The Kurdistan Brigades,[4] are a militant Islamist organization, primarily active in the Kurdish regions of Iraq and Iran. It is the official Kurdish branch of al-Qaeda. It has also launched several attacks on the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq. The group was overshadowed by other Islamist factions but remains active.[5]
| Kurdistan Brigades | |
|---|---|
| (Kurdish: کەتیبەکانی کوردستان) | |
 The groups flag, which is a Shahada with "Kurdistan Brigades" written under it. | |
| Leaders | Dilshad Kalari (unknown to unknown) Abdullah Hassan al-Sorani (2007 to unknown): al-Sorani has released public statements of behalf of AQKB and is believed to be the group’s official spokesman.[1] |
| Dates of operation | 2001-present, largely inactive after 2010 |
| Headquarters | Iraqi Kurdistan, Iranian Kurdistan |
| Ideology | Islamic extremism Salafist Qutbism Salafist Jihadism Wahhabism[2] Anti-Zionism |
| Part of |  al-Qaeda |
| Allies | |
| Opponents | State opponents
Non-state opponents |
| Battles and wars | the Iraq War and the Global War on Terrorism |
| Designated as a terrorist group by |  United States |
Formation
editThe Kurdistan Brigades were founded in 2001 in the Hamrin Mountains, as an official faction of Al-Qaeda. It was founded by former Ansar al-Islam militants. However, the creation of the Kurdistan Brigades was announced with a video called "Back to the Mountains" released in March 2007 by Al-Qaeda. From 2007 to 2010, they waged an insurgency against the Kurdistan Regional Government with many attacks against authorities. They were also active in Iranian Kurdistan.[6]
The group is considered to be relatively small, but it has camps in the Iranian Kurdish towns of Mariwan and Sanandaj.[7]
In April 2014, the Kurdistan Brigades released a statement where they criticised the Islamic State and called on Kurds to not join it.[8]
Attacks
editThe group has launched several attacks, including its largest one being against KRG's Ministry of Interior in Erbil that killed 19 people in May 2007.[7] AQKB killed 7 border guards and one PUK security officer in Penjwan in July 2007. In September 2010, two police officers were hurt by a failed suicide attack in Sulaymaniyah.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Mapping Militant Organizations, Al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions". Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ Hudson, Valerie (30 June 2015). The Hillary Doctrine. Columbia University. p. 154. ISBN 9780231539104. Archived from the original on 20 October 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- ^ "ISI Confirms That Jabhat Al-Nusra Is Its Extension in Syria, Declares 'Islamic State of Iraq And Al-Sham' As New Name of Merged Group". MEMRI. 8 April 2013. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "The Kurdistan Brigades: Al-Qaeda's Kurdish Henchmen". Jamestown. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
- ^ Cassman, Daniel. "Al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions". Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "ABD-İran geriliminin yeni ismi; El Kaide'nin Kürt grubu". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Rudaw in English The Happening: Latest News and Multimedia about Kurdistan, Iraq and the World - US Designates Kurdish Group Terrorists". Rudaw.net. 15 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "ABD-İran geriliminin yeni ismi; El Kaide'nin Kürt grubu". www.rudaw.net. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
- ^ "Al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions". Stanford - CISAC. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.