Latest Briefs
Waziristan Militant Leader Aleem Khan Ustad Joins Tehreek-e-Taliban
On December 15, Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, the emir of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), appeared in a video released by Umar Media, the official media arm of TTP (Umar Media, December 15). This video demonstrated a continuation of the series of mergers of Pakistani jihadist groups... MORE
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 to be the grandson of Radullan Sahiron, a leader of ASG and a multi-decade veteran... MORE
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 Iraq. At a press conference in Tehran, Al-Kaabi stated: “Not only the various groups of... MORE
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 airstrike outside Saakow, in the Middle Juba region of southern Somalia, on August 25 (Goobjoob... MORE
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 the island of Mindanao, in the home of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction leader... MORE
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 Islands and acting emir of the Islamic State in East Asia (ISEA), was still alive... MORE
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 to any possible peace agreement, purportedly known as Hezb-e Wilayat Islami…” The report stated that... MORE
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