|
Related Articles
Research
on the Islamic State, Syria, and Iraq
by Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi
April 1–May 31, 2016
|
|
|
Share:  
|
  Be the first of
your friends to like this.
Aymenn
Jawad al-Tamimi, a research fellow at the Middle East Forum's
Jihad Intel project,
writes extensively about the Islamic State (also known as ISIS) and other
armed groups in Syria and Iraq. As his writings and translations tend to be too
detailed for a general readership, we periodically compile links and
summaries for those wishing to learn about the groundbreaking work of
this prolific researcher. For all writings by Jawad al-Tamimi, click
here.
Articles and
Translations
|
Islamic
State commanders are trained in both religious doctrine and military
tactics.
|
Unseen
Islamic State Military Commanders Manual: Qualities and Manners of the
Mujahid Commander (April 11)
Jihadology
Lengthy translation of a guide published by the Idarat al-Mu'askarat
(Camps Administration) of Islamic State's Diwan al-Jund (Soldiers
Department). The guide covers religious doctrine, physical fitness, and
simple bureaucratic procedures (keeping track of inventory, resolving
disputes between military leaders and local administrators, applying for
leave permits, requesting suicide operations, etc.). It is clear from the
guide that the positions of military amir and security amir in each
Islamic State wilaya (province) are separate.
A
Caliphate Under Strain: The Documentary Evidence (April 22)
CTC Sentinel
Mr. Tamimi examines a series of internal IS documents, many published
here for the first time, that show IS has come under strain as it's
pounded by coalition air strikes and loses territory. These pressures
have been felt in the group's military, financial, and administrative
domains, forcing it to take measures to react and adapt. But there is
little prospect of a collapse anytime soon. Populations under Islamic
State rule are accustomed to suffering, he notes, and will likely stomach
further decreases in their quality of life rather than rebel and risk a
brutal crackdown.
Liwa
al-Jalil: A New Pro-Assad Palestinian Militia (May 6)
Syria Comment
A profile of a new pro-regime Palestinian militia in Syria that
explicitly identifies itself as "secular leftist." Includes a
translation of the group's official account of its formation and excerpts
from its charter (e.g. "destroying the Zionist entity in all its
pillars."). According to Mr. Tamimi, its military role has so far
been "very limited."
|
Syria,
as seen from the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
|
The
Jihadi Threat on Israel's Northern Border (May 15)
Middle East Review of International Affairs
An in-depth look at the various Sunni jihadi groups operating in the
south of Syria near the border with the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights
and the threat they pose to Israel's security. Mr. Tamimi concludes that
"the risk posed to Israel by the various Sunni jihadi groups in
southern Syria is low," owing mainly to the fact that they "are
heavily embroiled in infighting and have far greater priorities than to
focus their energies on Israel."
The
Leopards of Homs: A Pro-Assad Militia (May 15)
Syria Comment
A profile of the Leopards of Homs, one of several pro-regime militias
operating with support from the Al-Bustan Association of Rami Makhlouf, a
cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Although the militia's
sectarian affiliation is not evident from its insignia, the majority of
its announced "martyrs" appear to come from Alawite areas.
The
Local Defence Forces: Regime Auxiliary Forces in Aleppo (May 23)
Syria Comment
A profile of the Local Defence Forces (Quwat al-Difa' al-Mahalli – LDF),
a distinct group of militias set up in 2012 by Iran as an auxiliary force
for the Syrian army in the Aleppo area. LDF claims to have 50,000
fighters, but this is likely an exaggeration. In contrast to many other
pro-regime militias, Mr. Tamimi observes, LDF has had some success
"organizing local pro-Assad support networks ... that transcend the
sectarian divide to a degree."
Yarmouk
Valley: The Formation of Jaysh Khalid ibn al-Waleed? (May 24)
Examines the apparent merger of two IS-affiliated Syrian Sunni
jihadist groups, Liwa Shuhada' al-Yarmouk (LSY) and Harakat al-Muthanna
al-Islamiya (HMI), which Mr. Tamimi calls an Islamic State "attempt
to reorganize and revitalize the southern front against [moderate] rebel
factions" following the failure of a recent offensive against them.
The move follows LSY's appointment
of a new leader in March.
The
'Martyrs' of Liwa al-Sayyida Ruqayya (The Ja'afari Force) (May 29)
Syria Comment
Mr. Tamimi examines the announced martyrs of Liwa
al-Sayyida Ruqayya, a Syrian Shi'a militia named for the Sayyida
Ruqayya shrine in Damascus, to trace its evolving affiliations.
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi is a
research fellow at Middle East Forum's Jihad Intel project.
|
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment