Tahrir al-Sham

January 18, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran attacked Syria with long-range missile in message to Israel

Iran is openly admitting that it used these missiles to send a message to the US and Israel and that it basically targeted northwest Syria just to show off.

November 29, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Khamenei promises ‘de-Americanization’ of Mideast

All eyes are on Iran in terms of the next moves it may make.

August 4, 2023 | Bill Roggio, Caleb Weiss

Islamic State confirms death of yet another leader, appoints new ‘caliph’

The Islamic State confirmed that its previous leader and self-styled “caliph”, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi, was killed earlier this year In doing so, it also disputes claims he was killed...

July 20, 2023 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey is granting citizenship to international criminals 

The reelection of Recep Tayyip Erdogan as Turkey’s president is resurfacing the question of whether Turkey is reanchoring itself in the Western alliance. Nothing could be further...

May 8, 2023 | Sinan Ciddi |

Turkey Wants a Post-election Reset with Washington

Istanbul’s recent moves, meant to signal improved cooperation with the West, are driven by economic necessity rather than friendly intentions.

April 13, 2023 | Bill Roggio, Caleb Weiss

U.S. adds Al Qaeda leader in Syria to list of global terrorists

The U.S. State Department added Sami al-Uraydi, a senior leader of Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria, to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. State’s Rewards for Justice program previously offered...

February 28, 2023 | Joe Truzman |

Hezbollah Fighter Killed Under Unclear Circumstances

On Feb. 24, Hezbollah’s media outfit published a statement mourning the death of its fighter Ali Yahya al-Zayin. “The Islamic Resistance [Hezbollah] grieves the loss of the martyr fighter Ali Yahya...

January 12, 2023 | Bill Roggio, Caleb Weiss

State places $10 million bounty on Kenyan Shabaab commander

Just a few days after placing a similar bounty on Maalim Ayman, the head of Shabaab’s Kenyan military wing, the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program is now also offering $10 million for...

January 10, 2023 | Sinan Ciddi |

U.S. and Turkey Take Joint Action to Disrupt ISIS Financing

The U.S. Treasury and its Turkish counterpart, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, took joint action yesterday to designate four individuals and two entities tied to the Islamic State (ISIS) for enabling...

January 9, 2023 | Sinan Ciddi |

‘Enough Is Enough’: What Blinken Should Tell Turkey’s Cavusoglu

If Washington is going to listen to Turkey’s demands, it is incumbent upon Ankara to once and for all act like an ally.

January 6, 2023 | Bill Roggio, Caleb Weiss

U.S. offers $10 million bounty for top Shabaab military commander

The U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice Program announced today that is offering a $10 million bounty for information leading to the capture and prosecution of Maalim Ayman, a Shabaab military...

February 3, 2022 | Bill Roggio, Andrew Tobin

Islamic State’s emir dead after U.S. military raid in Syria

Islamic State emir Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi died during a daring overnight raid conducted by U.S. special operations forces in Idlib province in northeastern Syria on Thursday, according to the...

December 10, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

The U.S. Must Better Explain Al-Qaeda to the Public

The government is doing too little to inform Americans about the threats presented by suspected terrorists it is targeting.

September 21, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

U.S. targets suspected al Qaeda leader in Idlib, Syria

The U.S. launched a drone strike on a suspected al Qaeda leader in Syria’s Idlib province yesterday, but provided few details about the intended target. Jihadists on social media posted a short video...

September 20, 2021 | Jonathan Schanzer |

The Bizarre Positive Biden Spin on Afghanistan

No, the Taliban are not America’s partners

September 16, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

U.S. Treasury sanctions al Qaeda facilitators in Turkey

The U.S. Treasury Department announced today that five al Qaeda financial operatives based in Turkey have been designated as terrorists. Treasury describes them as al Qaeda “supporters,” but doesn’t...

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...

August 4, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Al Qaeda group claims bus bombing in Damascus

Hurras al Din (the “Guardians of Religion” organization, or HAD) has claimed responsibility for a bus explosion in Damascus. In a one-page statement posted on social media, the al Qaeda group says...

July 30, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

Turkey Continues to Harbor and Sponsor Extremists

New sanctions on Turkey remind us of the country's unsavory connections to the terrorist underworld.

July 28, 2021 | Thomas Joscelyn |

U.S. designates al Qaeda financial facilitator based in Turkey

The U.S. Treasury Department announced today that two money men working for al Qaeda and Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS) have been designated. The designations are part of a broader U.S. effort to sanction...