Al qaeda in syria pdf files

There is a second alqaeda splinter group operating in this terrain known as the guardians of religion, which i mention because the proliferation of jihadist groups inside of syria is going to ensure that this conflict does not stabilize even if that insurgency brewing in the southwest does, in fact. The base to global database a history of strategic virtualisation73. Qaeda proxies in syria dr christina lin february 2016 abstract there is growing opposition by the american public to current us policy of supporting al qaeda affiliates in syria to overthrow the assad regime. One of al qaedas most important talking points is the legacy of the sykespicot agreement between the british and the french in 1916 that created this border between what we today call syria. Backgrounder the threat of new alqaeda leadership the case of syrias aljoulani une 30 2015 of a caliphate on june 29, 2014. Al qaeda, its affiliated groups, associated groups, and adherents. Since the discussions have supposedly been between representatives of caliph albaghdadi of isis and al qaeda central aqc head ayman alzawahiri, in the interest of caution we should assume that the discussions are not just about a reconciliation in syria and iraq. Joulani was subsequently dispatched to syria to establish a new alqaeda affiliate as an offshoot of aqi during ramadan in 2011, as the syrian revolution was becoming violent. Zawahiri encouraged the iraqi affiliate to move into syria, but he. Alnusra front is alqaedas formal affiliate in syria and one of the most powerful rebel groups fighting assad. The al qaeda network today also comprises semiautonomous or self radicalized actors, who often have only peripheral or ephemeral ties to either the core cadre in pakistan or affiliated groups elsewhere. United states on syria restarted and intensified, as marked particularly by the announcement of the partial ceasefire excluding daesh and al qaeda affiliate jabhat al nusra that the united states and russia brokered and which is scheduled to begin at the end of february. Thanks to documents captured from abbottabad, it is now also known that bin laden himself.

Al akhbar states its confidence that the emails are authentic, that the senders and receivers are mainly who they say they are. Iraq aqi, alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, alshebab, alqaeda in the indian subcontinent aqis, alqaeda syria aqs, and the abu sayyaf group asg. Beirut a rebranded version of iraqs alqaeda affiliate is surging onto the front lines of the war in neighboring syria, expanding into territory seized by other rebel groups and carving out. Alqaeda, the islamic state and the evolution of an insurgency. Naser, a former high intelligence official in ras al ein, northern syria, said shawkat and his colleagues urged assad to go to daraa, the scene of the. Apr 29, 2015 although the syria conflict revived the iraqi jihadist movement, it also eventually led it to split with the al qaeda leadership. It does base a lot of its information on the son of an al qaeda leader who defected to help the cia, and that reliance on one source made me wonder if he was totally reliable. Al qaeda defector al fadl, who was a former member of qatar charity, testified in court that abdullah mohammed yusef, who served as qatar charitys director, was affiliated to al qaeda and simultaneously to the national islamic front, a political group that gave al qaeda leader osama bin laden harbor in sudan in the early 1990s. The increase in the number of antinusra demonstrations this year, especially in idlib. The revelations, which emerged from a statement by a senior syrian jihadist, a public chastisement from ayman zawahiri, and then and a backandforth involving various jihadists in syria, suggests that alqaeda wields less influence than previously feared and that u. Militant leader talks about break with al qaeda and possible. In 2019, turkey launched a cross border military operation attempting to expel syrian kurdish u.

How us allies aid al qaeda in syria consortiumnews. The territory in the middle east that al qaeda covets most is of course saudi arabia, but syria is next on the list. In july 2016, jabhat alnusra announced its split from alqaeda in syria and changed its name to fateh alsham. The leader of alnusra front the al qaedaaffiliate group in syria insisted on wednesday that he is under orders from the organizations central leadership not to attack western interests.

Articles alqaidas complex balancing act in syria universiteit. Syrian islamic council, and, to some extent, in the nusra front, the alqaeda. Zelin is the richard borow fellow at the washington institute for near east policy and the rena and sami david fellow at the international centre for the study of radicalisation and political violence. Russias policy on syria after the start of military engagement.

The move came three years after a large number of its fighters broke off from its ranks to join what came to be known as the islamic state of iraq and the levant isil, which also rejected al. Al qaeda, isis, and operation cycleone internet archive. Though direct support has been limited, allies like qatar have found alternative means. In 2009 the formation of aqap alqaeda in the arabian peninsula was announced, as a merger of the saudi and the yemeni branches of alqaeda. According to al akhbar s analysis, the syria files illuminateoften in small waysthe nature of power within and the inner workings of certain political and economic elements in syria. The islamic state also known as isis, and the former alqaeda affiliate in syria, jabhat alnusra, which changed its name to jabhat fath alsham, were responsible for systematic. The conflict also fueled the rise of isis, prompting an. Now, for the first time, the al qaeda reader gathers together the essential texts and documents that trace the origin, history, and evolution of the ideas of alqaeda founders ayman alzawahiri and osama bin laden. The violence being waged in syria by president bashar alassad against his own people has resulted in an increased presence by al qaeda in syria. Jabhat alnusra jn, alqaeda s aq affiliate in syria, has also developed into a serious and expanding threat both to the west and to the future of syria.

Response congressional research service 2 emerged as a persistent challenge for u. Finally, the us has been unable to prevent allied nations from supporting groups affiliated with alqaeda. Since the fall of the taliban, alqaeda has established operations worldwide, including in syria, the gulf, north africa, west africa, east africa, and the indian subcontinent. In their own words, al qaeda tells the western world why they are attacking western interests and what they want. Most analysts continue to view jfs as a covert alqaeda affiliate, although key proalqaeda ideologues are unhappy with what they see as. The islamic state of iraq and the sham isis can acun the presence of isis has captivated the whole world. Government efforts against al qaeda, cna drm2017u015710final, august 2017. Developments on the overlapping battlefields of the counterisis and antiassad campaigns in syria have. The extremist group islamic state, also known as isis, and alqaedas affiliate in syria, jabhat alnusra, were responsible for systematic and widespread violations including targeting civilians, kidnappings, and executions. It is therefore likely a strategic consideration for both joulani and zawahiri to ensure this network adheres to alqaeda as it evolves.

Now, syria is not syria to jihadis, but part of bilaad al shaam, what the. The organization is now being scrutinized for the scenes of violence reminiscencing of. Two alqaeda affiliates, alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, and alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, quickly issued a joint statement eulogizing almasri. Al qaeda, cia, operation cyclone, usama bin laden ultimate. Seeking to broaden its appeal among other armed syrian opposition groups, jn formally broke ties with alqaeda core in july 2016, renaming itself jabhat fateh alsham. While american forces have occasionally targeted al qaeda cells in syria that are looking. Isis takes over mosul, launching its largest offensive to date. Al qaedas leading thinkers are steeped in these reformerslong struggle against the establishment.

Antiassad forces, including the turkishbacked national liberation front nlf. Finally, and arguably most importantly, was the challenge alqaeda faced from isis and its dramatic gains in iraq and proclamation of a caliphate in mid2014. For simplicity, isis islamic state in syria and iraq is used instead of daesh, islamic state, is, or isil. Some reports indicate or claim that isis and al qaeda are discussing a merger. Inside the jihadi mind understanding ideology and propaganda. Feb 04, 2014 istanbul al qaedas central leadership has officially cut ties with a powerful jihadist group that has flourished in the chaos of the civil war in syria and that rushed to build an islamic. There is a general assumption that the syrian alqaeda affiliate jabhat alnusra is weakening in the face of the regime of bashar alassads recent militarily achievements and international led airstrikes against the group. Joulani and his companions recruited heavily from the syrian countryside after. The nusra front in syria has been the most successful test of this al qaeda. Over the past six months, the tahrir institute for middle east policy has sponsored this integral working group of young syria, middle east, and u. Despite russia and the syrianregime saying theyre fighting alqaeda in syria, the groups presence has been shrinking.

Despite russia and the syrianregime saying theyre fighting al qaeda in syria, the groups presence has been shrinking. How alqaeda survived drones, uprisings,and the islamic state. Alqaedas 911 attacks was the deadliest ever on american soil, killing nearly 3,000 people. The islamic state also known as isis, and the former al qaeda affiliate in syria, jabhat al nusra, which changed its name to jabhat fath al sham, were responsible for systematic.

Early tuesday morning, sheikh abu bakr alhusseini alqurashi albaghdadi the leader of the islamic state of iraq, an alqaeda branch released an audio message announcing the extension of its islamic state into alsham the levant, effectively bringing syrian jihadist rebel group jabhat al. Front of the supporters, known as jabhat fatah alsham arabic. The group conducts formal military campaigns, assassinations, hostage missions, and lone wolf operations, including alqaedas trademark suicide bombings. While american forces have occasionally targeted al qaeda cells in syria that are looking to attack the west, the u. Aug 23, 2016 after jabhat fath alsham split from al qaeda, the groups director of foreign media relations talked to the intercept about whats next in the war in syria. In syria, car bomb kills scores in area recaptured from islamic state instead it is the extremists who have closed ranks and turned against the u. The jihadi threat united states institute of peace. In a recorded audio message lasting 20 minutes and released yesterday to jihadi websites, albaghdadi acknowledged that al qaeda has been involved in the fighting in syria, confirming that the. According to thenunited nations high commissioner for human rights navi pillay, as of. Jabhat alnusra, and alqaeda in the arabian peninusla, as revealed in their propaganda, in order.

Alnusra front hayat tahrir alsham counter extremism. Recently, isis has become the center of attention with its latest activities and confrontation with the antiassad forces in syria. Spellings of groups such as alqaeda are anglicised and consistent throughout the paper, as are any names cited. Jabhat alnusras embrace of this new model of jihad brought it. The third strategic objective that elevating joulani to. Jul 25, 2012 and, in spite of the similar language and attire seen and heard in their videos, none of the sunni militant groups fighting assad in syria is known to have claimed a link to al qaeda. On december 12, daniel byman delivered testimony on the resurgence of al qaeda in iraq before the joint hearing of the terrorism, nonproliferation, and trade subcommittee and the. In the counterisis fight, the new administration seems willing. Heras, the bacevich fellow at the center for a new american security. Inside the jihadi mind understanding ideology and propaganda emma elbadawy milo comerford peter welby. Secret files reveal the structure of islamic state, spiegel online. Al qaeda breaks with jihadist group in syria involved in.

And, in spite of the similar language and attire seen and heard in their videos, none of the sunni militant groups fighting assad in syria is known to have claimed a link to al qaeda. The is which was initially fighting the near enemy. Initially in syria in late20, isis was a direct military threat to jabhat alnusra, which in effect was alqaeda s syrian affiliate at the time. The combating al qaeda in syria strategy group was formed in july 2016 by nicholas a. Harleen gambhir is a counterterrorism analyst at the institute for the study of war and the author of isiss global strategy. Americas isis war is helping al qaeda the daily beast. At the same time, an alqaeda affiliate, hayat tahrir alsham hts, significantly bolstered its presence in the countrys north.

Pdf the transformation of terrorism from alqaeda to the islamic state is has. Now, syria is not syria to jihadis, but part of bilaad alshaam, what the. Like other totalitarian movements, the movements leaders have rationalized their brutality in a number of published treatises. Al masri, zarqawi s successor, announces the establishment of the islamic state in iraq isi, with abu omar albaghdadi as its leader. Khayr almasri, a veteran egyptian jihadist close to zawahri. How assad staged al qaeda bombings the daily beast.

From its beginnings as a shadowy insurgent group to its evolution as a powerful military force in the civil war, the groups syrian outfit has slowly but surely increased its influence in the country. Alqaeda defector alfadl, who was a former member of qatar charity, testified in court that abdullah mohammed yusef, who served as qatar charitys director, was affiliated to alqaeda and simultaneously to the national islamic front, a political group that gave alqaeda leader osama bin laden harbor in sudan in the early 1990s. Isis has ruled ruthlessly and killed with few restraints in its syrian holdings. The war between isis and al qaeda for supremacy of the global jihadist movement aaron y. Syrian jihadist group jabhat alnusra has announced it is severing ties with al qaeda and changing its name to jabhat fateh alsham, according to a video. The rise and fall of isis hague centre for strategic studies. Isis takes over raqqa and declares it the capital of the isis emirate. The territory in the middle east that alqaeda covets most is of course saudi arabia, but syria is next on the list. Aqap has carried out violent jihadist attacks both domestically and internationally in service of alqaedas ideology. In contrast, alqaeda groups have focused more on local populations and local flashpoints. Al akhbar listed the main topics of the alassads syria files emails, and stated, viewed through the prism of the syria files, syrias first couple appear to be occupied with their representative capacities, with ample time devoted to the state of the palatial gardens, renovations, the stationary needs of lowlevel employees, but also. This is a well written, well presented presentation of what al qaeda was and now is. In contrast, al qaeda groups have focused more on local populations and local flashpoints. Due to the collective actions of the bashar alassad regime, inter nationallyrecognized opposition groups, and extremist and u.