Latest Briefs
Iraq’s Islamic Mujahideen Profiled by Jihadi Websites: Part One
The profiles of a number of Iraqi jihadi groups were prepared and released by al-Haq news agency (haqnews.net August 7). According to al-Haq, the material was collected through interviews with field commanders, jihadi forums and pertinent websites. The files accumulated by al-Haq, entitled, “The Media... MORE
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SOMALI ISLAMISTS THREATEN KENYA’S PEACEKEEPING DEPLOYMENTIn an effort to prop up Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Kenya has decided to send a battalion of troops to join the undermanned African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which has only 3,000 of its authorized strength of 8,000... MORE
Iraq’s Jaysh al-Muslimin – Nationalists in an Islamist Resistance Movement
A recent interview with the spokesman of the Jaysh al-Muslimin in Iraq elicited mixed reactions from jihadi forum participants, many of whom commented on the issue of nationalism vs. Islamism as the focus of the Iraqi resistance (yaqen.net, November 5; hanein.net, November 6).The spokesman of... MORE
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SPAIN’S GUARDIA CIVIL SEIZES TERRORIST MANUAL ADVOCATING “SECRECY IN JIHAD”Spain’s Guardia Civil has released details of a terrorist manual discovered in the Catalonian home of Muhammad Mrabet, a Moroccan national accused of organizing an al-Qaeda cell that sent prospective suicide bombers to Iraq. The most... MORE
Baghdad’s Saad bin Abi Waqas Army – Former Iraqi Soldiers Fight to Restore the Caliphate
In late 2007, al-Qaeda’s second man, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, conducted an open dialogue through the internet in which he answered questions posed by members of jihadi internet forums. Since then, some Iraqi jihadi group leaders have imitated al-Zawahiri’s example by answering questions put to them... MORE
Jihadis Criticize Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and the Islamic State of Iraq
Recent statements from the leadership of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) have generated negative reactions from members of jihadi internet forums. Statements entitled “The Divine Promise” and “The Prophetic State,” from ISI leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and ISI Minister of War Abu Hamza... MORE
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MYSTERY OF ARMS SHIP SEIZED BY SOMALI PIRATES GROWS DEEPER In the holds of the Ukrainian cargo-ship MV Faina, seized by Somali pirates in September, are 33 Russian-designed T-72 battle tanks and a substantial cargo of grenade launchers, anti-aircraft guns, small arms and ammunition. Kenya... MORE
Jihadis Recommend Internet Guerrilla Warfare in Response to Hacking of Islamist Websites
The recent hacking and shutting down of some jihadi websites has raised concerns among jihadi forum members seeking alternatives in case all jihadi forums go down. These forums have, in many terrorism cases, been a launching pad and deployment point for jihadi activities. One still-operational... MORE
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PAKISTANI ISLAMIST FATWA REFUTES TALIBAN’S JIHAD In a surprising move, a group of Pakistani clerics best known for their hardline views on Islam’s role in society have gathered to issue a fatwa condemning suicide-bombing and the current trend of individuals or organizations declaring jihad against... MORE