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P.O. Box 167, Herzliya, 46150, Israel | Tel: +972.9.952.7277 | Fax: +972.9.951.3073 il.org.ict.www |il.ac.idc@ict
1
December 2010
Periodical Review November 2010 – No. 2
This report summarizes the most prominent events mentioned in the Jihadi online
forums in the first half of November 2010. Following is a list of the main issues
raised in this report:
• A new audio tape by Ayman Al-Zawahiri.
• Anwar Al-Awlaki in a new video clip: “there is no need for a Fatwa in order to
fight the Americans”.
• An increase in the range of materials pertaining to the manufacturing of
explosive charges and to their concealment.
• A new issue of the “Turkistan Islamic Party” (TIP) Jihadi magazine.
• The search for operational solutions for the activity of unmanned drones
continues.
• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) claims responsibility for sending
the explosives packages and declares a new strategy – an economic attrition
war.
• A threat to attack American targets over Christmas.
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December 2010
New publications
Ideology
• The “As-Sahab” Jihadi media institute published a new video tape by Osama
bin Laden on October 27th, 2010, on the “Al-Jazeera” station. The tape was
addressed to the French people.1
• The “As-Sahab” Jihadi media institute published a new video tape by Ayman
Al-Zawahiri titled “Who will help the scientist Aafia Siddiqui?”. The tape was
published in four languages: Arabic, Persian, Urdu and Pashtu.2 Aafia Siddiqui
is a 38 year-old Pakistani scientist who was sentenced to 80 years in prison in
the United States for attempting to kill Americans. Siddiqui is married to
Ammar Al-Baluchi, who has been accused of financing the terrorists who
carried out the attacks on September 11th.
• The Jihadi forums published a new video clip by Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki,
titled “To Make [the Truth] Clear to the People and Never to Conceal It”. The
1 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
2 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
title of the video is in fact a verse from the Quran in which Allah addresses
the Ulama and explains to them how they must conduct themselves.
It should be noted that the tape does not bear the stamp of the “Al-Malahem”
institute, which has been responsible for various publications on behalf of Al-
Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. It is possible that publication of the tape was
the personal undertaking of Al-Awlaki.
On the tape, Al-Awlaki chastises the Sunni Ulama, and especially the Yemen
Ulama, for their helplessness and for their lack of effort in the struggle to
raise the level of awareness regarding the sad state of the Muslim nation. He
demands they intervene immediately to improve the situation. Al-Awlaki
accuses the Ulama of ignoring the problems that plague the Muslim nation,
including the poor standards of living in Yemen, the brothers’ war between
Muslims, the increase in ignorance, the rise in Iran’s influence and the
increased danger of Shiite propagation. According to him, neither giving
sermons over the mosque podiums nor publishing articles and videos on the
matter is enough. He suggests that the Ulama follow a series of steps to
address the various issues:3
a. Clarify that the rulers in the Muslim world have abused their positions and
are considered traitors due to their lack of success or lack of willingness to
defend the nation, in addition to the fact that they promote American
interests. Emphasize that they should no longer be considered Muslims,
even if they outwardly display religious characteristics.
b. Unite under a responsible leadership that acts in the interests of the
Muslim nation, especially in the face of the existing struggle between Iran
3 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
and Israel and the United States, and gain influence and take over Sunni
territory wherever there are Muslim regimes leaning one way or the other.
c. Reviving the spirit of Jihad in the nation. Jihad is the only means capable
of eliminating the danger of heresy.
d. Fulfilling the duty to guide the nation towards the right path, through
Da’awa.
According to Al-Awlaki, the Muslim rulers have failed to fulfill their basic duty
of caring for their flock. As a result, the Mujahideen are the only hope for
changing the current situation. Al-Awlaki further claims that, in light of this
reality, one should shy away from any contact with the Muslim rulers.
Moreover, no one need be consulted regarding the legality of fighting the
Americans. According to him, as there is no need for a Fatwa to fight the
Devil, there is no need for a Fatwa to fight the Americans, as America itself is
considered to be the Devil. Hence, fighting it is a duty, regardless of whether
a Fatwa has been made or not.
Al-Awlaki concludes the video clip by calling on Muslims to support and follow
the Ulama who take action to mend the ways of the rulers and by warning
against the Ulama acting on behalf of the authorities.
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5
December 2010
• The “Al-Malahem” Jihadi media institute, operating on behalf of Al-Qaeda in
the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), published a video titled “Deterring
aggression”.4 The video is about the policy of discrimination and the trampling
of citizens’ rights by the Yemen regime. The video contains testimonies from
citizens whose rights were allegedly abused by the authorities. According to
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, this policy stems from, amongst other
things, the support and guidance provided by the Crusaders, headed by the
United States. The organization warns that the existing situation will not
continue without reprisal and that its people are acting with determination
against the Yemen government forces. It mentions, as an example, a long
series of terrorist attacks it has carried out against the Yemeni authorities.
• The “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum allocated its virtual stage to “an open
discussion” with Sheikh Abu Walid Al-Maqdisi, the Amir of the “Al-Tawhid wal-
Jihad group in Jerusalem/Palestine”. Those registered to the forum have the
opportunity to pose questions to the Sheikh on various topics.5
4 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
5 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
Strategy
• The “Al-Furqan” Jihadi media institute, operating on behalf of the “Islamic
State of Iraq” (ISI), published an audio segment titled “From the soldiers of
the Martyr’s Brigade to the Christians in Egypt”. According to the message,
the “Islamic State of Iraq” demands that the Christians in Egypt release
Kamilia Shehata from prison immediately. In the message, the “Islamic State
of Iraq” also addresses the Vatican, demanding it intervene in the matter and
pressure the Christians in Egypt to release Shehata, and giving the ultimatum
that, if they do not do so, the Christian hostages kidnapped from a church in
Baghdad will be executed within 48 hours.6
• One of the surfers at the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum expressed his
desire to begin a discussion on the willingness of Muslims to acquiesce to the
“Islamic State of Iraq’s” request to attack Christian targets in the “Al-Sham”
region (Syria, Lebanon and Jordan) as well as media channels, churches and
their congregations and other targets. Another surfer, participating in the
online course for Jihadi propaganda via the forum, stated that the “Islamic
State of Iraq” has declared that all the Christian centers, organizations and
groups are legitimate targets for the Mujahideen. Yet another surfer wrote
that the true struggle of Islam is against the Christian western countries and
the Jews, and that as long as the Christians residing in Islamic countries
maintain neutrality, they should be left alone.7
• The “Al-Ma’asada” Jihadi institute, which publishes much of its materials on
the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum, published a booklet titled “The political,
military and educational plan: a student guide on the training of the knight
commanders”. The booklet, which is 43 pages in length, was written by
6 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
7 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
Abdullah Al-Haj. The booklet itself is dedicated to the “Aden-Abyan Army”,
whose founding was declared by the military commander of Al-Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula.8
Abdullah Al-Haj is the nickname of Sami Al-Mutairi, a 32 year old Kuwaiti
citizen, convicted in 2003 of killing an American citizen and sentenced to life
imprisonment. The “Ha’aretz” newspaper reported on May 24th 2010 that Al-
Mutairi was released from prison and has become one of the senior
commanders in Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. According to the report,
he was released from prison in 2007 and today is in charge of Al-Qaeda’s
activities against Israel in Palestine.9 In May 2010, the Jihadi forums
published “an important article”, 25 pages long, by Abdullah Al-Haj, titled
“The strategy of the upcoming war”. In the article he writes about the
combat strategy Al-Qaeda must adopt in the region, following the increased
signs of a possible war between Iran and the United States.
The guide professes to be a study program, meant to provide its readers with
knowledge on four main subjects: history, Sharia, military materials and the
memoirs of leaders and politicians, including military and other insight – all
with the objective of training a generation of commanders with the proper
skills. The guide also contains a list of recommended reading and referrals to
several video clips. According to the program recommended in the booklet,
one should dedicate 4 to 5 hours daily for reading, for a period of up to a
year.10
8 On the subject, see: http://www.ict.org.il/Portals/0/Internet%20Monitoring%20Group/JWMG_Periodical_Review_October_2010_No_2.pdf, page 7. 9 http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1170212.html, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/21/terror/main537254.shtml 10 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
P.O. Box 167, Herzliya, 46150, Israel | Tel: +972.9.952.7277 | Fax: +972.9.951.3073 il.org.ict.www |il.ac.idc@ict
8
December 2010
Instructional and Guidance Publications
• One of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum published a
detailed manual containing reference to two video clips on the preparation of
an explosive device detonated by dialing a cell phone. The first lesson is
called “How to prepare a bomb in the kitchen of your own home”. The second
lesson is called “Important guidance”.11 In additional correspondence it was
said that the third lesson in the series will be published later on.12
11 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
12 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
• A chat room dealing with physical fitness and military training on the “Al-
Tawhid” forum contained, amongst other things, information on how to
prepare Nitro urea explosives, video clips on how to use various types of hand
guns, and a recommendation to use the skyGrabber software to hack into the
computer systems of the unmanned drones that kill senior commanders in the
border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The surfer who posted the
latter recommendation said that the Mujahideen in Iraq succeeded in
intercepting photographs from the drones' cameras using the skyGrabber
software and that, as a result, they were able to change their location before
being hit. He provided links to the software and to a video clip that explains
how the software was originally designed for hacking into coded channels.13
An explanation of how to install the software
13 http://www.twhed.net/vb
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December 2010
• The “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum published detailed instructions,
accompanied by illustrations and explanations, for the preparation of adhesive
explosives.14
• One of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum put up a post
titled “How to turn rat poison into weapons of mass destruction”. In the post,
the surfer suggests that U.S. security could be damaged by poisoning the
water in the United States and in other countries fighting against Islam. He
clarifies that he does not intend to poison closed water reservoirs, as they are
tested regularly before being transported to the consumers, but rather that
he intends to target the “distilled ready to consume water, already in the
pipes on the way to the residents”. According to him, one could perforate the
pipes and add lethal poisons such as rat poison to the distilled water. The
surfer also explains that one kilogram of poison could take out an entire
neighborhood quietly and without raising a riot. Moreover, such an attack
14 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
would have far reaching repercussions on the targeted countries’ economies.
The surfer recommends the summer as the best time to carry out such a
poisoning, as the number of casualties will be larger due to the increased
thirst and the many diseases. He adds that it is better to execute such an
operation secretly, without sending a threat, so as to maintain the element of
surprise. According to him, if this act of poisoning is successful, then the
pressure exerted by the population on the governments to accept the
Mujahideen’s terms, such as withdrawing from Muslim lands or ceasing their
support of Israel, will increase.15
• The “Al-Muhajir” Jihadi media institute published an 8-page guide (no. 9)
titled “Prepare your weapons by yourself: landmines”.16
• The “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum began publishing “The series of the Abu
Al-Khayr Training Camp”. Apparently this undertaking was commenced by
surfers who are active in the “Equipment and preparation” chat room.
According to one of the project’s initiators, he had been considering the idea
of “a virtual training camp” for some time and he eventually decided to form a
group specializing in the propagation of old and new materials on military
subjects, or, as he put it: “Amongst the goals of the camp are gathering a lot
of military information that could later become an extensive Jihadi military
encyclopedia on the internet […]”. He addresses anyone with knowledge in
the field, asking them to share their military knowledge with the forum
members.17
15 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
16 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
17 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
In honor of the launching of the 'Camp', the “Shumukh Al-Islam” forum
published all of the issues of “The periodical publication for the self
development and the enrichment of knowledge of the Mujahideen”, edited by
Abdullah Dhu Al-Bajadin, who is known on the Jihadi forums as an expert in
the preparation and manufacturing of explosive devices. The issues cover
many diverse topics, including an analysis of the terrorist attacks on the
Madrid subway in 2004, instructions on how to prepare an explosives belt,
discussions on prominent terrorists, explanations of how to use chemical and
other materials to prepare explosives charges and more.18
• One of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum posted a
correspondence titled “Military chat: how can we obtain this material…? And
where can it be found around us?”. In the correspondence, the surfer asks his
fellow forum members to post questions and problems pertaining to the
18 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
procurement of materials for the preparation of explosives. The answers to
these questions will be given by a small number of surfers that have
accumulated expertise and knowledge regarding the preparation of explosives
(he mentions their names). According to him, collecting questions and
answers in one correspondence will make learning about the preparation of
explosives much easier for those seeking to do so.19
• One of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum posted
correspondence containing a detailed guide accompanied by illustrations on
how to prepare hand grenades that can be thrown at the enemy and that are
manufactured by the “Islamic State of Iraq”.20
• One of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum posted an
instructional video on welding electrical circuits.21
19 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
20 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
21 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
• One of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum posted
correspondence titled “biological poisons”. The correspondence is about
biological warfare, the preparation of poisons, their transfer and more.22
• One of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum addressed the
importance of introducing guided missiles to the Jihad theatres. The surfer
claims that if this type of missile is introduced into the Jihad theatres in
sufficient amounts, all of the armored vehicles will become easy targets and
could be destroyed from a safe distance. However, he states that the problem
lies in procuring them in sufficient amounts. Therefore, the surfer calls on his
fellow forum members to take part in this correspondence and contribute
their knowledge on the manufacturing of guided missiles.23
• The “Al-Fajr” Jihadi media institute published its 15th audio segment, titled
“Surveillance security”, by Sheikh Abdullah Al-Adm. This segment was
published as part of the series of publications called “The industry of
terrorism: a course in security and intelligence”.24
• The “Hanein” Jihadi forum published information on hiding bullets inside cell
phones.25
22 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
23 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
24 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
25 http://www.hanein.info/vb
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December 2010
Magazines
• The “Sawt Al-Islam” Jihadi media institute, operating on behalf of the
“Turkistan Islamic Party” (TIP), published the seventh issue of the party’s
magazine.26 Amongst the subjects discussed in the current issue were: the
story of a Muslim female preacher from Eastern Turkistan; reference to the
Chinese government’s alleged oppressive policy against the Uygur Muslim
minority in Eastern Turkistan; the story of the immigration of a female Uygur
Muslim from Eastern Turkistan; a call to the Muslims to help the Muslims in
Eastern Turkistan and more.
26 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
Reports from the field
Afghanistan - Pakistan
• Since the elimination in May 2010 of the Al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan,
Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid, and the elimination of other senior members of Al-
Qaeda and the Taliban in the Afghanistan–Pakistan region, surfers on various
Jihadi forums have displayed concern over unmanned drones.
These surfers advocate doing everything possible to neutralize the activity of
the drones and to hack into their systems, so as to prevent further losses to
the Mujahideen. They complain of the activity of the American Intelligence
agents in Pakistan and offer to provide safe shelter to the Mujahideen leaders
and to ensure their return from Pakistan to Afghanistan, so that they do not
fall victim to the drones.27
• The “Hanein” Jihadi forum reported that the no. 2 man in the Afghan Taliban
organization, Mullah Abd Al-Ghani Baradar, was released as part of an
exchange with the Pakistani government.28
• The “Hanein” Jihadi forum reported that 34 people were killed and over 40
injured in a suicide attack carried out at a mosque near Peshawar, on
November 5th 2010.29
• The “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” Jihadi forum (Al-Mojahden
Electronic Network) reported that on November 13th 2010, 14 suicide
bombers attacked the airport in Jalal-Abad, serving the interests of the
Coalition Forces.30
27 http://al-jahafal.com/vb
28 http://www.hanein.info/vb
29 http://www.hanein.info/vb
30 http://majahden.com/vb
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17
December 2010
Iraq
• There have been reports on a suicide attack carried out in Iraq. The suicide
bomber was called Mukram Al-Majeri; he was of Tunisian origin and he
resided in Sweden and was married to a Swedish woman. No information was
given on when exactly the terrorist attack was executed, but on November
14th 2010 one of the surfers posted a page commemorating him on
Facebook.31
• A surfer on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum, participating through the
forum in an online course for Jihadi propaganda, expressed his desire to open
a virtual workshop to help the “Islamic State of Iraq” spread its messages via
email. The surfer stated that, “We ask every member to gather personal
emails of Christians in Egypt and to send them the following: ‘A message
from the Martyr Brigade soldiers to the Christians in Egypt’” and a “Warning
message and an ultimatum to the Egyptian Christian Church”. The surfer
31 http://al-jahafal.com/vb, http://www.facebook.com
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December 2010
claimed that he has already succeeded in preparing an initial list of such
emails, most of which belong to Coptic and Egyptian churches.32
• One of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum published
statements made by Sheikh Abu Al-Mundhir Al-Shanqiti, a Salafi Jihadi sheikh
from Mauritania, regarding permitting the spilling of blood of Christians
residing in Islamic countries. According to the Sheikh, the Christians living
today in Islamic countries are no longer considered to be under protection
(Ahl Al-Dhimma) and therefore it is permitted. He enumerates several
reasons why they should no longer be considered under protection:33
a. They do not conduct themselves as they should and they express
dissatisfaction about their inequality vis-à-vis Muslims.
b. The do not pay Jizyaa (poll tax).
c. They do not accept the laws of Islam.
d. They harm Muslims and Islam. Furthermore, they should be attributed
with spreading secular principles and other heretic ideologies since the
beginning of the 20th century. In general, “The Christians were the bridge
through which the West came to the countries of Islam, and thus they
have become a fifth column and a poisonous dagger striking the countries
of Islam and the Muslims […]”.
For these reasons, the Sheikh rationalizes that the Christians in Muslim
countries must no longer be considered as enjoying protection.
In the meantime, the attacks against Christians in Iraq have continued. Three
people were killed and 25 injured in Baghdad on November 10th 2010 in an
attack targeting Christians.34
32 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
33 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
34 http://majahden.com/vb
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December 2010
• The “Hanein” Jihadi forum reported that the “Islamic State of Iraq”
organization claimed responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks against the
Shiites, occurring on November 2nd 2010.35
The Arabian Peninsula
• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) published an announcement on the
“Attrition explosive charges terrorist attacks”. The organization claimed
responsibility for an attempted attack on an American UPS aircraft on
September 3rd 2010, after its takeoff from Dubai. According to the
organization, the enemy media has concealed the fact that the plane itself
crashed, possibly since it could not identify the cause of the crash or since the
“Obama administration wanted to hide the event so that the security failure
will not be discovered as the attack occurred on the eve of the interim
elections in the United States”.
Furthermore, the organization claimed responsibility for sending booby-
trapped packages aboard UPS and FedEx aircrafts. In an announcement, the
organization claimed that it is in possession of an advanced explosives charge
that cannot be detected by security mechanisms and that can be detonated
either during flight or when the plane lands.
Moreover, in its announcement, the organization asserted that the failed
cargo attack is evidence of collaboration between the Saudi government and
the Jews.
Finally, the organization threatened to attack the interests of the U.S. and its
allies, and that civilian aircrafts will also become targets.36
35 http://www.hanein.info/vb
36 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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December 2010
• Following the explosive packages affair, a senior surfer at the “Shabakat Al-
Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” Jihadi forum (Al-Mojahden Electronic Network)
claimed that the packages were discovered after the Mujahideen themselves
revealed their existence to the Saudi authorities. By doing this, the
Mujahideen caused hysteria and panic in airports around the world and in the
West’s security and intelligence services. Furthermore, the ploy revealed the
connection between the Saudi authorities and the American espionage
services. The surfer added that this now is a different type of war – it is an
intelligence and security war and an economic attrition war whose strategy is
to intimidate.37
• A surfer at the “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” Jihadi forum (Al-
Mojahden Electronic Network) also wrote on the subject of the explosive
37 http://majahden.com/vb
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December 2010
packages affair. He addressed those in charge of manufacturing explosives'
charges, asking them to continue with their work and to manufacture
explosive devices whose discovery is difficult, so that the attack on the West
will continue.38
• An announcement by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula refuted the Saudi
Minister of Interior’s claim that the Mujahideen intend to attack during the
time of the pilgrimage to Mecca. The organization evaded responsibility for
terrorist attacks at markets, mosques and places of worship, and warned that
the “enemies” try to make claims of their involvement so as to discredit the
Jihad movement. In the announcement, the organization again accused the
Saudi royal family of collaborating with the Americans and the Jews in
exposing the explosive packages, and of giving the Shiites free reign to attack
the pilgrims.39
• One of the senior members of the Jihadi forums, called “Asad Al-Jihad2”,40
claimed that Saudi Arabia is planning a large scale terrorist attack in the heart
of Riyadh that will be blamed on Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, in an
effort to discredit the organization, to strengthen the campaign against it, and
to lure more religious clerics as well as others to condemn the organization.
According to him, the Saudi authorities may place bodies of Mujahideen who
were recently arrested in the vicinity of the attack, so as to reinforce the
impression that Al-Qaeda is behind the attack. The writer noted that he does
not rule out the possibility of Saudi Arabia carrying out such a terrorist attack
38 http://majahden.com/vb
39 http://www.twhed.net/vb
40 The identity of Asad Al-Jihad2 is unknown, but he is considered to be a veteran activist
in the field of Jihadi propaganda and as someone with definite ties to Al-Qaeda. Recently he was “upgraded” in Jihadi online forums to “Military expert and political commentator”.
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in another city or even another country, in an effort to discredit Al-Qaeda in
the Arabian Peninsula.41
• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula published an announcement titled “The
recent events in Mawdiyya”.42 According to the announcement, a Yemen
government military force advanced towards the city of Mawdiyya to arrest
one of the Mujahideen on false pretenses. The operation was led by the
Abyan Governor, called Ahmad Al-Maysari. In order to stop the arrest, a
group of Mujahideen left the Al-Ayn region and ambushed the military force.
The Mujahideen and the Yemeni government forces exchanged heavy fire.
Although they suffered the loss of the Mujahideen leader, Jamil Al-Anbari, the
overall results were in favor of the Mujahideen:
a. Seven soldiers and officers were killed, including one of the Regional
Governor’s bodyguards, who was also his brother.
b. Several vehicles caught fire and were looted.
Two days later, another military force was sent, accompanied this time by
tanks and armored vehicles. The Mujahideen went to confront them again in
the Al-Ayn region. A suicide bomber named Sallah Al-San’ani (Dhuya Al-
Shar’abi) drove a car bomb towards the tanks and blew himself up. As a
result, two tanks were destroyed and several soldiers were killed, including
the force's commander.
According to the organization, once the Yemen government forces realized
that they could not defeat the Mujahideen, they bombed “the homes of the
weak and the wretched”.
41 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
42 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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• One of the surfers at the “Shumukh Al-Islam” forum posted photographs,
originating from the Yemen “Al-Sahwa” website, depicting the explosion of an
oil pipe in Yemen. Blowing up the pipe is unique to Al-Qaeda activists.43
• A senior surfer on the “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” Jihadi forum
(Al-Mojahden Electronic Network) posted correspondence in which he called
for Jihad in the Arabian Peninsula. According to the surfer, Jihad should be
carried out in the Arabian Peninsula first and foremost so as to liberate Mecca
and Medina from “the Zionist-Crusader occupation”. Jihad is also required in
the region to liberate Muslim oil from the hands of the occupiers. Finally,
Jihad is necessary to establish Sharia in the region and to serve as a starting
point for the liberation of other neighboring regions and countries.44
• The “Hanein” Jihadi forum published denials by Yemen of reports claiming
that the Al-Qaeda leaders who were detained in Iran, including the
organization’s former spokesperson, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, arrived in Yemen
to manage the organization’s activities.45
43 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
44 http://majahden.com/vb
45 http://www.hanein.info/vb
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The Maghreb
• One surfer made an appeal via his forum, asking for any help possible to be
provided to the families of the Mujahideen in Algeria on the Muslim Holiday of
Sacrifice.46
• A surfer on the “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” Jihadi forum (Al-
Mojahden Electronic Network) encouraged his fellow surfers to join the Jihad
in Algeria, explaining that the area can easily be reached to meet with
Mujahideen fighters.47 It seems that this correspondence followed the many
reports surrounding the weakening of the Jihad in Algeria and the poor
leadership of the Amir Abu Musab Abd Al-Wadud.
• The “Hanein” Jihadi forum reported that Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
threatened to take revenge on Senegal after the country extradited five
detainees to Mauritania and Morocco.48
The Al-Sham region
• The “Jama’at Ansar Al-Sunnah – Aknaf Bayt Al-Maqdis” (wings of
Jerusalem/Palestine), a Palestinian Salafi-Jihadi group, published the first part
of the book titled “The necessary things for the road: A departure base for
those seeking liberation”. The book, which is 142 pages long, was written by
Sheikh Yasri bin Atiyya Aal-Salih, known as Abu Hajir Al-Filastini. The book
contains the “Principles of Jihadi Da’awa”. The book's introduction was written
by Sheikh Abu Al-Nur Al-Maqdisi, who was assassinated by Hamas on August
2009.49
46 http://al-jahafal.com/vb
47 http://majahden.com/vb
48 http://www.hanein.info/vb
49 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
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• The “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” Jihadi forum (Al-Mojahden
Electronic Network) reported that Abu Hafs Al-Maqdisi, Amir of the “Jaysh Al-
Ummah” and leader of one of the Jihadi organizations operating in the Gaza
Strip, was released from prison in the Gaza Strip.50
Egypt
• A supervisor on the “Al-Jahafil” forum wrote about instances in which Copts in
Egypt recently converted to Islam; he also provided video clips. Examples
include a Christian who was appointed by the Coptic Church to follow Islamic
chat rooms using the “Paltalk” software who has converted to Islam, and a
woman who has fled the Al-Azhar nunnery, converting to Islam after having
suffering insults at the nunnery.51
• Following the crisis arising between the Coptic Church in Egypt and the
Islamists in Egypt and Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-
Electroniya” forum (Al-Mojahden Electronic Network) published data and
research regarding the Christian presence in Egypt. The goal of this
publication was to emphasize the danger posed by the Christians to the
Muslims.52
Africa
• The “Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen” movement threatened to carry out terrorist
attacks in Uganda and Burundi in retaliation for the activities of the African
Union Forces in Somalia, which led to civilian casualties and injuries in
50 http://majahden.com/vb. On his arrest, see:
http://www.ict.org.il/Portals/0/Internet%20Monitoring%20Group/JWMG_Periodical_Review_October_2010_No_1.pdf, page 31. 51 http://al-jahafal.com/vb
52 http://majahden.com/vb, http://www.hanein.info/vb
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Mogadishu. Both countries participate in this force and therefore are
considered legitimate targets.53
• The “Hanein” Jihadi forum published a statement made by the “Al-Shabab Al-
Mujahideen” movement’s spokesperson, Sheikh Ali Muhammad Raji. The
Sheikh's statement said that the organization will continue its activities until
the Somali government is defeated and the African Union Forces are driven
out of Somalia.54
The West and the rest of the world
• Following the attempted attack using explosive packages sent via FedEx, one
of the surfers on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” Jihadi forum threatened to attack
American targets over Christmas. In his post, the surfer posed the idea of
sending booby-trapped Christmas trees disguised as holiday gifts - “Will the
bomb be hidden between the folds of the leaves or between the tree
branches? At the top of the tree or at the bottom? […]”.55
• A female supervisor at the “Al-Mushtaqun Ila Al-Jannah” forum posted a
missive written by the Mujahideen in Chechnya addressing women who have
left their homes and families for Jihad. In the missive, they send these
women their support and promise that soon they shall return to Muslim
Chechnya and not Russia. They also warn them against “the enemy’s ploys”.
In addition, a call is made to women in general, asking that they educate
their children in accordance with Islam instead of following the ways of the
heretics. They also ask that they collect clothes for the families of the
casualties and even to form groups that help these families.56
53 http://al-jahafal.com/vb
54 http://www.hanein.info/vb
55 http://www.shamikh1.net/vb
56 http://www.el-gnah.com/vb
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December 2010
• A senior surfer at the “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” forum (Al-
Mojahden Electronic Network) published an article on the forum, titled
“Europe will be under Al-Qaeda’s microscope”. In the article, he refers to a
message in which Osama bin Laden addressed the French people, stating that
Bin Laden is addressing the people in his messages and not the governments,
as the people are the one bearing the consequences of their government’s
actions. The people are also the ones who elect these governments again and
again, and in doing so, participate in the oppression of the Muslims in
Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the world. The author of
the article mentions Al-Qaeda's warnings to Germany prior to the elections
there as well as the threats and subsequent terrorist attacks in Spain which
directly altered the course of the elections. The author claims that the people
in Europe understand only the language of force and deterrence. Therefore,
he concludes, the equation shall remain as it is – just as you kill, so you shall
be killed.57
• A surfer on the “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” forum (Al-Mojahden
Electronic Network) enquired about where the Mujahideen are in France and
why they do not act in response to the oppression exerted by the authorities
on Muslim women in the country.58
General reports
• A surfer on the “Al-Mushtaqun Ila Al-Jannah” wrote about Al-Qaeda’s rising
force and mentioned that “Al-Qaeda has sent a message in the recent
packages attack, stating that we exist without a doubt and are expecting
you…”. The surfer also challenged NATO forces, saying that he is looking
57 http://majahden.com/vb
58 http://majahden.com/vb
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forward to the day they reach the region. The surfer stressed Al-Qaeda's
rising force in all theaters and expressed his wish for the establishment of the
Islamic Caliphate.59
A map published by the surfer according to his aspirations
• A surfer posted a report published in the Arabic press on a Chinese company
that has developed a product that enables a license plate number to be
covered up by a new number within seconds. The product was also offered via
email to surfers in Saudi Arabia. The surfer who posted the report suggested
that the Mujahideen use it in their movements and activities.60
• The “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” forum (Al-Mojahden Electronic
Network) published the “Shura Al-Fikr Al-Islami Center’s” first
announcement.61 The “Shura Al-Fikr Al-Islami Center" is a group that was
founded in September 2010. Its goal is to be a link between the Islamic
nation and the Mujahideen. The announcement of the group's establishment
59 http://www.el-gnah.com/vb
60 http://al-jahafal.com/vb
61 http://majahden.com/vb
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was published on the “Shumukh Al-Islam” forum, where it was explained that
this group will operate within the “Shumukh Al-Islam” forum as well as within
the “Al-Boraq” media institute.62
In the announcement, the ““Shura Al-Fikr Al-Islami Center” calls on devout
Muslims to send it advice and ideas that will help the Islamic nation. The
Muslims are asked to send materials focusing on theoretical and technical
matters.
• A surfer on the “Shabakat Al-Mujahideen Al-Electroniya” forum (Al-Mojahden
Electronic Network) posted on the forum, suggesting the Mujahideen in Al-
Qaeda send emissaries to the Mujahideen in Iran with the “Jund Allah”
organization, so as to increase collaboration between the Mujahideen.63
62 http://up2001.co.cc
63 http://majahden.com/vb
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Miscellaneous
• A surfer on the “Al-Jahafil” forum raised questions about whether Sheikh Abu
Yahya Al-Libi is still alive and why bin Laden has been publishing only audio
segments and not video segments recently. One surfer attacked him for his
questions, while another one defended him. A forum supervisor gave the
following response: “neither of them lives in grand villas and they do not have
their own studios to record themselves and appear every day before the
public, like religious clerics on the satellite channels who appear every day to
no benefit for their nation… The Jihad sheiks are hunted and stalked. That is
why a video recording is dangerous for them, and maybe they have even
altered their features so that they can move from place to place”.64
• A surfer posted a photograph that had been altered using “Photoshop”
software, evoking both praise and condemnation. The surfer denied
knowledge of the software. Those praising the photo’s editor used this
opportunity to lash out at the Saudi royal family for not hoisting the flag of
Jihad alongside the Israeli flag. Those condemning it argued that a photo
meant to mislead is wrong.65
64 http://al-jahafal.com/vb
65 http://al-jahafal.com/vb