Category: The Islamic State

Wilayat Wasat Ifriqiya Extends Its Presence to Mozambique

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

For an archive of other backgrounders click here.

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Earlier this week, under the Islamic State’s Wilayat Wasat Ifriqya (Central African Province), which itself is new, announced attacks for the first time in Mozambique. This is not necessarily surprising considering the expansion strategy IS has undertaken since the fall of Baghouz, Syria in March 2019. Yet rumors of IS’s presence in Mozambique goes back at least a year. There has also been rising violence and militancy in Mozambique’s north now for a couple of years. Therefore, it is unsurprising that IS would attempt to co-opt and/or take advantage of the situation to further build out its presence in Africa as well as remain more relevant as it attempts to rebuild itself in its core territories of Iraq and Syria. As with any form of militancy, while this might seem like it came out of nowhere, there is always a background and evolution to this phenomenon as will be seen in this post.

For now, you will find details below on what we know about extremism and militancy in Mozambique prior to this IS announcement. If anyone wants to add anything to the following dossier let me know and I will post it so there is a fuller picture. From oldest to most recent.

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October 5, 2017:

Attack in Mozambique leaves two police officers dead

October 7, 2017:

16 killed as Islamic gunmen attack Mozambique police

October 31, 2017:

Mozambique’s first Islamist attacks shock the region – ISS Africa

March 29, 2018:

VIDEO: A new radicalized ‘Al Shabab – Boko Haram’, but this time in Mozambique – Al Arabiya English

April 13, 2018:

Isis fighters infiltrate neighbouring Mozambique – The Citizen

May 24, 2018:

AU confirms ISIS infiltration in countries — Shabelle

May 29, 2018:

Suspected Islamists behead 10 in Mozambique: local sources

June 2, 2018:

How Mozambique’s smuggling barons nurtured jihadists – BBC News

June 3, 2018:

Police kill nine ‘insurgents’ in Mozambique

June 5, 2018:

Attackers hack seven to death in Mozambique – Al Jazeera

June 11, 2018:

Mozambique’s own version of Boko Haram is tightening its deadly grip

June 11, 2018:

Experts Alarmed at Rise of Jihadi Terrorism in Mozambique

June 13, 2018:

Mozambique jihadists lay siege to once sleepy villages

June 14, 2018:

Le Mozambique face à son « Boko Haram »

Is another Boko Haram or al-Shabaab erupting in Mozambique – ISS Africa

Ansar al-Sunna: A New Militant Islamist Group Emerges in Mozambique – Jamestown

June 17, 2018:

New jihadist group behind spate of attacks in northern Mozambique – France 24

June 20, 2018:

Mozambique’s own version of Boko Haram is tightening its deadly grip – The Independent

Shadowy insurgents threaten Mozambique gas bonanza – Financial Times

June 21, 2018:

Islamist Terrorism in Mozambique: An Emerging Threat?

June 22, 2018:

Mozambique’s mysterious insurgency – M&G

July 25, 2018:

Beheadings in Mozambique mark Islamist threat in new gas frontier – Reuters

July 30, 2018:

Emerging Militant Group Threatens Villages, Gas Projects in Mozambique – WSJ

August 3, 2018:

‘Kidnapped’ SA man actually arrested for ‘terrorism links’ in Mozambique – The Citizen

August 8, 2018:

A bubbling Islamist insurgency in Mozambique could grow deadlier – Burnings and beheadings

August 13, 2018:

Mozambique police name ‘ringleaders’ behind Islamist threat – Reuters

September 21, 2018:

At least 12 killed, 14 wounded in Mozambique jihadist attacks: source – News24

October 5, 2018:

Mozambique’s Next Step in Countering Violent Extremism – Africa Up Close

November 20, 2018:

Mozambique’s apparent Islamist insurgency poses multiple threats – ISS Africa

November 25, 2018: 

Mozambique – 12 personnes tuées par des islamistes présumés – Africanews

November 26, 2018:

Suspected Al-Shabab militants kill 12 in north Mozambique — Shabelle

December 19, 2018:

Mozambique: Jihadist Violence Continues to Rise in Cabo Delgado

January 11, 2019:

Opaque insurgency grinds on in gas-rich Mozambican region

January 15, 2019:

Suspected jihadists kill 12 in northern Mozambique | News24

February 8, 2019:

Nouvelle attaque islamiste meurtrière au Mozambique, des femmes enlevées

February 22, 2019:

1 mort et 6 blessés au Mozambique au cours d’attaques jihadistes présumées contre Anadarko

March 16, 2019:

Suspected jihadists kill 13 in northern Mozambique » Manila Bulletin News

April 5, 2019:

Mozambique – Ansar al-Sunna Attack on Foreign Workers Raises Concerns of Growing Insurgency

April 26, 2019:

40-year jail term for 10 terrorists in northern Mozambique – Africanews

Alleged Islamic State fighters in Mozambique resurfaced on April 25, 2019: Does it warrant any concerns? – ITCT

April 29, 2019:

The faceless insurgency in Mozambique that no one can explain – M&G

May 16, 2019:

In Africa, All Jihad Is Local – Foreign Policy

May 17, 2019:

Evaluating the Expansion of Global Jihadist Movements in Mozambique – Jamestown

May 31, 2019:

16 killed in Mozambique insurgency attack: local sources – News24

June 4, 2019:

June 5, 2019:

Eye On Jihadis in Libya Weekly Update: June 5

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin
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On 27 May, Misrata operations room in coordination with the central regions criminal investigation apparatus undertook a raid in Abu Grein, arresting alleged IS supporter Faris Belhaj (alias Khattab).

On 28 May, the Misratan Central Counter-Terrorism Force arrested seven alleged IS members in a safe house in Abu Grein. Weapons and other communication equipment were confiscated.

On 28 May, IS was observed south of Sirte in the late evening and early morning of the following day.

On 30 May, IS published a second set of “Diary of a Mujahedeen” photos, which supposedly portrays its members’ daily lives in the Fezzan.

On 3 June, IS claimed to have attacked the Libyan National Army (LNA) Checkpoint 400, on the road linking Jufra to Sebha, in the Fuqaha area. An official from the Jufra Municipal Council stated that the LNA forces successfully defended the attack without any loss of life.

On 2 June, two vehicle-borne IEDs targeting the LNA’s Awilat al-Dam and Omar al-Mukhtar Operations Room headquarters left as many as 18 people injured. Remnants of Derna Protection Force (DPF) were initially accused of undertaking the attacks. However, on 3 June, IS claimed responsibility for the 2 vehicle-borne IEDs attacks conducted on 2 June as part of the group’s ongoing “war of attrition.”

=&1=& On 28 May, the Libyan National Army (LNA) transferred former Egyptian Special Forces officer turned Egyptian jihadist, Hisham al-Ashmawy, over to Egyptian authorities. Ashmawi was captured by LNA forces in Derna on 8 October 2018.

On 30 May, alleged member of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries Abdel Salam Abou Rzaiza (aka Bou Khashm) was killed in clashes against Libyan National Army (LNA) forces on Tripoli Airport Road, in southern Tripoli. Abou Rzazia is said to have been a member of the SCBR “Warrior Brigade.”Abou Rzazia was reported to have been a member of the Rafallah al-Sahati battalion and participated in the clashes against the forces under the command of Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi from 2014 through to 2016.

Eye-on-Isis-Logo-001

New video message from The Islamic State: “Then They Will Be Overcome – Wilāyat al-‘Irāq, al-Fallūjah”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

8:36. Here it is in full: “Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of God. So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they will be overcome. And those who have disbelieved – unto Hell they will be gathered.”

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New issue of The Islamic State’s newsletter: “al-Nabā’ #184″

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

For prior parts see: #183, #182, #181, #180, #179, #178, #177, #176, #175, #174, #173, #172, #171, #170, #169, #168, #167, #166, #165, #164, #163, #162, #161, #160, #159, #158, #157, #156, #155, #154, #153, #152, #151, #150, #149, #148, #147, #146, #145, #144, #143, #142, #141, #140, #139, #138, #137, #136, #135, #134, #133, #132, #131, #130, #129, #128, #127, #126, #125, #124, #123, #122, #121, #120, #119, #118, #117, #116, #115, #114, #113, #112, #111, #110, #109, #108, #107, #106, #105, #104, #103, #102, #101, #100, #99, #98, #97, #96, #95, #94, #93, #92, #91, #90, #89, #88, #87, #86, #85, #84, #83, #82, #81, #80, #79, #78, #77, #76, #75, #74, #73, #72, #71, #70, #69, #68, #67, #66, #65, #64, #63, #62, #61, #60, #59, #58, #57, #56, #55, #54, #53, #52, #51, #50, #49, #48, #47, #46, #45, #44, #43, #42, #41, #40, #39, #38, #37, #36, #35, #34, #33, #32, #31, #30, #29, #28, #27, #26, #25, #24, #23, #22, #21, #20, #19, #18, #17, #16, #15, #14, #13, #12, #11, #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, and #1.

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: The Islamic State — al-Nabā’ Newsletter #184

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To inquire about a translation for this newsletter issue for a fee email: [email protected]

New issue of The Islamic State’s newsletter: “al-Nabā’ #183″

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

For prior parts see: #182, #181, #180, #179, #178, #177, #176, #175, #174, #173, #172, #171, #170, #169, #168, #167, #166, #165, #164, #163, #162, #161, #160, #159, #158, #157, #156, #155, #154, #153, #152, #151, #150, #149, #148, #147, #146, #145, #144, #143, #142, #141, #140, #139, #138, #137, #136, #135, #134, #133, #132, #131, #130, #129, #128, #127, #126, #125, #124, #123, #122, #121, #120, #119, #118, #117, #116, #115, #114, #113, #112, #111, #110, #109, #108, #107, #106, #105, #104, #103, #102, #101, #100, #99, #98, #97, #96, #95, #94, #93, #92, #91, #90, #89, #88, #87, #86, #85, #84, #83, #82, #81, #80, #79, #78, #77, #76, #75, #74, #73, #72, #71, #70, #69, #68, #67, #66, #65, #64, #63, #62, #61, #60, #59, #58, #57, #56, #55, #54, #53, #52, #51, #50, #49, #48, #47, #46, #45, #44, #43, #42, #41, #40, #39, #38, #37, #36, #35, #34, #33, #32, #31, #30, #29, #28, #27, #26, #25, #24, #23, #22, #21, #20, #19, #18, #17, #16, #15, #14, #13, #12, #11, #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, and #1.

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Click the follow link for a safe PDF copy: The Islamic State — al-Nabā’ Newsletter #183

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New issue of The Islamic State’s newsletter: “al-Nabā’ #182″

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

For prior parts see: #181, #180, #179, #178, #177, #176, #175, #174, #173, #172, #171, #170, #169, #168, #167, #166, #165, #164, #163, #162, #161, #160, #159, #158, #157, #156, #155, #154, #153, #152, #151, #150, #149, #148, #147, #146, #145, #144, #143, #142, #141, #140, #139, #138, #137, #136, #135, #134, #133, #132, #131, #130, #129, #128, #127, #126, #125, #124, #123, #122, #121, #120, #119, #118, #117, #116, #115, #114, #113, #112, #111, #110, #109, #108, #107, #106, #105, #104, #103, #102, #101, #100, #99, #98, #97, #96, #95, #94, #93, #92, #91, #90, #89, #88, #87, #86, #85, #84, #83, #82, #81, #80, #79, #78, #77, #76, #75, #74, #73, #72, #71, #70, #69, #68, #67, #66, #65, #64, #63, #62, #61, #60, #59, #58, #57, #56, #55, #54, #53, #52, #51, #50, #49, #48, #47, #46, #45, #44, #43, #42, #41, #40, #39, #38, #37, #36, #35, #34, #33, #32, #31, #30, #29, #28, #27, #26, #25, #24, #23, #22, #21, #20, #19, #18, #17, #16, #15, #14, #13, #12, #11, #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, and #1.

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: The Islamic State — al-Nabā’ Newsletter #182

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Source: Telegram

To inquire about a translation for this newsletter issue for a fee email: [email protected]