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March 8, 2024 Special Announcements No. 1454

Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Weekly: March 2-9, 2024

March 8, 2024
Special Announcements No. 1454

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: Jihadi Clerics Commend Aaron Bushnell's Self-Immolation In Support Of Gaza, Still Deem Him An 'Infidel'

On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman of the United States Air Force, died after setting himself on fire outside the front gate of the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. Bushnell said that he was protesting "what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers" and declared that he "will no longer be complicit in genocide," then doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire.

 

EXCLUSIVE: In Video Uploaded To Internet, Teenage Stabber Of Jew In Zürich Swears Allegiance To Islamic State (ISIS), Calls On Muslims To Target Jews And Christians Everywhere

https://www.memri.org/sites/default/files/2024/03/screenshot33.jpg

At about 10 pm on Saturday evening, March 2, 2024, a 15-year-old assailant stabbed and seriously wounded a 50-year-old Orthodox Jew, Meir Zvi Jung, in the Selnau area of Zürich, Switzerland.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Outlet Celebrates Teen Who Stabbed Jew In Zurich As 'The New Generation Of Caliphate'

On March 4, 2024, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Telegram channel published a post praising the 15-year-old boy who stabbed Meir Zvi Jung, an orthodox Jew, in Zurich, Switzerland on March 2.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Meets With Chinese Ambassador To Qatar

On February 29, 2024, the head of Hamas's political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, met with Cao Xiaolin, China's Ambassador to Qatar, in Doha.

 

Al-Qaeda Associate And Writer Accuses Saudi Arabia Of Helping Israel Against Gazans, Calls On Member States Of Organization Of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) To End Saudi Membership, Move Headquarters To Sanaa, Kabul

On March 4, 2024, an Al-Qaeda associate and writer published an article on his X account discussing the Saudi stance on the Hamas-Israel war.

 

Ansar Allah Movement Blames U.S. And Britain For Damage To Undersea Cables In Red Sea; Lebanese Daily: Ansar Allah To Expand Operations To Mediterranean Sea

On March 2, 2024, in a joint statement, both the Houthi Ministry of Transportation and the Houthi Maritime Affairs Authority accused the U.S. and Britain of damaging undersea cables in the Red Sea as part of the war they say the two countries are waging against Yemen.

 

Houthi Telecommunications Minister Dismisses Hong Kong-Based Company's Report Of Damage To Underwater Cables As 'Campaign Of Jewish Lies;' Warns That Companies Must Obtain Permit To Conduct Repairs

On March 4, 2024, the Telecommunications Minister of Yemen's Ansar Allah Houthi Movement, Misfer Al-Numair, warned that submarine cable ships must obtain a permit from the Houthi Maritime Authority before conducting repairs on underwater data cables off the coast of Yemen.

 

Yemen's Ansar Allah Houthis Claim Attacks On Israeli Ship In Arabian Sea, 'Several' U.S. Warships In Red Sea

On March 4, 2024, Yemen's Ansar Allah Houthi Movement claimed responsibility for the same-day attack targeting an Israeli ship in the Arabian Sea using "appropriate naval missiles," as well as launching drones and ballistic missiles targeting several U.S. warships in the Red Sea.

 

Ansar Allah Movement Holds 'People's Army' Exercise Simulating Face-To-Face Combat With 'Israeli-American-British Enemy'; Houthi Leader: Exercise Has 'Religious Significance For Those Who Wish To Wage Jihad For Allah'

On March 4, 2024, the official website of the Houthi Ansar Allah movement reported that on the same day, in the Jihanah District of the Sana'a Governorate, it held "a people's military exercise" using live ammunition that simulated "face-to-face combat with the Israeli, American and British enemy."

 

Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Claims Attacks On Two U.S. Destroyers In Red Sea; Houthi Officials: We Can Surprise Enemy With 'Shocking Blows;' Coming Ramadan Should Be 'Month Of General Mobilization For Gaza'

On March 5, 2024, the armed forces of the Yemeni Houthi Ansar Allah movement claimed responsibility for targeting two American destroyers in the Red Sea with naval missiles and drones. The attacks took place just one day after Ansar Allah claimed responsibility for an attack on an "Israeli ship" in the Arabian Sea, and attacks on "several" U.S. warships in the Red Sea.

 

Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Claims Attack On American Ship 'True Confidence,' Insists U.S. Government Should Compensate Victims' Families

On March 6, 2024, Yemen's Iran-backed Ansar Allah Movement (the Houthis) claimed responsibility for an attack on the American cargo ship "True Confidence" in the Gulf of Aden, in the Red Sea.

 

Iranian Cybersecurity Firm Hosts Website Of Hamas's Military Wing On London Servers

The official website of Hamas's military wing, the Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, is hosted on the London-based servers of an Iranian cybersecurity firm, DNS records show.

 

Gaza-Based Al-Mujahideen Brigades That Kidnapped Israelis On October 7, Opens New X Account; Requests Donations To Fund Operations

The Gaza-based Al-Mujahideen Brigades militia, the military arm of The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, opened a new X account under the name Rijal Al-Wa'd Al-Maf'oul (The Men of the Warning That Was Fulfilled).

 

Popular Front For The Liberation Of Palestine (PFLP): U.S. Vice President's 'Crocodile Tears' Reflect The Administration's Hypocrisy; Mass Demonstrations In American Cities Should Continue To 'Expose The Administration's Ugly Face'

On March 4, 2024, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) issued a statement criticizing U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for remarks she made a day earlier about the Israel-Hamas war.

 

Arab Daily: Iraq's Iran-Backed Al-Nujaba Movement Using Current Truce With U.S. Forces To 'Eliminate Spies' That Provided Intel About Senior Officials Of Iran-Backed Militias

On February 28, 2024, the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported on its website, quoting Iraqi sources, that the Iran-backed Iraqi Al-Nujaba militia is taking advantage of the "current truce" with the Americans in order to eliminate "spies" whom it claims have provided hostile elements with information about senior officials in the country's pro-Iranian factions and their positions.

 

After More Than Two-Week Hiatus, Islamic Resistance In Iraq Renews Attacks On Israeli Territory; Claims Drone Strike On Haifa Chemical Plant

On March 3, 2024, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed joint operations group of Iraqi militias, published a statement claiming responsibility for a March 1 drone attack on the "chemical plant" at the Port of Haifa in northern Israel.

 

Iran-Backed Islamic Resistance In Iraq Claims Two Drones Attacks On Power Stations In Israeli Airports As Part Of 'Second Phase' Of 'Resistance Operations' Against Israel

On March 5, 2024, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which consists of several Iran-backed militias, claimed it launched a same-day drone attack targeting a power station at Haifa airport, Israel.

 

Islamic State Mozambique Province Releases Photos Documenting Fighters Removing Crosses From Churches; Pro-ISIS Telegram Outlet Celebrates Attacks As Beginning Of 'Conquering Rome'

On February 29, 2024, the Islamic State Mozambique Province released a photoset documenting attacks carried out by its fighters on Christian villages in the area of Chiure, in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado region.

 

ISIS Weekly Editorial Urges Killing Regimes' 'Eminent' Figures: Advisors, Economists, Media Personalities, Judges, Preachers, To 'Consolidate' Foundation Of Tyranny, 'War On Islam'

On February 29, 2024, the Islamic State (ISIS) released Issue 432 of its weekly newsletter, Al-Naba'. The issue's feature article, titled, "Kill The Eminent Among Them By All Means Available To You," argues that prophets and their followers will endure and will confront the tyranny of un-Islamic regimes.

 

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Claims Suicide Bombing Targeting Army Patrol In Series Of Operations In Northeastern Nigeria's Alagarno Forest

In recent days, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed several attacks on Nigerian army forces in the Alagarno forest of Borno State, in the country's northeast, including a suicide bombing.

 

Islamic State Syria Province Claims Killing Eight Syrian Soldiers In Two Attacks In Desert Of Hama Governorate

On February 29, 2024, the Islamic State (ISIS) released Issue 432 of its weekly Al-Naba' magazine, which includes an article reporting, for the first time, that according to an "exclusive source," ISIS fighters launched two different attacks in the desert of Syria's Hama governorate, resulting in the killing of eight Syrian soldiers and wounding of others.

 

Cover Article In Issue 33 Of ISKP Magazine 'Voice Of Khurasan' Slams Turkish President Erdoğan For Promoting Authoritarianism In Turkey, Urges ISIS Fighters In Turkey To Unsheathe Their Swords: 'Erdoğan Has Transformed Those Who Were Once Islamist Pro-Shari'a Conservatives Into Kemalist Anti-Shari'a Polytheists'

The cover article in the latest issue of "Voice of Khurasan," an English-language monthly magazine published by Al-Azaim Media Foundation, a media outlet linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which defines itself as a supporting entity for the Islamic State (ISIS), accuses Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of promoting his own brand of authoritarianism in Turkey and elsewhere just to stay in power, saying that "in 22 years his party has made no progress and no gains in the name of Islam, other than calling their leader the Caliph of the Muslims."

 

Article In Issue 33 Of ISKP Magazine 'Voice Of Khurasan' Calls Afghan Taliban Emir Mullah Hibbatullah Akhundzada A 'Colonel' In Pakistani Army, Accuses Afghan Taliban Of Republishing His Old Speeches, Lists Taliban's Anti-Shari'a Orders

A key article in the latest issue of "Voice of Khurasan," an English-language monthly magazine published by Al-Azaim Media Foundation, a media outlet linked to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which defines itself as a supporting entity for the Islamic State (ISIS), calls Afghan Taliban emir Mullah Hibbatullah Akhundzada as a colonel of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistani military, accuses Afghan Taliban of misleading Muslims and Taliban rank-and-file by publishing a year-old speech of his and failing to enforce shari'a rule in Afghanistan.

 

Al-Qaeda In The Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Eulogizes Muhammad Al-Zawahiri, Brother Of Slain Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman, Who Goes Unmentioned

On February 13, 2024, Muhammad Al-Zawahiri, a senior member of Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the younger brother of slain Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, died in Giza, Egypt at the age of 71.

 

Pro-Al-Qaeda Outlet Releases Poster Promoting Lone Wolf Attacks In West Similar To Past Attacks On U.S. Soil, Targets

On March 1, 2024 the pro-Al-Qaeda Al-Nusra Media Foundation released a poster calling for lone wolf attacks in the West.

 

Al-Qaeda In The Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Documents Sniping Operation In 'Arrows Of Truth' Military Campaign Against UAE-Backed Forces In South Yemen

On March 6, 2024, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) issued a statement as part of its "Arrows of Truth" campaign, claiming that its fighters the same day attacked vehicles of UAE-backed Yemeni forces in Abyan Governorate.

 

HTS's Military Reconnaissance Official Discusses Militias' Increased Use Of Suicide Drones In Idlib Region; Opposition Outlets Claim New Program Supervised By Iran's IRGC, Hizbullah Officials

On March 1, 2024, Al-'Askari Media, an outlet linked to the Syria-based jihadi group, Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), published an interview with a military commander in HTS's "Surveillance Detachments," to discuss the increased use of one-way suicide drones by Syrian forces as well as by the Russia and Iran-backed militias in the jihad-run Idlib region. Syrian opposition outlets claim a specialized training on the use and development of drones was launched in late 2023 and supervised by Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanese Hizbullah experts.

 

Despite Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Formation Of Commission To Institute Reforms, Idlib Residents Call For 'Second Syrian Revolution' To Depose HTS Leader Al-Joulani

At the end of January 2024, Syrian jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), which effectively controls the rebel-held Idlib area of northwestern Syria, announced it had concluded a campaign against collaborators and spies within the group, which began several months earlier, and would release those who had not been found guilty of crimes.

 

Syrian Jihadis Fuel Idlib Protests Aimed To Oust Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Leader, Claim Foreign Fighters Join Rallies; Allege Regime-HTS Collusion In Targeting Protests

The approach of the 13th anniversary of the Syrian uprising comes on the heels of rising disgruntlement among Syrians in the rebel-held Idlib area in northwestern Syria, which is effectively run by Syrian jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and a Turkey-backed, HTS-linked Syrian Salvation Government (SSG).

 

Syrian Opposition Website: Iran, Turkey, Russia, Syria, Establish Joint Intelligence Center In Northern Syria

On February 28, 2024, a Syrian opposition website, Al-Hal Net, reported that Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Russia had formed a secret joint intelligence center, headquartered in Syria.

 

Magazine By Syria-Based Kurdish Jihadi Group Ansar Al-Islam Highlights Recent Operations, Encourages Cyberattacks, Gives Tips To Protect Against Drones

On March 3, 2024, the Al-Ansar Media Foundation, the official outlet of Kurdish jihadi group Ansar Al-Islam, which is active in the rebel-controlled Idlib region of northwestern Syria, published the second issue of its Al-Ansar Arabic-language magazine, dated February 2024.

 

Dari-Language Report In Afghan Media Says Taliban Rulers Sheltering Foreign Jihadis In Panjshir: 'Contrary To The Claims Of Some Media, [Osama Bin Laden's Sons] Hamza And Abdallah Are Alive And Well'; 'Bin Laden Brothers' Headquarters Is Guarded By About 350 Mostly Chechen And Arab Fighters'

In a recent Dari-language report, an Afghan newspaper examined how the Afghan Taliban government has continued to provide shelters to foreign jihadi fighters, especially in Panjshir, the traditional stronghold of the National Resistance Front (NRF) forces led by Ahmad Massoud.

 

In Dari-Language Article, Pro-Afghan Taliban Website Dismisses The Islamic State (ISIS) As Khawarij: 'They Are The Murderers Of [Islam's Third Caliph] Hazrat Uthman... After Him, They Were Responsible For Disputes And Wars'

On February 21, 2024, a pro-Afghan Taliban website published a Dari-language article dismissing the Islamic State (ISIS) as Khawarij (Kharijites) and accusing them of fomenting wars and disputes with the mujahideen to benefit America.

 

Articles On Afghan Taliban's Official Website Mark Fourth Anniversary Of Doha Agreement: 'Through This Agreement, America Was Obliged To End Its 20-Year Occupation, Thus Signing Its Own Defeat'; 'The Superpower Humbly Accepted All The Conditions Put Forth By The Mujahideen'

On February 29, 2024, the fourth anniversary of the Doha agreement – the official website of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) published two articles celebrating the triumph and conquest of the Taliban mujahideen against the superpower America.

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