Imam Shamil Battalion Explained

Imam Shamil Battalion
War:the Insurgency in the North Caucasus and
the Global War on Terrorism
Active:April 2017 – 2019
Ideology:
  • Salafist jihadism
  • Wahhabism[1]
Leaders: Sirozhiddin Mukhtarov[2]
Headquarters:North Caucasus, Russia
Area:North Caucasus, Russia
Size:100 (according to the (CFR)[3]
Allies: Tahrir al-Sham
Turkistan Islamic Party
Opponents:State opponents

Non state opponents

  • - Caucasus Province
Battles:2017 Saint Petersburg metro bombing, Insurgency in the North Caucasus, Islamic State insurgency in the North Caucasus

The Imam Shamil Battalion was a militant Islamist organization in Russia. It is a North Caucasus affiliate of Al-Qaeda.[4] [5] [6]

The name of the group is in reference to Imam Shamil, a Muslim leader from Dagestan that fought an invasion by the Russian Empire during the Caucasian War, and was the third Imam of Caucasian Imamate.[7] [8]

History

It is unknown when the group was formed but it rose to public prominence in 26 April 2017, when it claimed responsibility for the 2017 Saint Petersburg Metro bombing.[9] In its statement, it said that the attack was ordered by al-Qaeda's general Emir, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and that the group acts on behalf of al-Qaeda in the Caucasus and the Russian Federation.[10] [11] The attack was in retaliation to Russian military intervention in Syria. The group also pledged to continue launching terrorists attack in Russia until the Russian government withdraws its forces from the Caucasus and Syria. Is speculated that the group is led by Sirozhiddin Mukhtarov, who is also known as Abu Salah al-Uzbeky. In Tajikistan he is known for his connections with Uyghur terrorist groups such as the Turkistan Islamic Party and other al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria such as Tahrir al-Sham.[12] [13]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hudson, Valerie M. . Patricia . Leidl . The Hillary Doctrine: Sex and American Foreign Policy . 30 June 2015 . . 154 . 9780231539104 . 15 January 2016.
  2. Web site: Jihadist group confirms arrest of Uzbek commander. 2022-08-26. www.longwarjournal.org. 18 June 2020 .
  3. Web site: Al-Qaeda's Resurrection . Bruce . Hoffman . 6 March 2018 . 31 July 2023 . Council on Foreign Relations.
  4. News: Shadowy 'al-Qaeda' group claims responsibility for St Petersburg bombing . . 26 April 2017 . 31 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170427003635/https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2017/4/26/shadowy-al-qaeda-group-claims-responsibility-for-st-petersburg-bombing . 27 April 2017.
  5. News: Al-Qaeda-linked group claims St. Petersburg attack . . Ben . Ariel . 26 April 2017 . 31 July 2023.
  6. News: Imam Shamil Battalion claims Russia metro bombing . . 25 April 2017 . ar . 31 July 2023.
  7. Gary Hamburg, Thomas Sanders, Ernest Tucker (eds,),Russian-Muslim Confrontation in the Caucasus: Alternative Visions of the conflict between Imam Shamil and the Russians, 1830-1859, RoutledgeCurzon 2004 pèassim
  8. [Malise Ruthven]
  9. News: 2017-04-25 . St Petersburg bombing: Group says al-Qaeda chief ordered attack . en-GB . BBC News . 2021-04-09.
  10. Web site: 25 April 2017 . Islamist group claim responsibility for St Petersburg metro attack . 10 October 2018.
  11. Web site: Group with alleged al-Qaeda ties claims St. Petersburg metro bombing - DW - 25.04.2017 . 10 October 2018 . DW.COM.
  12. News: Group connected to Al-Qaeda took responsibility for St. Petersburg terrorist attack . 26 April 2017 . 10 December 2019 . Crime Russia . 19 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170619012604/https://en.crimerussia.com/gromkie-dela/group-connected-to-al-qaeda-took-responsibility-for-st-petersburg-terrorist-attack/ . dead .
  13. News: Group claims Russia metro bombing, says bomber acted on al Qaeda orders - monitor . https://web.archive.org/web/20170427100802/http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN17R24F . dead . 27 April 2017 . . 25 April 2017 . 10 December 2019 . Joe . Bavier . Gareth . Jones.