Latest Briefs

Yemen Faces Second Generation of Islamist Militants

The July 2 suicide attack in Marib, which killed eight Spanish tourists and two Yemeni drivers, painfully illustrated the degree to which Al-Qaeda in Yemen has reorganized itself into an effective force (Terrorism Focus, July 10). The Yemeni government was caught largely unaware by the... MORE

BRIEFS

HAMAS-IRAQ PUBLISHES PIONEERS OF GLORY MAGAZINE In March, Iraq's 1920 Revolution Brigades splintered into two corps, one of which retained the name 1920 Revolution Brigades and the other calling itself Hamas-Iraq (Terrorism Focus, April 10). In July, Hamas-Iraq released its first magazine, which was published... MORE

BRIEFS

ASSASSINATION LISTS OF BAATHISTS DISTRIBUTED IN SOUTHERN IRAQ During the Iraq-Iran war of 1980-1988, the Iraqi government created the "Popular Army," a military contingent consisting of volunteers and commanded by senior Baath Party leaders. The purpose of the formation was to reinforce the army on... MORE

BRIEFS

SUICIDE ATTACKS SPREAD TO ISLAMABAD In the wake of the Pakistani government's security operation against Lal Masjid (Red Mosque), suicide bombers have begun to strike the capital. On July 27, a suicide bomber killed at least 14 people at Islamabad's Aabpara market. As part of... MORE

BRIEFS

NEW IRAQI INSURGENT GROUP PUBLISHES FOUNDING STATEMENT On July 3, jihadi websites posted a statement issued by a new insurgent group in Iraq called the Patriotic National Islamic Front for the Liberation of Iraq. The group, which was allegedly formed in the beginning of July,... MORE

Jihadi Ideologue Justifies Attacks on Muslim Governments

A recent posting in the Islamist internet forum alfirdaws.org demonstrates the points of contention among the proponents and detractors of the jihad. The posting, entitled "To Those Hostile to the Mujahideen and their Methods," is authored by the user al-Jethami, who refutes allegations that the... MORE

Morocco Raises Terrorist Alert Level to Maximum

On July 7, Moroccan Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa took an extraordinary measure by raising the terrorist alert level for the kingdom to "maximum." According to information released by the ministry, the decision was made on the basis of "reliable intelligence" indicating that Morocco is the... MORE

BRIEFS

PAKISTANI MEDIA CALLS RED MOSQUE INCIDENT AN INTELLIGENCE FAILURE The Pakistani newspaper The News published a report on July 13 that questioned how it was possible for the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) administration to smuggle in large quantities of arms and ammunition, especially considering that... MORE

BRIEFS

ANSAR AL-ISLAM IN THE MUSLIM DESERT RELEASES NEW WARNING On May 1, the website https://sahara.6te.net posted a warning to the Moroccan government that "Ansar al-Islam in the Muslim Desert" has declared "jihad against this agent government headed by Mohammed the Sixth, and all the agent... MORE