Tag Archives: Al-Qaeda

The establishment of the Fateh al-Sham Front in place of the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria: reasons and implications

Published: 05/08/2016

Al-Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani announcing the establishment of the Fateh al-Sham Front (the Front for the Conquest of the Levant) on Al-Jazeera TV. He is flanked by two senior Fateh al-Sham Front operatives who have Sharia authority. The insignia of the new organization, featuring its name in Arabic, appears above them (Al-Jazeera TV, July 28, 2016).

Overview

1. On July 28, 2016, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, leader of the Al-Nusra Front(Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria), appeared on Al-Jazeera TV and announced the establishment of a new framework called the Fateh al-Sham Front (the Victory in Al-Sham Front^[1]). The newly established framework will replace the Al-Nusra Front. Al-Julani’s announcement was preceded by an announcement of support from the leaders of Al-Qaeda (Ayman al-Zawahiri and his deputy Ahmed Hassan Abu al-Khayr).

2. An analysis of the announcements by Al-Julani and Al-Qaeda’s leaders indicates that the Fateh al-Sham Front was established with their prior consent and after they had coordinated their positions. This is reflected in Al-Julani’s praise of Al-Qaeda’s leaders; the clear support of Al-Qaeda’s leaders for the anticipated move; and their similar reasons for justifying the establishment of the new framework (the impression created is that the content of the messages was coordinated by them in advance).

3. In the ITIC’s assessment, the establishment of the new framework was designed to blur and downplay the ties with Al-Qaeda and to disconnect from its terrorist image. Disconnecting from the terrorist image is designed to help promote two fundamental goals, in the international arena and in the domestic Syrian arena:

A. In the international arena, the move is designed to make it difficult for the US and Western coalition countries to join in the airstrikes carried out by Russia against the Al-Nusra Front.From the outset, the campaign by the US and its allies focused on ISIS, whereas Russian attacks also included the Al-Nusra Front, perceiving it as one of the main enemies of the Syrian regime.

In the ITIC’s assessment, the timing of the announcement is related to the reports about the discussed agreement between Russia and the United States, under which the two countries will cooperate in fighting against ISIS and the Al-Nusra Front. From Al-Julani’s perspective, the new move may create an image of detachment from Al-Qaeda, thus making it harder for the United States and the West to treat the new framework as a terrorist organization (even though the Al-Nusra Front actually refrains from carrying out terrorist attacks against the United States and the West, or against Russia, in contrast to the terrorist attacks carried out by ISIS and its supporters).

B. In the domestic Syrian arena, Al-Julani seeks to find the widest possible common ground with Islamic rebel organizations, including those whose ideology is not necessarily Salafist-jihadi, and to fight together with them against the Syrian regime. The current move may also be a response to the demands made by the other rebel organizations, which are worried of becoming a target for airstrikes because of the Al-Nusra Front’s identification with Al-Qaeda.

The Al-Nusra Front has tended to collaborate with other rebel organizations since its inception, making it easier for it to create coalitions and umbrella frameworks with other rebel organizations (under the name Jaysh al-Fateh), and clearly distinguishing it from ISIS (which prefers to conduct its wars on its own, without coalitions and allies, and is in constant friction with other rebel organizations). Cooperation with other rebel organizations might, from Al-Julani’s perspective, improve the new framework’s ability to resist the Syrian Army’s initiatives with the support of Russia, Iran, Hezbollah and the Shiite militias supported by Iran. Such an initiative currently focuses on the Aleppo campaign, but in the future, the Syrian regime and its allies may target the Idlib area, the main stronghold of the Fateh al-Sham Front (formerly the Al-Nusra Front).

4. Does the establishment of the new framework really and truly mean that the Fateh al-Sham Front is severing its ties with Al-Qaeda? The ITIC is not of this opinion. The new move is basically a direct consequence of the pressure exerted on the Al-Nusra Front and the fundamental ambition of Al-Julani (supported by the leadership of Al-Qaeda) to improve his organization’s survivability in the long campaign that awaits it. On the ideological level, the Fateh al-Sham Front continues to adhere to Al-Qaeda’s Salafist-jihadi ideology (as reflected in the charter published by the Fateh al-Sham front). Moreover, in the ITIC’s assessment, the new framework will continue to maintain its ties with Al-Qaeda’s leadership, although the nature of these ties is still unclear. The initial responses of the US and Russia clearly indicate that they are not buying the new image that Al-Julani seeks to give the new framework and that they continue to perceive the new framework as a terrorist organization (see Appendix D).

5. Following are the following appendices:

A. Appendix A:Summary of Abu Mohammad al-Julani’s announcement on Al-Jazeera TV (July 28, 2016)

B. Appendix B:Summary of the Al-Qaeda leadership’s announcement of support for Al-Julani’s move (July 28, 2016)

C. Appendix C: The Fateh al-Sham Front’s charter (July 31, 2016)

D. Appendix D:Initial reactions to Al-Julani’s announcement

E. Appendix E:Milestones in Al-Julani’s and the Al-Nusra Front’s relationship with Al-Qaeda and ISIS

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[1] The term Fateh indicates victory or conquest, and is used, inter alia, to describe the conquests of early Islam in the days of the Prophet Muhammad and in the period after his death. The term Al-Sham refers to both Syria and Greater Syria. Though in practice the Al-Nusra Front operates in Syria in the narrow sense of the word, the ITIC prefers to use the term Al-Sham, which reflects the vision and aspirations of the organization, which seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate in Greater Syria.

The Liberation of Fallujah: What Next?

Published: 30/06/2016

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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declares the liberation of Fallujah (Al-Iraqiya TV, June 26, 2016)

Overview

1. On May 22, 2016, a campaign began to liberate the Iraqi city of Fallujah from ISIS. The fighting was led by the Iraqi security forces with the support of Sunni and Shi'ite militias and American-led coalition airstrikes. On June 17 Iraqi army forces took control of the center of the city and its government buildings. On June 25 the liberation of Fallujah was formally declared when Iraqi forces took control of the district of al-Julan in the northwestern part of the city (ISIS's last stronghold). On June 26, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared Fallujah liberated. The campaign for the city is probably not over, because the Iraqi security forces will need a considerable amount of time to rid the city and its surrounding areas of ISIS operatives and of IEDs and booby traps.

2. The liberation of Fallujah is important for Iraq's security. The city served ISIS as a base for repeated terrorist and guerrilla attacks on Baghdad, which is only 54 kilometers (about 33 miles) away. Liberating Fallujah and ridding the surrounding areas of ISIS operatives may help the Iraqi government stabilize Baghdad's security, even if only gradually. The liberation of Fallujah is also a blow to the image of ISIS and radical Islam in Iraq, because Fallujah has the reputation of being a stronghold of support for ISIS and a key point of Sunni resistance to the central Shi'ite-oriented Iraqi government in Baghdad and to the West.

Fallujah after being liberated from ISIS (Twitter account of Victorious Iraq, June 28, 2016)

3. Moreover, the liberation of Fallujah is another stage in the Iraqi effort to drive ISIS out of the large Sunni Anbar Province. That effort intensified over the past six months, and with American air support the Iraqi security forces successfully liberated a series of towns along the Euphrates River conquered by ISIS in 2014 and the first half of 2015. On May 17, 2016, the Iraqi security forces also took control of the town of al-Rutbah, near the Iraqi-Syrian-Jordanian border.

4. ISIS still holds several towns along the upper Euphrates, among them Rawa, Anah and Qa'im near the Iraqi-Syrian border^[1] (see map). As a result ISIS operatives were pushed into rural and desert areas, from where they continue carrying out terrorist and guerilla attacks against the Iraqi forces, the Iraqi administration and the Shi'ite population. In addition, ISIS's control of the towns along the upper Euphrates in Iraq enables it to maintain a territorial continuum between Iraq and the regions of Deir al-Zur and Raqqah, its strongholds in Syria.

Circled in red: towns along the Euphrates liberated by the Iraqi forces. Circled in black: ISIS strongholds along the upper Euphrates allowing it a territorial continuum with the areas it controls in eastern Syria (Google Maps)

5. From the internal Iraqi perspective, the takeover of Fallujah, a Sunni-jihadist stronghold and a symbol of opposition to the United States and the Shi'ite-oriented regime in Baghdad, could potentially overcome the sectarian tensions between Shi'ites and Sunnis in Iraq, tensions which provided the fertile ground on which ISIS and radical Islam grew and thrived. Fallujah's great symbolic importance is crucial to the Iraqi administration's ability to reconstruct the city and its infrastructure, absorb the residents who fled, foster local leadership and keep local Sunnis from being attacked in revenge by the Shi'ite militias (accused of such acts when the population of Fallujah fled). If the Iraqi administration is successful, it will pave the way for taking control of Mosul. However, if the administration fails, it might signal yet again that it is easier to take over a radical Islamic city like Fallujah than to effectively control it over time.

6. The takeover of Fallujah has reduced the extent of ISIS's territorial control in Iraq. It raises logistic and operational difficulties for ISIS and disrupts communications between ISIS in Iraq and ISIS in Syria. ISIS is expected to prepare itself for a campaign in Mosul, the "capital" of its Islamic caliphate, where it will wage a fierce battle to continue the existence of the caliphate (declared in the summer of 2014). The Iraqi security forces, the Shi'ite militias and the American-led coalition are currently preparing for a campaign to take control of Mosul, expected to be far more difficult and complex than the campaigns undertaken in Iraq to date.

Basic Information about Fallujah

7. Fallujah, lying 54 kilometers (about 33 miles) west of Baghdad, is a stronghold of ISIS and radical Islam and a symbol of Sunni Muslim opposition in Iraq to the Shi'ite-oriented central government and to the West. At the end of Saddam Hussein's era it had about 300,000 residents. When the American army withdrew from Iraq at the end of 2011, there were about 270,000 residents, despite extensive destruction to the city (see below).

8. It is estimated that after ISIS took control of the city, more than 80,000 residents fled (BBC, June 27, 2016). The displaced residents of Fallujah found refuge in three camps established by the Iraqi government west of Baghdad: in Amiriyat Falluja, al-Khalidiya and al-Habbaniya. They were not permitted to go to Baghdad for "security reasons," that is, fear that there might be ISIS operatives among them (BBC in Arabic, June 27, 2016). During the recent campaign the city's population had dwindled to between 50,000 and 60,000.

Historical Background of Fallujah

9. In 1920 (during the revolt against the British occupation of Iraq) and in 1941 (during the anti-British pro-Nazi revolt of Rashid Aali al-Kilani) Fallujah symbolized opposition to the British. In 2003, after the American army invaded Iraq, Fallujah became a stronghold of Sunni-jihadist resistance to both the invading Americans and the Shi'ite-oriented Iraqi regime established in Baghdad.

10. While the Americans were in Iraq a branch of Al-Qaeda was established there, headed by the Jordanian jihadist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The branch waged a terrorist-guerrilla war against the Americans, the Iraqi government and the Shi'ites. They focused on Baghdad in Anbar Province (western Iraq). The Sunni population of Anbar Province, which was hostile to the new Iraqi regime because of its Shi'ite orientation, became, at that time, a power base for Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and later paved the way for ISIS, which grew out of it.

11. In 2004 there was fierce fighting in Fallujah between the Americans and the jihadists. The American attack on Fallujah was launched in the wake of the killing of four American citizens (representatives of an American security company) and the desecration of their bodies. The Americans tried to conquer Fallujah in April 2004, failed, and in a series of battles, at the end of 2004 they overcame strong resistance and took control of the city. The battles destroyed a large portion of the city. In 2008 there was another round of fighting to rid the city of jihadist operatives, but then as well the jihadists were only temporarily suppressed.

12. On January 5, 2014, ISIS took control of Fallujah, which became its main stronghold in Anbar Province, threatening the security of nearby Baghdad. However, during the past year, when ISIS has been on the defensive in both Iraq and Syria, the tables turned and the ISIS operatives who held Fallujah found themselves under siege, attacked by the Iraqi security forces and bombed by the American-led international coalition. The siege and bombing caused significant destruction throughout the city and residents fled.

The Liberation of Fallujah – Overview

13. On May 22, 2016, a campaign was launched to liberate Fallujah from ISIS. It was waged by the Iraqi security forces, especially the elite Iraqi counter terrorism force, with air support from the United States and the coalition. An estimated 30,000 Iraqi fighters participated in the campaign (Russia Today, May 22, 2016; Al-Jazeera, May 29, 2016), opposing almost 2,000 ISIS operatives. The Iraqi army had the support of Sunni and Shi'ite militias. The Shi'ite militias, operating under the aegis of Iran and Qasem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC's Qods Force, played a secondary role in the campaign. Their main mission was to help the army seal off the city, despite Iranian propaganda which gave prominence to their role in the fighting.^[2]

14. The first stage of the campaign, considered the most important by the Iraqi army, focused on taking control of the villages and towns around Fallujah, ridding them of ISIS operatives and reinforcing the closure of the city. At the same time the American and coalition forces bombed ISIS targets inside Fallujah and in the surrounding areas, (a tactic used successfully in liberating other cities from ISIS control). The second stage began about a week later, during which Iraqi forces entered the city itself from several directions and advanced towards the center, where the administration buildings were located.

15. The second stage lasted about a month, during which ISIS fought fiercely against the Iraqi forces (which were superior to them in number and weapons, and enjoyed aerial cover). ISIS based its fighting on sniper fire, ambushes, IEDs, suicide bombing attacks, and using civilians as human shields. ISIS also had a network of underground tunnels used for hiding, command and moving operatives from place to place both inside and outside the city.

16. On June 17, 2016, the Iraqi army announced its forces had taken control of the center of Fallujah and its administration buildings, and had flown the Iraqi flag over them. Fighting continued in several districts even after the announcement. The main resistance to the Iraqi forces came from the neighborhood of al-Julan in the northwest of the city, where ISIS operatives had concentrated. On June 24, 2016, Iraqi army forces entered al-Julan from the northwest. On June 25, 2016, operational headquarters in Baghdad announced that al-Julan had been liberated and that the Iraqi flag was flying over its medical center. On June 26, 2016, Abdel Wahab al-Sa'adi, commander of Fallujah operations, declared the liberation of Fallujah from ISIS as complete. He said that 1,800 ISIS operatives had been killed (Twitter account of the special operations department of the Iraqi army, June 26, 2016). The same day Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited Fallujah and declared its liberation.

17. Al-Jazeera TV, basing its information on sources close to ISIS, reported that after the takeover of Fallujah ISIS abandoned the posts it held around the city without fighting (Al-Jazeera, June 27, 2016). According to reports, on June 27 a mechanized infantry division of the Iraqi army began an operation to complete ridding the western bank of the Euphrates, west of Fallujah, of ISIS operatives. The objective of the operation was to take control of the region of Halabsa, west of Fallujah (Iraqi Media Network, June 27, 2016). In all probability ridding the area of ISIS operatives will take a significant amount of time.

The Fall of Fallujah – A Blow to ISIS's Image

18. Both the Iraqi regime and ISIS considered the campaign for Fallujah as greatly important, and both accompanied the fighting with an extensive media campaign. ISIS propaganda had two main themes: ISIS was determined to remain in control of the city, and ISIS operatives were victorious over the Iraqi army. However, both were completely contrary to the situation as it developed, which strengthened the blow dealt to ISIS's image with the loss of Fallujah.

19. On June 25, 2016, when the Iraqi administration announced the liberation of Fallujah, ISIS issued an infograph of its alleged achievements during the campaign. ISIS claimed that during the previous month it had killed more than 1,840 Iraqi soldiers and Shi'ite militiamen, destroyed more than 239 armored vehicles, and attacked three helicopters and three drones (Haq, June 25, 2016). The loss of the control of Fallujah and ISIS's heavy losses in personnel were not mentioned. Falsely representing the results of the campaign was intended to offset the damage done to its image with the loss of the city, but the true picture will probably become apparent to ISIS operatives in Iraq and Syria, and beyond.

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^[1]On the Syrian side of the border, across from Qa'im, lies the town of al-Bukamal. On June 28, 2016, fighters of the American-supported rebel organization "New Syrian army," tried to wrest control of al-Bukamal from ISIS. However, the attacking force withdrew from the area in the wake of an ISIS counterattack (Reuters, June 29, 2016). Taking control of al-Bukamal can cut off ISIS's remaining strongholds along the upper Euphrates in Iraq from the regions of Deir al-Zur and Raqqah in Syria.
^[2]For further information, see the May 30, 2016 bulletin "Iranian Participation in the Liberation of Fallujah – Dr. Raz Zimmt," http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/article/21012.

Spotlight on Global Jihad (June 9 – 15, 2016)

Published: 15/06/2016

Spotlight on Global Jihad

Omar Seddique Mateen, perpetrator of the attack at the gay community’s club in Orlando, Florida (Haqq, June 12, 2016).

ISIS announcement from June 12, 2016, stating that a fighter from the Islamic State carried out the attack in Orlando (Haqq, 13 June 2016).

Larossi Abballa in the video, pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He apparently photographed himself on his cellphone (Aamaq, June 14, 2016).

Syrian Army presence in the important Al-Rasafeh junction. On the side of the road (on the right) there is an ISIS sign that reads “There is No God but Allah - the Islamic State - Al-Raqqah Province” (SANA News Agency, June 12, 2016).

Video documenting the interception of an ISIS drone near the Al-Rasafeh junction. Right: Anti-aircraft fire directed at the drone. Left: The wreckage of the drone that was shot down (SANA, June 12, 2016)

Suicide bomber codenamed Habib al-Iraqi, who carried out a suicide bombing attack in Baghdad with an explosive belt (Haqq, June 10, 2016)

Khaled Salman Ahmed al-Tarabin (Facebook page of News of the Al-Maghazi refugee camp and Ma’an News Agency, June 11, 2016).

The death notice issued by the Ibn Taymiyyah Center for Muhammad Saber al-Masri (The Ibn Taymiyyah Media Center’s Twitter page, June 13, 2016)

ISIS scaffold being toppled in the in Al-Zaafran neighborhood on the outskirts of Sirte after being taken over by the attacking forces (Facebook, June 8, 2016)

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Main events of the week

This week as well, attacks continued on ISIS’s strongholds in Syria, Iraq and Libya, so far with no significant changes on the ground: the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are tightening the siege on the city of Manbij; the Syrian Army continues to advance towards the city of Tabqa, west of Al-Raqqah; Iraqi Army forces are fighting in the southern neighborhoods of Fallujah; the forces of the Libyan Government of National Accord are tightening the siege on the city of Sirte and, according to some reports, are already fighting in its suburbs.
In the US, a mass-murder terrorist attack was carried out, the most serious attack in its history (49 dead). The attack was carried out by an American citizen from an Afghan family, who was apparently inspired by ISIS; In France, a senior police officer and his partner were murdered in their home by a radical Islamic operative from a Moroccan family, who was also inspired by ISIS. In recent months, ISIS has called on its supporters in the West, including the United States and France, to carry out attacks against civilians and government officials. The attacks in the US and France illustrate that ISIS’s calls are falling on attentive ears among citizens with a radical Muslim worldview who live in Western countries.

Attacks inspired by ISIS in the United States and France

Mass-casualty attack in Orlando, USA

On June 12, 2016, a mass-casualty attack was carried out at the Pulse night club of the gay community in Orlando, Florida. A total of 49 people were killed and a few dozen others were wounded. At around 02:00, a terrorist armed with an assault rifle, pistol and explosives broke into the club. A shootout ensued between him and the security guard, after which the terrorist managed to enter the club. The terrorist barricaded himself in the club and took hostages. After he had spent around three hours at the club, police rescued about 30 hostages from the club and shot the terrorist dead.
The terrorist who carried out the attack was Omar Seddique Mateen, 29, a US citizen born in New York to an Afghan family. Omar Mateen had no criminal record, had received weapons training, and had a licensed weapon. According to the FBI, which is investigating the incident, Omar Mateen was questioned by the FBI in 2013 and 2014 after expressing sympathy for radical Islamic elements. However, the investigation against him did not yield any conclusive evidence linking him to terrorist activity.
Therefore, he was released at the time and the investigation was terminated. According to the head of the FBI, so far the agency has no indication that the terrorist was part of a network and he apparently acted alone. Shortly before the attack, Omar Mateen called 911 and pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
President Obama noted that that was the deadliest shooting incident in US history. He expressed sorrow and solidarity with the families of the victims. According to President Obama, although the investigation is in its initial stages, at this point we can say that it was a terrorist act and a hate crime. According to the President, investigators do not yet know the exact motivation of the killer. In any case, the FBI is treating the incident as a terrorist act (Sky News, June 12, 2016).

A few hours after the attack, the Aamaq News Agency, the propaganda arm of the Islamic State, issued a statement saying that the attack had been carried out by an ISIS fighter. In a video subsequently released by ISIS (June 13, 2016), the Islamic State congratulates Omar Mateen and commends his actions: “he charged deep into the American Crusaders, responded in kind, and spilled their blood […] Thanks to him, Allah has brought relief to the hearts of jihadi fighters everywhere […]” In the ITIC’s assessment, these reports do not constitute proof that the perpetrator was an ISIS operative and that the attack was planned or directed by ISIS. It is likely that the terrorist, like other terrorists of his kind, was inspired by ISIS and influenced by its calls to carry out attacks in the United States and Western Europe.

The murder of a French police officer and his partner

A radical Islamic operative who, in the ITIC’s assessment, was inspired by ISIS, stabbed a French police officer and his partner to death(on the night of June 13, 2016). The attack occurred in the suburb of Magnanville, located about 50 km from Paris. The terrorist ambushed the officer (deputy commander of a police station in the area) when he returned from work and stabbed him several times. He then abducted his partner and his son and held them hostage. After unsuccessful negotiations, police commandos broke into the house and killed the terrorist. The officer’s partner was also killed and their three-year-old son was rescued.
According to French media reports, the terrorist was Larossi Abballa, 25, from Morocco. In 2013, he was sentenced to three years in prison for membership in a network of terrorist operatives that helped jihad fighters reach Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to the Paris public prosecutor, the investigators working on the incident found a list in the terrorist’s possession of people that he planned to kill.
Larossi Abballa photographed the entire attack and posted it in real time on his Facebook page. In a post on his page, the terrorist declares his loyalty to the Islamic State, calling to kill police officers, prison guards, journalists, and rappers. In his post, he notes that he responded to the calls of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to kill “infidels” in their homes with their families. He also threatens that “the Euro tournament would become a graveyard” (Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, June 15, 2016).
ISIS’s media foundation (Aamaq) released the video taken by Larossi Abballa on his cellphone. The video shows the terrorist pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and quoting Islamic traditions in praise of jihad. He calls on the Islamic nation to “fight the tyrants” and calls on Muslim prisoners in France to wait patiently (Aamaq, June 14, 2016). He speaks in French but also includes Arabic phrases.

It is not yet clear whether the terrorist had partners and what was his relationship with ISIS. In the ITIC’s assessment, this was another attack inspired by ISIS which, in recent months, has repeatedly called on its supporters to carry out attacks in France (and in Western countries). Identification with ISIS and with its threats to attack French (and Western) targets is clearly evident in the terrorist’s post. The security forces and journalists mentioned in the post are groups that are “in the crosshairs” of jihadists inspired by ISIS to carry out attacks in France (and other Western countries).

The US-led campaign against ISIS

Airstrikes

This week, the US-led coalition carried out intensive airstrikes in Syria. Most of the airstrikes were carried out in the area of Manbij, as support for the SDF who are attacking the city. In Iraq, the attacks were concentrated in the area of Fallujah, where the attempt to take over the city from ISIS continued.US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter confirmed that for the first time, Apache helicopters were also used in airstrikes in Iraq. According to Carter, the helicopters attacked ISIS targets around the city of Mosul. The participation of American attack helicopters marks an increase in US involvement in the fighting in Iraq (USA Today, June 13, 2016).

Russia’s involvement in the fighting

Speaking at a weekly briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that 2,000 jihadi operatives were taking part in battles near the Aleppo Province and that their actions violated the ceasefire in Syria (Sputnik, June 10, 2016). Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called on the US to join Russia and take joint steps against those who violate the ceasefire in Syria (TASS News Agency, June 9, 2016).

Main developments in Syria

The SDF’s attack on the city of Manbij

SDF troops who are near the city of Manbij managed to take over several towns and villages in its vicinity and to encircle the city. Tens of thousands of civilians are trapped in the city. Manbij is reportedly without water and electricity due to the siege on the city (Ajel_Syria, Syrian Independent Twitter account, June 13, 2016)^[1].
SDF troops began attacking the city from its north side. They have reportedly taken over the international highway, thereby cutting off the highway connecting Manbij and Al-Bab (another ISIS stronghold west of the Euphrates River). ISIS, on its part, is waging guerilla warfare against the SDF forces. ISIS operatives detonated several car bombs east of Manbij and attacked Kurdish positions east of the Tishreen Dam.

Syrian Army attack on Al-Raqqah

The Syrian Army continues to advance along the route leading to Tabqa.This week it took over the Al-Rasafeh junction, where the road to Tabqa and Al-Raqqah begins.

The area of Damascus

In the area of the shrine of Al-Sayyida Zaynab, a Shiite holy place south of Damascus, there have been several deadly terrorist attacks. Dozens of people were injured in attacks, some of them civilians and others Syrian Army soldiers (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, June 11, 2016). ISIS’s Damascus Province claimed responsibility for the attacks. According to the statement, three suicide bombers carried out the attacks. Two of them blew themselves up with explosive belts and a third terrorist blew himself up triggering a car bomb (Aamaq, June 11, 2016).

Southern Syria

According to an announcement by ISIS, the Al-Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, the Islamic Muthanna Movement and Jama’at Al-Mujahedin, three ISIS-affiliated rebel organizations, have decided to unite. The three organizations operate in the Yarmouk Basin area, in the tri-border area of Syria, Jordan and Israel. The umbrella framework established by these organizations is called the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Army (Aamaq, June 10, 2016). According to Syrian media reports, the three organizations joined forces in the second half of May 2016. The new network is headed by Abu Othman al-Shami, aka Abu Othman al-Idlibi (Enab Baladi, May 25, 2016; all4syria, June 10, 2016; thenational.ae, June 12, 2016).
The US Department of State announced that the Al-Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade has been designated as a global terrorist entity.According to the announcement, the Al-Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade, which was formed in August 2012 in Daraa, carried out attacks in southern Syria, particularly along the borders with Israel and Jordan. Inter alia, this organization abducted United Nations personnel working in the area. In 2014, the organization operated closely with the Al-Nusra Front, but then pledged allegiance to ISIS (US Department of State website, June 9, 2016).

Main developments in Iraq

The campaign to take over the city of Fallujah

(Updated to June 15, 2016)

Iraqi Army forces continue their efforts to liberate the city of Fallujah. Over the past few days, several of the city’s southern neighborhoods have been cleansed. Iraqi Army forces have taken control of most of the Al-Shuhadaa’ neighborhood (Al-Nashra, June 12, 2016). The fighting is now concentrated in the industrial area north of the neighborhood. According to a report from June 11, 2016, ISIS unexpectedly withdrew from western Fallujah and the Iraqi forces managed to liberate a number of areas west of the city. ISIS, on its part, continues its guerrilla operations northwest of Fallujah and in the combat zones to the south of the city.
According to reports by Iraqi sources, the Iraqi Army managed to create a safe route for civilians leaving the city. ISIS operatives are reportedly attempting to flee along with the civilians. According to government sources in the Al-Anbar Province, so far 580 suspected ISIS operatives were arrested while attempting to flee the city among the thousands of refugees who fled. There are also (unconfirmed) reports that the Shiite militias that support the Iraqi Army in the fighting against ISIS massacred dozens of civilians who fled from the city (Al- Hurra, June 13, 2016; Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, June 14, 2016).

The city of Baghdad and its environs

ISIS continues to carry out acts of terrorism and guerrilla warfare in the city of Baghdad and its environs.Six people were reportedly killed and 30 others wounded in a car bomb explosion in the new area of Baghdad (Sky News, June 9, 2016). Another attack was carried out near the Al-Bayda’ movie theater. ISIS claimed responsibility for both attacks.

Palestinians and Israeli Arabs

An organization calling itself the Environs of Jerusalem (a Palestinian Salafist-jihadi network operating in the Gaza Strip) has posted a video in Gaza. The video shows network operatives explaining how to make explosive vests and IEDs. They claim to have purchased the materials with donations and say that the video’s purpose is to train “a generation of experts.” The video calls on young Palestinians to participate in the courses and to share the information about them.

Two Gazans killed in airstrikes in Syria

Reports were recently received of the deaths of two more Palestinians from the Gaza Strip fighting in the ranks of ISIS:

Palestinian news sites reported the death of Khaled Salman Ahmed al-Tarabin, aka Jaafar al-Tayyar, in a coalition airstrike against ISIS targets in Syria. He came from the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. He left the Gaza Strip and went to Syria to fight in the ranks of ISIS (Facebook page of News of the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, Ma’an News Agency, June 11 and 13, 2016).
The Ibn Taymiyyah Center, which is affiliated with Salafist-jihadi elements in the Gaza Strip, issued a death notice for Muhammad Saber al-Masri, aka Abu Abdallah al-Masri. He came from Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip. He was killed on June 13, 2016, in an airstrike in the Al-Raqqah Province in Syria, while fighting in the ranks of ISIS (Twitter account of the Ibn Taymiyyah Center, June 13, 2016).

The global jihad in other countries

Libya

The campaign over Sirte

The forces loyal to the Government of National Accord, led by the Libyan Dawn militias, continue to tighten the siege on the city of Sirte. During the week, they took over several other locations around the city and reached its suburbs, where fighting is now underway. According to the information center of the campaign, within a month ISIS lost 9,900 km² of the area under its control, and it now controls just 20 km² in Sirte itself (Twitter account of the information center of the campaign over Sirte, June 11, 2016).

Inter alia, the attacking forces took over the port of Sirte, as well as the coastal area to the east of the port. An ISIS force also attacked the port of Sirte in an attempt to retake it, but the attack was repulsed (aljazeera.net, June 12, 2016). According to reports by the attacking forces, they are working to open the coastal road linking Sirte and Harawah, which has been liberated from the hands of ISIS by the Petroleum Facilities Guard. The advance by the forces was halted on June 12-13, 2016, when they reached the outskirts of the city’s residential areas. They are fighting there against ISIS operatives who have barricaded themselves inside buildings and are fighting with IEDs and snipers positioned on rooftops.

ISIS (as usual) responded with guerrilla warfare against the attacking forces.On June 12, 2016, its operatives carried out three suicide bombing attacks: a car bomb exploded in a field hospital of the attacking forces (about 50 km west of Sirte). Two other cars exploded against concentrations of forces in the south and west of the city. A few more attempted suicide bombing attacks were foiled (aljazeera.net, June 12, 2016; alarabiya.net, June 13, 2016; Al-Arabi al-Jadeed, June 12, 2016).

The Philippines

The Aamaq News Agency, ISIS’s media foundation, published an infographic describing the actions carried out by its operatives in the Philippines (similar to publications released by its other provinces). The infographic indicates that 10 jihadi groups operate in various areas in the Philippines. The groups have pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. According to the infographic, 289 members of the security forces in the Philippines have been killed by ISIS since April 2015 (Isdarat al-Dawla al-Islamiyya, June 12, 2016).

Kazakhstan

On June 5, 2016, around 20 militants carried out a series of attacks against a National Guard camp and against two stores selling weapons in the city of Aktobe (about 1,000 km west of the capital of Kazakhstan). These attacks killed at least 20 people. Five Islamic militants suspected of involvement in these attacks were killed in an exchange of gunfire with the Kazakh Special Forces on June 10, 2016 (Reuters, June 10, 2016).
According to Kazakh Interior Minister Kalmukhanbet Kassymov, preliminary information indicates that the terrorists received instructions to carry out the attack “from an element in Syria” (Sputnik, June 14, 2016). According to the Kazakh authorities, one of those responsible for the attacks is Rustem Omarov, 26, who posted a video expressing admiration for ISIS (Reuters, June 8, 2016). Around 300 Kazakhs have gone to Syria and Iraq to join the ranks of jihadi organizations, mainly ISIS. Half of them are fighters and the rest are members of their families. The Kazakh authorities estimate that approximately 15,000 Salafist Muslims now live in Kazakhstan (Reuters, June 10, 2016).

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News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (August 26 – September 1, 2015)

Published: 01/09/2015

Rise in popular terrorism in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem.

Palestinians throw stones at Israeli security forces in Kafr Qaddum during the weekly riot held to protest the Jewish communities (Wafa News Agency, August 28, 2015).

Riots in the village of Burqin (Facebook page of Quds.net, September 1, 2015).

IEDs thrown by Palestinians at Israeli soldiers during the riot in Burqin. The IED is marked, "The State of the Jenin refugee camp."

The canal under construction by the Egyptian army along the Gaza Strip border (Sada, August 27, 2015)

Memorial service unveiling a monument dedicated to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades naval commandos killed in Operation Protective Edge

The graduation of the women's self-defense course held by the PFLP (Facebook page of Quds.net and Dunia al-Watan, August 29, 2015).

Mahmoud Abbas meets with King Abdallah of Jordan (Wafa News Agency, August 30, 2015).

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Overview

This past week another rocket hit was identified in the western Negev. An ISIS-affiliated network that claimed responsibility for previous rocket attacks claimed this one as well. In response Israel Air Force aircraft struck a Hamas site for the manufacture of weapons. Hamas has an interest to continue the lull in the fighting but so far has not managed to put an end to the rocket fire initiated by ISIS-affiliated networks.
in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem popular terrorism continues, with Palestinians carrying out stabbing and vehicular attacks, and throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. Palestinians also carried out a drive-by shooting attack against an Israeli vehicle near the community of Kedumim (in Samaria west of Nablus), wounding the driver. During the past year Palestinians have carried out several drive-by attacks on the roads in Judea and Samaria.

Israel's South

Rocket Fire Attacking Israel

Close to midnight on August 26, 2015, a rocket hit was identified in Israeli territory in an open area in the western Negev, landing between an Israeli community and the border security fence. There were no casualties and no damage was reported (Western Negev's Spokesman's Office, August 27, 2015). An ISIS-affiliated jihadi network in the Gaza Strip called the Company of Sheikh Omar claimedresponsibility for the rocket fire (Twitter account of the network, August 27, 2015). Another rocket fire was fired at Israel on September 1, 2015, landing inside the Gaza Strip.
In response to the rocket fire, Israel Air Force (IAF) aircraft struck a Hamas site in the central Gaza Strip used for the manufacture of weapons (IDF Spokesman, August 27, 2015). Palestinian reports claimed a training camp of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas' military-terrorist wing) near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip was attacked (Facebook page of the Battalions of National Resistance, the military-terrorist wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, August 27, 2015).

Left: The IAF attack on the Hamas terrorist site near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip (Facebook page of the Battalions of National Resistance, August 27, 2015). Right: Claim of responsibility (Twitter account of @watheqpress, August 27, 2015).

It was the most recent in a series of sporadic rocket attacks occurring over the past few months. They were carried out by an ISIS-affiliated network. Hamas has an interest to continue the lull in the fighting but has not managed to put an end to the rocket attacks.

Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem

Stabbing Attack at the Nablus Gate in Jerusalem Using an Axe

On the evening of August 26, 2015, a Border Police soldier's leg was wounded by a Palestinian in an attack carried out near the Nablus Gate in Jerusalem. The attacker approached a group of Border Police soldiers patrolling in the Old City with the intention of attacking them. The soldiers overcame and detained him. As he was being detained, the Palestinian hacked the leg of a soldier with an axe.
The Palestinian terrorist was Muammar Ata Mahmoud, 56, from Hebron. He was an operative who had been imprisoned until 2013 for the murder of Professor Menahem Stern in the Valley of the Cross in Jerusalem in 1989. He was released as part of the third phase of Palestinian prisoner releases. He said he had planned to attack Israeli policemen, and to that end bought a knife and an axe. Seeing a group of Border Police soldiers, he came up behind them and used the axe to attack (Facebook page of the Israel Police Force, August 26, 2015).
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri praised the attack and called for more to be carried out against [Israel's] "policy of Judaization and Israeli crimes" (Dunia al-Watan, August 26, 2015).

Vehicular Attack in Mt. Hebron

On August 29, 2015, a Palestinian drove to the guard post at the junction southof Hebron and tried to run over four soldiers stationed at the post. He rammed into the leg of one of them and drove away. IDF forces shot at the car. The wounded soldier did not need to be evacuated for medical treatment. A search was carried out later to find the attacker.

Shooting Attack at the Jit Junction (Samaria)

On August 30, 2015, an Israeli civilian was wounded by gunfire at the Jit Junction (near Kedumim in Samaria west of Nablus). Nine bullets were fired at his car in a drive-by shooting, wounding him.This past year Palestinians have carried out several drive-by shooting attacks.

Riots, Clashes and Popular Terrorism

This past week violence and popular terrorism continued at the usual locations in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, part of what the Palestinians call the "popular resistance" (i.e., popular terrorism). The violence mainly centered on Palestinians throwing stones, rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli security forces and civilians. Prominent this past week was the rise in the number of attacks in and around Jerusalem.

The most prominent attacks were the following:

On the night of August 31, 2015 Israeli security forces undertook a security activity to detain a senior Hamas terrorist in the village of Burqin (west of Jenin). They destroyed the house the terrorist was suspected of hiding in. During the operation hundreds of Palestinians threw stones, Molotov cocktails and IEDs at the Israeli security forces, seriously injuring an Israeli fighter (IDF Spokesman, September 1, 2015). The house, which was encircled and destroyed, belonged to Majdi Abu al-Hija'a, 40, a senior Hamasoperative in Judea and Samaria. He was detainedwith his brother and son. The Palestinian media reported that at least five Palestinians were injured (Quds.net, Wafa, Facebook page of Shihab, PALDF, September 1, 2015).

Notice issued by Hamas with a picture of Majdi al-Hija'a (center). The Arabic reads, "Abu al-Hija'a…family of shaheeds and prisoners. The impregnable fortress of the resistance." The two smaller pictures are of two of Majdi al-Hija'a's brothers, Hamas operatives who were killed in 1994. Under the pictures are the logos of the "At your orders, Oh, Al-Aqsa" campaign and the Hamas movement (Facebook page of PALDF, September 1, 2015).

OnAugust 31, 2015, Palestinians threw an IED at a square near the Tomb of Rachel in Bethlehem. One personwas injured and another had to be treated for shock (Red Alert, August 31, 2015).
On August 30, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at the Jerusalem light railway in the Shuafat area. There were no casualties; a railway car window was damaged. A similar attack was carried out on August 27, 2015 (Facebook page of Red Alert, August 27 and 31, 2015).
On August 28, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at an Israeli vehicle on Route 443 (linking Jerusalem and Modi'in) near Bayt Ghur al-Tahta. There were no casualties and no damage was reported (Facebook page of Red Alert, August 28, 2015).
On August 27, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at an Israeli vehicle on Route 446 near Ni'lin (north of Modi'in), woundingthe driver of the car (a woman) (Facebook page of Red Alert, August 27, 2015).
On August 27, 2015, during an Israeli security force activity in Jenin, Palestinians threw an IED at the soldiers. It detonated; there were no casualties and no damage was reported (Facebook page of Red Alert, August 27, 2015).
On August 27, 2015, Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails at a bus north of the Halhul Junction (Hebron region). It exploded and caught fire on the road. There were no casualties and no damage was reported (Facebook page of Red Alert, August 27, 2015).
On August 26, 2015, masked Palestinians threw stones and Molotov cocktails at a Border Police force in the A-Tor neighborhood of Jerusalem. A Molotov cocktail hit one of the their vehicles and set it on fire. One of the soldiers was treated for smoke inhalation (Facebook page of the Israel Police Force, August 26, 2015).

Increase in Violent Events in the Old City of Jerusalem

New data issued by the Ministry of Construction and Housing, which operates a security system in Jerusalem's Old City, indicate that during June and July 2015 there were hundreds of instances of stones and Molotov cocktails thrown by Palestinians in the Old City and the Mount of Olives. The numbers did not include attacks in the eastern part of the city (Shuafat, Beit Hanina, Issawiya, Jabel Mukaber, etc.).
According to the data, during those two months there were 580 violent incidents that targeted Israeli civilians and security forces. Most of them (477) involved Palestinians throwing stones at vehicles; 28 involved Molotov cocktails. There were also incidents of Palestinians throwing ordinary glass bottles, shooting fireworks and vandalizing property (Ynet, August 26, 2015).

Exposure of Squad Planning to Attack Worshippers at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus

The Israeli security forces exposed a squad of four terrorist operatives from Tulkarm, Nablus and Jenin. They were planning to use IEDs to attack Jewish worshippers at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus who come to pray without prior coordination with the Israeli security forces (and thus are not secured).
Interrogation revealed that the squad was compartmentalized and each operative had a specific task: providing weapons, collecting intelligence and carrying out the actual attack. Interrogation also revealed that the squad's activities were directed from the Gaza Strip by Rafat Muhammad Darwish, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operative who organized the weapons for the squad (Israel Security Agency, August 25, 2015).

Developments in the Gaza Strip

The School Year Begins

On August 24, 2015, the school year began in the Gaza Strip, after UNRWA received funds to cover its deficit and allowing it to open its schools. As soon as the schools opened the parents called a strike to protest overcrowding in the classrooms. The governmental (non-UNRWA) schools joined the strike as part of the general strike called by the clerks' union. The UN spokesmanin Gaza, Adnan Abu Hasna,said the strike complicated matters and might influence the willingness of the donor countries to contribute money to UNRWA. He said the strike meant there were a quarter of a million children on the streets instead of in school (Sawa, August 26, 2015).
On August 29, 2015, UNRWA said in a statement that Kuwait had donated $15 million to Gaza's educational system. According to UNRWA, the donation will help open the school year in a more organized fashion (Filastin al-Yawm, August 29, 2015). After a week-long strike, it was decided to reopen the schools. The parents' council of the UNRWA schools said they would freeze their protest until September 10, 2015 (Samaa, August 30, 2015).

The Egyptian Army Upgrades the Buffer Zone

The Palestinian and Egyptian media reported that on August 25, 2015, the Egyptian army had begun digging a canal in the Rafah regionalong the Gaza Strip border. It is intended to reinforce the fight against the smuggling tunnels. According to Egyptian army sources, the canal will be 13 kilometers (a little more than 8 miles) long, 20 meters (almost 22 yards) deep and 20 meters wide. Local sources in Egyptian Rafah expressed concern and dissatisfaction with the Egyptian army's activities in the region (Facebook page of QudsN, Al-Hadath, August 25 and 27, 2015).

Hamas Operative Killed During Construction of Attack Tunnel

Hamas' military-terrorist wing issued a death notice for Anwar Faraj al-Ghalban, who died while working on "one of the resistance tunnels" in east Khan Yunis (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades website, August 29, 2015). Ismail Haniya, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, and other senior Hamas figures, paid a condolence call to the family (Alresala.net, August 31, 2015).

Left: Anwar Faraj al-Ghalban (Facebook page of Shihab, August 29, 2015). Right: The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades death notice for Anwar Faraj al-Ghalban (Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades website, August 28, 2015).

Salafist Activity in the Gaza Strip

A Salafist source in the Gaza Strip claimed that approximately 100 Salafist-jihadi operatives in the Gaza Strip had sworn allegiance to ISIS. Abu al-Inaa' al-Ansari, a Salafist-jihadi leader in the Gaza Strip, refused to comment when asked for a response (WND, August 24, 2015).
The Ibn Taymmiyah Media Center, which is affiliated with the Salafists in the Gaza Strip, issued a statement about the death of a Gazan from the Al-Shati refugee camp who was killed in Iraq. According to the statement, Abdallah al-Jaml, akaAbu Hamza the Gazan, carried out a suicide bombing attack for ISIS against the Iraqi army in Al-Anbar Province (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 28, 2015).
Abdallah al-Jaml, 24, was described as a former Hamas military operative. Without prior notice he left the Gaza Strip a number of months ago and went to Turkey. After about a month in Turkey, he crossed the border into Syria and later made his way to Iraq (Quds News, August 28, 2015). On his Facebook page he is called Abu Hamza Abdallah (Abu Hamza al-Ramlawi). His Facebook page has pictures of him in Turkey, apparently en route to Iraq (Facebook page of Abdallah al-Jaml, June 26, 2015).

Pictures from the Facebook page of Abdallah al-Jaml (Abu Hamza Abdallah). Left: As an ISIS operative in Iraq. Right: In Istanbul, Turkey.

Memorial notice for Abdallah al-Jaml issued by the Ibn Taymmiyah Media Center, the information wing of the Salafists in the Gaza Strip (Twitter account of @bentymela0008, August 28,2015).

Memorial Service for Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades Naval Commandos

On August 26, 2015, Hamas' military-terrorist wing held a memorial service for naval commandos killed during Operation Protective Edge. A memorial was unveiled on the Gaza shore. Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida gave a speech in which he claimed that Operation Protective Edge had signaled a strategic change and was "a historic chapter" in jihad history. Speaking to Israel, he claimed that if the siege of the Gaza Strip were not lifted the patience of the Palestinian people and the "resistance" [i.e., terrorist organizations] would expire (Al-Aqsa TV, August 26, 2015).

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Ceremony

The PFLP held a ceremony marking the end of a self-defense course for women in its "Pioneers of the Return" camps (Dunia al-Watan, August 30, 2015). At the camps, held over the summer, a thousand young men and women underwent military training, sports exercises, and engaged in so-called "cultural activities" (Facebook page of Quds.net and Dunia al-Watan, August 29, 2015).

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) Activities

DFLP operatives held a summer camp in the Gaza Strip for dozens of elementary and high school pupils. Activities included military training and familiarity with weapons. Ziyad Jarghoun, a member of the DFLP's political bureau, visited the camp and told the campers they were "the generation of liberation and the standard bearers of the resistance" (Facebook page of the Battalions of National Resistance, August 26, 2015). He called on the operatives to continue their training and deployment in preparation for a possible confrontation with Israel (Facebook page of the Battalions of National Resistance, August 28, 2015).

The Issue of the Four Abducted Gazans

The four Gazans who were abducted from a bus in the Sinai Peninsula on August 19, 2015, while en route to the Cairo airport, continue to concern senior figures in Hamas, who accuse the Egyptian regime of responsibility. Senior Hamas figure Musheir al-Masri claimed that only Israel benefitted from the abduction. He claimed contacts with the Egyptians were continuing. He demanded Egypt "stop talking, start acting and provide information about the abductees" (Safa News Agency, August 30, 2015). Egypt, on the other hand, claims it is not behind the abduction. According to an Egyptian source, Egypt is monitoring the issue and coordinating with Hamas (Alresala.net, August 30, 2015).

Interview with Ramadan Shallah

Interviewed by Al-Mayadeen TV, Ramadan Shallah, secretary general of the PIJ, referred to issues on the organization's agenda (Al-Mayadeen TV, Lebanon, August 28, 2015):

Rocket fire into Israel– In response to Israeli reports, he denied the PIJ had fired rockets into Israel. He claimed that in view of the situation, the PIJ did not have a presence in Syria, with the exception of "a tiny presence" in Damascus. He claimed the organization's activity in Syria was limited because the situation there made it impossible to hold political or "resistance" [i.e., terrorist] activity.
The lull agreement and rocket fire into Israel from the Gaza Strip– The lull in the fighting, he said, was a "temporary situation" meant to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people. However, it was not sacred, he said. He added that the PIJ did not have a problem discussing the establishment of the lull, but Israel had to honor its commitments. However, he said, the PIJ would not agree to a long-term lull that might remove the PIJ from the conflict with Israel.
The hunger-striking administrative detainees– Muhammad Allan, Ramadan Shallah claimed, won a "great victory." It was "another defeat" for Israel after the previous one at the hands of Khader Adnan. He claimed that if either one of them had died during their hunger strikes, the PIJ would have reacted [with violence].
The situation of the PIJ– He claimed the PIJ's situation was far better than it had been in the past. It had doubled its capabilities and resources in every field, despite the siege of the Gaza Strip.
The PIJ's external relations– He claimed the PIJ's relations with Iran were good. He claimed that as far as Iran was concerned, the Palestinian cause and Iran's attitude towards Palestine did not depend on changing circumstances, but rather were permanent. Relations with Qatar were good. The PIJ still had relations with Turkey but they were not as good as they had been in the past. Relations with Egypt were good because Egypt played an important role in every facet of the Palestinian issue.

The Palestinian Authority

The Palestinian National Council Convenes

Salim Zaanoun, chairman of the Palestinian National Council (PNC), announced he agreed with Mahmoud Abbas about convening the PNC in Ramallah on September 15, 2015. During the meeting members will elect a new PLO Executive Committee and a new Presidential Council for the PNC. The PNC has 765 members; the necessary quorum is two thirds.^[3] He claimed that if Israel did not allow members from the Gaza Strip to attend they would be forced to hold a limited meeting to elect members to the Executive Committee (Wafa News Agency, August 27, 2015).
Hamas and the PIJobjected to convening the PNC, claiming it served Mahmoud Abbas' personal interests. Musa Abu Marzouq, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau, claimed the resignation of the members of the Executive Committee was meant to lead to convening an extraordinary session of the PNC without agreement from Hamas or the PIJ (Facebook page of Musa Abu Marzouq, August 30, 2015). Senior Hamas figure Ismail Radwan claimed the objective of convening the PNC was to reassemble the PLO's Executive Committee's personnel as Mahmoud Abbas saw fit (Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, August 31, 2015).

Mahmoud Abbas' Visit to Jordan

On August 30, 2015, Mahmoud Abbas met with Jordan's King Abdallah in Amman. They discussed the Palestinian issue, Jerusalem and various regional developments. Mahmoud Abbas was accompanied by Saeb Erekat, secretary of the PLO's Executive Committee; Majid Rash Faraj, head of Palestinian general intelligence; and Atta' Khiri, Palestinian ambassador to Jordan (Wafa News Agency, August 30,2015). Jordanian sources claimed Mahmoud Abbas told the king he wanted to resign and leave political life. He claimed that was because of the stalemate in the political process with Israel and Hamas' activity to upset the internal Palestinian reconciliation (Samaa, August 31, 2015).

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^[1]As of September 1, 2015. The statistics do not include mortar shell fire or rockets which misfired and fell inside the Gaza Strip.
^[2]The statistics do not include mortar shell fire or rockets which misfired and fell inside the Gaza Strip.
^[3]The last time the full PNC was convened was in 1998 in the Gaza Strip, attended by American President Bill Clinton. Since then it has met a number of times with partial attendance, with no more than half the number of members.

Spotlight on Global Jihad (August 6-12, 2015)

Published: 12/08/2015

The logo of the Islamic Ahrar al-Sham movement

The Kuweyres military airbase, which was attacked by ISIS (Wikimapia; Google Maps)

ISIS operatives fighting against the Kurds in the rural area of Tel Hamees

ISIS’s Damascus province’s announcement of the takeover of Al-Qaryatayn (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 5, 2015).

Armed ISIS operatives in the city of Al-Qaryatayn (a3maqnews.tumblr.com; archive.org, August 6, 2015).

The city of Ramadi is still in the hands of ISIS: ISIS flags hanging on lampposts in the city streets (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 7, 2015; justpaste.it, August 6, 2015)

Children’s training at an ISIS camp south of Damascus (justpaste.it, August 8, 2015)

Croatian national held by operatives of ISIS’s Sinai province in a video released by ISIS (isdarat.tv, August 5, 2015).

Announcement by ISIS’s Sinai province about the abduction of the Croatian national and the ultimatum for his release in return for the release of female Muslim prisoners in Egypt

Details about the Croatian national held by operatives of ISIS’s Sinai province (LinkedIn)

Photo released by ISIS’s Tripoli province, documenting the execution of an Indian citizen

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Main events of the week

The battles in Syria this week focused on the rural area north of Aleppo, in light of Turkey’s intention to create a buffer zone free of ISIS along the Syrian-Turkish border. According to several media reports, the dominant organization operating in this area is the Islamic Ahrar al-Sham movement, a framework of Salafist-jihadi organizations that are not affiliated with ISIS or Al-Qaeda. This framework, which is attempting to repel ISIS from the region adjacent to the Syrian-Turkish border, is apparently receiving encouragement (and assistance?) from Turkey and from rebel organizations hostile to ISIS.
ISIS continues to invest effort and resources in the battle for hearts and minds. It recently announced the launch of a new app for the Android operating system designed for mobile phones. As part of the media campaign, ISIS continues to inspire Muslim supporters in Western countries (Germany this week) to attack “infidels” in their countries, if they are unable to migrate to the Islamic State. In the ITIC’s assessment, such calls are liable to spur jihadists in the West to carry out attacks inspired by ISIS.

The international campaign against ISIS

US and coalition airstrikes

This week, the US and coalition forces continued their airstrikes against ISIS targets. During the week, many dozens of airstrikes were carried out in Syria and Iraq by means of fighter planes, attack aircraft and UAVs. For the first time since the start of the operation of the coalition forces, the US has carried out an airstrike in northern Syria from Turkish territory, using Incirlik Air Base (Hürriyet, August 6, 2015).^[1]
Following are the main airstrikes (CENTCOM website):

Syria– the airstrikes were concentrated in the area of Al-Hasakah, Al-Raqqah, Aleppo, Ain Issa, Deir al-Zor and Kobani. The airstrikes targeted ISIS tactical units, bunkers, battle positions, buildings, heavy machinery, buildings and checkpoints, among other things.
Iraq– the airstrikes were concentrated in Fallujah, Habbaniyah, Hit, Makhmur, Mosul, Ramadi, Sinjar, Tal Afar, Hawija andBaiji. The airstrikes targeted ISIS tactical units, vehicles, heavy machinery, buildings, weapons (including anti-tank weapons) and checkpoints, among other things.

Meeting of representatives of the countries participating in the campaign against ISIS

General John Allen, US President Obama’s Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, met in Washington with senior diplomatic representatives from the 62 countries that are members of the coalition against ISIS. At the meeting, General Allen reviewed the progress of the combined efforts to defeat ISIS, and ways to strengthen cooperation between the members of the coalition were discussed. This is the fourth meeting of its kind by representatives of member countries in the campaign against ISIS (US Department of State website, August 7, 2015).

Turkey’s intentions to create a zone free of ISIS

Turkey continues to implement its new policy against ISIS.As part of this policy, it continued its airstrikes against ISIS positions along the Syrian-Turkish border and has allowed the US to attack targets in Syria from bases in Turkey. Turkey reportedly intends to deploy the Islamic Ahrar al-Sham movement in northern Syria to create a zone free of ISIS in the region north of Aleppo (and south of the Turkish city of Kilis).
The Islamic Ahrar al-Sham movement, established in 2013, is one of the rebel organizations in Syria. The movement serves as an umbrella organization for a number of Salafist-jihadi organizations that do not belong to Al-Qaeda and are not affiliated with ISIS. According to Arab media reports, as part of the cooperation with Turkey, the Islamic Ahrar al-Sham movement has been given missions in the region of Aleppo designed to oust ISIS forces from the area (Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, July 29, 2015).

In light of the above, at a meeting of rebel organizations in Aleppo, the Al-Nusra Front reportedly undertook to hand over outposts under its control along the Turkish-Syrian border to the Islamic Ahrar al-Sham movement. The Al-Nusra Front also undertook to dismantle all the outposts that it controls in its fight against ISIS and to hand over all the buildings under its control in the city of A'zaz (Al-Arabiya al-Hadath, August 6, 2015). According to an announcement issued by the Al-Nusra Front, it is withdrawing from the rural area north of Aleppo because it does not want to interfere in affairs related to ISIS in the region (Aks al-Sir, August 10, 2015).

Main developments in Syria

Aleppo province

This week the fighting in Syria was concentrated in the rural area of Aleppo, in light of Turkey’s intention to create a zone free of the presence of ISIS south of its border (as described above).North of Aleppo battles took place between ISIS and other rebel organizations, the most prominent of which is the Islamic Ahrar al-Sham movement, which has apparently received the green light from Turkey (and the rebel organizations?) to repel ISIS from the area. On the other hand, to the east of Aleppo, ISIS took the initiative and is now making an effort to take over the Kuweyres military airbase, which is being defended by the Syrian Army.

In the rural area north of Aleppo, there were clashes this week between ISIS and rival rebel organizations. According to a report by one of ISIS’s media arms, at least 36 rebel organization operatives were killed in these clashes and dozens were injured (a3maqnews.tumblr.com, August 8, 2015). On August 9, 2015, an ISIS-affiliated Twitter account posted an announcement from ISIS’s Aleppo province, claiming that a suicide bomber codenamed Abu Uday al-Ansari had blown himself up in the village of Umm Housh, near the city of A'zaz (about 23 km north of Aleppo). After the suicide bombing attack, ISIS operatives managed to take over the village (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 9, 2015).

At the same time, ISIS initiated a military action east of Aleppo, possibly in order to relieve the pressure on its forces north of the city. On August 10, 2015, ISIS announced the start of the raid on the Kuweyres military airbase (about 33 km east of Aleppo). ISIS detonated a car bomb at the airbase and attacked it from several directions simultaneously (aljazeera.net, August 10, 2015, Abdo Rahman’s Twitter page, Al-Arabiya, August 9, 2015). Syrian Army officers and combatants were killed in the attack (Sky Arabic News, August 10, 2015). So far, ISIS has apparently not yet managed to take over the airbase.

Al-Hasakah province

On August 8, 2015, an ISIS-affiliated Twitter account posted photos documenting battles between ISIS operatives and Kurdish forces in the rural area of Tel Hamees, a city northeast of Al-Hasakah (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 8, 2015). In the ITIC’s assessment, the Kurdish forces are working to purge the entire region of the presence of ISIS, after having managed to take over the central city of Al-Hasakah.

The area of Idlib – Latakia

Jaysh al-Fatah, under the leadership the Al-Nusra Front, continues to cleanse the rural area south of the city of Jisr al-Shughur, while posing a threat to the city of Latakia, an important stronghold of the Syrian regime.
According to Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese media reports, Jaysh al-Fatah forces, led by the Al-Nusra Front, have taken over the last outpost of the Syrian Army in the village of Al-Bahsah, east of the city of Jisr al-Shughur. On August 5, 2015, a Twitter account affiliated with the Al-Nusra Front in Idlib posted photos documenting Syrian soldiers killed by Jaysh al-Fatah near the village of Al-Bahsah (Al-Nusra Front-affiliated Twitter account, August 5, 2015).
On August 10, 2015, Jaysh al-Fatah reported that its forces had taken over the entire area east of the Orontes River in the Ghab Plain. This was followed by reports of the withdrawal of the Syrian Army and Hezbollah forces from the area (aljazeera.net, August 10, 2015).

Homs province

On August 5, 2015, one of ISIS’s media arms reported that its operatives had taken over the city of Al-Qaryatayn, southeast of Homs. Before the attack, three ISIS operatives carried out suicide bombing attacks at Syrian Army checkpoints at the entrances to the city (a well-known modus operandi of ISIS). After the battles, which lasted several hours, ISIS’s takeover of the city was complete. That same day, ISIS’s Damascus province issued an official announcement of the takeover of Al-Qaryatayn (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 5, 2015).
Even after the takeover of Al-Qaryatayn, fighting continued in the area around the city. On August 8, 2015, the Syrian Army reportedly carried out an attack on the outskirts of the city. There were also reports of battles near the town of Mheen, west of Al-Qaryatayn (aljazeera.net, August 8, 2015).

Following the fall of the city of Al-Qaryatayn in the hands of ISIS, Christian leaders in Syria reported that they had lost contact with the Christian community southeast of Homs, and that a few dozen Christians and other residents of the region were apparently being held hostage by ISIS operatives. According to a representative of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), ISIS has captured approximately 230 people, including at least 60 Christians, though their number may reach as high as 500 (Christiantoday.com, August 9, 2015).

Damascus province

According to reports from Syrian Army-affiliated sources, Hezbollah and Syrian Army troops have managed to advance significantly in the city of Al-Zabadani, northwest of Damascus. It was also reported that the rebel organization of Ahrar al-Sham had announced the termination of negotiations held with Iran regarding the evacuation of the area of Al-Zabadani (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), August 5, 2015).

Main developments in Iraq

Al-Anbar province

Ramadi

Fighting continues between the Iraqi Army and ISIS in the area of the city of Ramadi. According to reports by the Iraqi Army, Iraqi security forces have cut off most of the routes used by ISIS for sending supplies and reinforcements to the city of Ramadi and are besieging the city from three directions (Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, August 9, 2015). The city of Ramadi itself is still controlled by ISIS. On August 7, 2015, photos were posted on Twitter showing ISIS operatives hanging ISIS flags on lampposts throughout the city of Ramadi (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 7, 2015; justpaste.it, August 6, 2015).

The city of Mosul

According to British media reports, ISIS operatives have executed 300 Iraqi government officials in the city of Mosul. ISIS recently published a list of 2,070 names of people who they claim to have executed since seizing control of the city in June 2014. The list was hung on the walls of houses in the city. The names listed include policemen, former army officers, local government officials and human rights activists (The Independent, August 9, 2015).

The city of Baghdad

ISIS’s Baghdad province claimed responsibility for the detonation of a car bomb on August 5, 2015, in the city of Baghdad. The explosion occurred near the headquarters of the Shiite militias that support the Iraqi Army. According to the announcement, the attack killed over 50 operatives of the Shiite militias (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 6, 2015).

The conduct of the Islamic State

Training children in the Damascus province

On August 8, 2015, an ISIS-affiliated Twitter account posted photos of children undergoing training at one ISIS’s Lion Cubs of the Caliphate (Ashbal al-Khilafah) camps in southern Damascus. The photos show the children undergoing military training, including in the use of weapons and self-defense. The photos also show the adult instructors who train the children (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account; justpaste.it, August 8, 2015).

Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula

ISIS’s Sinai province’s campaign against the Egyptian security forces

During the week, the Egyptian security forces continued their intensive activity against operatives of the Sinai province of the Islamic State. The security forces have carried out numerous airstrikes, mainly against terrorist bases in the area of Al-Arish, Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid. As part of their counterterrorism and preventive activity, the Egyptian forces hit car bombs and motorcycles, blew up several houses, neutralized IEDs, killed several dozen operatives and detained several dozen suspects. The security activity carried out by the Egyptian security forces included an attempt to find a Croatian national who was abducted by ISIS (Al-Shorouk Portal, August 8, 2015).
Despite the intense activity of the Egyptian security forces, attempts by operatives of the Sinai province to carry out attacks against the Egyptian forces have not ceased. Some of the attacks carried out against the Egyptian forces were successful, but the Egyptians also reported that a number of attacks had been foiled:

On August 4, 2015, Egyptian security forces defused five IEDs planted on the roadside and intended to hit military vehicles in south Al-Arish (Akhbar al-Youm, August 5, 2015).
On August 5, 2015, an IED exploded near a military convoy in south Al-Arish. There were no casualties (Veto Portal, August 5, 2015).
On August 6, 2015, shots were fired at a watchtower at the police station in Sheikh Zuweid. An Egyptian soldier was wounded (Veto Portal, August 6, 2015).
On August 8, 2015, Egyptian security forces blew up seven IEDs planted on the road between Sheikh Zuweid and Al-Jura by Sinai province operatives. The security forces also disconnected the communications networks so that the operatives would not be able to activate the IEDs remotely. There were no casualties (Al-Masry al-Youm, May 8, 2015).

ISIS’s Sinai province announced the abduction of a Croatian national

On August 5, 2015, a video was posted on social media by ISIS’s Sinai province, in which ISIS threatens to execute a Croatian national held by the organization. The video shows the citizen kneeling with a masked man standing beside him. The hostage has been identified as a Croatian national by the name of Tomislav Salopek, 30, married with two children, who worked in Cairo for the French company CGG (an international geophysical research company). In return for his release, ISIS operatives have demanded the release of female Muslim prisoners from prisons in Egypt within 48 hours.
A Twitter account affiliated with operatives of the Sinai province posted a countdown clock along with a threat that ISIS would execute the Croatian hostage on August 7 at 16:35 if its demands are not met. The countdown has ended but so far, the fate of the Croatian hostage remains unclear.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with the Croatian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, who came to Egypt to monitor the Egyptian government’s efforts to free the hostage. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman stressed the efforts invested by the relevant authorities to locate the hostage’s whereabouts. According to information in the Foreign Ministry’s possession, he was abducted around one month ago (Facebook page of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, August 7, 2015).

The abduction of foreign nationals and demands for the release of prisoners (and/or ransom money) for their release is a course of action often employed by ISIS in Syria and Iraq. This is the first time that abduction for bargaining purposes has been carried out in Egypt. The demand for the release of female Muslim prisoners is intended, in the ITIC’s assessment (from ISIS’s perspective), to “make it easier” for the Egyptian authorities to assent to ISIS’s demands. The abduction of the Croatian national for bargaining purposes could, in the ITIC’s assessment, be an indication of the increasing self-confidence, and perhaps operational capabilities as well, of ISIS’s branch in Egypt.

ISIS-affiliated networks in the Gaza Strip

Claim of responsibility for rocket fire at Israel

On the afternoon of August 7, 2015, a rocket hit was identified north of the community of Kissufim (in the northwestern Negev Desert in Israel), about 100 meters from the security fence on Israel territory. There were no casualties and no damage was caused. During the week, more rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip but they fell inside the Gaza Strip.
A Salafist-jihadi network calling itself Descendants of the Companions of the Prophet [Muhammad] – Greater Jerusalem – Gaza, claimed responsibility for the rocket fire (The network’s Twitter page, August 7, 2015). The network claimed responsibility for firing two additional rockets at the community of Netiv Ha'asara and two rockets at the Nahal Oz outpost. The network also threatened to fire additional rockets (the network’s Twitter page, August 8, 2015).

In recent months, there have been incidents of rocket fire at Israel by ISIS-affiliated networks in the Gaza Strip. These incidents were intended to challenge Hamas (which finds it difficult to put a stop to them) and were carried out in contravention of Hamas's policy. In all the incidents to date, Israel has not sustained any losses or damage as a result of the rocket fire.

The global jihad in other countries

Libya

Derna

ISIS operatives are trying to regain control of the city of Derna, having been ousted by a local jihadi organization. So far, the operatives defending Derna have managed to prevent ISIS operatives from entering the city. ISIS operatives have fired artillery at the eastern outskirts of the city. They also detonated a car bomb in Derna on August 9, 2015. The blast killed at least seven people and wounded 19 (Al-Arabiya, August 10, 2015).

Sirte

ISIS’s Tripoli province announced that it had executed an Indian national accused of “immoral conduct” in the city of Sirte. The Indian was executed on a street corner in front of passersby (Akhbar al-Alam, August 7, 2015). It should be noted that last week, ISIS abducted four Indian nationals who were staying in Libya. It is not clear whether the Indian who was executed is one of the four hostages.

Saudi Arabia

Seventeen Saudi security officials, most of them members of the Special Forces, were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up among worshippers at the Abha Mosque in the Asir region in southwest Saudi Arabia (Al-Hayat, August 6, 2015). The Hejaz province of the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack (Twitter, August 7, 2015). An ISIS-affiliated Twitter page posted an audiotape, accompanied by photos of the suicide bomber, codenamed Abu Sinan al-Najdi. The speaker on the tape promises that additional attacks will be carried out against the Saudi security forces. He urges other ISIS operatives to carry out suicide bombings, noting that explosive belts are more effective than shooting (time.com, August 8, 2015).
According to the Saudi interior ministry spokesman, the suicide bomber’s name is Yusef Bin Suleiman Abdullah al-Suleiman, 21, a Saudi national. He was reportedly arrested by the Saudi security forces for 45 days in 2013, but was released without being convicted (Al-Arabiya, August 9, 2015).

Left: The suicide bomber (isdarat.tv, August 7, 2015). Right: ISIS’s Hejaz province’s claim of responsibility for the attack in the mosque (Twitter, August 6, 2015).

ISIS’s Khorasan province (Afghanistan – Pakistan)

On August 6, 2015, ISIS’s branch in Khorasan published a video documenting the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan’s pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Isdarat al-Dawla al-Islamiyya, August 6, 2015). If the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan did indeed pledge allegiance to ISIS, this is evidence thatISIS has spread from Afghanistan-Pakistan to the Muslim countries of Central Asia.

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan pledging allegiance to ISIS’s leader (Isdarat al-Dawla al-Islamiyya, August 6, 2015)

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)is a Salafist-jihadi organization established in Uzbekistan in 1988. Its founders were a radical Islamic ideologue named Tohir Yo’ldosh and an Uzbek Islamic operative and Soviet Army veteran named Jumma Kasimov. The organization’s goal is to overthrow Uzbekistan’s secular regime and establish in its place an Islamic regime in accordance with Islamic law. The organization’s operatives joined forces with global jihad elements in Afghanistan.IMU received the sponsorship of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, and was allowed to operate under their auspices in northern Afghanistan. The organization also operates in Tajikistan (Wikipedia).

Jihad organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Middle East and North Africa

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb and the Al-Nusra Front in Syria, all three of which are affiliated with Al-Qaeda, issued a joint condolence message following the report of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. In their message, the Al-Qaeda branches praise Mullah Omar, noting that he unified the Afghans and Muslims under the banner of the Taliban and turned Afghanistan into a place where heroes who restored the nation’s honor were trained. The message also notes that thanks to him, the US was defeated in Afghanistan and the Taliban has expanded its influence (Al-Nusra Front-affiliated Twitter account, August 5, 2015).

The message was published following confirmation of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar in April 2013. The publication of a joint message by these three jihadi organizations is unusual. The message indicates their common denominator, which is mainly their close ties to Al-Qaeda, under the leadership of Ayman al-Zawahiri, and their differentiation from ISIS.

Joint message of condolence by the three leading organizations affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Middle East (Al-Nusra Front-affiliated Twitter account, August 5, 2015)

Counterterrorism and preventive activity

Britain

According to British media reports, security forces in Britain are working to prevent the realization of global jihad threats to carry out an attack against the Queen and other members of the royal family. According to the reports, the intelligence agencies believed that terrorist operatives in Syria were planning to carry out a terrorist attack during the annual parade marking Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II, to be held in London (VJ Day). The planned attack was reportedly revealed following calls by ISIS encouraging Muslim extremists to carry out attacks in the countries where they live instead of joining the fighting in Syria and Iraq. It is not yet known whether police have detained any suspects (Daily Mail, The Guardian, August 8, 2015).

The United States

A US citizen from New Jersey was detained because of his intention to leave the US and join ISIS as a fighter. Nader Saadeh, 20, was detained around two months after his brother and other US citizens had been detained on suspicion of trying to join the ranks of ISIS. According to the prosecutor, he boarded a flight from New York to Amman, Jordan, on May 5, 2015, in an attempt to reach the area under ISIS’s control. He was reportedly detained in Jordan (Fox, August 10, 2015).

The battle for hearts and minds

ISIS’s new app

ISIS supporters have used their Twitter pages to announce that ISIS recently launched a new app for the Android operating system designed for mobile phones. The app posts newsflashes, articles, videos and updates from the field on behalf of ISIS’s media offices in Syria and Iraq. The app also posts videos on behalf of ISIS’s main headquarters and news bulletins on ISIS’s radio station, Al-Bayan.

ISIS makes intelligent use of advanced technology to spread its ideology and political messages worldwide.The creation of an app designed for mobile phones indicates the understanding that this is a tool that is no less important, and possibly even more important, than the websites and social networks that ISIS has used for spreading its messages up to now. ISIS attaches great importance to the battle for hearts and minds, and invests considerable resources in this area (skilled personnel, large sums of money). ISIS has a highly effective propaganda system that produces a large amount of diverse media products intended for various target audiences.

ISIS encourages the recruitment of operatives in Indonesia

According to British media reports, ISIS operatives in Indonesia are boasting that they have managed to recruit the next generation of jihad operatives, by showing a photo of a newborn infant lying next to a rifle and a hand grenade. The photo was uploaded to Twitter by ISIS supporters. According to government reports in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, support for ISIS is growing. A previous photo uploaded to social networks in Indonesia shows uniformed children no older than six or seven carrying weapons (The Daily Mirror, August 8, 2015).

Left: Children fighting. Right: Photo of the infant (Twitter page affiliated with ISIS in Indonesia)

Encouraging Muslims in Germany to carry out terrorist acts

ISIS’s Homs province issued a German-language video. The video shows two German-speaking ISIS operatives calling on Muslims in Germany to join the Islamic State. The speakers in the video say that if the Germans don’t support their brothers through migration (to Syria and Iraq), then they should support them through attacks on “infidels” in their home (i.e., carrying out attacks in Germany). One of the speakers threatens to carry out attacks in Germany due to its partnership in the coalition against ISIS, and voices a direct threat against German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The two speakers are codenamed Abu Omar the German and Mohammad Mahmoud from Vienna. German security sources estimate that 720 operatives from Germany are now fighting alongside ISIS in Syria or Iraq (Die Welt, August 6, 2015).

This is not the first time that ISIS has called on European Muslims to join its ranks. Similar calls have been issued in French, Italian, English and other languages. ISIS calls on its supporters to carry out attacks in the West as an alternative for those who cannot immigrate to the Islamic State. Such calls inspire local jihadists to carry out terrorist attacks in Western countries.

Full document in PDF format

^[1]According to US media reports, the United States has sent six F-16 aircraft and 300 troops to Turkey in the wake of Turkey’s agreement to allow the US Air Force to use Turkish air bases for airstrikes against ISIS (nbcnews, August 9, 2015).

Spotlight on Global Jihad (April 2-15, 2015)

Published: 15/04/2015

Photos of the fighting at the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp published by ISIS (April 5, 2015).

Map showing the control of the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp as of April 7, 2015 (http://www.alzaytouna.net)

Abu Mohammad al-Julani’s speech to the Al-Nusra Front operatives in Idlib

Al-Nusra Front operative waving the organization’s flag at the Al-Naseeb border crossing between Syria and Jordan (Al-Arabiya TV, April 11, 2015)

The Syrian soldier before his execution (onedrive.live.com file-sharing site, April 4, 2015

Families returning to the city of Tikrit (Twitter account, April 8-9, 2015)

Car bomb explosion in the city of Ramadi (ISIS news agency, April 10, 2015)

ISIS operatives in the city of Ramadi.

ISIS operatives in the refineries in Baiji (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, April 12, 2015)

Photos from a video distributed by ISIS showing the destruction of historical artifacts in the ancient city of Nimrud (YouTube, April 12, 2015)

The “smart” identity cards that ISIS has begun to issue (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, April 11, 2015)

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Main events of the past two weeks^[1]

In early April 2015, an ISIS force comprising an estimated 1,000 operatives attacked the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp on the southern outskirts of Damascus (around 18,000 residents remained in the camp). In the ITIC’s assessment, the attack was intended to garner an achievement that would divert attention from ISIS’s failures in other combat zones. According to media reports, initially, ISIS managed to take over most of the area of the camp, but subsequently its operatives were repelled by other rebel organizations and armed Palestinian groups to the southern outskirts of the camp. Fighting still continues, and the campaign has not been decided.
In the city of Tikrit, Iraq, ISIS suffered its worst defeat since its series of victories in June 2014. The Iraqi Army and the Shiite militias that are supported by Iran completed the takeover of the city after about a month of fighting and are now preparing for the future. ISIS, on its part, attacked the refinery compound in the city of Baiji, north of Tikrit, and reinforced its forces in Iraq in order to curb the progress of the Iraqi forces northward.
The coalition of rebels headed by the Al-Nusra Front (Jaysh al-Fatah), which took over the city of Idlib in northwest Syria, is preparing to establish a governmental apparatus in the city. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the organization’s leader, called for fair treatment towards the citizens, but local residents complained that they were subject to harassment by the occupying organizations.

The international campaign against ISIS

US and coalition airstrikes

The US and coalition forces continued their airstrikes against ISIS targets. Several dozen airstrikes were carried out in Syria and Iraq. Following are the locations of the main airstrikes (CENTCOM website):

Syria – the airstrikes were concentrated in Al-Hasakah, Al-Raqqah, Kobani (Ayn al-Arab) and Aleppo. The airstrikes damaged tactical units, battle positions, a tunnel network, buildings and vehicles.
Iraq – the airstrikes were concentrated in Baiji, Mosul, Ramadi, Rutba, Fallujah, Tal Afar and Kirkuk. The airstrikes damaged tactical units, battle positions, a sniper position, and many weapons.

On April 8, 2015, Canada carried out its first airstrike in Syria. Canadian Air Force aircraft attacked terrorist targets near the city of Al-Raqqah, together with the US. Up to now, Canadian airstrikes have been limited to the Iraqi arena. At the end of March 2015, Canada passed a law permitting its Air Force to attack targets in Syria as well (AFP, April 8, 2015).

International activity against ISIS

Speaking prior to the Iraqi president’s visit to the US, US Vice President Joe Biden said that ISIS’s progress in Iraq had been curbed. According to Biden, the war against ISIS has managed to unite Iraq against the common threat. In reference to Syria, Biden said that the activities of the US and its allies had demonstrated that ISIS can be defeated there too, even though the situation in Syria is worse. This is due to the lack of cooperation and coordination with the Syrian regime and the fact that operatives of “the moderate Syrian opposition” are not sufficiently trained (www.wsj.com, April 9, 2015)
The first meetings of the coalition working group headed by General John Allen and known as the Coalition Small Group were held on April 8, 2015. The group was established in February 2015 to monitor the progress of coalition’s operations against ISIS (US Department of State website, April 8, 2015). The following issues were discussed at the meeting:

Military efforts to defeat ISIS
Preventing foreign fighters from reaching Syria to fight in the ranks of ISIS
Combating the financing of terrorism
Preventing the spread of ISIS’s ideology
The expansion of ISIS’s operations beyond Syria and Iraq

Sweden announced that in response to the request of the Iraqi government, it planned to send military troops to support the campaign against ISIS. According to the Swedish government, they will initially send 35 soldiers and more at a later date. These forces, which will form part of the international forces in northern Iraq, will help train the Iraqi Army and Kurdish forces (Reuters, April 9, 2015).

Main developments in Syria

Damascus area: The campaign over the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp

The Al-Yarmouk refugee camp on the southern outskirts of Damascus (about 10 km south of the city) is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. The camp once had a population of 160,000 Palestinians and Syrians. Today only around 18,000 Palestinians remain there, under the control of a number of armed groups (Palestinian groups, the Syrian Army, the Al-Nusra Front, and other rebel organizations).
On the morning of April 1, 2015, around 1,000 ISIS-affiliated operatives attacked the Al-Yarmouk camp and clashed with operatives of a Palestinian organization by the name of Aknaf Bayt al-Maqdis (Al-Durar al-Shamiya, April 1, 2015). In the first stage, ISIS operatives managed to take control of large parts of the refugee camp (about 80%-90%).

Top: Photos of the fighting at the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp published by ISIS (April 5, 2015). Bottom: Two ISIS operatives in the Al-Yarmouk camp (Facebook, April 8, 2015).

After several days of fighting, the armed groups operating in the camp managed to repel the ISIS operatives from the center and western part of the camp. On April 8, 2015, Anwar Abd al-Hadi, chairman of the PLO Political Department in Syria, said that ISIS and Al-Nusra Front operatives controlled about 60% of the camp and that this meant that their control had been reduced to the southern and eastern neighborhoods (where the remaining Palestinians live). ISIS forces apparently subsequently withdrew to the southern outskirts of the camp, leaving the positions that they had captured to the Al-Nusra Front and Palestinian armed groups (Al-Mayadeen, April 10, 2015).
On April 12, 2015, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel organization announced the start of a campaign designed to repel ISIS from the refugee camp and its surroundings. The name of the campaign is “Victory of the Camp Dwellers.” There have been reports of heavy fighting between Syrian opposition groups and ISIS around a city south of Damascus, Al-Hajar al-Aswad, from where ISIS mounted its attack on the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp.
The PA and Hamas are aware of the complexity of the events and the limits of their power and therefore have urged the Palestinians not to be involved in the military conflicts taking place between the sides. The PLO issued a statement saying that it opposes the armed struggle in the refugee camp and made it clear that it would act to stop the armed operations in cooperation with most of the interested parties and especially with UNRWA (WAFA News Agency, April 9, 2015). Demonstrations and rallies of solidarity with the Palestinians at the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp were held throughout Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip (for details of the Palestinian response, see the ITIC’s Information Bulletin from April 15, 2015, “News of Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”).

In the ITIC’s assessment, ISIS’s attack on the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp was designed to make a dramatic achievement, which would divert attention from ISIS’s failures in other combat zones (Kobani in Syria and Tikrit in Iraq). Control of the camp will enable ISIS to hold a suburb of Damascus, near the core of the Syrian regime. Such control also provides ISIS with considerable political attention and media coverage, due to the Arab and international sensitivity to the Palestinian issue. However, at this stage, ISIS’s operatives appear to have been repelled from areas in the camp that they occupied at the beginning of the attack, but they are still clinging to the south of the camp and the adjacent city of Al-Hajar al-Aswad, south of Damascus, and are controlling the besieged Palestinian population. In any case, fighting at the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp continues and the campaign has not yet been decided.

Idlib province

Al-Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani published a 15-minute speech directed at the organization’s operatives in Idlib.^[2] In his speech, Al-Julani congratulated the jihad fighters on the unity that they demonstrated and on the battle over the city. He expressed his appreciation of all the military personnel, administrators, physicians, ordnance operatives and PR people who participated in the fighting. Al-Julani promised residents that they would be treated well by the fighters and would enjoy justice based on Islamic law (Sharia), stressing that the mission of protecting the civilians is harder than achieving the victory (Twitter account of the Al-Nusra Front's media foundation, April 1, 2015).
According to Al-Julani, the Al-Nusra Front does not want to control Idlib, and its sole concern is for the city to be “in safe hands”. He said that his operatives would apply the principle of Shura (i.e., consulting with other coalition organizations), which is the best principle of government. He also stressed the importance of securing public buildings and providing services to civilians, and called on the organizations to maintain their unity. Military commanders from other Islamic organizations that belong to the coalition that occupied Idlib made similar statements.

In any case, it seems that the situation on the ground is not in accordance with the principles stated in Al-Julani’s speech. A resident of Idlib told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar that Jaysh al-Fatah had established its headquarters in the local government buildings. According to him, the citizens of the city are subject to harassment on the part of the occupying organizations (break-ins, detentions, restrictions on movement, assassinations). He noted that the organizations did not coordinate their activities and that all of them, including the Al-Nusra Front, had hoisted their flags over the buildings that they took over (Al-Akhbar, March 14, 2015).
A Syrian Army source said that the Army was carrying out military operations around the town of Mastouma, south of Idlib. It was reported that preparations were being made for a counterattack which would restore the Syrian Army’s control over the city of Idlib (Al-Akhbar, March 14, 2015).

Therefore, Al-Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani sent the message that the organization intended to manage the affairs of the city together with the coalition that captured the city. The degree of seriousness of this statement will be put to the test. Past experience shows that after the initial organization period, the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, is liable to assume sole control of the city rather than cooperate with the other organizations in the coalition, and to enforce stringent Islamic law on its residents (the way ISIS did in Al-Raqqah).

Daraa province

After three weeks of fighting, it was reported that Al-Nusra Front operatives, along with other Islamic organizations, had taken over the Al-Naseeb border crossing located on the border between Syria and Jordan (Twitter account of the Al-Nusra Front's media foundation in southern Syria, April 1, 2015). Following the takeover of the border crossing, Syrian regime forces began to withdraw from some areas in the Daraa province (Akhbar al-Aan, April 6, 2015). In the wake of the takeover of the border crossing, the Al-Nusra Front became a senior partner of the opposition forces in managing the Al-Naseeb border crossing.

The Al-Naseeb border crossing is of great economic importance, since it is used for transferring goods and food to Syria, to areas controlled by the Syrian regime and to areas controlled by the rebel forces (Al-Araby al-Jadeed, April 6, 2015). In addition, in the ITIC’s assessment, control of the border crossing is liable to make it easier for the Al-Nusra Front operatives to absorb operatives who arrive from Jordan and to maintain contact with its supporters in Jordan.

Homs province

nISIS’s media platform in the Homs province has released a video showing the execution of a Syrian soldier by a shot to the head. Before the execution, a masked ISIS operative made statements threatening Bashar Assad and his army. The executioner was not filmed during the execution, but the masked operative said that the execution was carried out by the wife of “one of the Muslims who were killed”. The woman in question is apparently the wife of an ISIS operative killed by the Syrian Army (onedrive.live.com file-sharing site, April 4, 2015).

Main developments in Iraq

The campaign over Tikrit

Iraqi Army and Shiite militia forces supported by Iran completed their takeover of the city of Tikrit after about a month of fighting. Their forces entered the city center and took over the government compound and the hospital. The Iraqi forces also liberated the southern and western parts of the city.
On April 9, 2015, the owner of a Twitter account that supports the Iraqi Army posted photos entitled “The Return of Displaced Families to Tikrit, the Salah al-Din province”. The photos show families returning to the city with their belongings. Additional photos show life returning to normal in the city of Tikrit and the areas liberated by the Iraqi Army (Twitter account, April 8-9, 2015). However, around two weeks after the Iraqi government declared that it had fully liberated Tikrit, a senior official in the security committee of the Salah al-Din province said that there were still ISIS pockets of resistance in the city and its environs (Kitabat Iraqi website, April 11, 2015).

Following the occupation of Tikrit, ISIS reinforced its forces in Iraq. In the ITIC’s assessment, this was done to prevent the Iraqi forces from advancing from Tikrit northward, toward Mosul. It was reported that around 500 ISIS operatives, led by Abu Jarrah al-Shami, one of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s aides, came to the city of Hawija in northern Iraq, from Deir Al-Zor. The operatives were equipped with a large quantity of weapons and military equipment (Al-Araby al-Jadeed, April 4, 2015). It was also reported that two senior ISIS commanders were transferred from Syria to Iraq (All4Syria, April 7, 2015).

The takeover of the city of Tikrit by the Iraqi forces is a military blow for ISIS, as well as a blow in terms of morale. From a military standpoint, control of the city will enable the Iraqi Army and Shiite militias to use it as a starting point for continuing the campaign to conquer the city of Mosul.From a domestic Iraqi political standpoint, the reconstruction the city, with its Sunni population, is of major importance. This is because harassment of Sunni population returning to Tikrit by the Shiite militias supported by Iran (which was reported in the media), is liable to hamper the Iraqi regime’s efforts to eliminate ISIS’s support base among the Sunnis and reinforce its image as a sectarian Shiite regime affiliated with Iran.

Al-Anbar province

ISIS began a new offensive against the city of Ramadi, capital of the Al-Anbar province, possibly in response to its defeat in Tikrit. According to reports, after fierce battles against the Iraqi Army, ISIS operatives managed to take control of the northern part of the city (Al-Jazeera, April 10, 2015). ISIS announced that it had carried out a widespread attack in Ramadi against the Shiite militias, by means of suicide bombing attacks. It should be noted that until recently, the city of Ramadi, capital of the Al-Anbar province, and the surrounding area, were not under the complete control of ISIS. In the city and its surroundings, clashes continued between ISIS and the Iraqi Army.

Salah al-Din province

According to a statement by ISIS, signed by the Salah al-Din province information office, on April 11, 2015, ISIS attacked the refinery complex in Baiji in order to take control of it. According to ISIS, some of its operatives are in the refinery complex and are now in control of a few buildings there (ISIS-affiliated forum, April 11, 2015). Iraqi government officials denied the announcement and claimed that the Iraqi Army was in full control of the refineries (CNN, April 12, 2015).
On April 12, 2015, the Aamaq News Agency (one of ISIS’s media arms), published a video showing ISIS operatives with Kalashnikov rifles, RPG launchers and rockets inside the refinery complex in Baiji. The video notes that they hold about half the area of the refineries (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, April 12, 2015).

The Baiji refinery compound is located halfway between Mosul and Baghdad. It includes refineries capable of producing 310,000 barrels per day, providing fuel to northern Iraq and another 11 provinces, including the city of Baghdad. There is also a power plant in the area that supplies electricity to most of northern Iraq. In the first half of 2014, these refineries accounted for 48% of the country’s oil distillates (gulfnews.com, September 14, 2014). Although ISIS operatives managed to take over the region as long ago as June 2014, control of the refineries remained in the hands of the Iraqi government, and ISIS continues its attempts to take over the refinery compound.The latest attack on the refinery compound apparently took place in the wake of the fall of the city of Tikrit, in an attempt to curb the progress of the Iraqi forces to the north and in order to record an achievement of military and economic significance, as well as an achievement in the battle for hearts and minds.

Kirkuk province

ISIS’s media arm in the Kirkuk province published a video documenting an attack by ISIS against the camp of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the province. The attack on the Peshmerga camp included massive mortar fire. The video also shows an Indonesian-born ISIS operative, speaking in Indonesian, calling on Muslims in Indonesia to migrate to the Islamic State (YouTube, April 11, 2015).

Left: An Indonesian-born ISIS operative, speaking in Indonesian, calling on Muslims in Indonesia to migrate to the Islamic State. Right: ISIS operatives gathering before leaving for the attack. They included dozens of operatives, many of them foreign fighters, possibly from the Caucasus region (YouTube, April 11, 2015).

Nineveh province

ISIS continues to destroy historic sites and rare archaeological items from the beginning of human civilization. ISIS recently published a video documenting the destruction of the Assyrian city of Tell Nirmud, carried out by ISIS operatives on March 6, 2015. The video shows ISIS operatives destroying statues and gravestones using hammers, jackhammers, axes and barrels of explosives. Iraqi Antiquities Ministry officials confirmed that the antiquities shown in the video are authentic. In the video, an ISIS operative says that Allah helps them destroy everything that was used for idol-worship in ancient times. He added that ISIS would destroy all the Shiite graves (Daily Mail, April 12, 2015).

The city of Nimrud was built in the 13th century BC by Shalmaneser I. The city survived approximately a thousand years, served as the capital of Assyria, and was one of the most important cities in the world. The city contains the remains of many palaces and temples. This is not the first time that ISIS has destroyed historic sites and rare archaeological items from the beginning of human civilization. This is due to its perception that this is an infidel culture of idol worshippers. ISIS also trades in antiquities, via the Internet, for the purpose of financial gain (Al-Iraqiya, March 16, 2015).

The conduct of the Islamic State

ISIS began to issue “smart” identity cards

On April 11, 2015, ISIS-affiliated Twitter accounts posted tweets stating that ISIS has begun to issue “smart” identity cards in the areas under its control, containing chips to prevent forgeries (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, April 11, 2015).

Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula

The Egyptian campaign against ISIS’s branch in the Sinai Peninsula

Egyptian security forces find it difficult to suppress the Sinai province of ISIS, which continues to carry out a sequence of terrorist attacks against the Egyptian security forces in the Sinai Peninsula. Following are a number of key incidents; ISIS’s Sinai province has claimed responsibility for most of them:

On April 2, 2015, RPG rockets and heavy machine guns were fired at two Egyptian Army positions in the Sheikh Zuweid area (northern Sinai). The attacks killed 32 people: 15 soldiers, 15 terrorists and two civilians (Ynet, Israel, April 2, 2015).
On April 9, 2015,two soldiers serving in the Egyptian security forces were killed and three were wounded when terrorist operatives blew up an armored car in western Al-Arish (Al-Youm al-Sabea, April 9, 2015). ISIS’s Sinai province claimed responsibility for the attack (the organization’s official Twitter account, April 9, 2015).
On April 10, 2015, ISIS’s Sinai province issued a video showing ISIS operatives taking an Egyptian soldier prisoner. The Egyptian soldier said that he is a prisoner ISIS’s Sinai province soldiers who carried out a raid on an Egyptian Army post on April 2, 2015. According to the soldier, the Sinai province operatives killed the soldiers and took him prisoner, and also seized two tanks that were at the post. The captive soldier called on Egyptian soldiers to desert the army and join the ranks of ISIS. Later in the video he is shown being shot to death, along with another man who was beheaded (Twitter account, April 11, 2015).

Left: ISIS operative next to an Egyptian armored personnel carrier which fell into the hands of ISIS. Right: Egyptian soldier being shot to death by an ISIS operative (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, April 11, 2015)

On April 12, 2015, an armored personnel carrier belonging to the Egyptian security forces in Sheikh Zuweid was damaged by an explosion of roadside IED. The explosion killed an Egyptian soldier and an officer and wounded two soldiers. ISIS’s Sinai province posted a tweet on its official Twitter account claiming responsibility for the incident.
On April 12, 2015, a car bomb exploded near the entrance to a police station in Al-Arish; eight people were killed and 45 were wounded. ISIS’s Sinai province claimed responsibility for the incident (the organization’s official Twitter account, April 12, 2015). The Egyptian Interior Ministry spokesman said the car bomb contained two tons of TNT. In his opinion, the TNT was imported from abroad because it is unobtainable in Egypt (Aswat Masriya, April 13, 2015).

The global jihad in other countries

Attacks on foreign embassies in Libya

On April 12, 2015, an armed man attacked the South Korean Embassy in Tripoli, Libya. Two local security guards were killed and another security guard was wounded. On the following day, an IED exploded at the gate to the Moroccan Embassy in the city. There were no casualties. Slight damage was caused. An ISIS-affiliated group claimed responsibility for both incidents in a tweet posted on its Twitter page (www.nbcnews.com, April 13, 2014).

Tunisia

A video distributed by ISIS’s information office in the province of Tripoli, Libya, shows a Tunisian operative codenamed Abu Yahya al-Tunisi calling on Muslims in Tunisia to join the jihad and ISIS. He also threatens the “tyrannical” rulers of Tunisia and states that ISIS operatives will reach them and will behead them (ISIS-affiliated forum, April 8, 2015).

Counterterrorism and preventive activity

The United States

Security authorities in Philadelphia arrested Keonna Thomas, 30, AKA Fatayat Al Khilafah and Young Lioness. She was arrested on suspicion of attempting to send aid to ISIS and planning to join the ranks of the organization. According to the security authorities, an ISIS operative asked her to take part in a suicide bombing attack and she expressed her consent. She used the Internet to search for ways of getting to Turkey, obtained a visa and purchased a plane ticket online (Reuters, April 4, 2015).
Joshua Ray Van Haften, 34, was arrested at the airport in Chicago on charges of attempting to help ISIS. Van Heften was detained in Turkey since October 2014 and was sent back to the United States. According to the FBI, he wanted to go to Syria via Turkey to join the ranks of ISIS. He left the United States in August 2014. His contact on the Syrian border abandoned him because he couldn’t pay him. He returned to Turkey, where he was arrested (The Investigative Project on Terrorism, April 9, 2015).
John T. Booker Jr., a 20-year-old US citizen, was arrested in the US. He told an undercover FBI agent that he and two partners had planned to carry out a suicide bombing attack by means of a truck bomb against US soldiers at Fort Riley. He also made a video in which he pledged allegiance to ISIS (AFP, April 10, 2015).

Russia

General Sergei Smirnov, deputy head of the Russian Federation’s Federal Security Service (FSB), warned of the potential impact of ISIS in Russian territory, mainly among the Muslim residents in North Caucasus.In his estimate, about 1,700 Russian citizens have joined jihadi groups fighting in Syria and Iraq. He said that the actual figure might be even higher. Speaking before senior FSB officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that monitoring Russian citizens who left Russia to fight in the ranks of ISIS should be one of the top priorities of the Russian intelligence services (www.aina.org, April 11, 2015).

General Smirnov’s assessment reflects a significant increase in the number of foreign fighters with Russian citizenship who joined the fighting in Syria and Iraq (in 2014, the ITIC estimated that around 200-250 Russians were operating in Syria, mainly of Chechen origin, some of whom affiliated with the Caucasian Emirate, a Caucasian framework that maintains ties with Al-Qaeda and the global jihad). The operatives in Syria and Iraq include highly motivated fighters with combat experience who participated in the uprising against Russia in the 1990s. Several of them attained senior command ranks in jihadi organizations and some senior commanders were killed in battle.

Morocco

According to Morocco’s minister of the interior, a cell comprising six ISIS operatives who planned to carry out attacks in Morocco and the Netherlands was exposed. The cell operated near the city of Nador, in the north of the country. The interrogation of the cell operatives revealed that they held secret meetings and carried out paramilitary training in a forest near the city. One of the cell operatives lives in the Netherlands.
According to security experts in Morocco, hundreds of fighters from the Maghreb countries are taking part in the fighting alongside jihadi organizations in Syria and Iraq. Some of them have returned to their homes in order to set up cells in their home countries (Reuters, April 13, 2015).

Spain

In Catalonia, Spain, a cell numbering 11 operatives was arrested, including a woman and a boy of 17 suspected of being in contact with ISIS. The cell operatives planned to carry out terrorist attacks, including attacks on Jewish stores and public buildings, and to abduct a bank manager and hold him for ransom. The cell operatives also planned to broadcast an ISIS-style video showing the beheading of a Spanish hostage dressed in orange (AFP, April 10, 2015).

Turkey

Further to Turkey’s efforts to block the flow of foreign fighters passing through its territory on their way to Syria, the Turkish foreign minister said that since Turkey tightened its supervision in January 2015, it had banned the entry of at least 12,500 suspected foreign fighters. Turkey has also deported an additional 1,200 people and added around 5,000 people to its blacklist. According to the Turkish foreign minister, most of the information about the detainees originates from the Turkish intelligence services and not from other countries (Hürriyet, April 13, 2015).

Palestinians and Israeli Arabs

Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem who joined ISIS

On March 1, 2015, Israeli security forces detained Khalil Adel Khalil, born in 1990, a resident of A-Tur in East Jerusalem, who went to Syria to join the ranks of ISIS. The detainee holds an Israeli identity card. He said that after watching ISIS videos online, he and his friend Muhammad Sami al-Aziz Abu Sneina decided to go to Syria in August 2014 and join the ranks of ISIS.
In January 2015, he told his friends, family and employer that he wanted to take a vacation of a few weeks to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. He and his friend actually purchased one-way plane tickets to Greece and from there they flew to Istanbul. In Turkey, they made contact with an ISIS operative via the Internet. The operative directed them to a safe house in the city of Urfa, in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border. In the safe house, they joined other recruits from around the world, including two Israeli Arabs. They were divided into cells of around 4-5 people each and were smuggled into Syria by Turkish smugglers working for ISIS. After several weeks, Khalil returned to Israel and was detained for questioning (ISA website, April 1, 2015).

The interrogation of the detainee sheds light on how foreign fighters are recruited into the ranks of ISIS and how they reach Syria. The methods of operation disclosed by Khalil Adel Khalil are largely consistent with the instructions given to recruits in the English-language manual entitled “Hijrah to the Islamic State, 2015”. The manual includes many tips and operational recommendations about the preferred ways to travel from European countries to Turkey, and from there to Syria (including detailed maps of the border crossings between Syria and Turkey). The recommendations deal with behavior vis-à-vis the Turkish authorities at airports and border crossings and delve into detail, such as what to pack and bring. In the ITIC’s assessment, these recommendations were issued in light of the recently increased security and preventive measures on the part of Western European countries and Turkey.^[3]

Israeli Arab killed in Iraq

An Israeli Arab resident of northern Israel, around 30 years old, was killed in Iraq while fighting in the ranks of ISIS. The young man, whose family refused to give his name, joined ISIS some two years ago. The family was notified by other Israeli Arabs in Iraq (Ynet, Israel, April 9, 2015).

The battle for hearts and minds conducted by ISIS

Publication of another issue of the ISIS organ

On April 1, 2015, ISIS published the eighth issue of Dabiq, its online English-language organ intended for supporters of the organization in the West. The organ includes a series of articles describing the expansion of ISIS’s activities in Africa, including an article about Boko Haram’s pledge of allegiance to ISIS. It also includes an article encouraging foreign fighters to go to Libya and an interview with a Tunisian operative. In an article by abducted British journalist John Cantlie, he warns of additional terrorist attacks that will be carried out in the future against Western countries. The issue also includes criticism of the Al-Nusra Front, claiming that the organization is adopting an ideology with Syrian nationalistic characteristics and is collaborating with the Syrian rebel groups.

New news format on the ISIS radio station

ISIS has issued a new format of news summaries on its radio network Al-Bayan, in Arabic, Russian and English. The first news broadcast included updates on Iraq, Syria and Libya, including the death of an ISIS commander in the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp, a suicide bombing attack in Iraq, and ISIS’s military activity in Libya (Daily Telegraph, April 7, 2015).

Left: Logo of ISIS’s radio network Al-Bayan. Right: Issue 8 of the organ Dabiq, which came out in April 2015.

Encouraging young people to sacrifice their lives for ISIS as suicide bombers

On April 11, 2015, ISIS’s media arm in Al-Raqqah published a video showing an ISIS operative lecturing to young boys in uniform about the “Crusaders” who operate against the Sunnis (i.e., the Christians, the US-led coalition). The speaker notes that the Islamic State has provinces in many parts of Africa and Asia, and with the help of Allah it will soon have them in Europe as well: “Allah willing, we will return Andalusia [i.e., modern-day Spain][to the fold of Islam].”
The speaker tells the boys that any of them who becomes a suicide bomber against the “Crusaders” will have the privilege of being faithful to the path of Allah and will even see Allah in heaven. He called on the boys to pledge allegiance to death. Following his statements, the boys stand up and shout “we pledge allegiance to death!” (ISIS’s media arm in the Al-Raqqah province, as it appeared on YouTube, April 11, 2015).

ISIS preacher encouraging young people to sacrifice themselves on behalf of ISIS as suicide bombers (ISIS’s media arm in the Al-Raqqah province, YouTube, April 11, 2015)

Full document in PDF format

^[1]The weekly publication Spotlight on Global Jihad monitors developments among ISIS and global jihad organizations in Syria and Iraq and in the Middle East as a whole. The publication also monitors terrorist activities around the world, directed, supported or inspired by the global jihad organizations in the Middle East.
^[2]The Al-Nusra Front is the dominant element in the coalition of Islamic organizations that took control over the city of Idlib (Jaysh al-Fatah).
^[3]For more information, see the ITIC’s Information Bulletin from March 22, 2015: “Updated security recommendations issued by ISIS to operatives traveling to Syria are designed to address preventive measures by European countries and Turkey. However, the flow of foreign fighters still continues.”

Overview

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Overview

Basic Information about Fallujah

Historical Background of Fallujah

The Liberation of Fallujah – Overview

The Fall of Fallujah – A Blow to ISIS's Image

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Spotlight on Global Jihad

Omar Seddique Mateen, perpetrator of the attack at the gay community’s club in Orlando, Florida (Haqq, June 12, 2016).

ISIS announcement from June 12, 2016, stating that a fighter from the Islamic State carried out the attack in Orlando (Haqq, 13 June 2016).

Larossi Abballa in the video, pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He apparently photographed himself on his cellphone (Aamaq, June 14, 2016).

Syrian Army presence in the important Al-Rasafeh junction. On the side of the road (on the right) there is an ISIS sign that reads “There is No God but Allah - the Islamic State - Al-Raqqah Province” (SANA News Agency, June 12, 2016).

Video documenting the interception of an ISIS drone near the Al-Rasafeh junction. Right: Anti-aircraft fire directed at the drone. Left: The wreckage of the drone that was shot down (SANA, June 12, 2016)

Video documenting the interception of an ISIS drone near the Al-Rasafeh junction. Right: Anti-aircraft fire directed at the drone. Left: The wreckage of the drone that was shot down (SANA, June 12, 2016)

Suicide bomber codenamed Habib al-Iraqi, who carried out a suicide bombing attack in Baghdad with an explosive belt (Haqq, June 10, 2016)

Khaled Salman Ahmed al-Tarabin (Facebook page of News of the Al-Maghazi refugee camp and Ma’an News Agency, June 11, 2016).

The death notice issued by the Ibn Taymiyyah Center for Muhammad Saber al-Masri (The Ibn Taymiyyah Media Center’s Twitter page, June 13, 2016)

ISIS scaffold being toppled in the in Al-Zaafran neighborhood on the outskirts of Sirte after being taken over by the attacking forces (Facebook, June 8, 2016)

Main events of the week

Attacks inspired by ISIS in the United States and France

Mass-casualty attack in Orlando, USA

The murder of a French police officer and his partner

The US-led campaign against ISIS

Airstrikes

Russia’s involvement in the fighting

Main developments in Syria

The SDF’s attack on the city of Manbij

Syrian Army attack on Al-Raqqah

The area of Damascus

Southern Syria

Main developments in Iraq

The campaign to take over the city of Fallujah

(Updated to June 15, 2016)

The city of Baghdad and its environs

Palestinians and Israeli Arabs

Two Gazans killed in airstrikes in Syria

The global jihad in other countries

Libya

The campaign over Sirte

The Philippines

Kazakhstan

Related Articles

Rise in popular terrorism in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem.

Palestinians throw stones at Israeli security forces in Kafr Qaddum during the weekly riot held to protest the Jewish communities (Wafa News Agency, August 28, 2015).

Riots in the village of Burqin (Facebook page of Quds.net, September 1, 2015).

IEDs thrown by Palestinians at Israeli soldiers during the riot in Burqin. The IED is marked, "The State of the Jenin refugee camp."

The canal under construction by the Egyptian army along the Gaza Strip border (Sada, August 27, 2015)

Memorial service unveiling a monument dedicated to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades naval commandos killed in Operation Protective Edge

Memorial service unveiling a monument dedicated to the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades naval commandos killed in Operation Protective Edge

The graduation of the women's self-defense course held by the PFLP (Facebook page of Quds.net and Dunia al-Watan, August 29, 2015).

Mahmoud Abbas meets with King Abdallah of Jordan (Wafa News Agency, August 30, 2015).

Overview

Israel's South

Rocket Fire Attacking Israel

Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem

Stabbing Attack at the Nablus Gate in Jerusalem Using an Axe

Vehicular Attack in Mt. Hebron

Shooting Attack at the Jit Junction (Samaria)

Riots, Clashes and Popular Terrorism

Increase in Violent Events in the Old City of Jerusalem

Exposure of Squad Planning to Attack Worshippers at Joseph's Tomb in Nablus

Developments in the Gaza Strip

The School Year Begins

The Egyptian Army Upgrades the Buffer Zone

Hamas Operative Killed During Construction of Attack Tunnel

Salafist Activity in the Gaza Strip

Memorial Service for Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades Naval Commandos

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Ceremony

Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) Activities

The Issue of the Four Abducted Gazans

Interview with Ramadan Shallah

The Palestinian Authority

The Palestinian National Council Convenes

Mahmoud Abbas' Visit to Jordan

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The logo of the Islamic Ahrar al-Sham movement

The Kuweyres military airbase, which was attacked by ISIS (Wikimapia; Google Maps)

ISIS operatives fighting against the Kurds in the rural area of Tel Hamees

ISIS’s Damascus province’s announcement of the takeover of Al-Qaryatayn (ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, August 5, 2015).