The Long War Journal (Site-Wide)

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• Shabaab’s leadership fights Islamic State’s attempted expansion in East Africa
• Al Nusrah Front, Ahrar al Sham, Ajnad al Sham form anti-Russian alliance in Damascus countryside
• Al Qaeda appears ‘moderate’ compared to Islamic State, veteran jihadist says

Shabaab’s leadership fights Islamic State’s attempted expansion in East Africa Posted: 26 Oct 2015 12:48 PM PDT Shabaab's leadership has actively opposed the Islamic State's expansion in East Africa. The Islamic State has made a major push via propaganda videos to encourage defections, but only a small cadre of Shabaab fighters has switched allegiance to the "caliphate" thus far.

Al Nusrah Front, Ahrar al Sham, Ajnad al Sham form anti-Russian alliance in Damascus countryside Posted: 25 Oct 2015 03:15 PM PDT Three jihadist groups have formed Jund al Malahim ("Soldiers of the Epics"), a joint operations room opposed to the Assad regime and Russian forces in the Ghouta region of Damascus.

Al Qaeda appears ‘moderate’ compared to Islamic State, veteran jihadist says Posted: 25 Oct 2015 02:08 PM PDT The second edition of Al Risalah magazine features an interview with Usama Hamza Australi, who joined al Qaeda in mid-2001 after leaving the Australian military. Al Qaeda senior leadership sent him to Syria to train Al Nusrah Front's fighters in guerrilla warfare.