Latest Terrorism Focus Articles
Moqtada al-Sadr Stepping into the Power Vacuum
Just hours after Moqtada al-Sadr reappeared in public for the first time since the U.S. security crackdown in January to demand the withdrawal of U.S. troops in a major speech in Kufa on May 25, a prominent Mahdi Army commander, Wissam al-Waili (known as Abu... MORE
MEND’s Fluid Leadership Structure
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is one of the most prominent non-state, armed groups in the oil- and gas-rich Niger Delta. MEND is known for its insurrectionist campaign, which includes deadly clashes with security forces protecting the region's oil facilities.... MORE
Are Outside Actors Funding Sunni Islamist Groups in Lebanon’s Camps?
When fighting broke out between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Sunni Islamist militant group Fatah al-Islam on May 20, the main concern was that the fighting would somehow spread from the Nahr al-Barid refugee camp north of Tripoli to other Palestinian camps across... MORE
New Arrests Show Turkey as a Recruiting Ground for Islamist Militants
On May 30, Istanbul police arrested 11 people suspected of having links with al-Qaeda. The authorities reportedly discovered al-Qaeda-related documents and false passports and identity documents in houses belonging to the arrested men. Police officials reported that they believe those arrested were making preparations for... MORE
Al-Qaeda’s American Recruit Releases Something Entirely New
As the 19th anniversary of al-Qaeda's founding nears later in 2007, Western analysts have accumulated an enormous body of primary-source material upon which to base judgments, assessments and predictions. While it is a truism to say that al-Qaeda is a "learning organization"—in the sense that... MORE
Ethiopia Faces Ethnic Fallout from Somalia Intervention
During the month of May, Ethiopia faced a series of attacks from its own ethnic-based rebel groups. The attacks come as a consequence of its invasion of Somalia last December, as the groups are attempting to take advantage of the Ethiopian army's entanglement. The U.S.-backed... MORE
Jihadis Post Scenario for the Defeat of the United States
On May 14, jihadi forum users Abu Kandahar and Roslan al-Shami posted a five-point scenario for the collapse of the United States and the rise of the Islamic ummah, entitled, "The Next Strikes in the Heart of America, When and How." It appeared on the... MORE
Situation in Somalia Remains Precarious
After several weeks of relative calm in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, expelled Islamist leaders now based in Eritrea have pledged to continue attacks despite setbacks suffered in battles with Ethiopian troops in March and April. Two-thirds of the original Ethiopian force has now been... MORE
Al-Qaeda’s Media Doctrine: Evolution from Cheerleader to Opinion-Shaper
Al-Qaeda has always regarded media work as a key weapon in its arsenal, although the group has no claim to originating the use of the media as a weapon for the mujahideen. The Afghan Islamist insurgent organizations—especially Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hezb-e-Islami and Ahmad Shah Masoud Jamiat-e-Islami—ran... MORE
Saudi Authorities Crack Down on Forgery Networks
In recent weeks, there has been a vigorous publicized crackdown on document forgery and identification counterfeiting in Saudi Arabia. Such criminal offenses in the kingdom have largely been committed by people working illegally or avoiding deportation. On a number of occasions, however, al-Qaeda militants have... MORE