A new recruiting video released by Shabaab appears to feature at least two or three fighters from the UK. Shabaab, al Qaeda’s official branch in East Africa, has a history of recruiting from Britain.
Shabaab continues to demonstrate that it can penetrate high-security areas in Mogadishu, even after losing many of its major urban strongholds in southern and central Somalia.
While most Shabaab attacks are located in the capital of Mogadishu or in the south, the jihadist group maintains the ability to launch operations in the country’s central regions.
Shabaab’s leadership has actively opposed the Islamic State’s expansion in East Africa. The Islamic State has made a major push via propaganda videos to encourage defections, but only a small cadre of Shabaab fighters has switched allegiance to the “caliphate” thus far.
Despite being pushed out of its major urban strongholds, the al Qaeda branch continues to be a potent threat inside Somalia.
Al Qaeda’s branches and allies have held or continue to control ground in Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Mali, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Libya, contrary to the narrative that only the Islamic State seeks to take territory.
The photos show Shabaab’s Sheikh Abu Zubayr Battalion again overrunning an African Union base in Somalia.
Sunday’s attack is not the first time the jihadist group has been able to target the popular hotel in the Somali capital.
No date was given for the ambush, but it was likely recent as the jihadist group has promised to step up attacks during the holy month of Ramadan.
The images released by Shabaab buttress its claims of a high death toll.
More than 50 troops from Burundi are reported to have been killed. The attack comes just one week after Shabaab killed at least 60 Ethiopian troops in another attack in southern Somalia.
While neither Ethiopia nor the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have commented on the attack, the released photos buttress the jihadist group’s claims.
Al Qaeda’s official branch in Somalia continues to be a threat inside Somalia and to neighboring countries, despite an ongoing African Union mission in the country that has driven the group from many of its strongholds.
Earlier today, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a set of files recovered from Osama bin Laden’s compound. These are but a fraction of the files that should be released to the public.
Somalia's al Shabaab kills three officials, former lawmaker in Mogadishu
The State Department announced today that two senior Shabaab officials, including the group’s emir or leader, have been added to the US government’s list of designated terrorists.
Kenyan authorities say son of official was among gunmen in university attack
Kenyan fighter jets bomb Shabaab training camps in Somalia
Somali militants vow to turn Kenyan cities 'red with blood'
Shabaab terrorists raided a university in Kenya. According to initial reports, more than 70 people have been killed and dozens more wounded. The gunmen reportedly attempted to separate Muslims from non-Muslims during the assault.
Al Qaeda’s branch in Somalia continues to demonstrate that it can penetrate security at the heavily protected areas in the capital and carry out deadly attacks.
At least 10 members of Shabaab were killed and scores more injured in a clash with AMISOM forces in Barawe town. The US will be providing 20 MRAPs to African Union peacekeepers in Somalia. A military court executed Ahmed Ismail Ali, “a senior Al Shabaab leader in Gedo region.” The Somali National Army claims to […]
Mullah Khadim was the Islamic State’s deputy emir for Khorasan province while Yusu Dheeq was the head of Shabaab’s Amniyat. The US continues to rely on airstrikes as the core of its effort to defeat jihadist groups worldwide.
Members of Shabaab shot and killed a member of Somalia’s Federal Parliament in Mogadishu. Jihadists attacked a police station in Bossaso in Puntland; at least two of the attackers were killed and three others captured. A land mine targeting Turkish workers in Mogadishu killed one person.
The Somalian government announced that a US drone strike killed Shabaab’s external operations chief last weekend. Suspected jihadists attacked a police station in Bosaso, injuring one and destroying a vehicle. Airstrikes in the Lower Jubba region killed 27 Shabaab fighters, according to local government authorities.
Yusuf Dheeq, the head of Shabaab’s Amniyat, which directs the group’s intelligence and external operations activities, was the target of the strike. His fate is unknown.
Several people were killed in an airstrike targeting Shabaab militants in Dinsoor; the attack is believed to have been a US drone strike and “a top leader” of the jihadist organization is reported to have been killed. “At least three missile strikes from unmanned aircraft” struck a Shabaab training facility in Toratorow village, killing “dozens,” […]
Victims of Shabaab’s sharia courts are petitioning the government for support. The jihadist group’s former intelligence chief, Zakariya Ismail Hersi, said he has quit the group and renounced violence; Hersi surrendered to Somali forces in December. Somalia’s president renewed an amnesty offer for Shabaab members who leave the group.
US officials are now telling Reuters that counterterrorism operations in Yemen are “paralyzed.”
Bomb explodes near Turkish delegation in Somalia day before president’s visit