Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

December 22, 2024 | Bill Roggio |

US removes $10 million reward for Hayat Tahrir al Sham leader

The US State Department removed the $10 million reward for Abu Mohammad al Jolani, the Specially Designated Global Terrorist who leads Haytat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), which State describes as an Al Qaeda...

June 19, 2024 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab advertises creation of “special forces” unit

In a newly released video, Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s branch for East Africa, announced and advertised the creation of its new so-called ‘special forces’ unit. The new unit also has its own specific training...

September 11, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Ayman al Zawahiri promotes ‘Jerusalem Will Not Be Judaized’ campaign in new video

As Sahab, al Qaeda’s main propaganda arm, released a video featuring Ayman al Zawahiri earlier today. Although the hour-long production was disseminated on the 9/11 anniversary, it does not appear to...

September 8, 2021 | Bill Roggio, Thomas Joscelyn

Taliban’s government includes designated terrorists, ex-Guantanamo detainees

The Taliban has announced the formation of an “interim government” to rule over Afghanistan. The Taliban’s regime will be known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. This is entirely unsurprising....

June 25, 2020 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Donald Trump’s Silence on Al-Qaeda Is Deafening

The administration is still going after terrorists even as it claims to be ending ‘endless war.’

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...

August 31, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Airstrike targeted Al Qaeda leadership in Syria, U.S. military says

Jihadis say a U.S. airstrike hit this location in Idlib, Syria earlier today. The American military conducted an airstrike against al Qaeda in Syria (AQ-S) “leadership at a facility north of Idlib, Syria”...

August 22, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Al Qaeda veteran reportedly killed in Idlib

Jihadists shared this photo of the car Abu Khallad al-Muhandis was in when an explosion caused his demise. Al Qaeda-affiliated Telegram channels reported earlier today that Abu Khallad al-Muhandis, a veteran...

August 15, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Wanted al Qaeda leader warns of Turkish influence on jihad in Syria

A statement attributed to Saif al-Adel (left) was disseminated online this week. Last year, the State Department announced a reward of $10 million for information on al-Adel and Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah,...

August 14, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Shabaab’s jihad against the ‘leaders of disbelief’

Shabaab’s latest video features a clip of Ayman al-Zawahiri criticizing “corrupt regimes” that are allied with America. Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, has released a lengthy video that...

May 20, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Assad’s forces battle jihadists for key terrain in Latakia

For more than a week, forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad have attempted to capture Kabani, a key location in the coastal Latakia province. Assad’s men have met stiff resistance from jihadists in the ar...

April 26, 2019 | Bill Roggio |

Caliphate, interrupted

After being bombarded by four years of U.S. airstrikes, a relentless ground campaign by Kurdish-led U.S. allies, and attacks from Russian, Syri...

March 23, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

U.S.-backed forces declare end to Islamic State’s physical caliphate

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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...

November 28, 2018 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Trump Once Called the Taliban Five ‘Killers.’ Now He’s Negotiating With Them

Negotiating with terrorists won’t bring peace to Afghanistan.

November 3, 2017 | Thomas Joscelyn

Documenting al Qaeda’s Durability

More than 16 years after the September 11, 2001, hijackings, America remains at war with jihadist groups around the globe. From South Asia through the heart of the Middle East and into West Afric...

November 10, 2016 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

How Will Jihadist Strategy Evolve as the Islamic State Declines?

Co-written by Colin Clarke Jihadist strategy has always been dynamic and opportunistic. Milita...

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...

April 28, 2016 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross |

How the Islamic State’s Propaganda Feeds Into Its Global Expansion Efforts

Co-written by Bridget Moreng and Nathaniel Barr  Even before the dramatic blitzkrieg...

January 13, 2016 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

The Islamic State vs. Al-Qaeda: The War Within the Jihadist Movement

Co-authored with Nathaniel Barr and Bridget Moreng The post-Arab Spring period has seen extraordinary growth in the global jihadist movement. In addition to the ...