The NEFA Foundation - Statements by Iraqi Insurgent Groups

Translations/Transcriptions of Statements by Iraqi Insurgent Groups:

[7/7/08]	NEFA Exclusive: Interview with the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI) The NEFA Foundation has released an English transcript of a third exclusive insurgent interview recently conducted by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann--on this occasion with Dr. Ali al-Naimi, official spokesman of the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI), one of the largest and most influential Sunni insurgent factions fighting in Iraq. During the interview, Dr. al-Naimi portrayed the IAI as a more mainstream Islamist political alternative to Al-Qaida, which is "respectful of the realities of Iraq--social, political, and economic" and is determined "to establish a state based on equal justice for all citizens." Sending his "blessings to the intelligent people of America", Dr. al-Naimi insisted, "we wish the American soldiers would leave us in peace, for we are not murderers and we do not experience joy in killing anyone." Dr. al-Naimi also had extremely harsh words for Al-Qaida and its leadership both in Iraq and Afghanistan. He repeatedly accused Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI) of carrying out "continuous mistakes" and "crimes against innocents": "we have our own evidence that has purposely not been published proving that the so-called Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) is not legitimate. The statements of [Dr. Ayman] al-Zawahiri do not obligate us whatsoever, and the errors of Al-Qaida in regards to spilling the blood of the innocent are more numerous than can possibly be covered in a single response, statement, or interview."

[6/18/08]	NEFA Exclusive: Interviews with Sunni Insurgent Groups in Iraq The NEFA Foundation has released English transcripts of two exclusive interviews recently conducted by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann with “Hamas al-Iraq” and the “Al-Rashideen Army”—arguably two of the most influential Sunni insurgent factions fighting in Iraq. Both groups have insisted that they are part of a unified Sunni effort to force a U.S. military withdrawal that includes all major organizations “except Al-Qaida, and everyone has fought against them because we see this group as promoting a particular agenda that does not fit with the realities of Iraqi society.” When asked for an assessment of Al-Qaida's top leaders in Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, a spokesman for "Hamas al-Iraq" responded, “If you mean knowing those two persons by their names only, the answer is yes as everyone else knows. However, whatever is the truth behind them or about them, we do not know. If you have any information about them, then we hope you will be able to share it with us.” Likewise, a representative from the "Al-Rashideen Army" openly mocked the repeated, insistent demands by Al-Qaida's Deputy Commander Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri for Sunni insurgents to join under the banner of Al-Qaida: “There is a problem in Tibet for China—is it possible for me to prescribe the solutions for their problem? We are a people in this region for 6000 years before Christ, end[ing] with Islam, and we are fully capable of rolling and managing our own affairs. We do not need others to tell us what to do.”

[6/4/08]	Iraqi Insurgents Quarrel Over Recognizing International Law The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated two new statements from an emerging Sunni insurgent faction calling itself “the Iraqi Martyrs Brigades.” In its initial statement of purpose, the IMB indicated that its fighters were being guided both by Muslim Shariah law and "contemporary laws ...Our clerics have previously agreed that fighting the enemies who are attacking Muslim countries—by any means necessary—is a duty in and of itself. International contemporary laws maintain the same view as well. Defending yourself against an oppressor is merely common sense for the popular masses.” The IMB also acknowledged that its formation had largely come about because “some of the [jihad] factions deviated from our general guiding principles.” This prompted a flood of users on the extremist Al-Hesbah Internet discussion forum to dismiss the IMB as merely a generic “resistance” organization with no interest in “raising the banner of monotheism and the righteous path—may Allah correct their path.” Other users simply referred to the IMB’s citation of “contemporary laws” as “inappropriate.” In response, the IMB issued a second communique addressed "to the beloved brothers who have posted messages on the Al-Hesbah Internet forum" in order to "clarify matters which you are ignorant of regarding the IMB." The group insisted, “regarding the issue of contemporary laws… it is obvious that we are all part of a shared human civilization which has many universal values. So, we have cited these laws in order to cater to various levels of understand and intelligence present among various different people… These same principles championed by [the West] also are opposed to the concept of occupation.” The IMB also repeated its earlier warning that the Iraqi jihad has “lost its true essence."

[6/2/08]	Islamic Army of Iraq Denies Capture of Leader in Tikrit The NEFA Foundation has obtained a statement from the Islamic Army of Iraq, in which the group's spokesman denied the capture of one of the organization's leaders in Tikrit. According to Dr. Ali al-Neeme, "all the leaders of the army – thankfully – [are] safe and continue their struggle in the battlefield against the occupation and its supporters..."

[5/31/08]	Al-Qaida Continues Defiance on Mosul, Claims Suicide Bombing The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated a new video recording and, separately, a text communiqué from Al-Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq (ISI). During the video, an unidentified individual presented as the official ISI spokesman for the Nineveh province of Iraq (Mosul) sharply denied reports of the ISI's defeat in the city of Mosul: “we bring the good news to you that we are at our full capabilities, and we have not lost a single soldier—neither killed nor arrested. This reality is totally different from what was published by the mass media of the tyrants, which claimed that more than 1,000 fighters were captured, including an officer and commanders. They also claimed that they had arrested the top commander of the ISI in Nineveh province. This is nothing but lies, fabrications, and the falsification of facts… We are the ones who are in control of the situation, and we will choose the suitable time to respond according to the conditions of the present battle.” Underlining the continuing ferocity of its military campaign in Iraq, the ISI has separately claimed credit for a May 29 suicide bombing targeting the Al-Sadeer Hotel. In a text statement claiming its responsibility for the hotel attack, the ISI further declared, “the signs of victory have appeared in Nineveh province, despite the claims from the stooges of al-Maliki that they have taken control of the city [Mosul] and have wiped out the mujahideen. Today, we bring to the Islamic nation the good news that this land is still under the control of the mujahideen—not the apostates.”

[5/5/08]	Transcript of Audio Message from Abu Omar al-Baghdadi The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated a copy of an audio recording released on April 14, 2008 of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI). In his audio statement, al-Baghdadi acknowledged “concerns” that were “brought to my attention by several Shaykhs from noble tribes, and they asked me, ‘how long will this Sunni infighting last? Is it not the time for us to turn our weapons only toward the occupier?’ I was overjoyed by their position… After some discussion, an agreement was reached on a joint mission to end the so-called ‘infighting in the Sunni regions between sons of various tribes.” Al-Baghdadi laid out a detailed scheme for peacefully resolving disputes among Sunni mujahideen factions, but warned that “this agreement will remain mere ink on paper unless it is adopted and implemented by religious scholars and the tribal shaykhs.”

[5/3/08]	Former Insurgent Ally Accuses Al-Qaida in Iraq of "Threats" and "Blackmail" The Army of al-Mustafa (a.k.a. “Jaish al-Mustafa”)—a Sunni insurgent group which has claimed credit for at least three joint operations with Al-Qaida’s “Islamic State of Iraq” (ISI) since January 2008—has suddenly broken off relations with the ISI, accusing its local commanders of engaging in “threats” and “blackmail.” In a statement released on April 15, a Jaish al-Mustafa field commander known as “Abu Muslim al-Mosuli” acknowledged a past relationship with the ISI but added, “something has occurred that we never expected would happen: some new leaders from the ISI in Ninewah province have begun to harass our fighters during their operations. The situation escalated to the point of the ISI threatening one of our field commanders with death for no apparent reason… We see no justification for the acts carried out by the brothers from the ISI—they have blackmailed us, threatened us, and seized the assets of the Army of al-Mustafa.” A follow-up statement released by Jaish al-Mustafa on April 16 insisted that the group has no intention of “sabotaging efforts by Shaykh Abu Omar [al-Baghdadi] or any other individual. We would be delighted if such unity and collaboration took place among the various factions.” However, the statement also flatly rejected the premise that the “Army of al-Mustafa” has ever “tried very hard to associate ourselves with the ISI”: “we require no such association… If we had wished to associate ourselves with the ISI, we would have pledged our allegiance to them.”

[4/18/08]	Letter to Al-Qaida in Iraq Leader Abu Ayyab al-Masri During a March 2008 raid northwest of Baghdad, the U.S. military seized a letter -- intended for Al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri -- that was authored by an insurgent named Abu Safyan. In the letter, Abu Safyan advises that "we must always leave the enemy in psychological conflict and worry; thus they can never have stability and keep busy among themselves." He also argues that "we must attempt to place this country in security chaos and wars between the Shia enemy, the Ba’athist and the Americans. This will lead to weaken them particularly the Maliki Shia government by wisely, intelligently and cautiously spreading sedition among them." Notably, he futther suggests that "intelligent and faithful personal" be used to "infiltrate the enemy."

[4/15/08]	"Islamic State of Iraq" Statement Marking 5th Anniversary of U.S. Invasion The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a communiqué issued by Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI) marking the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The statement boasted that, thanks to the existence of the ISI, "instead of speaking about achieving their targets like disbelieving democracy and the new middle east…etc., [the crusaders] are talking about the number of their deaths and wounded soldiers, their economic crisis and the way to solve them and to get out from this mud. Their countdown has started." The ISI also condemned "groups that had a role in the beginning of the jihad in Iraq" but which have since "recoiled"--including the IAI, the Mujahideen Army, and Hamas al-Iraq."

[4/8/08]	Islamic Army of Iraq Statement re: Joint Operation w/ Ansar al-Islam The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of an Islamic Army of Iraq (IAI) communiqué that appears to claim credit for a joint military operation with Ansar al-Islam (AI), also known as the Ansar al-Sunnah Army. Ansar al-Islam is normally a close ally of Al-Qaida in Iraq, and there has been ongoing friction between the Islamic Army of Iraq and Ansar al-Islam over an AI faction that publicly broke off and joined up in an anti-Al-Qaida alliance with the IAI.

[3/20/08]	Transcript of "Hamas in Iraq" Interview The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of an interview with a senior military commander of the Hamas al-Iraq insurgent group in the restive Diyala province of Iraq. During the interview, the unnamed Hamas commander sharply condemned the "criminal actions launched by the Al-Qaida network targeting innocent civilians and... other jihad movements... The occupying forces were unable to enter many districts and villages of Diyala until Al-Qaida paved the way for them when they began killing the Sunnis and demolishing their homes, mosques, and their hospitals." The Hamas al-Iraq commander also addressed allegations of Iranian logistical support for local Al-Qaida operations, and the relationship between Iraqi Hamas and a variety of other organizations--including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS), the Council of Iraqi Ulema, the Iraqi Islamic Party, the Awakening Councils, the 1920 Revolution Brigades, the Iraqi Islamic Resistance Front (JAAMI), the Mujahideen Army, and the Islamic Army of Iraq (IAI).

[2/22/08]	Transcript of Audio Message from Abu Omar al-Baghdadi The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of an audio recording released on February 13 of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI). In his audio statement, al-Baghdadi was sharply critical of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Palestinian territories, accusing it of being responsible for "a chain of treacheries"--including recognizing the authority of international organizations such as the United Nations; entering into "peculiar alliances with the apostate regimes" in Egypt, Syria, and Iran; and displaying "rampant hostility towards the Salafi Jihadists", such emerging regional Al-Qaida factions like Fatah al-Islam and the Army of Islam. Abu Omar al-Baghdadi expanded his argument further, accusing Muslim Brotherhood organizations across the Middle East of the worst forms of treachery: "The armed organizations that belong to the Muslim Brotherhood, and Hamas above all others—save for some remaining faithful from amongst the [Izzadeen] al-Qassam [Brigades]--have truly betrayed our religion and the Islamic nation, and they have abandoned the blood of the martyrs... Their brothers in Iraqi Hamas and from the [Iraqi] Islamic Party and the Islamic Army [of Iraq] (IAI) fight today side-by-side with the crusaders against the followers of al-Tawheed." Al-Baghdadi called upon those from the armed wing of Palestinian Hamas, the Izzadeen al-Qassam Brigades, who remain faithful to the concept of jihad to assemble their forces and encourage others within Hamas to defect to the cause of the Salafi Jihadists. Addressing the proper role of the ISI in supporting the jihad in Palestine, al-Baghdadi indicated to Palestinian militants that "we are ready to assist you with what meager fortunes we have at our disposal, and we are ready to train your comrades, starting with explosive devices and concluding with manufacturing rockets.”

[2/9/08]	Diary of Al-Qaida in Iraq Leader The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of the diary of Abu Tariq, an Al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI) leader who identifies himself as "Emir of al-Lavin and al-Mashadah Sector"; the diary was seized by U.S. military personnel during a raid and provides considerable insight into the current status of some of AQI's operations. Abu Tariq bashes the Sunnis who have abandoned AQI, writing, "We were mistreated, cheated and betrayed by some of our brothers. We must not have mercy on those traitors until they come back to the right side or get eliminated completely in order to achieve victory at the end." He adds that "there are very few tribe members who stood by us."

[2/3/08]	Al-Qaida's ISI Reponds to Ongoing Events in Mosul The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of recent communique issued by the Nineveh province branch of Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI). In the statement, the ISI denied responsibility for a deadly explosion on January 23 in the Zanjili neighborhood of Mosul, and strongly criticized "apostate agents" allegedly tasked with "the mission of blaming that repugnant crime on the mujahideen. But... their treachery has been exposed by orders of Allah, and their lies have been clearly revealed to everyone." The communique further called upon Muslims everywhere to aid in the imminent struggle for control of Mosul: "the battle is now in its final stages, and it will be a energizing victory for the Muslims, Allah willing. The enemy has begun to stagger, and now has reached its final page, so do not let the opportunity to participate in that historic battle pass you by."

[1/8/08]	Online Q&A Chat Session with a Fighter from Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of an online question-and-answer session conducted over the Paltalk chat network with a fighter from Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI). During the interview, the ISI fighter discussed the varying state of relations between the Islamic State and an assortment of other Sunni insurgent organizations, including the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI), the Mujahideen Army, the 1920 Revolution Brigades, and Iraqi Hamas. He also boasted of the ISI's plans for a post-occupation Iraq: "sooner or later, the crusaders will withdraw, and you will witness what will happen." When asked how Usama Ben Laden's recent message has impacted the jihad in Iraq, the ISI fighter characterized it as a call to arms and "the opening shot."

[1/4/08]	"Islamic Army of Iraq" Claims Liberation of Sunnis Held Captive by Al-Qaida The NEFA Foundation has obtained a copy of a recent communiqué issued by the prominent Sunni insurgent organization known as the Islamic Army of Iraq (IAI). According to the statement, "After a call from our supporters and brothers in Samarra and its various neighborhoods, mujahideen from the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI) launched a blessing attack in the Samarra region and were able to free ten prisoners (the majority of whom were mujahideen and the others being innocent poor people). They had previously been taken captive by Al-Qaida after raids on their bases in the Shaykh Mohammed district south of Samarra...Those who were responsible for this prison were arrested, while the others managed to escape. We will eventually post a complete video-recording."

[12/20/07]	"The Secrets of History: Zarqawi As I Knew Him" The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated the first three episodes from a new series published by Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq", titled "The Secrets of History: Zarqawi As I Knew Him." The series offers a perspective into the mind of the late Al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his interactions with various lieutenants. During his narrative, the author scoffs, "they think that we fight for money and prestige—and what they do not understand is that our arteries are filled with the ideology of jihad. Even if they managed to reach Zarqawi, praise be to Allah, we have a million more Zarqawis because our Ummah is the Ummah of jihad.”

[12/16/07]	Ansar al-Sunnah "Reverts" to Ansar al-Islam The NEFA Foundation has obtained and translated a communiqué from the leader of the Ansar al-Sunnah Army in Iraq (JAAS), Commander Abu Abdullah al-Shafi. In his statement, al-Shafi acknowledges, "After a period of fighting back against the American assault [in 2003], the leadership of Ansar al-Islam decided to withdraw... Shortly thereafter, Allah enabled us to rearrange our movement and we returned in Iraq under the new name of Ansar al-Sunnah... Given our responsibility in maintaining the principles of Islam... and to deal with existential issues that shall determine our survival, we have decided to continue our work under the name of the Ansar al-Islam... We should avoid unnecessary internal battles that serve to do nothing more than empowering our enemy’s political agenda."

[12/10/07]	Message from Abu Omar al-Baghdadi In this audio statement, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the leader of Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq," declared the formation of a new armed unit--the Al-Sadeeq Brigade--and the beginning of a military offensive known as the "Battle of the Martyr Abu Umar al-Kurdi": "This offensive will be based on bombs and improvised explosives... Anyone who has already decided to martyr themselves in a suicide attack should execute their attacks during this period... this type of operation [suicide bombings] is the most painful for the enemy and has the most expansive, painful, and terrifying impact upon the enemy." largest and most influential Sunni insurgent groups active in Iraq--has issued yet another stinging condemnation of Al-Qaida's network in Iraq from its media spokesman, Dr. Ali al-Naimi. According to Dr. al-Naimi, Al-Qaida is the "main cause" behind recent "painful events" in Latifiya and Samarra: "It is such a horrific scene that makes the occupiers pleased and is painful to Muslims... we werent expecting that after the speech of Shaykh Usama Bin Laden who announced Al-Qaida's incorrect acts and the need to overcome them."

[11/4/07]	The Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI) The Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI)--one of the largest and most influential Sunni insurgent groups active in Iraq--has issued yet another stinging condemnation of Al-Qaida's network in Iraq from its media spokesman, Dr. Ali al-Naimi. According to Dr. al-Naimi, Al-Qaida is the "main cause" behind recent "painful events" in Latifiya and Samarra: "It is such a horrific scene that makes the occupiers pleased and is painful to Muslims... we werent expecting that after the speech of Shaykh Usama Bin Laden who announced Al-Qaida's incorrect acts and the need to overcome them." A copy of this and a digest of other recent statements issued by the IAI can now be accessed c/o NEFA TerrorWatch.

[10/10/07]	1920 Revolution Brigades A response to recent criticisms by Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and other spokesmen for Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq." In its statement, the 1920 Brigades dismissed these claims as "an effort at settling a score or possibly even the product of a personal agenda." The 1920 Revolution Brigades also issued its own set of counter-allegations, accusing Al-Qaida in Iraq of engaging in a consistent pattern of treachery, deceit, and murder: "Do not listen to those of your brothers who became enslaved by their own insecurities and fell into a trap Dear brothers you should know that the snake has a head and a tail. The head is the infidel American occupiers, their allies, and their agentsand the tail is your own neighbors who have sought to stray from the principles of Islam and decided instead to be used by the enemy We inform you that the ISIs denials about forcing other jihadi factions into joining the Al-Qaida organization are false, and the evidence for this is our own practical experience dealing with Al-Qaida in Abu Ghraib. They forced one of our brigades, the Jaffar al-Tayyar Brigade, to join them and they kept increasing pressure on them until the brigade was forced to defend itself We would like to remind you that Muharib al-Jabouri (commander of the 1920 Revolution Brigades) was asked to swear an oath of allegiance to Al-Qaida, but he refused because he believed that the Al-Qaida organization had no right either to establish an Islamic State without first consulting other factions nor to fight against those who refuse to join its state. Unfortunately, that was exactly what happened when fighting broke between the 1920 Revolution Brigades and the ISI that persisted until the joint agreement signed [between us]... In reality, the people who were murdered and tortured were fighters from the 1920 Revolution Brigades: Omar Abdel Razaaq and his two friends. Omar was captured [by Al-Qaida] during the cease-fire and resulting peace talks that concluded with the February 4 joint agreement... After Al-Qaida promised not to cause any harm to Omar, his dead body was sent to his family... We wonder, does the Al-Qaida organization look down upon the sacrifices of others and choose only to glorify its own?"

[10/7/07]	Asaeb al-Iraq al-Jihadiya (a.k.a. "The Iraqi Jihad Union") A statement warning that arrogant quarreling provoked by Al-Qaida supporters over such chat forums is threatening the integrity of the "Obelisk" network. In its statement, Asaeb al-Iraq al-Jihadiya directly calls upon the leadership of Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" (ISI) "to put a stop to all the gossiping and hypocrisy [on the chat forums]. We ask them to do this not out of our own weakness but rather due to our larger concerns. The ISI should take ongoing events very seriously because much blood has been shed and many innocent lives have been lost... We warn everyone to stop provoking these internal battles."

[10/5/07]	Asaeb al-Iraq al-Jihadiya (a.k.a. "The Iraqi Jihad Union" A statement accusing Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" of killing its fighters in Diyala and desecrating their bodies: "To make things worse, they dug up their bodies from the graves, further mutilated them, beheaded them, and showed them off from their vehicles while driving through the towns. [The ISI] even killed our men's wives and children."

[10/2/07]	"Hamas in Iraq" A statement accusing Al-Qaida's network in Iraq of fanaticism and murdering Iraqi Muslim civilians.

[9/21/07]	"Hamas in Iraq" A statement warning that arrogant quarreling provoked by Al-Qaida supporters over such chat forums is threatening the integrity of the "Obelisk" network. In fact, according to "Iraqi Hamas"--they "are so desperate to prove their positions and criticize others that they have sunk to the lowest level by searching for private messages of certain individuals sent to [forum] administrators."

[9/14/07]	Message from Abu Omar al-Baghdadi In recent weeks, Al-Qaida-led terrorist franchises in Afghanistan and Iraq have released several new recordings of speeches by senior Al Qaeda leaders. This audio recording, released on September 14 from Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the commander of Al Qaeda's "Islamic State of Iraq," is particularly significant -- especially to those who follow the very serious internal schisms opening up between Al-Qaida and the Muslim Brotherhood in Iraq. In his address, al-Baghdadi directly attacks other Sunni insurgent groups -- such as the 1920 Revolution Brigades, Hamas in Iraq, and the Iraqi Islamic Resistance Front (JAAMI) -- as "backstabbing" traitors who have abandoned their commitment to jihad. Al-Baghdadi also reserves a strong dose of vitriol for the "degenerate crusader nation of Sweden", where cartoons were recently published that were viewed as disrespectful to the Prophet Mohammed. In response, al-Baghdadi promises to launch punitive terrorist attacks by mid-October on Swedish "industrial giants" such as Volvo, Scandia, Ikea, and Ericsson -- in addition to killing both the cartoon artist himself and his Swedish editor.