Syria's pivotal position, geographically and politically, between developments in Lebanon and Iraq has made it a major new focus for Western policy in the Middle East. One of the several factors casting the spotlight on Damascus is its ambiguous relationship towards Islamist militants operating in... MORE

With jihadist violence having made its debut in Qatar, the issue of spreading instability in the Arab Gulf region as a whole, which supplies some 60 percent of oil imports to the United States, is now a growing concern. Already the relationship of Kuwait and... MORE

Recent forum traffic underlines how the Groupe salafiste pour la prédication et le combat (GSPC), the strongest remaining Islamist militant group in Algeria, is suffering severe morale and organizational problems, as the combined stick of military pressure and carrot of a general amnesty, take effect.... MORE

The detonation of an explosives-laden car outside a theater in Doha on March 19 added one more country to the list of Gulf States bloodied by militant Islamist violence. Clearly aimed at a westerner-rich target — expatriates attending a performance of a Shakespeare play —... MORE

The role of the internet in providing a communications medium for the statements of high profile mujahideen figures such as Bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi is well known. Many will be aware of the existence of jihadi chat forums as well —... MORE

Al-Rawafidh: The rejectionists, renegades An opprobrious term used by Salafists to refer to the Shi'ites. Al-Sham or Bilad al-Sham: The historical name for Greater Syria, which generally includes modern-day Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Israel and some areas of Turkey. A group calling itself Tanzim Jund al-Sham... MORE

Taking a leaf out of the Idarat al-Tawahhush, "The Management of Barbarism," (see "New Book Lays Out al-Qaeda's Military Strategy" in this issue) and the need to understand ‘the rules of the game' — particularly the need to sidestep traditional media channels to send the... MORE

The three–day conference on terrorism that brought over 20 heads of government to Madrid on the anniversary of the March 11, 2004 train bombings by al-Qaeda that killed 191 people, excited some interest from the mujahideen. A statement attributed to Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, the "Media... MORE

News of a pending visit by Israeli Prime Minister Sharon to Tunis, invited by President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali to a conference in mid March, provoked demonstration on March 5, which were broken up violently by Tunisian police. Later a strong warning appeared on the... MORE

U.S. warnings a week ago of an increased threat of attack to its residents in Jeddah were borne out on March 14 with news of a clash between Saudi security forces and suspected Islamist militants. As forces raided a residential building housing a wanted Islamist... MORE