Jordan

HOT SPOTS: Jordan remains, for the time being, a quiet island surrounded by ongoing conflicts in the neighboring countries. They key question for king Abdullah II and his key advisers is how to best protect the Hashemite kingdom. Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK

Region explores taking on ISIL

Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are secretly trying to negotiate a coordinated air and ground campaign targeting ISIL in Syria and Iraq. Kjetil Stormark /Twitter: @kjetilstormark Intelligence and security officials from Jordan, Saudi […]

Continue Reading
THE ENIGMATIC CALIPH: How long will Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi be able to survive on the run? What powerbase will he be able to establish in the Middle East? The ISIL commander came out of hiding Friday 4 July, leading the prayer in a mosque in Mosul in Iraq. A recording of the appearance was published by ISIL the day after.

The quest for the caliph(ate)

ANALYSIS: With several national intelligence services using all their resources to hunt him down, the self-declared “caliph” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi needs to maintain the fighting spirit of his mujahedeen force while establishing his […]

Continue Reading
ENTERING RAQQA: Jihadist fighters from ISIL entering into Raqqa in January 2014, after fierce fighting between ISIL and Jabhat Al Nusra.

US role seen in Syria attack

Military forces in recent days have repeatedly attacked a Syrian ISIL training and military camp named after Osama Bin Laden, according to eyewitnesses. Two assault team members were said to have been killed in one of […]

Continue Reading
hsi_abu_sayaf_jordan

“Jihad will continue”

INTERVIEW: Jordanian militant Islamist Abu Sayaf calls Egypt’s armed forces chief, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, an “apostate” and says jihad in Syria will continue even if the Assad regime is ousted. Hisham Allam “Realities differ,” says […]

Continue Reading
ANALYSIS: Our interview with Jordanian militant Islamist Abu Sayaf sheds light on the revolutionary mindset of Salafi jihadism.

Jihadist mindset

ANALYSIS: Our interview with Jordanian militant Islamist Abu Sayyaf provides insight into the revolutionary mindset of Salafi jihadism. Øyvind Strømmen At least 500 Jordanians are thought to be involved in Syria’s raging civil […]

Continue Reading