The Long War Journal (Site-Wide)

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• Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula hosts large rally in Mukallah
• Islamic State’s governor for Aleppo reportedly killed in airstrike
• Iraqi Shia militias show US-made equipment on road to Samarra
• Osama Bin Laden’s Files: Boko Haram’s leader wanted to be ‘under one banner’
• Osama Bin Laden’s Files: Letters to the ‘Commander of the Faithful’

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula hosts large rally in Mukallah Posted: 04 Mar 2016 09:04 AM PST Al Ather "news" agency, which publishes propaganda for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and its front, Ansar al Sharia, has released a series of photos showing a large rally in the city of Mukallah. AQAP captured Mukallah in early April 2015.

Islamic State’s governor for Aleppo reportedly killed in airstrike Posted: 04 Mar 2016 08:41 AM PST It is unclear if the US or Russia killed Amr al Absi, the Islamic State's governor for the Syrian province of Aleppo. The US launched an airstrike in northern Syria on March 3, where Absi is said to have been killed.

Iraqi Shia militias show US-made equipment on road to Samarra Posted: 04 Mar 2016 07:16 AM PST Iranian-backed Shia militias in Iraq continue to showcase both the ownership and usage of US-made vehicles and equipment.

Osama Bin Laden’s Files: Boko Haram’s leader wanted to be ‘under one banner’ Posted: 03 Mar 2016 07:16 PM PST A letter recovered in Osama bin Laden's compound reveals that Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, sought direct contact with al Qaeda's deputy leader at the time. There is abundant evidence that Boko Haram was supported by al Qaeda's international network until Shekau swore allegiance to the Islamic State's Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in 2015.

Osama Bin Laden’s Files: Letters to the ‘Commander of the Faithful’ Posted: 03 Mar 2016 02:56 PM PST Newly released documents from Osama bin Laden's compound reveal that al Qaeda was skeptical about statements issued in Mullah Omar's name. As of early 2010, bin Laden apparently was not communicating regularly with Omar. Letters from later that same year show, however, that bin Laden likely did begin corresponding with Omar. Bin Laden argued in one letter that the West had been weakened by the war in Afghanistan and the mujahideen simply needed to be patient.