FDD's Long War Journal

Islamist foreign fighters returning home and the threat to Europe

Testimony to the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats on the threat posed by Islamist foreign fighters returning home to Europe.

Iraq

The US launched seven airstrikes against the Islamic State near Irbil, the Haditha Dam, and southwestern Baghdad. The Iraqi military claimed it killed 16 Islamic State fighters in northern Babil and a military commander and four aides near Mosul. The military also said it has launched clearing operations in Rawa and Anah. Prime Minister Abadi […]

United States

Gen. Martin Dempsey, head of the Joint Chiefs, said the US troops in Iraq are working in a “combat advisory role” now but that if circumstances evolved he might recommend that they “provide close combat advising” or accompany particular missions. Lawmakers are considering measures for providing arms and training to Syrian rebels. Senior US officials […]

Al Qaeda official in Syria tweets in solidarity with Islamic State

Abu Sulayman al Muhajir, a member of the Al Nusrah Front’s Sharia Committee, has now joined other al Qaeda members and branches in expressing solidarity with the Islamic State; but such expressions of support are not pledges of loyalty or allegiance.

Iraq

The military claimed it killed 18 Islamic State leaders in Babil and 17 more near Tikrit. The Islamic State killed three Awakening fighters and five civilians in IED attacks in Madain and Abu Dashir. Iran rejected a US offer for talks on fighting the Islamic State.

Islamic State beheads British citizen, threatens another

The Islamic State released a video of the beheading of David Cawthorne Haines, a British citizen who was kidnapped while providing security for an aid group in Syria’s Idlib province in March 2013.

US strategy against Islamic State to mirror counterterrorism efforts in Yemen, Somalia

Obama described the counterterrorism strategy in Yemen and Somalia as “one that we have successfully pursued … for years.” However, several years of cooperation with willing partners have yielded questionable results.

US aided Hezbollah Brigades in breaking Islamic State siege of Iraqi town

Hezbollah Brigades, which was listed by the US as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2009, now controls access to Amerli.

Al Nusrah Front releases English-language summary of monthly operations

The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, has released an English-language pamphlet highlighting its activities throughout the month of August. The publication focuses on the group’s military operations, including targeting Assad’s forces and Hezbollah fighters, as well as its social work.

Afghanistan

Iran says Afghan, Pakistani Islamic State volunteers arrested

US airstrikes target Islamic State at the Haditha Dam

The US air campaign against the Islamic State has expanded into Anbar province.

IAEA

Iran fails to address nuclear bomb concerns: IAEA

The Islamic State’s global reach

A closer look at recent developments in a number of countries should dispel any illusions that the Islamic State’s aspirations and activities are only regional.

Islamic State executes American reporter, threatens Brit

The Islamic State followed through on its threat to behead Steven Joel Sotloff if the US did not end airstrikes. The jihadist group said David Cawthorne Haines, a British hostage, is next.

US airstrikes in Amerli supported deadly Shia terror group

The League of the Righteous, which is responsible for killing hundreds of US soldiers, was part of the Iraqi force that liberated Amerli. The group is closely tied to Iran’s Qods Force and three of its leaders are Specially Designated Global terrorists.

Al Nusrah Front announces detention of 45 UN peacekeepers

The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, has announced its responsibility for the detention of 45 UN peacekeepers in Syria. The group claims its actions are justified because the UN supposedly works “against Muslims.”

United States

The US imposed new sanctions on Iran, aimed mainly at preventing Iran from getting around existing ones and halting the provision of weapons and personnel to Syria. The Homeland Security Department is considering the imposition of additional measures to stop jihadists from returning from conflict zones such as Syria and Iraq to the US. A […]

Hamas

Iran ‘Will Arm Palestinians’ after Israeli Drone Downed

Al Nusrah Front video features captured members of Lebanese security forces

The Al Nusrah Front is using hostages from Lebanon’s security forces in its anti-Hezbollah propaganda. Al Nusrah, an official branch of al Qaeda, is attempting to pressure Hezbollah into withdrawing its forces from Syria.

United States

A top adviser to President Obama said the administration is considering its response to the Islamic State threat, will do “what is necessary” to protect Americans, and will not be “restricted by borders.” Joint Chiefs Chair General Dempsey floated the idea of containment. Senator James Inhofe, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, […]

Treasury designates 2 ‘key’ al Qaeda financiers

The Long War Journal first exposed one of the two, a jihadist known as Sanafi al Nasr, as a senior al Qaeda operative in March. Al Nasr is a senior al Qaeda leader who relocated from Pakistan to Syria last year. Treasury reveals that he previously served as the head of al Qaeda’s Iran-based network.

US posts rewards for 5 Haqqani Network leaders

Siraj Haqqani’s reward is raised to $10 million, putting it in the top tier of wanted terrorist leaders. Rewards of $5 million were posted for four other Haqqani leaders.

France

Foreign Minister Fabius warned that the Islamic State’s ambitions extend beyond the Middle East, and said France wants the UN Security Council nations as well as countries in the region to join the fight against the Islamic State. President Hollande said the world security situation was at its gravest since 2001, and called for an […]

Iraq’s largest Christian town falls to Islamic State

Qaraqosh, as well as Tal Kayf, Bartella, and Karamlesh, fell to the Islamic State after Kurdish Peshmerga abandoned the towns without a fight.

US adds Nusrah, Islamic State financiers to list of global terrorists

Two Al Nusrah Front financiers/facilitators are based in Kuwait. The Islamic State operative has moved Kuwaiti fighters into Syria and Afghanistan and works with “Iran-based al Qaeda facilitators.”

Palestinian Territories

Hamas reportedly agreed to the 72-hour-preliminary Gaza ceasefire proposed by Egypt. As of Aug. 1, the Israeli campaign in Gaza had resulted in the deaths of 1,592 Palestinians and had hit 3,834 targets in Gaza. A brief truce earlier today was broken after attacks blamed on both sides. Representatives from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other […]