U.S. military hits Shabaab in haven south of Somali capital
The US military conducted two airstrikes against Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in Somalia, in a terrorist haven outside of the capital of Mogadishu. US Africa Command (AFRICOM) ...
Mogadishu
US strikes Shabaab on southern Somalia coast
Yesterday, US Forces killed nine Shabaab terrorists in a strike 40 km northeast of Kismayo after the al Qaeda branch attacked Somali forces operating in the area. The strike took place near the town of Jamaame, a former Shabaab safe haven that was liberated by Somali forces just one day eariler.
Op-eds
Treasury Dept. Can Play Critical Role in Helping Somalia Disrupt Al-Shabaab Fundraising
Washington, D.C., June 28, 2017 – The U.S. Treasury Department can play a critical role in helping Somalia – recently designated as an “area of hostilities” by President T...
Press Releases
US Targets ‘Senior Leader’ for Shabaab in Southern Somalia
The US military confirmed that its aircraft launched an airstrike against a "senior leader" of al Qaeda's branch in Somalia. "The strike took place in the vicinity of Saakow, Somali...
Op-eds
Al – Shabaab Strikes In Djibouti
Co-Authored by Henry Appel On Saturday evening, May 24, a Somali man and his female companion took their seats in La Chaumière, a restaurant in Djibouti’s capital p...
Op-eds
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...
Legislative Testimonies
The Arab Spring and Al-Qaeda’s Resurgence
Download the full testimony (PDF). Chairman McKeon...
Legislative Testimonies
Al Qaeda’s Big Year
Any way you measure it, 2013 was a good year for al Qaeda. It wasn’t supposed to be. Shortly after the United States killed the group’s charismatic leader, Osama bin Laden, a couple o...
Op-eds
Jordan, a Land Flowing with Syrian Refugees
Zaatari, Jordan – The Zaatari Refugee Camp sprawls across the featureless, colorless desert of northern Jordan, six miles from the border with Syria, a country torn limb from limb...
Op-eds
Shabaab Executes French Hostage Denis Allex
Shabaab, al Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia and East Africa, announced today that it executed a French intelligence operative who was captured in Mogadishu in 2009. The hostage, Denis Allex, wa...
Op-eds
Shabaab Kills, Captures French Soldiers During Failed Rescue Mission in Somalia
Shabaab, al Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, killed one French commando and captured another during a failed French attempt to rescue Denis Allex, an intelligence operative who has been in the...
Op-eds
Shabaab Releases Photos of French Commando Captured in Failed Rescue Mission
Shabaab has released photographs of a French commando who was captured during a failed raid to free a hostage lat...
Op-eds
The Shape of Al Shabaab’s Post-Kismayo Attacks
In late September, African Union (AU) forces surrounded the port city of Kismayo on Somalia’s southern coast. The AU troops stood on the threshold of capturing the city from the al Qaeda-af...
Op-eds
A 40-Year US Embassy Crisis
The murders in Benghazi are the latest in a string of attacks on American diplomats to go unanswered by the US
Op-eds
Reports of Al Qaeda’s Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
Al Qaeda is returning to the shadows. The experiment by al-Shabab, al Qaeda's Somali affiliate, of attempting to govern a broad area in Somalia's south officially came to a close...
Op-eds
Suicide Bombers Kill 15 in Mogadishu
Shabaab, al Qaeda's affiliate in East Africa, executed a double suicide attack in a secured area in the Somali capital of Mogadishu today....
Op-eds
Shabaab Suicide Bombers Attack New Somali President, Kenyan Foreign Minister
Shabaab, al Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia and East Africa, sent three suicide bombers to attack Somalia's new president and Kenya's foreign minister as they were speaking at a hotel...
Op-eds
LIFG and Al Qaeda: A Response to Zelin
On Friday, I had a post at G&L questioning the field’s conve...
Op-eds
Detained UK Suspect Trained by Shabaab
An alleged al Qaeda operative has been detained in London after "crossing through the Olympic Park five times," the Sunday Telegraph (UK)...
Op-eds
2 Eritrean Officials Designated for Supporting Shabaab
The US Treasury Department designated six supporters of Shabaab, al Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, on July...