This essay explains why alqaeda is a business, which is actually true for all terrorist groups. Alqaedas affiliate in syria, jabhat alnusra, entered syria in late 2011. Jul 25, 2012 al qaeda that is operating in iraq is the same as that which is operating in syria, izzat al shahbandar, the iraqi leaders aide, said tuesday. Al qaedas syrian strategy the washington institute for. Abandoning any pretense of distance from al qaeda, turkey, saudi arabia, and qatar worked with al nusra on the creation of a new military formation for idlib called the army of conquest. Listers book has all of the raw data necessary to understand the delicate framework of the onagain offagain alliances of the free syrian army, jabhat al nusra, ahrar al sham, and of course the islamic state. See more ideas about al qaeda, psychological warfare, this or that questions. Dec, 20 the problem is that this process itself has increased the hold of the extremist al qaeda type groups at the expense of what was left of the free syrian army, which has resulted that, by this point. When isis and alqaeda split in february 2014, julani pledged allegiance to alqaeda central. Cheri berens is an american who has lived in cairo for years working as a researcher for the egyptian ministry of culture. A new united nationssponsored report on the april 4 sarin incident in an al qaedacontrolled town in syria blames bashar alassads government. Menu icon a vertical stack of three evenly spaced horizontal lines. We say we are only funding and providing weapons to the moderate.
How america armed terrorists in syria consortiumnews. The partial ceasefire has also allowed for the resurgence of nonviolent protest in rebelheld areas in northern syria. For syrian opposition soldiers, the al qaeda fighters are welcome. Seeking to broaden its appeal among other armed syrian opposition groups, jn formally broke ties with al qaeda core in july 2016, renaming itself jabhat fateh al sham. Alqaeda ideology is spreading everywhere and we have been abandoned, said lt. Some might fear that a second front would create fissures within the syrian opposition just as the assad regime is teetering, but this view is shortsighted. Isis has ruled ruthlessly and killed with few restraints in its syrian holdings. The syrian jihad is an insightful and comprehensive account of syrias violent descent into civil war and the rise of alqaedas offspring in that war.
One of al qaedas most important talking points is the legacy of the sykespicot agreement between the british and the french in 1916 that created this border between what we today call syria. A brief summary of the soviet invasion of afghanistan in 1979, of the us invasion of iraq in 2003, and how these historic events were related to terrorism, and more specifically to al qaeda and the islamic state. The architects of alqaeda and isis, by iakovos alhadef. Though it professes close ideological ties with al qaeda, it is not formally affiliated with the group. In late 2010 and into 2011, as the socalled arab spring swept across north africa and the middle east, a consensus emerged in the west that the unprecedented wave of prodemocracy protests spelled the likely end of jihadist movements like alqaeda.
After all, al qaeda seeks to establish an extreme version of shariah law that is eschewed by most members of the free syrian army. Alqaedas specter in syria council on foreign relations. Last month, the al qaeda affiliate the islamic state of iraq and al sham isis captured the city of al bab in the northern province of aleppo from a rival rebel militia. Al qaeda has thrived in syria thanks to the continued political survival of syrian president bashar assad and washingtons failures. Al qaeda, saudi arabia and the collapsing free syrian army. May 10, 2016 alqaedas affiliate in syria, jabhat alnusra, entered syria in late 2011. The problem is that this process itself has increased the hold of the extremist alqaeda type groups at the expense of what was left of the free syrian army, which has resulted that, by this point. One option is to support a tribal awakening similar to the movement that helped subdue al qaeda in iraq by 2009 turning the tribal networks that are strong in eastern syria against the terrorist network. Alqaeda is not sacrificing its martyrs in syria merely to overthrow assad. Terrorist organizations are always created to promote the interests of various countries, most of the time their interests in the oil and natural gas industries. Over the past six months, the tahrir institute for middle east policy has sponsored this integral working group of young syria, middle east, and u.
Mar 29, 2016 the syrian revolution against al qaeda. Government, were recruiting and helping to transport into syria, so as to. The islamic state of iraq and alsham smallcalibre ammunition in libya. Isis began as al qaeda in iraq aqi, founded y au musa al zarqawi. Most analysts continue to view jfs as a covert al qaeda affiliate, although key pro al qaeda ideologues are unhappy with what they see as. Aug 06, 2012 al qaeda is not sacrificing its martyrs in syria merely to overthrow assad. Ahmed saoud, a syrian army officer who defected and commands a rebel unit in the u. To defeat isis, washington and its partners need to cultivate local allies calling for al qaedas ouster. Loyalist forces are advancing, having secured aleppo. Since the discussions have supposedly been between representatives of caliph albaghdadi of isis and al qaeda central aqc head ayman alzawahiri, in the interest of caution we should assume that the discussions are not just about a reconciliation in syria and iraq. By mid2014, it had grown from a moderatelysized force bedeviled by conflict with more powerful armed groups to one of the few remaining key players in northern syria. The capture of the city, one of the largest in the region, gives isis control over a key transit point linking aleppo to its strongholds to the east. Liberation of the syrian people is a bonus, but the main aim is to create an islamist state in all or part of the country.
In august 2011, alqaedas leader in iraq sent his protege abu mohammad aljulani to take over the syrian alqaeda branch jabhat alnusra. For one thing, hayat tahrir alsham, al qaedas affiliate in syria, is still on the losing side of the syrian civil war. One of al qaedas most important talking points is the legacy of the sykespicot agreement between the british and the french in 1916 that created this. Over the past six months, the tahrir institute for middle. By 2016, alnusra had established itself as a formidable fighting force in syria. Iraq, a majority shiite nation, has good reason to.
In contrast, al qaeda groups have focused more on local populations and local flashpoints. Front of the supporters, known as jabhat fatah alsham arabic. The syrian revolution against al qaeda foreign policy. In a last ditch attempt to isolate hayat tahrir alsham, they also pushed for rebel forces to move from idlib to northern aleppo province to try to build up a rebel stronghold free of al qaedas presence.
Most of the world thinks it is a takfiri and terrorist organization members of alqaeda have performed many acts of terrorism. Despite russia and the syrianregime saying theyre fighting al qaeda in syria, the groups presence has been shrinking. Most analysts continue to view jfs as a covert alqaeda affiliate, although key proalqaeda ideologues are unhappy with what they see as. Protesters, often with women in the lead, took to the streets demanding greater dignity, opportunity and politi cal pluralism.
Americas bootsontheground fighters in syria are kurds. An update ng usually after a proess of referral y friends of friends. Since the discussions have supposedly been between representatives of caliph albaghdadi of isis and al qaeda central aqc head ayman alzawahiri, in the interest of caution we should assume that the discussions are not just about a. In contrast to isiss stunning rise, al qaeda central, the previous leading group of global jihadism or sala. Al qaeda, saudi arabia and the collapsing free syrian army the real news network. Despite russia and the syrianregime saying theyre fighting alqaeda in syria, the groups presence has been shrinking. Introduction in early 2011, revolutions in egypt, tunisi a, libya and yemen heralded a new era of arab politics. Al qaeda in syria has more power today than ever before, but it is also contending with more threats to its existence than ever before. In contrast, alqaeda groups have focused more on local populations and local flashpoints. Al qaeda that is operating in iraq is the same as that which is operating in syria, izzat alshahbandar, the iraqi leaders aide, said tuesday. Cia created alqaeda and isis evidence internet archive.
The thousands of hardened alqaeda fighters freed from egyptian prisons in 201220 by president. This creates the ideal atmosphere for aqi al qaeda iraq to return to its old pockets in mosul and ramadi, and will provide a renewed momentum under the presumption of unifying the jihad among sunni iraq and syria, and the rest of the sunnis in the arab world against what it considers one enemy, the dissenters. The sons feared lost to alqaida in syria this article is more than 6 years old parents in turkish town of adiyaman tell of anguish of searching for offspring recruited for jihad in neighbouring. Alqaedas resurrection council on foreign relations. This is essential reading for understanding the most difficult and complex international crisis facing the world community today. The combating alqaeda in syria strategy group was formed in july 2016 by nicholas a. The syrian jihad is an insightful and comprehensive account of syria s violent descent into civil war and the rise of al qaeda s offspring in that war. Listers book has all of the raw data necessary to understand the delicate framework of the onagain offagain alliances of the free syrian army, jabhat alnusra, ahrar alsham, and of course the islamic state. Some reports indicate or claim that isis and al qaeda are discussing a merger. Important gains were made against isil in deir ezzur in the past couple of weeks, making it clear that the real war on terror by the. Seeking to broaden its appeal among other armed syrian opposition groups, jn formally broke ties with alqaeda core in july 2016, renaming itself jabhat fateh alsham. Group names although alqaeda senior leadership aqsl, based in pakistan, is most likely building a clandestine network in libya, alqaeda may remain for some time without an official libyan. The combating al qaeda in syria strategy group was formed in july 2016 by nicholas a.
Privately, some members, veterans of alqaida in iraq among them, say community outreach is essential to the groups role in syria. Finally, despite its efforts to lie low, al qaedas affiliate group in syria has had more and more trouble escaping the spotlight. Military arms syrian rebels, creating isis al qaeda iraq syria isis documents 7. Pdf when the arab spring reached syria, its pharaoh, bashar alassad, was in no mood to give up easily. Heras, the bacevich fellow at the center for a new american security. The al qaeda network today also comprises semiautonomous or self radicalized actors, who often have only peripheral or ephemeral ties to either the core cadre in pakistan or affiliated groups elsewhere. A brief summary of the soviet invasion of afghanistan in 1979, of the us invasion of iraq in 2003, and how these historic events were related to terrorism, and more specifically to alqaeda and the islamic state.
The jihad in syria has unleashed another leadership crisis for al qaeda, as hayat tahrir al sham hts, assembly for the liberation of the levant leaders are feuding with others over the direction of the jihad. Today, warnings of a major alqaida threat emanating from syria continue to be repeated, with u. In that same poll, only 22% of syrians approved of al qaeda in syria. The sons feared lost to alqaida in syria world news. Pages in category branches of alqaeda the following 8 pages are in this category, out of 8 total.
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