ISIS touts French, German, and Libyan suicide bombers in Syria
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham continues to highlight the deaths of foreign jihadists in both Iraq and Syria.
Search Results for: Iran
Mullah Omar hails release of 5 top Taliban commanders as ‘great victory’
In addition to a statement from Mullah Omar, the Taliban has posted pictures of the Taliban commanders released from Guantanamo. The pictures show the jihadist leaders being greeted by their supporters and families in Qatar.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl exchanged for top 5 Taliban commanders at Gitmo
The five Taliban commanders exchanged for Sgt. Bergdahl were all deemed “high” risks to the US and its allies by Joint Task Force Guantanamo. All of them were closely allied with al Qaeda prior to their detention. Two of them have been wanted for war crimes by the UN.
ISIS again touts French and other foreign suicide bombers
The ISIS has identified two French suicide bombers who executed attacks in Iraq in the past month.
Syria
The Syrian Salvation Front, a new coalition of 20 rebel groups in Idlib, announced its formation. Abdollah Eskandari, a former officer in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was killed and reportedly beheaded in Syria. The Al Nusrah Front and the Islamic Front clashed with regime forces in Reef Dimashq; Aleppo; Latakia; and in Deraa, where they were […]
Al Nusrah Front rejects Syrian rebels’ revolutionary covenant
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, has rejected a charter signed by a number of other leading insurgency groups. Al Nusrah argues that the charter is not rooted in proper Islamic principles, among other supposed flaws.
Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan: An enduring threat
Testimony to the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade on al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the enduring threat to the US and her allies.
ISIS names Danish, French suicide bombers killed in ‘Ninewa Division’
A Frenchman and a Dane were among six foreign suicide bombers who conducted attacks in the Islamic State of Iraq’s northernmost administrative unit in Iraq.
Iraq
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham killed 14 people, including five policemen and soldiers, in attacks in Mosul, Baghdad, and Mahmoudiya. A candidate in the recent election was kidnapped in Baghdad. Iran is calling on Iraq to send more than 3,000 members of the People’s Mujahideen Organization of Iran home to face a […]
Saudi Arabia
At a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council defense ministers attended by the US Defense Secretary Hagel, Saudi Arabia’s defense minister called for more cooperation with the US in the face of rising regional security challenges, and warned against “hesitance and delay” in dealing with them. Hagel reiterated the US’ support, but also urged the Gulf […]
IAEA
Centrifuges emerge as key sticking point in Iran nuclear talks
Africa
Hezbollah cutting costs as Iranian aid dries up
IRGC
Iran’s liberal media continue decline under Rouhani
Syria
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham’s spokesman blamed al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri for the jihadist infighting in Syria, dismissed his order for ISIS to quit Syria, and said ISIS had refrained from attacking Iran at al Qaeda’s request. ISIS clashed with rebels in Raqqah. The Al Nusrah Front and the Islamic […]
Al Nusrah Front
ISIS: Al Qaeda urged militants not to attack Iran
ISIS spokesman blames Zawahiri for infighting in Syria
The spokesman for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS) has rejected an overture by the head of al Qaeda, Ayman al Zawahiri.
United States
Secretary of State Kerry said the US is sending intelligence officials to help Nigerian security forces recover the nearly 300 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls; the use of US military assets in the search for the girls is not anticipated. Secretary of Defense Hagel warned that the US cannot afford isolationism as “terrorists and insurgents are not […]
Lebanon
Residents clashed with armed Syrian rebels in Arsal; three Lebanese men were wounded and two others possibly kidnapped. A senior Iranian military official claimed that Lebanon is now Iran’s first line of defense.
Southern Front tries to disassociate itself from Al Nusrah
The Southern Front, a new coalition of “moderate” fighting groups in the Syrian south, is seeking to present itself as untainted by links to extremist groups in Syria, including the al Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusrah Front. But evidence, including a recent claim by Al Nusrah itself, points to the contrary.
United States
The US offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Li Fangwei a.k.a. Karl Lee, who is accused of providing missile parts to Iran, and sanctioned eight of his companies. He faces charges of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy.
ISIS’ ‘Diyala Division’ lauds foreign suicide bombers, including Dane
The Diyala Division praised 26 suicide bombers, including foreign fighters from Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tajikistan, Chechnya, and Denmark.
Al Qaeda’s general manager threatens America in video of large gathering
A video of Nasir al Wuhayshi, al Qaeda’s general manager, has sparked renewed interest in the media. Wuhayshi threatens the US in the video. His “core” leadership role gives him influence across al Qaeda’s international network.
Albania
Police arrested a man for recruiting fighters for terrorists in Syria. Last week an Albanian jihadist died in Syria; at least 10 Albanians have died fighting there. In late March, Blerim Demiri, a Kosovan suicide bomber, killed 52 Iraqi soldiers in an attack north of Baghdad. Car bombings are becoming common in Albania, especially in […]
Lebanon
Interior Minister Machnouk said Lebanon plans to restrict the influx of Syrian refugees, who now make up 27% of Lebanon’s population. Four Tripoli militia commanders surrendered to Army intelligence. The remains of a suicide bomber who detonated near the Iranian Embassy last year were returned to his relatives in Sidon. The head of an Islamic […]
China
Iran steps up pace of executions as it courts West
Spain
Authorities arrested four people in Barcelona, Tarragona, and Palma de Mallorca who are suspected of trying to sell missile equipment to Iran. Three are Spanish nationals from the same family, and the fourth is an Iranian. During the raids, authorities confiscated cash, industrial equipment, and documents relating to defense information.
United States
El Mehdi Semlali Fathi, 26, a Moroccan resident of Bridgeport, Conn., was arrested on immigration charges yesterday; the complaint filed in federal court alleged that he repeatedly expressed a desire to bomb a federal building in Connecticut and an unspecified university outside the state. Secretary of State Kerry claimed that the threatened US strike on […]
Egypt
Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy said there is evidence linking the Muslim Brotherhood and Ansar Jerusalem. Security officials said they had arrested senior al Qaeda operative Thirwat Salah Shehata. Officials said that Shehata had been involved in training militants in Libya. In February, Shehata was reported to have left Iran sometime earlier and traveled to Libya.
Zawahiri’s longtime deputy reportedly arrested in Egypt
Thirwat Salah Shehata has been arrested in a suburb of Cairo. According to Egyptian officials, he had been training militants in eastern Libya. Shehata has been tracked by US intelligence for more than a decade.
12 Azeri jihadists reported killed in Syria
The Azeris fought alongside the Muhajireen Army, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham, or the Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria.