Masada al-Mujahideen | |
---|---|
مسعدة المجاهدين | |
Political leader | Abu al-Walid al-Maqdisi |
Dates of operation | 2008–2013 |
Allegiance | Al-Qaeda |
Ideology | Salafist jihadism Wahhabism |
Status | defunct |
Allies | Tawhid and Jihad Group in Jerusalem Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem |
Opponents | United States Israel Hamas Jaysh al-Ummah |
Battles and wars | Gaza–Israel conflict |
Masada al-Mujahideen (Arabic: سعدة المجاهدين) is a Palestinian terrorist organization associated with Al-Qaeda inside the Gaza Strip.[1]
History
The group first came into prominence after releasing a video online showing the group dropping a bomb on the Israeli city of Sderot.[2] This prompted Israeli Air Force to do airstrikes against Masada al-Mujahideen in the Gaza Strip.[3] After starting clashes with Israeli Defense Forces, another Jihadist organization in the Gaza strip named Jaysh al-Ummah, also known as Army of the Ummah, started clashes with Masada al-Mujahideen after they disapproved of the works done by the organization.[4] Later that year, Masada al-Mujahideen creates a media-wing for propaganda called Riah,[5] it mostly operated on Google+ until the account was taken down,[6] which then the group would move to Facebook.[7] It would create eulogies for Osama bin Laden,[8] Attiya Allah,[9] and Abu Yahya al-Libi.[10]
Attacks in Israel
Masada al-Mujahideen, a couple months after the bomb attack, would threaten with more "operations" in Israel,[11] later that day, they would claim responsibility a train fire that happened at night in Haifa.[12] A couple days later, they claim responsibility for a cargo ship fire in Eilat, Israel.[13] In July 2011, they would claim responsibility for a forest fire that happened in Jerusalem,[14] again in July they would claim responsibility for the Alfei Menashe Fire.[15] In October 2011, Masada al-Mujahideen would claim responsibility for multiple arson attacks that have happened in Israel.[16] In November 2011, Masada al-Mujahideen would claim responsibility for an arson attack on a chemical factory owned by the Israeli government,[17] then in December, they would claim responsibility for an industrial center arson attack.[18] In 2012 they claimed responsibility for an arson attack in Be'er Ya'akov.[19] In that year, they would also set a military base on fire in Ashkelon, owned by the Israel Defense Forces, and claim responsibility,[20] later that month, they would claim responsibility an arson attack on an airplane factory in Haifa,[21] they would also later that month, again in Haifa, claim responsibility for a residential fire that happened.[22] Again in May 2012, in Northern Israel, they would claim a series of different fires and arson attacks, including some in the occupied region of the Golan Heights.[23] Masada would also, the next day, claim responsibility for fire attacks targeting IDF guards.[24]
Attacks in Palestine and at Hamas
A month after the cargo ship fire, Masada al-Mujahideen would attack the Palestinian Liberation Organization's soldiers after Palestine would start land negotiations with Israel.[25] Masada al-Mujahideen would start doing light attacks on Hamas for the treatment of their POWs and regular prisoners.[26] In 2012, Masada al-Mujahideen blamed Hamas for the death of the Salafi Jihadist leader, Abu al-Walid al-Maqdisi, and threatened to attack Hamas, which they would later do so.[27][28]
Arizona wildfires and Nevada forest fires
In 2012, Masada al-Mujahideen attempted to claim responsibility for the Nevada forest fires, until their claim was disproved.[29]
In 2013, during one of Arizona's wildfires, Masada al-Mujahideen claimed responsibility with the statement "Masada al-Mujahideen Fulfilled its Promise and Attacked America Again After the Expiration of the Period with Fires that Achieved Historic Results",[30] they would also celebrate the death of 19 firefighters attempting to put out the wildfire, but Arizona local governments would reject the claim done by the organization.[31][32]
References
- ↑ "Masada al Mujahideen". TRAC. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Video of Rocket Attack on Sderot". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ Farrall, Leah (2017). "Revisiting al-Qaida's Foundation and Early History". Perspectives on Terrorism. 11 (6): 17–37. ISSN 2334-3745. JSTOR 26295954.
- ↑ "Army of the Ummah Takes Issue with Palestinian Faction". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Changes Media Arm's Name". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen's Media Arm Joins Google's Social Network Website". SITE Enterprise. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Moves to Facebook After Google+ Account Banned". SITE Enterprise. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Eulogy for Usama bin Laden". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Eulogy for Attiya Allah". SITE Enterprise. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Condolences for Abu Yahya al-Libi". SITE Enterprise. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Threatens More Operations in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Train Fire in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Ship Fire Near Eilat, Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Jerusalem Forest Fire". SITE Enterprise. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Alfei Menashe Fire". SITE Enterprise. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Multiple Arsons in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson at Chemical Factory". SITE Enterprise. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson at Industrial Center". SITE Enterprise. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson in Be'er Ya'akov". SITE Intelligence Group. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Military Base Fire in Ashkelon". SITE Enterprise. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson in Haifa Plane Factory". SITE Enterprise. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Residential Fire in Haifa City". SITE Enterprise. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Series of Fires in Northern Israel". SITE Enterprise. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Fires Targeting Israeli Security Agents". SITE Enterprise. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Attacks Negotiations for Palestinian Land". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Condemns Hamas' Treatment of Prisoners". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ Says, Mike Merlo (15 October 2012). "Masada al Mujahideen says Hamas is responsible for death of top Salafi leader, threatens attacks". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Masada al-Mujahideen Threatens Hamas, Israel Over Assassination". SITE Enterprise. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ↑ "Palestinian Militant Faction Claims Nevada Forest Fire". SITE Enterprise. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Palestinian jihadist group claims credit for Arizona wildfire". FDD's Long War Journal. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Arizona Officials 'Unequivocally' Reject Palestinian Jihadist Group's Claim of Responsibility for Wildfires". The 5 Towns Jewish Times. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ↑ "Palestinian Militant Group Gives Dubious Claim for Arizona Wildfire". SITE Enterprise. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2023.