Latest Briefs
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 leadership in the lead up to negotiations with the Afghan government (The News, May 10).... MORE
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 militants (TOLO News, April 4; Al Jazeera, April 4). Farooqi was arrested during a multi-day... MORE
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 commander in the Somali militant group, Qorgab is believed to have been involved in the... MORE
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 Taliban splinter group, the High Council of the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate (HCAIE). The drone strike... MORE
Salah Gosh and the Survival of Sudan’s Old Regime
When former members of Sudan’s much-feared National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) mutinied on January 14, there were fears loyalists to the once powerful ex-NISS director Salah Gosh were preparing to restore the old military/Islamist regime of Omar al-Bashir. Gosh, a Sha’iqiya Arab, was born... MORE
Death of AQIS-linked Commander Abdul Jabbar: Another Blow to al-Qaeda in Pakistan
Recent comments in jihadist publications in Pakistan and Afghanistan suggest there is animosity among jihadist groups over the death of Qari Abdul Jabbar in July. His body was found in the Rakkan area of the Barakhan district of Pakistan’s Baluchistan. Qari Jabbar was prominent in... MORE
Young al-Shabaab Recruiter and DustitD2 Attack Planner Fawaz Ahmed Hamdun
As security experts maintain their watch over East African football fields because of youth recruitment into terrorism, the figure of Fawaz Ahmed Hamdun has become the object of particular focus. On September 28, a multi-security agency team smoked the youthful terrorist suspect out of his... MORE
Who is the Leader of ISWAP?—Confusion Continues over Leadership of Islamic State in West Africa Province
On March 4, 2019, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP)—the Islamic State (IS)-loyal faction of Boko Haram—announced a new leader in an audio recording. This new leader is Abu Abdullah Ibn Umar al-Barnawi (a.k.a. Ba Idrissa) (Punch, March 5). Since then, Ba Idrissa... MORE
The Kashmir Crisis: Is Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin Still Relevant?
On September 1, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) chief Syed Salahuddin called on the Pakistani government to send its military to Kashmir to protect the people there from the Indian security forces. If the United Nations does not send peacekeepers there, he said, “it is binding upon... MORE
The ‘Emerging al-Qaeda Lion’ is No More: Hamza Bin Laden’s Demise is a Crucial Blow to al-Qaeda
On July 31, news of Hamza bin Laden’s death surfaced with only partial comment from U.S. intelligence officials and al-Qaeda media sources (Dawn [Karachi], August 1). The original report citing unnamed U.S. officials did not confirm the date, place or circumstances that led to the... MORE