Mujahideen Army

Mujahideen Army


The Jaish al-Mujahideen (or Mujahideen Army) is a prominent Sunni resistance group operating inside Iraq. The group first emerged in late 2004.[1] The Mujahideen Army is one of the founding members of the Jihad and Reform Front as well as a member of the Political Council for the Iraqi Resistance (PCIR).

Contents

Ideology

While religious in the nature the Mujahideen Army takes on a more nationalist tone in its rhetoric. The militant group is believed to have an ideology similar to that of fellow Iraqi insurgent group, the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI).[2]

In the early stages of the insurgency the group is said to have supported, at least tacitly, al-Qaida in Iraq's actions. As of late, however, the Mujahideen Army has distanced itself from the al-Qaida-led Islamic State of Iraq and its indiscriminate killings and uncompromising Salafist ideology.

In May 2006 the Mujahideen Army released a statement condemning Iraq's ethnic and sectarian infighting and urged Iraqis to work "with a sense of national and religious responsibility for the sake of future generations."[2]

In late January 2006 the Mujahideen Army issued a communiqué calling for attacks against Denmark and Norway in response to the publication of cartoons depicting the Islamic prophet Muhammad in several Danish newspapers.[3]

The Mujahideen Army also threatened attacks following controversial comments made by Pope Benedict XVI in September 2006.[4]

The Mujahideen Army has also taken the unusual step of appealing directly to the American public via several English-language videos purportedly produced and distributed by the group.[5]

Attacks

The Mujahideen Army has taken credit for numerous attacks against American forces in Iraq. The majority of these claims are issued in communiqués or videos posted on mujahideen websites.

Some notable attacks in which the Mujahideen Army has claimed responsibility:

  • The January 2007 downing of a Black Hawk helicopter north of Baghdad.[6]
  • Shooting down an American Apache helicopter in January 2006.[7]

Leadership

Little is publicly known about the Mujahideen Army's leadership and command structure.

In October 2005, the U.S. military announced that it had captured Ahmad Ni'mah Khudayyir Abbas (a.k.a. Abu Shihab), a group "lieutenant and propaganda chief" in the Abu Ghraib district west of Baghdad.[8]

In a January 2006 statement urging the Mujahideen Army to join the then-fledgling Mujahideen Shura Council, al-Qaida in Iraq identified the emir of the Mujahideen Army as "The Leaping Lion."[9]

External links

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mujahideen — For callers to prayer (muʾaḏḏin), see Muezzin. Part of the Politics series on …   Wikipedia

  • Mujahideen Victory Day — is a political holiday observed in Afghanistan, falling on the 28 April each year. It commemorates the day when the Afghan mujahideen overthrew the socialist government in Afghanistan in 1992. Although celebrated as a holiday by the people of… …   Wikipedia

  • Mujahideen Shura Council (Iraq) — Alleged logo of the Mujahideen Shura Council.[citation needed] Three hands holding aloft the black flag of jihad. The Mujahideen Shura Council was an umbrella organization of at least six Sunni Islamis …   Wikipedia

  • Bosnian mujahideen — Bosnian mujahideen[1] were foreign Muslim volunteers who fought on the side of Bosnian Muslims during the 1992–1995 Bosnian war. They arrived in Bosnia with the aim of fighting for Islam and on behalf of Muslims who were at the time brutally… …   Wikipedia

  • Mahdi Army — This article is about the Shia Mahdi Army of contemporary Iraq. For the Sunni Mahdi Army of Nineteenth Century Sudan, see Muhammad Ahmad. Mahdi Army (Jaish al Mahdi) Participant in the Iraq War Active 2003 2008 Leaders Muqtada al Sadr …   Wikipedia

  • Iraqi Army — Active 1921 present Country Iraq Branch Army Size some 770,000 (2011 est.) Part of Ministry of Defence …   Wikipedia

  • Afghan National Army — Emblem of the Afghan National Army. Active 1880 (current form: 2002) Country …   Wikipedia

  • National Liberation Army (Albanians of Macedonia) — National Liberation Army (of Albanians) (Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kombëtare) Participant in Insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia Active 2000 2002 officially …   Wikipedia

  • Islamic Army in Iraq — Infobox War Faction war = Iraq war active = 2003 Present ideology = Islamist leaders = Ishmael Jubouri headquarters = Unknown area = Iraq strength = Unknown opponents = Iraqi security forces Mahdi Army Badr Corps United States Armed Forces… …   Wikipedia

  • al-Qaeda in Iraq — Tanzim Qaidat al Jihad fi Bilad al Rafidayn (Organization of Jihad s Base in Mesopotamia) Al Qaeda in Iraq Participant in the Iraq War Jihadist black flag …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”