Lydia Khalil
Lydia Khalil recently returned from Iraq where she worked as governance policy advisor for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. Prior to that, Lydia was appointed to the White House Office of Homeland Security. She has worked at home and abroad for the U.S. government, international organizations, private companies and think-tanks on a variety of Middle East political and terrorism issues.
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Articles by Lydia Khalil
Strategic Implications for Northern Iraq’s Kurdish Oil Industry
Article 3, paragraph 3 of the Oil and Gas Law of the Kurdistan Region seems straightforward enough: “The Regional Government shall, together with the Federal Government, jointly manage Petroleum Operations
Bin Laden’s Call to Unite Exposes al-Qaeda’s Strategic Blunders
Last week, several jihadi forums released an audio message from Osama bin Laden chastising the Iraqi mujahideen for their failure to unite to defeat their common adversary. Bin Laden’s message
Foreign Fighters Face Obstacles Joining the Somali Jihad
After their defeat in December 2006, Somalia's Islamic Courts Union (ICU) vowed to launch an Iraqi style insurgency against the invading Ethiopian forces. Al-Qaeda leaders supported their intentions. Both Osama
The Hidden Hand of Iran in the Resurgence of Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam, an Islamic militant group based in the Kurdish mountains that briefly housed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was at the height of its power in 2002-2003. They controlled the areas
Diyala Residents Confront al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq
There is evidence that al-Qaeda is being squeezed out of Baghdad by the troop surge and has already been driven out of its traditional stronghold in Anbar province. In response,
The Kurdistan Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen
In the last week, a series of attacks have hit the Kurdish areas of northern Iraq. On May 9, a truck bomb exploded outside of the Interior Ministry in Irbil,
Divisions Within the Iraqi Insurgency
With so many actors in the Iraqi insurgent theater, it is hard to keep track of the various permutations of militant Islamic groups and their alliances. It is going to
Kurdish Peshmerga Reinforce Turkish Border
Last week, Turkey's general staff held an unprecedented press conference to announce that it was recommending direct strikes on Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases in Iraq's Kurdish areas and establishing
Leader of 1920 Revolution Brigades Killed by al-Qaeda
The 1920 Revolution Brigades recently announced the death of its leader, Harith Dhahir Khamis al-Dari, nephew and namesake of Harith al-Dari, the exiled head of the Muslim Scholars Association. The
The Islamic State of Iraq Launches Plan of Nobility
The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), a conceived al-Qaeda organization attempting to unite the Iraqi insurgency, recently issued its own response to the U.S.-Iraqi Security Plan. The so-called "Plan of
Internal Divisions Threaten Kurdish Unity
After years of infighting and repression by Saddam Hussein's regime, Iraq's Kurds were finally able to seize the opportunity for autonomy and influence presented by the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Since
New Sufi Group Joins the Iraqi Insurgency
Late last year, The Jamestown Foundation reported on a new insurgent group comprised of Qadiri Sufi insurgents calling themselves the Battalions of Sheikh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Gilani (Terrorism Focus, September 19,
Harith al-Dari: Iraq’s Most Wanted Sunni Leader
According to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Harith al-Dari has "nothing to do but incite sectarian and ethnic sedition." Al-Dari, the leader of the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS), has been
The Kurdish Security Network in Northern Iraq
In spite of escalating violence in Iraq, the very region that served as the gateway for al-Qaeda in Iraq is now one of the most secure areas in the country.
The Shiite Zarqawi: A Profile of Abu Deraa
Depending on whom you ask, Abu Deraa is either considered a Shiite hero or the Shiite version of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The legendary militant, notorious for his brutal tactics and
Baath Party Distributes Hit List for Targeted Assassinations
In early September, the outlawed Baath party distributed a "hit list" of prominent Iraqi political, military and judicial leaders who were targeted for assassination (al-Watan, October 17). It resurfaced publicly
Islamic Army in Iraq Pursues Strategy of Negotiation and Violence
The Islamic Army in Iraq, a prominent insurgent group, is pulling away from the purely rejectionist trend of most Sunni Arab insurgents, refining its approach toward conducting the Iraqi insurgency.
Al-Sadr’s Weakening Grip on the Mahdi Army
In recent weeks, Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army continues to be blamed for the sectarian killings that are plaguing Iraq. Al-Sadr, however, has repeatedly called on his followers to
Arrests May Cause Partnership between Ansar al-Sunnah and al-Qaeda in Iraq
The month of September was rife with reports detailing the arrests and killings of senior al-Qaeda officials and their associates in Iraq. In September alone, coalition forces arrested one al-Qaeda
Iraqi Sufis Join the Fight Against Coalition Forces
Of all the Islamic trends, Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam, is reputed to be the least prone to violence and more tolerant of other currents within Islam as well
The Lord of the Marshes Takes a Mediating Role in Iraq
The "Lord of the Marshes" is a name that evokes a mythic image of one of Iraq's most illustrious resistance fighters. Abd Karim al-Mahmud Muhamedawi, also known as Abu Hatem,
Turkish Troops Briefly Enter Northern Iraq
Testing the waters for a regional reaction to a cross-border operation into Iraq's Kurdish north, the Turkish military sent troops into Iraqi territory late last month. The Turkish forces remained
Ocalan Culture Center, a PKK Contact Bureau, Opens in Baghdad
In the midst of rising tensions between the Turkish and Iraqi governments over the presence of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels in northern Iraq, the PKK has managed to expand
Turkey’s Mounting Concerns over PKK Incursions from Northern Iraq
There have been ongoing tensions between Turkish and Iraqi Kurdish authorities over Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists operating out of the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) territory. In a recent trip
Iraqi Insurgent Groups Respond to al-Maliki’s Reconciliation Initiative
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki hopes to put an end to the terrorism that has enveloped Iraq by offering a comprehensive national security plan. The plan was announced on the
Who’s Who in Ramadi Among the Insurgent Groups
U.S. forces have amassed an additional 1,500 troops for another security crackdown in Iraq's predominantly Sunni Arab center in Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province. The Ramadi operation, as yet
Kurdish Officials Provide Information on al-Qaeda Operatives in Custody
It is widely acknowledged that northern Iraq has escaped the chaos and violence wrought by the Iraqi insurgency, but this does not mean that al-Qaeda and affiliated groups have not
Assessing al-Qaeda’s Position in Iraq
There is a confusing portrait emerging from Iraq regarding al-Qaeda's position inside the country. Recent reports present contradictory views on the level of al-Qaeda support, success and long-term prospects. One
Iraqi and U.S. Officials in Secret Talks with Iraqi Insurgents
In their continued effort to curb the Iraqi insurgency and drive a deeper wedge between homegrown Iraqi insurgents and al-Qaeda in Iraq, top U.S. and Iraqi officials announced that they
Abu Ayman, Head of the Secret Islamic Army, Captured in Iraq
Early this month, the Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-Iraq) announced the capture of Mohammed Hila Hammad Obeidi, otherwise known as Abu Ayman. According to a press release, Abu Ayman, a senior
Anbar Revenge Brigade Makes Progress in the Fight Against al-Qaeda
The Anbar Revenge Brigade, an armed group of Sunni tribal elements, announced earlier this month that it had killed five of al-Qaeda's top members operating in Iraq. In an internet
Al-Qaeda & the Muslim Brotherhood: United by Strategy, Divided by Tactics
For many years, Ayman al-Zawahiri has denounced Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood for what he claims is the misguided direction they have taken political Islam. In a recent statement, al-Zawahiri renewed his
Mujahideen Shura Council in Iraq Expands Ranks, Continues Attacks
The newly-formed Mujahideen Shura Council of Iraq, an umbrella group set up by al-Qaeda and consisting of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Jaysh al–Taifa al-Mansura, Ansar al-Tawhid, al-Ghuraba, al-Jihad al-Islami and al-Ahwal,
The Egyptian Media’s Response to the Latest al-Qaeda Statements
Egypt’s prominent newspapers and magazines had a somewhat tepid response to recent statements made by al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. Media commentary did not support statements made
The Transformation of Ansar al-Islam
Ansar al-Islam seems to have dropped off the radar screen, while an even more active and deadly terrorist organization with similar nomenclature, Ansar al-Sunna, has emerged in its place. With