The Long War Journal (Site-Wide)

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• With sudden advances in Aleppo, Islamic State provokes counteroffensive
• Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claims 2 attacks in Mali
• Qods Force commander Soleimani reportedly spotted in Anbar province

With sudden advances in Aleppo, Islamic State provokes counteroffensive Posted: 01 Jun 2015 12:21 PM PDT The Islamic State has seized towns and villages in Aleppo province, provoking a counterattack from several rebel organizations. The "caliphate's" move may have been timed to disrupt its jihadist rivals' advances in northern Syria.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claims 2 attacks in Mali Posted: 01 Jun 2015 10:42 AM PDT The attacks targeted a UN base and a UN convoy, which included the heads of the UN's military and police forces in Mali, near the city of Timbuktu. The claims come after conflicting reports from a Mauritanian news agency that first reported Al Murabitoon claimed the attacks.

Qods Force commander Soleimani reportedly spotted in Anbar province Posted: 31 May 2015 07:55 PM PDT Qods Force commander Major General Qassem Soleimani was also photographed in Baghdad with Popular Mobilization Committee chief Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and Imam Ali Brigade leader Shebl al Zaydi. The images contradict US official's claims that Iran and its Shiite militia proxies are not involved in the Anbar counteroffensive.