Periodical Review - Summary from the Jihadi Forums - The Second Half of April 2014

This report summarizes notable events discussed on jihadist Web forums during the second half of April 2014. Following are the main points covered in the report:

• In a new video, Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri acknowledges that foreign powers, such as the Syrian regime, may try to break into the ranks of various jihadist organizations in Syria in order to sow seeds of division among them. For this reason, he calls [on jihadist organizations] to maintain unity among the ranks and to avoid shedding the blood of jihad fighters.
• The trend of mutual accusations and arguments continues between the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) and supporters of Al-Qaeda, and the Al-Nusra Front and its supporters. Abu Qatada al-Filastini and other supporters of the Al-Qaeda leadership accuse the ISIS of distorting the principle of jihad and spilling the blood of innocent Muslims. Al-Adnani, spokesman for the ISIS, accuses Al-Qaeda of betraying the principles of the organization and its founders, including Ibn Laden, by submitting to secular powers and cooperating with them and their attempts to destroy the vision of establishing an Islamic state and caliphate. Against the backdrop of this rift, Sheikh Mokhtar Belmokhtar, leader of Al-Murabitun and a member of the organization’s Shura Council operating in the Sahara in the Maghreb, declares his oath of allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri.
• A new Salafi-jihadist organization called the “Ma’an Martyrs Brigade” swears allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the ISIS, and calls for the start of a jihad campaign against the Jordanian regime.
• Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen members in Somalia threaten to carry out additional terrorist attacks such as the one carried out by members of the organization at the Westgate Mall in Kenya. In addition, they call on believers to immigrate to Somalia in order to join the ranks and fulfil the commandment to wage jihad.