John Foulkes
John Foulkes is a Program Associate for Jamestown’s Global Terrorism Analysis program. He is the assistant editor of Terrorism Monitor, and managing editor of Militant Leadership Monitor. Mr. Foulkes graduated with distinction from the University of North Carolina, earning a B.A. in Peace, War and Defense Studies, with a focus on International Security and Intelligence, and South Asian Studies. He speaks some Hindi and Urdu.
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Articles by John Foulkes
The Warlords Return to Afghanistan: Atta Mohammad Noor
On June 21, the Afghan warlord Atta Mohammad Noor pledged to mobilize the public of his native Balkh province to fight the Taliban (TOLO News, June 22; Twitter.com/Atamohammadnoor, June 21).
Iran’s Man in Nineveh: Waad Qado and the PMF’s 30th Brigade
On May 12, the U.S. Department of State released its annual report on International Religious Freedom. Though the report drew media attention for calling out abuses of religious freedom from
Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Assassination of Taliban Shadow Governor in Peshawar
On April 19, two members of Islamic State (IS) riding on motorcycles fired upon a vehicle traveling in the area of Haji Camp, near Peshawar, in Pakistan. The shooting resulted
Who is Taliban Negotiator Mullah Sherin Akhund?
On March 18, Russia hosted negotiations between the Taliban, the Afghan government, and representatives from the United States, China and Pakistan. The meeting was the first in a series of
Indonesia Arrests Last Fugitive Leader of 2002 Bali Bombings
On December 10, the Indonesian National Police’s Densus 88 counterterrorism force arrested Aris Sumarsono, better known as Zulkarnaen, in Purbolinggo, in the East Lampung province of southern Sumatra. Zulkarnaen is
Hamid al-Jazaeri: Arrest Completes the Saraya al-Khorasani Commander’s Fall From Grace
On December 13, forces associated with the Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) raided the headquarters of Saraya al-Khorasani, a militia that until recently was affiliated with the
Radullan Sahiron—Is the Abu Sayyaf Leader Partnering with Islamic State in the Philippines?
On November 22, four members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Patikul, Sulu province. One of the four was revealed
Akram al-Kaabi: Iranian-Backed Militia Leader Threatens American Presence in Iraq
On October 28, Akram al-Kaabi, a Shia cleric and secretary-general of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN), threatened to launch “lethal attacks” against the United States, unless the country completely withdraws from
Briefs
Does Turkish Withdrawal from Morek Base Signal Renewed Conflict in Idlib? John Foulkes On October 20, Turkish forces withdrew from the Morek observation post, the country’s largest base located north
Briefs
Fighting Escalates in Yemen’s Port City of Hodeidah Michael Horton For months, the port city of Hodeidah has enjoyed relative calm compared with much of war-torn Yemen. This has changed
Abdulkadir Commandos: Another al-Shabaab Commander Succumbs to Vigorous U.S. Air Campaign
On September 8, U.S. Africa Command confirmed the death of Abdulkadir Osman Yarow, a.k.a. Abdulkadir Commandos, a notorious commander of the Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab. Commandos was killed in an
Notorious Islamic State Kidnapper Arrested in the Philippines—Idang Susukan
On August 13, the Philippines National Police (PNP) arrested Anduljihad ‘Idang’ Susukan, a sub-commander of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) (Rappler, August 13). Susukan was arrested in Davao City, on
From Village Elder to Islamic State’s ‘Acting’ Emir in the Philippines: Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan
On July 10, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the leader of a faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) based in the Sulu
Iran’s Taliban Connection: Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir
On June 1, a report from the UN monitoring team was publicly released, stating that, “at least one group of senior Taliban had already formed a new group in opposition
Mullah Yaqoob: Taliban Founder’s Son Becomes Military Head in Political Reshuffling
On May 7, reports emerged confirming Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob’s appointment as head of the military commission of the Taliban in a political reshuffling that could help unify the insurgent group’s
Aslam Farooqi: Head of Islamic State-Khorasan Arrested
On April 4, an operation conducted by Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), successfully captured the head of Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), Aslam Farooqi, along with 19 other
Bashir Qorgab—al-Shabaab Veteran Commander Killed in U.S. Airstrike
On February 22, an airstrike carried out by U.S. Africa Command killed a senior al-Shabaab leader, Bashir Mohamed Mahamoud (a.k.a. Bashir Qorgab) (Radio Muqdisho, March 7). As a senior operational
Mullah Nangialai—Herat Shadow Governor of Taliban Splinter Group Killed in Airstrike
On January 8, a U.S. drone strike killed a commander of a Taliban splinter group in Afghanistan’s western Herat province. The commander, Mullah Nangialai, was an influential member of a
China’s Future Naval Base in Cambodia and the Implications for India
Introduction At the 2019 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, People’s Republic of China (PRC) Defense Minister Wei Fenghe dismissed a question on whether the PRC is seeking a future military presence