Author: Aaron Y. Zelin

Check out my new ‘Policy Watch’ for the Washington Institute: “A Year Since Baghuz, the Islamic State Is Neither Defeated nor Resurging (Yet)”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

A lot has happened for the Islamic State since it lost its last sliver of territory in Baghuz, Syria, a year ago this week. Most notable was the death of its first self-declared caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed in a U.S. Special Forces raid in Barisha, Syria, last October. IS subsequently announced his successor as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, and thus far, there have been no signs of any disruption in its activities as a result of this transition. Indeed, despite the U.S. government’s boisterous pronouncements that IS was defeated after the fall of Baghuz, the organization remains active.

Yet it is also too early to state that IS has rebounded. Rather, it is surviving and waiting for the right moments to take advantage—and not necessarily in the same manner it did in 2004-2006 (when it first became relevant) or 2012-2014 (when it resurfaced after major defeats in Iraq). Even so, many of the underlying sectarian and governance dynamics that led to its reemergence eight years ago persist in both Iraq and Syria.

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New release from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: “Mullā Barādar Akhūnd Met With U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

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Late yesterday afternoon, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accompanied by his delegation held a lengthy meeting with the Political Deputy of the Islamic Emirate Mullah Baradar Akhund accompanied by his delegation.

The meeting which took place in the capital of Qatar, Doha, centered around the implementation of the US-IEA agreement and the swift release of prisoners.

Both the Political Deputy of Islamic Emirate Mullah Baradar Akhund and the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed that the rigid implementation of the agreement will pave the way for intra-Afghan negotiations along with enduring peace and ceasefire including a future Islamic government in accordance with the agreement.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave assurances that the US forces withdrawal will continue in accordance with the declared timetable.

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Zabihullah Mujahid

29/07/1441 Hijri Lunar

05/01/1399 Hijri Solar                   24/03/2020 Gregorian

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New video message from Hay’at Taḥrīr al-Shām’s Shaykh Yaḥyā Bin Ṭāhar al-Firghālī: “Sharī’ah Guidelines For Dealing With Coronavirus From the M4 Highway”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

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To inquire about a translation for this video message for a fee email: [email protected]

New issue of Hay’at Taḥrīr al-Shām’s newsletter: “Ibā’ #91″

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

For prior issues see: #90, #89, #88, #87, #86, #85, #84, #83, #82, #81, #80, #79, #78, #77, #76, #75, #74, #73, #72, #71, #70, #69, #68, #67, #66, #65, #64, #63, #62, #61, #60, #59, #58, #57, #56, #55, #54, #53, #52, #51, #50, #49, #48, #47, #46, #45, #44, #43, #42, #41, #40, #39, #38, #37, #36, #35, #34, #33, #32, #31, #30, #29, #28, #27, #26, #25, #24, #23, #22, #21, #20, #19, #18, #17, #16, #15, #14, #13, #12, #11, #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, #1, and #0.

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Hay’at Taḥrīr al-Shām — Ibā’ Newsletter #91

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To inquire about a translation for this newsletter issue for a fee email: [email protected]

New release from Wi-Kāllat Thabāt al-Ikhbariyyah: “Harvest of Operations in the Land of Islām #8″

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

For prior parts in this operations series see: #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, #2, and #1.

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Wi-Kāllat Thabāt al-Ikhbariyyah — “Harvest of Operations in the Land of Islām #8

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Source: Telegram

To inquire about a translation for this release issue for a fee email: [email protected]