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Special Announcement|251| August 10, 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. Jihadi Facebook Page Publishes 'Exclusive' Photos Of U.S Air Force Plane Taking Off From Carthage International Airport In Tunis On August 6, 2013, Milatu Ibrahim News, a Facebook page which promotes and supports jihadi groups, posted what it said were two "exclusive" photos of a U.S. Air Force plane taking off from Carthage International Airport in Tunis. The Facebook page, which was created August 1, 2013, did not provide details on how and when these photos were taken. However, Abu Rowaha Al-Khurasani, a member of the leading jihadi forum Fida' who posted one of the photos, wrote that the USAF aircraft had landed secretly at the airport and that Hummer military vehicles as well as crates of weapons were seen being offloaded from it. Al-Zawahiri: Mursi's Ouster Proves That Islam Cannot Come To Power By Democratic Means On August 2, 2013, Al-Qaeda's media company Al-Sahab released a 15-minute audio message by Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri. In the message, dated Ramadan 1434 (July/August 2013), Al-Zawahiri speaks about the ouster of Egyptian president Muhammad Mursi, and says that it was arranged by the secularists, the Egyptian army and Mubarak loyalists with the backing of the Gulf and the U.S. He adds that this event proves that Islamic forces cannot come to power by democratic means, and calls upon all of Mursi's supporters to unite under the call to implement the shari'a and oppose any subjugation to the West. The following are the main points of Al-Zawahiri's message: Al-Zawahiri says that Mursi's ouster was the result of collaboration between the "Crusaders, the secularist, the Americanized [Egyptian] army, the remnants of Mubarak's [regime] and a handful of people associated with Islamic causes, with funds [supplied by] the Gulf and with American planning." Two Al-Qaeda Operatives Arrested At Cairo Airport   Egyptian authorities at Cairo international airport arrested two men described as "senior Al-Qaeda operatives." Egyptian newspapers that reported the arrest identified the two only by their initials, M.T.M and N.S.A, and said they are residents of Egyptian Rafah. According to the reports, the authorities found Al-Qaeda flags, rifle and handgun cases, military apparel, optical sights, and a false Syrian passport issued to the one of the suspects in their luggage. The men's lap-top computers and flash drives also contained texts by Al-Qaeda commanders defining plans for taking over the Sinai. Jabhat Al-Nusra Member Tells Story Of German Jihadi Abu Ahmad Al-Almani A Jordanian member of Jabhat Al-Nusra in the eastern outskirts of Damascus reported the death of Abu Ahmad Al-Almani (the German) and told the story of his conversion to Islam and adhesion to Jabhat Al-Nusra. It should be noted that the German daily Die Welt reported Abu Ahmad's presence in Syria half a year ago. Abu Ahmad Al-Almani (right) and Abu Al-Bara' Abu Al-Bara' said that Abu Ahmad died with four other Jabhat Al-Nusra fighters on March 5, 2013 in an assault on a Syrian army checkpoint located on the Damascus airport highway. ISIS Presents Details Of Its Role In Capture Of Minnagh Airbase On August 8, 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) issued a statement describing its role in the capturing of the Minnagh airbase north of Aleppo. The base, which had been under siege by the rebels since January, was finally captured on August 6 by the Free Syrian Army and by Islamist and jihadist groups. It should be noted that, as part of its effort to portray Iraq and Syria as a single united front, ISIS described the operation as part of its large-scale "Hisad Al-Ajnad" campaign, which has involved bombings throughout Iraq. Explosion at the center of Minnagh airbase MEMRI TV EXCLUSIVE: Syrian Rebels Display Cache Of Captured Anti-Tank Missiles Following are excerpts from a video featuring a cache of anti-tank missiles, captured by Syrian rebels, which was posted on the Internet on August 3, 2013: Syrian rebel: "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate: "If you support Allah, He will support you and plant you firmly on your feet." The commando forces of the First Commando Regiment in Homs Province, in conjunction with the Liwa Al-Islam Brigades, raided ammunition depots in Denha, Qalamoun. We have captured a large number of missiles, including anti-tank missiles. We hope that this will please Allah. Say: 'Allah Akbar.'" Other Syrian rebels: "Allah Akbar." [...] Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV [To view this clip you must be a JTTM subscriber] TTP Video: 'We Want To Come To Power In The Same Way Prophet Muhammad Captured Power From The Polytheists'; 'He Captured Power Through Jihad; He Got His Regime And His Might Accepted Through Jihad' In a new video released by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), militant cleric Abuzar Azaam rejects the use of elections by Islamist parties to capture power, and argues that the Taliban will capture power through the means of jihad as adopted by the Prophet Muhammad. The video, titled "The Enforcement of an Islamic System is Only Possible Through Jihad in the Path of Allah," runs over 23 minutes and is produced by the Umar Media, the TTP's broadcasting arm. In the video, Abuzar Azaam answers a series of questions by someone posing as a journalist whose face is not shown. It appears that the video may have been produced prior to the ouster of Egyptian president Muhammad Mursi was thrown out of power by the military. This is the second video with an interview of Abuzar Azaam. In June 2013, the militant recorded the first of this series, arguing against the use of elections to capture power. MEMRI published a report of the transcript of that video, titled TTP Video: 'We Are Not Convinced Of Elections For The Establishment Of An Islamic State; We Are Convinced Of Jihad'; 'Our First Step Is To Prepare Our Sons And Daughters For Jihad' on June 25, 2013. Following are excerpts from the new video. "It Is Compulsory For Me, For You, And For The Entire Muslim Ummah To Accept Allah's Order; We Will Not Go For Referendum To The People, Nor Will We Ask People To Cast Votes In Elections" Asked about the use of referendums and elections to assess the views of the people and the role of the Pakistani parliament in representing them and developing a policy for them, the militant cleric responds: "The sum of your questions is that if the people want, you should do, and if the people don't want, you shouldn't. Brother, we have said earlier that we are not 'democracy people,' we are not the people wanting power through vote and elections. This is the order of Allah, and whether one accepts Allah's order or not, it will be implemented." Pakistani Magazine Examines Growing Role Of Jihadi Organizations And Sectarian Madrassas In Sindh Province Recently, The Friday Times, a Lahore-based weekly magazine, published reports examining threats posed by madrassas in Pakistan's Sindh province as well as the July 24 Taliban suicide bombing of the local headquarters of the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the town of Sukkur. The attack on the ISI office has led to concerns that Taliban influence in the province is growing. In a report titled "Militant Groups Make Inroads In Sindh," journalist Zia Ur Rehman examined how the jihadi groups are running an effective network in Sindh. In another, earlier report, titled "The Madrassa Networks of Sindh," commentator Ali K. Chishti analyzed how a large number of madrassas have sprung up in Sindh in the years after 9/11 and are strengthening jihadi influences. Excerpts from both the reports are given below. Following are excerpts from Rehman's report: Security Analyst Ayesha Siddiqa: "Militancy Is Sindh's Future; It Will Slowly Wipe Out Its Pluralism" "Ahmed Marwat, who introduced himself as the spokesman for the Jundallah faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), called reporters to claim responsibility for the attack [on the ISI office in Sukkur]. He said the attack was to avenge the death of TTP central leader Waliur Rehman Mehsud, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in North Waziristan region in May. Marwat said Pakistan Army and the ISI were cooperating with the U.S. "It was the first such attack in Sukkur [town of Sindh province]. The Sindh province, famous for its progressive politics, vibrant civil society and Sufi traditions, has been facing threats of militancy for the last few years, political and civil society activists say. While violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] continues to get media coverage, the underdeveloped areas Sindh are quietly becoming recruiting grounds for militancy, they say. In Eid-ul-Fitr Message, Taliban Leader Mullah Omar Rejects 2014 Afghan Elections, Invites Foreign NGOs To Work In Taliban-Controlled Areas   On August 6, official websites of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan published a message from Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar in which he extends holiday greetings to Muslims for Eid-ul-Fitr, which will be observed August 9 and marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. In his message, Mullah Omar rejects the 2014 presidential elections, in Afghanistan saying that neither the people nor the mujahideen will participate in them. He also urges Islamic charities and wealthy Muslims to help the mujahideen, thereby participating in financial jihad. On the U.S.-Taliban talks in recent years, he says that the main objective of these contacts is to end the foreign occupation and that should the Taliban come to power, there would be no compromise on the Islamic character of Afghanistan is,. Following are excerpts from his message: "I Congratulate The Afghan Mujahid People And All Oppressed Ummah For The Great Victories Achieved By Mujahideen In The Field Of Jihad ... And Through Unparalleled Sacrifices, Martyrdom-Seeking Operations" "... I extend my felicitations to you all for the great bliss and festivity for your having performed the great obligation of the holy month of Ramadan and for your now being in the auspicious days of Eid-ul-Fitr. I pray to Almighty Allah to accept in his sight the jihad, fasting, worship and charities of all Muslims. May you have a prosperous life and success! "Similarly, I congratulate the Afghan mujahid people and all oppressed Ummah for the great victories achieved by mujahideen in the field of jihad with the help of Allah... and through unparalleled sacrifices, martyrdom-seeking operations, and struggle, which have practically forced the invaders to take to fleeing in an unprecedented manner." "In particular, may Allah save the oppressed and believing people of Syria and Egypt, who spent the entire month of Ramadan under beatings, bloodbaths, arrests and torture in squares, prisons and hospitals...." In Eid-ul-Fitr Message, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Says: 'U.S. And Its European Allies Have Gained Nothing From Their Intervention In Afghanistan'  In a congratulatory message on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the chief of Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (the second largest militant group after the Taliban), has asked his fighters to spare non-combatants, according to an Afghan website. Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is likely to be celebrated on August 9. Hekmatyar said he believed the U.S. and its European allies have gained nothing from their intervention in Afghanistan with the exception of fatalities, political instability and financial crisis, according to a report on Afghan website Pajhwok.com. Please remember the environment before printing.