The Long War Journal (Site-Wide)

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• Russian government blames neo-Nazi group for attack claimed by Islamic State
• Analysis: Qatar’s ill-timed hostage deal increases pressure on Washington
• Taliban kills more than 140 Afghan soldiers in suicide assault
• US: Abu Bakr al Baghdadi’s ‘close associate’ killed in special operations raid

Russian government blames neo-Nazi group for attack claimed by Islamic State Posted: 22 Apr 2017 07:06 AM PDT The Islamic State's Amaq News Agency quickly claimed credit yesterday for a shooting in the Russian city of Khabarovsk that left at least one FSB officer dead. However, the Russian government claims that "information" about the gunman "points to his being a member of a neo-Nazi group."

Analysis: Qatar’s ill-timed hostage deal increases pressure on Washington Posted: 22 Apr 2017 05:25 AM PDT Qatar recently secured the release of Qatari hostages, including members of the royal family. But its diplomatic victory was marred by reports that a multi-million dollar ransom was paid to a US-designated terrorist group and al Qaeda's joint venture in Syria.

Taliban kills more than 140 Afghan soldiers in suicide assault Posted: 22 Apr 2017 03:52 AM PDT The suicide assault was carried out by 10 Taliban fighters dressed as Afghan policemen. It may be the most effective raid on a military installation in Afghanistan since the September 2012 attack on Camp Bastion.

US: Abu Bakr al Baghdadi’s ‘close associate’ killed in special operations raid Posted: 21 Apr 2017 11:15 AM PDT The US military announced today that Abdurakhmon Uzbeki, a "close associate" of Abu Bakr al Baghdadi who facilitated the New Year's Eve attack in Istanbul, Turkey, was killed during a special forces raid in Syria on Apr. 6.