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Masada al-Mujahideen

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Masada al-Mujahideen
مسعدة المجاهدين
Political leaderAbu al-Walid al-Maqdisi
Dates of operation2008–2013
Allegiance Al-Qaeda
IdeologySalafist jihadism
Wahhabism
Statusdefunct
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 warsGaza–Israel conflict

Masada al-Mujahideen (Arabic: سعدة المجاهدين) was a Palestinian terrorist organization associated with Al-Qaeda operating within the Gaza Strip.[1]

History

The group first came into prominence after releasing a video online showing them dropping a bomb on the Israeli city of Sderot.[2] This prompted the Israeli Air Force to carry out airstrikes against Masada al-Mujahideen in the Gaza Strip.[3] Following clashes with the Israeli Defense Forces, another jihadist organization in the Gaza Strip, Jaysh al-Ummah (also known as the Army of the Ummah), began fighting Masada al-Mujahideen due to disapproval of their activities.[4] Later that year, Masada al-Mujahideen established a media wing for propaganda called Riah,[5] which initially operated on Google+ until its account was taken down.[6] The group then moved its operations to Facebook,[7] where it created eulogies for Osama bin Laden,[8] Attiya Allah,[9] and Abu Yahya al-Libi.[10]

Attacks in Israel

Masada al-Mujahideen, a couple of months after the bomb attack, threatened further "operations" in Israel.[11] Later that day, they claimed responsibility for a train fire in Haifa.[12] A few days later, they also claimed responsibility for a cargo ship fire in Eilat.[13] In July 2011, they claimed responsibility for a forest fire in Jerusalem[14] and the Alfei Menashe fire.[15] In October 2011, they took responsibility for multiple arson attacks in Israel.[16] In November 2011, they claimed responsibility for an arson attack on a chemical factory owned by the Israeli government,[17] and in December, they claimed responsibility for an arson attack on an industrial center.[18] In 2012, they claimed responsibility for an arson attack in Be'er Ya'akov[19] and set a military base in Ashkelon, owned by the Israel Defense Forces, on fire.[20] Later that month, they claimed responsibility for an arson attack on an airplane factory in Haifa[21] and a residential fire in the same city.[22] In May 2012, in Northern Israel, they claimed responsibility for a series of fires and arson attacks, including some in the Golan Heights.[23] The following day, they also claimed responsibility for fire attacks targeting IDF guards.[24]

Attacks in Palestine and at Hamas

A month after the cargo ship fire, Masada al-Mujahideen attacked Palestinian Liberation Organization's soldiers following Palestine's initiation of land negotiations with Israel.[25] The group also began carrying out light attacks on Hamas in response to their treatment of prisoners of war and regular detainees.[26] In 2012, Masada al-Mujahideen accused Hamas of being responsible for the death of Salafi Jihadist leader Abu al-Walid al-Maqdisi and subsequently threatened and carried out attacks against Hamas.[27][28]

Arizona wildfires and Nevada forest fires

In 2012, Masada al-Mujahideen attempted to claim responsibility for the Nevada forest fires, but their claim was later 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 also celebrated the deaths of 19 firefighters who were attempting to put out the wildfire. However, local authorities in Arizona rejected the organization's claim.[31][32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Masada al Mujahideen". TRAC. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Video of Rocket Attack on Sderot". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  3. ^ Farrall, Leah (2017). "Revisiting al-Qaida's Foundation and Early History". Perspectives on Terrorism. 11 (6): 17–37. ISSN 2334-3745. JSTOR 26295954.
  4. ^ "Army of the Ummah Takes Issue with Palestinian Faction". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Changes Media Arm's Name". SITE Enterprise. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen's Media Arm Joins Google's Social Network Website". SITE Enterprise. 20 July 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Moves to Facebook After Google+ Account Banned". SITE Enterprise. 6 August 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Eulogy for Usama bin Laden". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Eulogy for Attiya Allah". SITE Enterprise. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Gives Condolences for Abu Yahya al-Libi". SITE Enterprise. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Threatens More Operations in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Train Fire in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  13. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Ship Fire Near Eilat, Israel". SITE Enterprise. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Jerusalem Forest Fire". SITE Enterprise. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  15. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Alfei Menashe Fire". SITE Enterprise. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Multiple Arsons in Israel". SITE Enterprise. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson at Chemical Factory". SITE Enterprise. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson at Industrial Center". SITE Enterprise. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson in Be'er Ya'akov". SITE Intelligence Group. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Military Base Fire in Ashkelon". SITE Enterprise. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Arson in Haifa Plane Factory". SITE Enterprise. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Residential Fire in Haifa City". SITE Enterprise. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Series of Fires in Northern Israel". SITE Enterprise. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  24. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Claims Fires Targeting Israeli Security Agents". SITE Enterprise. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Attacks Negotiations for Palestinian Land". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Condemns Hamas' Treatment of Prisoners". SITE Enterprise. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ "Masada al-Mujahideen Threatens Hamas, Israel Over Assassination". SITE Enterprise. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  29. ^ "Palestinian Militant Faction Claims Nevada Forest Fire". SITE Enterprise. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Palestinian jihadist group claims credit for Arizona wildfire". FDD's Long War Journal. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  31. ^ "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.
  32. ^ "Palestinian Militant Group Gives Dubious Claim for Arizona Wildfire". SITE Enterprise. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
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