Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (Uzbek: Tavhid va jihod katibasi, Kyrgyz: Катибат аль-Таухид ва аль-жихад, romanized: Katibat al'-Taukhid va al'-zhikhad, Arabic: كتاب التوحيد والجهاد, lit. 'Kitāb al-tawḥīd wa-al-jihād') is an Uzbek/Kyrgyz jihadist militant organization based in Syria.
| Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad | |
|---|---|
| Uzbek: Tavhid va jihod katibasi Kyrgyz: Катибат аль-Таухид ва аль-жихад Arabic: كتاب التوحيد والجهاد | |
 | |
| Founder | Sirojiddin Mukhtarov †[1] |
| Leader | Ilmurad Khikmatov[2] |
| Dates of operation | 2014–present |
| Country |  Syria |
| Allegiance | |
| Ideology | |
| Size | 80-100 in Afghanistan (UN report)
200-500 in Syria |
| Allies | |
| Opponents |
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| Battles and wars | War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) Syrian Civil war |
| Designated as a terrorist group by |
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| Flag |  |
History
editThe group was established in Syria in 2014 by Sirojiddin Mukhtarov,[7] the group consists of mostly Uzbek and Kyrgyz nationals.[8]
In 2015 the group, with the help of Al-Nusra Front and Ajnad al-Kavkaz, attempted to establish a de facto state in northwestern Syria.[9] This was all after the fighting in Idlib province, specifically in the town of Jisr ash-Shughur.[10]
In 2016 the group bombed the Chinese embassy in Kyrgyzstan, the attack was ordered by then leader/founder, Sirojiddin Mukhtarov.[11] Three people were arrested and sentenced for helping and aiding the bombing.[12]
In 2019 the group hired hitmen to kill Aierken Saimaiti, a man who exposed a large money laundering scheme,[13] also in 2019, the groups Shura council voted unanimously to change the groups leader, Sirojiddin was changed with the new appointed leader, Ilmurad Khikmatov.[14]
In 2021 two of the head propagandists of the organization were arrested in the town of Tanzim after attempting to recruit Uzbek school children to go to Syria to fight for the group.[15]
In 2022 the United States designated the group a terrorist organization.[16] Also the same year, in September, the original founder of the organization, Sirojiddin Mukhtarov was killed in a _targeted airstrike by the Russian Air Force.[17][18]
In 2023, a foreign supporter of the group in Philadelphia would attempt to build an IED in order to bomb certain _targets in support of the group,[19] the group supplied the materials overseas.[20]
In 2024 it was reported that militants from the group are operating in Idlib province of Syria and are clashing with the Syrian armed forces.[21]
References
edit- ^ "Terrorist group's leader, native of Kyrgyzstan, killed by Russian forces in Syria". GFATF. 2022-09-12. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ غاروفالو, دانيلي (2022-05-04). "كيف أحدثت الحرب الروسية على أوكرانيا انقساماً في أوساط الجهاديين؟". أخبار الآن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ ""Катибат аль-Таухид ва аль-жихад"- "Аль-Каиданын" Борбор Азиядагы идеялык мураскору". BBC News (in Kyrgyz). Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ "Борбор азиялык жихадчылар "Аль-Каидага" ант беришти". BBC News (in Kyrgyz). Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ "The Transformation of Central Asian Jihadists in Syria". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ Merlo, Mike (30 September 2015). "Uzbek group pledges allegiance to Al Nusrah Front". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ)". Counter Extremism Project. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad". TRAC. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
- ^ Lin, Christina (2015-10-11). "A buffer zone for Erdogan's Turkic settlements in Syria?". Asia Times. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ "Who is Katibat al-Tawhid wa-l-Jihad?". Syrians for Truth and Justice. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ "ГКНБ: Установлены организаторы и исполнители взрыва в посольстве Китая в Бишкеке". Сводка АКИpress. 2016-09-06. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ "Kyrgyzstan Sentences Three Over Chinese Embassy Attack". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ "'His Murder Is Necessary': Man Who Exposed Kyrgyz Smuggling Scheme Was Hunted By Contract Killers". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ Botobekov, Uran (2019-04-19). "Uzbek's Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad changed its leader". Modern Diplomacy. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ "Халқаро терроризм тарафдорлари узоқ муддатга озодликдан маҳрум этилди". Uza.uz (in Uzbek). 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ "US designates Syrian al-Qaeda-linked group as 'Global Terrorist'". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ Kudryavtseva, Tatyana (2022-09-10). "Militant leader, native of Kyrgyzstan Sirojiddin Mukhtarov killed in Syria –". 24.kg. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
- ^ "Минобороны заявило об убийстве лидера группировки «Катиба Таухид валь-Джихад». Ее обвиняли в причастности к теракту в петербургском метро". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-10-08.
- ^ Macaulay, Jessica; Bailey, Wakisha; Corrado, Kerri; Snyder, Dan (2023-08-15). "FBI, Philadelphia DA charge teen in terrorism probe". CBS News. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ^ Roebuck, Jeremy; Palmer, Chris (2023-08-14). "Philadelphia teen accused of buying and testing bomb-making materials in support of foreign terror group". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ^ publish (2024-09-22). "Uzbek militants deploy in Syria's Afrin". Retrieved 2024-09-23.