Abu Yahya al-Libi

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...

June 16, 2022 | Bill Roggio |

Turkistan Islamic Party leader celebrates Eid in Afghanistan

Abdul Haq al Turkistani, the head of the Al Qaeda and Taliban-linked Turkistan Islamic Party, celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday in Afghanistan. Abdul Haq’s public presence in Afghanistan directly contradicts...

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...

February 7, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

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

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June 11, 2015 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

Turkistan Islamic Party Emir Thought Killed in 2010 Reemerged to Lead Group in 2014

The emir of the Turkistan Islamic Party, who served on al Qaeda’s executive leadership council and who was thought to have been killed in a US drone strike in 2010, is believed to have re-e...

May 14, 2014 | Thomas Joscelyn

A Failure of Policy

Forty-one recently declassified State Department documents obtained by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, have reignited the controversy over the September 11, 2012, terrorist attack...

February 11, 2014 | Thomas Joscelyn

Al Qaeda’s Expansion in Egypt Implications for U.S. Homeland Security

Chairman King, Ranking Member Higgins, members of the committee, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss al Qaeda’s presence in Egypt. The uprisings throughou...

February 10, 2014 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

The Arab Spring and Al-Qaeda’s Resurgence

Chairman McKeon, Ranking Member Smith, distinguished members of the committee, it is an honor to appear before you to discuss the state of al-Qaeda, its affiliates, and associated groups. My test...

February 3, 2014 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross |

The Arab Spring and Al-Qaeda’s Resurgence

Download the full testimony (PDF). Chairman McKeon...

July 25, 2013 | Thomas Joscelyn

Al Qaeda’s Jailbreaks Fuel the Fight

Al Qaeda’s jailbreaks have been an all too common occurrence in the post-9/11 world. And they have directly fueled the fight. Chances are the massive jailbreak in Iraq this week will cause...

January 22, 2013 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross Gunpowder & Lead

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Al Qaeda’s Senior Leadership

With recent events in Mali and Algeria, there is a notable uptick in interest in Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). One question commentators are asking is what the relationship is between A...

January 10, 2013 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

‘Key al Qaeda Paramilitary Commander’ Killed in Recent Drone Strike in Pakistan

The US killed a senior al Qaeda military commander during a recent drone strike in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan. Sheikh Yasin Al Kuwaiti, who was...

December 28, 2012 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

US Drones Strike in Pakistan’s Shawal Valley

The US launched another drone strike in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan today. Five "militants" are said to have been killed in the latest strike in an area k...

December 21, 2012 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

‘Foreigners’ Reported Killed in US Drone Strike in Pakistan

The US launched its first airstrike in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agencies in 11 days, killing four "militants," possibly inkling some foreigners. The remotely-piloted Pre...

December 17, 2012 | Thomas Joscelyn

Al Qaeda Lives

The real story behind Benghazi and the other attacks of 9/11/12

December 10, 2012 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

Al Qaeda Religious Leader Thought Killed in US Drone Strike

A Kuwaiti who was a prominent member of al Qaeda's religious committee is thought to have been killed in a recent US drone strike in Pakistan's tribal areas. Two "contemporarie...

December 9, 2012 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

US Drone Strike Kills Another al Qaeda Commander in North Waziristan

The US killed another al Qaeda commander in a drone strike in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan today. The remotely-piloted Predators or the more deadl...

November 29, 2012 | Bill Roggio The Long War Journal

US Drones Kill 3 ‘Militants’ in 1st Strike in Pakistan in More Than a Month

The US killed three "militants," including "foreigners," in the first drone strike recorded in Pakistan in more than a month. The remotely piloted Predators or the more heavily armed Rea...

November 20, 2012 | Thomas Joscelyn The Long War Journal

Ansar al Sharia Egypt Releases Founding Statement

Ansar al Sharia Egypt has published its founding statement online. The group says that "preaching and jihad are two wings that are indispensable to the spread of Islam," according to a translatio...

November 19, 2012 | Daveed Gartenstein-Ross Jihadology |

Perceptions of the “Arab Spring” Within the Salafi-Jihadi Movement

Co-authored by Tara Vassefi “The popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain have not only shaken the foundation of the authoritarian order in the...