In the post Osama bin Laden era al-Qaedist ideology is flourishing across the Arab world. A significant development has been the rise of al-Qaeda offshoots in the Middle East. The Abdallah Azzam Brigades franchise has increasingly become a noteworthy actor in terrorism. On May 8th, 2012 Thomas Nides, Deputy Secretary of State designated Abdallah Azzam Brigades as a foreign terrorist organization (Nides, T.R. , 2012). Abdullah Azzam Brigades may have only recently been added as a foreign terrorist group; nevertheless the organization has deep roots, lethal capacity, and is capable of contributing to supplementary instability in the Middle East. Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB) has several aliases listed by the State Department: Abdullah Azzam Brigades, Ziyad al-Jarrah Battalions, and Yusuf al-‘Uyayri Battalions of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades (Nides, T.R. , 2012). AAB first surfaced in 2004, after claiming an attack carried out in Egypt. Oct 7th the day after the Egyptian holiday commemorating the 1973 War with Israel, a truck bomb exploded next to the Hilton Hotel in the resort town of Taba, close to the Israeli border. Just to the south of Taba, smaller bombs exploded at a resort campsite popular to Israelis. Two days later, Abdullah Azzam Bridagdes- Al Qaeda in Egypt and the Levant claimed responsibility (Winter, 2011, p. 884). AAB claimed two more attacks in Egypt after the first bombing. Spanning only a few months apart, the assailants targeted popular tourist and resorts areas. In April 2005, a suicide bomber detonated his vest in Cairo’s main bazaar; followed by the bomber’s sister and wife opening fire on a tourist bus then killing themselves (Winter, 2011, p. 884). In July 2005, the Sinai Peninsula was hit aga... ... middle of paper ... ... Assessment of al Qaeda Affiliates, 2014). That’s not to say that the organization can’t or won’t try to target Israel or Western interests in the region. AABs lethal attacks are indicative of a legitimate organization with a lineage of sophisticated jihadi leadership. The organization does not appear to seek the same high-casualty high-impact that became al Qaeda’s signature (Winter, 2011, p. 891). Simultaneously, the group seems unable to cultivate a sizable number of “resistance call units.” (Winter, 2011, p. 891) Notwithstanding, neither is necessary to have significant impact. The Middle East is in a transitional period; by inflaming sectarian tensions, and bolstering insecurity it only takes a small group to act as saboteurs (Winter, 2011, p. 891). Until attacks cease or cells are disrupted, AAB will be a relevant terrorist organization.
attacks of terrorist cells, such as al-Qaeda. The strategic location of the base in Djibouti, Africa
Likewise, Goodwin illustrates how the use of categorical terrorism can be seem being used by Al-Qaida during the attacks of 9/11. Nonetheless, it is evident that Al-Qaida is unusual in terms of using terrorism to influence the rise of unity rather than trying to overthrow a standing state. For the purpose of instigating a pan-Islamic revolutionary movement, Al-Qaida tries to unite all Islamic people under one state to develop umma, or Muslim community. The logic of Al-Qaida remained that if their “revolutionaries” could illicit a reaction from the powerful US state, resulting in oppression of the middle-eastern region, that Al-Qaida could, as a result, unite all Muslims to counter this suggested oppression. Although the end goal of Al-Qaida clear failed, it does suggest the organization’s attempt at implementing categorical terrorism.
The terrorist threat posed to United States (U.S.) interests within the Horn of Africa (HOA) is represented by one terrorist organization in particular, al-Shabaab. Areas of concern towards key strategic interests for the U.S. consist of armed conflicts, violent extremism, global trade, and maritime security in which al-Shabaab possess an influential capacity to disrupt, which effects political, economic, and social stability throughout region. As countries within the HOA continue to gain strategic importance to U.S. interest and policy makers, al-Shabaab and the various entities they collaborate with affect the stability of the region and remain a prevalent threat.
Ridel, B, 'The real losers in Egypt's uprising', The Daily Best Online, 13 February 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011< http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-02-13/al-qaeda-absent-in-hosni-mubaraks-fall-and-egyptian-revolution/>
George Habash was born in 1925 in Lydda, Palestine to a Greek Orthodox family. In George’s early 20’s he was forced to flee to Palestine in 1948. During George’s time in Palestine he attended college at the American University of Beirut where he obtained a degree in medicine. In 1948 he formed the Organization to Oppose Political Settlement with Israel (Palestinian Academic Society of the Study of Internation Affairs, 2006). By 1952 Habash founded the Arab Nationalist Movement (ANM) and operated in Amman, Jordan from this group the PFLP was formed. George felt as though “the only language which the enemy understands is that of revolutionary violence” and that the “historic task” was to open a fierce struggle against the enemy, “turning the occupied territories into an inferno whose fires consume the usurpers.” (Halsell, 1998). During Habash’s time as leader he commanded aerial
The article “Officials: Al Qaeda tries to recruit Americans in Syria” is about how Al Qaeda is encouraging fighters in Syria to prepare them in the case that they will return home to carry out attacks. They are prepared to send the fighters home by train. There...
The Middle East is known for its ray of different conflicts. One that is most notable is the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, which has it, roots from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. The roots of the conflict can be link back to the earliest Zionist movement. During this movement, the Jews came to Palestine and started buying up land to build up their Jewish community. In 1947, the United Nations announce that there would be two separate states Israel and Palestine, in which this nor the Zionist movement set well with the Palestine Arabs, which lead up to the conflict between the two states. In addition to the conflict, the Palestine “terrorists” used a tactic known as suicide bombers that in which to this day is a controversial topic. Hany Abu-Assad film Paradise Now shows this tactic used by the Palestine “terrorist” from their point of view, that also sparked debate on rather or not its content and message was morally accepted and if should be nominated for an award. One could claim that Abu-Assad film Paradise Now shows them as glorified murders and promotes suicide bombs or that it shows both sides of the stories, but this should not take away Abu-Assad right of freedom of speech, in which he should still have the chance at winning the award.
Al Qaeda is a terrorist organization established in Peshawar, Pakistan, between 1988 or 1989 by Osama bin laden and his teacher Abullah Yusuf Azzam. Al-Qaeda is an international terrorist network that considered the top terrorist threat to the United States. Al Qaeda is seeking to get rid of all westerns from Muslims territory and replace their own Islamic regime. They are a group of people who work to gather to plan act of terrorism against Muslim and non Muslim especially United State. Al Qaeda believes that they are fighting a holy war against enemy of their religion. People from many countries have joined this group including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Britain. This paper is going to present a brief historical background of Al Qaeda that how it emerged with their ideology, view, believe, and goals they have and also it presents the Activities which this group has been done before and after the very massive attack they had in US in September 11, 2001 and the international responses to this act of violence. Finally this paper will end up with comparing this Organization (Al Qaeda) with Reverend Mike Bray the Christian terrorist.
However, this attack on the commander and launch sites came as an immediate response to heavy Palestinian rocket fire over the previous weeks and prevention of other “Palestinian factions from building up their arsenals further. In a statement made by the Israeli Defense Force spokesman, he justifies the assassination of Ahmed Jabari stating “The first aim of this operation is to br...
An attack on the Syrian state would fall within the boundaries of the international concept of the responsibility to protect. The crisis in Syria has escalated by protests in March 2011 calling for the release of all political prisoners. National security forces responded to widespread peaceful demonstrations with the use of brutal violence. The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad refused to stop attacks and allow for implementation of the reforms requested by the demonstrators. By July 2011, firsthand accounts emerged from witnesses, victims, and the media that government forces had subjected innocent civilians to detention, torture, and the use of heavy weaponry. The Syrian people were also subjected to the Shabiha, a largely armed state sponsored militia fighting with security forces. Al-Assad continually denied responsibility to these crimes and placed blame on the armed groups and terrorists for these actions.
What is often called “the spark that started it all,” occurred on December 17, 2011 in Tunisia. A street vendor named Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest the corruption of the government. (Arab Spring, 2013) The 26 year old Bouazizi sold vegetables on the streets of Tunisia to make a living. His self-immolation was brought on when his cart of vegetables was confiscated by a policewoman. (Abouzeid, 2011) Bouazizi then went to the provincial headquarters to complain to officials about his situation. However, they refused to see him. Angered at the way he was being treated, Bouazizi set himself on fire in protest. (Abouzeid, 2011) He was taken to the hospital and stayed there until his death on January 4, 2011. Bouazizi’s self-immolation caused such an uproar that even Tunisia’s dictator, President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, visited him in the hospital. Bouazizi’s mother, Mannoubia, said, “Mohamed did what he did for the sake of his dignity. He lives on, his name lives on. I am proud of what happened in Tunis, I am proud that he is known throughout the Arab World.” (Abouzeid, 2011) Bouazizi’s self-immolation had such a huge impact on Tunisia that Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14.
On July 7th, 2005, London suffered an attack by Al Qaeda. The attack was the worst attack since World War II that they have experienced. Four bombs exploded in three different subway stations, and another exploded in a double-decker bus. The bombing killed fifty two people and injured more than seven hundred people. Al Qaeda then said that the attacks were rebellion and revenge for Britain’s involvement with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
After the Six Day War Israel security forces were attempting to cultivate and expand islamism. In between the years 1967 and 1987 the number of mosques in Gaza went from 200 to 600. While islamism was expanding at this time so were the other smaller nationalist terrorist groups, such as the PLO, were also expanding in the streets, and in schools. Hamas was founded in 1978, during the expansion of islamism and terrorist nationalist groups, by Ahmed Yassin as a Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. The real terrorist acts from this group started happening around the 1990’s ...
It all started on March 30 when two men in Yater, Lebanon were killed by an IDF missile attack while working on a water tower. Israeli officials stated that the attack was a mistake as Israeli troops thought that the two men were terrorists. Hezbollah responded to the deaths of these two men by launching 20 missiles into northern Israel. Later, the explosion of a roadside bomb in the village of Barashit killed a 14-year old Lebanese boy and injured three others, which led to a Hezbollah attack of 30 missiles into Northern Israel on April 9 and injured six Israelis. Israel launched Operation Grapes of Wrath two days later. Like the Seven Day War, Israel bombarded southern Lebanon as well as the Beirut area, and the Beqaa Valley by utilizing large air raids and heavy artillery fire. The purpose of this bombardment was to put pressure on the Lebanese government to take care of Hezbollah. A Syrian military post was also bombed, killing one soldier and wounding seven more. Israel also began to blockade Beirut, Sidon, and Tyre on April 13 to put economic pressure on Lebanon. The following two days Israel launched an assault on Beirut’s power stations which were destroyed. The most horrifying attack occurred on April 18 as Israel landed attacks on a UN base at Qana where 106 civilians were killed and 116 more were injured. The UN determined the attack was on purpose as
Toney, Michael S. Organizational Behavior Profile Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb AQIM. Charleston, SC: CreateSpace Independent Platform, 2013. Print.