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December 7, 2012 JTTM Weekly No. 28

Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Weekend Summary

December 7, 2012
JTTM Weekly No. 28

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.)

MEMRI offers an additional option for jihad and terrorism news – the Global Jihad News (GJN) website. Access is by annual subscription, available for $360 at the MEMRI E-Store.

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.

AQIM Leader Warns France, African Countries Against Intervening In Mali

On December 3, 2012, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's (AQIM) media company, Al-Andalus, released a 30-minute video address by its leader, Abu Mus'ab 'Abd Al-Wadoud, titled "The Mali Invasion." In the video, parts of which were pre-released by Al-Jazeera TV and can be viewed here, 'Abd Al-Wadoud warns France and the African countries against interfering in northern Mali.

AQAP Mufti Lashes Out At Yemen's Religious Establishment For Turning Blind Eye To U.S. Aggressions Against Muslims

On December 3, 2012, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a 30-minute audio message by its mufti, Ibrahim Al-Rubaish, titled "Don't Blame America." In his message, Al-Rubaish lashes out at Yemen's religious establishment for turning a blind eye to the U.S.'s aggressions against Muslims and Islam while, at the same time, expressing its discontent with and criticism of the mujahideen, and attempting to undermine the importance of obligatory jihad against the U.S. Al-Rubaish begins his message by listing examples of such aggressions in the past several decades, such as the U.S.'s staunch support of Israel against the Palestinians, its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and its current military campaign in Yemen. Interestingly, Al-Rubaish says that despite all this, Muslims should not blame the U.S. for their situation; rather, he says, they have no one to blame but themselves. He attributes the Muslims' dire situation to those Islamic scholars and clerics who have forsaken the mujahideen and the ummah to appease the U.S. and its de facto ruler of Yemen – U.S. Ambassador Gerald Feierstein.

Report: Top 50 Al-Qaeda Leaders Killed In 338 U.S. Drone Strikes In Pakistan Since 2005

Following are excerpts from a Pakistani media report, giving details of top Al-Qaeda leaders killed in U.S. drone strikes in the Pakistani tribal region since 2005:

"The December 1 death of another key Al-Qaeda leader, Abdul Rehman al Zaman Yemeni, in an American drone strike in Wana area of South Waziristan has once again given credence to the Western intelligence claims that the Waziristan region continues to be a hotbed of the most-wanted Al-Qaeda radicals, more than 11 years after the 9/11 terror attacks and the subsequent launching of the U.S.-led war against terror..."

Toora Bora Front Video Shows Taliban Militants Preparing For Attack On NATO Convoy

"The Mujahideen of Shahi Kot Front are preparing for an attack on the enemy. Allah willing, you will soon see them engaging the enemy convoy," says a turbaned Taliban commander with a wireless set in his hand and a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) slung over his shoulder, speaking briefly to militants in a video uploaded recently on the Toora Bora website. The website belongs to the Toora Bora Jihadi Front, a militant group that is part of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government in the country). The Toora Bora Front is led by Anwarul Haq Mujahid, who was released from a Pakistani prison recently following a peace initiatives between the Pakistani and Afghan governments. The reference to "Shahi Kot Front" means the Taliban militants based in the Shahi Kot valley of Paktia province.

Imprisoned U.S. Citizen In Yemen With Ties To 'Salafi Group' Launches Hunger Strike

On December 5, 2012, the Yemen news website almasdaronline reported that Frank Christian Motos, an American Muslim convert arrested in Yemen for alleged ties to a "Salafi group," has launched a hunger strike protesting his continued detention. Motos, who goes by the name Muhammad, was arrested October 8, 2012 while having breakfast in a hotel in the city of Ataq, Shabwa. According to his wife Sana' Tahaar, who is Moroccan, the couple arrived in Yemen in April 2012 where her husband wanted to study Arabic.

Former Taliban Ambassador To Riyadh Set To Attend Paris Conference

Following are excerpts from an Afghan media report stating that two Qatar-based Taliban representatives are to attend an upcoming conference in Paris:

"Taliban representatives based in Qatar will participate in a conference to be held by a research organization in France. Mawlavi Shahabuddin Delawar, member of the Taliban's policy department in Qatar, and Mohammad Naeem, a close member of the Taliban group in Qatar liaison office, will offer views of the Taliban regarding the future of Afghanistan in the conference. The Afghan High Peace Council [an Afghan government body] will also be represented by Masoom Stanekzai; Haji Din Mohammad, advisor to President Hamid Karzai with regards to the tribal affairs, will also attend the conference. Prominent anti-government opposition leaders, including Mohammad Younis Qanooni and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah will also attend the session..."

MOJWA Reveals Identity Of Suicide Bomber Of Military Headquarters In Algeria

On December 6, 2012, Abu Al-Fida' Al-Ansari, a member of the Ansar Al-Mujahideen jihadi forum, posted a video in which the Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad Movement in West Africa (MOJWA) revealed the identity of the suicide bomber who attacked a military headquarters in the city of Warqala, Algeria last June. While the group had claimed responsibility for the attack the day after it took place, it has did identifiy its perpetrator at the time other than to not he was an Algerian youth from Warqala.

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