Nathaniel Barr
Nathaniel Barr is a threat analyst at Valens Global.
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Articles by Nathaniel Barr
Diverging Trajectories in Bangladesh: Islamic State vs al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda and Islamic State have adopted divergent strategies in their competition for dominance in Bangladesh. Al-Qaeda has sought to build popular support by exploiting the grievances of the country’s political
A New Threat to Libya’s Stability Emerges
While Islamic State (IS) is in decline in the central Libyan city of Sirte, another armed group with ties to the global jihadist movement is threatening to usher in a
[Hot Issue] Recent Attacks Illuminate the Islamic State’s Europe Attack Network
The recent major terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels represent a watershed moment not just for the Islamic State (IS), but for the entire jihadist movement. The attacks mark the
Libya’s Political Turmoil Allows Islamic State to Thrive
Islamic State (IS) has experienced fits and starts in its efforts to expand beyond Syria and Iraq. As IS has tried to gain a foothold in new countries, it has
The Islamic State’s Veteran Leader in Libya: A Postmortem Profile of Abu Nabil al-Anbari
Nathaniel Barr The Islamic State’s Syria and Iraq-based leadership has taken an active role in overseeing and supporting the group’s operations in Libya since pro-Islamic State jihadists first gained a
Wilayat Khorasan Stumbles in Afghanistan
January marks a year since Islamic State announced its official expansion into Afghanistan. On January 26, 2015, Abu Muhammed al-Adnani, Islamic State’s chief spokesperson, released an audio statement in which
If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try Deception: The Islamic State’s Expansion Efforts in Algeria
Since announcing the establishment of the caliphate in June 2014, the Islamic State has broadcast its successes in expanding into new territories outside of Syria and Iraq, aiming to create
The Islamic State’s Uneven Trajectory in Libya
As the Islamic State sought to expand geographically in the months following the declaration of the caliphate in June 2014, Libya initially appeared to be the organization’s most promising frontier
Jabhat al-Nusra’s Australia-Born Religious Mouthpiece: Abu Sulayman al-Muhajir
In May 2014, Nagieb Khaja, a Dutch filmmaker and journalist reporting on the ground in Syria for al-Jazeera, began to negotiate with Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) members about conducting an on-camera
A Critical Link Between Jabhat al-Nusra and al-Qaeda: Abu Humam al-Suri
Though far from a household name, Abu Humam al-Suri (birth name: Samir Hijazi) is a critical Syrian jihadist leader, important to both Jabhat al-Nusra and the broader al-Qaeda organization. Abu