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{{lowercase|title=al-Qaeda in Iraq (disambiguation)}} |
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{{TotallyDisputed}} |
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{{Unbalanced}} |
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{{copyedit}} |
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{{merge|The Jihad Foundation Organization in Mesopotamia}} |
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The term "al-Qaeda in Iraq" may refer to: |
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{{about|the group called "Al-Qaeda in Iraq"|the alleged earlier involvement of al-Qaeda in Iraq|Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda}} |
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* [[Osama bin Laden]]'s international [[al-Qaeda]] network's operations in Iraq. |
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{{Infobox War Faction |
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* al-Zarqawi, who was labeled an "al-Qaeda operative", contacts with the group [[Ansar al-Islam]] in Northern Iraq, an area that was outside the control of the former Ba'athist government. (Note: Ansar al-Islam's founder, [[Mullah Krekar]], has staunchly denied any such contacts. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2713749.stm]) |
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|name=Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn |
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* al-Zarqawi's operations in Iraq under the group [[Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad]] |
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|war=the [[Iraq War]] |
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* Alternative name of [[The Jihad Foundation Organization in Mesopotamia]] used by U.S. officials and western media. |
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|image=[[Image:Shosei Koda.jpg|250px]] |
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* The umbrella organization of Sunni insurgent groups in Iraq, [[Islamic State of Iraq]], has recently began being referred to as an "al-Qaeda front group" by certain western media, specifically the [[Associated Press]]. (from "umbrella organization of insurgent groups including 'al-Qaeda in Iraq'", then from "al-Qaeda linked") |
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|caption=Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn members with [[Shosei Koda]] ([[Japan]]ese civilian beheaded on [[November 3]], [[2004]]).<br>The banner contains the words from right to left on the bottom: "[[Qaidat]]" (Priniciple/Foundation), "[[Tanzim]]" (Organization/Organizing), and "[[Jihad]]" (The Holy Struggle) |
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|active=2004-present |
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|leaders=[[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]†<br> |
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[[Abu Hamza al-Muhajir]] ([[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]]) |
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|clans= |
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|headquarters=Formerly [[Fallujah]] |
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|area=[[Iraq]], [[Jordan]], [[Middle East]] |
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|strength=1,000+[http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/profiles/al-qaeda_in_iraq.htm] |
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|partof=[[Al-Qaeda]] (since 2004), <br>[[Mujahideen Shura Council]] (2006),<br>[[Islamic State of Iraq]] (since 2006) |
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|previous=[[Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad]] |
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|next= |
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|opponents=[[Multinational force in Iraq]],<br>[[Iraq]] ([[Iraqi Security Forces]], [[Kurds|Kurdish]] and [[Shia]] militias, some of Iraqi [[Sunni]] militias),<br>[[Jordan|Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan]],<br>[[Israel]], [[Egypt]], [[United Nations]] |
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|battles=[[Iraqi insurgency]] |
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}} |
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It may also refer to alleged links between al-Qaeda and [[Saddam Hussein]]: |
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'''Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)''' is a radical [[Salafi]] militant group in the [[Sunni]] [[Iraqi insurgency]] which was led by [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] until his death. It is now believed to be led by [[Abu Hamza al-Muhajir]][http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5073092.stm] (aka [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]][http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2069653,00.html]). |
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* [[Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda]] |
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{{disambig}} |
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AQI is often regarded as being the [[United States]]' most formidable enemy in [[Iraq]],[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031701373.html] as well the largest killer of Iraqi civilians. Critics of this say the threat posed by AQI is overblown, or possibly a diversion.[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/09/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Enemy-No.-1.php] |
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This group is most clearly associated with foreign [[terrorist cell]]s operating in Iraq and has specifically targeted international forces and Iraqi citizens. AQI's operations are predominately Iraq-based, but the group maintains an extensive [[logistics|logistical]] network throughout the [[Middle East]], [[North Africa]], [[Iran]], [[South Asia]], and [[Europe]].[http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm] Although AQI's top leaders are usually foreigners, it is estimated that Iraqis make up 90 percent of AQI's of at least 1,000 to several thousand fighters.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031701373.html] |
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The group is a direct successor of the Zaraqwi's previous organization known as '''[[Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad]]'''. Since its official statement declaring [[allegiance]] to the [[Osama bin Laden]]'s [[al-Qaeda]] terrorist network in October 2004, the group identifies itself as '''Tanzim Qaidat Al-Jihad in Bilad al-Rafidayn''' ('''Organization of Jihad's Base in the Country of the Two Rivers'''). |
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==Name== |
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AQI is also variably known as: '''Al-Qaida in Iraq''', '''Al-Qaeda Group of Jihad in Iraq''', '''Al-Qaeda Group of Jihad in the Land of the Two Rivers''', '''Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia''', '''Al-Qaeda of Jihad in Iraq''', '''Al-Qaeda of Jihad Organization in the Land of The Two Rivers''', '''Al-Zarqawi Network''', and '''Tanzeem Qaidat al Jihad/Bilad al Raafidaini'''.[http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/profiles/al-qaeda_in_iraq.htm] |
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==Goals== |
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In a July 2005 letter to al-Qaeda deputy leader [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], AQI late leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi outlined a four-stage plan to expand the Iraq war to include expelling U.S. forces from Iraq, establishing an Islamic authority ([[caliphate]]), spreading the conflict to Iraq's [[secular]] neighbors and engaging in battle with [[Israel]].[http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm] |
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Consistent with their stated plan, the affiliated groups were linked to regional atacks, such as the [[2005 Sharm el-Sheikh attacks|Sharm al-Sheikh bombings]] in [[Egypt]], and the [[Aqaba]] rocket attack on the ''[[USS Ashland]]''. |
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==Umbrella organizations== |
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[[Image:Islamic State of Iraq.jpg|thumb|Logo of Islamic State of Iraq]] |
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In an attempt to unify Sunni Sunni inurgents in Iraq, in January 2006, AQI created the [[umbrella organization]] of '''[[Mujahideen Shura Council]]''' (MSC). However, its efforts to recruit Iraqi Sunni nationalist and secular groups were undermined by its violent tactics against civilians and the [[fundamentalist]] doctrine, and the attempt was largely unsuccessful.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031701373.html] |
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AQI claimed its attacks under the MSC until mid-October, when Abu Ayyub al-Masri declared the '''[[Islamic State of Iraq]]''' (ISI), under which AQI now claims its attacks.[http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Current/AlQaidaIraq.html] |
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==History== |
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In 2004 AQI kidnapped and murdered [[Shosei Koda]] of [[Japan]] on [[October 30]], and on [[December 19]] bombed a Shiite [[funeral]] procession in [[Najaf]] and main bus station in nearby [[Karbala]], [[December 2004 Karbala and Najaf bombings|killing at least 60 in the Shiite holy cities]]. The group possibly killed 35 children and seven adults in the [[September 2004 Baghdad bombing|Bahdad bombing]] targeting U.S. troops handing out candy to the Iraqis on [[September 30]], but the responsibility claim remains unclear.[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198661,00.html] From Novemeber to December the main AQI forces took part in the defence of [[Fallujah]] from the [[Second Battle of Fallujah|large U.S. and Iraqi offensive]]. |
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In 2005 AQI largely focused on conducting multiple high-profile, coordinated [[suicide attack]]s. AQI claimed numerous attacks primarily aimed against civilians, the [[Iraqi Government]], and [[Iraqi Security Forces]], such as the coordinated attacks against the voters during the [[Iraqi legislative election, January 2005|Iraqi legislative election]] and the coordinated suicide attacks outside the [[Sheraton Ishtar]] and [[Palestine Hotel]] in [[Baghdad]] on [[October 24]].[http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm] On [[April 2]] AQI fighters attacked [[Abu Ghraib prison]] [[Battle of Abu Ghraib|in a combined suicide and conventional attack]]. In July, al-Qaeda kidnapped and executed [[Ihab al-Sherif]], Egyptian ambassador to Iraq,[http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/07/africa/web.0707egypt.php][http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1523750,00.html], and for a three-day series of suicide attacks left at least 150 people dead and more than 260 wounded, including [[2005 Musayyib bombing|Musayyib marketplace bombing]].[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1530732,00.html] In September, Zarqawi claimed responsbility for the [[September 14]] massacre of 160 people, [[14 September 2005 Baghdad bombing|mostly unemployed constrution workers]] in Baghdad; 570 were injured.[http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/15/africa/web.0915iraq.php] |
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AQI attack claims, which the group now releases under the auspices of the first IMC and then the ISI, increased in 2006.[http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/SpecialTopics/TerroristProfile/Current/AlQaidaIraq.html] In one of the incidents, two American soldiers ([[Thomas Lowell Tucker]] and [[Kristian Menchaca]]) were captured, tortured and beheaded by the IMC members; in another, [[Abduction of Russian diplomats in Iraq|four Russian citiziens]] were kidnapped and executed. AQI and its umbrella groups were blamed for multiple mass-casualty attacks targeting Iraqi Shiites and claimed responsibility for some of them. In many cases it's unknown if the attack was the work of AQI itself or rather its allied groups. Also this year, several key members of AQI were killed or captured, including the leader and founder Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, his spiritual advisor [[Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman]], and the alleged "number two" deputy leader [[Hamid Juma Faris Jouri al-Saeedi]]. |
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This trend continued in 2007, as the AQI-led ISI claimed responsibility for such attacks as the [[March 23]] assassination attempt of Sunni Deputy [[Prime Minister]] [[Salam al-Zaubai]], [[April 12]] [[2007 Iraqi Parliament bombing|Iraqi Parliament bombing]] and May [[Captured US soldiers in May 2007|capture and execution of three American soldiers]]. On [[May 27]] [[2007]] U.S. forces announced they freed 42 Iraqi citizens kidnapped and tortured by AQI as part of the groups [[intimidation]] campaign against Iraqi civilians.[http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/27/iraq.main/index.html] On [[May 3]], [[2007]] the ISI leader [[Abu Omar al-Baghdadi]] was announced to having been killed in Baghdad. |
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==Activities== |
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The group is one of the most active among the Iraqi inurgent groups, especially in its current stronghold in [[Anbar]] province. In [[Mosul]] alone, Zarqawi affiliates are reportedly responsible for more than 1,700 attacks on Coalition and Iraqi forces over a three-month period in 2005.[http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm] Many of these attacks were suicide and [[improvised explosive device]] (IED) attacks using cars and other motor vehicles driven by foreign fighters or locally recruited Iraqis trained by foreign fighters. |
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===Inciting sectarian violence=== |
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The attacks against civilians often targeted Iraqi [[Shia]] majority in an attempt to incite [[sectarian violence]]. The group leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, purportedly declared ''all-out war'' on Shiites[http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/15/africa/web.0915iraq.php] while claiming responsibility for a series of a [[mosque]] bombings.[http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/16/news/iraq.php] U.S. and Iraqi officials accused AQI of trying to tip Iraq into full-scale [[civil war]] between Iraq's majority Shiites and minority Sunni Arabs with a campaign of spectacular massacres that have killed thousands.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1911670.htm] |
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From the February 2006 [[Al-Askari Mosque bombing]] in [[Samarra]] through the series of massive attacks against civilians like the [[23 November 2006 Sadr City bombings|series of bombings]] in the Baghdad's Shiite district of [[Sadr City]] on [[November 23]] [[2006]] which killed at least 215 people and injured 257 others, AQI succeeded to provoke the Shiite militias to unleash a wave of retaliatory kidnappings and killings.[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031701373_2.html] This vicious religious violence is sometimes called "[[civil war in Iraq]]". |
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===Operations outside Iraq=== |
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AQI also increased its external operations in 2005 by claiming credit for three attacks:[http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm] |
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*[[2005 Amman bombings|suicide bomber attacks against hotels]] in [[Amman]], Jordan, on [[November 9]] [[2005]];[http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/09/news/jordan.php] |
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*a rocket attack that narrowly missed [[U.S. Navy]] ship in [[Eilat]], Israel; |
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*the firing of several ''[[Katyusha]]'' rockets into Israel from [[Lebanon]] in December. |
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On [[December 3]], [[2004]] AQI attempted to blow up a Iraqi-Jordanian [[border crossing]], but failed - Zarqawi (''[[in absentia]]'') and two of his associates were sentenced to death for this plot by a Jordanian court in 2006.[http://beta.inquirer.net/common/print.php?index=1&story_id=60417&site_id=38] In addition, an AQI operative was arrested in Turkey in August while planning an operation targeting Israeli [[cruise ship]]s. In Lebanon, [[Palestinian]] militant group [[Fatah al-Islam]] fighting in the [[2007 Lebanon conflict]] is connected to AQI and led by Zarqawi's former companion who fought in Iraq[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/20/africa/ME-GEN-Lebanon-Violence-Militants.php]. |
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==Conflicts with the other Sunni groups== |
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The first reports of the split and even armed clashes between AQI and its allies and the other anti-government Sunni groups date back to 2005.[http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1601208,00.html][http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1564000,00.html] In the summer of 2006 local Sunni tribes and insurgents groups, including the leading rebel group known as [[Islamic Army in Iraq]] (IAI), began to speak of their dissatisfaction of the millitant group and its tactics,[http://gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10116557.html] and openly criticized foreign fighters for their campaign of bombings against civilian targets, especially Sunni. |
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Since them, AQI forces have retaliated against local Sunni tribesmen and other insurgent groups for negotiating with the U.S. forces and the Iraqi government on joining forces to route out Al-Qaeda millitants, including the assassination of [[Harith al-Dari]], a major Sunni insurgent leader who headed the [[1920 Revolution Brigades]]. As the situation between AQI and the local Sunni tribesmen in Anbar (many of them former Qaeda allies) has continued to worsen, in September 2006 30 Anbar tribes have formed their own local alliance directed specifically to counter Al-Qaeda forces,[http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070503/wl_csm/oramadi_1][http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1624697,00.html] called [[Anbar Salvation Council]] (ASC),[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1886076,00.html] siding with the government and U.S. forces in the province.[http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=nation_world&id=5359370][http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?_r=1&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fA%2fAl%20Qaeda%20in%20Mesopotamia&oref=slogin] |
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On [[April 17]] [[2007]] the IAI spokesman accused AQI of killing 30 members of Islamic Army and said al-Baghdadi had broken [[Islamic law]].[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/17/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Insurgent-Split.php] On the same day the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq Abu Omar al-Baghdadi released an audio tape in which he tried to soothe down tensions with other major Sunni insurgent groups.[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070417/wl_nm/iraq_qaeda_baghdadi_dc;_ylt=Aq5Ozlpzkt13eBhsuWAL8zMUewgF] On [[May 1]] [[2007]] the government said AQI leader Abu Ayyub Al Masri was killed by the ASC fighters.[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2069653,00.html][http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1911670.htm] Four days later, AQI released an audio tape in which Al Masri warned Sunnis not to join the political process.[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070505/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq][http://gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10123106.html] He also went on to claim that reports of internal fighting between his group and other Sunni insurgent groups were "lies and fabrications".[http://gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10123106.html] |
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In June 2007, the growing hostility between foreign-influenced AQI extremists and Sunni nationalists led to a gunbattles between the insurgents groups also in Baghdad.[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/02/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq.php?page=1][http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6675541,00.html] Same month, after an al-Qaeda-linked suicide bomber struck a [[safehouse]] of the 1920 Revolution Brigades,[http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6677854,00.html] US military began arming moderate insurgents on the promise to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq and not the Americans.[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2100698,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12] In the meantime, however, Islamic Army reached a [[ceasefire]] with AQI on [[June 6]] [[2007]], saying ''"The most important is that it's our common duty to fight the Americans."'' Neverthless, IAI never adopted al-Qaeda's extremist views and refused to sign on to ISI.[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1629871,00.html] |
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==Leaders== |
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*[[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]] (killed 2006) |
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*[[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]] (status uncertain) |
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*[[Hamid Juma Faris Jouri al-Saeedi]] (captured 2006) |
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*[[Abu Omar al-Baghdadi]] (killed 2007) |
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*[[Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman]] (killed 2006) |
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*[[Abu Azzam]] (killed 2005) |
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*[[Muharib Abdul-Latif al-Jubouri]] (killed 2007)[http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6605345,00.html] |
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*[[Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Iraqi]][http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications22505&Category=publications&Subcategory=0][http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/05/b57cb3b1-3b00-4a99-90f5-5ab4ac9e06a4.html] |
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==See also== |
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*[[Al Anbar Governorate]] |
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*[[Diyala Governorate]] |
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*[[Terrorism in Iraq]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/profiles/al-qaeda_in_iraq.htm Al-Qaeda in Iraq] [[GlobalSecurity]] |
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*[http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2005/65275.htm Country Reports on Terrorism] [[United States Department of State]] |
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*[http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/a/al_qaeda_in_mesopotamia/index.html News about Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times] [[New York Times]] |
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===Articles=== |
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*[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/01/africa/ME-GEN-Al-Qaida-Video-Offensive.php In motley array of Iraqi foes, why does U.S. spotlight al-Qaida?] [[Associated Press]] on [[June 1]], [[2007]] |
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*[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1624697,00.html Is al-Qaeda on the Run in Iraq?] [[TIME]] on [[May 23]] [[2007]] |
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*[http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0503/p01s04-wome.html?page=1 Sunni Muslim sheikhs join US in fighting Al Qaeda] [[Christian Science Monitor]] on [[May 3]], [[2007]] |
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*[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/04/ca95fafc-1e70-450a-a4bf-9417b05caa3c.html Iraq: Al-Qaeda Tactics Lead To Splits Among Insurgents] [[Radio Free Europe]]/[[Radio Liberty]] [[April 17]], [[2007]] |
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*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/17/AR2007031701373.html Al-Qaeda in Iraq May Not Be Threat Here; Intelligence Experts Say Group Is Busy On Its Home Front] [[Washington Post]] on [[March 18]], [[2007]] |
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===Videos=== |
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*[http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/017F23DD-5F7E-41D4-A5C8-A45419C18CFB.htm Al-Qaeda in Iraq] [[Al-Jazeera English]] on [[May 20]] [[2007]] |
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{{Armed Iraqi Groups in the Iraq War and the Iraq Civil War}} |
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[[Category:Al-Qaeda]] |
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[[Category:Designated terrorist organizations]] |
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[[Category:Iraqi insurgency]] |
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[[Category:Islamic organizations]] |
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[[Category:Jihadist organizations]] |
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[[Category:Terrorism in Iraq]] |
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[[Category:Islamist terrorism]] |
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[[fi:Irakin al-Qaida]] |
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[[sv:Al-Qaida i Irak]] |
Revision as of 15:31, 13 June 2007
The term "al-Qaeda in Iraq" may refer to:
- Osama bin Laden's international al-Qaeda network's operations in Iraq.
- al-Zarqawi, who was labeled an "al-Qaeda operative", contacts with the group Ansar al-Islam in Northern Iraq, an area that was outside the control of the former Ba'athist government. (Note: Ansar al-Islam's founder, Mullah Krekar, has staunchly denied any such contacts. [1])
- al-Zarqawi's operations in Iraq under the group Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad
- Alternative name of The Jihad Foundation Organization in Mesopotamia used by U.S. officials and western media.
- The umbrella organization of Sunni insurgent groups in Iraq, Islamic State of Iraq, has recently began being referred to as an "al-Qaeda front group" by certain western media, specifically the Associated Press. (from "umbrella organization of insurgent groups including 'al-Qaeda in Iraq'", then from "al-Qaeda linked")
It may also refer to alleged links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein: