Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Abū Nūr al-Ṣana’ānī — The Appearance of al-Baghdādī- Reading and Semantics
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Source: Telegram
To inquire about a translation for this release for a fee email: [email protected]
For an archive of other backgrounders click here.
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Earlier this morning, the Islamic State announced the creation of a new Wilayat al-Hind. While the claim is related to an attack in Kashmir, it likely will also apply to any activity in India in the future as well. As Mina al-Lami notes, this is not the first time IS has claimed an attack in Kashmir before. Previously it was under its Wilayat Khurasan, which is most associated with its operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Therefore, once again, IS is reorganizing its provincial structure. This new system is part of a broader change since the fall of IS’s territorial control in Baghuz, Syria, which ended almost two months ago now. Recently, IS inaugurated a so-called Wilayat Wasat Ifriqiya for its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s recent video highlights a so-called Wilayat Turkiya for a phantom province in Turkey, which could become more relevant in the future, but time will tell. Either way, it is clear that IS is making a number of changes to further bolster its capabilities outside of Iraq and Syria.
For now, you will find below details on what we know about IS’s prior activities in Kashmir. 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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December 25, 2017:
Part of a broader thread
Online accounts affiliated with so-called Islamic State (IS) have shared a video showing a pledge of allegiance to the group made by “mujahidin in Kashmir”, possibly paving the way for an IS declaration of a new branch there.
— Mina Al-Lami (@Minalami) December 25, 2017
December 26, 2017:
‘Rebel group’ in Indian-occupied Kashmir pledges allegiance to IS – The Express Tribune
January 23, 2018:
Representations of Mahmud of Ghazni in the Islamic State’s texts – Neil Aggarwal, Contemporary South Asia: https://bit.ly/2PXTSYM
February 9, 2018:
An Idea or a Threat? Islamic State Jammu & Kashmir – Amira Jadoon, Combating Terrorism Center: https://bit.ly/2nWjR5i
February 26, 2018:
March 12, 2018:
IS emir in J&K, two others gunned down – Times of India
Annonce de la mort d'Abu-l-Bara al-Kashmiri, qui était apparu en décembre 2017 dans une vidéo où son groupe faisait allégeance à l'#EI au #Cachemire. pic.twitter.com/EftuH6715I
— Romain Caillet (@RomainCaillet) March 13, 2018
March 13, 2018:
The pseudo-IS leader in #Kashmir, Essa Fazli or Abu Yahyā al-Istashadi, reported killed by the Indian army pic.twitter.com/l7vmQwqqdt
— Tore Hamming (@ToreRHamming) March 13, 2018
March 14, 2018:
March 30, 2018:
May 11, 2018:
June 15, 2018:
June 17, 2018:
June 22, 2018:
Four ISJK militants killed in Army’s Anantnag operation – The Hindu
July 25, 2018:
August 4, 2018:
August 7, 2018:
August 22, 2018:
September 11, 2018:
September 12, 2018:
Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) announces the death of its 3rd amir, Abu Anwar al-Kashmiri.
Third amir to be killed in 6 months pic.twitter.com/WSH1MJYcie
— Tore Hamming (@ToreRHamming) September 12, 2018
November 11, 2018:
December 6, 2018:
December 31, 2018:
January 11, 2019:
Thread:
Pro-ISIS graffiti around the Srinagar area of India-held Kashmir. Photos from this week.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/1Ouxjy1s6O
— F. Jeffery (@Natsecjeff) January 11, 2019
May 10, 2019:
For prior parts see: #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 #181
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To inquire about a translation for this newsletter issue for a fee email: [email protected]
Your Sons Are At Your Service: Tunisia’s Missionaries of Jihad
This week, there were two different incidents wherein the Tunisian National Guard took down four Tunisian jihadis. The first occurred on Wednesday May 1 in Jabal Chambi in Kassserine Governorate when it arrested Katibat ‘Uqbah Bin Nafi member Ra’id Bin ‘Iz al-Din Bin al-Az’ar Tawati. Based on interviews with him after his arrest, the Tunisian government claims that it helped thwart forthcoming attacks that would have happened during Ramadan. The nature of these attacks (against civilian versus the security sector) is indiscernible based on reporting. However, KUBN’s track record suggests it would likely have been against members of Tunisia’s security forces.
The second incident happened yesterday, Saturday May 4 in Sidi Ali Ben Aoun, a town 25 miles southwest of Sidi Bouzid. It was a preventative action by the National Guard, which led to the killing of three Islamic State members: Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Bin Salih al-Basduri, Hatim Bin al-‘Id Bin Muhammad Basduri, and Muntasar Bin Kharif Bin Muhammad Jaridi Ghuzlani. Following their deaths, the National Guard recovered two Kalashnikovs, a “Steyr” firearm, a homemade grenade, and an explosive belt. Tunisian security would also later arrest a forest ranger this morning since the truck used by the three jihadis last night belonged to him.
So who are these four individuals specifically and what have they been up to with KUBN and IS over the years?
To read the rest of this post, which includes details on the four individuals, click here.
For prior parts see: #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 #180
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To inquire about a translation for this newsletter issue for a fee email: [email protected]
________________
Source: Telegram
To inquire about a translation for this video message for a fee email: [email protected]For prior parts see: #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 #179
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To inquire about a translation for this newsletter issue for a fee email: [email protected]
The latest documents in the archives concern the internal structure of the Islamic State’s southern Syrian affiliate Jaysh Khalid bin al-Waleed (“The Army of Khalid bin al-Waleed”- JKBW) as it existed in spring 2018. As noted previously, in its final weeks of existence in the summer of 2018, JKBW was presented in Islamic State propaganda as Wilayat Hawran (“Hawran province”).
The documents on the internal structure of JKBW were prepared and last modified in spring 2018 by a person who was on the Majlis Shura (“Consultation Council”) of Wilayat Hawran. That person was in fact working as an infiltrator inside JKBW and he also leaked to me the JKBW military personnel database from summer 2017. For that person’s safety, I have redacted his name and kunya from the documents. I will also not mention for which side he was working.
This post has since been updated with the latest information at the bottom.
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In light of yesterday’s horrific attacks in Sri Lanka, similar to my recent post on the DRC, I thought I’d add some information to better help understand connective tissues to what occurred. While there is not much history of Sri Lankan involvement in global jihadism, there have been some small connections. To stay up to date on the latest, I would first recommend following Amarnath Amarasingam on Twitter, not only for his incisive thread on this, but also because he is best placed speak on the topic as a researcher and with a personal connection.
It is quite possible that if this does end up become something Islamic State-related we might be seeing a new tactic to garner more media attention: attacking locales with foreign fighter networks, yet do not have robust security and counterterrorism measures. Making the chance of spectacular attacks more possible since it is easier to pull off than countries that have histories of dealing with terrorism of this nature. There are even reports that the police chief was warned about the attacks ahead of time yet not much was done to prevent it due to internal political squabbles. Based on my above analysis regarding the post-territorial control IS, I will start a new ‘backgrounder’ series on Jihadology, similar to the Attack and Plot Dossier, but this will be for when something occurs in a locale that does not have much history of jihadi activity and everyone is attempting to gain a better grasp on the situation.
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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August 21, 2014:
The Rise of Ideological Jihadists – OPEN Magazine
November 21, 2014:
The Maldives-Syria Connection: Jihad in Paradise? – The Jamestown Foundation
May 15, 2015:
Wanted: Western Professionals To Join The Islamic State (ISIS)
July 19, 2015:
July 21, 2015:
Sri Lanka probes first Lankan ISIS man after death
August 30, 2015:
Police probe case of couple who left for “war” with two kids – HaveeruOnline
December 2, 2015:
Islamic State’s Sri Lankan Outreach – The Jamestown Foundation
January 4, 2016:
36 Sri Lankans gone to Syria; some to join ISIS: Def. Secy. – Dailymirror
April 1, 2016:
Facebook and Twitter facilitated ISIS recruits moving to Syria: leaked data – Zaman Alwsl
May 13, 2016:
Malaysia deports three foreign suspected militants – Reuters
July 25, 2016:
Looking for God’s own country – The Indian Express
August 27, 2016:
Al Qaeda goes local, uses Tamil and Malayalam for recruitment in South India
November 18, 2016
Sri Lanka says 32 ‘elite’ Muslims have joined IS in Syria – Reuters
November 29, 2016:
How Isis recruiters found fertile ground in Kerala, India’s tourist gem – The Guardian
March 26, 2017:
Drone Strike Kills Planner of 2008 Islamabad Hotel Bombing, U.S
June 16, 2017:
Tech Savvy ISIS Chief Recruiter In India Named Global Terrorist By US
November 17, 2017:
AQIS goes vernacular with Tamil, Hindi, Bengali texts online – The Indian Express
April 21, 2018:
Where Countries Are Tinderboxes and Facebook Is a Match – The New York Times
September 26, 2018:
Life Sentence for Terrorism – Daily News
January 19, 2019:
Sri Lanka seize explosives from local Islamist radicals – Dhaka Tribune
April 21, 2019:
Sri Lanka Blasts: Here’s What We Know So Far About the Decade’s Worst Terror Attack
Twitter thread on one of the potential bombers and a pro-IS support from Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka attacks: More than 200 killed as churches and hotels targeted – BBC News
Sri Lankans see hand of global jihadis in Easter Sunday atrocity – Financial Times
April 22, 2019:
Sri Lanka attacks: ‘International network’ linked to bombings – BBC News
Sri Lanka Blames Radical Islamist Group for Easter Bombings – The New York Times
Sri Lanka’s bloody Easter puts spotlight on a new terror threat – The Washington Post
A Scholar of Extremism on How Religious Conflict Shapes Sri Lanka – The New Yorker
Sri Lanka Muslims Had Warned Officials About Group Behind Attack – Bloomberg
Sri Lankan Group Suspected of Easter Attacks Has Ties to Local Charity – Kharon
April 23, 2019:
U.S., India Warned Sri Lanka Weeks Before Easter Terror Attacks – WSJ
Sri Lankan Official Says Bombings Are Retaliation For New Zealand Massacre – NPR
ISIS suspect gave advance warning of Sri Lanka bombings, source says – CNN
Sri Lanka Bombings: A Lesson in Radicalization for Asian Neighbors
Sri Lanka was warned of threat hours before suicide attacks – sources – Reuters
Asia Times – ‘Mother of Satan’ explosive used in Sri Lanka bombings
Asia Times – ‘IS-KP’ suspected of Sri Lanka involvement
April 24, 2019:
Sri Lanka suicide bomber studied in Australia, minister says – The Guardian
Sri Lanka deputy defense minister one of nine bombers was a woman – Reuters
Sri Lanka attack planned for ‘months’ – The Independent
Sri Lanka told of extremist network months before blasts – sources – The Guardian
Islamic State video throws spotlight on suspected ringleader of Sri Lanka bombings – Reuters
Sri Lanka Calls Bombers ‘Well Educated’ and Warns of Ongoing Threat – The New York Times
Zahran Hashim: radical Islamist linked to Sri Lanka blasts
April 25, 2019:
The Sri Lanka Attacks and Islamic State Logic: A Look at al-Naba’ – Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi
Sri Lanka bombing suspects may still be on the run, police warn – CNN
Two Islamic State men linked to Sri Lanka Easter blasts – The Hindu
Sri Lankan Accused of Leading Attacks Preached Slaughter. Many Dismissed Him. – The New York Times
April 26, 2019:
Sri Lanka Bombings Put Focus on Islamist Preacher Long on the Radar – WSJ
Sri Lanka bombings ringleader died in hotel attack, president says – BBC News
Sri Lanka bombing: Terrorist Abdul Lathief Jameel Mohamed ‘radicalised in Australia’
Sri Lanka attacks: Australian police investigated bomber five years ago – The Times
‘Black sheep’ – The mastermind of Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombs – Reuters
Sri Lanka raids prompt authorities to impose extended curfew – CNN
Sri Lanka gun battle with militants kills 15, U.S. pulls citizens out – Reuters
Security Officials Were ‘Stunned’ by the Sophistication of the Sri Lanka Attack
April 27, 2019:
The Western-educated bomber who botched Sri Lanka hotel attack – Reuters
Indian police uncovered an attack plot, but Sri Lanka didn’t act
Islamic State claims attack on east coast city of Sri Lanka – Reuters
Yesterday, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for its first attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In one of the claims, IS states that these attacks occurred within its so-called ‘Wilayat Wasat Ifriqiya’ (Mid/Central Africa). Wassim Nasr notes that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has talked about this ‘wilayah’ previously in his August 22, 2018 speech. Interestingly, in al-Baghdadi’s speech following the announcement of IS’s self-proclaimed Caliphate in July 2014, he mentions the Central African Republic, but not the Democratic Republic of Congo. CAR has been a topic jihadis in general have discussed more so than DRC historically.
As Caleb Weiss highlights however, there is a history of connections between IS and some militant groups in the country. Since this is such an under-covered phenomenon, I thought it would be useful to share resources related to this topic to help contextualize and better understand it based on content I have saved over the years. It is not a ton, but better than nothing. 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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January 17, 2013:
Authorities on alert after al-Shabaab, Ugandan militants join forces
July 1, 2014:
U.S. imposes sanctions on Islamist group in Congo for targeting children
January 9, 2015:
February 19, 2015:
New insights on Congo’s Islamist rebels – The Washington Post
May 11, 2015:
Congo seeks extradition of Islamist rebel chief from Tanzania – Reuters
September 27, 2016:
Jihadis in Congo? Probably not
December 26, 2016:
Rebels Blamed for Killing 25 With Machetes in Congo
December 8, 2017:
Islamist attack kills at least 15 UN peacekeepers and five soldiers in DRC – The Guardian
February 23, 2018:
Congo Army gruesomely destroys base of Islamist rebel group – Business Insider
May 24, 2018:
AU confirms ISIS infiltration in countries, including Somalia – Shabelle
July 31, 2018:
The Islamic State in East Africa
November 2, 2018:
Violence and Viruses_ How a Poorly Armed Insurgency in the Congo Poses a Global Threat – Jamestown
November 14, 2018:
Inside the ADF Rebellion A Glimpse into the Life and Operations of a Secretive Jihadi Armed Group
November 15, 2018:
Financier of Islamic State paid money to rebel group in eastern Congo: report – Reuters
November 24, 2018:
U.S. says receives credible terrorist threat against facilities in Congo – Reuters
December 3, 2018:
Threat from Islamic State-Affiliated Group Reason DRC US Embassy Closed
December 4, 2018:
The tentative ties between the Allied Democratic Forces and ISIS
December 7, 2018:
Militants kill at least 18 civilians in Congo’s Ebola zone – Reuters
February 9, 2019:
April 18, 2019:
Islamic State claims attack in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – FDD’s Long War Journal
Islamic State claims:
