The following are some of this week's reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock, among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to jttmsubs@memri.org with "Membership" in the subject line.)
Note to media and government: For a full copy of these reports, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to media@memri.org. Please include your name, title, and organization in your email.
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has called upon jihadi organizations in Pakistan to turn their attention toward Israel, according to an Urdu-language daily. Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007, and her husband Asif Zardari served as Pakistan's president from 2008 to 2013.
A report in the Urdu-language daily Roznama Nai Baat carries the headline (see the image above): "Jihadi Organizations [Should] Turn Their Direction Toward Israel – People's Party." There are two sub-headlines which read: "Israel has made hot the market of oppression, more than 630 innocent Palestinians have become martyred so far; the world of Islam [should] adopt a serious stand against the Israeli aggression..."
EXCLUSIVE: Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen Calls For Attacks On Jewish Targets Worldwide
Crowd gathered in Barawa mosque listening to Dhere's sermon
On July 25, 2014, Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen spokesman 'Ali Dhere delivered a sermon in a mosque in the town of Barawa in the Lower Shebelle region of Somalia. Speaking about the conflict in Gaza, Dhere called upon Muslims to attack Jewish targets everywhere. The contents of Dhere's sermon were reported by Al-Shabab's news agency, Al-Shahada.
On July 30, 2014, the Sinai-based Salafi-jihadi organization Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis released a 19-minute video featuring a sermon by the organization's preacher, Abu Osama Al-Masri. In the video, he appears, with his face blurred, speaking to a group of people sitting out in the open, presumably in the Sinai. Also seen in the video are other activists who are securing the site, surrounding it with vehicles and weapons.
ISIS Militant In Turkey: 'AKP Gave Us A Lot Of Assistance'
Turkish journalist Deniz Kahraman of left liberal Aydinlik interviewed an ISIS militant who is in Ankara for medical care. During the interview the ISIS militant who came out of the recent fighting in Musul, said, "Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis AKP government has helped us a lot."
He continued, "It's been 12 years that I am with Jihadist groups. Initially I took part in the resistance in Fallujah against the Americans. (...) Later, I established relationships with some in the Iraqi branch of Al Qaeda. I received training within small groups. I learned to fight, to gather intelligence. I received political education and learned Sunni jurisprudence. I joined the system of cells in 2010 and moved into Syria in 2011. At that time all groups fighting against Assad were joining forces. We fought in multiple fronts with different groups and under different commanders. But when the lack of faith among the Free Syrian Army became apparent, we changed our paths."
ISIS Video Documents Massacres Of Hundreds Of Iraqi Soldiers
Following are excerpts from an ISIS video showing the massacre of Iraqi soldiers. The video was posted to the internet on July 28, 2014.
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV
"Motivational Speech Before The Conquest of Samarra"
Speaker 1 To Crowd: "My brothers in faith, you are going to enter the capital of polytheism in the Sunni regions. We did not make the precise location of your raid public, but we can now tell you that you are going to enter Samarra, Allah willing - our target is Samarra, brothers."
Crowd: "Allah Akbar."
Speaker 1 To Crowd: "We did not disclose the target until now for security reasons, but today we disclose the target, allowing you to prepare yourselves, because we are ready for the zero hour. Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"
Crowd: "Allah Akbar!"
Islamic State Releases 2nd Issue Of English-Language Magazine
On July 28, 2014 Al-Hayat Media, the Islamic State's (IS) media company, which is aimed at a Western English-speaking audience, released the second issue of its English-language magazine Dabiq. The issue was called "The Flood" and it depicted an ark-like vessel on its cover.
Like the magazine's first issue, which was released less than a month ago, the current issue calls upon Muslims to join the ranks of the IS, focuses on religious justification for doing so, and reports on IS military operations as well as on civilian activities that it carries out.
The following is a review of the issue:
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The issue's foreword stresses the obligation upon Muslims to migrate from their home countries in order to join the IS. Making hijrah [emigration to an Islamic land] is of paramount importance, it says, adding that it is also necessary to the success of the Khalifa. The foreword promised the newcomers that there are homes available for families, and that those who join can play a part in liberating Mecca, Al-Madina, and Jerusalem. It also asks, "Would you not like to reach Judgment Day with these grand deeds in your scales?"
In the image above that was posted on Twitter, Muslim youth in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, where a number of youth are recently joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), proudly wear t-shirts to demonstrate support for ISIS chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi.
Following are excerpts from a report, which estimates that 80 Muslim youth have joined the jihadists of ISIS and others in Iraq and Syria:
The Story of Fakkurudeen
"In March this year, Usman Ali of Paranagipettai near Cuddalore, a picturesque coastal village north of Tamil Nadu, was shaken out of his stupor. It was a call on his wife Rokhyaa's mobile. Their son Haja Fakkurudeen (37) had phoned to say he was well and his dream had come true. He was now living in Syria with wife Ayesha Siddika and their three children, and fighting alongside ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) militants against the Bashar al-Assad regime. The voice crackled after a brief exchange of words and the connection snapped."
Image courtesy: Timesofindia.com
According to an Indian media report, two of four Muslim youth that went missing from a suburb of Mumbai called up their homes last week and confirmed that they are fighting as part of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Syria's Raqqa province.
Aarif Majid and Saleem Tanki, the two youths who spoke to their families in Kalyan (a suburb of Mumbai), told their family members that they are safe and that their entire family would go to "jannat," or heaven, because of the "work" they were doing as part of ISIS, according to a report in The Times of India daily.
AQAP Publishes Video Documenting Attack On Drone Base, Threatens U.S. Embassy
AQAP's media company Al-Malahem published a video on July 28, 2014 called "Thwarting Aggression 5." The video documents three simultaneous attacks in the city of Seiyun in the Hadhramaut province in late June 2014. AQAP claims the targets were espionage centers that help direct and control American drones in Yemen. The video also features recordings of the fighters and suicide bombers taken before they embarked on their mission, as well as threats to carry out more attacks against Yemeni government interests, due mainly to it being complicit in the killing of Sunnis via U.S. drones. One attacker said that attacks on government offices, bases, and embassies (likely referring to foreign embassies in Yemen) would continue in full force due to its assistance to the U.S. in its drone strikes, its contribution to Iranian expansion in the Arabian Peninsula, and other reasons.
AQAP Video Documents Combined Operation Deep In Saudi Territory
AQAP fighters en route to Saudi territory
On July 27, the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) media company Al-Malahem released a video clip documenting an operation that the organization carried out in early July. The operation that was titled "The Raid of Revenge for the Female Prisoners" was targeted at Saudi forces on the Saudi-Yemen border and included an attack along three axes and a 40 km deep penetration of Saudi Arabia till the city of Al-Sharurah. The clip contains testimony from the Saudi women's prison's inmates, documentations and commentary on the action's nature, testimony by fighters who were killed in the action made before they embarked on the operation as well as explicit threats to Muhammad Bin Naif and other members of the Saudi Royal family.
In Video, AQIM Celebrates Algerian Salafi-Jihadi Group 'Humat Al-Da'wa' Joining Its Ranks
'Abd Al-Wadoud (middle)
On July 25, 2014, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released a video documenting the merger of the Algerian Salafi-jihadi group Jama'at Humat Al-Da'wa Al-Salafiyya (HDS) with AQIM.
The video includes footage of the merger meeting, held on December 22, 2013, between representative of the two groups, including AQIM leader Abu Musa'b 'Abd Al-Wadoud and HDS leader Abu Ja'far Muhammad (aka Salim Al-Afghani).
AQIM first announced the merger in December 2013.
The video is dated July 8, 2014, and is 32:09 in duration.
Following are the main speakers appearing in the video (in order of appearance):
Abu Mus'ab 'Abd Al-Wadoud – Leader of AQIM
'Abd Al-Wadoud says that the mujahideen and Muslims have been waiting for this day, which marks the merger of HDS with AQIM. The merger, he says, signals another step towards achieving unity among all Muslims. 'Abd Al-Wadoud notes that HDS leadership was the one to initiate contact with AQIM for the purpose of joining it.
Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis Announce Killing Of Egyptian Officers
On July 28, 2014, the Sinai-based jihad group Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis announced the killing of two senior Egyptian military officers whom the group charged with "securing the border of the Zionist entity and laying siege to our people in Gaza."
Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has released his annual message on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, the annual Muslim festival that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is celebrated across the Muslim world on July 29th or 30th.
The statement was published by one of the official websites of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's umbrella organization in the country). While extending greetings to Muslims on Eid-ul-Fitr, Mullah Omar speaks of military successes in Afghanistan, stating:
"It is a matter of joy and gratitude that Allah the Almighty has bestowed on us this day in a time that we are witness to consecutive victories and achievements on the ground of jihad. Praise be to Allah … the military situation is in favor of mujahideen at the country's level. The blanket of invasion has rolled back from vast areas… Vital centers of the enemy have come under successful attacks in cities."
To Western Governments: "We Want To Tell American And European Governments Who Have Troops In Afghanistan... Let The Afghans Establish An Independent Islamic Government On The Basis Of Their Religious And National Aspirations"
Expressing "pity" that Afghans are helping foreign troops, he appeals: " I call on all soldiers, police, and generally, on the very opposition, not to destroy yourselves for the goals of the invaders and against your own people. Come and wage jihad alongside your own people and together with the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate against the common enemy in order to gain the bliss of the two worlds. I urge religious scholars, tribal elders, and the influential to convince these unaware (youngsters) who are being used by the enemy [not to support them]."
According to an Urdu-language daily, recent Pakistani media reports that leading Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Adnan Rasheed was recently arrested from South Waziristan by the Pakistani military are incorrect.
The Urdu daily Roznama Nawa-i-Waqt of July 23 (see the image above) reported: "Rejecting the reports about the arrest of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban commander Adnan Rasheed, Taliban commander Tahseel Khan Wazir from Shakai in South Waziristan said that he [Adnan Rasheed] was not arrested.
"Speaking to journalists from an undisclosed location by telephone, Taliban commanders belonging to South Waziristan Tahseel Khan Wazir, Sabir Wazir and Rasool Khan Wazir said that after consulting with Taliban commander Ayubi present in Wana [town of South Waziristan] we are stating that the reports about the arrest of Adnan Rasheed... are baseless."
Indian Daily: 'Mujahideen' Letter Threatens Attack In Mumbai In Revenge For Israeli Action In Gaza
Mumbai police chief Rakesh Maria
According to an Indian media report, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria has received a letter that threatens a terror attack in the Indian metropolis "to take revenge for Gaza." It especially targets the Mumbai police chief.
"We will take revenge for Gaza. In 1993, you (Maria) got a chance. This time you won't. Stop us if you can," reads the letter signed simply as "Mujahideen." The reference to "1993" is a series of bombings that took place that year in Mumbai in revenge for the demolition of the Babri mosque by extremist Hindus in December 1992."
Maulana Salman Al-Husaini Al-Nadwi
Just days after it emerged that India's leading Islamic scholar Maulana Salman Al-Husaini Al-Nadwi wrote a letter to greet Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the jihadist commander in Iraq who declared himself as the Caliph of all Muslims, an Indian newspaper reports that Mualana Al-Nadwi has written a letter to Saudi Arabia asking it to train Sunni Muslim youth from India to fight against Shia militias in Iraq.
Maulana Salman Al-Husaini Al-Nadwi is an influential cleric based at the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, an internationally recognized Islamic seminary based in the northern Indian city of Lucknow. He also represents a number of Islamic institutions across India, and is also a member of the decision-making committee that governs the Aligarh Muslim University, near Delhi.
In February, Ahrar-ul-Hind issued a statement opposing Pakistan-Taliban talks
Excerpts are given below from a Pakistani media report that examines the organizational leadership of Ahrar-ul-Hind, a militant group that emerged earlier this year to oppose the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan's talks with the Pakistani government:
"The Shadowy Group Splintered From The Taliban During The Government's Peace Talks With The Group, And Said That It Rejected Negotiations"
"In a statement... Ahrar-ul-Hind spokesperson Asad Mansoor said the group has 'a well-organized structure now, and some founding TTP commanders and close aides of [slain TTP] emir Baitullah Mehsud are its members.' He said Maulana Umar Qasmi will be the emir of Ahrar-ul-Hind."
