Author: M Barbu

Special Analysises

Dollars for Daesh: The Small Financial Footprint of the Islamic State’s American Supporters

Abstract: An analysis of all related court cases since 2013 shows that, save for a few exceptions, the vast majority of U.S.-based Islamic State supporters left a remarkably small financial footprint. Most, in fact, simply relied on personal savings to pay the small costs required for their activities. Some engaged in specific fundraising activities, which tended to be fairly unsophisticated. The crime-terror nexus prevalent in Europe has been virtually absent in the United States with respect to the Islamic State-linked cases, and very few U.S.-based supporters engaged in financial transactions with full-fledged Islamic State members, with only one known case of an individual who received funding to carry out an attack domestically. The small size of the financial footprint of U.S.-based Islamic State supporters is, in itself, good news for U.S. authorities but has a flipside, as the scarcity and inconspicuous nature of the financial transactions of many U.S.-based Islamic State supporters can represent a challenge for investigators.

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Special Analysises

Islamic State West Africa (ISWA / ISGS): Suicide Bomber Targets French & Malian Convoy on Road Between Ansongo & Menaka, Near ‘Indelimane (In -Delimane) & IED Targets Convoy Following Day in I Hagana, Garo Region, Mali

Reporting from London, Sophia Badawy follows developments throughout Africa. This week, Badawy followed the Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) very closely. The group has been actively targeting the In-Delimane (Ansongo) since November 2019. Because of its location, before ISGS, the area was targeted by JNIM. On 14 March, Badawy began collecting on the ISWA/ISGS suicide bombing targeting a French and Malian convoy.

Iran’s influence extends to South America

Since the death of General Soleimani in Baghdad on January 2nd as a result of a Drone Strike at the Baghdad International Airport, there has been great consternation that the Trump Administration would take such a bold step and fear that Iran will retaliate for this move.

Migration as a Weapon – How to Stop Erdogan

Turkish President Erdogan is currently in a precarious situation. Turkey suffered in Syria severe military setbacks with dozens of killed. Yesterday’s agreement with Russia’s President Putin foresees a withdrawal of the Islamists supported by Turkey from a larger area to the south and east of Idlib. More than 30 Turkish soldiers died in Libya in the last few days. EU sanctions against two Turkish citizens because of the natural gas drilling off Cyprus are damaging to Erdogan’s reputation.

Interview with Sheikh Abu Yahya al-Shami

Q: Can you talk about your life especially after the rise of the revolution and the jihad in the field of al-Sham? With which factions did you work and what is your role in the field of al-Sham currently?

A: I was writing a Master’s thesis in international law, and my eye and heart were on the revolution in Tunisia then Egypt. At the time I began among those who began preparing and adjusting the mind to undertake a revolution against the criminal Nusayri regime in Syria, and at the end of 2011 I was arrested in my home and my books and devices were confiscated and I remained in prison for two months when I admitted demonstrating but the interrogators could prove nothing besides that, even as the accusations were many and dangerous!

As the nation defaults, Lebanon turns its back on Syrian refugees

AMMAN — The months-long economic crisis in Lebanon peaked on Saturday, as the government announced it would be defaulting, for the first time in its history, on a $1.2 billion debt payment which was due to be paid on Monday. The payment constitutes just a small portion of the country’s $90 billion national debt, which is 170% of the nation’s GDP. Consequently, some “unpopular decisions” have become inevitable, according to the Minister of Information Manal Abdul Samad.

International, regional and local reactions to the March 5 Russian-Turkish agreement on northwest Syria

On March 5, Turkey and Russia reached an agreement on the “stabilization of the situation in the Idlib de-escalation area.” The agreement came after months of escalation came to a head with the Turkish “Operation Spring Shield” against government forces and its allied militias on March 1, in response to air raids that resulted in the death of 34 Turkish soldiers in Idlib province on February 27.