Caucasus Emirate in Syria displays US-made anti-tank missile
It is unclear when the photo was taken, but the al Qaeda-affiliated group is touting its ownership of at least one US-made TOW missile.
Tag Archives: Syria
Pentagon says al Qaeda veteran killed in ‘kinetic strike’ in Syria
The Defense Department says that Muhsin al Fadhli was killed in an airstrike on July 8 in Syria. Al Fadhli was a leader in the so-called “Khorasan Group,” a cadre of al Qaeda veterans who have been plotting attacks agains the West. Prior to relocating to Syria, al Fadhli headed al Qaeda’s network inside Iran.
Al Nusrah Front claims to have shot down Syrian drone
A Twitter feed operated by Al Nusrah’s “correspondent” in the Latakia province posted four photos of the drone after it was downed.
Jihadist front established to represent foreign fighters in Syria
Jihadist groups in Syria, including the Al Nusrah Front and Ahrar al Sham, have established “Al Muhajirun” as a new front for foreign fighters. The alliance is intended to unite foreign jihadists and serve as a counterbalance to the Islamic State.
Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria conducted suicide bombings at Jisr al Shughur
The suicide bombers mean at least four have been used by the al Qaeda-affiliated Uighur jihadist group in Syria.
Chechen commander in Syria pledges to Islamic Caucasus Emirate
Salahuddin Shishani, the former emir of the Jaish al Muhajireen wal Ansar who now leads a group of jihadists from the Caucasus in Syria, swore allegiance to the new leader of the Islamic Caucasus Emirate, giving a small boost to a group that has been plagued by defections.
Al Nusrah Front suicide bomber targets Assad regime in Aleppo
The Al Nusrah Front claims to control “several buildings” in a key neighborhood in Aleppo after a “martyrdom operation” cleared the path for its fighters. Separately, the US-led coalition struck a group of seasoned al Qaeda operatives near Aleppo.
Islamic State executes Syrian regime soldiers at Palmyra ruins
The Islamic State has released a new video showing the execution of 25 Syrian soldiers in the ancient city of Palmyra. The executioners appear to be teenagers, or even younger. Days earlier, the jihadist group released images of statues from the city being destroyed.
Ansar al Din’s propaganda from the Battle of Aleppo
Ansar al Din, an al Qaeda-linked group that is part of the Ansar al Sharia coalition, has posted images from the early fighting in the new offensive against Bashar al Assad’s forces in Aleppo.
Al Nusrah Front, allies form new coalition for battle in Aleppo
Jihadist groups have announced the creation of Ansar al Sharia, a new alliance for the battle of Aleppo. Ansar al Sharia is the latest of several coalitions formed by the Al Nusrah Front and Ahrar al Sham this year.
Al Nusrah Front celebrates 9/11 attacks in new video
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, has released a mini-documentary on the jihadists’ quest to resurrect the caliphate. Contrary to highly dubious claims that the group was going to break from al Qaeda, Al Nusrah celebrates al Qaeda’s history, including the 9/11 attacks.
Islamic State uses US-made anti-tank missiles in Hasakah offensive
The Islamic State again shows the use of the US anti-tank missile system, after previously doing so near Palmyra and Damascus. Other jihadist groups, including al Qaeda, have also publicized the use of TOWs in the past.
Islamic State attacks Kobane, Hasakah, and Deir al Zour
The simultaneous offensives follow recent Kurdish gains in Raqqah province, the proclaimed “capital” of the Islamic State.
Islamic State spokesman calls on other factions to ‘repent,’ urges sectarian war
In a newly released audio speech, Islamic State spokesman Abu Muhammad al Adnani calls on his group’s rivals (including other jihadists) to “repent,” recognizes a new pledge of allegiance from the Caucasus, and urges Sunnis to fight Shiites throughout the Middle East.
Over 100 jihadist training camps identified in Iraq and Syria
The Long War Journal has identified 117 training camps run by jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria. Almost half are operated by the Islamic State, while the other half are administered by the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, and its allies. Some facilities are no longer operational, while other camps likely exist, but are not publicized by the jihadists.
Iraqi Shiite militia commander threatens to attack US
Akram Abbas al Kabi, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and the leader of the Harakat Nujaba, said his group and others “will seek revenge” for what he claimed was a US airstrike that killed 10 members of the League of the Righteous.
Islamic State used US-made anti-tank missiles near Palmyra
The jihadist group, which has published pictures of BGM-71 anti-tank missiles before, again shows the usage of these weapons at Palmyra. Many of these systems have been employed by jihadist groups or have been used to assist jihadist groups.
The Al Nusrah Front’s ‘inherited jihad’
Al Jazeera aired the second part of its interview with Abu Muhammad al Julani earlier this week. Julani again made it clear that Al Nusrah is a part of al Qaeda and referenced Ayman al Zawahiri’s “directives” following the beginning of the Arab revolutions in late 2010 and early 2011.
Islamic State continues to clash with multiple foes in Aleppo, Hasakah
Several al Qaeda ideologues have issued a fatwa saying it is “compulsory” to fight the Islamic State in Aleppo. The edict was issued after the Islamic State seized towns and villages from other rebel groups in the province.
US claims 10,000 Islamic State fighters killed since start of air campaign
If true, US intelligence assessments on the strength of the Islamic State are grossly underestimated.
With sudden advances in Aleppo, Islamic State provokes counteroffensive
The Islamic State has seized towns and villages in Aleppo province, provoking a counterattack from several rebel organizations. The “caliphate’s” move may have been timed to disrupt its jihadist rivals’ advances in northern Syria.
Analysis: Al Nusrah Front ‘committed’ to Ayman al Zawahiri’s ‘orders’
Earlier this week, Al Jazeera aired the first part of its interview with Abu Muhammed al Julani, who is the emir of the Al Nusrah Front. Julani stressed that his organization is “committed” to Ayman al Zawahiri’s “orders,” thereby dispelling erroneous reports that his group was going to “break” with al Qaeda.
Jihadists claim victory in battle for one of the last regime-controlled towns in Idlib
Jihadists, including al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, have claimed victory in the battle for the town of Ariha. The town was one of the last regime-controlled areas in the province of Idlib.
Another al Qaeda veteran reportedly killed while leading Jund al Aqsa in Syria
Said Arif, an al Qaeda veteran, has reportedly been killed in an airstrike in Syria. Jihadists on social media have identified Arif as a senior figure in Jund al Aqsa, an al Qaeda front group.
Islamic State reportedly seizes all of the Al Waleed border crossing in Iraq
The capturing of the Iraqi side of the Al Waleed border crossing comes just days after the jihadist group captured the Syrian side.
Islamic State seizes Syrian side of Al Waleed border crossing with Iraq
The fall of the strategic location means that the Syrian regime has lost control of all crossings with Iraq.
Islamic State releases media from Palmyra
After taking the city of Tadmur, the Islamic State has released both photographs and videos from the highly strategic city.
Islamic State seizes Syrian city of Palmyra
The jihadist group may destroy ancient ruins in the city, as it has done in Mosul and elsewhere. The Islamic State is now said to control half of Syria.
Coalition airstrikes kill 14 Al Nusrah Front members
The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, claims that 14 fighters were killed in recent coalition air strikes in Syria.
Al Qaeda graduation day in Idlib, Syria
Propaganda photos posted by the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, show what appears to be more than one hundred new graduates at a camp in Idlib.