Kataib al-Khoul

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Kataib al-Khoul


caption=
dates= 2006-Present
allegiance=
type= Infantry
size=
battles= Second Chechen War
commander1= Alan Digorsky
commander1_label= Commander

Kataib al-Khoul also known as the Ossetian Jamaat is a militant Islamist organization connected to numerous attacks against the local and federal security forces in Russian region of North Ossetia-Alania in the North Caucasus. It's part of the Caucasian Front of the Second Chechen War.

History

Kataib al-Khoul, closely associated with the separatist conflict in nearby Chechnya, was established by Alan Digorsky better known as Emir Saad. Its existence was first mentioned in March 2006 after increased insurgency in parts of North-Ossetia. It announced that it fought in favor of Chechnya's independence and was integrated into the Caucasian Front by the decree of the then President of Ichkeria, Sheikh Abdul Halim. Since the proclamation of the Caucasus Emirate in 2007, Kata’ib al-Khoul has similar goals to other Islamic nationalist insurgent groups in the region. The group seeks to end Russian control of North Ossetia and establish an independent Ossetian state, in the Emirate known as Iriston.

It's existence inside a republic which is predominantly Russian Orthodox has led to denial of officials who refuse to believe that an islamic insurgency group exists, and instead blame the attacks on the Ingush Jamaat, in contrast with the Ossetian-Ingush conflict. However a large minotiry off the Ossetians of up to 30% adherent Islam.

Activities

Kataib al-Khoul claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks on Federal officials and militants in North Ossetia. It claimed responsibility for the February 1 2006 bombing in casinos and gambling clubs in the centre of Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia which resulted in the closure of all the gambling clubs and casinos in North Ossetia, as well as numerous assassinations and acts of sabotage targeting the republic. [http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=414&issue_id=3613&article_id=2370755] The group took responsibility for the assassination of Cossack general Bimbolat Dzutsev, and the downing of a helicopter carrying high-ranking military officials, resulting in the death of 15 men. [http://www.jamestown.org/chechnya_weekly/article.php?articleid=2373673] In March 2008 the Ossetian Jamaat claimed responsibility for the assassination of the head of North Ossetia's anti-organized crime unit (UBOP, formerly known as RUBOP), Mark Metsaev. [http://jamestown.org/chechnya_weekly/article.php?articleid=2374028]

External links

* [http://www.jamestown.org/chechnya_weekly/article.php?articleid=2373673 The Truth about the “Kataib al-Khoul” Ossetian Jamaat]
* [http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=414&issue_id=3613&article_id=2370755 AUTHORITIES REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE INSURGENCY IN NORTH OSSETIA]
* [http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=4702 Kata'ib al-Khoul Aliases: Jamaat Kataib al-Khoul, Kataeb al-Ghoul, Kataib al-Khoul, Kataib al-Khoul Jamaat]