august 2014 . Vol 7 . Issue 8

Contents ISIL’s Political-Military Power

FEATURE ARTICLE 1 ISIL’s Political-Military Power in Iraq in Iraq By Michael Knights By Michael Knights

Reports 7 A Deeper Look at Syria-Related Jihadist Activity in Turkey By Stephen Starr 11 Stories of Foreign Fighter Migration to Syria By Muhammad al-`Ubaydi 14 Brazil’s Police Struggle to Pacify Gang-Run Slums By Ioan Grillo 17 The Pakistani Taliban’s Campaign Against Polio Vaccination By Animesh Roul 20 The Death Knell for Foreign Fighters in Pakistan? By Raza Khan

22 Recent Highlights in Political Violence 24 CTC Sentinel Staff & Contacts

Kurdish peshmerga fighters inspect the remains of a car that belonged to ISIL after it was destroyed in a U.S. airstrike. - AFP/Getty Images he islamic state in Iraq and McGurk.3 As the Institute for the Study the Levant (ISIL)1 has the of War noted, ISIL’s overall strategy world on edge. Since its of consolidating and expanding its nadir in the spring of 2010,2 caliphate “fundamentally relies upon TISIL is considered to have evolved military superiority to wrest control of from a terrorist group on-the-ropes land and cities from modern states.”4 to “a full-blown army,” in the words of U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary An analysis of ISIL’s recent military About the CTC Sentinel of State for Near Eastern Affairs Brett accomplishments is difficult due to The Combating Terrorism Center is an the lack of confirmed facts about independent educational and research much of what has transpired in Iraq, institution based in the Department of Social 1 In June 2014, ISIL declared a caliphate in Syria and Iraq particularly during the hectic months Sciences at the United States Military Academy, and shortened its name to the “Islamic State.” ISIL was since the collapse of federal security West Point. The CTC Sentinel harnesses previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq, and prior forces in Mosul on June 10, 2014. the Center’s global network of scholars and to that al-Qa`ida in Iraq (AQI), which was led by Abu Questions still remain over the actual practitioners to understand and confront Mus`ab al-Zarqawi. In February 2014, al-Qa`ida chief contribution that ISIL made to the loss contemporary threats posed by terrorism and Ayman al-Zawahiri disowned ISIL. other forms of political violence. 2 Al-Qa`ida in Iraq amir Abu `Umar al-Baghdadi and war minister Abu Ayyub al-Masri were killed on April 3 Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Af- 18, 2010, the most senior of 34 top AQI leaders killed in fairs Brett McGurk, testimony before the House Foreign The views expressed in this report are those of the spring of 2010 (out of 42 top-tier leaders). See Michael Affairs Committee, July 23, 2014. the authors and not of the U.S. Military Academy, Knights, “Back with a Vengeance: Al-Qaeda in Iraq Re- 4 Jessica Lewis, “The Islamic State: A Counter-Strategy the Department of the Army, or any other agency of the U.S. Government. bounds,” IHS Defense, Security & Risk Consulting, Feb- for a Counter-State,” Institute for the Study of War, July ruary 24, 2012. 2014.

1 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 of federal control and over the mix of to demolitions of soldiers’ homes, the Trained fighters were increasingly ISIL and non-ISIL forces fighting since first six months of “Soldiers Harvest” shifted from Syria to Iraq from “early June. Nevertheless, using a range of case witnessed a sharp 150% increase in the 2013” according to McGurk, and new studies from the Iraqi side of ISIL’s area number of sophisticated close quarters camps were set up on the Iraqi side of of operations, this article explores what assassinations of troops manning the border complete with local anti- is currently known about the movement checkpoints and effective under-vehicle aircraft defenses that proved effective from a military standpoint. If ISIL is an improvised explosive device (IED) at deterring attacks from unarmored army, what kind of army is it and what attacks on key leaders.8 are its weaknesses? Although the campaign was executed “If U.S. military support This article finds that ISIL is a military across Iraq, it was particularly focused for Iraq increases, it will power mostly because of the weakness on Mosul and Ninawa Province, and unpreparedness of its enemies. including escalating efforts to cut off become more difficult for Lengthy shaping of the battlefield, Mosul’s highway communications with ISIL to achieve tactical surprise and mobility made its recent Baghdad.9 By June 2014, according to successes possible, but all these factors McGurk, “by day [Mosul] would appear surprise using vehicle- are diminishing. As a defensive force, normal, but at night, ISIL controlled mounted raiding forces.” ISIL may struggle to hold terrain if it the streets.”10 When ISIL’s offensive is attacked simultaneously at multiple began in Mosul on June 6, 2014, the ISF points or if its auxiliary allies begin to were brittle and comparatively easy to defect. crumble during three days of escalating Iraqi helicopters.14 ISIL attacked skirmishes within the city.11 Mosul on June 6, 2014, with the main ISIL’s Multi-Year Offensive strike force deployed from Syria in ISIL’s successful offensive since Alongside weakening the opposition, a motorized infantry column that June 2014 can only be understood by al-Baghdadi also used the years included “hundreds” of armed utility situating it in the broader context of preceding this summer’s successes to vehicles.15 In all these cases, ISIL its political-military campaigns since build the current ISIL force. The U.S. reinforcements from Syria joined up the organization “re-booted” under withdrawal from Iraq and the Syrian with local cells within Iraqi provinces Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s leadership on civil war provided ISIL secure bases that had already kept up a drumbeat of May 15, 2010.5 ISIL did not suddenly and a reinvigorated pipeline of suicide operations year after year.16 Based on become effective in early June 2014: it bombers. As analysts have noted, ISIL the estimates from a range of experts,17 had been steadily strengthening and has developed a highly-motivated actively shaping the future operating cadre of quality light infantry forces Deadlier Than Ever,” Washington Post, August 1, 2014. environment for four years. As Brett since 2012, drawing on the combat Also see Kenneth Pollack, “Iraq: Understanding the ISIS McGurk noted in congressional experiences of urban and mobile Offensive Against the Kurds,” The Brookings Institu- testimony in February 2014, ISIL’s warfare in Syria, as well as from the tion, August 11, 2014. planning has been “sophisticated, prior combat experiences of foreign 14 See discussions of new ISIL training camps in Iraq in patient and focused.”6 jihadists who served in the Balkans McGurk, July 23, 2014. Also see discussion of the dan- 12 and Chechnya. These lessons have gers faced by unarmored Iraqi helicopter sorties over The shattering of Iraqi security been institutionalized and refined in “ISIL camps defended by PKC machine guns and anti- forces (ISF) in June 2014 is a case-in- training camps in Syria and, since the aircraft platforms” in McGurk, February 5, 2014. point, the result of years of patient 13 first half of 2013, also in Iraq. 15 McGurk, July 23, 2014. Ahmed Ali, Jessica Lewis, and preparatory operations. Early in Abu Kimberly Kagan put the number at 150 vehicles with Bakr al-Baghdadi’s tenure, the Islamic 8 All insights in this paragraph are drawn from The 500-800 personnel in “The ISIS Battle Plan,” Institute State of Iraq (ISI), the current group’s Washington Institute’s Iraq violence dataset. In the most for the Study of War, June 12, 2014. forerunner, began targeting pro- affected province, Kirkuk, quality attacks (involving ad- 16 Alex Bilger, “ISIS Annual Reports Reveal a Metrics- government Arabs in a powerful multi- vanced intelligence preparation, advanced tactics or use Driven Military Command,” Institute for the Study of year campaign of assassinations that of special weapons or suicide devices) rose from 42 per War, May 22, 2014. The report, based on ISIL’s claims, culminated in al-Baghdadi’s “Soldiers month in July 2013 to 104 per month by May 2014. suggests that ISIL carried out an average of 640 attacks Harvest” campaign against on-duty and 9 Lewis, “AQI’s ‘Soldier’s Harvest’ Campaign,” p. 8. per month in 2013, representing the majority of violence off-duty security force members from 10 McGurk, July 23, 2014. in the country. (Counting only the types of attacks that July 29, 2013, to June 2014.7 In addition 11 Ibid. McGurk’s statement provides details and a com- ISIL records, ISIL’s claims equate to around 64% of The pelling narrative of the crumbling of ISF defenses in Mo- Washington Institute’s Iraq violence dataset in the same 5 Knights, “Back with a Vengeance,” pp. 2-3. Also see sul from June 8-10, 2014. period. This seems like an accurate reflection of ISIL’s Murad Batal al-Shishani, “The Islamic State’s Strate- 12 Douglas A. Ollivant and Brian Fishman, “State of Ji- balance of effort within Iraq’s insurgency.) gic and Tactical Plan for Iraq,” Terrorism Monitor 12:16 had: The Reality of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria,” 17 The author held conversations with Aymenn al-Tami- (2014). War on the Rocks, May 21, 2014. mi and Aaron Zelin, two scholars on ISIL, and factored 6 Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern 13 Robert Scales and Douglas Ollivant noted that a key in the views of Dr. Hisham al-Hashimi, who has had Affairs Brett McGurk, testimony before the House For- difference between ISIL and its predecessors in Iraq is access to ISIL data captured from the safe house of Abu eign Affairs Committee, February 5, 2014. that ISIL has “learned to build fighting units and teach Abdul Rahman al-Bilawi, al-Baghdadi’s military chief of 7 Jessica Lewis, “AQI’s ‘Soldier’s Harvest’ Campaign,” weapons and tactics very well.” See Robert Scales and staff for Iraq. See Ruth Sherlock, “Inside the Leadership Institute for the Study of War, October 9, 2013, pp. 2-4. Douglas Ollivant, “Terrorist Armies Fight Smarter and of Islamic State: How the New ‘Caliphate’ is Run,” Daily

2 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 the number of fighters directly under Kurdish forces.23 This is attained Since the capture of significant stocks ISIL’s control within Iraq may have through rapid approach marches of ISF vehicles in June 2014, ISIL reached as high as 10,000-15,000, that utilize Iraq’s dense, high-quality often attaches two to five wheeled “taking into account defections from road network and often culminate in armored vehicles to such columns for other groups such as Jamaat Ansar night or dawn attacks.24 The relative shock effect,29 in some cases causing al-Islam, “repentances” of security compactness of Iraq, where good roads “tank fear”30 when defending troops force members, and pledges of bay`a allow large swathes of the country are of lower quality or lack anti-tank (loyalty).”18 to be traversed in a single day, gives defenses. An early example of ISIL’s an aggressive force strong ability to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s tenure has also concentrate forces at a given point of seen ISIL develop its own distinctive attack. Mobility and deception allow “When seeking to panic style of command and control. During ISIL forces to achieve local superiority and dislodge enemy the “Breaking the Walls” campaign in numbers despite their smaller (July 2012-July 2013), the then-ISI strength in comparison to state armed troops, ISIL almost always demonstrated and repeatedly exercised forces,25 with aggressive platoon-sized begins its local offensives its re-centralized command and control or company-sized26 raiding columns system in 20 multi-city synchronized defeating and dislodging successive ISF with one or more mass car bombing waves, a sequence of or Kurdish positions. Probes and feints casualty attacks on attacks that continued until the end appear to be common elements in ISIL of 2013.19 The bombings illustrated offensives, often apparently intended to enemy headquarters and al-Baghdadi’s formula of centralized test opposition, bypass solid defenses, checkpoints.” control but decentralized execution,20 and draw away enemy forces from the with his command cell setting the date main target.27 ISIL columns have the of the attacks but the regional wilayat mobility to rapidly exploit any thinning (provinces)21 commanders setting their of enemy forces, as occurred recently armored warfare in Iraq was its July 24, level of participation according to local when ISIL struck Jalula on August 2014, vehicle-mounted raid on the State conditions.22 10, 2014, a town that Kurdish special Company for Pharmaceutical Supplies, forces had previously left to meet an five miles behind Kurdish lines Offensive Operations in 2014 ISIL thrust elsewhere at Makhmour.28 northeast of Mosul city. The assault Surprise, mobility and shock are Lacking intelligence analysis skills, involved several ISIL 4x4 pickup trucks the principal characteristics of ISIL wide area surveillance capabilities, or with mounted 12.7mm machine guns offensive operations in Iraq. The local night vision aids, federal ISF and and at least three armored vehicles31 group often achieves tactical surprise, Kurdish forces are generally not aware looted from ISF bases in Mosul. The whether against the federal ISF or of massing ISIL forces until it is too raid overran the thin peshmerga late. (Kurdish militiamen) checkpoint screen on Highway 2 and then continued to Telegraph, July 9, 2014. exploit behind peshmerga lines for an 18 Personal interview, Aaron Zelin, August 16, 2014. additional five miles after reaching 19 Jessica Lewis presciently noted that the ISI emerged 23 A good example of ISIL’s use of tactical surprise is the the pharmaceutical factory—a total 32 from the campaign as “a military organization typified by attack on Samarra on June 5, 2014. See Kareem Fahim, penetration of 10 miles. its operational planning, as opposed to a disrupted and “In Brazen Strike, Sunni Militants Storm Central Iraqi leader-centric terrorist organization.” See Jessica Lewis, City,” New York Times, June 5, 2014. Kurdish forces suf- ISIL has also employed artillery “Al-Qaeda in Iraq Resurgent, Part II,” Institute for the fered debilitating tactical surprise at numerous points barrages, although only in a small Study of War, October 9, 2013. between August 1-11. See Pollack. number of cases (such as the August 3, 20 This is a U.S. military term. See Curtis E. LeMay, Cen- 24 One recent Tuz Khurmatu night attack is mentioned 2014, attack on Zummar and Kisik, west ter for Doctrine Development and Education, Volume I, in ISW Iraq Team, Lauren Squires, and Nichole Dich- of Mosul). When ISIL uses artillery, it Basic Doctrine, October 14, 2011, pp. 59-60. arry, “Iraq Situation Report: August 13, 2014,” Institute typically uses single artillery pieces or 21 ISIL’s wilayats in Iraq currently include: Wilayat Ni- for the Study of War, August 21, 2014. small arrays of 57mm rocket artillery nawa; Wilayat Anbar; Wilayat Kirkuk; Wilayat Salah 25 A point made by Pollack. ad-Din; Wilayat Diyala; Wilayat Shamal Baghdad (north 26 Most ISIL columns seem to comprise 10-30 vehicles, 29 Personal interview, Alexandre Massimo, August 12, Baghdad); and the Wilayat Janub (south Baghdad and almost all of which are reliable soft-skinned utility vehi- 2014. Jurf al-Sakhr). The author would like to thank Aymenn cles, some carrying heavy machine-guns or anti-aircraft 30 This is a phrase from the dawn of tank warfare in al-Tamimi for his generous assistance in supporting this cannons. Tanks and tracked personnel carriers remain World War I to denote the dissolving effect on troop article. rarer, in part due to their lack of long-distance mobility. morale when soldiers face an armored vehicle that they 22 Accounting for such variations is the aim of Lewis, See personal interview, Alexandre Massimo, August 12, believe they cannot damage. See David Stevenson, With “Al-Qaeda in Iraq Resurgent, Part II.” The messy charac- 2014. Our Backs to the Wall: Victory and Defeat in 1918 (London: ter of some multi-city mass casualty waves is very famil- 27 In retrospect, the opening shot of the June offensive, Penguin, 2011), p. 222. iar to the author from his own experiences monitoring the Samarra attack, may have been a strategic feint to dis- 31 These included at least one M117 Guardian armored the daily significant actions in Iraq from within a private tract Iraqi government attention and resources, which it security vehicle, one Dzik-3 infantry mobility vehicle, security company. Some cells were largely independent, did. See Fahim. and one MT-LB tracked personnel carrier. See personal particularly in Anbar, while others consistently under- 28 Personal interview, Kurdistan region security official, interview, Alexandre Massimo, August 12, 2014. took attacks early or late. August 14, 2014. 32 Ibid.

3 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 and mortars—neither of which are with an armored vehicle suicide car it controls, removing Shi`a Turkmen, particularly effective.33 On some bomb on a peshmerga headquarters, Yazidis, Shabaks, Christians and even occasions, heavy barrages have been killing more than 20 peshmerga Sunni Muslim Kurds from its new recorded, notably at Zowiya (where fighters, and a second tanker truck territories. Most communities have a 500-round barrage was loosely suicide device in the town center, been warned to leave, then targeted estimated).34 followed by individual suicide with progressive levels of violence vest bombings on 12 checkpoints including large-scale kidnap-murder Instead, the heavy weapons most by fighters wearing Kurdish-style sprees and car bombings that escalate frequently employed by ISIL tend to uniforms.38 Unsurprisingly, this over a two to three week period.42 be its traditional tools—the suicide or onslaught shattered peshmerga morale ISIL is also purposefully blocking the remote-detonated car bomb and the and the town was lost. flow of water and electricity to areas suicide vest.35 When seeking to panic where minorities have been purged, and dislodge enemy troops, ISIL almost ISIL also uses various types of apparently to deter resettlement of always begins its local offensives with exemplary violence, what Robert Scales these areas.43 one or more mass casualty attacks on and Douglas Ollivant termed “strategic enemy headquarters and checkpoints. killing,” to spook their military ISIL’s Defensive Capabilities These storming tactics have been adversaries and drive out civilian For an organization that has benefited practiced and developed from the so greatly from exploiting mobility, earliest days of the ISI’s rebirth in 2010, “In many defensive the defense of fixed terrain presents a when al-Baghdadi’s first Ramadan challenge. As J.M. Berger explained, “the offensive began on June 29, 2010, with environments, ISIL calculus of holding territory has now the breaching of a police checkpoint in may prefer to work in changed. Prior to the pronouncement Adhamiyah, allowing the ISI to plant [of the caliphate], [ISIL] could have its flag in central Baghdad during areas with few civilians, fallen back to its previous domain along daylight hours.36 From the summer of perhaps because of their the border of Iraq and Syria with little 2011 onwards, these incidents became loss of face.”44 Now, as Jessica Lewis increasingly common and usually accentuated fear of local added in a separate article, “to validate featured car bombs to create chaos and uprisings and informers.” its statecraft, [ISIL] must further breach barriers, the attempted passage demonstrate that its physical stronghold of suicide vest attackers and gunmen is defensible, or at least prevent rival (often wearing security force uniforms) militaries from attacking it.”45 As a into the affected complexes, and hostage- populations.39 During the initial ISIL prior CTC Sentinel piece argued, ISIL has taking to prolong the incident.37 advance in June, the movement used “the tiger by the tail” now that its urban social media (i.e., mainly Twitter) to strongholds have to be defended.46 Yet in Although such opening gambits spread the word that ISIL columns usually target one or two buildings would give no quarter to resisters but 42 To give examples from the Shi`a Shabak community with a small number of devices, these that security forces could register and east of Mosul, ISIL started its campaign with a double 40 attacks are occasionally much larger. repent to guarantee their safety. suicide car bombing in the Shabak town of Khuzna On August 11, 2014, ISIL launched an Exemplary killings of around 100 Tappah area on June 6, the opening day of the Mosul up- offensive into Jalula that commenced security force members were conducted rising, followed by another suicide car bombing in Khuz- at Tikrit on June 11, 2014, and they na Tappah on June 26. In Bazwayah, a Shabak town of 41 33 Personal interview, Kurdistan region security official, were widely publicized. ISIL has also 3,500 residents, 105 people were abducted between June August 14, 2014. prosecuted a determined campaign of 10 and July 18. An ISIL force of 60 vehicles entered the 34 Mohammed al-Dulaimy and Hannah Allam, “Wit- ethno-sectarian cleansing in areas that Shabak town of Umarkan on July 2, burned down the lo- nesses Describe How Islamists Leveled Sunni Village as cal Shi`a shrine and a partially constructed mosque, and a Warning,” McClatchy Newspapers, July 11, 2014. 38 Personal interview, Alexandre Massimo, August 12, also confiscated cars, weapons and more than 100 head 35 ISIL has significant numbers of suicide operators and 2014. of cattle. All 250 Shi`a Shabak families in the village fled car bombs to utilize in such attacks. Due largely to the 39 Scales and Ollivant, “Terrorist Armies Fight Smarter immediately. All material garnered from open source influx of foreign fighters attracted by the Syrian jihad, and Deadlier Than Ever.” news reporting. A good collation of new reporting and suicide operations have risen from an average of six 40 McGurk stated: “The fall of Iraq’s second largest city first-hand views can be found in Whitson. per month in Iraq in 2010 to an average of 43 in 2013. to ISIL was combined with a social media campaign in- 43 ISIL has cut off the water supplies to numerous mi- Car bombings rose from 10 per month in 2010 to 71 per dicating that ISIL columns would soon be heading down nority villages in the Ninawa Plains by controlling the month in 2013. See Michael Knights, “The Resurgence the Tigris River Valley to Baghdad with no mercy for Salamiyya and Rashidiyya pumping stations on the Ti- of Al-Qaeda in Iraq,” testimony before the House For- anyone who resisted.” See McGurk, July 23, 2014. gris River, and has done so in the siege of Amerli also. eign Affairs Committee, December 12, 2013. For the full 41 Sarah Leah Whitson, “Iraq: ISIS Abducting, Killing, ISIL also prevents gridded power from reaching mi- testimony, see www.washingtoninstitute.org/uploads/ Expelling Minorities: Armed Group Targeting Chris- nority villages. See Whitson. Also see Michael Knights, Documents/testimony/KnightsTestimony20131212.pdf. tian Nuns, Turkmen, Shabaks, Yazidis,” Human Rights “Iraq’s City of Orphans,” Foreign Policy, August 14, 2014. 36 Government reinforcements were targeted with a se- Watch, July 19, 2014. Massacre videos were also re- 44 J.M. Berger, “Gambling on the Caliphate,” Intelwire ries of roadside bombs. The attack, in which 23 security released at the close of the Soldier’s Harvest campaign blog, June 29, 2014. personnel were killed, generated widespread publicity. on July 30, 2014. See Damien McElroy, “Islamic State 45 Lewis, “The Islamic State: A Counter-Strategy for a See Knights, “Back with a Vengeance,” p. 3. Jihadists Issue 30-Minute Killing Spree on Video,” Daily Counter-State,” p. 11. 37 Ibid. Telegraph, July 30, 2014. 46 Michael Knights, “The ISIL’s Stand in the Ramadi-

4 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 the face of weak initial counterattacks booby-trapping is undertaken in generate and disseminate images that by the ISF, ISIL has shown itself to locations that are considered likely to compound the sense that they control be fairly adept at defense, revealing be retaken by security forces.52 areas.55 The movement issues basic some of the most interesting aspects instructions via billboards, leaflets and of its recent military evolution into a ISIL’s engagement with local speakerphone or mosque speakers.56 hybrid army. stakeholders and militants is perhaps In most places, ISIL does not issue—or the most critical aspect of its defensive at least does not police—the extensive ISIL’s defensive playbook starts arrangements. Following the defeat Shari`a law city charters that it has with the energetic consolidation of a of al-Qa`ida in Iraq and the ISI by the introduced in its heartland cities, Raqqa defensive “crust” on the outer edges of Sahwa (Awakening forces), ISIL may and Mosul.57 Instead, its interactions newly-occupied areas in places where recognize that local populations are are practical and focused on regime an ISF or Kurdish counterattack could as great a threat to its holdings as security: former ISF must register be expected. ISIL has used its rough- any external adversary. As noted themselves and repent, commencing and-ready field engineering skills to previously, ISIL seeks to drive out an evaluation process whereby such quickly create extensive earth berms any non-Sunni, non-Arab populations individuals may be recruited, taken as and ditches mirroring the enemy’s own from its areas. This seems to be hostages or killed. ISIL usually already hastily-erected frontier defenses.47 driven by ideological justifications has some background in the area after After capturing Jalula on August 11, and by more venal considerations (such years of studying and interacting with ISIL bulldozers immediately blocked as widespread looting of villages and local communities, so its regime security key counterattack routes that the ransoming of kidnap victims),53 but such measures are often well-informed. Kurds might use, emplacing numerous purges also have the effect of creating roadside bombs along these arteries.48 depopulated zones. In many defensive As well as receiving individual pledges They further created a denied flank environments, from the largely emptied of allegiance, ISIL frequently absorbs on the Diyala River by destroying the Falluja city to new gains such as whole networks of militants into its Jalula-Kalar road bridge, a common Suleiman Beg, ISIL may prefer to work ranks in what might be termed as a ISIL tactic to shape local geography to in areas with few civilians, perhaps mergers and acquisitions approach, impede counterattacks or reinforcement because of their accentuated fear of with like-minded Salafist groups by enemy forces.49 Flooding of lowlands local uprisings and informers.54 like Jamaat Ansar al-Islam being the is another known tactic for denying simplest to convert.58 Existing Salafist terrain to the ISF.50 Small numbers of Where populations are present, ISIL groups, along with General Military well-sited heavy weapons are deployed, is keen to overawe them and create a Council forces associated with Jaysh with anti-armor defense augmented collaborative framework for the defense Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi (JRTN) with single hull-down T-55 or T-62 of such areas. As Iraq insurgency and other militants, contribute the tanks, recoilless rifles, shoulder-fired expert Aymenn al-Tamimi noted, ISIL core defensive manpower in ISIL- anti-tank weapons, and, less frequently, raiders quickly raise their banners dominated areas.59 ISIL is adept at guided anti-tank missiles.51 Extensive over key administrative and security aligning with tribal needs, such as headquarters and other landmarks to by plugging into the anti-Kurdish Falluja Corridor,” CTC Sentinel 7:5 (2014). sentiments of Arab tribes around Jalula 47 Isabel Coles, “Purge of Minorities Re-draws Iraq use is increasing in #Iraq.” or allowing Arab tribes to harvest Map,” Reuters, July 24, 2014. 52 ISIL uses unmanned car bombs, bicycle bombs and the ripe wheat fields of displaced 60 48 “Peshmarga Mobilize to Restore Jalawla and ‘ISIS’ explosives-rigged houses. See Ruth Sherlock and Carol Shi`a Turkmen farmers at Amerli. Detained a Local Official,” Shafaaq News, August 12, Malouf, “Islamic State Booby Traps Massive Iraqi Dam As Aymenn al-Tamimi explained, 2014. The United States used airpower to destroy a num- Which Could Kill Thousands if Breached, Daily Tele- in time these allied groups become ber of “IED emplacement belts” around Mosul Dam on graph, August 18, 2014. more and more closely aligned with August 16-18, 2014. See one of these operations refer- 53 Personal interview, Yazidi civilian, August 12, 2014. ISIL, transitioning from “backing the enced at “U.S. Military Conducts Airstrikes Against ISIL Also see Whitson. There are widespread scattered refer- winning horse” to deeper ideological near the Mosul Dam,” U.S. Central Command, August ences in most ISIL ethnic cleansing stories to ways that 18, 2014. ISIL members make money at the sidelines of militant 55 “Update On Iraq’s Insurgency: Interview With Ay- 49 In general, bridge demolition has been a wide- operations, through kidnap, looting, cattle rustling and menn Jawad al-Tamimi,” Musings on Iraq blog, July 1, spread part of ISIL’s tactical repertoire. See bribery. As such, fighters appear to be poorly paid—just 2014. “ISIL Destroys 63 Bridges in Iraq This Year,” al-Shorfa, $41 per month compared to $150 for a laborer, according 56 Ibid. August 7, 2014. to RAND’s Patrick B. Johnston—they have significant in- 57 Personal interview, Kurdistan journalist, August 17, 50 For commentary on Falluja’s regulating dam, see centive to moonlight in this manner. See Johnston quoted 2014. Knights, “The ISIL’s Stand in the Ramadi-Falluja Cor- in Al-Dulaimy and Allam. 58 Personal interview, Aymenn al-Tamimi, August 12, ridor.” 54 Although there are numerous rumors of human 2014. 51 For a sample of the kind of light anti-tank weapons shields being present at ISIL locations, these persons, if 59 In Falluja, the author has a full seven months of case reaching Iraq, see “ISIS Deploys Croatian Weapons they exist, do not seem to deter Iraqi fliers from under- study material showing how ISIL starts gently, but Against The Iraqi Army,” Brown Moses Blog, March 8, taking strikes. That could change if U.S. airstrikes con- steadily degrades rival groups with which it has part- 2014. The entry shows RBG-6 grenade launchers, M60 tinue to intensify and human shields become more use- nered, in this case Hamas al-Iraq. See Knights, “The and SPG-9 recoilless rifles, as well as RPG-22 rocket and ful. For an example, see “ISIS Prevents Saadia Residents ISIL’s Stand in the Ramadi-Falluja Corridor.” M79 Osa launchers. For information on guided missiles, from Leaving and Uses Them as Human Shields Against 60 Personal interview, Kurdish official from Tuz district, see Charles Lister’s August 9, 2014, tweet, “ISIS ATGM Air Strikes,” Shafaaq News, August 7, 2014. August 15, 2014.

5 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 radicalization, adding that “the longer town of Amerli was stopped dead by of prisoner releases, prison breaks and they put off breaking with [ISIL], the a single well-positioned ISIL-crewed recruitment, leadership casualties will more difficult it will become.”61 Where T-55 tank, which shot up a convoy nonetheless complicate their ability to tribal groups have stood up to ISIL, of 250 Shi`a militiamen mounted in hold the initiative in the future. they have prompted an extremely utility vehicles.66 aggressive reaction, most notoriously Mobility and surprise have allowed at Zowiya (located at the junction of ISIL’s Key Traits and Vulnerabilities ISIL to punch well above its weight the Tigris and Lesser Zab rivers), Although ISIL has undoubtedly done in offensive operations, but these where a tribal revolt was brutally much to shape its own operational advantages may also be diminishing. If put down with the aid of unusually environment, it has nonetheless been U.S. military support for Iraq increases, sustained mortar fire and rampaging lucky to face ill-prepared opponents it will become more difficult for ISIL to ISIL troops on July 7, 2014.62 in Iraq. The enfeebled state of the ISF achieve tactical surprise using vehicle- has magnified ISIL’s reputation and mounted raiding forces. Already the When ISF or Kurdish forces attack confidence, temporarily masking its distinctive signature of such attacks areas that ISIL has claimed, the own weaknesses and vulnerabilities. movement has been quick to support ISIL is still riding a wave of military the locals with specialized capabilities. successes, but its opponents are “Yet the pace of the war Experienced ISIL anti-armor teams recovering and drawing upon against ISIL is accelerating, have achieved some spectacular results increasing international support. when tank-stalking. For instance, Its offensive power has tended to and the group’s ability in Humayrah, near Ramadi, an Iraqi diminish as it approaches majority to continually shape and Army probe was decimated on April Shi`a or Kurdish-populated areas.67 Momentum has tremendous value in control the conflict will be war, but it is fragile, and ISIL may sorely tested.” “The enfeebled state of the be forced to gradually surrender the ISF has magnified ISIL’s strategic initiative in Iraq, as it has done on individual Iraqi battlefields reputation and confidence, such as Kirkuk, which held against ISIL has wrought disaster for ISIL attacks. temporarily masking thrusts in mid-June,68 and Makhmour, In Tuz Khurmatu, for example, ISIL which was retaken from ISIL on convoys sought to penetrate the city its own weaknesses and August 10.69 The group’s leadership is using night movements on August 9 vulnerabilities.” clearly comprised of talented deliberate and August 13, but were detected by the planners, capable of crafting far-sighted U.S. military, which provided Kurdish political-military campaigns that are artillery with the coordinates required resilient enough to survive the deaths of to blunt the attacks.71 Many islands 20, 2014, with the loss of an entire their progenitors.70 Yet the pace of the of government or Kurdish control are mixed platoon of T-62 tanks and MTLB war against ISIL is accelerating, and the being consolidated as launch-pads for armored vehicles.63 In Tikrit, ISIL led group’s ability to continually shape and future operations under the watchful a spectacular series of ambushes and control the conflict will be sorely tested. gaze of U.S. intelligence, surveillance suicide bombings against hasty and ill- Although they may boast a deep bench and reconnaissance (ISR) assets.72 conceived efforts by the Iraqi Army of talented individuals following years ISIL will undoubtedly try to retain the to take the town on July 16, 2014.64 initiative with strategic gambits, but At Jalula, ISIL has been fighting a 66 Knights, “Iraq’s City of Orphans.” attacking is becoming harder for the gritty street-by-street battle against 67 Pollack. movement. This may cause it to fall back Kurdish special forces, armor and 68 Isabel Coles, “On Edge of Kirkuk, Peshmerga Prepare on older approaches such as the largely artillery, and ISIL led the powerful to Fight Again for Kurdistan,” Reuters, June 19, 2014. dismounted storming attacks and local counterattacks that restored all The Kurds fought hard near Mullah Abdulla power sta- suicide vest operations used in Jalula the lost neighborhoods to insurgent tion to prevent an ISIL exploitation toward Kirkuk city. on August 11 and in other “commuter 65 control on August 11, 2014. An 69 “Iraqi Kurds Retake 2 Towns from Militants, Helped insurgencies” such as Ramadi and 73 August 8 effort to relieve the besieged by U.S. Airstrikes,” CBS News, August 10, 2014. Large Baghdad. numbers of other articles cite examples from Zummar, 61 Personal interview, Aymenn al-Tamimi, August 12, Mosul Dam, and the Ninawa Plains. For a selection, see 71 Personal interview, Kurdish official from Tuz district, 2014. Jessica Lewis, Lauren Squires, and Nichole Dicharry’s August 15, 2014. 62 Al-Dulaimy and Allam. reporting from August 13-17, 2014, at www.iswiraq. 72 These include the Bayji oil refinery and numerous fa- 63 Knights, “The ISIL’s Stand in the Ramadi-Falluja Cor- blogspot.com. cilities at Haditha; the Iraqi base at Tikrit air base (the old ridor.” 70 For commentary on the May 2014 death of Abdul Forward Operating Base Speicher); areas of Sinjar and 64 Alissa Rubin and Suadad al-Salhy, “For Iraq, Debacle Rahman al-Bilawi, al-Baghdadi’s military chief of staff Mosul; and key government and air transportation sites in Tikrit as Forces Walk Into Trap Set by Militants,” New for Iraq, see Sherlock. ISIL’s senior military commander, in Baghdad. York Times, July 16, 2014. Haji Bakr, was likewise killed in northern Syria in early 73 The “commuter insurgency” refers to an urban fight 65 “20 Peshmerga Killed and Wounded in Suicide At- January 2014. See Bill Roggio, “ISIS Confirms Death of in which insurgents travel in each day, like suburban tack in Jalawla, Diyala Province,” NINA Agency, August Senior Leader in Syria,” The Long War Journal, February commuters, from support zones on the outskirts. Coined 11, 2014. 5, 2014. by U.S. forces in Iraq, the concept is explained further in

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Defense may also become harder for A Deeper Look at Syria- jihadist fighters, this article finds that the group as the ISF and Kurdish forces Istanbul is an important meeting and escalate their offensive operations. Related Jihadist Activity in transfer hub and that Turkish fighters Drawing together the views of various Turkey and Islamic fundamentalists regularly experts, ISIL seems to have a Tigris come into contact with foreign fighters valley-based offensive strike force By Stephen Starr before traveling south to fight in Syria (visible at Mosul, Tall Afar, and Tikrit) and Iraq. It describes a selection of plus ancillary strike forces in the turkey is unique in its decision to Turkish fighters known to have fought western Euphrates valley bordering permit foreign and opposition fighters among opposition groups and outlines Syria and another around Jalula and to traverse its southern border to the the Turkish government’s position on adjacent parts of the Hamrin mountain Syrian battlefield. As early as June the movement of fighters to and from range. Yet these mobile elements are 2011, Turkey allowed refugees into Syria.6 probably small, numbering less than its territory, including civilians who 3,000 fighters, while the majority quickly turned to violent methods to Recruitment of Turkish Fighters of ISIL’s defensive manpower, tied combat Syrian government forces in Better known as a transit country for to specific areas, is made up of new northern Syria.1 Within months of the foreign fighters seeking to travel to recruits and allied movements.74 outbreak of the Syrian revolt in March Syria, Turkey is increasingly becoming Although ISIL has momentum and 2011, the Justice and Development Party a source of fundamentalist fighters. A these allies seem solidly behind the (AKP)-led Turkish government called Turkish newspaper reported in June group, if the military tide begins to for the end of the rule of President 2014 that, according to the families turn, particularly whilst the cement Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.2 of fighters, 163 Turks have joined is still setting on ISIL’s relationships, ISIL and are believed to be fighting in there could be a dramatic reduction in Almost three years later, the wheel Syria.7 Other reports, based on Turkish the group’s effective strength. Already has come full circle and Turkey itself intelligence data, claim that the figure ISIL is being forced to relinquish has become a source of legions of is far higher, with close to 600-700 multiple towns—Makhmour, Saadiyya, militants—increasingly fundamentalist Turks joining ISIL.8 The International Muqdadiyah, Zummar, Bashiqa, and sectarian in ideology—seeking to Centre for the Study of Radicalisation Bartella, Qara Qosh—and the pace of fight in the combat zones of Syria and estimated that between 63 and 500 operations is accelerating.75 If the ISF Iraq against domestic government Turkish fighters were operating in Syria and Kurdish forces undertake selective forces.3 Although still a small fraction out of an estimated 11,000 total foreign offensive operations on a widening of the overall foreign fighting force now fighter contingent as of December number of battlefields, the ISIL-led in Syria,4 a growing number of Turkish 2013.9 More recent assessments suggest defense will undoubtedly become citizens are electing to travel to Syria to similar figures. stretched, particularly if its ability fight against the al-Assad regime. Some to move and mass counterattacking support the establishment of an Islamic Young men in areas close to the Syrian forces is limited. ISIL could morph caliphate, an entity that has become border are particularly susceptible to back into rural insurgents operating de facto ever since jihadists from the recruitment and indoctrination. A 27- largely outside the cities once again. Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant year-old Turkish man claimed that ISIL (ISIL) declared one in June 2014.5 offered payments of $100-$200 per Dr. Michael Knights is the Lafer Fellow month to fight in Syria.10 In May 2014, at The Washington Institute for Near This article looks at the motives of for example, a 14-year-old boy from East Policy. He has worked in all of Iraq’s Turkish nationals who travel to Syria to Ankara and five friends left Turkey provinces, including periods embedded fight against government forces. Based to join ISIL fighters in Syria. A month with the Iraqi security forces. Dr. Knights on interviews with a would-be Turkish later, he was found at a Syrian border has been briefing U.S. officials on the combatant and an individual familiar crossing with serious injuries sustained resurgence of Al-Qa`ida in Iraq since 2012 with the actions and insights of Turkish and provided congressional testimony on 6 This article does not discuss the role of nationalist the issue in December 2013. He has written 1 Martin Chulov, “Syrian Refugees in Turkey: ‘People Kurdish fighters of Turkish citizenship fighting in Syria, on militancy in Iraq for the CTC Sentinel See the Regime is Lying. It is Falling Apart,’” Guardian, nor does it discuss Turkish nationals fighting on the side since 2008. June 9, 2011. of the al-Assad regime. For more details on this, see Ste- 2 Sebnem Arsu, “Turkish Premier Urges Assad to Quit,” phen Starr, “The Renewed Threat of Terrorism to Tur- New York Times, November 22, 2011. key,” CTC Sentinel 6:6 (2013). 3 Jamie Dettner, “Growing Unease Over Turkish Jihad- 7 Fevzi Kizilkoyon, “Families Say 163 Turkish Citizens David Kilcullen, The Accidental Guerrilla: Fighting Small ists in Syria,” Voice of America, October 8, 2013. Have Joined ISIL,” Hurriyet Daily News, June 27, 2014. Wars in the Midst of a Big One (Oxford: Oxford University 4 According to Reuters, “U.S. intelligence agencies es- 8 “Report: Around 700 Turks Joined ISIL,” Today’s Za- Press, 2009), p. 142. timate around 7,000 of the 23,000 violent extremists man, June 27, 2014. 74 See aforementioned conversations with Aymenn al- operating in Syria are foreign fighters, mostly from Eu- 9 “ICSR Insight: Up to 11,000 Foreign Fighters in Syria; Tamimi and Aaron Zelin, plus the views of Dr. Hisham rope.” See Timothy Gardner, “U.S. Concerned Foreign Steep Rise Among Western Europeans,” The Interna- al-Hashimi, via Sherlock. Fighters in Syria are Working with Yemenis,” Reuters, tional Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, December 75 For a selection, see Jessica Lewis, Lauren Squires, and July 13, 2014. 17, 2013. Nichole Dicharry’s reporting from August 13-17, 2014 at 5 “Sunni Rebels Declare New ‘Islamic Caliphate,” al- 10 “‘Cihada’ giden Turkler konustu,” Gercek Gundem, www.iswiraq.blogspot.com. Jazira, June 30, 2014. July 10, 2014.

7 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 while fighting.11 Recruitment centers the Turkish city of Antakya.20 In July Motivations for Turks to Fight in Syria are believed to exist in provinces across 2012, a six-minute video titled Turkish Young Turkish men who come into Turkey’s southeast.12 Mujahidin Who Are Conducting Jihad in contact with Turkey-based Syrian Syria, released by a Syrian opposition activists are often influenced by Radical Turks are thought to have organization, showed a group of fighters the latter’s humanitarian work and recruited more than 200 local men in apparently located in Syria speaking in experience in what some believe as a Adiyaman, a city of 217,000 people.13 Turkish and calling for Muslims to fight just Muslim war. Adiyaman is considered one of the Syrian government forces.21 largest suppliers of Turkish jihadist One such individual is Emrah, a 27- fighters in Syria14 and is located 85 One foreign fighter is known as year-old man from the conservative miles from the Syrian border and 130 “Yilmaz,” a Dutch-Turkish former district of Fatih in central Istanbul. miles from the important transit border soldier providing firearms training to He said he is not from a particularly jihadists.22 In an interview with Dutch religious family and that at university television, he said that he conducted he started reading Islamic history and “The recruitment of Turks military service in Turkey and had found that “Turkey shared much of its has been recognized by been in Syria for two years fighting in a “freelance” capacity.23 Turkish authorities as a “Jihadist activity in Turkey serious concern.” As collated by Jihadology.net, other is not contained to the Turkish fighters included: Ahmet Zorlu border region with Syria.” (also known as Abdullah Azzam the Turk) from Yalova, a town 105 miles town of Kilis. The province of Adiyaman south of Istanbul; Abudrrahman Koc is home to a refugee camp with a from Adiyaman; Yakup Senates from history with other Muslims countries. population of around 10,000 Syrians.15 Siverek; and Metin Ekinci from Bingol Muslim countries are all of one body Thousands more Syrians are thought to Province.24 All four fighters are now with different organs.”26 He said the live in private accommodation across deceased. history taught by secular Turkish Adiyaman and neighboring provinces institutions established during the that border Syria.16 “Nobody tells Other incidents relating to Turkish 20th century portrayed other Muslim these people to go and fight [in Syria],” involvement in the Syrian conflict countries as backward peoples that an alleged recruiter told Reuters in include the September 2013 indictment backstabbed Turkey. November 2013. “Most of them meet up in Turkey of five Turkish nationals in groups of three or five people and for intent to produce Sarin gas.25 A Emrah said that he started compulsory make their own decisions to go.”17 Syrian man was also charged. Turkish military service just as the Arab intelligence services believe that revolutions were occurring in early The recruitment of Turks has been they were trying to procure Sarin for 2011. He explained that by the time recognized by Turkish authorities as a Jabhat al-Nusra or Ahrar al-Sham, two these uprisings concluded, it was serious concern.18 According to Israel’s militant groups active in Syria. At this becoming increasingly clear that the al- military intelligence chief in January time, intent for the attacks is unknown, Assad regime was killing thousands of 2014, al-Qa`ida-linked groups allegedly as all parties involved have pleaded Sunni Muslim civilians. He read a book have at least three bases in Turkey.19 innocence. about the uprising by Syrian activist A report in al-Monitor suggested that, Samar Yazbek27 two years ago and as a prior to 2013, alleged fighters were result saw a new reality. He blamed the thought to stay at specific hotels, such Turkish opposition media for presenting as the Ottoman and Narin hotels, in the “wrong picture” on Syria and said

20 Several of the hotels allegedly used are identified in that the AKP’s position—support for 11 “14-year-old Turkish ISIL Militant Found by Soldiers Fehim Tastekin, “Radical Groups Operate on Turkey’s the political and rebel opposition—was Near Syrian Border,” Today’s Zaman, June 26, 2014. Border,” al-Monitor, October 17, 2013. justified. 12 Idris Emen, “Adiyaman – Suriye cihat hatti,” Radikal, 21 Karen Hodgson and Bill Roggio, “Omar Farouk Bri- September 29, 2013. gade Calls on Muslims to Wage Jihad in Syria,” The Long 13 Ibid.; Constanze Letsch, “The Sons Feared Lost to al- War Journal, July 22, 2012. 26 Personal interview, Emrah, Istanbul, Turkey, July Qaida in Syria,” Guardian, November 11, 2013. 22 “Dutch Former Royal Netherlands Army Soldier 5, 2014. The interviewee was contacted and introduced 14 Emen. Trains Jihadists in Syria,” Nieuwsuur, Janu- through a Syrian activist based in Istanbul and known 15 “UNHCR Turkey Syrian Refugee Daily Sitrep,” United ary 27, 2014, available at www.youtube.com/ to the author for more than a year. The interviewee was Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, July 10, 2014. watch?v=nWua3exa6rw#t=15. selected because of his willingness to discuss details 16 Ibid. 23 “Sayfullakh’s Jamaat Deny Dutch Fighter’s Defection about his motivations for wanting to fight in Syria but 17 Daren Butler, “Turks Worry as Sons Go to Fight in to ISIS,” From Chechnya to Syria blog, May 19, 2014. not already having done so. The research value in this Syria,” Reuters, November 26, 2013. 24 “Turkish Fighters in Syria, Online and Off,” Jihadol- lies in that the interviewee presents his motivational per- 18 “Deputy Arinc Laments Turkish Youth Joining Radi- ogy, August 20, 2013. spective while not having been affected by the strains of cals in Middle East,” Today’s Zaman, July 6, 2014. 25 Patrick J. McDonnell, “Syrian Rebel Groups Sought combat. 19 Dan Williams, “Israeli General Says al Qaeda’s Syria Sarin Gas Material, Turkish Prosecutors Say,” Los Ange- 27 Samar Yazbek, A Woman in the Crossfire: Diaries of the Fighters Set Up in Turkey,” Reuters, January 29, 2014. les Times, September 13, 2013. Syrian Revolution (London: Haus Publishing, 2012).

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Around that time, Emrah met a Turkish Istanbul,32 said he knows at least 10 been to the café, or seen sitting friend who had been deported from Turkish citizens who are fighting and drinking tea on the street, Syria in 2010 where he studied Islamic for the al-Qa`ida affiliate Jabhat al- as they used to do at around 10 studies at a mosque in Damascus. The Nusra in Syria, some of whom are his o’clock every night. I and other man is now an imam in Istanbul, and friends. All are from Istanbul and all local shopkeepers give money to he educated Emrah about how the work in Mecidiyekoy. The following is the Turkish fighters to support al-Assad regime has repressed the a revealing excerpt from an exclusive their religious war in Syria. My Syrian people for decades. Emrah said interview with Sezgin in July 2014: friends fighting for Jabhat al- that he and the imam continue to meet Nusra in Syria regularly send regularly to talk about issues related One of the Nusra fighters, me videos of attacks on Syrian to Syria. Abuzer, a 28-year-old Kurd from government targets in order to Mecidiyekoy in Istanbul, was attach logos to the videos. This Emrah claimed to know around 10 killed by a Syrian government is important. They are able to Turkish people who have gone to mortar when attacking the Aleppo send me the videos as they access Syria to fight the regime, all of whom central prison two weeks ago. e-mail via satellite phones. They are from Istanbul. As Muslims, he Two months ago Abuzer went [the Jabhat al-Nusra fighters] are said both he and his fighting friends, to a meeting with ISIS [ISIL] in against America more than they or “mujahidin,”28 in Syria “feel Diyarbakir to discuss problems are against Bashar al-Assad. They responsible to help Syrians being between the two groups. (Meetings think Bashar is the first step and killed for no reason.” were generally held in Diyarbakir talk about taking over Lebanon and Gaziantep.) There are around and Jordan next. He went to Syria in December 2012 500 Turkish men fighting with after Syrian activist friends smuggled Jabhat al-Nusra, but more are The jihadists do not smoke or he and seven Turkish friends across leaving to join ISIS as they are drink alcohol, their apartment the border at Kilis. At that time, he deemed more successful following has many religious texts, they said, Turkish police lightly guarded the the Iraq offensive. Foreign shave their heads and wear large border, which is in contrast to the level fighters stay exactly a week at beards with shaved upper lip in of vigilance that exists now. He stayed the safe house in Mecidiyekoy the style of Salafis. They break for six days, witnessing, he claimed, before taking a bus south to the their Ramadan fast every evening the devastation of towns and villages as Syria border. Once they crossed 30 minutes later than local people well as traveling to the frontlines as an close to Antakya, the capital of to affirm the strength of their observer. He himself did not engage in Hatay Province, they are trained faith. A group of foreign Islamic any fighting. He said he saw young boys by Nusra for six months before students live in another nearby suffer horrific injuries fighting against they see combat. I’ve met four apartment.33 a much stronger Syrian national army. Germans who were later killed He has plans to go back to Syria, but in Aleppo on their second day in Sezgin introduced this author to a this time to fight the regime. Syria in a mortar attack, as well as neighboring shop owner who, Sezgin one Kurd from America and two claimed, also supports the locally-based “When I planned to go to Syria, first Muslim UK citizens. When they fighters with funds. According to Sezgin, I wanted to go to the battlefields,” he [the foreign and local fighters] his friends in Turkey’s police force are said. “I wanted to know what it feels come to the café they tell me to well aware of the activities of the above- like.”29 He did not say which group he turn off the music (which I do), mentioned individuals, but face little would likely fight with, but feels “deep and they watch videos of combat compulsion from their superiors to take inside I want to pick up a gun and go in Syria. During the World Cup, I action. In recent months, further reports fight the regime.”30 saw four British guys at the café. of Istanbul-based Turks fighting with The jihadists meet and pray in the ISIL have emerged.34 Jihadist Activity in Istanbul basement of an apartment near Jihadist activity in Turkey is not the Konyali mosque in Istanbul. AKP Rhetoric contained to the border region with They don’t pray at a mosque as In contrast to past Turkish Syria. Sezgin,31 who runs an internet they say it’s not a real mosque and governments, the AKP has embraced café in the basement of a building in that Turkey is not a real Muslim the country’s and the wider region’s Mecidiyekoy district of north-central country because it is too liberal. Islamic values and identities since The basement apartment used to coming to power in 2002. State and be owned by an Afghani man who pro-government media focus on 35 28 The interview subject used this word to describe his I haven’t seen for two years. Muslims being targeted in Egypt, friends. 29 Personal interview, Emrah, Istanbul, Turkey, July 5, Since ISIS went into Iraq [in June 33 Personal interview, “Sezgin,” Istanbul, Turkey, July 2014. 2014], many of these men have 15, 2014. 30 Ibid. gone underground and haven’t 34 Hasnain Kazim, “Dschihadisten aus der Türkei: Ver- 31 Sezgin asked not to be fully identified because he fears führung zum ‘Heiligen Krieg,’” Der Speigel, July 10, 2014. reprisals from jihadists for giving information to a for- 32 For a map of the district, see www.goo.gl/ 35 “Turkish Denounce Egyptian Injustice,” Daily Sabah, eign journalist. maps/7BGS9. April 11, 2014.

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Gaza and Syria, firmly portraying Hatay Province prevented police from government figures.49 Since 2011, the suffering and victimization searching the vehicle, which elicited Turkey has banned around 5,300 people experienced by Muslims across the further suspicion of Ankara’s covert suspected of entering Syria to join the region. involvement in the Syrian conflict.43 civil war and deported more than 824 The Turkish government said the foreigners believed to have links with A wave of laws—including restrictions truck was carrying aid to Syria. The terrorist groups.50 on the sale of alcohol,36 partially taking of a strategic border point in lifting the ban against wearing the Turkey’s Hatay Province by Jabhat Conclusion hijab for state employees37 and the al-Nusra fighters in March 2014 was Although Western governments have viewed as having occurred with the highlighted the threat of radical fighters “Jihadist blowback may direct acquiescence of Ankara, as rebels returning home after stints in Syria,51 attacked and overran the Syrian border Turkey is the perfect location for the already be taking shape in point from Turkish territory.44 In May fueling of Islamic extremism in the years Istanbul.” 2013, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet to come. The Islamist-tinged rhetoric Davutoglu even said that the U.S. adopted by president-elect Erdogan decision to declare Jabhat al-Nusra “a vis-à-vis Syria and the mistreatment of terrorist organization has resulted in Muslims elsewhere in the region may prime minister’s criticism of co-ed more harm than good.”45 embolden extremist groups in Turkey. schools38—have given many religious Turks the confidence to publicly assert Yet by April 2014, Turkish authorities Jihadist blowback may already be their religiosity, a right denied for began building a portable wall close taking shape in Istanbul52 and, as decades under the country’s strictly to Reyhanli to stop illegal cross- illustrated by the two firsthand secular military rule.39 border activity.46 In June, the Turkish accounts from Emrah and Sezgin, government listed Jabhat al-Nusra Turkey’s largest city can readily Turkey’s president-elect Recep Tayyip a terrorist organization, indicating claim the existence of extremist Erdogan has called Bashar al-Assad increased pressure from the United cells facilitating the movement of a “terrorist”40 in his public speeches, States and a recognition that its alleged both indigenous and foreign fighters while Turkey has supported the Syrian support of the group had run its seeking jihad in Syria. Together with opposition more effusively than any course.47 The government said it would the fact that Turkey shares a 650-mile other government in the world.41 This be cracking down on foreign jihadists border with Syria and Iraq—the latter has led to allegations that Ankara has entering Turkey en route to Syria. increasingly viewed as a failed state53— supported jihadist groups, in particular “How could we understand that some suggests that Turkey’s top national Jabhat al-Nusra. Turkish police, for tourists from Europe are jihadists…it is security concerns are likely to emanate example, uncovered a truck suspected not written on their foreheads,” said a from its southern borders in the years of carrying weapons to Syria in Adana Turkish security official in June. “Now, to come. in November 2013,42 but the governor of since we have an intelligence flow from European countries, we are able to stop Stephen Starr is a journalist and author 36 Gunes Komurculer, “Restrictions on Alcohol Sales Go them [foreign fighters] at our gates and of Revolt in Syria: Eye-Witness to 48 into Effect Today in Turkey,” Hurriyet Daily News, Sep- send them back.” the Uprising (Oxford University Press: tember 9, 2013. 2014). 37 “Turkey Lifts Headscarf Ban, Discontinues National A spokesman for Turkey’s Foreign Oath,” France 24, October 31, 2013. Ministry acknowledged that Turkish 38 Piotr Zalewski, “Turkey’s Erdogan Battles Country’s citizens have joined ISIL, but Most Powerful Religious Movement,” Time Magazine, maintained Turkey’s opposition to December 4, 2013. the actions of Jabhat al-Nusra and 39 Ahmet T. Kuru and Alfred Stepan eds., Democracy, other extremist groups, pointing to Islam and Secularism in Turkey (New York: Columbia Uni- the speeches of Erdogan and other versity Press, 2012). 40 “Turkey’s Erdogan Says Syria’s Assad is a Terrorist, Not a Politician,” Jerusalem Post, July 10, 2013. 43 Fevzi Kizilkoyon, “Turkish Governor Blocks Police 41 Erin Banco, “Why Turkey is Essential for the Syrian Search on Syria-Bound Truck Reportedly Carrying Opposition,” The Atlantic, May 30, 2013. Turkey’s sup- Weapons,” Hurriyet Daily News, January 2, 2014. 49 Personal interview, Tanju Biglic, Turkish Foreign port of the opposition is ideological but is more pressing- 44 Ruth Sherlock, “Turkey ‘Aided Islamist Fighters’ in Ministry spokesman, July 16, 2014. ly anchored in the realm of security. It shares a 560-mile Attack on Syrian Town,” Daily Telegraph, April 14, 2014. 50 “Turkey Says Has Banned 5,300 Potential Syria border with Syria and in May 2013 suffered its worst ever 45 Semih Idiz, “Why is Jabhat al-Nusra No Longer Use- Fighters,” Today’s Zaman, June 24, 2014. terrorist attack when 53 people were killed in a double ful to Turkey?” al-Monitor, June 10, 2014. 51 Richard Norton-Taylor, “Islamist Terror Threat to car bombing in Reyhanli, a town on the Turkish-Syrian 46 “Turkey Builds Portable Wall on Syrian Border,” To- West Blown Out of Proportion – Former MI6 Chief,” border. Individuals with links to the Syrian government day’s Zaman, April 27, 2014. Guardian, July 7, 2014. in Damascus are thought to have been involved in that 47 “Turkey Lists al-Nusra Front as Terrorist Organiza- 52 “ISIL ‘Attacks Shiite Mosque’ in Istanbul,” Today’s attack. For more details, see Starr. tion,” Hurriyet Daily News, June 3, 2014. Zaman, July 16, 2014. 42 “Rockets and Bombs Seized en Route to Terrorists,” 48 Murat Yetkin, “Syria’s Foreign Fighters in Turkey’s 53 John Kampfner, “Why Iraq is Close to Becoming a Aydinlik Daily, November 8, 2013. Target, Too,” Hurriyet Daily News, June 7, 2014. Failed State,” Daily Telegraph, June 15, 2014.

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posts, the tweets were compiled and another smuggler will take us in Stories of Foreign Fighter posted on justpaste.it.5 a bigger boat to the Sudani shores. Migration to Syria Although the initial agreement The story was quickly “retweeted” by was to pay that smuggler the sum By Muhammad al-`Ubaydi a large number of ISIL activists on of 30,000 SR (about $7,500), he Twitter, and received a tremendous requested an extra 10K SR which the conflict in syria has served as a amount of positive feedback. Unlike eventually we agreed to pay. On magnet for foreign fighters.1 Muslims other stories of jihadists, al-Rimi the evening of the third night in from across the world have responded decided not to tell much about his the sea, one of the two engines to calls to fight against the Syrian previous life, how he was radicalized of the boat got broken, and at regime. Some of these fighters have or why he was in a Saudi prison prior night we saw what we thought joined jihadist groups, including the to his trip to Syria. He made sure, was an American barge. We shut al-Qa`ida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra and however, to document many details down the only working engine the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant about his journey from Saudi Arabia to and all the lights, and the barge (ISIL).2 Syria. went by without noticing us.6

This article describes the journey of Al-Rimi began his account by It took them four nights to cross the five foreign fighters, two of whom are acknowledging that he was determined sea, and another four days in Sudan from Saudi Arabia, one from Bahrain, to migrate and participate in jihad in before they were smuggled across the and two from Europe. Their stories are Syria as soon as he was released from Sudan-Chad border. Another “Egyptian narrated either by themselves, or by prison. He went directly to his friend brother” joined them before they crossed their companion foreign fighters. The “al-Azdi” and asked him to find a way to the Sahara toward Libya, riding in the accounts were all posted on Twitter. travel to Syria. He did not have enough back of a pickup truck. He described Historically, similar migration stories money to accomplish his trip, but “in their experiences passing through became public typically after the war a few days, the brothers were able to ended, or through martyr biographies collect the sum of 20,000 SR” (about for jihadists killed in action. In the $5,000). Al-Rimi’s story is unique for “It is noteworthy that these conflict in Syria, however, some foreign two reasons: the long route he and his narratives are not imbued fighters are narrating their own stories friends took to reach Syria, and the in real time, and revealing information number of details he chose to reveal, with sectarianism, and that includes details related to their including the aliases of those who yet all five joined ISIL, the motivations, the source of their accompanied him, the amount of money financing, and the routes they took used, and the time spent on each part of most sectarian jihadist to reach Syria. It is not clear whether their trip. group in Syria.” this trend is due to the increased use of social media networks, which permits Al-Rimi and three other “brothers”— an individual to tell his story without al-Azdi, Thabbah and Waqid— having to rely on the administrators of purportedly crossed the southern three checkpoints that belonged to jihadist websites, or whether foreign borders of Saudi Arabia to Yemen armed militias in Sudan.7 Al-Rimi did fighters are simply sending a message with the help of a smuggler. As stated not provide much detail about the time to other “hesitant Muslim youth” that by al-Rimi, they spent in Libya, how they crossed the trip to “the land of jihad” is not the Mediterranean toward Turkey or impossible as “the infidels’ media is After we crossed the Yemeni the route they took to reach their final trying to convince you.”3 borders, we went through a destination from Turkey to Syria. What number of checkpoints and we he did reveal is that they rented a house The Saudi Foreign Fighter Al-Muhajir al-Rimi were able to cross them all by for four days in Libya before they were On May 24, 2014, the Saudi al-Muhajir paying a small amount of money “transported in several batches to the al-Rimi, who also uses the name al- [bribes] to their members about Levant.”8 Harith al-Qahtani on his Twitter 15 SR (about $4)…two Yemeni account,4 began to post messages on brothers and seven more Saudi Twitter telling the story of his migration brothers joined us, and they to Syria. Shortly after this series of waited for a couple of nights 6 Ibid. until it was safe to sail in the 7 Al-Rimi mentioned that they had to go through “three 1 The author would like to thank Nelly Lahoud for key Red Sea using a small boat. checkpoints that belong to armed militias in Sudan.” insights that contributed to this article. That small boat was supposed They “negotiated with the members of the first check- 2 In June 2014, ISIL declared a caliphate in Syria and to take us to a small island in point, and agreed on a certain amount of money.” The Iraq and shortened its name to the “Islamic State.” the sea, and from this island members of the second one were so greedy and “asked 3 Many jihadist activists on Twitter post similar pro- for a lot of money,” and they were forced to pay them to vocative statements to encourage Muslims to join jihad 5 Justpaste.it is a website that allows users to share lon- escape the poor treatment they received. They decided to in Syria. ger passages of text for free. This particular migration not stop by the third checkpoint, and drove through it as 4 His Twitter account can be accessed at www.twitter. story, “Qissat Nafir Akhina Al-Muhajir al-Rimi,” was fast as they could. com/mmjjhhdd9943. available at www.justpaste.it/fnd6. 8 Ibid.

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According to al-Rimi, Abu `Antara, the [Turkish-Syrian] borders, and then a to Bahrain. Al-Bahrini concluded Egyptian “brother” who joined them in car would take me from there to enter his story by acknowledging that his Sudan, and one of the Saudis were later Syria.”10 mother and brother, who was a soldier killed in Syria. Al-Rimi is still alive, and in the Bahrain army, later visited him active on his Twitter account, posting He flew to Istanbul as planned, and were both convinced to join ISIL’s news about ISIL in Syria and defending purchased a ticket to a “bordering ranks in Syria.13 the movement against criticism. city,” and while he was waiting for the plane he saw “a man with a beard Al-Bahrini appeared in the recently The Bahraini Foreign Fighter Abu Thar al- reading the Qur’an, and I knew that he released ISIL video Salil al-Sawarim 4 Bahrini was going to Syria.” Without hesitation, (Sound of the Swords Clashing 4),14 in Abu Thar al-Bahrini, from Bahrain, al-Bahrini approached the man, and which he delivered a short and powerful began his story by discussing how he said to him confidently: “you are going speech followed by him ripping up his was “not religiously committed” in high to Syria and I’m going with you.” After Bahraini passport and promising to school, although he knew that this was a short discussion, al-Bahrini convinced “return to Bahrain not with this useless “wrong.” After he graduated high school the man to help him. “The man was in passport, but marching with ISIL army with high grades, his family assumed touch with coordinators from the Free to liberate all Muslim lands.”15 he would go to medical school. Al- Syrian Army,” who were supposed to Bahrini, however, had different ideas, smuggle him into Syria to join JN. They The Saudi Foreign Fighter Abu Thabit al- as he thought that this was his chance went to a house used by the FSA as a Jazrawi to “repent” and the best way to do that clinic in Turkey, and on the second day a Abu Thabit al-Jazrawi, a Saudi foreign was by joining a Shari`a school in Saudi “brother from ISIL came to that house to fighter, did not mention many details Arabia. He changed his mind, however, visit his friends,” al-Bahrini explained. about the route he took to reach after deciding that the path of studying “We told him that we are going to join Syria; instead, he preferred to reveal Shari`a was too long, so he made a JN in Idlib, and he offered to take us to more information about his path decision to join jihad in Syria instead. JN after we enter Syria.”11 to radicalization. According to his At the start, al-Bahrini mentioned that account, he did not “differentiate between the Two days after they entered Syria, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Jabhat al- same person from ISIL came to them, When I was 15, I used to think of Nusra (JN) or ISIL.” His main concern explained the tensions between the Usama bin Ladin as the person was finding a coordinator to show two groups, and suggested they join who transferred the reality of this him the way to Syria, and collecting ISIL instead of JN. They found the umma to a nightmare. He is the enough money to cover the expenses explanation complicated, as they reason behind all the problems of of his trip. He started to post photos of knew little about the mujahidin, the Islamic world. Although I used the FSA, JN and ISIL on his Instagram Usama bin Ladin or any basic jihadist to like Khattab16 and the old day of account, and during that time he was issues, so he took them to one of ISIL’s jihad, but I never supported the able to meet with a coordinator in headquarters so they could learn Manhattan raid [the 9/11 attacks]. Bahrain who linked recruits with the more about jihad in general and ISIL During the events that took place FSA. At this point, al-Bahrini had in particular. After a short interview in Saudi Arabia when al-Miqrin17 only 50 Bahraini dinar (about $130), with the group’s amir of that area, al- and the coordinator told him that he Bahrini was sent to a training camp and 13 Ibid. needed at least 200 dinar (about $520) took military courses and a Shari`a class 14 This video was produced by al-Furqan Media Cen- 12 to cover his expenses. Al-Bahrini was where he learned “the correct creed.” ter, the media wing of ISIL, and posted on the al-I`tisam able to convince only one of his friends Twitter account on May 27, 2014. The video served as to appeal to a wealthy individual on Al-Bahrini’s parents were religiously part of ISIL’s psychological warfare campaign prior to his behalf, and the affluent man agreed committed, but in his opinion they their military offensive in June. to cover all his expenses. For some “were not following the correct creed” 15 Ibid. unidentified reason, the agreement because they believed that “jihad now 16 A famous Saudi foreign fighter, Khattab joined jihad between the coordinator and al-Bahrini is selective duty and not an individual in Afghanistan in 1988, and later became the leader of fell apart, so he decided to travel to duty.” Therefore, al-Bahrini decided Arab Ansar in Tajikistan and later Chechnya. Russian 9 Turkey alone. not to inform them about his intelligence killed him with a poisoned letter in 2002. intentions to travel to Syria. Once he 17 `Abd al-`Aziz al-Miqrin became the amir of the first “I didn’t know the route to take, didn’t arrived at the Istanbul airport, al- version of al-Qa`ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have any recommendation letter, and Bahrini posted a scanned copy of his that was based in Saudi Arabia after he succeeded Yusuf didn’t know anything about my journey,” “ticket and passport on his Instagram al-`Uyayri, the founder of the organization. He started al-Bahrini said. “All what I knew is that account to inform his family about his his jihadist journey at the age of 17 in Afghanistan and re- I should fly to Istanbul airport, from real intentions to migrate to Syria.” ceived his training in an al-Qa`ida camp before he moved there fly to one of the villages near the Despite his family’s best efforts, they to Algeria to fight alongside the insurgency there. He also could not convince him to return fought in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Somalia before he 9 A number of tweets were compiled in the justpaste.it was arrested by Ethiopian forces and deported to Saudi link entitled “Abu Thar al-Bahrini Tells the Story of His 10 Ibid. Arabia. After his release from Saudi prison, he traveled Own Migration [for the land of jihad],” available at www. 11 Ibid. to Afghanistan again, and then returned to Saudi Arabia justpaste.it/fihm. 12 Ibid. to lead the Saudi AQAP. His group was in charge of ex-

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waged his campaign, I believed one of the brothers visited me at working in each city he stopped at to that we had to expel terrorists my work (at that time he was just afford traveling to the next stop on his [out of Saudi Arabia]. Later, I returning from Syria and now he is route. According to `Iqab Mamduh was visited by one of my friends back to the Levant), and asked me al-Marzuqi, the narrator of the story, who started to show me mujahidin to meet with him privately ASAP. “it took him six months to cross the releases. I pretended that I was In our meeting, he started talking [Turkish-Syrian] borders and achieve touched with what I saw, but to me about jihad, its benefits, its his dream. Shortly after, he joined deep inside me I didn’t want to priority in Islam…etc, and time ISIL.”23 be involved in jihad, moreover, I by time I was convinced finally to wasn’t even a committed Muslim participate in jihad.20 Mus`ab al-`Iraqi tweeted about as I used to shave my beard. This another “brother who joined the friend kept his attempts with me, Al-Jazrawi’s only obstacle was collecting ranks of ISIL,” and chose to use an until I was guided to the right the money required for his journey. easier method to collect the required path in 2009, and gradually I Without identifying his source, however, money to cover his trip expenses: “he became more committed until the al-Jazrawi said that “the money was went online and hacked some Israeli events of the Levant took place. I collected, a recommendation letter was credit cards and purchased his ticket” wasn’t really aware of the events obtained,21 and my passport was issued. to fly to an unidentified country. “At there, until my friend approached My trip to the Levant was the fastest the airport of that country, he needed me in the mosque, and provided one I had done in my life; as I departed more money to purchase another ticket me with names of people whom I my city at 10:30 PM, and reached Idlib to Turkey, so he opened his laptop and knew joined jihad. I was shocked in the Levant at 6:00 PM the following collected the price of his ticket using the with that news, and it was like day.” Al-Jazrawi concluded: “I used to same method he used previously,” the eyes opening to me, as I started to fear death and always wondered about narrator claimed.24 hear the news about many other the way I’m going to die, but now, after youth I knew went to Syria while my migration to the land of jihad, I Conclusion I’m sitting here. Months went by; don’t care when or how I’m going to die; It is noteworthy that these narratives I got involved in work and in a as long as my death is going to be for the are not imbued with sectarianism, daily routine life, however, I kept sake of God.”22 and yet all five joined ISIL, the most watching mujahidin videos. In one sectarian jihadist group in Syria. What of these days, and after I returned Two Stories of Anonymous European Foreign makes ISIL more appealing to foreign from work at night, I watched a Fighters fighters than other jihadist groups? Is YouTube video that was released Some of the stories revealed on it because ISIL is more welcoming of by JN…this video has changed Twitter contained few details about foreign fighters, or is it because other me forever.18 This video was like the fighters’ previous life, their alias groups prefer to rely on Syrian fighters a lightning that hit my heart in a name, country of origin, or group they rather than foreigners? way that brought it to life again. joined. More details, however, were I finally realized that Qur’an revealed about their journeys to the It is also possible that a new wave of and the sword [should work] “land of jihad.” foreign fighters will be attracted to together.19 The following day, ISIL’s unbounded enthusiasm and One of these stories was about a seemingly unstoppable “victories.” A ecuting a number of operations including the kidnapping “European brother” who was poor, key question is whether the declaration and beheading of the American engineer Paul Johnson in and had to work in a restaurant to of a caliphate by ISIL’s amir, Abu Bakr 2004. He was killed by Saudi authorities in 2004. collect the price of his first train al-Baghdadi, and his call for all Muslims 18 Al-Jazrawi revealed later on his Twitter account that ticket that took him from his city to to migrate to Syria and Iraq will further 25 this video was delivered by `Abd al-Majid al-`Utaybi the next station in his trip. He kept mobilize foreign fighters. (also known as Qarin al-Klash), and produced by al- Manara al-Bayda’, the media wing of JN, in February of conquering Islamic land and implementing Shari`a Muhammad al-`Ubaydi is a research assistant 2013. The video can be accessed at www.youtube.com/ on it. at the Combating Terrorism Center and watch?v=8y7wIzHsNVs&feature=youtu.be. Al-`Utaybi 20 This is from a number of tweets compiled by Abu monitors Arabic jihadist websites. was a Saudi foreign fighter, one of ISIL’s field- com Thabit al-Jazrawi and posted on justpaste.it, entitled manders and Shari`a officials, and he had two Twitter “How Did I Migrate to the [Land] of Jihad,” available at The viewpoints expressed in this article do accounts on which he was very active. He was killed on www.justpaste.it/f2tm. not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army June 24, 2014, while fighting against Jaysh al-Islam, one 21 Usually, most of those who wish to join jihad in gen- or the Department of Defense. of the founding factions of the Islamic Front, in al-Ghuta, eral, and a certain jihadist group in particular, seek to just outside Damascus. Al-`Utaybi was added to the obtain recommendation letter(s) from individuals or 23 This story is available at www.justpaste.it/dmy8. Saudi list of 47 most wanted terrorists that was released entities that have ties with that jihadist group. This is a 24 See the following link: www.twitter.com/hashtag/% in January 2011. vetting procedure that helps to ensure they are trustwor- D9%82%D8%B5%D8%A9_%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8 19 This is a famous slogan used by jihadists in general, thy. A%D8%B1?src=hash. and ISIL in particular, stating that da`wa (religious 22 This is from a number of tweets compiled by Abu 25 Al-Baghdadi stated: “O Muslims everywhere, who- propagation) does not serve Islam by itself. Both peace- Thabit al-Jazrawi and posted on justpaste.it, entitled ever is capable of performing hijra (emigration) to the ful means (da`wa) and violent ones (jihad) should work “How Did I Migrate to the [Land] of Jihad,” available at Islamic State should do so, for hijra to the land of Islam hand-in-hand to achieve the mujahidin’s ultimate goal www.justpaste.it/f2tm. is obligatory.”

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and strategies of Rio officers, from the prisoners, who they might have Brazil’s Police Struggle to pacification program to their urban beaten and intimidated.10 The favela Pacify Gang-Run Slums combat techniques. gangsters, however, united with the educated leftists and founded the Red By Ioan Grillo The Red Command Command in 1980.11 The command In the Antares favela, a flat dusty slum took on the guerrillas’ rhetoric of the soccer world cup in Brazil in the in the far west of Rio de Janeiro, the summer of 2014 put a spotlight on the control of the Red Command remains country’s campaign to secure its violent intact and blatant. Guarding all the “Rio’s elite police units slums, known as favelas, where police entrances to the favela are criminal have developed some of the have long fought drug gangs in a conflict lookouts carrying radios and pistols.5 resembling an urban war. While gangs On the favela streets, the Red Command world’s most experienced operate across Brazil, this conflict has operatives sell drugs openly at several officers in close urban been particularly acute in the state of known points, called bocas, where Rio de Janeiro, where more than 57,000 bags of cocaine, marijuana and crack combat, fighting gangs people have been murdered in the last are displayed on tables with labels such as the Red Command decade.1 Amid this violence, Rio’s elite marking their prices. Red Command police units have developed some of operatives drive between the bocas in narrow streets snaking the world’s most experienced officers on motorcycles, bearing arms such as up the mountainside.” in close urban combat, fighting gangs Kalashnikovs with grenade launchers.6 such as the Red Command (Comando At a recent Antares music event known Vermelho) in narrow streets snaking up as a Baile Funk party hosted by the the mountainside. Red Command on a Friday night, the fighting the government and cell-like gangsters even danced holding their organization—a structure that has Since 2008, Rio’s police have been rifles in the air.7 made it so difficult to dismantle. While backed by the military in a so-called the military dictatorship ended in 1985 pacification program, in which they These remarkable scenes of gangsters and most of the political prisoners were enter favelas with overwhelming force operating so brazenly reflect the history pardoned and freed, the Red Command and establish a permanent presence.2 of Rio’s favelas and their relationship to spread through the prison system and Spurred on by plans to host this year’s organized crime. Favelas, or communities into the favelas.12 World Cup and the 2016 Summer founded on squatted land, date back to Olympics, the program helped reduce the late 19th century founded chiefly With its base in the Rio slums, the Rio state’s homicide rate by 25% by former slaves. Brazil only abolished Red Command built an extensive between 2008 and 2012.3 Pacification, slavery in 1888, two decades after the international drug trafficking network, however, has faced challenges as United States.8 Throughout the 20th providing it with hundreds of millions the Red Command and other gangs century, favelas swelled with migrants of dollars to buy weapons and pay have moved their operations from from the countryside while remaining thousands of gunmen, whom it calls the city center to outlying suburbs, largely outside the law and often lacking “soldiers.” It forged strong links with the and Rio’s murder rate rose 18% in in basic services such as running water. Colombian traffickers and guerrillas 2013.4 Furthermore, this year police Today, the favelas are home to more from the Revolutionary Armed Forces occupying favelas shot dead several than 11 million of Brazil’s 200 million of Colombia (FARC), helping them residents, sparking a series of protests people.9 move cocaine toward the United States and riots. and Europe.13 Brazilian Red Command With high unemployment, criminals leader Luiz Fernando Da Costa was This article examines the challenges to such as street assailants and bank indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury Rio’s police in their offensive to secure robbers long operated out of favelas. and sanctioned under the Kingpin Act gang-run slums, a struggle that many Under Brazil’s military dictatorship for trafficking to the United States governments also facing violent drug in the 1970s, the most violent of and was arrested in Colombia in gangs are watching. It looks at the these delinquents were incarcerated 2001.14 The Command also nurtured nature of the Red Command and other on the Ilha Grande prison island an exceptionally profitable domestic gangs and posits why they pose such a alongside leftist guerrillas and political market; Brazil is now the second biggest resilient threat. It examines the tactics consumer of cocaine in the world after

5 Personal observations, Antares favela, Rio de Janeiro, the United States, with about four 1 Official homicide figures for the state of Rio de Janeiro Brazil, April 29, 2014, and May 4, 2014. are published by the Instituto de Secretaria de Segurança 6 Ibid. 10 Carlos Amorim, CV PCC, Primeira Parte, Aprisionados Pública at www.isp.rj.gov.br/Conteudo.asp?ident=150. 7 Personal observations, Antares favela, Rio de Janeiro, (Rio de Janeiro: Editora Record, 2003). 2 “Organized Crime in Brazil: Conquering Complexo do Brazil, May 4, 2014. 11 Ibid. Alemao,” Economist, December 10, 2010. 8 Edwin Williamson, The Penguin History of Latin Ameri- 12 Ibid. 3 Official homicide figures for the state of Rio de Janeiro ca (London: Penguin, 1992), p. 253. 13 Juan Forero, “Colombian Army Says Rebels Helped published by the Instituto de Secretaria de Segurança 9 “2010 Census: 11.4 Million Brazilians (6.0 Percent) Captured Drug Lord,” New York Times, April 23, 2001. Pública. Live in Subnormal Agglomerates,” Instituto Brasileiro 14 “Fact Sheet: Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation 4 Ibid. de Geografia e Estadistica, December 21, 2011. Act,” The American Presidency Project, May 31, 2002.

14 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 million Brazilians estimated to have doing well.20 Lucas described how the The CORE officers face high caliber taken the drug at least once.15 Red Command will ambush police if they firearms that are often stolen from enter the favela, with spies calling on the armies of Bolivia and Paraguay, The vast profits from this trade caused the radio to signal the police positions. where poorly paid soldiers often take Red Command bosses to fight among Red Command gunmen then use higher part in thefts and arrive in Brazil over themselves and the organization ground such as hills or rooftops to fire porous borders, according to Oliveira. splintered, with rivals Amigos dos on the officers. Traffickers also use homemade Amigos emerging in 1998 and the explosives that are dangerously Pure Third Command in 2002.16 This To win over residents, the Red Command unpredictable and sometimes blow caused a series of bloody territorial will pay for some services, such as water fingers or limbs off the CORE bomb battles between gunmen from the and sewage systems, buy medicine for the unit. Oliveira explained that the CORE various commands, increasing the sick and finance free dance parties, Lucas strategy is to use intelligence to launch homicide rate.17 The Red Command said. “The city doesn’t do anything for raids on the safe houses stashing the also carries out executions inside its us,” he complained. “So we have to do it guns and bombs, and to go after the territory against alleged thieves or ourselves.”21 Police informants also risk a most violent criminals. death sentence, Lucas said. “Red Command operatives Oliveira said that work by the CORE Urban War and other police units helped reduce drive between the bocas on Fighting the Red Command are police violence in Rio state even before the motorcycles, bearing arms units including the Coordenadoria de pacification program began, from a Recursos Especiais (CORE), an elite peak of 8,321 homicides in 2002 to 6,313 such as Kalashnikovs with group similar to a SWAT team, with a in 2007.26 It remains dangerous work, grenade launchers.” logo of a skull with a knife though it. however. From January to mid-August CORE commander Rodrigo Oliveira is a 2014, 179 officers in Rio have been shot, former soldier who has been in the unit 49 of whom died.27 for 20 years and served in hundreds of rapists, with gangsters holding “trials” firefights.22 In one, he was shot, and Nevertheless, human rights defenders before discharging their sentences. part of the bullet remains embedded argue that the officers use their guns This alternative “justice system” poses in the back of his head. Following that too freely. Brazil’s police kill about a serious challenge to the power of shooting, he was in the hospital for two 2,000 people across the country every the government in areas where many days but back at work within a week.23 year for allegedly resisting arrest, distrust the police. “The Command is an according to Amnesty International.28 absolute power in these communities,” “There is a reason for that,” Oliveira Oliveira said they try hard to avoid said Andre Fernandes, a Brazilian said. “If you stop, you are going to be civilian deaths, but the criminals journalist who heads a favela news afraid the next time. You can’t stop. choose to attack in heavily populated network. “They are arbitrators of life Every day we go to the favelas we are areas. “We are in a war,” he said. “The and death. They decide everything.”18 under fire. Nowadays the guys from the drug gangs compete in an arms race (Brazilian) army come here to train with and bring weapons of war into the city. An Antares drug seller called Lucas, us. Instead of police learning from the The population is in the middle of this 28-years-old, described how he first military it is the military learning from combat.”29 joined the Red Command when he was the police.”24 12-years-old, which is typical of many Pacified Favelas? recruits. “I wanted fame at that time,” The narrow streets of favelas often force The pacification program aims to break Lucas said. “I was never scared. I am CORE officers to abandon their armored out of this deadlock by establishing a not frightened of gunfights. I love the vehicles. They move in pairs, covering permanent police presence in the form adrenaline.”19 Lucas now runs a drug each other and the following pair in a of Police Pacification Units (UPPs). To selling point, working 24-hour shifts form of a chain, a tactic that is heavily establish UPPs, police announce they and making a commission based on drilled, Oliveira said.25 A constant will make an incursion on the radio and sales. Long lines at the drug points on challenge is to be on higher ground television, then enter the favela backed two visits suggested that business was than the Command gunmen. To try to by soldiers, armored vehicles and avoid being outflanked, officers work helicopters.30 With officers having a out routes through many of the maze- 15 “Informe Brasileno Sobre Drogas,” Secretaria Nacio- like slums and rely on helicopters flying 26 Official homicide figures for the state of Rio de Janeiro nal De Politicas Sobre Drogas, Presidencia de la Repub- overhead. published by the Instituto de Secretaria de Segurança lica, Brasil, 2009. Pública. 16 Carlos Amorim, CV PCC, Primeira Parte, Aprisionados 20 Ibid. 27 Roberta Trinidade, “Esatistica de Policais Mortos y (Rio de Janeiro: Editora Record, 2003). 21 Ibid. Baleados em 2014,” Pauta Do Dia, August 12, 2014. 17 Ibid. 22 Personal interview, CORE commander Rodrigo Ol- 28 “Brazil: Police Still Have Blood On Their Hands,” 18 Personal interview, Andre Fernandes, Rio de Janeiro, iveira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 30, 2014. Amnesty International, July 24, 2014. Brazil, May 1, 2014. 23 Ibid. 29 Personal interview, CORE commander Rodrigo Ol- 19 Personal interview, Lucas, Antares favela, Rio de Jani- 24 Ibid. iveira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 30, 2014. ero, Brazil, April 29, 2014. 25 Ibid. 30 Janaina Carvalho, “Conjunto de Favelas da Mare e

15 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 constant presence inside these pacified Second, police have struggled to win the and in health. But it’s not happening. It favelas, gangsters can no longer brazenly support of residents, especially when is just police officers. This way, we are display guns, reducing the turf wars and they have been drawn into firefights. In not going to win this war.”42 killings. Residents are also shown that April 2014, well-known dancer Douglas the government, not the commandos, Rafael da Silva was shot dead in the Conclusion controls their area. Pavao Pavaozinho favela, close to the Brazilian police have made some notable famous Copacabana beach.35 Da Silva advances in securing gang-run favelas, By August 2014, police have was a success story who had danced on but they still face serious challenges. established 39 UPPs serving hundreds a popular television show and his death Even before the pacification program of thousands of residents in more provoked protests that turned into began, the operations of elite units such than 100 of about 600 favelas in the riots.36 as CORE targeting guns and violent metropolitan area.31 Pacified areas groups helped reduce overall homicides. include the largest favelas and almost Police claim they returned fire with These tactics, however, inevitably all the slums near the city center drug traffickers and were not sure lead to police killings, which alienate whose bullet hit Da Silva. Yet witnesses communities that have historically been say that police fired at unarmed youths on the margins of society. “The pacification program because they were smoking marijuana, aims to break out of this and one of the bullets hit the dancer.37 The pacification program is an “Police are totally unprepared for important counterweight to gangs, as deadlock by establishing a working in this community,” said Paulo these criminals are a serious challenge permanent police presence dos Santos, a neighbor and actor, who to government power with their use had worked with Da Silva. “They are of proxy trials and brazen display of in the form of Police the law, but they don’t respect it. We high-powered guns. The technique Pacification Units (UPPs).” don’t want these type of cops.”38 of announcing incursions and setting up UPPs deep inside neighborhoods Other residents still support the police provides a worthwhile model that incursion despite the deaths. “At least could be adapted to other countries in where tourists might venture. The there are less gangsters with guns now,” South America, Central America and Rio state government claims that said Leandro Matus, who owns a bicycle the Caribbean where gangs dominate. homicides inside the pacified favelas shop next to where Da Silva was shot. Yet because criminal gangs such as the have dropped 65% and investments in “I don’t trust the police but they are the Red Command have such deep roots in businesses such as restaurants have lesser of the two evils.”39 many communities, it is vital that the been encouraging.32 government invests more in focused Commander Oliveira admits that to programs to further reduce poverty and The program, however, faces two win over residents, the Rio government improve education to win the hearts major obstacles. First, with the pre- needs to invest more in social programs. and minds of the population as well as deployment public warning, gangsters While Brazil has expanded the middle the turf. can simply move to other areas such as class in recent years, about 16 million Antares on the outskirts. The majority people still live in extreme poverty, Ioan Grillo is a journalist based in Mexico of the 1.7 million favela dwellers in including many of those in the favelas.40 City. He has covered Latin America Rio still live in unpacified areas.33 Illiteracy among black Brazilians, and the Caribbean since 2001 for media “You just transfer the problem from who are the majority in the favelas, is including Time Magazine, Reuters and one area to another area,” Commander also almost three times that of white the Sunday Telegraph. He is author of the Oliveira acknowledged. “If I tell a Brazilians.41 “The only part of the book El Narco: Inside Mexico’s Criminal criminal that I am going to his house state that goes inside these areas is the Insurgency, which was a finalist for the tomorrow, is he going to stay in his police,” said Oliveira. “Other parts of Los Angeles Times’ Festival of Books and house? Of course not. And that is the state have to go inside the favelas as The Orwell Prize. what has happened. Now the problem well. We need investment in education has gone from the middle of the city to 34 the periphery.” 35 Jonathan Watts, “Death of Dancer Prompts Deadly Clashes in Rio,” Guardian, April 23, 2014. 36 Ibid. 37 Personal observations, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 1, Ocupado Para Instalacao de UPP,” El Globo G1, March 2014. 30, 2014. 38 Personal interview, Paulo dos Santos, Rio de Janeiro, 31 Ibid. Brazil, May 1, 2014. 32 Robert Muggah and Ilona Szabo de Carvalho, “Fear 39 Personal interview, Leandro Matus, Rio de Janeiro, and Backsliding in Rio,” New York Times, April 15, 2014. Brazil, May 1, 2014. 33 “2010 Census: 11.4 Million Brazilians (6.0 Percent) 40 “8.5 Percent of Brazilian Population Live In Extreme Live in Subnormal Agglomerates.” Poverty: Minister,” Xinhua, May 4, 2011. 34 Personal interview, CORE commander Rodrigo Ol- 41 Joe Leahy, “2010 Census Shows Brazil’s Inequalities 42 Personal interview, CORE commander Rodrigo Ol- iveira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 30, 2014. Remain,” Financial Times, November 17, 2011. iveira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, April 30, 2014.

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The Pakistani Taliban’s care programs. At least 56 individuals, incident took place when female polio mostly female health workers and vaccinator Salma Farooqi, who was Campaign Against Polio security personnel aiding the anti-polio part of the “Sehat Ka Insaf” anti-polio Vaccination campaign in Pakistan, were reportedly campaign of the KP government, was killed in attacks since June 2012 when abducted, tortured and killed by armed By Animesh Roul the Pakistani Taliban reiterated its ban militants on March 24.9 on the ongoing vaccination program.4 pakistan has struggled to cope with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) the spread of polio, a debilitating The most deadly incidents occurred in claimed responsibility for most of these viral disease. Human infections are mid-December 2012, when Pakistani attacks. The TTP’s affiliates such as frequently reported despite government Taliban militants executed a string Jundullah and Lashkar-i-Islam also and international agencies’ efforts to of attacks in Karachi, Peshawar, claimed credit for some of the violence.10 eliminate the disease.1 According to Charsadda and Nowshera. The attacks Occasionally, the TTP distanced itself a World Health Organization (WHO) disrupted a three-day national polio from specific attacks.11 In April 2013, estimate, at least 72 polio cases were vaccination campaign. The militants the TTP announced that it would recorded in Pakistan in 2013, compared killed at least nine anti-polio health support anti-polio vaccination drives to 58 cases in 2012.2 In 2014, the number workers, including five female on the guarantee that they are not of infected children had already reached volunteers.5 used by the United States as a cover for 115 through August.3 The most affected espionage and that proof be provided provinces of Pakistan are Punjab, While attacks on anti-polio workers showing that orally-administered polio Sindh, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). and their security details continued vaccination drops are in accordance One key reason behind this spread is during various phases of anti-polio with Islamic tenets.12 According to TTP the Pakistani Taliban’s propaganda drives throughout 2013, a major spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan, “If they campaign against receiving polio assault took place on October 7, when can convince us that these polio drops vaccinations, as well as their direct Islamic militants targeted a medical are Islamic and the spy agencies are not attacks on polio vaccination workers. distribution camp in the Suleman Khel using it to kill our fighters, we would area in Peshawar, the provincial capital have no objection to any vaccination This article reviews the Pakistani of KP. At least seven people, including drive which is in the public interest.” Taliban’s offensive against the polio four security personnel, were killed in Despite these statements, the Pakistani immunization program in Pakistan, that incident.6 Taliban continued its violence against especially in the Federally Administered polio vaccinators in the pursuant Tribal Areas (FATA) and KP, and In 2014, January and March saw a months. it highlights how Pakistani Taliban spike in assaults on anti-polio health militants—as well as sectarian militant workers and their support staff. Six The Pakistani Taliban’s Propaganda groups—have unleashed a sustained police officers and a child were killed Campaign armed campaign against the health in a bomb blast near a police vehicle Islamist-led propaganda campaigns workers and the security personnel who in Sardheri market of Charsadda against government-backed health escort them. The article also discusses Town in KP on January 21 when projects, especially polio vaccination various regional biases against the security officials were on their way programs, began in Swat and Malakand vaccination programs, while examining to provide security to a polio team.7 regions in 2006. Maulana Fazlullah, the Taliban decrees that denounce them. On March 1, 11 Khyber Khasadar Force present TTP leader, spearheaded the personnel—government-backed local effort. At the time, he was a radical cleric Attacks on Vaccination Workers tribal militias—who were providing Frequent attacks on anti-polio campaign security to a polio team were killed in 9 “Polio Vaccinator Kidnapped, Killed,” Dawn, March volunteers and vaccination teams in two separate blasts in the Lashora area 25, 2014. 8 Pakistan have become increasingly of Jamrud in northwest Pakistan. 10 Jundullah’s spokesman, Ahmed Marwat, claimed common since the Pakistani Taliban responsibility for an attack on polio workers in early Oc- leadership began issuing religious Intermittent attacks targeting polio tober 2012, saying that “Jews and the United States want edicts (fatwa) against the government vaccination programs continued, and to stamp out Islamic beliefs through these [polio] drops.” vaccination program and against the intimidation and abduction of Also, the Lashkar-i-Islam militant group has perpetrated female health volunteers who have health workers and officials became violent attacks against the vaccinators and abducted an- been the core workforce for health increasingly frequent. The most brutal ti-polio workers in the past. See, for example, “Pakistan Militants Kidnap 11 Teachers in Polio Vaccination Cam- 1 “WHO Statement on the Meeting of the International 4 Ibid. paign,” Reuters, November 23, 2013; “Blast Near Polio Health Regulations Emergency Committee Concerning 5 “Taliban Militants Kill 8 Anti-Polio Workers,” Central Workers Kills Two in Pakistan’s Peshawar,” Reuters, the International Spread of Wild Poliovirus,” World Asia Online, December 19, 2012. October 7, 2013. Health Organization, May 5, 2014. 6 “Bomb Blast at Polio Team Kills 7, Injures 8 in Pesha- 11 One of the attacks for which the TTP rejected respon- 2 “Pakistan Records 72 Polio Cases in 2013: WHO,” The war,” The News International, October 7, 2013. sibility occurred when the TTP was reportedly in consul- News International, December 4, 2013. 7 “Blast Targets Polio Security Team in Charsadda, Sev- tations with clerics about the efficacy of the vaccination 3 “Four New Polio Cases Emerge in Pakistan in One en Killed,” Pakistan Today, January 22, 2014. drives. Day,” Dunya News, June 28, 2014. Also see the Global Po- 8 “Blasts Targeting Polio Team Kill 11 in Khyber Agen- 12 “Taliban Militants Announce ‘Conditional Support’ lio Eradication Initiative at www.polioeradication.org. cy,” Dawn, March 2, 2014. for Anti-Polio Drive,” Dawn, April 12, 2013.

17 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 leading another banned organization, measles, smallpox and tuberculosis, According to a Taliban fatwa issued in Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi including all those administered to June 2012, “polio agents could also be (Movement for the Enforcement of children, and would not obstruct spies as we have found in the case of Islamic Law, TNSM). Fazlullah and women’s education.17 Dr. Shakil Afridi has surfaced. Keeping his followers carried out a propaganda these things in mind we announce to campaign encouraging people to The situation deteriorated, however, stop the polio dosage. Anybody who adopt an ultra-conservative lifestyle. following a continuous army offensive disrespects this order will not have the He propagated primarily against against the Pakistani Taliban in right to complain about any loss.”23 entertainment such as music, dance, the region. By early 2009, the TTP and television, but he also preached returned to its original campaign The Drone Justification against female education. He criticized against women’s education and Even though anti-polio efforts in the polio vaccination program in KP vaccination along with criticism of Pakistan continued amid fierce (then known as the North-West Frontier non-governmental organizations opposition from the Pakistani Taliban in Province, NWFP) through his illegal FM (NGOs). TTP spokesman Muslim Khan Swat and Malakand, the drive received radio sermons and Friday prayers at the reportedly told the media that “the TTP a fresh setback when radical Islamic local mosques. He also alleged that the is against polio vaccination because it clerics and Taliban commanders issued polio eradication campaign was part of causes infertility.”18 He also charged fresh fatawa against the vaccinations a “conspiracy of Jews and Christians to that the vaccine could not be trusted in June 2012. Hafiz Gul Bahadur, make Muslims impotent and stunt the since it was imported.19 Khan said that the Taliban commander in North growth of Muslims.”13 the vaccination program is a U.S. tool Waziristan, announced a ban on polio to reduce the Muslim population, and vaccinations.24 Days before his call, Pakistani Taliban fatwa against female that it is un-Islamic to “take a medicine radical Islamic cleric Maulvi Ibrahim health workers in Swat and Malakand before the disease [is contracted].”20 Chisti declared the polio campaign sheds some light on the prevailing “un-Islamic” in the rural Khan Pur mindset of the Taliban. One such Fazlullah and his faction were the first Bagga Sher area of Muzaffargarh decree called the presence of women Islamists to tag anti-polio campaigns as (located in southwestern Punjab in public spaces a form of indecency, part of Western espionage against the Province) and announced at the local and instructed that it “was a Muslim Muslim community, much before the mosque that jihad should be carried out man’s duty to kidnap the women health CIA-sponsored hepatitis vaccination against the visiting polio vaccination workers when they paid home visits, to program that was believed to have team.25 marry them forcibly even if they were helped track down and kill Usama bin already married women, or to use them Ladin at his hideout in Abbottabad, This time, however, the Taliban added as sexual slaves.”14 Another similar Pakistan, in May 2011.21 The judicial a new reason for being against the Taliban decree declared that it was trial of Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani vaccination campaign. According to morally illegal for Muslim women to doctor involved in the false vaccination Gul Bahadur, the vaccination campaign work for wages.15 program, was given a 33-year prison should be suspended until the United term in Pakistan after being arrested States ceased drone strikes in the For a brief period after May 2007, the for helping the CIA track Bin Ladin. Waziristan region. Gul Bahadur’s situation improved in the region when The CIA’s actions likely made the fatwa pamphlet, printed in Urdu, was the NWFP provincial government Taliban leadership in Pakistan all the distributed on June 16, in Miranshah, signed a peace deal with Fazlullah’s more suspicious about the vaccination the capital of North Waziristan, and TNSM, which agreed to support programs, and it contributed to a threatened anyone involved in the the polio vaccination campaign renewed armed backlash against polio polio vaccination campaign in the and education for girls, as well as immunization workers in the country.22 troubled region. “We announce a government efforts to establish law ban on polio vaccination campaign 16 and order. Fazlullah then joined the 17 “Govt Inks Peace Deal with Swat Militants, Fazlullah, from today,” the pamphlet read. TTP by merging the TNSM into the Comrades Given Amnesty?” The News International, May “Anybody who disrespects this order larger Pakistani Taliban conglomerate, 22, 2008. will not have the right to complain and signed a 16-point peace deal with 18 “PAKISTAN: ‘NGOs Should Leave Swat’ - Insurgent the NWFP government. The Taliban Leader,” Integrated Regional Information Networks, cluding polio. In June 2012, the Taliban blocked polio in Swat and Malakand agreed not March 22, 2009. vaccination in North Waziristan, issued fatawa against to oppose vaccination against polio, 19 “Crippled and Blind,” The News International, March polio vaccination and carried out attacks. See Declan 24, 2009. Walsh, “Taliban Block Vaccinations in Pakistan,” New 13 Sadia Qasim Shah, “Peshawar: Cleric Mounts Drive 20 “Taliban Blocks UN Polio Treatment in Pakistan,” York Times, June 18, 2012; “Polio Resurgence in Pakistan Against Polio Vaccine,” Dawn, December 1, 2006. Telegraph, March 27, 2009. Following Backlash from CIA Vaccination Ruse in Hunt 14 Cited in Iftikhar Ud Din, Zubia Mumtaz and Anushka 21 Mark Mazzetti, “Vaccination Ruse Used in Pursuit of for Osama bin Laden,” ABC News, May 27, 2014. Ataullahjan, “How the Taliban Undermined Community Bin Laden,” New York Times, July 11, 2011. 23 Hafiz Gul Bahadur’sfatwa pamphlet, June 15, 2012. Healthcare in Swat, Pakistan,” British Medical Journal 22 There were virtually no attacks against polio health 24 “No Polio Drives in N Waziristan Unless Drone 344 (2012). workers in 2010 and 2011. Following the revelation of Strikes Stop: Hafiz Gul Bahadur,” Express Tribune, June 15 Ibid. the false hepatitis vaccination program in July 2011, an 16, 2012. 16 “Crackdown on TNSM Likely,” Daily Times, July 10, infuriated Taliban vowed to avenge the deception and 25 “Cleric Declares Jihad Against Polio Campaign,” Ex- 2007. imposed a ban on legitimate vaccination programs in- press Tribune, June 13, 2012.

18 august 2014 . Vol 7. Issue 8 about any loss or harm.”26 According In contrast to the TTP’s position on the Conclusion to the pamphlet, “till such time the vaccination campaign, many influential The Pakistani Taliban’s continued continuous attack of the drones is not Islamic clerics opposed the ban. In late attempts to block polio vaccination stopped in Waziristan, the restriction October 2013, senior religious scholar through violence against health care on polio drops will remain imposed… Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, the head of workers, security escorts and other Because [we] have nothing to gain from the Dar-ul-Uloom-Haqqania Islamic civilians in the tribal areas largely the sympathy of such well wishers seminary and chief of Jamiat-i-Ulama- jeopardizes Pakistan’s effort for (the Americans) who spent billions of i-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) and considered to complete polio eradication. Many rupees on polio drops for eradicating be a spiritual leader of the Taliban,31 anti-polio volunteers have left the a disease that affects one or two in a issued a counter fatwa urging parents immunization campaign due to fear million people.” It further added: “the to immunize their children against of the Taliban.35 Even though the well-wishers (the Americans), with polio and other fatal diseases such as government engaged thousands of the help of their slaves (Pakistanis), measles, tetanus and tuberculosis. He vaccinators, mostly women for door- are carrying out drone attacks in further added that the vaccinations to-door campaigns, and deployed Waziristan as a result of which comply with Islamic Shari`a.32 A small security forces as escorts, past violent hundreds of innocent child, senior Taliban off-shoot, Ansar-ul-Mujahidin, events have deterred many health citizens and women have died. And was quick to threaten both Sami-ul- workers. the continuous (day and night) drone Haq and politician Imran Khan for flying has driven the people of Waziristan supporting Pakistan’s polio vaccination Pakistan’s next vaccination campaign mentally ill or imbalanced and such cases campaign.33 began on August 25, 2014, and it will are on the rise. The condition is even focus on the obvious highest risk worse than polio.”27 Perhaps Sami-ul-Haq’s contentions, districts. Further anti-polio activities coupled with public support for are planned for September and Arguably, Gul Bahadur’s call prompted immunization drives as well as October. The militant hostility against other Taliban leaders in KP and sustained government efforts for the the vaccination program demonstrates South Waziristan to impose a ban on vaccination and health programs, both the central and provincial the polio vaccination drive in their forced the TTP leadership to change governments’ failure to engage the respective spheres of influence. their position for now. In January Taliban leadership for a peaceful A similar pamphlet distributed in 2014, they distanced themselves from immunization campaign. It remains to Wana, South Waziristan Agency, some of the violent attacks on anti- be seen whether the Pakistani Taliban by the Mullah Nazir faction of the polio health workers in Manshera have had a true change of heart when it Pakistani Taliban a week later and Karachi. TTP spokesperson comes to the immunization campaign, warned health workers to stay away Ehsanullah Ehsan said subsequently or if they will continue their violent from polio vaccination campaigns or that in principle the TTP was not attacks throughout 2014. else face dire consequences. Using targeting polio workers, even though a similar argument against drones, they have strong reservations against Animesh Roul is the Executive Director the pamphlet said, “Polio and other polio vaccines because they are un- and Co-founder of Society for the Study of foreign-funded vaccination drives Islamic and bad for health. He further Peace and Conflict, a Delhi-based policy in Wana subdivision would not be added, “We have been holding detailed research think-tank. He holds a Master allowed until U.S. drone operations in deliberations on the polio issue for of Philosophy degree from the School of the agency are stopped.”28 some time and have been consulting International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru trustworthy Muslim medical experts. University, New Delhi and has a master’s During that time, U.S. drone attacks Some of our doubts have been degree in Modern Indian History. Mr. intensified on Taliban targets in North removed.”34 Despite this claim, the Roul specializes in counterterrorism, and South Waziristan and successfully grim situation prevailed as attacks radical Islam, terror financing, armed killed many militant leaders including continue against anti-polio personnel. conflict and issues relating to arms control top al-Qa`ida operative Abu Yahya and proliferation in South Asia. He has al-Libi at a hideout in Mir Ali, North and Taliban militant leaders, the strikes have also caused written for Terrorism Monitor, the CTC 29 Waziristan, in early June 2012. civilian deaths and damaged property. For a detailed Sentinel, Jane’s Intelligence Review and These drone strikes, however, were study, see Alice K. Ross and Jack Serle, “Drone Strikes CBW Magazine, among others. not free from collateral damage and in Pakistan: Most US Drone Strikes in Pakistan Attack reportedly caused civilian casualties Houses,” The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, May as well, which gave a further excuse 23, 2014; “Pakistan Furious as US Drone Strike Kills Ci- 30 to the Taliban to link the two issues. vilians,” Express Tribune, March 18, 2011. 31 “Samiul Haq Believes Taliban are Patriots,” Pakistan 26 Hafiz Gul Bahadur’sfatwa pamphlet, June 15, 2012. Today, May 21, 2014. 27 Ibid. 32 “‘Father of Taliban’ Backs Polio Vaccines in Paki- 28 “Another Militant Group Bans Polio Vaccination, stan,” Dawn, December 10, 2013. Seeks End to Drone Strikes,” Dawn, June 25, 2012. 33 “Militants Warn Khan, Haq Against Polio Campaign,” 29 “Al Qaeda Confirms Death of Bin Laden Confidant Newsweek, December 19, 2013. Libi,” Reuters, September 11, 2012. 34 “Taliban’s Change of Heart on Polio Vaccination,” 35 “Polio: 400 Volunteers Turn Back on Vaccination 30 Even though the drone strikes killed senior al-Qa`ida Dawn, January 22, 2014. Drives,” Express Tribune, December 24, 2013.

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behind TTP South Waziristan chief strategy, militant training and The Death Knell for Foreign Khalid Mehsud (also known as Khan finances to organize and launch Fighters in Pakistan? Said Sajna) and the other behind TTP the TTP. The purpose of the leader Maulana Fazlullah.6 On June 15, TTP was to stage large-scale By Raza Khan Pakistan launched a full-scale military terrorist attacks in Pakistan offensive in North Waziristan, titled and support Afghan Taliban and for the past decade, the presence of Zarb-e-Azb,7 and reportedly involving surrogates fighting NATO forces foreign militant groups and fighters 25,000-30,000 troops.8 Some analysts in Afghanistan and cultivate in Pakistan’s border region with believe that these new developments— al-Qa`ida’s local support and Afghanistan has been a key challenge the split of the TTP and the ongoing acceptance.11 to the security of the Pakistani state. Operation Zarb-e-Azb—will finally These foreign fighters—primarily from force the remaining foreign fighters out In July 2008, the Pakistani Arab, Central Asian and European of Pakistan’s tribal areas. government estimated the number of countries—established themselves in foreign fighters in FATA at 8,000.12 Pakistan after the ouster of the Taliban This article examines foreign fighters Some of these foreign fighters proved regime in Afghanistan in 2001.1 in FATA, particularly in North and instrumental in convincing Pakistani South Waziristan. It also discusses militants that the jihad was not Although U.S. drone strikes have the options for foreign fighters going confined to India or Afghanistan, but inflicted heavy losses on foreign fighters forward in the face of an increasingly that the Pakistani government itself in Pakistan’s Federally Administered constrained operating environment. should be targeted.13 Tribal Areas (FATA), they remained an It finds that the remaining foreign active fighting force due to the support fighters in Pakistan, who are thought Since the formation of the TTP in and protection of local militant groups to number in the hundreds, will likely 2007, Pakistan has suffered from such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan be forced either across the border constant domestic terrorist attacks, (TTP), as well due to the Pakistani to Afghanistan, or to other jihadist most of which were spearheaded by military’s prior reluctance to launch conflicts such as in Syria and Iraq. the TTP, its foreign affiliates such an operation in North Waziristan.2 Yet as the IMU, and sectarian jihadist on May 22, 2014, the Pakistani military Background outfits, such as Lashkar-i-Jhangvi. began taking punitive action against After the fall of the Taliban regime An estimated 50,000 Pakistanis have militants in North Waziristan,3 killing in Afghanistan in 2001, a number lost their lives due to jihadist attacks 60 fighters in pre-dawn airstrikes and of foreign Islamist groups fled to in Pakistan since 2001.14 Although shelling by attack helicopters in Mir Pakistan. These groups included Pakistani Taliban militants executed Ali and Land Mohammadkhel areas.4 the Chinese East Turkistan Islamic the bulk of these attacks, foreign Five days later, on May 27, infighting Movement (ETIM), the Islamic fighters have been responsible for among factions in the TTP caused the Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), the some of the most significant attacks in group to split,5 with one faction rallying German-Turkish Islamic Jihad Union the region. For example, following the (IJU) and al-Qa`ida.9 The presence attack by Jordanian al-Qa`ida operative 1 Syed Arfeen, “Who are the Uzbeks Launching Terror- of these foreign fighters may have Humam Khalil Abu Mulal al-Balawi ist Strikes in Pakistan?” The News International, June 15, contributed to the rise of the Pakistani on a Central Intelligence Agency post 2014. Taliban movement, which later coalesced in Khost, Afghanistan, on December 10 2 Pakistan’s military previously claimed that an opera- into Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). 31, 2009, a pre-recorded “martyrdom” tion against militants in North Waziristan would be dan- According to Naila Aman Khan from the video showed al-Balawi with the then gerous, as troops felt overstretched fighting militants University of Peshawar, head of the TTP, Hakimullah Mehsud. along the 2,400-kilometer Pakistan-Afghanistan bor- At one point, al-Balawi said in the der. Independent analysts, however, long suspected that the al-Qa`ida leadership in video: “We will never forget the blood Pakistan’s reluctance to conduct an offensive in North FATA provided isolated Pakistani of our [TTP] amir Baitullah Mehsud, 15 Waziristan stemmed from its alleged protection of the Taliban groups the motivation, God’s mercy upon him.” Haqqani network and the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Taliban faction. These groups have been dubbed the “Good Tali- Breaks Away,” Dawn, May 28, 2014. ban” because they conduct attacks in Afghanistan, not 6 Ibid. in Pakistan. This stands in contrast to Pakistani Taliban 7 “Pakistan Launches ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ Military Operation 11 Personal interview, Naila Aman Khan, a political soci- groups responsible for terrorist attacks in Pakistan. in N Waziristan,” Dawn, June 15, 2014. The offensive ologist working at the Department of Sociology, Univer- 3 Chinese Uighur separatists seemed to be the apparent has resulted in the displacement of basically the entire sity of Peshawar, Pakistan, August 6, 2014. target of the Pakistani offensive after China’s President population of North Waziristan, numbering more than 12 Mir. Xi Jinping reportedly pressed Islamabad to take action 900,000 people. 13 See, for example, Erich Marquardt and Abdul Hameed against the separatists. See “Pakistan Pounds Insurgent 8 Ibid. Bakier, “An Ideological and Operational Threat: Abu Hideouts for Third Day,” Agence France-Presse, May 24, 9 Hamid Mir, “8,000 Foreign Fighters in Fata Ring `Amr Shaykh `Isa,” CTC Sentinel 1:8 (2008). 2014. Alarm Bells in Islamabad,” The News International, July 14 Shaun Waterman, “Heavy Price: Pakistan Says War 4 Mushtaq Yusufzai, “Military Launches Ground Oper- 21, 2008. on Terror has Cost Nearly 50,000 Lives There Since ation in North Waziristan,” The News International, May 10 Ahmed Rashid, Descent into Chaos: The United States 9/11,” Washington Times, March 27, 2013. 23, 2014. and the Failure of Nation Building in Pakistan, Afghanistan, 15 Paul Harris, “CIA Bomber’s ‘Martyrdom’ Video Urges 5 Zahir Shah Sherazi, “Key Pakistani Taliban Faction and Central Asia (New York: Viking Press, 2008). More US Attacks,” Observer, January 9, 2010.

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Yet the fate of foreign fighters is in the region. The TTP split and areas, the Pakistani state has a strong balance due to persistent U.S. drone Operation Zarb-e-Azb will inflict presence in the rest of Pakistan. strikes, Pakistan’s large offensive in irreparable loss on the foreign Militants could, however, try to North Waziristan, and the May 2014 fighters in Waziristan.20 establish sanctuaries in the sparsely split in the TTP. The split in the TTP populated province of Baluchistan27 seems to have affected the relationship By early August 2014, Pakistani or could conceal themselves in major between the Fazlullah-led faction and military authorities claimed to have cities.28 the influential Haqqani network.16 killed more than 500 militants, mostly According to Dr. Ashraf Ali, president foreign fighters in North Waziristan, Fleeing to Afghanistan is the most of the FATA Research Centre in as part of the ongoing military practical option, considering that the Islamabad, “we have not heard of any operation.21 United States is planning to withdraw significant attacks inside Afghanistan its troops from the country this year. jointly made by the Haqqanis and Exodus of Foreign Fighters in Pakistan Moreover, TTP chief Fazlullah is the Fazlullah-led TTP.”17 Yet when Options are limited for the remaining reportedly operating from Afghan Hakimullah led the TTP, the group foreign fighters, who are thought to territory, and foreign fighters could launched a number of joint operations only number in the hundreds.22 They seek refuge under him. Even cadre from with the Haqqani network. Moreover, must either relocate to other parts of the Haqqani network is thought to have some suspect that Fazlullah is now FATA, scatter across Pakistan, shift to moved operations across the border operating with some level of support Afghanistan, return to their countries into Afghanistan in early June, shortly from Afghan intelligence, which, if of origin, or fight to the death. “They before the start of Operation Zarb-e- true, would put him at odds with the cannot stay in their places because the Azb on June 15.29 Haqqani network.18 Regardless of the local support they have had from the veracity of these allegations, Fazlullah TTP, Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led group According to Ijaz Khan, a professor does appear to be operating out of and the Afghan Haqqani network is of International Relations at the Afghanistan and seems to focus all of no longer there,” said one political University of Peshawar, “The fleeing his attacks on Pakistan, which could and security analyst based in Dera foreign militants could take advantage complicate his relationship with more Ismail Khan.23 Many of the foreign of the loopholes and lack of capacity of Afghan-focused Taliban factions.19 fighters had fled even before the start Afghanistan National Security Forces. These tensions might escalate now that of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.24 As the TTP In this scenario, the foreign militants the Pakistani military has sent ground network is not as elaborate or strong in could strengthen the Afghan Taliban.”30 forces into North Waziristan. On the the rest of the five agencies of FATA, The June 2014 security report of the other hand, if Pakistan drives the and while Pakistani security forces United Nations Security Council Haqqani network into Afghanistan, and have gradually restored a government (UNSC) disclosed the significant tries to prevent their return to the tribal presence there, it would be dangerous presence of Chechen and Uzbek fighters areas, there is the possibility that the for foreign fighters to relocate to other in Afghanistan.31 According to Khan, Haqqanis could turn against Pakistan. parts of FATA.25 “Once the foreign militants place themselves in a strategically located According to journalist Mushtaq Scattering across the length and area, there could be more attacks on the Yusufzai, who has covered the region breadth of Pakistan is a viable, but U.S. and allied troops.”32 since 2011, risky option.26 In comparison to the remote and largely inaccessible tribal Indeed, after the planned U.S. Already the U.S. drones, financial withdrawal, both the Afghan problems, Pakistani military 20 Personal interview, Mushtaq Yusufzai, Peshawar, Taliban and foreign fighters operations and precision air Pakistan, June 9, 2014. Yusufzai has had face-to-face might escalate attacks to strikes caused serious problems interviews with a large number of Pakistani and foreign create an impression that they won 33 for the foreign militants. Due militant organizations including with Siraj Haqqani, the the war. According to the UNSC, al- to these compulsions, a large head of the Afghan Haqqani network. but unknown number of foreign 21 “Zarb-e-Azb: 30 More Terrorists Killed in Fresh Air 27 Malik. fighters have abandoned the Strikes,” The Nation, August 5, 2014. 28 Personal interview, Ijaz Khan, professor of Interna- 22 Rahimullah Yusufzai, “Uzbek Fighters Remain an tional Relations at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, 16 Fazlullah has been aggressively anti-Pakistan since ‘Unknown Quantity’ in Pakistan,” Central Asia Online, June 13, 2014. his expulsion from the country in 2009. The Haqqani February 2, 2010. 29 Haqqani network cadre also reportedly moved further network does not share that position, at least not to that 23 Personal interview, Imran Wazir, a political and secu- north in Pakistan. See Saeed Shah, Safdar Dawar and extent. With Fazlullah assuming the mantle of the TTP rity analyst based in Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, Paki- Adam Entous, “Militants Slip Away Before Pakistan Of- leadership, there are likely to be increased disagreements stan, June 17, 2014. fensive,” Wall Street Journal, July 17, 2014. between the TTP and the Haqqani network. 24 Ismail Khan, “80 pc of Miramshah Cleared: Military,” 30 Ibid. 17 Personal interview, Dr. Ashraf Ali, president FATA Dawn, July 10, 2014. 31 “Al Qaeda Affiliates a Long-Term Threat in Afghani- Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan, August 14, 2014. 25 Personal interview, Syed Shakeel Ahmed, lecturer of stan: UNSC,” The News International, June 14, 2014. 18 Yaroslav Trofimov, “Mullah Fazlullah’s Rise Compli- Political Science at Islamia College University, Pesha- 32 Personal interview, Ijaz Khan, professor of Interna- cates Ties Between Kabul, Islamabad,” Wall Street Jour- war, Pakistan, June 8, 2014. Ahmed is carrying out re- tional Relations at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, nal, November 13, 2013. search on Arab fighters in Pakistan. June 13, 2014. 19 Ibid. 26 Ibid. 33 Personal interview, Syed Shakeel Ahmed, lecturer of

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Qa`ida affiliates, “therefore, present The reluctance and inability of foreign a worrying, long-term security threat militants and terrorists in Pakistan Recent Highlights in emanating from Afghanistan into the to return to their home countries is Political Violence region and beyond.”34 Large-scale a serious concern for Pakistani and Afghan Taliban attacks after the launch of Afghan security forces, as it suggests July 2, 2014 (GLOBAL): Abu Muhammad Operation Zarb-e-Azb might indicate that they might fight to the death. The IMU al-Maqdisi, a key Jordanian jihadist fighters from Pakistan have augmented claimed the attack on Karachi Airport ideologue, denounced the Islamic State the ranks of Afghan insurgents.35 in the second week of June 2014, and the in Iraq and the Levant’s declaration of attack could be interpreted as an attempt a caliphate. – AFP, July 16 Returning to their home countries by foreign fighters to warn the Pakistani would be nearly impossible for the government that offensives in the tribal July 2, 2014 (UNITED STATES): U.S. remaining foreign fighters. According areas will be met by terrorist attacks authorities arrested Adam Dandach at to Mushtaq Yusufzai, “Those who could on vulnerable targets in Pakistan.41 Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, have done so, already have.”36 Most of Nevertheless, there has not yet been an as the suspect allegedly told federal these include Arab al-Qa`ida fighters increase in attacks in Pakistan since the agents that he was trying to reach who went to Yemen and Egypt as well as start of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Syria to help the Islamic State in Iraq other battlefronts in the Middle East or and the Levant. Dandach, also known North Africa.37 The Arab fighters were Conclusion as Fadi Fadi Dandach, also allegedly able to return when pressure mounted Due to the TTP split, as well as the said that the killing of U.S. soldiers is in Pakistan because of the relatively massive offensive undertaken by the justified. – Los Angeles Times, July 18 open routes to their countries. The lack Pakistani military in North Waziristan, of viable return routes and repressive foreign fighters in Pakistan are under July 2, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): A governments back home prevent Uzbek, severe pressure. It is possible that suicide bomber on foot attacked an Chinese and Chechen militants from a large number of foreign fighters Afghan air force bus in Kabul, killing returning.38 It is possible that more have found new sanctuaries in eight military personnel. – Los Angeles foreign fighters may go to the Syrian Afghanistan, which could result Times, July 2 war theater where Jabhat al-Nusra and in either aggressive cross-border the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant attacks against vulnerable targets in July 3, 2014 (SYRIA): The Islamic (ISIL) are fighting against the Bashar Pakistan, or more spectacular attacks State in Iraq and the Levant seized al-Assad regime. “Syria is a natural in Afghanistan as the United States control of Syria’s largest oil field, al- destination for fleeing al-Qa`ida and prepares to withdraw its forces from Omar, from Jabhat al-Nusra. Jabhat associated group militants, as Operation the country. al-Nusra took control of the field in Zarb-e-Azb has made conditions worse, November 2013, and claimed to be which were already extremely difficult Nevertheless, the number of foreign producing around 10,000 barrels of due to US drone attacks,” said Imran fighters has greatly diminished over the oil per day. – Reuters, July 3 Wazir.39 Indeed, U.S. intelligence years. U.S. drone strikes have whittled indicated a flow of fighters from away their ranks, and the changing July 4, 2014 (IRAQ): The leader of the Pakistan to the Syrian war theater in nature of the global landscape appears Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, March 2014.40 to have caused many of these fighters to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, purportedly join jihadist conflicts elsewhere, such as led prayers at Mosul’s Great Mosque, 42 Political Science at Islamia College University, Pesha- in North Africa, or in Syria and Iraq. according to video footage. According war, Pakistan, June 8, 2014. to the Telegraph, “The notoriously 34 “Al Qaeda Affiliates a Long-Term Threat in Afghani- Dr. Raza Khan is a political analyst secretive jihadi, who has never before stan: UNSC.” and independent researcher, who holds been seen in public, chose the first 35 Sami Yousafzai, “Kabul Airport Attack Comes as a doctorate degree in International Friday prayer service of Ramadan to Pakistani Fighters Join Afghan Taliban,” Daily Beast, Relations. The topic of his doctoral make an audacious display of power July 17, 2014. dissertation was “Extremism-Terrorism in the city that the Sunni Islamists 36 Personal interview, Mushtaq Yusufzai, Peshawar, in the Name of Islam in Pakistan: Causes have now controlled for three weeks.” Pakistan, June 9, 2014. & Counterstrategy.” He specializes in – Telegraph, July 5 37 Ibid. the areas of radicalization, terrorism, 38 Uzbekistan borders Afghanistan and not Pakistan, governance and the Afghanistan-Pakistan July 4, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): and the militants would have to travel across Afghani- region. Taliban militants set fire to dozens of stan, mostly through Northern Alliance areas, to reach fuel trucks on the outskirts of Kabul, Uzbekistan, which would be risky. Also, the draconian Officials Say,” New York Times, March 25, 2014; Zia Ur claiming that the trucks were used to regimes of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, the Com- Rehman, “Pakistani Fighters Joining the War in Syria,” supply foreign troops in Afghanistan. munist Party of China and iron-fisted administration of CTC Sentinel 6:9 (2013). – news.com.au, July 5 Russian leader Vladimir Putin have little tolerance for 41 “Uzbek Militant Group IMU Claims Involvement foreign trained jihadists. in Karachi Airport Assault,” Associated Press, June 11, July 4, 2014 (PAKISTAN): A suicide 39 Personal interview, Imran Wazir, a political and secu- 2014. bomber killed two people near a rity analyst based in Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, Paki- 42 Jason Burke, “Al-Qaida Leadership Almost Wiped mosque in the Saddar area of Karachi. stan, June 17, 2014. Out in Pakistan, British Officials Believe,” Guardian, De- – Pakistan Today, July 4 40 Eric Schmitt, “Qaeda Militants Seek Syria Base, U.S. cember 25, 2011.

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July 5, 2014 (SOMALIA): An with conspiring to provide a combined July 14, 2014 (MALI): A suicide al-Shabab suicide bomber in an total of $25,000 to terrorist groups. bomber killed a French soldier in Gao, explosives-laden vehicle killed at least The two were arrested in Saudi Arabia northern Mali. It marked the ninth five people outside the parliament and brought back to Miami for trial. death of a French Foreign Legion building in Mogadishu. – Voice of - Miami Herald, July 11 soldier since the French intervened in America, July 5 Mali to halt the advance of al-Qa`ida- July 11, 2014 (SYRIA): Jabhat al- linked militants in January 2013. July 7, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): The Nusra, al-Qa`ida’s affiliate in Syria, – Reuters, July 15 Afghan Taliban announced a ban said that it is establishing an Islamic on polio vaccinations in Helmand emirate in the rebel-held parts of July 15, 2014 (GLOBAL): The U.S. Province, accusing the health workers Aleppo. – McClatchy Newspapers, July 12 State Department added a Norwegian of spying. – Wall Street Journal, July 7 citizen, who was allegedly trained July 12, 2014 (MALAYSIA): Eight as a bombmaker by al-Qa`ida in the July 8, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): A gunmen in military fatigues attacked Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), to its suicide bomber killed at least 16 the Mabul Water Bungalows Resort list of designated terrorists. Anders people, including four Czech soldiers, at Mabul Island, a diving haven Cameroon Ostensvig Dale traveled to in an attack near a clinic in Parwan popular with Westerners. One police Yemen in 2008, where he was trained Province. – AP, July 8 officer was killed in the attack, but no by AQAP to “make bomb-belts, tourists were injured. The militants improvised explosive devices, and July 8, 2014 (SOMALIA): Al-Shabab approached the luxury resort by larger explosives used in car bombs.” militants fought their way into the boat. Authorities suspect that the – ABC News, July 15 presidential palace in Mogadishu, Abu Sayyaf Group was responsible. exchanging gunfire with Somali – Huffington Post, July 13; Free Malaysia Today, July 15, 2014 (GLOBAL): Jordanian troops inside. The fighting inside the July 13 cleric Abu Qatada, who is being tried heavily-fortified compound lasted for on terrorism charges in Jordan, said at least two hours before the Somali July 13, 2014 (NIGERIA): In a new that the “announcement of a caliphate government said that the area was video, Boko Haram chief Abubakar by the Islamic State [ISIL] is void secure. – AP, July 8 Shekau claimed responsibility for and meaningless because it was not two attacks that occurred on June 25, approved by jihadists in other parts of July 9, 2014 (GLOBAL): U.S. Secretary one of which was a bombing in Lagos. the world…This group does not have of Defense Chuck Hagel warned that Nigerian authorities previously said the authority to rule all Muslims and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant that the explosion in Lagos was a their declaration applies to no one but (ISIL) should not be underestimated. result of a cooking gas explosion, themselves.” – AFP, July 16 According to Hagel, ISIL is a serious but Shekau accused them of trying threat to the United States. “This is a to cover up the attack. In the video, July 15, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): A force that is sophisticated,” he said. Shekau also expressed support for the suicide bomber in an explosives-laden “It’s dynamic. It’s organized. It’s well Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. vehicle killed at least 89 people near a financed. It’s competent.” – Voice of – AFP, July 13 busy market and a mosque in Paktika America, July 9 Province. It marked the deadliest July 14, 2014 (GLOBAL): Al-Qa`ida in insurgent attack on civilians since the July 9, 2014 (FRANCE): According the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released U.S.-led invasion in 2001. – AP, July 15 to a report in Le Parisien, an Algerian a statement rejecting the caliphate citizen living in France, who was in that was established by the Islamic July 15, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): A contact with al-Qa`ida in the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). roadside bomb killed two employees Maghreb (AQIM), suggested attacking Confirming its allegiance to al-Qa`ida from the Afghan presidential palace the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, AQIM in Kabul. – Guardian, July 15 a nuclear plant in France. French criticized ISIL for failing to consult security services disrupted the plot, with jihadist leaders before declaring July 15, 2014 (CAMEROON): Suspected and arrested the French resident, the caliphate. – Reuters, July 14 Boko Haram gunmen kidnapped two after decrypting messages passed teenage sons of one of Cameroon’s between the two on the Shumukh al- July 14, 2014 (SYRIA): The Islamic most influential Muslim clerics, Islam forum. – RT, July 10 State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) Bieshair Mohaman. The children were expelled rival rebel groups from Deir abducted from Limani, a town that July 10, 2014 (UNITED STATES): al-Zour, including Jabhat al-Nusra borders Nigeria’s Borno State. – Voice Gufran Ahmed Kauser Mohammed, and Ahrar al-Sham. According to of America, July 15 a naturalized U.S. citizen who once the Syrian Observatory for Human lived in California, faces up to 15 Rights, “the Islamic State [ISIL] is July 17, 2014 (IRAQ): An 18-year- years in prison after pleading guilty now in control of the entire Deir al- old Australian suicide bomber killed to providing material support to Zour Province apart from a few areas three people outside a Shi`a mosque al-Shabab and Jabhat al-Nusra. and the military airport that the in downtown Baghdad. The Islamic Mohammed, as well as co-defendant government is in control of.” – Reuters, State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) Mohamed Hussein Said, was charged July 14 claimed responsibility. The Australian

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government said that the bomber July 26, 2014 (UNITED STATES/ CTC Sentinel Staff was from Melbourne. – Reuters, July 17; SYRIA): Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qa`ida’s Australian Broadcasting Corporation, July 21 affiliate in Syria, released a video of Editor-in-Chief an American suicide bomber who blew Erich Marquardt July 18, 2014 (KENYA): Al-Shabab himself up at a Syrian army post in May Senior Editor, CTC stopped a bus and sprayed its 2014. The man, Moner Mohammad Abu passengers with bullets, killing seven Salha, is believed to be the first U.S. Editorial Board people. The incident occurred near national to conduct a suicide bombing COL Cindy R. Jebb, Ph.D. Witu in Lamu County, which is near in Syria. It was also revealed that Department Head Kenya’s coast. – al-Jazira, July 19 after training with Jabhat al-Nusra, Department of Social Sciences (West Point) Salha returned to the United States July 19, 2014 (IRAQ): Four car bombs for months before traveling back to COL Suzanne Nielsen, Ph.D. exploded simultaneously in Baghdad’s Syria to conduct his suicide attack. Deputy Department Head Abu Dsheer, al-Baya, al-Jihad and – al-Arabiya, July 26; ABC News, July 31 Department of Social Sciences (West Point) Hurriya neighborhoods, killing at least 12 people. – al-Arabiya, July 19 July 29, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): MAJ(P) Bryan Price, Ph.D. A suicide bomber assassinated Director, CTC July 19, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): A Hashmat Khalil Karzai, the politically U.S. drone reportedly killed four influential cousin of Afghan President Taliban fighters in Kunar Province. Hamid Karzai. The explosives were – The News International, July 20 hidden in the bomber’s cap. – Los Angeles Times, July 29 July 19, 2014 (PAKISTAN): A U.S. drone reportedly killed 11 Punjabi Taliban militants at a compound Contact in North Waziristan Agency of the Combating Terrorism Center Federally Administered Tribal Areas. U.S. Military Academy – Daily Times, July 20 607 Cullum Road, Lincoln Hall West Point, NY 10996 July 22, 2014 (AFGHANISTAN): Phone: (845) 938-8495 A suicide bomber on a motorbike Email: [email protected] killed at least four foreigners inside a Web: www.ctc.usma.edu/sentinel/ compound in Kabul. – AFP, July 22

* For Press Inquiries: (845) 938-8495 July 22, 2014 (LIBYA): A double suicide bombing on a military base in Benghazi killed at least four Libyan soldiers. – AFP, July 22

July 22, 2014 (YEMEN): Al-Qa`ida support in the Arabian Peninsula announced The Combating Terrorism Center would that it is preparing to establish an like to express its gratitude to its financial Islamic emirate in eastern Hadramawt supporters, for without their support and Province. On July 11, Jabhat al-Nusra, shared vision of the Center products like the another al-Qa`ida affiliate, said that CTC Sentinel could not be produced. If you it was establishing an Islamic emirate are interested in learning more about how in the rebel-held parts of Aleppo in to support the Combating Terrorism Center, Syria. – Voice of America, July 22 please visit http://www.ctc.usma.edu or call Kristin Sorenson at West Point’s Association July 22, 2014 (IRAQ): A suicide bomber of Graduates at 845-446-1561. killed at least 21 people in Baghdad. - BBC, July 22

July 23, 2014 (UNITED STATES): U.S. prosecutors charged two women in the United States with funneling money to al-Shabab in Somalia. Muna Osman The views expressed in this report are those of Jama, of Reston, VA, and Hinda Osman the authors and not of the U.S. Military Academy, Dhirane of Kent, WA, were charged the Department of the Army, or any other agency with 20 counts each of providing of the U.S. Government. material support to a foreign terrorist group. – AP, July 25

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