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Last week, former Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, designated 13 October 2023 as a “Day of Jihad,” encouraging all Muslims to take to the streets and retaliate. What ensued from this call to action resulted in two stabbings on that specific day; one in France, which left one person dead and two others injured, and one in China, which left one person injured (pictured to the right).
While this may seem a weak response by followers of Hamas, TRAC contends that regardless of differences, for those who embrace jihadist ideology, a "day for jihad" can and will take place on any given day.
Despite Islamic State’s intentional silence over the incidents in Israel and Gaza, last week's issue of Naba (Issue #412) included an infographic as well as articles about the necessity of Muslim solidarity, stating in the infographic that Muslims should support each other with finances, shelter and weapons when needed.
TRAC further observed that the background photo used in this infographic was of the buildings destroyed in the 10 October Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which were published in mainstream media. To be completely clear, Islamic State has never supported Hamas in any way, believing that Hamas is hypocritical and doesn't really want to establish a pure Sharia state.
TRAC assesses that Islamic State is consequently asking its supporters to join the fight in support of Gaza, inside and outside of the Palestinian territories. Considering the history between Hamas and Islamic State and their ideological differences, this development is of high significance and it is a call to action that is being heeded, as evidenced by various attacks and incidents that took place in the days that followed in Brussels, Milan, Berlin and California.
Additionally, with the recent bombing of a hospital in the Gaza Strip, Hamas' staunch allies in Lebanon, Hezbollah has now echoed Hamas' vengeful sentiment, calling for a "Day of Rage," and TRAC posits that aside from the many anti-Israel protests taking place, we will also see a continuation of lone wolf attacks against those who support Israel, such as the attempted arson attack on a Jewish Community Center in Berlin-Mitte, Germany that took place earlier today.
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Conversely, the vitriolic responses by Hamas and Hezbollah are undoubtedly fueling Islamophobic rhetoric and anti-Palestine sentiments, particularly in western nations and prompting their own unexpected lone wolf attacks.
On 14 October 2023, a Chicago, Illinois landlord, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba (pictured to the left), stabbed a Muslim woman and her 6-year-old son who had been living in one of his rentals for several years. The mother is said to have been critically injured, but the 6-year-old boy, whom Czuba stabbed 26 times, died from his injuries. Czuba was said to have cried out during the attack, "You Muslims must die!", corroborating TRAC’s assessment that the Czuba was motivated by anti-Muslim views and the escalating Israel-Hamas war.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Tashkil al-Warsin Militants Launched Weaponized Drones
Attack on United States al-Harir Air Base, in
Kurdistan Region, Erbil Governorate, Iraq
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Tashkil al-Warsin released a statement claiming responsibility for targeting the U.S. Air Base, al-Harir in Erbil Governate Iraq with two weaponized drones at approximately noon, local time on 18 October 2023.
Tashkil al-Warsin is a pro-Iranian Shia militia whose last reported activity was in January 2023, when the group used three weaponized drones to attack US Central Command's Air Defense Forces stationed at the At-Tanf Garrison military base in Syria.
The motive behind this attack was the United States’ support for Israel in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Specifically, Tashkil al-Warsin cited the American military aid and weapons supplied to Tel Aviv as a reason for targeting the American base. The group’s actions were seen as a response to what they perceived as the United States’ complicity in supporting Israel in the conflict, leading to their decision to launch a drone attack on US military assets in the region.
Contrary to what Tashkil al-Warsin's statement implies as a 'victory', US officials assert that US military thwarted the attack targeting its forces in Iraq, by intercepting the 'one-way' attack drones.
Nonetheless, this incident exemplifies the complex and volatile geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, where various militias and armed groups pursue their interests and objectives in response to regional conflicts and alliances. Tashkil al-Warsin’s actions reflect their alignment with Iranian interests and their opposition to US policies in the region, particularly concerning the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
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TRAC Incident Report:
Islamic State (ISCA/Wilayat Wasat Afriqiyah) Armed Assault on a Safari Vehicle, Murdering Two Foreign Tourists and One Local, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Western Uganda
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Islamic State’s official Nashir News officially claims “Central African state: 3 Christians, one of whom is British, were killed in a new attack by Caliphate soldiers in western Uganda” | |
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On 17 October 2023, rebels of Islamic State (ISCA) ambushed a safari vehicle and killed the occupants with firearms, before setting their vehicle on fire. The victims were traveling on the Katwe Road between L. Nyamununka and Kabatooro in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Among the deceased are two foreign tourists, a South African and a British citizen, as well as their Ugandan guide. The tourists were traveling under Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris, a tourism company known for staging safari experiences for visitors to Uganda, Rwanda Kenya, Tanzania and DRC.
This incident comes only two days after suspected ISCA militants sent two parcel bombs to two pastors in Kibibi, Butambala District. Local officials blamed the now-defunct ADF for these recent attacks, a group that pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2018 and is now officially part of ISCA. Since Butambala district is over 400km away from Queen Elizabeth National Park, the two attacks were likely carried out by two different cells, but the 17 October attack was officially claimed by IS Central Command the following day.
It is TRAC’s assessment that this armed assault was aimed at disrupting the tourism sector by sending a message to foreigners wishing to visit the country, as well as assert a clear threat to the government by targeting Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris company. Given the high profile tourism of both UK and South African nationals, it is completely unclear as to why they did not take the tourists hostage, leading TRAC to surmise that ISCA in Uganda does not have the means to hold hostages (no food or location to hold them).
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TRAC Incident Report:
Kenyan Special Forces Ambush al-Shabaab Food Suppliers,
Killing Three, Fafi, Garissa County, Kenya
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Image text: "We announce that the Azawad National Army repelled a failed advance attempt by the Malian army convoy and the Wagner militia, inflicting human and material losses on them and shooting down a military plane
in Tabincourt, 65 kilometers from the Sitra district / Gao state, on 10/05/2023."
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On 17 October 2023, Kenyan Special Forces ambushed an al-Shabaab convoy in Fafi, Garissa Region, Kenya. The convoy was composed of at least four donkey carts transporting wood, water, and food supplies.
According to official reports, the Kenyan soldiers killed three militants but gave no further information regarding additional deaths or injuries of militants or Kenyan soldiers.
TRAC contends that al-Shabaab has established a permanent operative base in the Fafi area. The group has claimed several attacks in Fafi over the last few months leaving little doubt that the convoy was headed somewhere other than to al-Shabaab's Fafi base to replenish food, water and building materials.
If TRAC's assessment is correct and al-Shabaab is maintaining a base in Fafi, we can expect to register an increasing number of incidents in the area.
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TRAC Incident Report: Bandits Refuse to Release Two Captured University Students After Ransom Was Paid in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina, Nigeria | |
TRAC Incident Report: Suspected Ahrar al-Sham (AS) OR Hayy’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Assassination Attempt on the Sultan Murad Division's Intelligence Chief, in al Ghandurah, Aleppo Governorate, Syria | |
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TRAC Incident Report:
al-Malahim Electronic Army (al-Qaeda Central) Releases a Poster Quoting Saif al-Adl Inciting the Creation of Dormant Cells to Assassinate Gulf Rulers and Target Jewish People and Their Assets in Muslim Countries in Support of Palestine / Gaza
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