Chris Heffelfinger
Chris Heffelfinger is an independent researcher affiliated with the Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. He is also the editor of Unmasking Terror: A Global Review of Terrorist Activities (Vol I and II, The Jamestown Foundation).
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Articles by Chris Heffelfinger
Proposed Yemen-Djibouti Bridge Threatens AFRICOM Security
Two major developments to unfold in the coming years signal Africa's growing strategic importance, especially the Horn of Africa (HoA). As of October 1, the African continent came under the
Dissident Saudi Cleric Brought Further into the Fold
On September 17, the Saudi-run, London-based Arabic daily al-Sharq al-Awsat published an opinion piece from Tariq al-Humayd titled "Why after Six Years, Shaykh Salman?" referring to the well-known Saudi dissident
Behind the Indoctrination and Training of American Jihadis
On July 26, a former Washington, DC cab driver and resident of Gwynn Oak, Maryland was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for providing material support to a terrorist
Islamic State of Iraq Claims Credit for Series of Operations
Al-Qaeda in Iraq appears to be upping its attacks on U.S. forces. The group, acting through the umbrella jihad organization called the Islamic State of Iraq, issued a number of
Kuwaiti Cleric Hamid al-Ali: The Bridge Between Ideology and Action
Hamid bin Abdallah al-Ali is an influential Salafi cleric in Kuwait. He is designated by the U.S. government as a global terrorism financier and supporter, yet his website is registered
GIMF Releases New Doctrinal Lessons for Mujahideen
The latest in a year-long series on proper beliefs and doctrine of the mujahid was released on March 14 by the Global Islamic Media Front. The series, entitled "Lessons in
The Ideological Voices of the Jihadi Movement
It is news to few observers that thousands, even millions, of young Muslims are influenced—to some extent—by jihadi literature circulating on various Islamist websites and discussion forums. The mujahideen's use
Mujahideen Consider American Elections a Sign of U.S. Defeat in Iraq
The results of the U.S. interim elections last Tuesday resonated with the mujahideen and their supporters online. Discussion centered around a theme of victory for the Iraqi mujahideen and an
Online Jihadi Forums Provide Curriculum for Aspiring Mujahideen
A recent discussion on https://tajdeed.org.uk demonstrates the increasingly common practice of training up-and-coming mujahideen via the internet. The postings attached archived copies of al-Ansar magazine, Sawt al-Jihad and Mu'askat al-Battar,
Al-Qaeda Oil Attack Thwarted in Yemen
On September 15, Yemen's Interior Ministry announced that during a shootout it had blown up four cars laden with explosives, killing the four suicide bombers in the process before they
Al-Qaeda’s Evolving Strategy Five Years after September 11
Five years after September 11, al-Qaeda is, in its own words, "continuing the policy of bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy," drawing the United States into a gradually widening
Saad bin Laden: The Key to Iranian-al-Qaeda Detente?
On July 28, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard reportedly released Osama bin Laden's 27 year-old son, Saad bin Laden, according to the German newspaper Die Welt. Saad had been held under
Jihadi Web Forums Revel in Lebanon Confrontation
As fighting intensifies between Israel and Hezbollah, discussion on the jihadi forums focused on the impact of these actions on the mujahideen in the region, and to the longer term
Statement to the Saudi Mujahideen Summons Iraq Returnees
On June 30, a media organization called al-Basha'ir (The Glad Tidings) issued a statement on the Lahdud forum (https://www.la7odood.com/vb) entitled, "who we are, what we want and what our relation
Bin Laden Clears Moussaoui and Guantanamo Detainees of 9/11 Involvement
On May 24, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden issued a speech via an audio file presented by the "al-Sahab Foundation for Media Production," which has issued authentic statements from al-Qaeda
Jailed Extremists Pardoned in Tunisia
On Monday, February 27, Tunisian President Zine Abidine Ben Ali released over 1,600 prisoners by official pardon—some 70 of them considered to be Islamists from the outlawed al-Nahda (awakening) movement—many