Crusades

February 2, 2024 | Reuel Marc Gerecht |

Should America strike back at Iran?

Tehran knows that it's winning its proxy wars

November 20, 2023 | Caleb Weiss |

Al Qaeda’s general command renews calls for attacks against American, European, and Israeli interests around the world

In a new statement released online, Al-Qaeda’s general command, or its central leadership, which is often erroneously called “core al-Qaeda,” renewed its longstanding calls for attacks against Americans,...

October 11, 2023 | Caleb Weiss |

Shabaab celebrates Hamas-led invasion of Israel, calls people to jihad

Joining other al-Qaeda branches around the world, Shabaab, al-Qaeda’s branch for East Africa, expressed jubilation for the Hamas-led invasion of Israel in a new statement. Shabaab thus joins al-Qaeda’s...

November 22, 2022 | Joe Truzman, Caleb Weiss

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...

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...

May 8, 2020 | Thomas Joscelyn, Caleb Weiss

Analysis: Islamic State claims Al Qaeda started a war in West Africa

The Islamic State claims in the latest edition of its weekly Al-Naba newsletter that Al Qaeda started a “war” against the so-called caliphate’s men in West Africa. Independent reporting confirms...

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...

April 6, 2020 | Thomas Joscelyn |

How Jihadists Are Reacting to the Coronavirus Pandemic

By calling it “divine retribution” and inviting Westerners to convert to Islam, for starters.

March 13, 2020 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Al-Qaeda lauds Taliban’s great ‘victory’ over America and allies

Al-Qaeda’s general command (or senior leadership) has released a three–page statement praising the Taliban’s “great victory” over America and its allies in Afghanistan. This triumph was enshrined...

January 20, 2020 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Al-Qaeda’s senior leadership praises jihadists in Mali and Somalia

Al-Qaeda’s senior management, or general command, has released a two-page statement praising the jihadists in Mali and Somalia. Al-Qaeda has strong branches in both East and West Africa, and the international...

October 16, 2019 | Clifford D. May |

How not to end endless wars

Retreating and abandoning allies may not be the optimum strategy.

September 17, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi praises the Islamic State’s global operations

Undeterred by the loss of his territorial caliphate in Iraq and Syria, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi preaches patience in a newly released audio message. Baghdadi’s message was released online yesterday via various...

September 16, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Key questions concerning Hamza bin Laden’s life remain unanswered

The State Department released this wanted poster for Hamza bin Laden, using an image from his wedding video, in February. On Sept. 14, President Donald Trump said in a statement that Hamza bin Laden,...

September 11, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Ayman al-Zawahiri defends 9/11 hijackings in anniversary address

Ayman al-Zawahiri defends the 9/11 hijackings in a video released on the 18th anniversary of al-Qaeda’s most devastating attack. The production, released by al-Qaeda’s As Sahab propaganda arm, is titled...

July 9, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Al Qaeda leader threatens India, criticizes Pakistan in message on Kashmir

Al Qaeda’s media arm, As Sahab, has released yet another message from Ayman al-Zawahiri. The elderly al Qaeda leader is a prolific commentator on world affairs, having released a series of videos an...

June 23, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Al Qaeda growing stronger under Taliban’s umbrella, UN finds

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April 27, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Sri Lankan security forces clash with Islamic State loyalists

The Islamic State’s Amaq News Agency released this photo of two jihadists killed during a security raid in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan authorities raided a suspected terrorist hideout late yesterday,...

March 21, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Islamic State spokesman claims group remains a ‘reality’ despite losses

The Islamic State’s spokesman, Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir, released a lengthy speech on Mar. 18. His talk, which was translated into English by the so-called caliphate’s online media team, contains many...

February 7, 2019 | Thomas Joscelyn |

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

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August 1, 2018 | Clifford D. May |

In Turkey and Pakistan, discouraging elections

Not so long ago, freedom and democracy seemed to be on the march in the world, with Turkey and Pakistan, two strategically important Muslim-majority nations, near the front of the parade. That tu...