Briefs
Notorious Islamic State Kidnapper Arrested in the Philippines—Idang Susukan
On August 13, the Philippines National Police (PNP) arrested Anduljihad ‘Idang’ Susukan, a sub-commander of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) (Rappler, August 13). Susukan was arrested in Davao City, on the island of Mindanao, in the home of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction leader... MORE
From Village Elder to Islamic State’s ‘Acting’ Emir in the Philippines: Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan
On July 10, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the leader of a faction of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) based in the Sulu Islands and acting emir of the Islamic State in East Asia (ISEA), was still alive... MORE
Latest Profiles
The Shadowy Leader of the PMU Confronting the U.S. in Iraq—Abdul-Aziz al-Muhammadawi
On February 21, leaders of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU)—the official umbrella group of Iraq’s Shia-dominated militias—announced that they had agreed to appoint Abdul Aziz al-Muhammadawi as the chief of staff of their organization (al-Mayadeen, February 20). Al-Muhammadawi (a.k.a. Abu Fadak) has been a shadowy... MORE
Ibrahim Sadr: The Hardline Former Military Chief Maintaining Influence Over the Taliban
In early May, the Taliban announced the appointment of Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, son of its founder-leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and deputy to its current amir (leader) Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, as chief of its military commission. Ibrahim Sadr, who Yaqoob replaced, and Abdul Qayyum Zakir would... MORE
Islamic State Obituary Profiles the Life of Slain Maldivan Jihadist Ahmad Nishwan
In early May 2020, the pro-Islamic State (IS) media center Haqqu released a documentary on the life of the slain Maldivian jihadist Ahmad Nishwan. The biographical sketch on Nishwan, which is approximately 33-minutes-long, comes amid IS’ increased outreach efforts to Maldivians. Islamic State is using... MORE
Shaykh Hassan Hussein Adam: al-Shabaab’s Ideologue Shaping the Insurgent Response to COVID-19
Shaykh Hassan Hussein Adam is an ideological and spiritual leader of al-Shabaab who has done the most to shape how the Somalia-based militant group has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. His opinion on the virus is the latest missive from the 41-year-old cleric whose past... MORE