Briefs
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
Latest Profiles
Islamic State War Returnee Jailed for Life in India—Subahani Haja Mohideen
In late September, a special Indian National Investigating Agency (NIA) counter-terrorism court in Ernakulam, Kerala, sentenced Islamic State (IS) terrorist Subahani Haja Mohideen (a.k.a. Abu Jasmine al-Hindi) to life imprisonment (NIA, September 28; The Hindu, September 28). He was one of the early Indian-origin extremists... MORE
The Phenomenon of Gulmurod Khalimov: Is Islamic State’s War Minister Really Dead?
Introduction On August 3, Tajikistan’s Minister of Internal Affairs Rahimzoda Ramazon announced that Gulmurod Khalimov was killed in an airstrike in Syria. This was later confirmed by Tajikistani nationals returning from Syria (Sputniknews.ru, August 3). Later, however, Rakhimzoda stated that he would not believe the... MORE
AQIM’s Mauritanian Jihadist-Theologian in the Sahel—Abdullah al-Shinqiti
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has historically been an Algeria-based and Algerian-led jihadist group. Nevertheless, AQIM has empowered, in particular, Malians by allowing them to lead AQIM’s Mali-based sub-affiliate, Group of Supporters of Islam and Muslims (Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin—JNIM). In addition, although... MORE
Abu al-Yaqzan al-Masri: The Egyptian Salafist Refusing to Back Turkey or HTS in Syria
Abu al-Yaqzan al-Masri is one of the most active jihadist scholars in Syria. Until last year, he was a senior member of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the leader of al-Nusra Front. Al-Masri became the Shara’e (religious guide) of the military... MORE