Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !
Recent Appearances... Rantburg
Ayman Al Zawahiri Ayman Al Zawahiri al-Qaeda India-Pakistan 20031115  
Ayman Al-Zawahiri Ayman Al-Zawahiri Taliban Afghanistan/South Asia 20050706  
  Ayman Al-Zawahiri Al-Qaeda Al-Jihad Terror Networks 20030125  
  Ayman Al-Zawahiri al-Qaeda Afghanistan/South Asia 20040104  
  Ayman Al-Zawahiri Salafist Group for Call and Combat North Africa 20030605  
  Ayman Al-Zawahiri al-Qaeda Britain 20050903  
  Ayman Al-Zawahiri Jamaat Al-Jihad Terror Networks 20030125  

The Grand Turk
A native of Dagestan faces the threat of deportation from Turkey
2024-02-14
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] The Turkish authorities are preparing for the deportation of a native of Dagestan, Ibragim Askerov, whom the Russian Investigative Committee has put on the wanted list for his involvement in the extremist organization At Takfir Wal-Hijra, sources said.
Originally they called themselves Jama'at al-Muslimin (Society of Muslims), but their Egyptian neighbours mockingly called them Excommunication and Exile. The introverted Takfir Wal Hijra faction of the split from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in the 1960s. The extroverted “moderate” faction followed Ayman Al-Zawahiri into Al Qaeda. Takfir Wal Hijra consists of loosely affiliated cells which have committed acts of terror as far afield as Morocco and Holland. Cult-like, they require members to cut off all contact with their families.
According to sources, the Turkish authorities are preparing for extradition to Russia of a native of Dagestan, Ibragim Askerov, who in his homeland is suspected of involvement in the extremist organization At Takfir Wal-Hijra, banned in Russia by the court.

Askerov left for Turkey in January 2021, and was detained in the fall of the same year. He spent about four months in the deportation center, after which he was released. In August 2023, Askerov was detained again and again placed in a deportation center. Earlier, the Investigative Committee of Russia put Askerov on the Interpol wanted list, the telegram channel “Conscience of Dagestan” reported today.

Askerov previously received a residence permit in Turkey, but the authorities revoked it. “There is a decision to deport him. He applied for asylum and was refused everywhere. They offer to leave for a third country, but he does not have a valid passport. And he is wanted by Interpol,” the source was quoted as saying by “Caucasus. Realities” on August 11, 2023.

Turkish intelligence services registered Askerov as a person involved in an extremist organization who poses a threat to the country’s national security, another source said.

The "Caucasian Knot" also wrote that on November 1, 2022, six followers of the At Takfir Wal-Hijra* organization were detained in Dagestan, Moscow and Voronezh, and during a search, religious literature with extremist content was confiscated from them.

The organization "At-Takfir wal-Hijra" (Accusation of unbelief and hijra) appeared in Egypt and spread in the North Caucasus, especially in Kabardino-Balkaria in 1997-1998. Supporters of the organization belong to the Salafi movement in Islam and are distinguished by strict demands on fellow believers, says the Caucasian Knot material “ Kabardino-Balkaria: On the Road to Catastrophe. Preconditions for the armed uprising in Nalchik on October 13-14, 2005.”
Related:
Takfir Wal-Hijra: 2023-06-10 Resident of Kaspiysk sentenced for participation in 'At-Takfir Val-Hijra'
Takfir Wal-Hijra: 2022-01-14 Russian FSB detains seven ISIS Bad Guys
Takfir Wal-Hijra: 2011-02-08 Islamist group clashes with Egyptian forces at Gaza border
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
14 residents of Karachay-Cherkessia are suspected of extremism
2023-12-12
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] Security forces detained 14 residents of Karachay-Cherkessia suspected of involvement in the extremist organization At-Takfir wal-Hijra*,
...At Takfir wal Hijra split off from the Muslim Brotherhood in about 1970 to pursue violent jihad. It split again when the more moderate faction followed Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who subsequently became Al Qaeda’s second in command. Takfir wal Hijra has cells all over the world ...
the FSB reported.

As the Caucasian Knot wrote, in September 2022, five people were sentenced in Karachay-Cherkessia to prison terms on charges of involvement in the banned organization At-Takfir wal-Hijra.

The organization "At-Takfir wal-Hijra" ("Accusation of disbelief and hijra") appeared in Egypt and spread in the North Caucasus in 1997-1998. Supporters of the organization belong to the Salafi movement in Islam and are distinguished by strict requirements for fellow believers. They consider anyone who does not pray five times a day to be an apostate, even if such a person calls himself a Muslim, says the Caucasian Knot material “ Kabardino-Balkaria: On the Road to Catastrophe. Preconditions for the armed uprising in Nalchik on October 13-14, 2005.”

In Karachay-Cherkessia, 14 local residents suspected of involvement in the activities of the At-Takfir wal-Hijra cell were detained, a representative of the republican FSB Directorate reported today.

“As a result of the measures taken, 14 local residents involved in the activities of the extremist organization and its propaganda, including on the Internet, were detained,” he said.

According to him, firearms, ammunition and communications equipment, as well as “extremist literature exposing their illegal activities,” were seized from the homes of the detainees.

Criminal cases have been initiated against some of the detainees under parts 1 and 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organizing the activities of an extremist organization and participating in it), while the issue of initiating criminal cases is being decided against the rest, Interfax reports.
Related:
At-Takfir wal-Hijra: 2023-07-27 A resident of Karachay-Cherkessia convicted of preparing a terrorist act
At-Takfir wal-Hijra: 2023-06-10 Resident of Kaspiysk sentenced for participation in 'At-Takfir Val-Hijra'
At-Takfir wal-Hijra: 2023-05-23 Resident of Stavropol received nine years for financing terrorism
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
A resident of Karachay-Cherkessia convicted of preparing a terrorist act
2023-07-27
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] The court found Dmitry Igumentsev, a resident of Karachay-Cherkessia, guilty of preparing a terrorist attack and participating in the activities of an extremist organization. The man was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

A resident of Karachay-Cherkessia, Dmitry Igumentsev, was found guilty in the case of a terrorist attack, the press service of the Southern District Military Court reported today.

According to the investigation and the court, Igumentsev joined a cell of the banned extremist association At-Takfir Val-Hijra
...At Takfir wal Hijra split off from the Muslim Brotherhood in about 1970 to pursue violent jihad. It split again when the more moderate faction followed Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who subsequently became Al Qaeda’s second in command. Takfir wal Hijra has cells all over the world ...
and organized its activities - held meetings of participants, organized the study of extremist religious literature. Igumentsev was also preparing for a terrorist attack - "illegally acquired and stored explosive devices, explosives, firearms, ammunition and cartridges in a cache," but was detained on February 9, 2021, according to a message on the court's Telegram channel. 

Igumentsev was found guilty of organizing the activities of an extremist organization, storing weapons and ammunition, and preparing for a terrorist attack and was sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime colony with the first five years in prison. He also was fined 100,000 rubles.

The "Caucasian Knot" also wrote that in February 2021, the FSB reported on the detention in four regions of southern Russia, including Karachay-Cherkessia, 19 supporters of "At-Takfir wal-Hijra"* who were planning terrorist acts in the North Caucasus. In a forest in Karachay-Cherkessia, they found a cache with a machine gun, an AKM assault rifle, cartridges and improvised explosive devices with a total mass of more than three kilograms of TNT, "including the so-called suicide belt with striking elements," the report says.
Related:
Karachay-Cherkessia: 2023-07-22 Resident of Nalchik suspected of financing terrorism
Karachay-Cherkessia: 2023-07-20 Good Morning
Karachay-Cherkessia: 2023-07-20 A resident of Karachay-Cherkessia sentenced to 16 years in prison for preparing a terrorist attack
Related:
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2023-07-22 Resident of Nalchik suspected of financing terrorism
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2023-07-20 A resident of Karachay-Cherkessia sentenced to 16 years in prison for preparing a terrorist attack
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2023-06-10 Good Morning
Related:
Takfir wal Hijra: 2023-06-10 Resident of Kaspiysk sentenced for participation in 'At-Takfir Val-Hijra'
Takfir wal Hijra: 2022-09-06 Five people convicted in the case of extremism in Karachay-Cherkessia
Takfir wal Hijra: 2022-03-08 Makhachkala resident convicted for nexus with At-Takfir Val-Hijra
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Resident of Kaspiysk sentenced for participation in 'At-Takfir Val-Hijra'
2023-06-10
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] Kazbek Gasanov was sentenced to three years and two months in prison for organizing the activities of At-Takfir Val-Hijra*
...the At Takfir wal Hijra movement was founded 1971, led by Upper Egyptian agronomist Shukri Mustafa (1942-1978). Originally Muslim Brotherhood, he joined Sayyid Qutb in splitting off to pursue violent jihad. After Shukri Mustafa was executed, the group split again, the more moderate faction following Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who subsequently became Al Qaeda’s second in command. Takfir wal Hijra has cells all over the place — Ukraine reported arresting three Crimean turbans in 2009, and a larger cell was tied up in Moscow in 2013.
and storing ammunition. The court in Kaspiysk took into account the defendant's cooperation with the investigation and the presence of five children, and sentenced Gasanov to three years and two months in prison.

Kazbek Gasanov, a resident of Kaspiysk, was found guilty of organizing the activities of the At-Takfir Val-Hijra religious association and storing ammunition, Kavkaz.Realii reported today.

As follows from the verdict published on the website of the court, Hasanov joined a religious group until 2015 and attended meetings of its cell. According to the investigation and the court, he participated in joint prayers, discussed the future "World Caliphate" and interpreted religious publications recognized in Russia as extremist. The security forces reported on the seizure of 17 cartridges for a Kalashnikov assault rifle, 10 cartridges for a Makarov pistol and a RG-42 hand fragmentation grenade from Gasanov during a search.

The court took into account that Hasanov had no previous convictions, had a disabled mother, a wife and five children, and actively contributed to the investigation. He "fully pleaded guilty." As a result, he was sentenced to three years and two months in prison in a penal colony. The court also deprived Gasanov of the right to engage in religious activities for five years and sentenced him to a year of imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 rubles.

The case, at the request of the defense, was considered in a special order. During the preliminary investigation, Gasanov "gave detailed testimony about the criminal activities of other members of the organized group", on the basis of which the investigation opened criminal cases against its members, as well as "against 14 persons from among the members of the cell of the religious association "At-Takfir Wal-Hijra", which were not previously known to law enforcement agencies," the verdict says.

 The organization "At-Takfir wal-Hijra" (Accusation of disbelief and hijra) appeared in Egypt and spread in the North Caucasus, especially in Kabardino-Balkaria in 1997-1998. Supporters of the organization belong to the Salafi trend in Islam and are distinguished by strict requirements for fellow believers. They consider an apostate anyone who does not pray five times a prayer , even if such a person calls himself a Muslim, and also insist on the inadmissibility of working in the structure of Russian law enforcement agencies, the Caucasian Knot reports Kabardino-Balkaria: On the Road to Disaste, performances in Nalchik on October 13-14, 2005."

Since the At-Takfir wal-Hijra group was recognized as extremist and banned in Russia in 2010, its members have been repeatedly detained in different regions of the country, a British journalist, creator of the project "Chechens in Syria", analyst Joanna Parashchuk.

The "Caucasian Knot" also wrote that the Leninsky District Court of Makhachkala found Abdulmumin Abdulmuminov guilty of organizing the activities of the religious association "At-Takfir wal-Hijra" * and sentenced him to a year and eight months in prison.
Related:
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2022-09-06 Five people convicted in the case of extremism in Karachay-Cherkessia
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2022-04-06 Karnataka girl who defied hijab ban gets honourable mention, a poem from Al Qaeda chief
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2022-04-01 2K on Dagestan terror watchlist
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Resident of Stavropol received nine years for financing terrorism
2023-05-23
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] A court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Stavropol resident Yusup Ismailov to nine years in prison for raising money to finance terrorist activities.

The " Caucasian Knot " wrote that on June 22, 2021, the FSB department for the Stavropol Territory reported on the detention of eight alleged members of the At-Takfir wal-Hijra
...also in our archives spelt Al-Takfeer wal Hijra, the mocking name given to Jama'at al-Muslimin, a takfiri spinoff of the Muslim Brotherhood that’s been around since 1971. It’s the original home of Ayman Al-Zawahiri and his Al Qaeda buddies, back in Egypt particularly known for requiring members to cut off all contact with non-member friends and relations...
extremist organization banned in Russia*. On July 22, 2021, it became known that on suspicion of involvement in an attempted terrorist attack on the territory of the police department in Kislovodsk, seven more residents of Dagestan, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Stavropol were detained , whom the investigation considers members of an extremist religious association banned in Russia, among them was Yusup Ismailov.

The Southern District Military Court has sentenced Yusup Ismailov, a resident of Stavropol, accused of assisting terrorist activities, Interfax reported today, citing the press service of the FSB Directorate for the Stavropol Territory.

"It was established that the person involved, being a member of the cell of the international religious extremist organization At-Takfir wal-Hijra* banned in the Russian Federation, collected money in order to finance terrorist activities," the report said.

According to the investigation and the court, Ismailov also shared the ideas of the Islamic State organization, the report says. The court sentenced him to nine years in prison with the first three years in prison, and the rest of the term - in a strict regime colony with restriction of liberty for six months. Ismailov is also prohibited from administering websites for two years. 

As follows from the case file on the court website, the case against Ismailov was received by the Southern District Military Court on April 5. three court sessions were held, the last of which was scheduled for today. 

The organization "At-Takfir wal-Hijra"* (Accusation of unbelief and Hijra) appeared in Egypt and spread in the North Caucasus, especially in Kabardino-Balkaria in 1997-1998. Supporters of the organization belong to the Salafi trend in Islam and are distinguished by strict requirements for fellow believers. They consider an apostate anyone who does not pray five times a prayer, even if such a person calls himself a Muslim, and also insist on the inadmissibility of working in the structure of Russian law enforcement agencies, the "Caucasian Knot" material reads "Kabardino-Balkaria: On the way to disaster. Preconditions for armed performances in Nalchik on October 13-14, 2005."

Since the At-Takfir wal-Hijra group* was recognized as extremist and banned in Russia in 2010, its members have been repeatedly detained in different regions of the country, a British journalist, creator of the project "Chechens in Syria", analyst Joanna Parashchuk.
Related:
At-Takfir wal-Hijra: 2022-11-22 Eight residents of the Stavropol were convicted in the case of extremism
At-Takfir wal-Hijra: 2022-02-12 Stavropol teenager accused of preparing a terrorist attack
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Eight residents of the Stavropol were convicted in the case of extremism
2022-11-22
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] A court in Kislovodsk today recognized eight residents of the Stavropol Territory as members of the extremist organization At-Takfir wal-Hijra* banned in Russia. Each of the defendants received 2.5 years in prison, the FSB said.

The "Caucasian Knot" wrote that in July investigators reported on the completion of an investigation into eight residents of the North Caucasus accused of extremist activities. The names of these people coincide with the names of those who were informed about the court verdict today by the FSB.

The organization "At-Takfir wal-Hijra" ("Accusation of disbelief and hijra")
...also in our archives spelt Al-Takfeer wal Hijra, the mocking name given to Jama'at al-Muslimin, a takfiri spinoff of the Muslim Brotherhood that’s been around since 1971. It’s the original home of Ayman Al-Zawahiri and his Al Qaeda buddies...
appeared in Egypt and spread in the North Caucasus in 1997-1998. Supporters of the organization belong to the Salafi trend in Islam, explains in the material of the "Caucasian Knot" " Kabardino-Balkaria: On the way to disaster. Prerequisites for the armed uprising in Nalchik on October 13-14, 2005."

Today, a court in Kislovodsk sentenced eight men recognized as members of the extremist organization At-Takfir wal-Hijra to 2.5 years in prison in a general regime colony.

Imanali Khadzhiev, Issa Bogatyrev, Komil Kholbaev, Amil Gaziev, Murat Apsov, Dmitry Ledenev, Alexander Bazhenov and Abumuslim Fatullayev "on behalf of the emissaries of an organization banned in the Russian Federation" conducted propaganda in the region in order to persuade them to join its ranks," said with reference to the department FSB in Stavropol "Interfax".

Investigators found that meetings were held in the region, where "the foundations of extremist ideology were studied, its superiority over other religions was promoted." The case was investigated under Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of Russia (participation in the activities of an extremist organization).

The defense of the convicts has not yet commented on the conclusions of the investigation and the court.
Related:
At-Takfir wal-Hijra: 2022-02-12 Stavropol teenager accused of preparing a terrorist attack
Related:
Al-Takfeer wal Hijra: 2011-11-14 Egypt arrests Islamist linked to pipeline attacks
Related:
Jama''at al-Muslimin: 2022-02-12 Stavropol teenager accused of preparing a terrorist attack
Jama''at al-Muslimin: 2011-11-14 Egypt arrests Islamist linked to pipeline attacks
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Five people convicted in the case of extremism in Karachay-Cherkessia
2022-09-06
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] Five members of the At-Takfir Val-Hijra
The At Takfir wal Hijra movement was founded 1971, led by Upper Egyptian agronomist Shukri Mustafa (1942-1978). Originally Muslim Brotherhood, he joined Sayyid Qutb in splitting off to pursue violent jihad. After Shukri Mustafa was executed, the group split again, the more moderate faction following Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who subsequently became Al Qaeda’s second in command. Takfir wal Hijra has cells all over the place — Ukraine reported arresting three Crimean turbans in 2009, and a larger cell was tied up in Moscow in 2013.
were sentenced in Karachay-Cherkessia to terms ranging from two to two and a half years in prison.

The Malokarachaevsky District Court of Karachay-Cherkessia issued a guilty verdict against five members of a cell of an international religious extremist association, writes today with reference to the regional department of the FSB Interfax.

One of the convicts was sentenced to two years in prison, and the remaining four received two and a half years in a penal colony, the FSB reported.

All the convicts were found guilty under the article on participation in the activities of a banned religious association (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of Russia). The defense of the convicts has not yet commented on the verdict delivered by the court.

The "Caucasian Knot" also wrote that in July the FSB reported on the detention of 11 members of a cell of the Islamic State terrorist organization banned in Russia by a court.
Related:
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2022-04-06 Karnataka girl who defied hijab ban gets honourable mention, a poem from Al Qaeda chief
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2022-04-01 2K on Dagestan terror watchlist
At-Takfir Val-Hijra: 2022-03-08 Makhachkala resident convicted for nexus with At-Takfir Val-Hijra
Related:
Karachay-Cherkessia: 2022-08-20 Six people charged in the case of terrorists in the Kalmyk colony
Karachay-Cherkessia: 2022-08-07 Court in Cherkessk arrests a suspect in preparation of terrorist attacks
Karachay-Cherkessia: 2022-08-05 Two residents of Stavropol were convicted from an attack in Dagestan
Link


India-Pakistan
President Arif Alvi skipped funeral of Balochistan chopper crash martyrs
2022-08-06
[GEO.TV] The Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Babar Iftikhar Friday commented on rumours concerning the use of Pakistan’s air space in the drone strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri and said that there was "no question on the use of the Pakistani soil in Zawahiri's killing.

“The Foreign Ministry has issued a clear statement regarding Ayman Al-Zawahiri. It is impossible that Pakistan’s soil has been used for this,” he said, adding that irrelevant comments are made without any evidence.
Link


Terror Networks
How UK spies watched from Harrogate as the 9/11 Al-Qaeda chief responsible for the deaths of nearly 3,000 people was executed by a 6-bladed Ninja missile
2022-08-03
[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Photos and lots of useful illustrations in the helpful Daily Mail way.
  • The CIA announced they executed Ayman al-Zawahiri, 71, in a drone strike on July 31 as stood on his balcony

  • Intelligence services monitored him for months, including British experts based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire

  • al-Zawahiri took over terrorist group Al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden was executed by US military in 2011

  • He is believed to have been the last surviving of the eight masterminds of the September 11 terror attacks
It was 6.18am on Sunday, more than an hour after dawn prayers, when the Supreme Leader of Al Qaeda appeared on the balcony of his safe house to enjoy a little sunshine and fresh air.

For Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the masterminds of the 9/11 terror attacks, watching mornings unfold in the centre of the Afghan capital from his supposedly secure perch had become one of the few regular pleasures of his life in hiding.

He wasn’t to know that his balcony was anything but safe and that Taliban spies in the pay of the Americans and the British had been monitoring him for months – their knowledge of his whereabouts so detailed that a scale model of his hideaway had sat on a table in President Biden’s White House office for weeks.

And they were watching him again now, not only from Washington but also from a listening station in – of all places – Harrogate, North Yorkshire, after a Western-recruited intelligence source spotted him on the balcony.

According to a senior Taliban official, Zawahiri – who took over Al Qaeda after the US killed Osama bin Laden – had never left the country. After he became one of the world’s most wanted men in September 2001 and a US-led invasion expelled the Taliban that year, Zawahiri spent most of his time in the remote mountains of Musa Qala in the southern Helmand province.

He kept a low profile, said the Taliban leader, although he crossed into Pakistan’s border regions several times. The founders of Islamic State reportedly sought an alliance with the destroyers of the World Trade Centre but, unimpressed by Zawahiri’s cautious leadership, changed their minds.

According to intelligence insiders, just as Bin Laden’s whereabouts were revealed by following his courier, so Zawahiri’s family gave away his location.

While Zawahiri had been obsessed with personal security, the return to power of the Taliban opened new possibilities.

British security sources reportedly also became aware around April that Zawahiri’s family had moved from Helmand to Kabul.

The terror leader married four times and had seven children, although at least four of them had died along with his first wife Azza.

He was living with only one wife and a daughter when – under the protection of the Haqqani Network, a militant and ultra-violent faction considered to a semi-independent offshoot of the Taliban – he moved into a high-walled compound in Sherpur, a relatively affluent part of central Kabul.

The house reportedly belongs to an aide to Haqqani leader Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister. Sherpur, once the diplomatic quarter, is now home to senior Taliban officials, who may have not been aware of his arrival.

US intelligence insiders say they discovered the location and identified those inside through various sources, including – the Mail has learnt – personnel inside the Taliban recruited by British spies who provided significant elements of the information used to plan and execute the mission.

US officials waited some 36 hours before announcing they had killed Zawahiri, a period during which they observed the Haqqani Network and Taliban troops restrict access to the safe house and relocate the tar - get’s family. US officials believe the Taliban was trying to hide the fact that they harboured Zawahiri.

The revelation that the Taliban was harbouring the Al Qaeda leader is likely to fuel demands for sanctions. Meanwhile, a furious hunt is under way for those who tipped off British and US intelligence officials, with suspects having their mobile phones and laptops seized.

The insider added: ‘They had people inside the Taliban whose cooperation made the mission possible.’
Update from Garowe at 1:10 p.m. EDT, which also has a nice photo of what is claimed to be the house where Dr. Al Zawahiri kissed a missile, adding:
Hellfire missiles are air-to-surface missiles initially designed for anti-armor strikes, but later versions have been used for precision dronezaps. The arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin developed the missiles with the name "Heliborne, Laser, Fire, and Forget Missile," which evolved into the Hellfire missile, as it is now known, CBS further reported.

The R9X variant was initially deployed in secret in 2017, according to a U.S. Army equipment guide, and was used to kill Abu Khayr al-Masri, a member of al Qaeda's leadership. Photos of the aftermath on social media showed the car where al-Masri was purportedly killed as having damage to the passenger compartment of the beige Kia sedan but no damage to the engine block. The roof was blown open on the right side of the vehicle.

There were unconfirmed reports that al Qaeda deputy leader Abdullah Muhammad Rajab Abdulrahman, aka Abu al-Khayr al-Masri, was killed in the strike.

The Hellfire variant became public knowledge after it was used in 2019 to take out Jamal Ahmad Mohammad al-Badawi, who was behind the 2000 USS Cole Bombing.
Related:
Ayman al-Zawahiri: 2022-08-02 FNC Lapdog Baier sez Brandon has 'huge win with Al Zawahiri hit'
Ayman al-Zawahiri: 2022-08-01 US takes out Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri in 'successful' Afghanistan counterterrorism operation
Ayman al-Zawahiri: 2022-06-06 7 terrorists killed in North Waziristan, Bannu IBOs: ISPRNaveed Siddiqui
Related:
Musa Qala: 2021-04-21 Helmand: Afghan commandos release 28 civilians from Taliban jail
Musa Qala: 2021-04-21 Helmand: AAF kills 5 Pakistani al-Qaeda affiliates, Commandos free 28 from Talib prison
Musa Qala: 2020-02-01 UN: Al-Qaeda Maintains ‘Close’ Ties with Taliban
Related:
Abu Khayr al-Masri: 2020-06-15 Secretive 'ninja sword' R9X airstrike reported in Idlib
Link


Home Front: Politix
FNC Lapdog Baier sez Brandon has 'huge win with Al Zawahiri hit'
2022-08-02
[Breitbart] FNC anchor Bret Baier said Monday on Fox News Channel’s "The Five" that President Joe Biden has had a "couple of good weeks" because the U.S. military killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri.

He also included Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), agreeing to a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on a massive tax and climate package.

Baier said, "We can confirm from two intelligence sources that al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed by a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan over the weekend. And that is what President Biden will announce from the White House tonight at 7:30 Eastern Time."

Discussing Biden’s speech about the drone strike, Baier said, "This is a huge, huge win for the U.S., and we expect to hear that and where the fight goes from here as far as taking out other terrorists."
Link


Afghanistan
US takes out Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri in 'successful' Afghanistan counterterrorism operation
2022-08-01
48 Hour Rule.
[FOX] Two intelligence sources tell Fox News Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri was killed in the CIA drone strike.

The United States conducted a "successful" counterterrorism operation against a "significant" Al Qaeda target Ayman Al Zawahiri in Afghanistan over the weekend, a senior administration official told Fox News.

President Biden on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. E.T. is expected to address the nation from the White House on the operation.

"Over the weekend, the United States conducted a counterterrorism operation against a significant Al Qaeda target in Afghanistan," the senior administration official told Fox News Monday. "The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties."

Courtesy of Airandee, from the Daily Mail:
CIA drone strike kills Al-Qaeda chief al-Zawahiri in Kabul after FBI put $25m bounty on his head: Taliban calls hit 'a violation of international principles' - as Biden prepares for 7:30 p.m. address
  • President Joe Biden will address the nation Monday night after al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan this weekend

  • Al-Zawahiri was Osama bin Laden's number two

  • Biden, who remains in isolation after a rebound case of covid, will make the address from the first floor balcony off the blue room of the White House

  • Remarks will take place at 7:30 pm ET

  • 'Over the weekend, the United States conducted a counterterrorism operation against a significant Al Qaeda target in Afghanistan,' a senior official said

  • 'The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties,' the senior administration official noted

  • Al-Zawahiri was on the FBI's most-wanted terrorist list with a $25 million reward

  • Al-Zawahiri, 71, took over al Qaeda after bin Laden's death in 2011
Link


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Makhachkala resident convicted for nexus with At-Takfir Val-Hijra
2022-03-08
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[KavkazUzel] A court in Makhachkala gave a local resident a two-year suspended sentence, finding him guilty of participating in a religious extremist organization, the Dagestan FSB reported.
Here’s hoping they can keep track of him going forward, against his next big adventure.
The court and the investigation established that the native of Makhachkala was a member of a cell of the At-Takfir Val-Hijra religious extremist organization banned by the court in Dagestan, took part in the meetings of its adherents and called for the overthrow of the constitutional order in Russia.

The At Takfir wal Hijra movement has existed since 1971. Its leader was the Upper Egyptian agronomist Shukri Mustafa (1942-1978).
Originally Muslim Brotherhood, he joined Sayyid Qutb in splitting off to pursue violent jihad. After Shukri Mustafa was executed, the group split again, the more moderate faction following Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who subsequently became Al Qaeda’s second in command. Takfir wal Hijra has cells all over the place — Ukraine reported arresting three Crimean turbans in 2009, and a larger cell was tied up in Moscow in 2013.
The creators of the movement came to the conclusion that the Egyptian society no longer corresponds to Islam, so in 1973 the Takfirists left for the sparsely populated foothill regions of Egypt.

In 1976, the size of the group (they called themselves Jamaat al-muslimin - "community of Muslims", considering the rest infidels) was several thousand people. In 1977, members of the movement took hostage the former Minister for Religious Affairs of the Egyptian government, Muhammad al-Dhahabi. Shukri Mustafa was arrested in 1977 and executed in 1978, RIA Novosti informs. The activity of the international religious association "At Takfir wal-Hijra" (Atonement and Exodus) is prohibited in Russia decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of September 15, 2010.
Smart move, Russia.
The Leninsky District Court of Makhachkala found him guilty of participating in a religious extremist organization (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), RIA "Dagestan" cited a message from the press service of the FSB for the republic today.

"The court sentenced him to a two-year suspended sentence with a one-year probationary period," the agency said.

Note that the maximum penalty under this article is six years in prison.

The verdict has already entered into force, the report says.

The "Caucasian Knot" does not yet have any comments from the local resident or his representatives regarding the decision of the court.
Related:
Takfir wal Hijra: 2011-11-14 Egypt arrests Islamist linked to pipeline attacks
Takfir wal Hijra: 2006-06-19 Bracing for the final battle
Takfir wal Hijra: 2006-02-10 GSPC in Italy
Related:
Makhachkala: 2022-03-07 Resident of Dagestan convicted of incitement to extremism
Makhachkala: 2022-02-22 Resident of Karachay-Cherkessia fined for justifying terrorism
Makhachkala: 2022-02-09 Dagestani resident suspected of financing terrorism
Link



Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More