The Hydra Briefing Strategic Counter-terrorism Insights

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Job Daniel
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1 October The Hydra Briefing Strategic Counter-terrorism Insights The Hydra Briefing is a monthly service that provides longer term strategic analysis of current developments in global jihadist movement. The briefing, prepared by subject matter experts in the field of Salafist Islamist extremism, is derived from timely data extraction and analysis of jihadist use of password-protected forums and various social media platforms. The page report provides insights into emerging trends in the jihadist circles, objectives and targeting priorities worldwide. Additionally, each briefing features an in-depth profile of a prominent online jihadist activist. HIWIRE II.ID Oct Date In Focus Strategic WEBINT Insights into Online Global Jihad Cubs of the Khilafah: Adolescent Participation in Jihadi Activities 1. Turkey: IS Vocally Turns against Turkey 2. Iraq: IS Use of Tunnels: a Sign of what is to come 3. Afghanistan: Major Taliban attack in Kunduz achieves control over the city Online Activists Exposed Asad Afghan, Taliban media activist from Helmand Sep Aug Cherche La Femme: Women s Increasing Participation in IS Operations Nusra's Ambiguous Rebranding 1. AQ Central: Al-Zawahiri's recent messages - a sign of AQ s desire to return to its leadership position 2. Worldwide: Spirit of Eid: How IS Propaganda used Eid al-adha to Distribute its Message 3. Somalia: Follow up: IS & AQ Continue to Vie for Influence in East Africa 1. Nigeria: A leadership split in Boko Haram threatens the Islamic State's West Africa Province 2. Iraq: The Islamic State's Ashiqat al- Shahada, a Twitter account used by a woman. She writes in English, German and Turkish, and her contents emphasize her affiliation with Al-Qaeda. Abu Baseer al-shami, a Pro-JFS writer/suppor ter

2 October Keeps Al- Qaeda in Syria Complicated Relationship with Iraqi Tribes 3. Worldwide: The Jihadist Debate over the Use of the Telegram Mobile App Jul IS versus AQ in the Race for Africa 1. Libya: Al-Qaeda Eyes a Return to Libya with their new Campaign 2. East Africa: IS Activity in East Asian Countries Enters a New Stage Mujahida Slfy, a Turkish IS activist, most likely located in Syria 3. Saudi Arabia: Wild is the Wind: Saudi Arabia after the July 4 Attacks 4. Worldwide: As the Years Go By: Two Years to the Caliphate Jun Not Part of the Pack: Lone Wolves in Jihadi Strategy 1. Iraq: The Way to Fallujah and Beyond: The Islamic State Loses Territory in the City 2. Afghanistan: Taliban Leadership Changes Unlikely to Affect Taliban-AQ Alliance 3. Gaza Strip: Tensions between Hamas and Salafi-Jihadi Groups Escalate Abu Umar al- Maaldifi, JN fighter and media activist within the ranks of Nusra in Syria May Al-Qaeda's Long-Term Strategy in Syria: Between an Islamic Emirate and Jihadist Unity 1. Libya: The Islamic State Withdraws from Derna 2. Egypt: Massive Media Campaign for the Support of the Islamic State in Egypt 3. Arabian Peninsula: AQAP resurgent in Yemen despite withdrawal from al-mukalla 4. Worldwide: The Islamic State's Cyber Battlefield Ardul Malahim, a pro-aq activist of German origin fighting in Syria with Jaysh al- Sunnah Apr The Islamic State's Defensive Strategy in Iraq; Syria: Mitigating the Impact of Military Inferiority 1. South Asia: Recent Developments & Activities among Islamic State Militants and Supporters 2. Somalia: IS Challenges al- Shabaab with Propaganda Efforts 3. Central Asia: IS eyes post-soviet Muslim Republics of Central Asia 4. New IS Propaganda Campaign Targets Egypt's Muslim Abu Saeed al- Holandi, a Dutch foreign fighter within the ranks of Nusra

3 October Brotherhood Mar Islamic State's Expansion in Libya and the Threat to Neighboring Countries 1. Syria: Battles & Demonstrations mar the Ceasefire between the Different Factions 2. Yemen: Al-Qaeda Consolidates its Dominion in the Country 3. IS Increases Activity beyond Syria's Borders Abu Yousef Al- Kanadi, a media activist and Canadian foreign fighter in the ranks of Nusra, in Syria 4. IS Describes Brussels Attacks as Revenge for Coalition and Failure of the West's Campaign Feb Jan 5 Syrian Jihadists Under Increased Pressure from Russia and the Assad Regime IS Losses in Syria and Iraq Trigger the Activation of Regional Affiliates 1. North Africa & Sahel: AQIM widens its operational reach; intensifies media output 2. IS expands in the Caucasus 1. Severe Deterioration in al- Shabab - IS Relations 2. Al-Qaeda s Branch in Yemen is Pushing the Islamic State Aside 3. After Paris Attacks, IS Appeals to German Jihadists Abu Qumayra Almani, a German Islamic State media activist Abu Sae ed al- Britani, an IS British foreign fighter, one of the betterknown British IS figures Dec Al-Qaeda Fights Back with Messages of Unity 1. Jihadist Reactions to the Riyadh Conference 2. IS Launches Media Blitz against Saudi Arabia 3. Islamic State Efforts at Governance in Sinai 4. IS turns up the heat on Turkey Rabi a Kin aan a Syrian rebel fighter, a sniper in a rebel group Ahrar al-sham - part of the Jaysh al-fath coalition Nov Islamic State Stuns the World with Organized Attacks in the Heart of Paris 1. Barrage of Threats Against Russia 2. IS Enduring Presence in Libya 3. IS Choice Mobile App Telegram 4. AQ Counter narratives Aim to Weaken IS Base Abu Islam Belgiki, Belgian IS Fighter in Deir Az-Zor, Syria

4 October Oct Russian Intervention in Syria Unifies Rebel Groups 1. ISIS' effort to break apart al- Shabaab 2. Global repercussions of wave of terror in Israel 3. Boko Haram strengthens ties with ISIS Stajyer bombaci' a Turkish AQ supporter in Istanbul, Turkey Sep The Migration of ISIS Execution Tactics 1. Jihadist Reactions to the Refugee Crisis 2. Algeria - ISIS is Gaining Ground 3. Saudi Military Officials new ISIS Target 4. ISIS Branch in Yemen Strengthened Wife of Shahid' a British- Pakistani woman ISIS supporter in Raqqa, Syria Aug The Swell of Jihad in the Sahel of Africa 1. Mullah Omar's Death and Zawahiri's Baya to his Successor 2. JN Faces Opposition in Jaysh al- Fath Abu Albara al- Franci, French ISIS policeman in Mosul, Iraq 3. Jihadist Groups of Bangladesh Jul Foreign Fighters Play a Pivotal Role in Lone Wolf Attacks 1. The Jihad of the Uyghurs of 'East Turkistan' 2. IS Launches Brutal Campaign of Intimidation against its Sunni Enemies Abu Karimah, Indonesian ISIS fighter in Syria Jun The Asian Crescent of the Islamic State 1. IS in Libya - Losing Derna but Expanding in Sirte 2. Al-Shabaab Under Pressure of IS Jihadists Abu Rahin Aziz, British ISIS Fighter 3. Syrian JN Reveals its Strategy 4. IS Inches Forward against Saudi Arabia May The Islamic State Turns the Tide in Iraq 1. Implications of Fall of Ramadi to IS 2. Uptick in Jihadist Discourse on Tunisia 3. Ajnad Misr Relationship to AQ Abuqaqa Britani al Afreeki, British ISIS Senior Commander 4. Wilayat Khorasan and Taliban on Battlefield in Afghanistan Apr Al Qaeda - A Decentralize d Resurgence 1. IS and Ansar al-shari'a in Libya; Launchpad for Regional Attacks 2. IS Calls for Violence in the West 3. Yemen Torn Apart by Radical Islamists and Houthi Rebels Abo Suleiman, Malaysian Ajnad al-sham Fighter in Syria

5 October 4. Al-Shabaab in Kenya Mar Nusra under Duress, but Still Effective 1. Boko Haram Incorporated into IS 2. Mounting IS Pressure on Al- Shabaab to Join 3. IS Declares War on Twitter Abu Malik Shaiba al- Hamad, Algerian IS Poet and Propagandist Feb Saudi Arabia in The Crosshairs of the Islamic State 1. IS Intensifies Anti-French Campaign 2. IS Immolation of Jordanian Pilot 3. Boko Haram Ties with IS 4. Mass Defections to IS from Caucasus Emirate Aussie Irhabi, Australian IS Supporter of African descent Jan Al-Qaeda Back in the Spotlight after Charlie Hebdo Paris Attack 1. IS Settles in War-Torn Libya 2. Boko Haram Deadlier Ahead of Elections 3. Pakistani and Afghani Jihadists Embrace IS Abu 'Antar al- Britani, British IS Facilitator for Hijra Dec Al-Qaeda Striving to Regain Recognition 1. Nusra Reveals its Ambitions in Syria 2. Al-Shabaab Growing Threat in the Horn of Africa Ebu Duhan, Turkish projihadist hacker 3. Incitement for Lone-Wolf Attacks on Churches, Hotel ahead of Christmas on Closed Jihadist Forum Nov Despite International Intervention, IS Persists and Expands 1. IS Calls to Poison French 2. AQ Focuses on Indian Subcontinent, Maritime Targets 3. Global Jihadism Inspire Palestinian Struggle Abu Qa'qa' al- Baritani, IS Jihadist and Recruiter in Raqqa, Syria 4. AQAP Propagates Idea of US-Iran Alliance Oct U.S.-Led Campaign against the Islamic State Draws Rival Jihadi Groups 1. IS Aims for Individual Attacks Abroad 2. Al-Adnani Reveals Early Signs of IS Proxies in North Africa 3. Pro-IS Twitter Accounts Spread Aadhil Ameez, Sri Lankan ISIS and Jamiyah Islamiya Activist

6 October Closer Improvised Warfare Guides Sep The Women of the Islamic State 1. Nusra Benefits from Media Focus on IS 2. Ansar Bayt al-maqdis Adopts IS Tactics 3. Jihadi Discourse on 9-11 Attacks 4. AQ Activity in Indian Subcontinent Tahmid Mirzaa, Australian Bangladeshi Salafist Jihadist online activist

7 October ABOUT TERROGENCE LTD. Founded in 2004, Terrogence is a privately owned counter-terror web-intelligence (WEBINT) agency dedicated to exposing terrorist and insurgent activities originating from the web. Terrogence combines the highest caliber intelligence professionals with its proprietary WEBINT technology and methodology for collection, analysis and research in order to produce actionable intelligence products, services and solutions to government agencies and private corporations worldwide. TERROGENCE CONTACT INFORMATION Name Shani Shmueli Naor (Ms.) Title Operations Manager Office Fax shani@terrogence.com

Overview 1. On June 29, 2014, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-baghdadi declared the establishment of the

Overview 1. On June 29, 2014, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-baghdadi declared the establishment of the The Collapse of the Islamic State: What Comes Next? November 18, 2017 Overview 1 On June 29, 2014, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-baghdadi declared the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate by the Islamic State