Latest Terrorism Monitor Articles
How Nordic Countries are Handling the Question of Repatriating Islamic State Women
As the self-styled Islamic State (IS) “caliphate” collapsed in March 2019, the international community was faced with the problem of more than 70,000 IS family members stranded in Syria. The Kurdish Peshmerga gathered these family members into camps in northeastern Syria. Currently, these camps still... MORE
Somaliland Elections Disrupt al-Shabaab’s Regional Expansion
On May 31, the independent, but unrecognized, Republic of Somaliland held parliamentary and local district elections. These internationally observed elections, which saw a high turnout of 1.1 million registered voters in Somaliland, were peaceful and transparent (Africa News, May 31). [1] The election stood in... MORE
Pakistan’s TTP Mounts Comeback Under New Leadership of Wali Mehsud
On May 5, four Pakistani soldiers were killed and six injured on the Pakistani-Afghan border in the Baluchistan region when militants opened fire from Afghan territory, where Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) still enjoys safe haven (Dawn, May 5) The TTP, led by Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud,... MORE
Briefs
Indonesia Battles Dual Threat of Jihadism and Separatism Jacob Zenn Last month, four farmers in Poso, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia were decapitated by militants affiliated with Mujahidin Indonesia Timor (MIT) (Benar News, May 11). MIT attacks in Poso have become increasingly rare, with the previous one... MORE
Briefs
Peru's Shining Path Guerillas Launch New Attacks in Apurimac Valley Jacob Zenn For nearly a decade, Peru’s Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) Marxist militants have been in decline, with the group’s political wing becoming more active than the militant wing (Terrorism Monitor, May 15, 2014). However,... MORE
Burkan al-Ghadab Militants’ Display of Force Highlights Deepening Turkish Influence in Libya
On May 7, armed militiamen stormed the Corinthia Hotel compound that was being used as one of the headquarters for the interim government in the Libyan capital of Tripoli (al-Hadath, May 8). Social media videos showed militants searching cars and asking for the location of... MORE
Islamic State’s Pakistan Province Launches New Jihadist Magazine
The first Urdu-language magazine of Islamic State’s Pakistan Province (IS-P) called Yalghar (Invasion) was published at the end of April 2021 on social media accounts that regularly disseminate IS-P propaganda materials. The magazine is IS-P’s first indigenous propaganda product. IS-P propaganda materials have otherwise not... MORE
ISWAP Launches Hearts and Minds Strategy to Counter Nigerian Army Offensive
Since Boko Haram’s launched its jihad in 2009, the group has undergone three major phases of territory-capturing military offensives. The Nigerian army turned the tide against Boko Haram after the first two phases with a ‘Plan A’ and ‘Plan B.’ However, Boko Haram’s ongoing military... MORE
Briefs
Killing of Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau Boosts Islamic State in Nigeria Jacob Zenn On May 21, reports emerged from Nigeria, and especially from Boko Haram insider journalist Ahmed Salkida’s publication HumAngle, that longtime Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was dead (HumAngle.ng, May 22). Shekau... MORE