AQAP praises Shabaab’s activities in East Africa
In the latest issue of its Sada al-Malahem magazine, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) heaped significant praise on recent operations conducted by Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East...
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
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...
Op-eds
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula names new emir; U.S. has $6 million bounty on his head
In a newly released video, Ibrahim al-Qosi, a veteran official within al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), announced the sudden death of AQAP’s emir, Khalid al-Batarfi. At the same time,...
Op-eds
Shabaab claims several al-Qaeda leaders present during infamous ‘Black Hawk Down’ incident
In a newly released video – touted as a documentary by Shabaab – the Somali jihadi group claimed that as many as 10 al-Qaeda leaders and figures were present during the infamous ‘Black Hawk Down’...
Op-eds
U.S. offers $5 million reward for Shabaab’s deputy emir
The U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program is offering a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Abukar Ali Adan, the deputy leader of Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in...
Op-eds
On eve of 9/11 Anniversary, U.S. officials continue to downplay Al Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan
On the eve of the 22nd anniversary of Al Qaeda’s deadly attacks on New York and Washington, American intelligence officials further minimized the terror group’s safe haven in Afghanistan and its...
Op-eds
Jihadis issue vague threats against World Cup
In online statements, both al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and al Qaeda’s general command issued vague threats against the FIFA World Cup and its host Qatar. Islamic State supporters have additionally...
Op-eds
Analysis: Al Qaeda ideologue calls for jihad in Sudan, provides guidelines
Earlier this month, Bayt al Maqdis, a jihadi publishing house believed linked to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), released a book compiled of various letters written by the ideologue Abu Hudhayfah...
Op-eds
US government sanctions several Shabaab officials and affiliated individuals
Today the United States government sanctioned a total of 14 individuals belonging to or associated with Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a list of nine...
Op-eds
U.S. kills Al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri in drone strike
Al Qaeda emir Ayman Zawahiri was confirmed killed in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul on Sunday in the first air strike conducted in Afghanistan since U.S. forces completely withdrew from country last year....
Op-eds
Ayman al Zawahiri is alive; Taliban and Al Qaeda “remain close,” UN reports
Ayman al Zawahiri, the head of Al Qaeda who served as Osama bin Laden’d deputy on 9/11, “is confirmed to be alive” and is “communicating freely,” according to a report from the United Nations’...
Op-eds
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...
Op-eds
Hamas fighter with American citizenship killed in recent Gaza conflict
An American citizen known as Osama al-Zebda was fighting with the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the so-called “armed wing” of Hamas, during the recent battle in Gaza. An official confirmed this with FDD’s...
Op-eds
Bin Laden Is Long Gone, but He Sparked a Jihadist Revolution
An Islamic caliphate was his ultimate political goal and remains al-Qaeda’s chief objective to this day.
Op-eds
The Flawed Reasoning Behind Biden’s Afghanistan Withdrawal
The president isn’t all wrong about leaving Afghanistan, but he misunderstands the history of the war and the terrorist threat emanating from the region.
Op-eds
Taliban pushes Osama bin Laden truther conspiracy theories
The Taliban promoted two conspiracy theories related to Al Qaeda founder and its first emir, Osama bin Laden. The Taliban denied he was responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S. and questioned...
Op-eds
AQAP leader cites U.S. Capitol riot as evidence of America’s supposed decline
In a newly released video, Khalid Batarfi, the emir of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), cites the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Trump as evidence of America’s...
Op-eds
The Failures of Operation Enduring Freedom
The chief aim in late 2001 should have been the swift destruction of al-Qaeda. That didn’t happen.
Op-eds
No, There is No ‘End in Sight’ to the Battle Against Al-Qaeda
The terror group has grown its base since 9/11.
Op-eds
The 9/11 anniversary and the 9/11 wars
Containing and disrupting jihadists is a mission worth accomplishing