FDD's Long War Journal

Caucasus Emirate

Chechens drawn south to fight against Syria’s Assad

Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham

Al Qaeda-linked group strengthens hold in northern Syria

Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham

Meet the Syrian Rebel Commander Assad, Russia and the US all fear

Sinai car bombing kills at least 11 Egyptian security personnel

The army is currently pursuing those behind the latest attack in North Sinai and will likely increase operations in the area in response.

Syria

How an unemployed blogger confirmed that Syria had used chemical weapons

Afghanistan

Exclusive: US May Have Let ‘Dozens’ of Terrorists Into Country As Refugees

Isaac Meyer, a.k.a. Abdul Basit Abu-Lifa, was charged with terrorism for assaulting Yahya Hassan, a Danish poet of Palestinian origins who has criticized Islamist culture in Denmark. Meyer, who was previously convicted of terrorism, punched Hassan at Copenhagen’s central train station, calling him an infidel who should die. Hassan is currently under the protection of […]

Ansarul Muhajideen suicide bomber kills 2 Pakistani troops

The group has claimed three other attacks against Pakistani troops so far this year. A spokesman said today’s attack was executed to avenge Hakeemullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike.

Italy

Foreign Minister Bonino said Italy suspects that “jihadist elements and members of al Qaeda” are among the thousands of migrants arriving by boat from Africa. Over 32,000 migrants have come to Italy and Malta already this year, many of them from Libya.

IMU praises slain Syrian Islamist brigade commander

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan’s condolences for the death of the commander of the Al Tawhid Brigade speaks volumes as to how the Syrian Islamist group is perceived by global jihadists.

Ansar Jerusalem claims responsibility for attack on Egyptian security official in Cairo

The Sinai-based jihadist group said the attack was in response to the arrest and interrogation of Muslim women by Egyptian security forces, and warned of additional attacks if imprisoned women are not released.

Afghanistan

Taliban rejects UN report regarding group’s casualties

Afghanistan

Islamic Association of Students Rallies Opposition to BSA

Al Qaeda

No tolerance for militants headed to Syria, Turkish FM Davutoğlu says

United States

President Obama pushed for an agreement with Iran on its nuclear program, despite criticism that the deal is too lenient. The US said it will extend its deployment of two Patriot missile batteries on the Turkish border for another year; about 400 US soldiers have been manning the batteries in Gazientep. US and Afghan officials […]

US Military

Special Report: The Pentagon’s doctored ledgers conceal epic waste

Iran

Stuxnet’s Secret Twin

Russia

A Russian GPS Using US Soil Stirs Spy Fears

Hezbollah

Nasrallah, in body armor, protected by a ‘security blanket’

Syria

The Syrian military claimed to have taken full control of Qara in the Qalamoun region and to have killed a “large number of terrorists.” The Al Nusrah Front withdrew from Qara, but activists from Al Nusrah and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham say they will return. At least 68 regime soldiers were […]

Social Media Jihad: AQIM praises Hakeemullah Mehsud

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has joined other jihadist groups in releasing a statement praising Hakeemullah Mehsud, the Pakistani Taliban commander killed earlier this month. Ansar al Sharia Tunisia posted the message on one of its official Facebook pages.

Yemen

US drones killed three al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in an airstrike on a car in the Ghayl Bawazir area near Mukallah, the provincial capital of Hadramout. The strike is the first in more than seven weeks. President Hadi indicated that he will seek a second term as president.

Lebanon

Two suicide bombings outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut killed at least 25 people, including the embassy’s cultural attache and its head of security, and injured over 150 more. The Abdullah Azzam Brigades, an al Qaeda-linked group based in Lebanon, claimed the attack and warned of further attacks if its prisoners are not released from […]

Abdullah Azzam Brigades claims credit for attack on Iranian embassy

The Abdullah Azzam Brigades, an al Qaeda-linked group, has claimed responsibility for twin suicide attacks on the Iranian embassy in Beirut.

Israel

A mortar shell fired by Palestinians in Gaza landed in southern Israel. The Supreme Court upheld the administrative detention of a suspected al Qaeda operative, who has been detained since 2010. An Air Force exercise including the US, Greece, Poland, and Italy will reportedly take place in the near future. In response to rocket fire […]

Egypt

During operations in the Sinai, authorities seized weaponry and arrested wanted criminals. Security sources claimed to have arrested two people tied to the Oct. 19 bombing of a military intelligence building in Ismailia. At least 12 people were injured during protests on the anniversary of the Mohamed Mahmoud clashes. Security forces in North Sinai were […]

Palestinian Territories

Hamas’ al Qassam Brigades announced the death of Mohammed Ibrahim Al Bahloul “during a mission.” A Palestinian terrorist who killed an IDF soldier in September had sent a coded message about the plot via Palestinian Authority TV months prior. Hamas condemned today’s bombings in Beirut near the Iranian embassy. Gunmen fired on a car belonging […]