Khorasan group
Khorasan (sometimes called the Khorasan Group) is a group of al-Qaeda fighters who have migrated to Syria. It is unclear whether they are a branch of al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria (the al-Nusra Front) or a separate entity.[1] Members of the group are jihadis from various countries who have allegedly worked with bomb-makers from Yemen, including an al-Qaeda affiliated bomb-maker named Ibrahim al-Asiri[2] to target civilian aircraft heading to the United States[3] and other western targets.[2]
At an intelligence gathering in Washington, D.C. on 18 September 2014, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper stated that "in terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as the Islamic State (IS)."[4] The organization is led by al-Qaeda member Muhsin al-Fadhli, who went to Iran after the US invasion of Afghanistan and was so important to al-Qaeda that he was said to be aware of the September 11 attacks ahead of time.[4]
Name
Khorasan is a historical term for the Iran-Afghanistan-Tajikistan-Turkmenistan-Pakistan region (Greater Khorasan).[5] The name of the group was likely created by intelligence agencies.[5] The hadiths report that Muhammad said that the advent of the Mahdi would be signaled by "Black Standards" proceeding from Khorasan from the Fitan of Nu`aym and the Ahwal of Safarini.[6][7]
2014 American intervention
On 23 September 2014, United States Central Command claimed to have made eight air strikes against the group’s training camps, command and control facilities and other sites in the area west of Aleppo, Syria.[8]
References
- ^ "Meet The Khorasan, The Terrorist Group That's Suddenly A Bigger Threat Than ISIS". Business Insider Australia. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ^ a b Phillips, James; Siegel, Josh. "Q&A: Meet Khorasan, the Terrorist Group That Might Be Scarier Than ISIS". The Daily Signal. Heratige Foundation. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
- ^ "Syria's hard cell: Rise of Khorasan group alarms U.S." The Pueblo Chieftain. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ a b "US admits there is a much scarier terrorist group than ISIS". RT. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ a b "What Is the "Khorasan Group" and Why Is the U.S. Bombing It in Syria?". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
- ^ David Cook (2002). Studies in Muslim Apocalyptic. Darwin Press. p. 153,125,206. Also Cook, 125 and 206. Note that this particular tradition is ambiguous about whether the Mahdi himself would choose the black banner. Other traditions will be less circumspect (see below).
- ^ "Hadiths about Army of Mahdi, the Black Flags, and East Khorasan".
On the authority of Thawban, the Messenger of Allah (upon whom be blessings and peace) said: The Prophet Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam said: "Before your treasure, three will kill each other -- all of them are sons of a different caliph but none will be the recipient. Then the Black Banners will appear from the East and they will kill you in a way that has never before been done by a nation." Thawban, a companion said: 'Then he said something that I do not remember by heart' then continued to say that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: "If you see him give him your allegiance, even if you have to crawl over ice, because surely he is the Caliph of Allah, the Mahdi. If you see the black (meaning war) flags coming from Khurasan, join that army, even if you have to crawl over ice, for this is the army of the Caliph, the Mahdi and no one can stop that army until it reaches Jerusalem. Ibne Majah Page 300, Also in Ahmad's Musnad, al-Haakim's Mustadrak and, Al Busiri, Ahmad Nuaym, Ad-Daylami, Hasan, ibn Sufyaan, and Abu Nuaym
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|quote=at position 93 (help) - ^ Herridge, Catherine (23 September 2014). "US strikes target Al Qaeda veterans in Syria plotting 'imminent attack'". Fox News. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
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