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.
EXCLUSIVE: New Analysis – Global Jihadi Threats 2025
By Z. Emile
The new year of 2025 started with a highly alarming message to law enforcement and counterterrorism agencies, renewing concerns that the terrorism threat in the United States has not receded almost a quarter century after the attacks of September 11, 2021.
On January 17, 2025, the "Formidable in Might – Islamic Resistance Front in Syria" issued a statement declaring it had begun its military operations against Israeli forces in southern Syria, calling all Syrians to act to end Israel's military presence in Syria.
On the evening of January 21, 2025, four people were injured in a stabbing in the major Israeli city of Tel Aviv.
On January 21, 2025, the Secretary General of the Iran-backed Al-Nujaba' Movement In Iraq, delivered a speech celebrating the Hamas-Israel ceasefire agreement as a victory for Gaza and for Iran's "Axis of Resistance."
On January 21, 2025, a Telegram outlet affiliated with Iran-backed militias shared a video warning against the "evil" agenda of the U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, both domestically and internationally.
On January 20, 2025, the General Command, linked to Syrian jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), released an English-language "Statement by the New Administration of Syria Congratulating President Donald J. Trump on his Inauguration."
On January 22, 2025, the "Formidable in Might – Islamic Resistance Front in Syria" issued a statement threatening action against Israeli troops in Syria's southern Quneitra province.
family:"Arial Black",sans-serif">Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS)-Linked New Syrian Government Reports Seizing Over 100 Million Captagon Pills And Narcotic Powder In Latakia And Damascus's Countryside, Arresting Drug Dealers In Aleppo
On January 18, 2025, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) released, on its Telegram channel, a one-minute video reporting that the HTS-linked Military Operations Command and Public Security Administration (PSA) operatives in Latakia governorate had seized a large quantity of Captagon pills.
Syrian Leader Ahmad Al-Shara'a Meets With International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor In Damascus
The leader of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), Ahmad Al-Shara'a, met with the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor in Damascus, Syria, on January 17, 2025.
On January 22, 2025, the "Syrian Popular Resistance" Telegram channel released a poster soliciting funds.
a href="https://www.memri.org/jttm/discussing-syrias-future-after-assads-fall-syrian-jihadi-magazine-calls-implement-sharia-preach">Discussing Syria's Future After Assad's Fall, Syrian Jihadi Magazine Calls To Implement Shari'a, Preach To Locals, Condemns Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS)-Linked Government For Appeasing The West
Issue 68 of the Balagh monthly magazine, released by a group of jihadi clerics based in Idlib, Syria, and opposed to jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), was released on January 8, 2025.
On January 20, on his X account, Houthi Ansar Allah Movement (the Houthis) a Political Bureau member shared an Al-Jazeera report that quotes a statement Israel's military chief of staff in which he declares that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is poised to carry out large campaigns in the West Bank over the coming days.
On January 15, 2025, Israel and Hamas reached a 42-day ceasefire and hostage release agreement in the Gaza Strip, according to U.S. President Joe Biden and other officials involved in the negotiations.
For First Time, Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Reveals Three Locally-Made Sniper Rifles
On January 15, 2025, the Houthi Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis) official Military Media website posted an approximately eight-minute video that shows graduates of a sniper course for members of its armed forces in a training exercise.
On January 22, 2025, the Houthi Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis) freed the crew of the Galaxy Leader commercial vessel that they hijacked on November 19, 2023, claiming that it was an "Israeli" ship
Between January 13 and 19, 2025, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis) claimed responsibility for seven missile attacks and four drone attacks on various targets in Israel and for two drone and missile attacks on the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.
On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire took effect between Israel and Hamas, pausing the 15-month war in Gaza, when Hamas returned three Israeli women held hostage since October 7, 2023.
On January 22, 2025, a new Iraqi militia called released an announcement on its Telegram channel announcing its establishment as part of the "Islamic Resistance."
On January 18, 2025, an Iran-backed Iraqi militia released a statement in response to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, congratulating the "Palestinian resistance" on its "victory" and expressing pride to have "taken a part" in achieving it.
On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire took effect between Israel and Hamas, bringing a pause to the 15-month war in Gaza, when Hamas returned three Israeli women held hostage since October 7, 2023.
On January 15, 2025, the Khatim Al-Anbiya Center for Resistance Media, which is affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraq, published four posters gloating about the wildfires in Los Angeles, suggesting that they are divine punishment inflicted on America for its support of Israel against Hamas and Ansarallah Movement (Houthis) in Yemen.
The year 2024 marked a devastating escalation of violence against Christians in Africa, perpetrated by the Islamic State (ISIS).
From January 16-22, 2025, Islamic State Somalia Province released several statements claiming responsibility for attacks against troops in northeastern Somalia's autonomous state of Puntland.
On January 16, 2025, an anti-Islamic State (ISIS) channel on an Al-Qaeda-operated server reported the death of an ISIS operative in a U.S. drone strike in Idlib, Syria, on January 15, 2025.
Issue 478 of the Islamic State (ISIS) weekly Al-Naba', published on January 16, 2025, contained a stark infographic advocating acts of violence, arson, and destruction, particularly targeting groups identified as "infidels." It uses ideology to justify arson to create economic and social chaos.
On January 16, 2024, the Islamic State (ISIS) released issue 478 of its weekly newsletter, Al-Naba'.
Media Group Linked To Islamic State (ISIS) Pakistan Province Solicits Funds Via Cryptocurrency
On January 19, 2025, the Nashir Pakistan media outlet, linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) Pakistan Province, published a poster in English and Arabic versions which calls to contribute "to jihad with wealth."
On January 22, 2025, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed that its fighter had killed a Chinese national in the Takhar area, in northeast Afghanistan.
On January 20, 2025, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed three attacks in Nigeria's Borno state, as well as an execution of a village head in the country's Yobe state.
On January 20, 2025, Al-Sahab, the official media arm of Al-Qaeda's central command, released a two-page statement in Arabic and Urdu versions titled "A Congratulation of Our Dear People on the Victory of Proud Gaza."
From December 19, 2024, to January 15, 2025, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claimed responsibility for eight attacks, in which United Arab Emirates (UAE)-backed forces were the main target.
On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire took effect between Israel and Hamas, when Hamas returned three Israeli women held hostage since October 7, 2023, bringing a pause to the 15-month war in Gaza.
On January 18, 2025, Al-Malahem, the official media arm of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), released a four-page statement in Arabic titled "America and the Painful Punishment."
On January 18, 2025, Al-Malahem, the official media arm of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), released a two-page statement in Arabic titled "A Statement of Condemnation of the Rafidite Houthi Crimes against Muslims in Qayfah, Al-Bayda', and a Call to Support Them."
On January 19, 2025, the Al-Zallaqa Media Foundation, the media arm of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in the African Sahel claimed, in a statement, that operatives had detonated a landmine on a Malian army vehicle at a checkpoint at the northern entrance to the city of Tessalit, in Mali's Kidal region.
On January 15, 2025, an Al-Qaeda supporter released a three-page essay on the Al-Qaeda-operated Rocket.Chat server.
On January 20, 2025, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released a statement congratulating the Islamic Ummah [nation], and Gazans in particular, on their "great victory" against Israel, asserting that "[Islamic] truth will only be established through jihad and fighting."
On January 21, 2025, Al-Sahab, the official media arm of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), released a two-page statement in Arabic, English, Urdu, and Pashto versions, titled "The People of Gaza Have Triumphed, but the Struggle Continues."
Al-Shabab, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia released a statement congratulating Gaza for achieving an "epic victory" over Israel and its Western backers.
From January 2-15, 2025, the Shahada News Agency, the Arabic-language media arm of Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab), claimed responsibility for 30 attacks, in which Somali government officials were targeted, along with pro-government militias, Ugandan and Kenyan forces.
A prominent supporter of Al-Qaeda released an essay inciting Muslims to wage jihad in Gaza and conquer Jerusalem.
In the first week of January 2025, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) welcomed a delegation from the Republic of Chechnya.
In an English-language statement and article published on one of its official websites, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, describing the latter as an "occupying entity."
