All articles tagged with #al qaida
A coalition of Al-Qaida–linked militants and local separatists carried out a coordinated attack in Mali—the largest such assault in more than ten years—highlighting ongoing instability, the Mali government’s struggle to contain the violence, and attention on international actors like the Wagner Group involved in the region.
Ahmed A-Shara, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of Syrian rebel groups that ousted Assad, is now a highly sought-after figure in Middle Eastern diplomacy. Despite his past as the head of Al Qaida's Syrian branch and being on the world terrorist list, Arab and European leaders are eager to engage with him, viewing him as a potential statesman. This shift in perception highlights the complex dynamics of Middle Eastern politics and international relations.
A newly released 25-year-old video shows a man identified by the FBI as a Saudi intelligence agent filming locations in Washington three months before the 9/11 attacks. The footage, unsealed in a court action by 9/11 victims' families, raises questions about Saudi Arabia's alleged complicity, which the country denies. The video includes commentary on security arrangements and mentions a "plan." The FBI claims the man, Omar al-Bayoumi, had ties to two 9/11 hijackers and possibly advanced knowledge of the attacks. Saudi authorities and Bayoumi deny any involvement.
Al-Qaida's Yemen branch announced the death of its leader, Khalid al-Batarfi, who had a $5 million bounty on his head from the U.S. government. The cause of his death remains unclear, and his successor, Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki, has a $6 million bounty on him. The group, known as AQAP, has been weakened in recent years due to infighting and U.S. drone strikes, but it remains the most dangerous branch of the extremist group still operating. Al-Batarfi's death comes amid Yemen's ongoing war and power struggles within the group.
Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) announced the death of its leader, Khalid al-Batarfi, without providing details on the cause. The U.S. had a $5 million bounty on him. The group named Saad bin Atef al-Awlaki as its new leader, who has a $6 million bounty on him. AQAP has been weakened in recent years due to infighting and U.S. drone strikes, but it remains the most dangerous branch of al-Qaida. The group has been involved in overseas attacks and has around 3,000 to 4,000 active fighters and passive members. Al-Batarfi took over as the head of the branch in 2020 and was believed to be influenced by al-Qaida fighter Saif al-Adl. AQAP has developed drone capabilities and has been targeted by U.S. drone strikes.
At least 40 civilians were killed and 42 others wounded by al-Qaida-linked rebels in an attack on the besieged town of Djibo in Burkina Faso. The United Nations' rights office condemned the attack as a war crime and blamed the umbrella coalition of armed groups aligned with al-Qaida, known as JNIM. The rebels also set fire to three camps for internally displaced people. The attack highlights the ongoing threat posed by fighters linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group in Burkina Faso, where jihadi attacks have killed thousands and displaced over 2 million people.
Islamic State extremists have nearly doubled their territory in Mali within a year, taking advantage of the stalled implementation of a 2015 peace agreement and the perceived weakness of armed groups. Al-Qaida-linked Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) is also vying for leadership in northern Mali amidst sustained violence and attacks. The armed groups that signed the peace deal fear its collapse without UN mediation, potentially leading to another uprising. Mali's military rulers are observing the confrontation between the IS group and al-Qaida affiliates, with some believing it will benefit them over time, while others argue that the terrorists are growing stronger each day. The report also highlights the competition for control over trade and trafficking routes, drug trafficking in the region, and persistent conflict-related sexual violence.
Islamic State extremists have nearly doubled their territory in Mali in less than a year, taking advantage of the stalled implementation of a 2015 peace agreement and the perceived weakness of armed groups. Al-Qaida-linked Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) is also vying for leadership in northern Mali. The violence and attacks by IS fighters have made the signatories of the peace deal appear weak, allowing JNIM to position itself as the sole actor capable of protecting populations against IS. Mali's military rulers are watching the confrontation between IS and al-Qaida from a distance, while armed groups fear the peace deal could fall apart without UN mediation. The report also highlights the competition for control over trade and trafficking routes, drug trafficking, and persistent conflict-related sexual violence in the country.
United Nations experts report that Islamic State extremists have nearly doubled their territory in Mali in less than a year, taking advantage of the stalled implementation of a 2015 peace agreement and the perceived weakness of armed groups. Al-Qaida-linked groups are also capitalizing on the situation, vying for leadership in northern Mali. The violence and attacks by these extremist groups have made the signatories of the peace deal appear weak, while the Malian military rulers are watching from a distance. The report also highlights the competition for control over trade and trafficking routes, as well as persistent conflict-related sexual violence in certain regions of Mali.
The Islamic State group has announced the death of its leader, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurayshi, who had been heading the extremist organization since November. The group did not provide details on when he was killed but stated that he died in fighting with an al-Qaida-linked group in northwestern Syria. The Islamic State named Abu Hafs al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi as its new leader. This marks the fourth leader of the group to be killed since its establishment in 2014. Despite its territorial losses, the Islamic State continues to carry out deadly attacks in Iraq, Syria, and other countries.
Burkina Faso has become a country with one of the world's fastest-growing populations of internally displaced people, with more than 2 million people displaced due to violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. The majority of those displaced are women and children, fueling a dire humanitarian crisis as the conflict pushed people from their homes, off their farms, and into congested urban areas or makeshift camps. Aid groups and the government are scrambling to respond amid a lack of funds and growing needs. One in four people requires aid, and tens of thousands are facing catastrophic levels of hunger.
Al-Qaida-linked extremists have released an Australian doctor, Kenneth Elliott, after holding him captive for more than seven years in West Africa. His wife, Jocelyn, was also kidnapped with him, but she was released within a few weeks. The couple was abducted in 2016 by the Islamic extremists in Burkina Faso, close to the border with Mali, where they had been running their 120-bed medical clinic for 40 years. The Australian government and the Elliott family have worked tirelessly toward Elliott's release.
An 88-year-old Australian doctor, Ken Elliott, who was held captive by Islamic extremists in West Africa for more than seven years, has been freed and reunited with his family in Australia. Elliott and his wife were kidnapped in Burkina Faso, where they had run a medical clinic for four decades. Jocelyn Elliott was released three weeks later. No ransom was paid to secure Elliott's freedom, and no other details on his release were disclosed. The militant group behind the kidnapping, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, rose to prominence in large part through kidnap-for-ransom operations targeting foreign aid workers and tourists.
An 88-year-old Australian doctor, Ken Elliott, who was held captive by Islamic extremists in Burkina Faso for more than seven years, has been freed and reunited with his family in Australia. No ransom was paid for his release, and no other details were disclosed. Elliott and his wife were kidnapped in 2016, and his wife was released three weeks later. The militant group behind the kidnapping was Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which has targeted foreign aid workers and tourists in kidnap-for-ransom operations.
The leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), an insurgent group ruling much of northwest Syria, is attempting to distance the group from its al-Qaida origins and rebrand as a pluralistic and tolerant organization. The pivot comes as HTS faces increasing isolation, with former backers of Syrian insurgents restoring relations with President Bashar Assad. The United States considers HTS a terrorist group and has offered a $10 million reward for information on the leader's whereabouts. Despite the rebranding, it is unlikely that the U.S. will remove HTS and its leader from its terrorism list.