@real_rita_katz:
BREAKING: AQAP announces death of leader Khalid bin Umar Batarfi, and the appointment of his successor, Sa'd bin 'Atef al-Awlaki, SITE Intelligence Group reports. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/aqap-announces-death-of-leader-appointment-of-successor.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
In a roughly 15-minute video released today, al-Qaeda veteran Ibrahim al-Qosi (AKA Abu Khubayb al-Sudani) states vaguely, “Allah took his soul while he patiently sought his reward and stood firm, immigrated, garrisoned, and waged jihad for His sake.” He does not elaborate on the cause of death. The video shows Batarfi’s body (show below).
@real_rita_katz:
US Embassy warns Americans to avoid "large gatherings" in Moscow amid "imminent plans" by extremists: "The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours." https://ru.usembassy.gov/security-alert-avoid-large-gatherings-over-the-next-48-hours/
@real_rita_katz:
The Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement is claiming that two Cuban hostages were killed in US drone strikes in Middle Juba region, SITE Intelligence Group reports. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/shabaab-alleged-two-cuban-hostages-killed-in-us-drone-strikes-in-middle-juba.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
The group identified the Cubans as Assel Herrera and Landy Rodriguez, both of whom doctors kidnapped in Mandera, Kenya, on April 12, 2019. The Shabaab had not previously acknowledged that they were holding them.
@real_rita_katz:
"The death of Aleksei A. Navalny, reported by the Russian authorities on Friday, would leave the country without its most prominent opposition voice at a time when President Vladimir V. Putin has amassed near-total power, invaded neighboring Ukraine and drawn the sharpest divisions with U.S.-led Western allies since the end of the Cold War." https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/16/world/aleksei-navalny?smid=threads-nytimes
@real_rita_katz 🔁:
And sadly, more and more leaders in the US seem eager to assure Putin of exactly that: free rein with zero consequences.
navalny’s death is the clearest message that putin does not today fear reprisal from the west….or from his own people. nato must remain united and strong. that’s not the present direction of travel.
— @ianbremmer — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 13:40:36 GMT
@real_rita_katz:
Presumed al-Qaeda leader Saif al-Adl revealed as author in group's latest installment of "This is Gaza" article series, SITE Intelligence Group reports. On the cover of the fourth installment, al-Qaeda provided the pen-name, Salim al-Sharif, and below it, his real name: Mohammed Salah al-Din Zaidan (Saif al-Adl). https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/aq-reveals-one-ummah-magazine-contributor-this-is-gaza-author-as-presumed-chief-saif-al-adl.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
This latest article deals with the Hamas-led Operation al-Aqsa Flood offensive against Israel, praising Palestinian fighters while emphasizing the key role of media. Under the Salim al-Sharif name, Adl frequently contributed to al-Qaeda's "One Ummah" magazine, as well as other documents from as-Sahab via the pen-name "Abir Sabeel."
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
“There is no arena of conflict in which the Emirates is not the right arm of the Zionist-Crusader alliance, and there is no calamity and trial that Muslims have gone through without the Emirates being the poisoned dagger plunged into the side of the Ummah,” the Shabaab stated.
@real_rita_katz:
A day after claiming responsibility for a Somali soldier opening fire on Emirati trainers in Mogadishu, the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement followed up with a statement framing the attack as an act of opposition to UAE’s “war on Islam,” SITE Intelligence Group reports. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/shabaab-frames-commando-attack-on-emirati-trainers-as-support-for-palestinians-every-muslim-afflicted-by-uae-in-war-on-islam.html
@real_rita_katz:
In its continued pressure on general elections in Pakistan, ISIS claimed responsibility for today's bombing outside the office of Asfandyar Kakar in the Pishin district of Balochistan, north of Quetta, SITE Intelligence Group reports. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/is-claims-vbied-blast-at-election-rally-in-balochistan-reports-45-casualties.html
@real_rita_katz 🔁:
"For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant," the judges wrote in their 57-page decision, saying that "Former President Trump lacked any lawful discretionary authority to defy federal criminal law and he is answerable in court for his conduct."
BREAKING: The U.S. Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled that Donald Trump is not immune from criminal prosecution in his federal election subversion case. https://trib.al/EekJWTy
— @abcnews — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 15:12:38 GMT
@real_rita_katz:
After an initial round of retaliatory US strikes for the deaths of soldiers in Jordan, Iran-backed Shi'ite militant unit Al-Nujaba Movement vowed to continue its attacks, SITE Intelligence Group reports. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/iran-backed-militant-unit-defiant-in-face-of-retaliatory-us-strikes-vows-islamic-resistance-will-not-stop.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
The Iraq-based unit asserted that “the American psychological warfare machine…will not shake us a bit or dissuade us," despite Kata’ib Hezbollah recently announcing a suspension of attacks. Kata’ib Hezbollah is the most powerful faction within the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group on which the US government has blamed the drone strike that killed three US soldiers.
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
Statements from ISIS and its ‘Amaq News Agency reported that two “fighters” carried out the attack, killing one and wounding another. ISIS’ ‘Amaq included photos of the masked gunmen, who allegedly “withdrew from the scene of the operation safely.” The attack’s style and lack of sophistication suggest it might not have been coordinated by ISIS central, but was rather a “lone wolf”-style operation (albeit involving two individuals).
@real_rita_katz:
ISIS claims responsibility for a shooting at the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul, marking the group's first attack in Turkey since 2017, SITE Intelligence Group reports. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/is-claims-credit-for-shooting-at-church-in-istanbul.html
@real_rita_katz:
Houthis claim today’s strike on the US ship Gibraltar Eagle in the Gulf of Aden and identified all American and British vessels "participating in aggression" as "hostile targets," SITE Intelligence Group reports. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/while-claiming-attack-on-us-ship-in-gulf-of-aden-houthis-identify-all-american-and-british-vessels-as-hostile-targets.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
Spokesman Yahya Saree declared the strike was carried out “with a number of appropriate naval missiles, and the strike was accurate and direct." The airstrikes came in response to US and British strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, per the group. “The Yemeni Armed Forces consider all American and British vessels and warships participating in the aggression against our country as hostile targets within the target bank of our forces,” he exclaimed.
@real_rita_katz:
Houthi missiles struck a US-owned ship today off the coast of Yemen less than a day after firing anti-ship cruise missile toward a US destroyer in the Red Sea. Clearly, the Houthis aim to escalate this conflict, which, as I wrote on Friday (linked below), fits with “Iran’s long game of destabilization” in the region. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Articles-and-Analysis/houthis-declare-us-and-british-interests-legitimate-targets-marking-another-escalation-in-iran-s-favor.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
A politically and economically isolated country, Iran has little else to leverage apart from the network of Middle East terrorist forces it controls. These Houthi strikes—which would not happen without Iran’s approval (or direction)—are just one such manifestation of this strategy.
@real_rita_katz:
The Shabaab still hasn't released a statement on the UN helicopter that was forced to make an emergency landing its its territory in Somalia. SITE Intelligence Group is monitoring the situation closely and will report on the anticipated statement(s) upon release.
@real_rita_katz:
In just a few days, from January 4-10, IS has issued enough communiques (88) to exceed the monthly totals seen in every month of 2023. The massive surge in claims comes amid its new campaign dubbed "And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them," the same name as the recent speech from IS spokesman Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari.
@real_rita_katz:
Al-Qaeda is desperately attempting to capitalize on the bizarre recent virality of Bin Laden's post 9/11 "Letter to America," writing a "case study" on American citizen and hostage Warren Weinstein that alleges he embraced Islam following his capture in 2011. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/al-qaeda-presents-case-study-of-american-captive-s-embrace-of-islam.html
@real_rita_katz:
The Yemen-based Houthi "Ansar Allah" Movement announced a strike on an American ship using missiles and drones, SITE Intelligence Group reports. This attack was its "initial response" to the US Navy sinking three of its boats, killing 10 personnel, over a week prior. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/as-military-situation-escalates-in-red-sea-houthis-mount-attack-on-american-ship-as-initial-response-to-earlier-incident.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
Yahya Saree, the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, stated that "the naval forces and the missile force and drone force of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a joint military operation with a large number of ballistic and naval missiles and drones, targeting an American ship that was providing support to the Zionist entity."
@real_rita_katz:
Amid ISIS' new "And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them" campaign, its West Africa Province claimed a supermarket shooting in a rare attack in central Nigeria. ISIS claims its fighters shot and killed four Christians in a store near Mararaba, in Nasasrawa State. Local news outlets attributed the attack to armed robbers. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/amid-new-is-military-campaign-branch-in-west-africa-claims-supermarket-shooting-in-rare-attack-in-central-nigeria.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
Several ISIS provinces have already attributed attacks to this new campaign, including the recent deadly dual suicide bombing in the Iranian City of Kerman. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/is-claims-credit-for-attack-at-qasem-soleimeni-memorial-in-iranian-city-of-kerman.html
@real_rita_katz:
Some of my brief thoughts on two major ISIS releases today: a new speech by spokesman Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari and claim of responsibility for yesterday’s terrorist bombings in the Iranian city of Kerman. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Articles-and-Analysis/site-director-rita-katz-analyzes-isis-spokesman-s-new-speech-iran-attack-claim.html?auid=114055
@real_rita_katz:
ISIS spokesman Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari calls to avenge Gaza via attacks everywhere Jews and “Crusaders” are found, marking first time ISIS directly addressed the war. “Make them know that their crimes in Palestine, Iraq, Sham and other Muslim countries will be returned to them in their backyards, in Washington, Paris, and Rome.” https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/is-spokesman-incites-muslims-avenge-brethren-in-gaza-through-lone-wolf-attacks-in-united-states-europe.html
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
Abu Hudhayfa's speech comes amid a recent resurgence of ISIS-inspired lone wolf attacks/plots across the West, which I wrote about in a new article, linked here: https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Articles-and-Analysis/the-israel-hamas-war-is-fueling-an-isis-lone-wolf-resurgence.html
@real_rita_katz:
BREAKING: ISIS claims credit for yesterday's dual bombings in Iranian city of Kerman near the burial site of Qasem Soleimani, SITE reports. The group states two suicide bombers detonated explosive vests amid the gathering of Shi'ite "polytheists," killing and wounding over 300. (Casualty counts from news reports have varied thus far.) https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/is-claims-credit-for-attack-at-qasem-soleimeni-memorial-in-iranian-city-of-kerman.html?auid=114019
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
ISIS branded the operation as part of a campaign dubbed, "And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them," which is the title of a new speech by ISIS spokesman Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari, also issued today. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/is-spokesman-incites-muslims-avenge-brethren-in-gaza-through-lone-wolf-attacks-in-united-states-europe.html
@real_rita_katz:
Blasts in Iranian city of Kerman kill over 100 and injure many more during a ceremony near the burial site of Qasem Soleimani. No group has yet claimed responsibility, though ISIS is among the likely culprits, given the precedent set by Tehran attack in 2017, Ahvaz in 2018, and Shiraz in 2022. Funerals are also a favorite target of the group. ISIS communities online, particularly Persian-language ones, are already celebrating and awaiting an "immediate announcement" from ISIS.
@real_rita_katz:
Top Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri has been killed in a drone attack in Lebanon. Arouri, described as one of the "architects" of Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, was killed near Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut. As of yet, Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike, but Netanyahu has ordered Israel's Mossad to pursue Hamas leaders around the world.
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
Citing a "senior Israeli official," Axios reports that "Israel is preparing for a significant retaliation from Hezbollah, which could include the group launching long-range missiles toward targets in Israel." https://www.axios.com/2024/01/02/hamas-saleh-arouri-killed-beirut-hezbollah-israel-gaza
@real_rita_katz:
AQ media incitement for attacks against the West continues to intensify in response to the Israel-Hamas war, with AQAP relaunching its "Inspire" brand with a new feature video that gives supporters explicit instructions on how to make bombs that can be detonated on commercial jets. https://ent.siteintelgroup.com/Jihadist-Threat-Statements/aqap-s-inspire-returns-as-video-tutorial-for-explosive-on-civilian-aircraft.html
@real_rita_katz:
Wanted to share some links to adapted excerpts from Saints and Soldiers—Grand Prize winner of the Nellie Bly Book Award—on Foreign Policy and Salon. Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/10/23/far-right-terrorism-white-supremacy-islamic-state/ Salon: https://www.salon.com/2022/10/11/january-6-was-entirely-predictable-it-was-planned-in-broad-daylight/
@real_rita_katz ↩️:
If you haven't read Saints and Soldiers yet, it is available on Amazon and all major book websites. If you have read it (or plan to), I'd love to know what you think! https://www.amazon.com/Saints-Soldiers-Internet-Age-Terrorism-Irregular-ebook/dp/B09M97X69D/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=