Al qaeda in syria pdf

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. It seems the president of the united states talks more about alqaidas goals than alqaida itself does. Al qaeda and isis are not identical in either ideology or strategy. Nusra front hayat tahrir alsham counter extremism project. Syria volume of alqaeda propaganda forecasts syrian. In late 2010 and into 2011, as the socalled arab spring swept across north africa and the middle east, a consensus emerged in the west that the unprecedented wave of prodemocracy protests spelled the likely end of jihadist movements like alqaeda. Today, warnings of a major alqaida threat emanating from syria continue to be repeated, with u. Islamic state of iraq and alsham isis currently controls vast territories in iraq and syria with estimated population up to 5 million people. It began as a logistical network to support muslims fighting against the soviet union during the afghan war and transformed into the active terrorist organization known for. The nusra front in syria has been the most successful test of this al qaeda model. Yet across the us military, there is little understanding on how they differ. Combating alqaeda in syria tahrir institute for middle east policy.

Hurras aldin had was formed on february 27, 2018, by a merger of seven hardline syrian rebel factions. This is essential reading for understanding the most difficult and complex international crisis facing the world community today. Though isis and al qaeda are now two separate organizations, isis recruiters seem to follow many of the same basic guidelines for luring people into their group and indoctrinating them. Shia, the iraqi and syrian regimes, and secular, pro. In this political framework, the group maintains a position of. Syria, where the only official alqaeda affiliate, jabhat alnusra, has avoided governing on its own, instead typically working through establishing sharia councils in which a number of sunni opposition groups are represented. Exiled by the saudi regime, and later stripped of his citizenship in 1994, bin laden left afghanistan and set up operations in sudan, with the united states in his sights as.

Although it is the most hunted terrorist group in history, the campaign of holy war unleashed by alqaeda is likely to outlive itself and the current generation of islamists. One option is to support a tribal awakening similar to the movement that helped subdue al qaeda in iraq by 2009 turning the tribal networks that are strong in eastern syria against the terrorist network. The group conducts formal military campaigns, assassinations, hostage missions, and lone wolf operations, including al qaeda s trademark suicide bombings. A national counterterrorism center threat assessment of isil and al qaeda in iraq, syria and beyond matthew g. A similar situation occurred when aleppo was liberated from alqaedas control. Washingtons neocondominated foreign policy establishment has long seen al qaedas nusra front as a strategic ally in syria and now hopes a name change will protect it through president.

In contrast, al qaeda groups have focused more on local populations and local flashpoints. Isis has ruled ruthlessly and killed with few restraints in its syrian holdings. Two al qaeda affiliates, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, and al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, quickly issued a joint statement eulogizing al masri. Alqaedas 911 attacks was the deadliest ever on american soil, killing nearly 3,000 people. Alqaeda, broadbased militant islamist organization founded by osama bin laden in the late 1980s.

Heras, the bacevich fellow at the center for a new american security. The combating alqaeda in syria strategy group was formed in july 2016 by nicholas a. Despite russia and the syrian regime saying theyre fighting al qaeda in syria, the groups presence has been shrinking. In 2011, abu bakr albaghdadi, the leader of the islamic state in iraq isi, formerly alqaeda in iraq, sent operatives into syria to establish a foothold. The is which was initially fighting the near enemy. Gerges explains the shift in the is strategy from a focus on the near enemy. Al qaedas syrian strategy the washington institute for. 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. The rise and fall of the islamic state of iraq and alsham. Olsen and bruce riedel listen to audio download the audio.

A comparative analysis of al qaeda and the islamic state is 3 globally. Rarely, if ever, do bin laden and zawahiri discuss any specific social or political policy. I received a report this morning that european nations now recognize the threat of over 50,000 radical islamists that purposely blended in with the immigrant population and are a terrorist threat in those countries. The syrian jihad is an insightful and comprehensive account of syrias violent descent into civil war and the rise of alqaedas offspring in that war. January, 2017 information clearing house the success of the current syrian government operations against alqaeda in idleb governorate can be measured by the volume of u.

Front of the supporters, known as jabhat fatah alsham arabic. Seeking to broaden its appeal among other armed syrian opposition groups, jn formally broke ties with al qaeda core in july 2016, renaming itself jabhat fateh al sham. Most of the world thinks it is a takfiri and terrorist organization members of alqaeda have performed many acts of terrorism. This report examines the threat posed by al qaeda affiliates in.

Aqap and aqim eulogize zawahiri deputy abu alkhayr almasri, site intelligence group, march 2, 2017. Its experience fighting in syria has expanded al qaedas contacts, and, given the proliferation of jihadist groups pdf worldwide67 active groups as of 2019there will be more opportunities for al qaeda to work with likeminded terrorists from north africa to southeast asia. While alqaeda conducted one major attack every year prior to 911, alqaeda and its associated groups have conducted one attack every three months since 911. That instruction, which had arrived in a secret letter earlier that year, came in response to the u. 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. It is therefore likely a strategic consideration for both joulani and zawahiri to ensure this network adheres to alqaeda as it evolves. Baghdadi rebranded the outfit as the islamic state of iraq and levant in april 20 freemen, 2014. Katherine zimmerman is a research fellow at the american enterprise institute aei and the lead analyst on al qaeda for aeis critical threats project. The resurgence of alqaeda in syria and iraq army war college. Combating alqaeda in syria the tahrir institute for middle east the combating alqaeda in syria strategy group. Over the past six months, the tahrir institute for middle east policy has sponsored this integral working group of. Ten more minor rebel factions joined the group in the months following its formation, all with a history of ideological and leadership ties to alqaeda. Pdf even as the socalled islamic state is embarks on a new phase of global expansion, as evidenced by the recent easter attacks in sri.

Islamic state of iraq and al sham isis currently controls vast territories in iraq and syria with estimated population up to 5 million people. How alqaeda and islamic state differ in pursuit of common. The third strategic objective that elevating joulani to. In syria, alqaeda, alnusra have community ties that run deep. Omar haj kadourafpgettyimages hayat tahrir al sham hts or the organization for the liberation of the levant traces its beginnings to the outset of the syrian civil war and has remained a dangerous opposition force throughout the duration of the conflict. The jihadi threat united states institute of peace. However, the opportunities provided by a seemingly intractable civil conflict in syria and the growth there of a highly effective and popular alqaeda linked group, jabhat alnusra, meant.

Alqaeda, the islamic state and the evolution of an insurgency. To defeat isis, washington and its partners need to cultivate local allies calling for al qaedas ouster. Most analysts continue to view jfs as a covert alqaeda affiliate, although key proalqaeda ideologues are unhappy with what they see as. Isis islamic state of iraq and syria or sham isisk islamic state of iraq and syriakhorasan. Most analysts continue to view jfs as a covert al qaeda affiliate, although key pro al qaeda ideologues are unhappy with what they see as. Download the report with president donald trump threatening to pull out of syria, the bashar alassad regime ramping up its military campaign against rebels, and the islamic state in decline, al qaeda has attempted to resurge and reposition itself at the center of global salafijihadist activity. The threat is compounded by globalization, with barriers to. In contrast, alqaeda groups have focused more on local populations and local flashpoints. How alqaeda survived drones, uprisings,and the islamic state. Two alqaeda affiliates, alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, and alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, quickly issued a joint statement eulogizing almasri.

Daesh in iraq and syria beginning in 20 unsettled al qaedas. In his audio message on 8th april, he included jabhat alnusra jn as well, which is a terrorist organisation active in syria and affiliated to alqaida, as part of isis. Aqap, nasr alwuhayshi, was alqaedas deputy from 20 until his death in june 2015. In april 20, aqi announced that it was expanding its operations into syria, absorbing aqcbacked jabhat alnusra and rebranding itself the isis. Seems like us anger at russia for seemingly bombing al qaeda in syria kind of answers the question of whether the us should ally with al qaeda in syria, or so it would seem. The group also assessed the threat posed by al qaeda and isis to the united states, both in the immediate and long term, and tested the probable outcomes of several potential courses of action that the united states could pursue in iraq and syria. The nusra front is al qaeda s formal affiliate in syria and one of the most powerful rebel groups fighting assad. Syria volume of alqaeda propaganda forecasts syrian army success. Islamic state, terrorism, jihadism, is funding, syria, iraq. Pdf the transformation of terrorism from alqaeda to the islamic state is has. Bashar al jaafari noted sc being turned into a platform for north atlantic treaty organization to support turkish aggression against syria. A comparative analysis of alqaeda and the islamic state is 3 globally.

Group type the alqaeda clandestine network is certainly a jihadist group, committed to the ideology of alqaeda and its objectives of establishing an islamic state in libya and eradicating western influence in the muslim world in general and in libya in. Backgrounder the threat of new alqaeda leadership the case of syrias aljoulani une 30 2015 of a caliphate on june 29, 2014. It was also published in a special edition of the georgetown security. Had is avowedly loyal to alqaeda and its leadership is dominated by nonsyrian alqaeda veterans. In june 2014, isis made a move to conquer sunni areas of iraq in provinces like ninawa, salah addin, and.

Library of congress federal research division alqaeda in libya. Omar haj kadourafpgettyimages hayat tahrir alsham hts or the organization for the liberation of the levant traces its beginnings to the outset of the syrian civil war and has remained a dangerous opposition force throughout the duration of the conflict. Al qaeda and isis internet brainwashing manual business. A threat assessment of isil and al qaeda in iraq, syria. Harleen gambhir is a counterterrorism analyst at the institute for the study of war and the author of isiss global strategy. Aqap and aqim eulogize zawahiri deputy abu al khayr al masri, site intelligence group, march 2, 2017. Al qaeda, cia, operation cyclone, usama bin laden ultimate. This report examines the threat posed by al qaeda affiliates in the middle east and africa as described. Download the backgrounder figure 1 fighters from hts train in idlib province, syria.