Author: Aaron Y. Zelin

Check out my new peer-reviewed academic journal article in Perspectives on Terrorism: “Not Gonna Be Able To Do It: al-Qaeda in Tunisia’s Inability to Take Advantage of the Islamic State’s Setbacks”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

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Abstract

This article examines Katibat Uqba Bin Nafi, al-Qaeda/al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghrib’s official branch in Tunisia. It sheds light on an unexplored case study on jihadi groups in recent times by investigating its history and forthcoming prospects. Moreover, it plans to use this article as an avenue to weigh in on the debate within jihadi studies on the future of al-Qaeda and if it can take advantage of the Islamic State’s misfortunes in Iraq and Syria as well as Libya. The latter of which has more direct impact on IS’s network in Tunisia. The article interrogates a number of Arabic primary sources that have yet to be surveyed from KUBN and AQIM that will help clarify these inquiries. It will identify shortcomings in KUBN’s capacities and highlight reasons why IS will likely remain a more attractive avenue for jihadi mobilization in Tunisia going forward. This is relevant since much of the debate on AQ’s status analyzes the topic from more of a macro level than looking at specific groups within its broader global network. This research will illustrate that while the consensus might be that AQ is primed to benefit from IS’s setbacks, in the case of Tunisia, unless conditions change locally, KUBN is unlikely to follow the same trend as other AQ branches or when evaluating AQ as a whole.

Click here for the full article (15 pages).

Articles of the Week – 2/16-2/22

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

Monday February 18:

Cold war-era relations between west Germany and Turkish political Islam: from an anti-communist alliance to a domestic security issue – Behlul Ozkan, Southeast European and Black Sea Studies: https://bit.ly/2UakyXi

Crime and terror of social exclusion: The case of 13 imams in Bulgaria – Bogdan Panayotov, European Journal of Criminology: https://bit.ly/2E3alFC

Tuesday February 19:

“Faint lights twinkling against the dark”: Reportage from the fight against ISKP in Nangrahar – Andrew Quilty, Afghanistan Analyst Network:

Fear of terrorism: media exposure and subjective fear of attack – Harley Williamson, Suzanna Fay, and Toby Miles-Johnson, Global Crime: https://bit.ly/2Sn1Nyx

Wednesday February 20:

The Role of Islamist Ideology in Shaping Muslims Believers’ Attitudes toward Terrorism: Evidence from Europe – Clara Egger and Raùl Magni-Berton, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism: https://bit.ly/2Vkjd0D

Topics in terrorism research: reviewing trends and gaps, 2007-2016 – Bart Schuurman, Critical Studies on Terrorism: https://bit.ly/2XgZtfQ

Friday February 22:

Not Gonna Be Able To Do It: al-Qaeda in Tunisia’s Inability to Take Advantage of the Islamic State’s Setbacks – Aaron Y. Zelin, Perspectives on Terrorism:

The Islamic State After the Caliphate Ideological Infighting in the Islamic State – Cole Bunzel, Perspectives on Terrorism:

The Islamic State’s Way of War in Iraq and Syria: From its Origins to the Post Caliphate Era – Ahmed H. Hashim, Perspectives on Terrorism:

Who are the ISIS People? – Vera Mironova, Perspectives on Terrorism:

From Directorate of Intelligence to Directorate of Everything: The Islamic State’s Emergent Amni-Media Nexus – Asaad Almohammad and Charlie Winter, Perspectives on Terrorism:

Making Sense of Jihadi Stratcom: The Case of the Islamic State – Charlie Winter, Perspectives on Terrorism:

The Failing Islamic State Within the Failed State of Yemen – Elisabeth Kendall, Perspectives on Terrorism:

The Islamic State’s Provinces on the Periphery: Juxtaposing the Pledges from Boko Haram in Nigeria and Abu Sayyaf and Maute Group in the Philippines – Jacob Zenn, Perspectives on Terrorism:

Understanding Muslims’ Support for Suicide Bombing in West Africa: A Replication Study – C. Christine Fair and Samta Savla, Perspectives on Terrorism:

New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Aghanistan’s Zabīh Allah Mujāhid: “Reuters Report Concerning Non-Participation By Deputy of the Islamic Emirate Ḥāj Mullā Baradar Akhūnd in Qatar Meeting Is Baseless”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

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A number of media outlets have again begun a propaganda campaign regarding negotiations process with the United States.

Reuters news agency again tried to spread propaganda against the Islamic Emirate by publishing a report listing reasons for non-participation by the deputy of Islamic Emirate Al Haj Mullah Baradar Akhund in the upcoming Qatar meeting.

Reuters news agency had also previously published propaganda by a number of their biased journalists that were later proven as fabrications and seriously damaging to the reputation of Reuters.

This time around Reuters quoted unknown sources as saying that the reason for non-participation by Al Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is due to disagreement among the ranks of Islamic Emirate about him.

We strongly reject this propaganda.

A meeting will take place between the negotiation team of Islamic Emirate and US representatives in Qatar and Allah willing, it will prove positive.

However, the respected Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will not participate in the meeting because he announced a negotiations team, introduced its leader and members and authorized it to carry out negotiations with the United States.

Since Al Haj Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is the Deputy of the Islamic Emirate in Political Affairs and there was an absence of his peer in the US team hence no need was seen for Mullah Baradar Akhund to participate in the meeting.

All other rumors in this regard are baseless reports that only seek to confuse common thought and should not be given any worth.

*Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan*

*Zabihullah Mujahid*

*17/06/1440 Hijri Lunar*

*03/12/1397 Hijri Solar 22/02/2019 Gregorian*

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Source: Telegram

New nashīd from al-Qā’idah in the Arabian Peninsula: “Our Emirate Returned”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

al-Qā’idah in the Arabian Peninsula: “Our Emirate Returned”

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Source: Telegram

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

New issue of The Islamic State’s newsletter: “al-Nabā’ #170″

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

For prior parts see: #169, #168, #167, #166, #165, #164, #163, #162, #161, #160, #159, #158, #157, #156, #155, #154, #153, #152, #151, #150, #149, #148, #147, #146, #145, #144, #143, #142, #141, #140, #139, #138, #137, #136, #135, #134, #133, #132, #131, #130, #129, #128, #127, #126, #125, #124, #123, #122, #121, #120, #119, #118, #117, #116, #115, #114, #113, #112, #111, #110, #109, #108, #107, #106, #105, #104, #103, #102, #101, #100, #99, #98, #97, #96, #95, #94, #93, #92, #91, #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, and #1.

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: The Islamic State — al-Nabā’ Newsletter #170

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Source: Telegram

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

New issue of al-Qā’idah in the Indian Subcontinent’s magazine: “Nawaī Afghān Jihād Magazine – February 2019”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

Previous releases- 2019- January issue. 2018- December issue. November issue. October issue. September issue. August issue. July issue. June issue. May issue. April issue. February issue. January issue. 2017- December issue. November issue. October issue. September issue. August issue. July issue. June issue. May issue. April issue. March issue. February issue. January issue. 2016- July issue. June issue. May issue. April issue. March issue. 2015- November issue. March issue. February issue. January issue. 2014- December issue. November issue. October issue. September issue. August issue. July issue. June issue. April/May issue. March issue. February issue. January issue. 2013- December issue. October/November issue. September issue. August issue. July issue. June issue. May issue. April issue. March issue. February issue. January issue. 2012- December issue. November issue. October issue. September issue. August issue. July issue. June issue. May issue. April issue. March issue. February issue. January issue. 2011– December issue. November issue. September/October issue. August issue. June/July issue. May issue. April issue. March issue. February issue. January issue. 2010– December issue. November issue. October issue. September issue. August issue.

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: al-Qā’idah in the Indian Subcontinent — Nawaī Afghān Jihād Magazine – February 2019

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

New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Aghanistan’s Zabīh Allah Mujāhid: “Remarks Regarding Recent Claims By the U.S. General”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

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The head of United States Central Command General Joseph Votel, while talking to the media yesterday made propaganda claims that Daesh in Afghanistan is a major threat and has acquired the capability of directly attacking America from Afghanistan.

Exaggerating threat of Daesh miscreants and utilizing it for media propaganda in order to prolong the invasion of Afghanistan is the duty of many American generals. Instead of assessing the real nature of dispute of Afghanistan, they continue to repeat their previous mistakes of classifying Afghanistan as a major threat to America.

American generals, despite their failure in numerous war tactics during past eighteen years and bringing international and historical shame upon America, still emphasizes on extension of war through use of such rumors to protect the interests of their war mafias and to continue selling weapons.

The Islamic Emirate categorically rejects claims of the American general. Afghanistan neither poses threat to any one nor will the Afghan nation allow such doings. Daesh militant group is restricted to a small area of Afghanistan in spite of full support of American air force, is under the siege and attacks of Muajhideen and will soon be eradicated.

American invaders have consistently supported Daesh by bombarding the Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate, providing air escort to under siege personnel of Daesh and by raiding prisons of Islamic Emirate to free Daesh captives.

American generals, by exaggerating the threat of Daesh miscreants, seek to stoke anxieties of regional countries and spread fear in the American public that are against the US presence in Afghanistan and want to see its end.

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Zabihullah Mujahid

15/06/1440 Hijri Lunar

01/12/1397 Hijri Solar 20/02/2019 Gregorian

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Source: Telegram