Al-Qaeda’s main internet voice has been silenced, again. An ‘enemy’
attack has succeeded in bringing Shumukh al-Islam down. As it was from May 12th
to the 13th and then again from May 14th (and so far until
today) the site is not functioning. Shumukh al-Islam is the primary source of
messages from al-Qaeda. (SITE)
This attack on the jihadist site comes just after it
published, for members only, a comprehensive plan for al-Qaeda (embodied by al-Nusrah
front) in Syria. The site is password protected. Cole Bunzel’s translation, on Jihadica,
provides insight into their goals, thinking, and planning.
The document takes a pessimistic tone. They believe the
West, Crusader, i.e. the U.S., and Israel, as well as Iran) are prepared to
seal Syria off in the attempt to crush the al-Qaeda fighters. In response to
this threat they are calling for a rapid influx of fighters, before the borders
are closed to them. The Syria conflict is seen as a protracted affair requiring
much patience on the part of al-Nusrah and its allies.
It rejects attacks on Israel at this time because of the
danger of blowback that will add more allies to the anti-jihadist effort. It also
takes the time to lambast Al-Jazeera as lying criminals who seek to brainwash
viewers so that they will oppose the struggle in Syria.
Chilling in its organization and detail, the document
illustrates an intelligent attempt at orchestrating the efforts of al-Nusrah
and its allies in Syria. Its repeated calls for more fighters to cross the
border quickly should not be ignored by Syria’s neighbors.
It’s no longer surprising to see extremist proponents Islamic rule slide
into revolutions to promote their own goals. Al-Nusra’s entry into the Syrian conflict
exemplified al-Qaeda’s increasingly global interventions into local affairs. Yesterday
they put a half-dozen notices on jihadi forums which bragged about a series of
victories in recent days. They seemed particularly proud of a Katyusha rocket attack
on a government TV building. They explained
that the Syrian media "elongates" the life of the Bashar al-Assad
regime and gives it legitimacy. [SITE]
It was also reported that an “English-speaking, Western commander in Syria
identified as ‘Abu Musab’ asked Muslims to support the fighters in what is
described as the first of his weekly updates from the battlefield.” The video
was aired on “Kateeba Al-Kawthar.” They describe themselves as "group of
Mujaahideen & nation builders from more than 20 countries seeking a just
Islamic Nation,"
Whatever the Syrian people had in mind on March 15, 2011, when the current
uprising began, may be overshadowed by the interlopers who come with their own
agendas. The series of peaceful street protests against the Assad regime has
morphed into a violent upheaval in which divergent forces battle each other for
power as they seek to end Assad’s rule.
The stakes are high for the entire region and initial reluctance to step in
and help the insurgency may well backfire as Syria’s neighbors find themselves
faced with a new Syria controlled by people who base their ideas on sacred
values, rather than mutually cooperative theories of government for the
betterment of all.
Syria’s Texas Coalition vs. al-Nusrah Front
March 19, 2013 by Bruce Wallace, 121Contact
Googling ‘Syria’ this morning, trying to keep from thinking
about to day's bombings in Baghdad that are ‘celebrating’ the 10th anniversary
of the American Disaster Delivery into Iraq (and aren’t over 50 bodies the
proper way to memorialize? And isn’t the trauma delivered today a fitting
reminder of the pain of the last 10 years?)
The media, meanwhile, is trumpeting the selection of Ghassan Hitto as
the first Prime Minister of the interim Syrian government. In response to
American pressure to form some semblance of an organized opposition the ‘coalition,’
i.e. those approved by the U.S., chose Hitto, a Texan! Shades of Charlie Wilson’s
War. Here comes another failed American military endeavor.
What they are not reporting on: al-Nusrah Front’s continued
successes. Lately centered on Homs, al-Nusrah has cut off supplies to Assad
forces by blowing up bridges and taking control of access roads. The
al-Khalidiyya, al-“Asi bridges were destroyed on March 11.
When Assad falls the people of Syria will be faced with a
two-headed monster: the U.S. backed, Texas Coalition that will find it hard to
earn the trust of Syrians, and the al-Nusrah Front group whose publicity
machine pumps out videos, whose social machine delivers aid, and whose
strategies and tactics are winning respect by accumulating victories on the
ground.
It won’t be pretty.
Mar 16, 2013
Asymmetric Warfare: “Not so much,” says al-Qaeda. Their
top priority: Genocide.
March 16, 2013 by Bruce Wallace, 121Contact
SITE
reports that Shumukh al-Islamal forum, an al-Qaeda media arm, has released a
25-post guide to countering heavy mounted weapons on tanks, etc. It highlights the
importance of training on anti-tank/vehicular weapons. The posts are the work
of the jihadist, "al-Irhabi," (the terrorist). Al-Qaeda’s use
of the internet to disseminate strategic and tactical information is growing,
and it does level the field a bit. The jihadists can boast of major victories
against Assad’s military, and they continue to mount serious attacks against
the regime.
The al-Qaeda-linked terrorists
are gaining more sophisticated weapons but their objectives lean more to
genocide than sophistication, as revealed by Jihadica’s
translation of a “comprehensive strategy
for Syria.”
It is not shocking to
read of al-Qaeda’s wish for the “establishment of God’s law in the land of
Syria” as a first step on the way to global jihad’s “caliphate on all of the
earth.” Such grandiose declarations are typical of groups that have narrowed their
thinking, disregarded the facts, and thereby have lost control of reality.
It is, however, disturbing
to see them so blatantly call for “the annihilation of the Alawites.” This is simply
an exhortation to genocide. When Assad falls we believe the Syrian people will
reject al-Qaeda, its indiscriminate violence, and its anti-Muslim philosophy.
Inshallah.
I wont attempt a summary here. His writing is too good for that. You'll have to read it yourself! His parallel analysis of al-Nusrah in Syria and al-Qaeda in Iraq is excellent.
There is a self-delusional component to these terrorist groups that allows them to ignore the real attitudes of the very people they claim to be helping.As al-Nusrah imposes its version of Shariah it heavily impacts the citizens of the towns it occupies. Folks just don't like the cruelty.
Their denial of simple realities (like the disdain that people have for them and the anger they generate against themselves) may serve to self-justify their actions, but it will bring them down in the end. The revulsion that greeted al-Qaeda in Iraq gave birth to the Awakening, which seriously weakened al-Qaeda. That same recognition of the horrors of having al-Nusrah in one's backyard will give rise to Syria's own awakening; hopefully before the terrorists gain any real political power. Inshallah.
A January 2012 al-Nusrah Front video focused on protecting
the civilians of Syria from Assad’s forces, saying “We will be a firm shield
and a striking hand to repel the attacks of this criminal Al Assad army with
all the might we can muster. We promise to protect the lives of civilians and
their possessions from security and the Shabiha [pro-government] militia.”
The agenda isn’t hidden any more.
One year later and now they are emphasizing the Islamist nature
of their fight. In a January 2013 video an al-Nusrah Front leader said, “Our
goal is to establish an Islamist state where justice will prevail.”
Al-Nusrah seems to be employing a basic insurgent strategy:
take advantage of chaos, offer stability, then take the power. Abu Mohammad al-Joulani, al-Nusrah’s leader,
said recently, addressing his followers, "The regime's collapse in Syria
will create a vacuum that you are qualified to fill.” We will establish “an
Emirate and Shura Council in Syria."
Some of al-Nusrah’s military actions fall well within the common
terrorist image (e.g., suicide bombings, kidnappings and car bombs), and some
actions can be defined as military opposition to a brutal regime (e.g. attacking
airports and other Assad military installations).
There are other activities that remind us of the Black
Panthers, Hamas, and other terrorist organizations that spend some of their
energy working to win the hearts and minds of the people. Al-Nusrah has been providing
food, water, and medical care to a population of innocent civilians caught in
the violence of regime change. These acts will not be forgotten when the time
comes to form the new government of Syria.
The Syrian people may be temporary beneficiaries of
al-Nusrah’s work but their well-being will soon be forgotten. Al-Nusrah’s fight
for the Syrian people is only a part of the “al-Qaeda” effort to establish a
pan-Islamic Caliphate throughout the world. If they gain power in Syria they
will only bring a new form of oppression to an already weakened and demoralized
people. We can only hope that the Syrian people see the dangers and avoid the ascension
of al-Nusrah Front to a leadership role in the new government.
Taftanaz, Northeast of Idlib, lies in the heart of the Syrian desert. It became the
focus of fierce fighting as the al-Nusrah Front tried to take it over. Al-Nusrah has been designated by the Obama administration as a terrorist organization. Their account,
published in Arabic, is translated, as best we could, below. We have not
verified it.
---
"Al-Nusrah Article #196
Taftanaz Military Airport Liberation Battle.
According to Allah’s book in which he said, “Fight them,
Allah, torture them with your hands and shame them and let you win and relieve the
believer’s chest.”
Your brothers, the Mujahideen relied on Allah and he helped
them to liberate the military Taftanaz Military Airport which is part of the
series starting the end quality [?] of attacking operations.
The start of the operation/the first and second day of the
battle:
First day with al-Sham Liberators and al-Taliah:
Starting with heavy weapons (tanks, cannons, and shells and
heavy rifles). Thanks to god a high ranking officer was killed, and verified,
and some soldiers of el Shabiha, and aT72 tank destroyed and other targets were
shot and some of their heavy weapons were destroyed. Also 3 airplanes were destroyed
(2 model 1225 and a model 117) also the brothers did not allow airplanes to
take off or land from Teftanaz.
Also some of the government soldiers, with their weapons,
became ‘the torn.’ [ed. came over to our side] and the bombardment and fight
continued for two days.
3rd and 4th days:
We of al-Nusrah, al-Sham, and Jamaat al-Tabiah al-Islamiyah surrounded
the airport with shells and the airport was bombed with missiles and rockets.
First we hit with 6 rockets by which some of the buildings were damaged or
destroyed. The Mujahideen destroyed a “weapon 23” by our “57 cannon.” The 23
was hard because it was used to attack the Mujahideen. And delay their
operation in attacking the airport. In these 2 days many soldiers were torn
from the government and were secured. Also there was a MIG23 plane which left to
Turkey to avoid fighting and went to Turkey.
The 5th to the 7th days:
The airport siege and bombing with the heavy weapons continued.
The brothers used hand-made rockets and they targeted officers’ school inside
the airport by using T72 tank shells. Also the Mujahideen used Katusha rockets
to damage the airport gate. Also they fired on some of the airport military
supplies with P9 shells.
On the 7th day they attacked a helicopter with a ’23
rifle’ which was on the airport wall. They saw the helicopter falling.
The crucial moments, 8th and 9th days:
On the dawn of January 13 the attack started at 5:55 AM,
dawn, from the Southwest front and the Northwest, the Southeast. The North
front was attacked by the Mujahideen with 3 tanks and a BNB vehicle and this attack was
covered by shooting from ’23 rifle’ and a Doshka [ed. machine gun] and a ‘57’
cannon. In this attack the Mujahideen controlled 6 checkpoints and got 4 ’23 rifles,’
and killed some of the ‘al-Murtdeen.’ [ed. is a person who surrenders and then
tries to rejoin the other side?]
One of them is Lt. xxxx and Pilot Col. xxxx. In addition to
killing all the snipers centered on water tanks. Also a tank was disabled.
After removing all the main barriers the area was checked
totally. As a result 18 men from Shabiha were captured and executed after
throwing a hand-grenade that killed some of the brothers. Among the captured
were two Lts. one of them is a Christian.
On the Eastern front (the man gate and the watchtower are
there): attacked by 80 Mujahideen, 3 tanks and one BMB vehicle. The attack
started by killing some soldiers guarding the main gate. Among these guards was
the Christian Lt. xxxx who was responsible for the main gate and 14 other
members from the 1st Battalion and some of the Shabiha from the neighboring
villages.
The Mujahideen got another BNB vehicle and used it in the
attack with some soldiers’ weapons.
85% of the airport was liberated by these battles. After
that, the officers withdrew to the officer’s school where they fought back.
After the liberation of the airport, January 10, 2013, the Mujahideen
put the oneness banner [which says “There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is
his messenger] on the airport gate.
During the investigation with the prisoners, they assured us
that there were 350 military men, ranking from pilot officers, assistants,
officers and soldiers. And about 50 Shabiha from the neighboring villages and
about 30 planes were damaged thanks to God.
God is the Winner
But most people do not know.
Jabaat al-Nusrah li Ah Alsham
From Alsham Mujahideen in the field of battle.
Don’t forget us in your prayers.
Thanks to God."
---
The Syrian rebel leaders have since
admitted that Assad's army, after a brutal air assault, had retaken Taftanaz. DEBKAfile reported
that the rebels had never seized the entire base as they claimed - only a small part
of it. Evidently the Assad military dropped bombs on their own airport in order
to dislodge the rebels. We have not found reports of the subsequent damage.
On December 11, 2012 the U.S. Government declared al-Nusrah
(aka the al-Nusra Front, Jabhat al-Nusrah) to be a terrorist organization
linked to al-Qaeda. Over 30 independent Syrian opposition groups denounced the designation
and gave their support to al-Nusrah. In the eyes of the Obama administration
al-Nusrah’s links to al-Qaeda were strong enough to justify the designation.
But your terrorist may be someone’s freedom fighter.
When the citizens of Deir Baalbeh, near the city of Homs,
found themselves under attack by Alawite fighters who support Syrian President
Assad they were unprepared for the level of violence aimed at them. These
innocent civilians first suffered a crushing massacre in Assad’s December 29th
assault on Homs. Over 200 died, including, of course, many women and children. While
it is fruitless to compare tragedies, the latest atrocities are of smaller
numbers but more horrifying details.
Kavkas
is reporting that “Bodies of 50 ritually murdered Muslims [Young Madrassa students. ed.] were found. They bore signs of torture and have so far not been
identified.” They were abducted Sunday, at a checkpoint, on their way home from
school.
In shock and fear the residents of Deir Baalbeh are turning to al-Nusrah for
help.Seen as a capable fighting force, al-Nusrah is gaining respect and power
as it combats Assad’s forces. It is also gaining recruits. When the fighting is
over and the power struggles intensify it is clear that al-Nusrah will have a
big influence.
How this will play out for American foreign policy is unclear. Even
though we’ve held hands with terrorists, dictators, and tyrants before,
international media is a different now, and U.S. hypocrisy no longer goes
without note by our allies and enemies alike. The fall of the Assad regime will
probably mark a further deterioration of American influence in the Arab world.
They’re not fooling around.
Turkey’s IIT reports that in a recent battle al-Nusra front defeated a
Free Syrian Army (FSA) militia and captured many fighters with “…a huge number
of killed among both sides.”
Having attracted a growing number of fighters because of
their perceived arms inventory, flow of external money, and prowess in the
fight against Assad’s forces, al-Nusra Front is now asserting itself within the
opposition; evidently by force when necessary.
They are bragging about recent victories and are playing an increasingly
important role in the effort to transform Syria. SITE Jihadist News reports
al-Nusra describing three attacks by its
"security missions battalion" in Aleppo, Syria, and its fighters
deterring an enemy advance on Jibreen village.
Al-Nusra’s recruiting and training seem quite professional. An
al-Nusra leader said, “We pay a great deal of attention to
the individual fighter, we are concerned with quality, not quantity. A
potential recruit must undertake a 10-day religious-training course to
ascertain his understanding of religion, his morals, his reputation.” A
15-to-20-day military-training program follows. [TimeWorld]
Not shy about its terrorist tactics, al-Nusra took credit
for the Damascus suicide bombings in which at least 60 people were killed.
Although they claimed the target was a military building, most of the dead were
innocent civilians burnt alive in the rush hour traffic.
This battle between al-Nusra and the FSA signals a critical
battle to come. Opposition leaders think al-Nusra will be a huge threat when Syria
finally rids itself of the Assad regime.
Al-Nusra highlights the United States quandary over how to
support the anti-Assad fighters. Adding any weapons to this battle is a mistake
for the U.S. because there is little control over who would receive weapons and
al-Nusra, named a terrorist group by the U.S., has shown its ability to defeat
opposition forces and thereby gain their weapons.
The Sunday Times of London reported back in December that the
U.S. did begin “a covert operation to send weapons to Syrian rebels…” This defiance of logic is sure to backfire as
al-Nusra gains control of more weapons.
There's a naval ballet under way in the water off Syria. Just two days after the United States pulled its ships from Syrian waters we hear of the Russian fleet sending two of its largest amphibian assault ships, a tanker and an escort vessel now headed, it seems, for Tartus.
We pray this is not an act of war but rather a preparation for a large scale evacuation of Russian citizens in anticipation of the chaos to come when Assad's regime falls. Terrorists might well target Russians nationals suspected of supporting Assad and it is possible that their exodus from Syria would be extremely difficult at a later date.
