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.
A video released by the Al Nusrah Front features three fighters shortly before they head off to fight the Islamic State’s jihadists, who have advanced on rebel positions north of Aleppo.
Saudi Arabia toughens stance on jihadist groups
Shafi Sultan Mohammed al-Ajmi and Hajjaj Fahd Hajjaj Muhammad Sahib al-‘Ajmi, who were added to the US’ list of global terrorists on Aug. 6 for supporting the Al Nusrah Front in Syria, appear relatively undeterred by the recent sanctions.
Mother Agnes: The efficient mediator who draws controversy
Abu Muhammed al Adnani is the Islamic State’s controversial spokesman. Said Arif is a seasoned jihadist who has traveled to several battlefields and is now with the Al Nusrah Front in Syria.
UN Approves Measure to Combat al Qaeda Fighters
Islamic State takes Akhtarin
Terror finance worries may curb Doha kidnap mediation
A group of Lebanese clerics with links to Islamist groups mediated a ceasefire between the Lebanese military and fighters from the Islamic Front and the Al Nusrah Front in Arsal, which let as many as 2,000 Islamist fighters escape with over captive 35 Lebanese security forces.
Lebanon – Arsali and refugee relations tense
The jihadist group ejected the rival Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s branch in Syria, and allied jihadist groups from five towns and villages in Aleppo province.
Islamic State seizes more territory in Syria: monitor
In a video released on Aug. 8, Abu Firas al Suri, a senior al Qaeda operative who currently serves as the Al Nusrah Front’s spokesman, discusses al Qaeda’s approach to waging jihad in Syria. Al Suri denies that Al Nusrah seeks to unilaterally establish an Islamic emirate.
Lebanese Army in control after militants flee Arsal
Islamic Militants in Iraq Are Widely Loathed, Yet Action to Curb Them Is Elusive
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.”
New Border Fighting Between ISIS and Lebanon’s Army
Syrian city of Homs shows signs of life amid moonscape of devastation
Lebanon – Arsal officials demand a Tripoli-style security plan
Suicide Bomber From US Came Home Before Attack
Kurdish security service takes aim at ISIS oil smuggling
Syria becoming home to two competing Islamic states
The Islamic Front, a coalition of several leading insurgent groups in Syria, has issued a statement rejecting any attempt by its fellow insurgency groups to unilaterally create a new government.
Al Nusrah Front seizes Syrian town on Turkish border
Al Qaeda group seizes Syrian town on Turkish border
Gloves come off between Syrian regime, Islamic State
More Western fighters joining militants in Iraq and Syria
Al Nusrah Front, Islamic State compete for foreign fighters
Anders Cameroon Ostensvig Dale, a Norwegian who joined al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in 2008, is thought to have been trained under AQAP bomb maker Ibrahim al Asiri or one of his lieutenants.