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

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

• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) harshly criticizes the declaration made by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State (IS), of the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate under his leadership. AQAP also criticizes the expansion of the IS into additional provinces outside of Syria and Iraq that are not under its direct authority. According to AQAP, this trend also sows the seeds of conflict and division among the mujahideen and does not contribute to the war effort against the enemies of Islam. In response to these developments, AQAP renews its oath of allegiance to Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al-Qaeda, and to Sheikh Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

• The Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan claims responsibility for a mass terrorist attack against the International Relief and Development diplomatic compound in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

• Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) publishes a video in which two western prisoners being held captive by the organization appeal to the governments of Holland and France to secure their release.

• French members of the IS call on Muslims in France to carry out terror attacks on French soil and terrorize the French in any way possible if they are unable to join the ranks of the organization.

• Three provinces in Libya – Barqa (in the east), Tripoli (in the west) and Fezzan (in the south) – are declared to be official provinces of the Islamic State.

• The IS continues its propaganda campaign, which is aimed as demonstrating its ability to govern the territory under its authority and expresses an idealization of reality.

• The Sharia Council of Ansar al-Sharia in Libya conducts an interview with its member, Sheikh Abu Abdullah al-Libi, about the organization and its battle in Libya. According to him, an all-out war is being waged against the organization by the West and by General Haftar’s regime in both the military and public relations spheres. Al-Libi warns tribal leaders in Libya not to collaborate with Western forces or they will pay a heavy price.