Al-Qaeda in Iraq ( Arabic: قاعدة الجهاد في بلاد الرافدين , Qa'ida al-jihad fi bilad ar-rafidayn - “The Jihad Base in Mesopotamia ”) - a branch of the al-Qaeda international terrorist organization that existed in 2004 in 2006 years. Initially, the group was called Jamaat al-Tawhid Val Jihad ("Jamaat of Monotheism and Jihad"), changed its name after al-Zarqawi (the creator of the group) in his letter to bin Laden in the fall of 2004 proposed to join al-Qaeda. After the death of al-Zarqawi in 2006, al-Qaeda in Iraq without the consent of the main leadership created the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), which later turned into an Islamic state in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS). Al-Qaida in Iraq ceased to exist after the creation of ISIS, and in February 2014, al-Qaeda’s leadership officially dissociated itself from ISIS and stated that it was not responsible for the actions of the group.
Zarqawi Leadership
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is the founder of Al-Qaida of the land of the two rivers. On September 14, 2005, Zarqawi made a statement on the Internet declaring the Shiite war “infidel”. In this statement, he also warned the Sunni tribes not to cooperate or even enter into negotiations with the Iraqi government, which is controlled by Shiites. July 6, 2005, before the declaration of war against the Shiites, Zarkawi announced the formation of the Umar Brigade. The Brigades' sole mission is to destroy the members of the Badr Organization. According to Zarqawi, brigades should crack down on them to enable al-Qaeda members to act more freely and focus on the war with the occupying forces. The Umar Brigades recruited mainly Iraqis. This group claimed responsibility for the destruction of dozens of Badr Organization members. The same brigades said they killed two members of the Shiite Islamic party Al-Da'wah. There was also evidence that the Brigades began to kill other political figures, as well as fighters of the Mahdi Army.
The tactics of the Umar Brigades is the maximum propaganda effect. Usually they try to kill the chosen victim with his whole family, turning the murder into a massacre. The brigades may have their own martyrs. They use this tactic to undermine the weddings, processions, and funerals of Badr family members.
In January 2006, al-Qaeda in Iraq attacked Sunni recruits to the police in Ramadi, killing 80 people. This rally led to mass demonstrations in Sunni areas under the patronage of AMS. In response, a “Brigade of Al-Anbar Revenge” was created in Ramadi to protect the population from al-Qaeda. On January 15, 2006 , in response to the loss of support from the Iraqis, Zarqawi formed the “ Mujahideen Advisory Assembly in Iraq .”
In April 2006, the Americans announced that al-Zarqawi had completely changed tactics, and that now he was directing his suicide bombers not against American forces, but against Iraqis, including civilians. This, according to the radio station "Sava", said a representative of the command of the US Army in Iraq, Major General Rick Lynch. The main weapon in the hands of al-Qaeda terrorists in Iraq are explosive-filled vehicles and landmines.
On June 7, 2006, al-Zarqawi was killed.
Masri Leadership Period
On June 12, 2006, his successor, Abu Ayyub al-Masri (Abu Hamza al-Muhajir) , was appointed. It was later stated that his real name is Abu Ayyub Masri (i.e.Egyptian).
April 18, 2010 Abu Ayyub al-Masri was destroyed during a clash with the US military in Tikrit .
In the annual report of the US National Intelligence Council "Terrorist Threat to US Security" for 2006, Al-Qaeda in Iraq is indicated as "the most capable and visible branch" of Al-Qaeda.
Composition
- director: Abu Hamza al-Muhajir (other name: Abu Ayyub Masri)
- deputy leader: Hamid al-Saedi (taken prisoner in June 2006)
Notes
Links
- Al Qaeda in Iraq // Agentura.ru