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Sulaimani security forces dismantle 'dangerous' ISIS cell

2024-11-25

[Rudaw] Sulaimani security forces (Asayish) on Sunday announced the dismantling of the Islamic State

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

American researchers note the connection between militants in Dagestan and IS

2024-06-25

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

The Caucasian cell of the Islamic State is involved in militant attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala, according to researchers from the American Institute for the Study of War.

As the Caucasian Knot reported, on June 23, churches and security forces were attacked in Derbent and Makhachkala, six suspected militants were killed, more than 15 security officials and several civilians were killed. Today the authorities have lifted the counter-terrorist operation regime.

Let us recall that in June 2015, the Islamic State announced the creation of its branch in the North Caucasus. This statement was made after the Caucasian militants swore allegiance to the leader of IS.

Behind the militant attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala is the Vilayat Caucasus cell, a division of the international terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) banned in Russia by the court, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) announced on June 23 on its website.

The North Caucasus branch of the Islamic State, Wilayat Caucasus, likely carried out a complex and coordinated attack on churches, synagogues and law enforcement agencies in the Republic of Dagestan on June 23, according to a release published on the ISW website.

Pro-IS sources released a statement on June 23 following the attack, praising "their brothers in the Caucasus" for demonstrating what they are capable of. These sources did not claim responsibility for the attack itself, but the report "strongly suggests" that Wilayat Kavkaz was responsible for the attack, the researchers said.

The institute also noted that the SCO regional anti-terrorism structure had previously warned about increased recruitment activities in the North Caucasus, as well as about the increased activity of the “Vilayat Caucasus”* after the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall.

On March 22, armed people broke into the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, opened fire and committed arson. The FSB classified the incident as a terrorist attack. As of April 6, 11 people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the terrorist attack. According to official data, as of April 5, 145 people were killed in the terrorist attack.

The National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) stated that those detained during the counter-terrorism operation in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk were planning terrorist attacks; they were found with automatic weapons, ammunition and an improvised explosive device. Four people detained during the counter-terrorism operation in Dagestan supplied money and weapons to the participants in the attack on Crocus City Hall, and also prepared a terrorist attack themselves. Those detained in Dagestan were arrested until June 1 in the case of participation in a terrorist organization and illegal arms trafficking.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Veterans of special services called the attack of militants in Dagestan a failure of the security forces

2024-06-25

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

The attacks by militants in Dagestan were a failure of the security forces, who did not pay due attention to preventive work, said veterans of the special services interviewed by the Caucasian Knot. The attackers' actions were similar to the tactics of Islamic State militants*, they noted.

As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, at 18.00 Moscow time on June 23, the Christian holiday of the Holy Trinity, militants attacked an Orthodox church and synagogue in Derbent, and a traffic police post in Makhachkala. One of those killed by the security forces was the nephew of the head of the Sergokalinsky district, Ali Zakarigaev, who headed the district branch of A Just Russia. The head of the district, Magomed Omarov, was expelled from United Russia and relieved of his post after the militant attack. Omarov’s sons, like his nephew, are involved in militants, the head of Dagestan said today.

As a result of the attack, 15 security officials were killed, as well as four civilians, including an Orthodox priest, Sledkom reported today. According to later data from the Dagestan Ministry of Health, 20 people were killed and 46 injured as a result of the attack. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report " Attack on a church and synagogues in Dagestan."

Judging by the available information, the attack was prepared in advance, convinced military expert, captain of the first rank of the reserve Vasily Dandykin. “It just doesn’t happen that terrorist attacks occurred in two cities simultaneously that were not prepared in advance. Apparently, they prepared for a long time, did some work and were able to carry out this monstrous act. It seems that these were prepared people, perhaps even with experience fighting," he told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He did not rule out that the militants could be associated with the Islamic State. “The investigation will tell who exactly they were connected with, but judging by what I saw, it resembles ISIS. I think they are somehow connected. These attacks are similar to attacks by ISIS in different cities of the world. And it is noteworthy that they were attacked objects of religious worship. This is also their handwriting,” he noted.

The verses of the Koran, references to which were left by the attackers at the synagogue in Derbent, are interpreted by extremists to justify confrontation with Jews and Christians, religious scholars Leonid Syukiyainen and Dmitry Mikulsky pointed out. The date of the attack on the temple was chosen by the militants because of the Christian holiday celebrated on that day, they suggested.

According to the expert, the murder of more than 15 security forces indicates “certain problems” in the fight against militants and terrorism in general. “In my opinion, the killers turned out to be more professional than the security forces who initially appeared in front of them and tried to neutralize them. Then a large number of forces were concentrated, and the militants were left no chance. But the number of our security forces killed suggests that there are certain problems, shortcomings, there is something to think about and something to work on.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs talked about the lack of personnel, especially after the start of the Northern Military District, when many went to fight. The main thing here is to work to identify and detain militants; operational work is more necessary than counter-terrorism operations. shoot at them, and identify and carefully detain them even during the planning of such terrorist attacks,” Dandykin is sure.

He also added that law enforcement agencies should have more carefully guarded religious sites in Dagestan. “The attack on synagogues in Dagestan after recent anti-Semitic actions could have been prevented, as well as on the church. On the eve of such a holiday as Trinity, it would be worth sending security there, for example, guys in civilian clothes, let them be on duty and control the situation. This is a big drawback,” emphasized Vasily Dandykin.

The number of killed security forces speaks volumes about the failure. These are serious losses

The president of the Association of Veterans of the Alpha anti-terror unit, Sergei Goncharov, considered the attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent a failure of the security forces. “Not that it can be considered [a failure], it is what it is. If it is confirmed that the militants were the sons of a Dagestan official, then there will be nothing to talk about. In addition, the number of killed security forces speaks about the failure. These are serious losses, they raise questions, whether forces were used correctly during the counter-terrorist operation, whether this operation was organized correctly, and so on,” he told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

In his assessment, the attack was prepared by experienced people. “These are experienced people, since they were able to plan and implement this. Killing 15 or more of our guys is not just attacking a patrol car and running away. It’s quite difficult and dangerous. And they were able to kill so many security forces. The coordination [of the attackers] was also high level. Everything was planned down to the smallest detail. They also wanted to create ethnic discord. They didn’t just attack on the day of the Christian holiday. It was impossible to provide round-the-clock security for all cultural and religious sites in our country. strengthen the security of churches and synagogues in Dagestan,” Goncharov noted.

The attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala were the first armed incidents in the republic in more than a year. At the same time, a number of incidents involving attacks on religious figures and places of worship occurred earlier in Dagestan.

According to him, the most effective way to fight terrorism is intelligence work. “First of all, intelligence and operational work should be carried out in the North Caucasus. We must try to ensure that the population helps law enforcement officers. If this is not done, then we will continue to suffer losses,” said Sergei Goncharov.

Retired Interior Ministry Colonel Amir Kolov also believes that the security forces have failed in their work in the fight against terrorism. “From the point of view of this position, this sabotage and terrorist action is a failure of the Russian special services or a betrayal on the part of the leadership of the security bloc responsible for security in the south of Russia. I would not be surprised if, under the pretext of taking security measures in the south of Russia, in particular in Dagestan, these traitors from the leadership of the power bloc of Russia and Dagestan will begin to put pressure on or persecute the real patriots of Dagestan and Russia in the person of leaders and activists of independent public organizations that are not supported by the authorities, unlike various kinds of public councils and trade unions under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB, the prosecutor's office, Investigative Committee and other government agencies,” Amir Kolov told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Former employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan Magomed Shamilov believes that the failure of the security forces is due to their relaxation. “It might have seemed to many that there had been no terrorist attacks in Dagestan for several years, and that there was no longer a danger from IS militants in the republic. Yes, there were positive results, but there was no need to relax. We had to continue operational work, search and find everyone those who sympathize with them,” he told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

Shamilov also believes that the attack on the synagogue and church was a planned action. “These are definitely prepared people, they almost didn’t miss, this suggests that they prepared for a long time. The question is why they didn’t hide. Apparently, the goal was to kill as many security forces as possible. If security had been strengthened, then it would have been possible it would be possible to avoid large casualties," he said.

The handwriting of the attackers is reminiscent of the actions of IS militants*, although the participants in the attack in Dagestan did not use the symbols of the banned organization, Islamic scholar and senior researcher at the Center for Caucasus Problems and Regional Security at MGIMO Akhmet Yarlykapov told Lenta.ru.

“It’s very similar to how representatives of the Islamic State carry out terrorist attacks*. However, many questions remain, since this time there was no noticeable tinsel associated with this organization: black armbands with inscriptions and so on. Perhaps they have already abandoned all this. So far no one has claimed responsibility for this attack, so we need to wait and see what happens,” the publication quotes him as saying today.

Let us recall that on June 23, the American Institute for the Study of War stated that the “Vilayat Caucasus” cell, a division of the “Islamic State”*, was behind the attacks. Pro-IS sources released a statement praising the “brothers from the Caucasus” for demonstrating what they are capable of. These sources did not claim responsibility for the attack itself, but the report "strongly suggests" that Wilayat Kavkaz was responsible for the attack, the researchers said.

More from kavkaz-uzel.eu

The mayor's office of Derbent has denied the information about the slit of the priest's throat

Priest Nikolai Kotelnikov was shot dead during a militant attack; the information that his throat was cut is not true, the Derbent mayor's office reported.

As the "Caucasian Knot" wrote, at 18.00 Moscow time on June 23, the Christian holiday of the Holy Trinity, militants attacked an Orthodox church and synagogue in Derbent, and a traffic police post in Makhachkala. One of those killed was 66-year-old priest Father Nikolai.

According to the Dagestan Ministry of Health, 20 people were killed and 46 injured as a result of the attack. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report " Attack on a church and synagogues in Dagestan."

The information that priest Nikolai Kotelnikov’s throat was cut is not true, the head of the press service of the Derbent mayor’s office, Telman Radzhabov, said today in his Telegram channel. “The priest died from a bullet wound,” he wrote.

The fact that the priest’s throat was cut was announced on the evening of June 23 by Shamil Khadulaev, deputy chairman of the POC of Dagestan, in his telegram channel. “According to the information I received, Father Nikolai was killed in a church in Derbent and his throat was cut,” he wrote.

The attacks by militants in Dagestan were a failure of the security forces, who did not pay due attention to preventive work, security service veterans interviewed by the Caucasian Knot pointed out today. The attackers' actions were similar to the tactics of militants of the banned terrorist organization Islamic State, they noted.

The verses of the Koran, references to which were left by the attackers at the synagogue in Derbent, are interpreted by extremists to justify confrontation with Jews and Christians, religious scholars Leonid Syukiyainen and Dmitry Mikulsky pointed out. The date of the attack on the temple was chosen by the militants because of the Christian holiday celebrated on that day, they suggested.

The attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala were the first armed incidents in the republic in more than a year. At the same time, a number of incidents involving attacks on religious figures and places of worship occurred earlier in Dagestan.

Adds SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

One of the terrorists in Dagestan was planning to escape wearing a niqab.

One of the liquidated terrorists, Daudov Dalgat, was found wearing a niqab. He was going to cowardly run away in it after committing a terrorist attack, leaving his wife and two children.

More from a commentator of the same V Kontakte page

You already have them
Wahhabi party cell

One of the militants liquidated in Dagestan previously headed the regional branch of A Just Russia, the party told RIA Novosti.

“Ali Zakarigaev was the chairman of the party branch in the Sergokalinsky district, two years ago he left this position,” said the head of the apparatus of the regional branch of the party “A Just Russia - For Truth” Zurida Valeeva.

A source in the security forces reported to RIA Novosti that Zakarigaev was eliminated during a counter-terrorist operation in Dagestan.

Later, the press service of the SRZP RIA Novosti confirmed that Ali Zakarigaev was previously the chairman of the branch council in the Sergokalinsky district, but in 2021 he left the post and became an ordinary member of the party. Today he was expelled.

Law enforcement agencies told the agency that Zakarigaev was the nephew of the head of the Sergokalinsky district of Dagestan, Magomed Omarov.

Last night, the regional branch of United Russia announced Omarov's expulsion from the party. As a RIA Novosti source in the republic's security forces reported, his sons, according to security officials, were among the participants in the attack.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Already this summer, IS will carry out a terrorist attack in Central Asia

2024-06-19

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

by Viktor Vasiliev
The action of the “prison jamaat” of ISIS in Rostov-on-Don showed that experts were right when they predicted that the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall was just the beginning. The statements and plans of the Islamic State must be taken extremely seriously.

There is ample open-source evidence, including statements by Russian officials and public experts, to suggest that the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, known as Wilayat Khorasan, will carry out a large-scale terrorist attack as early as this summer to capture a separate region in Central Asia. Asia.

The action can take place either in the format of a territorial invasion or be accompanied by terrorist and political activity designed to destabilize the entire region. The only question is where exactly to wait for the blow.

Activation of ISIS-Khorasan
“Vilayat Khorasan” has existed since 2014. Initially, the group consisted mainly of Afghans who broke away from the Taliban, but later militants from other countries, including the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, began to join it.

The UN Security Council report of 2023 stated that Vilayat Khorasan includes citizens of Pakistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The Afghan United Front (AUF), led by Sami Sadat, a former Afghan special forces commander, published an interesting report on June 5 with information about the Vilayat Khorasan.

The report states that ISIS-Khorasan currently has 9,000 troops in Afghanistan and is thus able to carry out attacks "across the region." Moreover, the size of these forces is rapidly increasing and opens up the possibility not only of suicide attacks, riots and murders in cities, but also of systemic attacks on government targets or economic centers.

Vilayat Khorasan is currently the largest and strongest center of IS in the world. The branch's leadership is based in Baluchistan in Pakistan, and its members are stationed in Afghanistan. According to the report, by the end of 2023, many active ISIS leaders from Syria and Iraq traveled to the Balochistan region of Pakistan and Kunar province of Afghanistan.

The data from the report of the United Front of Afghanistan generally confirms recent publications (dated June 15) by Russian expert Andrei Serenko. According to his sources, “in a number of provinces of the country, ISIS has intensified attempts to recruit former security forces of the republican regime - military personnel of the Afghan National Army (ANA), special forces soldiers (commandos), employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the security service.”

The jihadists offer good wages by Afghan standards ($400-450 per month), as well as protection from ongoing Taliban repression. Former security officials, who have become outcasts under the current authorities, often agree to be recruited.

A significant increase in the recruitment campaign may indicate that ISIS is preparing for a large-scale military action in the region. Serenko suggests that the terrorists' plans may be connected with Northern Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Factions and diasporas
Vilayat Khorasan is an ethnically and geographically heterogeneous network. It is known that the branch includes four centers - Afghan, Pakistani, Iranian and Central Asian.

A major attack in the Moscow region was carried out by the forces of ISIS-Khorasan Central Asia, which relies on a large Tajik diaspora. The latter is largely formed from Tajiks who were forced out of the Republic of Tajikistan itself by the Emomali Rahmon regime, which harshly suppressed any manifestations of religious radicalism.

The April news that security officers of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan detained two Tajiks who were traveling from the Vladimir region of Russia to Pakistan to join the Islamic State banned in Russia is very typical in this sense.

But the largest and most radical ethnic faction in ISIS-Khorasan Central Asia are the Uzbeks. There are about 1,000 militants. They also carry out general management of the center.

The Uzbek faction of ISIS-Khorasan Central Asia arose from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) in the summer of 2015, when the deputy leader of the IMU, Amir Usman Ghazi, rebelled against his own Amir Aziz Yuldash, son of Tahir Yuldash, the founder of the IMU.

Ghazi and his followers, numbering about 60 fighters, pledged allegiance to ISIS and demanded that Aziz do the same. Aziz and about 40 of his men refused. In response, Usman Ghazi arrested them all, killing 40 militants and Aziz's entire family, including his mother, wife and one-year-old son. By pure chance, Yuldash himself managed to escape, but he was later killed by the Afghan Taliban, in 2020.

Currently, it is the Uzbek faction “Vilayat Khorasan” that is most motivated and inclines the branch to take active action in the territory of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Over the past two years, they have created quite developed networks in these countries and attracted a significant number of young radicals.

The Uzbeks who were in Syria returned to Afghanistan two years ago, and they focused all their efforts on recruiting their relatives who traditionally lived in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as in Uzbekistan itself. Using social media, their preachers attracted a large number of followers.

Russia is under attack
The propaganda of Vilayat Khorasan draws special attention of its adherents to the fact that Russia maintains good neighborly relations with the Taliban movement, which seized power in Afghanistan in 2021.

In September 2022, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack near the Russian embassy in Kabul, which killed two employees of the Russian diplomatic mission - one of the few that did not stop working after the Taliban came to power.

Russia was one of the first countries to establish relations with the leadership of the Taliban. The Taliban have repeatedly taken part in high-profile state events in Russia (the same SPIEF).

ISIS-Khorasan considers Russia the main support of the Taliban.

The global goal of the leaders of “Vilayat” is to return Afghanistan to the 1990s and transform the country into a new central base for ISIS. Terrorist and recruitment activity on Russian territory is connected with this.

But if in relation to Russian territories the maximum that the organization is capable of is sabotage, then in relation to Russia’s allies in Central Asia its capabilities are an order of magnitude higher.

Who can be targeted by ISIS
In April 2024, the then head of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, met in Astana with colleagues from the SCO countries. Shoigu noted that the situation in Afghanistan is complex and is a source of the spread of terrorism and extremism.

Washington began to actively restore its positions in Central and South Asia after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. I believe that everyone present shares the opinion that the deployment of military infrastructure in the region by the United States and its allies is unacceptable. Such intentions must be regarded as a direct threat to stability in the SCO space,” the head of the military department emphasized.

In June, already in the status of Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergei Shoigu repeated these theses. During a meeting of the Committee of Security Council Secretaries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Almaty, he outlined the threat to the countries of the bloc as follows:

“We are recording the emergence of new militant training camps and the ongoing transfer of terrorists from Syria and Iraq to Afghanistan. The likelihood of terrorism spreading beyond the country’s borders is increasing.”

The problem has been voiced at the highest level. It remains to understand where the blow will be struck.

The militants are waiting for the height of summer (July-August) to take advantage of the opened paths through the passes on the borders of Afghanistan with Tajikistan and Tajikistan with Kyrgyzstan and make their attack unexpected. If Uzbekistan is chosen as the target of the Islamists, the blow will also fall on the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan.

If we assume that such an attack could be used in the interests of the West, then we must admit that Tajikistan itself is of little interest in this role. It is much more interesting to disrupt the emerging logistics corridor between Moscow and Beijing (including the officially announced start of construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway).

The south of Kyrgyzstan and regions inhabited by ethnic Uzbeks are under serious threat. And from there, if they manage to gain a foothold, the extremists could spread their influence to other regions of the Fergana Valley (primarily Andijan and Namangan).

Let me remind you that the suicide bomber who carried out an explosion in the metro in St. Petersburg in 2017 was a 22-year-old native of the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan, an ethnic Uzbek Akbarzhon Jalilov.

Ideal goal
Due to the liberal policy of the Kyrgyz authorities in the field of religion, the most radical Uzbeks of Uzbekistan itself have found refuge in this country. Moreover, it was ethnic Uzbeks, immigrants from the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan, who were most noticeable among the new adherents of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, rather than Uzbeks from Uzbekistan itself. The same is largely true for the also fairly large Tajik diaspora in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan is also Russia's closest ally in the CSTO. The political closeness of the two countries and the bilateral growth of economic cooperation have reached an unprecedented level. Destabilization of the south of the country could also be used to remove Moscow-friendly Sadyr Japarov.

The probable direction of impact can be determined by the method of exclusion.

Uzbekistan, with its strongest army in the region and a stable socio-economic situation, is simply too tough for ISIS-Khorasan. Tajikistan, due to the already pro-Western political position of its leadership and the absence of any significant geopolitical interests of Moscow and Beijing in the country, is also an unlikely target.

Thus, the only “ideal” target remains - Kyrgyzstan, whose southern regions are of significant geopolitical importance for Beijing and Moscow.

A scenario cannot be ruled out, according to which the Tajik special services will simply provide a “corridor” for terrorists through their territory. In 1999, during the so-called After the Batken events, fighting lasted for two months in the south of Kyrgyzstan with the participation of, among other things, the armed forces of Uzbekistan against two hundred militants of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. According to rumors, the Tajik authorities then simply “let through” the militants, thus hoping to “annoy” Islam Karimov, with whom Emomali Rahmon had tense relations at that time.

In the south of Kyrgyzstan (Batken, Osh and Jalal-Abad regions) there are about 1 million ethnic Uzbeks, who at one time were known for their extreme opposition to Islam Karimov.

As a national minority in the region, Uzbeks regret the events of 2010, when, as a result of interethnic clashes in the city of Osh, they found themselves on the losing side. The Americans, for their part, even tried to play the genocide card. ISIS-Khorasan can also “play” on this same grievance, among other things.

Vulnerability of Kyrgyzstan
If we talk about the internal political situation in Kyrgyzstan itself, despite the outward appearance of calm and high ratings of the current head of state, in practice everything is being done to deprive Japarov of political and power levers of influence.

Not only has the obvious political opposition been largely purged from the country, but also, surprisingly, pro-presidential political parties in the Jogorku Kenesh (the country's parliament) have found themselves in the minority.

Parliament is controlled by its chairman Nurlanbek Shakiyev, who initiates the adoption of unpopular and frankly odious laws. At the same time, Shakiyev is developing his own foreign policy activity.

For example, on March 8, the Chairman of the Jogorku Kenesh visited London at the head of an official delegation, where he met with the Speaker of the House of Commons of the British Parliament, Lord Harvey Hoyle, and stated : “Strengthening comprehensive relations with Great Britain is a priority in the foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan.”

Such unpopular measures as raising tariffs, introducing new taxes, excise taxes, refusing to work with the Russian payment system MIR, etc. are also being taken by the cabinet of ministers under the leadership of Akylbek Zhaparov and Edil Baisalov (the latter is completely controlled by the British).

Thus, the actions of parliament and the government provoke social discontent, the addressee of which is the president. This prepares the ground for protests.

Another direction of discrediting Zhaparov is throwing in compromising material. For example, it was alleged that he received $3 million for his election campaign from a corrupt official.

A great many such facts and “purely random” but unpleasant political coincidences have accumulated in the Kyrgyz Republic in recent months. All this makes the first person of the state very vulnerable and can play against Kyrgyzstan in the event of external terrorist sabotage or a full-fledged invasion of militants in the south of the country.

A full-fledged territorial invasion of ISIS-Khorasan from Afghanistan, if it takes place this summer, will most likely be accompanied by terrorist attacks in all major cities of Central Asia, similar to the terrorist attack in Crocus City in the Moscow region. And in this situation, the absence of a stable central government will not allow us to effectively curb the terrorist threat.

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Africa North

Intro to Wilayet Sinai (ISIS group operating against Egypt)

2023-12-25

Key Bits:

[GreyDynamics] 1.0 INTRODUCTION
ISIS-Sinai Province (Wilayat Sinai) is the most active and capable jihadist terrorist group operating in Egypt. Since 2014, the group has committed over 500 attacks in the Sinai region, mostly against Egyptian security forces. The group is based primarily in northern Sinai, Egypt. The US State Department designated ISIS-Sinai as a foreign terrorist organisation.

As of early 2023, Wilayat Sinai remains largely inactive after several intensive operations against it by the Egyptian Armed Forces (EAF) and Sinai Tribes Union. However, the Israel-Hamas conflict threatens the group’s revival as thousands of displaced Palestinians flee into the Sinai via the Rafah crossing.

2.1 HISTORY
In 2011, ISIS-Sinai first formed under the name Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM, أنصار بيت المقدس), variously translated as Ansar Jerusalem, Supporters of Jerusalem, Champions of Jerusalem, Supporters of the Holy House. ABM had ties to al-Qa’ida and conducted attacks against Israel and its interests. In 2013, the Egyptian military removed former President Muhammad Mursi from office, and the ABM escalated its attacks on Egyptian government and military targets. In 2014, the group formally pledged its alliance to ISIS and changed its name to ISIS-Sinai. [source]

EAF has pursued a containment strategy rather than eradication in addressing insurgency in North Sinai, leading to a prolonged conflict without definitive success. Despite declarations to “end terrorism,” the EAF’s actions suggest a focus on containment due to political and institutional challenges. The military’s centralised decision-making structure and reluctance to address root causes hinder effective counterinsurgency efforts. While the current strategy has contained the threat since its peak in 2015, ongoing attacks highlight its persistence. [source]

3.1 PLACE WITHIN BROADER GOVERNMENT, TERRORIST, OR OTHER STRUCTURES
Unlike other militant organisations, Wilayat Sinai does not enjoy formal state support or a large diaspora. Instead, it depends on local mobilisation and neighbouring collaboration, from groups like Hamas in Gaza.

3.2 FINANCING
When the ABM pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and became known as Wilayat Sinai, it acquired enhanced capabilities to carry out high-profile attacks and coordinated strikes. Receiving funds and guidance from the Islamic State’s central authority in Syria and Iraq, Wilayat Sinai attacks became deadlier and more frequent than its predecessors in the ABM. [source]

In early 2023, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Brukan al-Khatuni, an Iraqi residing in Turkey, for funding ISIS activities. He formerly held the position of head of foreign financing Wilayat Sinai from Iraq. [source]

3.3 BUSINESS STRUCTURE
Wilayat Sinai shares similarities with the broader ISIS organisation, but specific details might vary based on the local context. Wilayah Sinai is believed to rely on a combination of local extortion, criminal activities, and external financial support from sympathisers. Overall, ISIS primarily derives its funding from a diverse range of sources, including:

Smuggling of goods: Wilayat Sinai militants actively smuggled goods through an extensive tunnel network that connected Sinai to Gaza. This included drugs and weapons trafficking. [source]

Kidnapping for Ransom: Illegal prisoner camps near the Israeli border in Sinai held women. The source indicates that perpetrators tortured women to coerce their families into paying ransom for their release. [source]

Donations: Some sympathisers and individuals sympathetic to ISIS’s ideology have provided financial support through donations. Donors likely came from those associated with Burkan al-Khatuni. [source] [source]

3.6 CONNECTIONS WITH HAMAS
For many years, militant groups like Hamas and Wilayat Sinai relied on transactional collaboration. Their geographic proximity and isolated safe havens nurtured intimate ties between the militant groups. Additionally, the groups had mutual enemies: Egypt and Israel. For Hamas, Wilayat Sinai was vital in cross-smuggling networks. According to Israeli intelligence, Hamas once transferred tens of thousands of dollars a month into Sinai to secure arms shipments. [source] [source]

In February 2016, a member of Wilayat Sinai penned a letter to Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the central leader of the Islamic State, advocating for the prohibition of ties with Hamas. The argument put forth was based on the perception that Hamas is considered an apostate group by the leadership of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

From 2017-2018, Hamas cultivated closer relations with Cairo which eased border restrictions with Gaza to allow essential supplies in. In turn, Hamas adopted harsher measures to crack down on IS-affiliated fights in Gaza and around the border with Sinai. [source]

In January 2018, a video released by Wilayat Sinai showed member Muhammad al-Dajani executing fellow IS member Musa Abu Zamat. Abu Zamat had been facing accusations of smuggling weapons to Hamas, where al-Dajani had defected from before joining Wilayat Sinai. In the same video, Wilayat Sinai militants called for attacks against Hamas.

5.1 OPERATIONS
The majority of the group’s operations have taken place in North Sinai, but it has also claimed attacks in greater Cairo, Daqhalia, South Sinai, Matruh, Qalyubia, New Valley, and Ismailia. Since 2022, the group has been mostly inactive.

Downing of Russian Metrojet Flight 9268
Wilayat Sinai claimed responsibility for bringing down Russian aircraft Metrojet Flight 9268, en route to Saint Petersburg from Sharm el-Sheikh. On 31 October 2015, a suspected bomb attack on board occurred over Hasna, Egypt. All 224 passengers were killed. On 17 November 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that a bomb attack had caused the flight to crash. [source]

El Barth Base Attack
On 7 July 2017, Wilayat Sinai militants encircled and ambushed an Egyptian military base in Rafah known as el Barth, killing 23 Egyptian troops and wounding 26 in northern Sinai. 40 Wilayat Sinai militants were killed and 6 vehicles were destroyed. [source]

Al-Rawda Massacre
On November 24, a coordinated attack by approximately 25-30 gunmen targeted the Al Rawdah mosque in Bir al Abed, northern Sinai, resulting in the deadliest terrorist incident in Egypt’s modern history, claiming at least 305 lives. The attackers drove to the mosque in five vehicles displaying IS flags, detonating bombs inside and shooting worshippers both within and outside.

The assault, part of a surge in attacks totalling over 338 in 2017, underscores the increased activities of regional affiliates like the Sinai Province SP following the Islamic State’s territorial losses in Syria and Iraq. Reports indicate SP may have warned residents beforehand and sought to demonstrate its continued lethality, aligning with a broader trend of internal competition among extremist factions. [source]

2022 Water Lifting Station Attack Along Suez Canal
On 7 May 2022, Wilayat Sinai attacked a water-lifting station along the bank of the Suez Canal. At least 11 Egyptian security forces members were killed, including 1 officer, and 5 were injured. The military says they were killed as they tried to foil a Wilayat Sinai attack. [source]

5.3 PERSONNEL SIZE
In 2016, ISIS-Sinai had an estimated 1,500 fighters. According to the National Counterterrorism Center in 2022, ISIS-Sinai had fewer than 1,000 personnel. Sources now indicate that Wilayat Sinai has declined further to 100-500 personnel. [source] [source] [source]

Very good news. We’ve been following them since they were Ansar Bayt al Maqdis — here’s hoping they continue fading away. Yes, they may recover with an infusion of fleeing Hamasniks after the current excitement in Gaza, but hopefully that will just be a bump on their way to oblivion.

Link

Olde Tyme Religion

Indonesia’s Aceh bans unrelated men and women from being together in public

2023-08-12

[BenarNews] Indonesia’s religiously conservative Aceh region has forbidden men and women not related or married to one another from being together in public places or vehicles, by issuing new tightened rules for keeping the opposite sexes apart.

The new regulations, which were made public this week, are intended to reduce sinful behavior, says the government of Aceh, the only Indonesian province that practices Sharia, or Islamic law. But critics say they are a smokescreen to distract from rampant government corruption.

"Men and women who are not married or related cannot sit together in public places, secluded places or in vehicles," one of the points in the official notice said.
But if she's your sister or cousin, you can bang her in public?
Concurrently, the province’s main form of entertainment, its 24-hour coffee shops, have been ordered to limit their hours of operation, and shut at midnight.

And to ensure the new provincial rules are more convenient to follow, the mayor of the Acehnese capital Banda Aceh said he had forbidden women altogether from public areas beyond 11 p.m.

The new rules were issued to strengthen sharia law and as an effort to reduce immorality, Aceh government front man Muhammad MTA said on Friday. They are also intended "to mold a generation of people who faithfully comply with Islamic values in their daily lives," he said.

The Aceh government’s notice does not specify whether authorities would punish anyone who violates the rules, although under the province’s Sharia, caning is the punishment for alcohol consumption, gambling, adultery, and dress-code violations.

In Banda Aceh, Mayor Amiruddin, who goes by one name, said he would deploy the Sharia Police — known as the Wilayatul Hisbah — to ensure compliance with the new rules. He didn’t say what, if any, punishment would be imposed for violations. He merely spoke about taking measures "to reduce the space for violations of Islamic law," such as forbidding women from lingering in public spaces after 11 p.m.

Aceh, at the northwestern end of Sumatra island, gained special autonomy in 2005 after a peace agreement ended the war with GAM, a separatist group.

In 2002, Indonesia, the world’s most populous Moslem-majority country, allowed Aceh to use Sharia as its legal code when it granted the province limited autonomy to pacify the clamor for independence.

’ISLAMIC LAW AS A SHIELD’
A women’s rights activist, Syarifah Rahmatillah, said the new rules would end up being discriminatory towards women.

"Again, women become victims of government policies. There is no acceptable reason and we do not agree with this policy that harms women," she said.

Small business owners of coffee houses are also up in arms, calling the new restrictions extremely worrisome. Al Agusna, who owns the Sagoe coffee shop in Banda Aceh, said the reason for the restriction on operating hours was unacceptable. Neither he nor the government notice specified the reason, but some locals who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons said the authorities believed that some coffee shops were venues for prostitution deals.

"Our coffee shop has been open 24 hours for a long time and so far, there has been no Sharia violation as it is located in the city center and an open area," he told BenarNews.

Samsul Rizal, manager at Banda Aceh’s renowned Rex culinary center, a top tourist destination in Peunayong, said many street food vendors relied on being open until 2 a.m. for their living.

"This could harm the business owners and affect their income. We are really worried that many traders will be in debt as a result of this restriction," Samsul told BenarNews.

Aceh has received nearly 96 trillion rupiah (U.S. $6.2 billion) in special autonomy funds from the central government between 2008 and 2022. Yet, it is the poorest province in Sumatra, with nearly 15% of its population living in poverty as of September 2022.

Link

Iraq

Suspect in infamous ISIS massacre arrested in Sulaimani

2023-07-28

[Rudaw] Iraq’s security media cell on Thursday announced the arrest of a suspected Islamic State

Shafaq News adds:

“The detainee joined ISIS in 2013 and took part in several operations targeting security forces in Saladin governorate, participated in the Speicher massacre and was one of the perpetrators in 2014, then served as the so-called military of the Tigris province, to then move to the ranks of ISIS in the so-called Wilayat Nineveh and take part in battles against the security forces."

Last Friday, Iraqi authorities also announced the arrest of one of the perpetrators of the Speicher crime in northeastern Syria. The arrest culminated in a nine-year pursuit to bring the accused to justice.

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command explained that the arrested, identified as "Izzat Ibrahim Muhammad Rabie," was wanted in connection with the terrorist crime at Speicher, which had sent shockwaves across Iraq and the international community.

According to the Command, the pursuit was fraught with challenges, as the perpetrator had resorted to adopting a false identity to evade capture and had attempted to flee to a neighboring country.

Link

Israel-Palestine-Jordan

Ex-military chief says Israel ‘was asked’ to attack Islamic State in 2015

2023-06-12

[IsraelTkmes] Eisenkot says jihadist group suffered hundreds of losses as a result of IDF strikes, in apparent reference to campaign in Egypt’s Sinai Desert

Former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday revealed that the Israel Defense Forces was asked by a third party to carry out operational attacks against the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
jihadist group in 2015.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Institute for National Security Studies, Eisenkot — a current MK with the National Unity party — said that "Islamic State knows best how much the IDF operated in the Middle East: They paid a price of hundreds of killed and injured."

Eisenkot said that "during 2015, there was an event in a certain place where we were asked to carry out an attack." The IDF carried out "a relatively broad attack and harmed a great number of ISIS fighters," he said.

The former IDF chief did not elaborate on who made such a request and where the activity took place, although he said the IDF operated against the terror group "in many more than one country." He added that some of the IDF’s activity "went under the radar" at the time.

"There are not many countries in the world who know how to locate targets the size of a podium and get a missile on a target within a 1,000-kilometer radius around Israel," Eisenkot said. "Our enemies saw it, the Russians saw it, the Americans saw it."

"[Many parts of the] army were involved in this campaign: Military Intelligence, Air Force, special units, foreign relations," he added.

In 2018, it was reported that Israeli drones, fighter jets, and helicopter gunships carried out more than 100 ~~Arclight~~ airstrike
<del>Arclight</del> airstrike

...KABOOM!...
s against Islamic State-affiliated bully boyz over a two-year period in Egypt’s Sinai Desert, close to Israel’s border.

That’d be Wilayat Sina — the Islamic State province in Northern Sinai. Back when they were still affiliated with Al Qaeda, they called themselves Ansar Bayt al Maqdis/Al Qaeda in the Sinai. There were lots of other little jihadi groups holed up in the caves in those parts, including Muslim Brotherhooders on the lam from the authorities, but the names sprang up, mutated, and disappeared like mushrooms after a rainshower, so I gave up trying to keep track of them.

While security coordination between Jerusalem and Cairo is known to be close, the ties are unpopular in Egypt, despite nearly decades of official peace.

Given that even Al Ahram, which parrots the government line in all things, presents Israel as the evil oppressor of innocent Palestinians and Israeli Arabs, and downplays cooperation between the two countries, it’s no surprise that the populace never evolved past simplistic Jew-hate.

In order to keep the cooperation under wraps, the Israeli aircraft were often unmarked and sometimes used indirect routes in a bid to cover up the origin of the strikes, The New York Times

...which still proudly displays Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize...
reported at the time.

In May 2022, Islamic State accused Israel of helping Egypt in assassinating a local jihadist group leader in northern Sinai.

Israeli and Egyptian officials have refused to confirm or comment on the reports.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Three towns in Deir ez-Zor fall to ISIS rule

2023-05-24

[NPASyria] Nasser is afraid to go out at night. He fears the Islamic State

...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
(ISIS) sleeper cells that sneak around between houses. He does not want to be the group’s next victim.

Nasser al-Hassan, a pseudonym for a local in the town of al-Shuhayl, 40 km east of Deir ez-Zor, told North Press that he and his community are still scared of ISIS gunnies who use civilian settlements to target and attack checkpoints and military posts of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the town.

The situation in al-Shuhayl resembles towns like al-Busayrah and Diban, in eastern Deir ez-Zor. The three towns are among the most dangerous regions of Deir ez-Zor due to the intensive ISIS activity there. They have been dubbed the ’Bermuda Triangle’.

ACTIVITY FACTORS
Al-Hassan and his peers are unable to report the movements of ISIS gunnies walking among civilians. They fear ISIS gunnies will go after the "snitches" or target their family members, he said.

"The nature of this tribal region" is another reason for not reporting their actions, he explains. Reporting the movement of ISIS members belonging to any tribe would result in tribal disputes that might end up in tribal war. Therefore, most people prefer to stay silent rather than facing the consequences of "snitching on" someone, particularly since some gunnies are from their home town and still believe in the ideology of the group, while others are outsiders.

The eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor was the last ISIS stronghold. After fierce battles in Baghuz, the SDF and the US-led Global Coalition announced the defeat of the group in March 2019.

After declaring its defeat, ISIS cells that managed to escape from Baghuz joined gunnies hiding in the Syrian Desert and resumed their activities at night in SDF-held areas of eastern Deir ez-Zor.

The towns of al-Busayrah, al-Shuhayl, and Diban, located in the east, are subject to a breakdown in security and numerous ISIS attacks, mostly at night. The responsibility for pursuing these gunnies is placed on the SDF.

"But they cannot entirely eliminate these cells, as some of the locals are cooperating with the gunnies and harbor them in their homes. Some fear the group’s oppression should they fail to cooperate or because they believe in ISIS’ ideology," al-Hassan explains.

The group’s gunnies usually ride cycle of violences during attacks in the three towns, due to their speed, ease of movement and ability to quickly hide them. They often carry AK-47 rifles and pistols.

The gunnies rarely use rockets. They carry out attacks —often targeting checkpoints, military posts, or personnel wanted by the group — then disappear into civilian settlements or head into the depth of the desert.

RANDOM CHECKPOINTS
Ziyad al-Anter, a pseudonym, from Diban, 50 km east of Deir ez-Zor, said that six masked ISIS gunnies riding cycle of violences and wearing traditional outfits of the region set up a checkpoint in front of his house on the main road into town.

Around 5:30 am, they checked the IDs of people passing by and detained a young man from the city of Hajin, in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, who works in the sale of sheep, according to al-Anter.

He told North Press that when SDF patrols came to the location of the checkpoint, the gunnies had already left. Hours after they retreated, the people of the town of Suwaydan, 70 km east of Deir ez-Zor, found the head of the detained young man hanging near the roundabout of the town.

"A piece of paper was found near the head that said the reason he was killed was because he had ’snitched’ on ISIS murderous Moslems," the source said. The incident sparked fear and panic among locals and made them hesitant to report the movement of ISIS murderous Moslems, according to al-Anter.

On April 21, 2019, the people of the town of Suwaydan Jazira found the decapitated body of Abdulsaleh al-Ramadan on the main road and a piece of paper with the group’s logo, marked with the words "Wilayat al-Khayr." The note alleged that the victim was guilty of handing over "brothers," a word used by the group to describe its members, to the SDF, and his crime was "apostasy," which is punished by death.

Al-Anter noted that the group is self-financed. They impose "royalties" on merchants to be able to fund their attacks. ISIS members publicly go to merchants’ houses and demand ’zakat’, or an Islamic tax. They usually have no other choice but to pay.

The group’s gunnies operate with ease in the towns of al-Shuhayl, al-Busayrah, and Diban. The towns are under the control of tribes that do not want to challenge the group or report to military authorities about their movements and activities. The towns are also close to the vast rugged desert, which is a safe-haven for ISIS murderous Moslems.

Since the beginning of 2023, the SDF and US—led Global Coalition announced the arrest and dismantling of more than three ISIS cells inside the three towns. The group has grabbed credit for over 13 attacks against SDF personnel, checkpoints, and headquarters in the three towns.

Link

Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Foreign fighters in NW Syria invested by Turkey, HTS

2023-03-24

[NPASYRIA] Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else
...al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, from which sprang the Islamic State...
(HTS, formerly al-Nusra
...formally Jabhat an-Nusrah li-Ahli al-Sham (Support Front for the People of the Levant), also known as al-Qaeda in the Levant. They aim to establish a pan-Arab caliphate. Not the same one as the Islamic State, though .. ...
Front) continues to use imported muscle as political leverage in coordination with ~~The Sick Man of Europe~~ Turkey
...the occupiers of Greek Asia Minor...
, as well as a tool against government forces and opposition factions, taking advantage of the large number of foreigners who cannot leave areas under their control.

In 2012, imported muscle from different countries began entering Syria through Turkey. ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish intelligence reportedly guided the bully boyz into different factions, the most prominent of which are the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
(ISIS), al-Nusra Front, Jund al-Sham, and Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad.

LOCATIONS OF DEPLOYMENT
Exclusive sources from HTS’ Office of Foreign Fighters told North Press that there are "over 7,500 fighters" not of Syrian nationality affiliated with HTS in Idlib. "Almost 6,200 — including Uyghurs, Caucasians, Tajiks, Chechens — are the vanguard in the HTS frontlines,

...also known as cannon fodder...

whereas non-Syrian Arabs, mostly from north Africa, hold administrative, security, and military positions."

Foreign fighters who left HTS or refuse to be affiliated with it, whether in combat or ideology, are not included in official statistics. They live with their families in the towns of al-Fu’ah, Kafraya, and Sarmin, in the northeastern countryside of Idlib, as well as in Ariha, Jisr al-Shughur, and various other villages. HTS’ prisons hold 340 imported muscle under charges of joining ISIS or espionage, according to the source.

A military source of HTS, affiliated with the Red Bands, one of the most brutal faction in its ranks, said they hold between 900-1,200 imported muscle from Chechnya, Tajikistan, and East Turkestan [China], in addition to Moroccans, Algerians, Libyans and several from Iraq and Egypt."

The most prominent foreign faction affiliated with HTS is the Bukhari Jamaat, which is composed of Chechens and Uyghurs, as well as Russian Caucasian groups. Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad has Uzbek, Turkmenistani, and Moroccan members. It also harbors fighters from Gulf countries, in addition to numbers of Syrians, and an Uzbek group, which holds over 550 krazed killers.

One of the most loyal foreign factions to HTS is the Turkmen Islamic Party, which holds the largest number of imported muscle, specifically Uyghurs, and is directly supported by Turkey because of their members’ Turkic origins. They also undergo training and security courses within ~~Ottoman~~ Turkish territory and have a hospitalization center in Antakya. Turkey has facilitated their entry into the country, according to the source.

The same source noted that there is also an Iranian faction, named the ’Sunni Youth in Iran’ under the command of ’Abu Muhammad al-Irani’, a former commander of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. ’Abu Yahya al-Asfehani al-Irani’, another high-ranking member of the faction, holds around 150 Iranian fighters, and is affiliated with HTS on the frontlines in Idlib.

HTS also harbors prominent leaders from al-Qaeda in Pakistain and Afghanistan, as well as Iraq, who "have the greatest influence on [HTS leader] al-Jolani’s military approach," according to the source.

Abu Ayub al-Maghrabi is the emir in charge of borders and border crossings and was a former al-Qaeda leader in Pakistain, before heading to Syria. Abu Abdulrahman al-Qahtani, one of Jolani’s top men, was a colleague of Abu-Zaid al Kuwaiti, an al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan and the "most distinguished student of [al-Qaeda leaders] the late Osama bin Laden
...... who is now beyond all cares and woe......
and al-Zawahiri
...Formerly second in command of al-Qaeda, now the head cheese, occasionally described as the real brains of the outfit. Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's fatwa entitled World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders. Currently residing in the North Wazoo area assuming he's not dead like Mullah Omar. He lost major face when he ordered the nascent Islamic State to cease and desist and merge with the orthodox al-Qaeda spring, al-Nusra...
." Additionally, there is Mazhar al-Ways, the most notable member of HTS’ Shura Council, who operated under the command of ISIS between 2013 and 2014 in ISIS’ so-called ’Wilayat al-Khair’ province in Deir ez-Zor.

There is also Musleh al-Alyan, one of the "most famous politicians of HTS from Saudi Arabia

...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. Fifteen of the nineteen WTC hijackers were Saudis, and most major jihadi commanders were Saudis, to include Osama bin Laden. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman quietly folded that tent in 2016, doing terrible things to the guys running it, and has since been dragging the kingdom into the current century...
," together with ’Abdullah al-Mehisani’, a Saudi national and "the most prominent jihadi agitator," who currently works covertly from his residence in Sarmada, in north Idlib.

The Uzbek faction within HTS includes Abu Salah al-Turkistani and Khattab al-Shishani, students of Saifullah al-Jazrawi, one of al-Qaeda’s emirs in Afghanistan during al-Zawahiri’s rule. Many of those who fought under al-Qaeda’s banner are currently in the ranks of HTS, but "avoid publicity for fear of liquidation," according to the source.

Link

Iraq

Iraq's PMF apprehends ISIS top assassin in the Northern Baghdad Wilayat

2023-01-29

[SHAFAQ] Iraq's al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces-PMF) on Saturday announced capturing the Islamic State

Link

Africa North

Militants attack security checkpoint in Egypt

2022-12-31

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Al Ahram doesn’t have anything on this as of the midnight publication. We’ll see if anything shows up during the day.

[REGNUM] At least two policemen died December 30 as a result of an attack by militants in the city of Ismailia, east of the Egyptian capital Cairo, Reuters reported, citing local authorities and the Egyptian Interior Ministry.

The bandits drove up to the national security checkpoint and opened fire. One passer-by was also killed.

In addition, the militants wounded two more police officers. Representatives of law enforcement agencies specified that one of the shooters was killed, and the second managed to escape.

As REGNUM reported , in mid-September, in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, terrorists blew up a car, killing one of the heads of the local pro-government militia.

Reuters: Militants attack checkpoint east of Cairo, kill two policemen

Update from Al Ahram at noon ET:

Four killed, 12 injured in attack on checkpoint in Egypt's Ismailia: Media

Four people were killed, including two coppers and a civilian, and 12 others were maimed on Friday afternoon in a suspected terrorist attack on a security checkpoint in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, according to local and foreign media.

No official statement has been released by the Egyptian authorities so far, and there has been no official account on the corpse count or injuries.

One of the two assailants was reportedly killed during the attack, while the 12 injured were taken to a hospital for treatment.

No group has so far grabbed credit for the attack.

In May, an officer and ten soldiers from the Egyptian Army were killed, and five others were maimed in an attack by a takfiri

...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed...
bully boyz against a water lifting station checkpoint east of the Suez Canal.

Al Ahram means the group that has called itself ’Wilayat Sina’ (’Sinai Province’) — an affiliate of Islamic State in North Sinai — which repeatedly grabbed credit for terrorist attacks in North Sinai in recent years. There used to be a Gaza branch that called itself the Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade, but they appeared in the news only briefly. Back when the Sinai Province swore loyalty to Al Qaeda, they called themselves Ansar Bayt al Maqdis/Al Qaeda in the Sinai.

Terrorist attacks in Egypt — which spiked in the wake of the 2013 ouster of the Moslem Brüderbund President Mohammed Morsi, most notably in North Sinai — have declined in recent years following massive and successive security and military operations.

The attacks targeted security forces, particularly at military and police checkpoints, as well as civilians, causing hundreds of casualties.

Hundreds of bad boyz were potted in anti-terror military operations, according to Armed Forces periodical reports.

In 2018, the Armed Forces launched a major counterterrorism drive, Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018, that has succeeded in the near eradication of terrorism from North Sinai as well as the Nile Delta and desert areas.

Link

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