Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #alshabaab
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Two weeks after forces in Puntland killed IS-Somalia's head of ops, Abu-Albara Al Amani of Ethiopia, US forces conduct a rare raid in #Somalia targeting Bilal al-Sudani, a top Islamic State figure seen as a key facilitator for ISIS's global network. 🧵
Bilal al-Sudani, aka Suhayl Salim Abd el-Rahman of #Sudan, was designated under the US #Somalia sanctions program in 2012 for facilitating the travel & financing of foreign fighters for #AlShabaab since 2007. He later joined the IS splinter faction.
home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…
home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…
Al-Sudani was linked to a South Africa-based ISIS facilitator, Abdella Hussein Abadigga, that was designated for sanctions in early 2022.
home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…
home.treasury.gov/news/press-rel…
🇸🇴 The #Somali Islamist group, #alShabaab, is the ‘largest, wealthiest and most deadly’ al-Qaeda affiliate remaining in the world.
🔴 Despite losing territory since 2011, the group has remained dominant, exerting control and power far beyond areas it physically controls.
🔴 Despite losing territory since 2011, the group has remained dominant, exerting control and power far beyond areas it physically controls.
💰 #AlShabaab’s continued resilience can largely be attributed to their checkpoint #taxation apparatus it has established throughout southern #Somalia.
The group categorizes its #tax system into four streams:
🚚 Transit
📦 Goods
🌾 Agricultural produce
🐐 Livestock
The group categorizes its #tax system into four streams:
🚚 Transit
📦 Goods
🌾 Agricultural produce
🐐 Livestock
⚠️ Despite the group’s #checkpoints and #tax officials routinely targeted by government and international forces, #AlShabaab can easily adapt by relocating those checkpoints and replacing the tax collectors.
NEW GIF | Anti-#alShabaab forces captured #AdanYabal, the final district capital under al Shabaab–control in Middle Shabelle, on December 5. View the progress of anti-al Shabaab forces in central #Somalia throughout 2022 below. (1/10)
Somali forces are contesting more area in central Somalia than they have since an African Union–led offensive in the mid-2010s. Somali officials and forces in Hirshabelle State have primarily led the 2022 offensive. (2/10)
The Somali government began the offensive in June with the support of local clan militia that rebelled against al Shabaab for assassinating a prominent clan elder. criticalthreats.org/briefs/africa-… (3/10)
#AlShabaab besieged a hotel within a mile of #Somalia’s presidential palace on November 27. The #Mogadishu attacks demonstrate that al Shabaab retains key capabilities in and around the Somali capital, writes @liam_karr. criticalthreats.org/briefs/al-qaed… 1/4
The siege is the latest in a series of high-profile suicide attacks across Somalia in response to an ongoing government-led campaign to recapture al Shabaab positions in central Somalia. 2/4
Al Shabaab will likely continue to conduct suicide attacks targeting civilians in response to federal forces and local militias’ offensive against its positions in central Somalia. 3/4
#AlShabaab conducted two suicide bombings targeting key bridges in central #Somalia, likely to disrupt the ongoing anti-al Shabaab offensive and set conditions for larger counterattacks on vulnerable positions. (1/9)
Al Shabaab targeted two main bridges crossing the Shabelle River in #BuloBurde and #Jalalaqsi with near-simultaneous suicide vehicle-borne IEDs. Security forces reportedly thwarted the bomber in Jalalaqsi before he reached the bridge. (2/9)
These two bridges are major crossing points over the Shabelle river in southern Hiraan. Al Shabaab damaging the bridges will slow potential reinforcements and other troop movements throughout the region. (3/9)
JUST IN: US sanctions network of #alShabaab financial facilitators engaged in weapons procurement & recruitment
@USTreasury notes alShabaab "generates around $100 million per year through multiple funding streams..."
@USTreasury notes alShabaab "generates around $100 million per year through multiple funding streams..."
MORE: Those sanctioned include Khalif Adale, identified as #alShabaab's finance leader for collections from NGOs, who reports directly to alShabaab emir Ahmed Diriye
.@USTreasury statement further notes @Rewards4Justice is offering $5 million for info on key #alShabaab leader Hassan Afgooye, who is "considered critical to al-Shabaab’s continuing operations"
Offensiva contro al Shabaab. “Elimineremo il terrorismo dalla #Somalia "
Questa volta andiamo in Somalia, per seguire quello che sta accadendo da due settimane.
THREAD
focusonafrica.info/offensiva-cont…
Questa volta andiamo in Somalia, per seguire quello che sta accadendo da due settimane.
THREAD
focusonafrica.info/offensiva-cont…
Nelle ultime due settimane il governo, attraverso l’esercito nazionale somalo (Sna) ha avviato nelle regioni centrali del Paese la più vasta offensiva contro #AlShabaab di sempre. Le milizie legate alla jihad hanno lasciato sul campo centinaia di corpi di militanti ma alla fine
The #AlShabaab bombing in Mogadishu this weekend was meant as retaliation and deterrent against Somali government forces. Somali federal and local forces are putting serious pressure on al Shabaab in central and SW Somalia. (1/8)
An #AlShabaab suicide bomber attacked new Somali National Army (SNA) recruits in Mogadishu on Sep 25, killing at least 11 soldiers and wounding 18 others. Al Shabaab inflated the death toll to 32 in its claim. bloomberg.com/news/articles/…. (2/8)
#AlShabaab has signaled it will escalate operations in Mogadishu in response to the SFG and clan militia offensive in central and SW Somalia. @USAfricaCommand and @ATMIS_Somalia are also providing air and logistical support to Somali forces. criticalthreats.org/briefs/africa-…. (3/8)
“There is very little time left to save lives here in #Somalia” warns @nazaninemoshiri from Dollow, a town situated on the border with #Ethiopia.
In the absence of a significant scale-up of humanitarian supplies, @FEWSNET predicts an alarming acceleration of death and destitution in the coming months as more and more families exhaust their last options for survival 👇
Displaced people in Dollow told @OmarSMahmood & @nazaninemoshiri that the drought has decimated livestock, almost three million animals have died and destroyed the farming capacity of entire villages.
Food prices have soared even higher following the crisis in Ukraine.
Food prices have soared even higher following the crisis in Ukraine.
#AlShabaab conducted its longest-ever siege on a hotel in #Somalia’s capital on August 19, marking a stepped-up effort to destabilize the country’s new administration and derail support for its counterterrorism agenda, writes @liam_karr. criticalthreats.org/briefs/africa-…
The Hayat attack underscores #alShabaab’s continued strength in Mogadishu and the surrounding regions.
#AlShabaab likely conducted the Hayat attack to intimidate politicians and undermine support for the new Somali Federal Government administration and its counterterrorism efforts.
NEW: #China "proceeding to increase their access & influence on the continent" & seeks to establish more military bases in #Africa, outgoing @USAfricaCommand Commander Gen Stephen Townsend tells @GWUPMNS
"Some of the most lethal terrorists on the planet are now in Africa...#alQaida & #ISIS " per @USAfricaCommand's Gen Townsend
"We've prevented strategic distraction" per Gen Townsend on his time at @USAfricaCommand - says US has been able to address threats in #Africa without taking focus on primary challenges, pacing threat from #China and also #Russia
Helping #Somalia-"We get it by, with & through" partnerships, LtGen Michael Langley, nominated to lead @USAfricaCommand, tells SASC
"It's the best thing that will thwart the great power competition that's coming w/these false value propositions" from #Russia, #China
"It's the best thing that will thwart the great power competition that's coming w/these false value propositions" from #Russia, #China
US working w/#Africa|n countries to help them establish maritime exclusion zones - "That's going to be the biggest deterrent, or assurance actions... that's going to deter #China from trying to take over the West Coast of the African continent" per LtGen Langley
"#AFRICOM needs more resources, not less" per SASC Ranking Member @JimInhofe, saying he's heard rumors support to @USAfricaCommand is going to be downgraded
During May 2019-April 2020, @UNMAS data shows that #Somalia🇸🇴 was, by far, #Africa's most deadly theater for IED warfare. Main targets were #AMISOM & #SNA moving to/from their FOBs. unmas.org/en/unmas-somal…
From 2015-20, the #Somali🇸🇴 National Army #SNA suffered 1,234 injured and 725 fatalities from IEDs (according to UNMAS🇺🇳 data). 2020 was a particularly bad year. unmas.org/en/unmas-somal…
Interestingly, 2020 saw a switch in #AlShabaab IED attack methodology, far fewer large VBIEDs, to more smaller Person-Borne PBIEDs in Banadir.
JUST IN: US airstrike vs #alShabaab near #BeerXaani, #Somalia
Per @MOISOMALIA, strike was carried out after alShabaab attacked partner forces
Initial estimate - 5 alShabaab fighters killed, no civilian casualties
Per @MOISOMALIA, strike was carried out after alShabaab attacked partner forces
Initial estimate - 5 alShabaab fighters killed, no civilian casualties
The last US-reported airstrike in #Somalia appears to have been February 22, when @USAfricaCommand said it struck #alShabaab fighters near #Duduble after al Shabaab attacked Somali forces
africom.mil/pressrelease/3…
africom.mil/pressrelease/3…
Prior to the February 22 strike vs #alShabaab, the last US airstrike in #Somalia appears to have been August 24, 2021, near #Cammaara
africom.mil/pressrelease/3…
africom.mil/pressrelease/3…
NEW: Few details on the decision to send fewer than 500 troops back to #Somalia - but focus will remain on training/bolstering #Somali forces, per @PentagonPresSec
"This is a repositioning of forces..."
"This is a repositioning of forces..."
Sending US forces into #Somalia periodically had become "inefficient & increasingly unsustainable" per @PentagonPresSec
#Russia, #Putin conducting war in #Ukraine in an "utterly brutal way" per @PentagonPresSec, reminding world Putin can end it now if he chooses
NEW: @POTUS approves request to "reestablish a small, persistent US military presence in #Somalia" a senior administration official confirms to reporters
NEW: Senior administration official decries decision by ex President Trump to withdraw US troops from #Somalia
"Since then #AlShabaab...has unfortunately only grown stronger. It has increased the tempo of its attacks, including against US personnel"
"Since then #AlShabaab...has unfortunately only grown stronger. It has increased the tempo of its attacks, including against US personnel"
#alShabaab remains #alQaida's "largest, wealthiest & deadly affiliate" per a senior administration official
HAPPENING NOW: @CENTCOM Cmdr Gen Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie & @USAfricaCommand Cmdr Gen Stephen Townsend testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee
Chairman @SenJackReed opens up talking abt #Iran missile strike in #Irbil #Iraq...
Chairman @SenJackReed opens up talking abt #Iran missile strike in #Irbil #Iraq...
Intro remarks from ranking member @JimInhofe
"#Iran is the foremost threat" in the @CENTCOM region, he says
"Our partners increasingly doubt America's resolve" he adds, blaming what he calls "Pres. Biden's misguided policies"
"#Iran is the foremost threat" in the @CENTCOM region, he says
"Our partners increasingly doubt America's resolve" he adds, blaming what he calls "Pres. Biden's misguided policies"
"Terrorist groups remained a persistent & pervasive threat worldwide" per new @StateDept report
"Although #ISIS lost all the territory it had seized in #Iraq & #Syria, the organization & its branches continued to mount a worldwide terrorism campaign..."
"Although #ISIS lost all the territory it had seized in #Iraq & #Syria, the organization & its branches continued to mount a worldwide terrorism campaign..."
"#ISIS affiliates outside #Iraq & #Syria caused more fatalities during 2020 than in any previous year" per new @StateDept CT report
"Deaths attributable to ISIS-affiliated attacks in West #Africa alone almost doubled from around 2,700 in 2017 to nearly 5,000 in 2020"
"Deaths attributable to ISIS-affiliated attacks in West #Africa alone almost doubled from around 2,700 in 2017 to nearly 5,000 in 2020"
#alQaida's "networks continued to exploit undergoverned spaces, conflict zones, and security gaps in the #MiddleEast to acquire terrorist resources & conduct terrorist attacks" per new @StateDept CT report
The latest round of serious fighting in #Somalia🇸🇴, finally sees the FGS going after its no.1 enemy: #AlShabaab.*
*Of course not, the FGS is fighting ASWJ, a longstanding religious-inspired militia that has resisted #AlShabaab pretty effectively since at least 2008. 😒
*Of course not, the FGS is fighting ASWJ, a longstanding religious-inspired militia that has resisted #AlShabaab pretty effectively since at least 2008. 😒
Meanwhile, the UN🇺🇳 Panel of Experts on #Somalia🇸🇴 recorded 1,047 #AlShabaab attacks on #SNA🇸🇴 & international targets over 9 months: 16/12/20-6/9/21. They were mainly hit & run attacks with few designed to hold or capture towns or overrun military bases. reliefweb.int/report/somalia…
+30 killed, +100 wounded in the latest #SNA🇸🇴 vs ASWJ fighting. Only #AlShabaab will be laughing... reuters.com/world/africa/d…
Oil and natural gas reserves is are increasingly becoming a target by #terrorists/ #insurgencies because it accounts for 6.5% of the global GDP. A good example is #Alshabaab attacks in Northern #Mozambique on the @TotalEnergies $20B offshore LNG facility that is the largest
Foreign investment project in #Africa. Cabo Delgado is also home to vast swaths of natural resource wealth.It also harbours the largest known graphite deposits & nearly half of the world's rubies lie under its soil.
#UnmaskingTerrorism
#UnmaskingTerrorism
That thus makes #CaboDelgado a hotspot for real and perceived grievances, that are often exploited by #terrorists & proxy war mongers to sow unrest to explore these resources in a manner that won't benefit the locals.
#UnmaskingTerrorism.
#UnmaskingTerrorism.
NEW: Just released @UN report warns of "heightened threats emerging" from #ISIS #alQaida affiliated groups worldwide
"This is especially true in parts of West and East #Africa" per the report, based on member state intelligence
"This is especially true in parts of West and East #Africa" per the report, based on member state intelligence
#Sahel: Today, #JNIM released the video "If they fight you, fight them". It's been almost three years since JNIM released their last full-length video with combat footage, namely "And the Battle Continues".
#Sahel: This could be explained by several factors: First, the focus has been on the political line; second, JNIM's official media presence has declined significantly, and this is against the backdrop of several key media figures (in #Algeria and #Mali) being killed
#Sahel: The decline is particularly relevant when compared to #ISGS, which received major boost from its formal integration into #IslamicState's organizational infrastructure & media apparatus. However, this last video marks the effective recovery of #JNIM media wing Al-Zallaqa.
Happening now: @CENTCOM Commander Gen Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie & @USAfricaCommand Commander Gen Stephen Townsend testify at SASC
.@CENTCOM's Gen McKenzie tells lawmakers he has all the tools he needs to complete the withdrawal from #Afghanistan
"We will lose the abilities we have now to see completely into #Afghanistan" per @CENTCOM's Gen McKenzie, asked by @SenJackReed about impact of withdrawal on intel collection vs #alQaida #ISIS
NEW: @DeptofDefense withholding findings of investigation into the #alShabaab attack on the #MandaBay airfield in #Kenya -which killed 1 US servicemember & 2 US contractors- pending "an independent review" by "a 4-star general officer"
defense.gov/Newsroom/Relea…
defense.gov/Newsroom/Relea…
"It is the Secretary’s desire to ensure there is a full examination & consideration of the contributing factors ... & that appropriate action is taken to reduce the risk of future occurrence" per @PentagonPresSec "The families impacted deserve nothing less"
Review will be led by @TRADOC Commander, Gen Paul Funk
"An independent review will provide added insight, perspective, and the ability to assess the totality of this tragic event involving multiple Military Services & Department of Defense components" per @PentagonPresSec
"An independent review will provide added insight, perspective, and the ability to assess the totality of this tragic event involving multiple Military Services & Department of Defense components" per @PentagonPresSec
