Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi

June 14, 2020 | Thomas Joscelyn |

U.S. reportedly targets 2 senior al Qaeda figures in airstrike in Syria

Two al Qaeda leaders were reportedly killed in a drone strike in Syria’s Idlib province earlier today, according to jihadists on social media. Pictures of the car carrying them were posted on Telegram...

May 4, 2020 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Analysis: The Islamic State’s ideological campaign against al-Qaeda

On April 29, the Islamic State’s “province” (wilayah) in Yemen released a lengthy video that is intended to undermine al-Qaeda’s ideological legitimacy within the jihadists’ ranks. The 50-plus...

March 18, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Turkistan Islamic Party head decries Chinese occupation

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February 15, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Hurras al-Din reach a new accord

On Feb. 10, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Hurras al-Din (HAD) reached a new accord. The agreement was forged after nearly two weeks of vitriolic debate — the latest in a series of disagreements...

February 7, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Zawahiri criticizes jihadists in Syria for clinging to territory under Turkey’s protection

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January 30, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

2 al Qaeda leaders reject proposed military council in Syria

Two al Qaeda leaders in Syria have rejected an alleged proposal that would reorganize jihadists and Islamists under a new military council. Abu Hammam al-Shami and Dr. Sami al-Uraydi, both of whom...

October 13, 2016 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

Underestimating al Qaeda

The United States and its allies are consumed by their battle with ISIS, but to many terrorism experts, al Qaeda remains a serious force to be reckoned with, one that is actually increasing i...

August 29, 2016 | Thomas Joscelyn, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

Zawahiri’s Revenge

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham — which has now rebranded itself "the Islamic State" (IS) — is trying to position itself as the new leader of the global...

September 4, 2015 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

Extreme Makeover, Jihadist Edition: Al-Qaeda’s Rebranding Campaign

Since the Islamic State made its dramatic military advance from Syria into Iraq more than a year ago — capturing...

February 27, 2015 | Thomas Joscelyn |

New Docs Reveal Osama bin Laden’s Secret Ties With Iran

This week, prosecutors in New York introduced eight documents recovered in Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan as evidence in the trial of a terrorism suspect. The U.S. government accuse...

February 13, 2015 | Thomas Joscelyn

Al Qaeda Uses ISIS to Try to Present Itself as Respectable, Even Moderate

In response to the Islamic State’s horrific burning of a pilot, the Jordanian government has released from prison one of the most influential al Qaeda-allied ideologues in the world...

January 5, 2015 | Thomas Joscelyn The Long War Journal |

Dagestani Jihadist Swears Allegiance to Islamic State, Invoking Backlash

Earlier this month, Rustam Asilderov, a senior jihadist in Dagestan, released a video in which he pledged allegiance (bayat) to the head of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. Asild...

August 1, 2014 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Thomas Joscelyn

Zawahiri’s Revenge

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham -- which has now rebranded itself "the Islamic State" (IS) -- is trying to position itself as the new leader of the global jihadist movement. After being...

February 4, 2014 | Thomas Joscelyn The Long War Journal |

Pro-al Qaeda Saudi Cleric Calls on ISIS Members to Defect

Not long after al Qaeda's general command yesterday disowned the Islamic State of Iraq and the...

November 2, 2012 | Thomas Joscelyn The Long War Journal

Egypt Arrests Pro-al Qaeda Jihadist Tied to Benghazi Suspect

Sheikh 'Adel Shehato, a senior Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) official who has openly proclaimed his allegiance to al Qaeda's ideology, has...

October 26, 2012 | Thomas Joscelyn The Long War Journal

Al Qaeda-Linked Jihadists Helped Incite 9/11 Cairo Protest

Several al Qaeda-linked jihadists helped incite the protest outside the US embassy in Cairo on Sept. 11. The jihadists include senior members of Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), a group that merged...

October 18, 2012 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal |

2 Zarqawi Cousins Detained in Jordan After Fighting in Syria

Two cousins of Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the slain leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, were arrested by Jordanian security forces as they returned from waging jihad in Syria. The two cousins, Zayed...

July 13, 2012 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

Jordanian Jihadist Killed in Fighting in Eastern Afghanistan

A Jordanian jihadist was killed while battling Coalition and Afghan forces in the eastern Afghan province of Ghazni, a known stronghold of al Qaeda. A brief statement on the death of Abu...

June 25, 2012 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

Zarqawi’s Nephew Killed in Yemen Drone Strike

A Jordanian member of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula who was the nephew of former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi was killed in a drone strike earlier this year, according to a ma...

November 13, 2006 |

Maqdisi’s Minions

Authored by Dan Wilson On November 13, 1995, two explosions ripped through an American-run training center in the heart of Riyadh, killing five American military advisors and wo...