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Special Announcement|246| July 20, 2013 Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Weekend Summary MEMRI | MEMRI TV | JIHAD AND TERRORISM THREAT MONITOR | SOUTH ASIA STUDIES PROJECT

The following are some of this week's reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock – among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to jttmsubs@memri.org with "Membership" in the subject line.) Note to media and government: For a full copy of these reports, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to media@memri.org. Please include your name, title, and organization in your email. Egyptian Daily: Jihadi Organizations To Carry Out Attacks In Sinai, Kidnap Foreigners And Transport Them To Libya   On July 19, 2013, the Egyptian daily Al-Masri Al-Yawm reported that Egyptian security forces have prepared to secure public squares in anticipation of mass protests following Friday prayers organized by the Tamarrud movement under the slogan "The People Against Terrorism." AQAP Confirms Sa'id Al-Shihri's Death Sa'id Al-Shihri On July 17, 2013, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a new video featuring its top religious official Ibrahim Al-Rubaish, who delivered a eulogy for AQAP's deputy leader, former Guantanamo detainee Sa'id Al-Shihri. It should be noted that Al-Shihri is the highest ranking official within AQAP to be killed in a drone strike since the organization's establishment in 2009. Ibrahim Al-Rubaish Al-Rubaish confirms that Al-Shihri was killed in a US drone strike, after escaping 3 previous ones. Report: Jordan Tightens Monitoring Over Jihadi Activity In Ma'an Area, Is Increasingly Concerned With Jihadis Returning From Syria According to a July 16, 2013, report in the London daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, the Jordanian government has become increasingly concerned with the return of Jordanian jihadis from Syria. These concerns were recently further heightened after the discovery of large quantities of weapons in a raid of a home in Jordan's southern desert region.   Al Qaeda Offshoot In Syria Displays Weaponry Of Its Own Manufacture: Rockets, A Mortar, Mortar Shells And An Antitank Grenade Launcher   On July 12, 2013 a new media body that is called Baqiya Media Production Company, that claims affiliation to the Islamic State In Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (an Al Qaeda offshoot in Syria), published its first film clip – that is also the first in a series called And Prepare. The film clip displays weaponry manufactured by the organization in the Damascus district. A fighter from the organization appears in the film clip and provides a survey on the weapons stacked next to each other and details their features. Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen Claim Attack On Senior CIA Official The Somali Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen claimed credit for a suicide operation that purportedly claimed the lives of African and US intelligence operatives. Most importantly the attack severely wounded a prime target – the CIA's director of operations in East Africa Gary Schroen. Sections of the Al-Shabab communiqué as published on July 13, 2013 on the organization's Twitter account appear below:   Belmokhtar's Group Reveals Tunisian, Sudanese, Moroccan, And Other Suicide Bombers, Participating In Attacks Against French Company, Military Base, In Niger On July 8, 2013, the Mauritanian news agency Nouakchott news (www.ani.mr) reported that the militant group Al-Muwaqi'un Bi-Dimaa', which is led by former Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar, took responsibility for the attack against the civilian prison in Niamey, Niger on June 1, 2013, where more than 30 jihadis were freed. The group also revealed additional details about two other separate attacks it executed back in May against a military base in the city of Agadez, and a French uranium facility in the city of Arlit, both in Niger. TTP Appoints New Spokesman Sheikh Maqbool, new TTP spokesman The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has appointed a new spokesman, after Ihsanullah Ihsan was sacked from the post over remarks that sought to imply that the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban are different organizations, according to a Pakistani media report and a pamphlet issued in the Pakistani tribal region. Taliban Statement Accuses Al-Azhar University Sheikh Of Supporting Anti-Morsi Coup   In a recent statement, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government in the country) accused Dr. Ahmad Tayyab, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar University, of supporting the Egyptian military's removal of Muhammad Morsi from power. The statement also noted that the removal of Morsi came as a result of "alien instigations" - a reference to the supposed Western support for the Egyptian military. It also accused the new officials assuming power of cracking down against Morsi's supporters, and demanded the reinstatement of Morsi as the country's president. Following are excerpts from the statement: "On July 3, 2013, the Egyptian army sacked the elected president of that country, Dr. Muhammad Morsi, in a coup d'état due to alien instigations. They not only debased the public opinion and the Egyptian law, but also filled up jails with the members of the legitimate government of the country. They prosecuted the leaders of the Islamic parties, especially those belonging to the 'Freedom and Justice' party. The presidential guard opened ruthless fire on peaceful demonstrators while they were offering their morning prayers…. Afghan Taliban Governor Qari Salahuddin: 'Mujahideen Have 90% Control In Several Districts Of Faryab Province'   Below are excerpts from an interview in which the Afghan Taliban's shadow governor for Faryab province, Qari Salahuddin, explains recent achievements by the mujahideen, and notes that the jihadi fighters control 90 percent areas of some districts. Qari Salahuddin is described as the General Jihadi In-Charge of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government) for the Faryab province. He is also a local resident, from the province's Almar district. Following are excerpts from the interview: "[In June,] Mujahideen Of Faryab Province Carried Out Approximately 50 Operations Against The Enemy… Several Military Tanks And Ranger Type Vehicles Of The Enemy Were Destroyed Inside Pashtunkot District" Question: "Could you could provide us with information about the recent incidents inside Faryab province…?" Qari Salahuddin: "In the recent past, large-scale operations were launched by the enemy against mujahideen in various parts of Faryab province. The enemy tried their best to expand their authority and enter the areas under the control of mujahideen, but by the grace of Allah Almighty, due to the extraordinary resistance and steadfastness of mujahideen, heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy. The mujahideen had tough fighting with the enemy in the last four days [i.e. sometime in mid-June]. The enemy tried tooth and nail, but could not succeed in breaking the battle formation of the mujahideen… [who] carried out severe attacks against the enemy in Dawudak, Katalabi, and some other areas of Pashtunkot district. In these attacks, 10 soldiers of the enemy were killed and 15 were wounded; four tanks and two ranger-ttype vehicles were completely destroyed. Three motorcycles and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition were seized by the mujahideen. Similarly, one [Afghan] soldier was caught…." Please remember the environment before printing.