Latest Articles about Terrorism
Lashkar-e-Zil: Al-Qaeda’s ‘Shock and Awe’ Force
One effect of the rise of the Islamic State organization is that its rival al-Qaeda has had to try harder to attract global attention, funding, and recruits. The establishment of a new al-Qaeda branch, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, is one major step taken by... MORE
Split in the Caucasus Emirate, or an FSB Provocation?
Suleiman Zailanabidov, one of the former emirs of the so-called Aukhov jamaat in Dagestan, took an oath of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State organization that has been proclaimed in Syria and Iraq. The Aukhov jamaat operates in the Khasavyurt,... MORE
Shaykh Ahmad Umar Takes the Helm of Al-Shabaab
On September 1, a U.S. airstrike in Dahay Tubaako, a remote area in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, killed Ahmad Abdi Godane (a.k.a. Mukhtar Abu Zubayr), the main leader and most prominent ideological figure within the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab. Godane’s death, along with that of... MORE
Boko Haram’s Man in Cameroon: Alhaji Abdalla
Since Boko Haram kidnapped seven members of the French Moulin-Fournier family in February 2013, its first major operation in Cameroon, the militant group’s operations in Cameroon have steadily increased. Throughout 2014, Boko Haram attempted to seize control of the four most important border points connecting... MORE
The Rise of Azerbaijani Fighters in Syria – A Profile of Muhammad al-Azeri
As fighting for the northern Syrian town of Kobane raged in early October, videos of Islamic State militants speaking the Azerbaijani language began appearing on YouTube (RFE/RL, October 14). These video clips were followed by reports about Azerbaijani nationals found among dead Islamic State fighters... MORE
Why Do Jamaat Leaders Die so Often in North Caucasus Special Operations?
Rarely a week passes in Dagestan without the authorities launching a new special operation against militants. Some weeks, several special operations take place across the republic. In most instances, these law enforcement actions are based upon information received from Russian moles planted in the ranks... MORE
Putin Approves Draft Strategy for Countering Extremism in Russia to 2025
On November 20, President Vladimir Putin convened a meeting of the Russian Security Council to discuss and approve a draft Strategy for Countering Extremism in the Russian Federation Through 2025. This new security document offers additional indications that countering “color revolutions” has moved center stage... MORE
Why Is Karachaevo-Cherkessia Quiet and Kabardino-Balkaria Not?
On November 18, Russian and regional analysts in Karachaevo-Cherkessia discussed the striking difference between two neighboring and quite similar republics, Karachaevo-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria. While Kabardino-Balkaria has seen the rise of a militant insurgency in recent years, Karachaevo-Cherkessia has managed to remain fairly quiet, even though... MORE
Spain Grapples with Growing Islamic State Threat
A recent report by the UN Security Council estimated that 15,000 people from over 80 countries have so far travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight alongside the Islamic State organization and other extremist groups, “including… [from] countries that have not previously faced challenges relating... MORE
After Fatal Attack on Shi’as, Saudi Arabia Gets Tough on Terrorism
On November 3, five people were shot dead and nine others wounded when three masked gunmen attacked a group of Shi’as who were leaving a mosque at the village of al-Dalwa in Ahsa governorate in Saudi Arabia’s eastern region. The attackers reportedly used machine guns... MORE