Despite female Islamic State recruiters praising the “positive” aspects of life in Raqqah on their social media accounts, the group’s own material shows a different side, one that exposes its real and brutal treatment of women.
US drones strike in jihadist stronghold in North Waziristan
The Pakistani military claimed it “cleared” the Datta Khel area in September 2014 as part of operation Zarb-e-Azb. The US has launched seven drone strikes in Datta Khel since then.
AQAP claims 149 attacks in Yemen since late September
A map of the 149 attacks claimed by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula since Houthi rebels took Sana’a in late September shows the terror group’s reach across 14 Yemeni provinces.
Boko Haram fighters storm Nigerian village, kidnap over 100 women and children
The terrorist group is suspected of attacking yet another village in northeastern Nigeria and kidnapping more than 100 civilians, including women and children.
Egyptian jihadists thank State Department for ‘blessing’ of terrorist designation
Ajnad Misr says in a statement that the US is the real “terrorist” organization, and claims to be fighting a “global system” that seeks to thwart the revolution in Egypt. The group’s rhetoric is similar to al Qaeda’s.
US kills Islamic State deputy emir, 2 senior commanders in recent airstrikes
Among those killed was Abu Musallam al Turkumani, a top deputy of Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. Turkumani served in Saddam Hussein’s military before joining the Islamic State.
State Department designates Egyptian jihadist group, ex-Gitmo detainee
The State Department today added Ajnad Misr, an Egyptian jihadist group, and Ibrahim Rubaish, a senior al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) official, to the US government’s list of specially designated global terrorists.
Islamic State retakes Baiji after Iraqi forces withdraw
Iraqi forces withdrew from the city yesterday just one month after retaking it from the Islamic State with the help of Iranian-backed Shiite militias.
Mass grave of Islamic State’s victims reportedly found in eastern Syria
A mass grave of approximately 230 Sheitaat tribesmen has been reportedly found in eastern Syria. The tribe has been battling the Islamic State since earlier this year.
US airstrike targets Pakistani, Afghan Taliban in Nangarhar
The strike is the fifth that has targeted Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan fighters and leaders operating inside Afghanistan since the last week of November.
Afghan Taliban releases statement condemning attack on Pakistani school
The Afghan Taliban has released a statement condemning the Pakistani Taliban’s attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.
Pakistani Taliban assaults military high school in Peshawar
More than 100 high school students are said to have been killed as Taliban fighters fanned out and killed everyone in their path.
Al Nusrah Front, Ahrar al Sham advance in northwestern Syria
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, backed by Jund al Aqsa, Ahrar al Sham, and several other groups, has launched an offensive on two major regime bases in the northwestern province of Idlib.
Taliban attacks in Afghanistan surge as Coalition ends combat mission
The Taliban launched suicide bombings, assassinations, IED attacks, and ambushes in the capital and four provinces over the weekend.
AQAP blames Obama administration for death of Luke Somers
In the most recent video released by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, one of the terrorist group’s senior leaders blames President Barack Obama for the death of American hostage Luke Somers last week.
French troops kill MUJAO founder during raid in Mali
In a midnight raid in the Gao region of Mali, the French military killed Ahmed el Tilemsi. He had a long history of al Qaeda ties, and was wanted by the United States.
Islamic State overruns Badr Brigade position near Samarra
The jihadist group also launched suicide attacks and assaults in towns around the central Iraqi city.
6 Guantanamo detainees transferred to Uruguay were part of al Qaeda’s network, files allege
Intelligence cited in leaked Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO) threat assessments link the six recently transferred Guantanamo detainees to Abu Zubaydah and al Qaeda.