ISIS Archives

Generation Jihad Ep. 131 — Terrorists will be terrorists

Bill Roggio and Behnam Ben Taleblu | January 5, 2024

Bill and Behnam unpack this week’s headlines from the Middle East, including the assassination of Hamas deputy Saleh al-Arouri; the U.S. strike that killed Iran-backed militia commander Abu Taqwa Al-Saedi in Iraq (and subsequent drama with the Iraqi government); the U.S.-led coalition dubbed Prosperity Guardian’s “final warning” to the Houthis; and the ISIS bombings at a memorial in Kerman, Iran for slain IRGC-QF commander Qassim Suleimani.

U.S. kills Islamic State officials during raid in Syria

Bill Roggio | December 12, 2022

The U.S. military has targeted the Islamic State’s top tier leadership cadre with raids and strikes at least five times since the beginning of the summer of 2022.

Islamic State announces death of its caliph, appoints successor

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss | November 30, 2022

The Islamic State announced the death of its emir, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, and has chosen a new leader, an individual identified only as Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi.

Generation Jihad Ep. 79 — An update on the Islamic State

Bill Roggio | September 13, 2022

Bill is joined again by Edmund Fitton-Brown and Caleb Weiss to take a look at the current global footprint of the Islamic State.

Generation Jihad Ep. 69 — An Afghanistan Update

Bill Roggio | May 9, 2022

Host Bill Roggio briefs listeners on some of the latest news related to Afghanistan — including a few buried headlines you might have missed.

Generation Jihad Ep. 67 — Meanwhile in Africa

Bill Roggio | March 29, 2022

Host Bill Roggio is joined by two Long War Journal regulars, Caleb Weiss and Andrew Tobin, to give listeners an update on what’s happening on the ground in Africa from the Sahel — including that more than 400 Malians have been slaughtered in under one month — to “elections” and Shabaab attacks in Somalia.

Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Shooting Attack in Israel

Joe Truzman | March 27, 2022

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a shooting attack in Hadera, Israel that left two Israeli border patrol officers dead.

U.S. Treasury Designates Four ISIS Financiers in South Africa

Andrew Tobin | March 7, 2022

Four ISIS money men were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for providing material support to Islamic State branches across Africa.

Ep. 59 — After Qurayshi: The State of the Islamic State

Bill Roggio | February 4, 2022

Yesterday, the U.S. conducted a raid in Syria that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi. Host Bill Roggio is joined by Craig Whiteside to unpack the raid and discuss what might happen next within ISIS — including what Qurayshi’s succession might look like. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around […]

Islamic State’s emir dead after U.S. military raid in Syria

Bill Roggio & Andrew Tobin | February 3, 2022

Islamic State emir Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi died during a daring overnight raid conducted by U.S. special operations forces in Idlib province in northeastern Syria, ending a two-year hunt for the group’s leader. His demise does not mean the end of the Islamic State is at hand.

Analysis: Islamic State targets Uganda with bombings

Caleb Weiss & Ryan O'Farrell | November 17, 2021

The Islamic State has claimed a series of bombings, including suicide bombings, inside Uganda over the past month. This represents a significant shift in the overall threat from the Islamic State’s wing based in the DRC.

Islamic State claims responsibility for suicide bombing in Kabul

Thomas Joscelyn | August 26, 2021

The Islamic State’s Khorasan province has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing outside of the Kabul airport earlier today. 12 U.S. service members were killed and 15 others wounded in a pair of attacks inside the capital. Dozens of others were killed or wounded as well.

Ep. 51 — How the U.N. assesses al Qaeda and ISIS

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | June 11, 2021

Edmund Fitton-Brown joins hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio to discuss his team’s most recent report on Afghanistan. Fitton-Brown is a former British diplomat. He is currently coordinator of the U.N. Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today […]

Ep. 46 — Waiting for a withdrawal decision

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | April 5, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio briefly discuss recent reporting on the Biden administration’s deliberations concerning a withdrawal from Afghanistan. They also discuss ISIS’ surge in Mozambique. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force in […]

Islamic State claims capture of coastal city in Mozambique

Caleb Weiss | March 29, 2021

Mozambique, however, claims the fighting is still ongoing for control over the city. If its capture is confirmed, this is the second major town to fall under the control of the Islamic State’s local wing.

Islamic State kills hundreds in massacres across the Sahel

Caleb Weiss | March 22, 2021

Almost 300 people have been killed in a series of mass killings in Niger and on a military position inside Mali. The Islamic State has officially claimed just one of the attacks, but it is believed to have carried out all of the massacres.

Ep. 43 — The Status of ISIS and Al Qaeda

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | February 10, 2021

Edmund Fitton-Brown again joins the podcast to discuss the United Nations Security Council’s latest report on ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Ep. 41 — The Jihad in West Africa

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | January 28, 2021

Caleb Weiss joins Tom and Bill to discuss France’s intervention in West Africa. Branches of both Al Qaeda and ISIS are fighting for territory, but France’s patience may be starting to wear thin.

Generation Jihad Ep. 21 – An ISIS Jailbreak in Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | August 11, 2020

ISIS orchestrated an assault on the main prison in Jalalabad earlier this month. Afghan officials immediately accused the Taliban of planning the attack.

Islamic State claims prison raid in eastern Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn | August 3, 2020

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a prison assault in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. The facility reportedly holds about 1,500 inmates. It’s not clear how many were freed.

Generation Jihad Ep. 12 – The ISIS Spokesman’s Latest Rant

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | June 2, 2020

Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn on the latest diatribe released by Abu Hamza al-Qurashi, the Islamic State’s spokesman, who portrays the coronavirus as an act of divine retribution against the West and accuses the Taliban of working with the “Crusaders.”

Islamic State in Somalia suffers setbacks despite uptick in claimed activity

Caleb Weiss | June 1, 2020

The month of May saw a relative spike in Islamic State claims inside Somalia compared to earlier months. However, this comes in the backdrop of several Puntland security operations against it.

Wanted Islamic State leader reported killed in Syria

Bill Roggio | May 28, 2020

The U.S. continues to target high level Islamic State leaders in Syria despite President Trump’s claim that the group has been “defeated.” Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service said that the U.S. military killed Hajji Taysir, who oversees the “Research Department for ISIS’s chemical and biological weapons efforts in Syria.” His death has not been confirmed.

Analysis: Islamic State claims Al Qaeda started a war in West Africa

Thomas Joscelyn and Caleb Weiss | May 8, 2020

In the latest edition of its Al-Naba newsletter, the Islamic State claims that Al Qaeda started a war against the so-called caliphate’s men in West Africa. Independent reporting shows the two sides have clashed in recent weeks.

Generation Jihad Ep. 8 – The Islamic State’s Foundational Texts

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | May 4, 2020

Craig Whiteside joins hosts Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn to discuss his new book, The ISIS Reader: Milestone Texts of the Islamic State Movement.

Analysis: The Islamic State’s ideological campaign against al-Qaeda

Thomas Joscelyn | May 4, 2020

In late April, the Islamic State’s Yemen “province” released a video attacking al-Qaeda’s ideological credentials. The video is the latest piece of propaganda in the Islamic State’s campaign against its jihadist rival.

Generation Jihad: Ep. 6 – Hezbollah’s Main Man in Iraq

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | April 21, 2020

Hosts Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn discuss Hezbollah’s influence in Iraq and the State Department’s decision to offer a $10 million reward for information concerning the group’s main man in the country.

Arrests in Germany highlight reach of Islamic State’s Central Asian network

Thomas Joscelyn | April 20, 2020

German prosecutors announced last week that four alleged ISIS members were arrested and charged with planning attacks against U.S. military facilities. The four are from Tajikistan, a Central Asian country ISIS has long targeted for its recruiting efforts.

Generation Jihad: Ep. 4 – ISIS: A History of the Caliphate

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | April 6, 2020

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss the rise of ISIS and how the idea of building a caliphate in Iraq evolved over time. Bill witnessed the jihadists’ earliest state-building efforts during multiple embeds in Iraq.

Islamic State claims assault on Sikh temple in Afghan capital

Thomas Joscelyn | March 25, 2020

The Islamic State’s Khorasan arm claims its terrorist, Abu Khalid al-Hindi, carried out an assault on a Sikh temple in Kabul earlier today. Despite suffering setbacks in eastern Afghanistan, the group has conducted several attacks in the Afghan capital this year.