The Long War Journal Videos

The black flag flies in Raqqah

2013-05-13T14:46:20Z

The Telegraph reports that the black flag of al Qaeda flies "from all the lampposts" in the Syrian city of al Raqqah. More:

In Raqqa, a once conservative but by all accounts not religious city, the triumph of al-Qaeda's Syrian arm, Jabhat al-Nusra, would seem to be complete. Little known a year ago but suspected of having being founded by al-Qaeda in Iraq, they have grown in stature, leading many of the rebels' most successful recent battles. Last month they publicly declared their loyalty to al-Qaeda's supreme leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Clash along the Durand Line

2013-05-03T18:13:59Z

Euronews covers the May 1 clash between Afghan and Pakistani forces along the disputed border in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. One Afghan policeman was killed and two Pakistani soldiers were wounded in the incident.

Iraq's sectarian political crisis deepens amid violence

2013-05-01T18:50:22Z

Al Jazeera covers recent anti-government conflicts in Iraq in an April 26 report. At least 15 people were killed in a series of bombings today in Baghdad, Fallujah, and Ramadi. For additional coverage, see Threat Matrix: Awakening threatens to turn on the Iraqi government.

Alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria

2013-04-26T19:28:04Z

Unverified video claims to show victims of a March chemical attack in Syria:

A fourth video that claims to be posted from Ateibeh on March 19 shows an interview with a man dressed in medical scrubs, a surgical mask and surgical cap, whom the cameraman identifies as a doctor. He stands next to an unconscious man connected to an IV tube and wearing an oxygen mask. The cameraman repeats the date and asks the doctor a series of questions about his patients. "We have with us one of the doctors who deal with the victims of indiscriminate shelling on the town of Ateibeh with toxic substances whose composition is unknown," the cameraman says. "Doctor, please, can you tell us about the symptoms that are caused by this shelling? What are the possibilities of verifying the substances being dropped on this area?" "Unfortunately, most cases we're getting are deaths," the doctor says. "The cases we're getting that are still alive are exhibiting asphyxiation, spasms, slow heart rate, very low blood pressure. Truth be told, it is probably the material organic phosphate."

Three more videos and their descriptions can be found at The NYT's The Lede.

Security vacuum in Kidal

2013-04-23T00:36:41Z

Malian troops are absent in the town of Kidal, which was under al Qaeda control until the end of last winter. The area is patrolled by French and Chadian forces, who are scheduled to leave, and Tuareg rebels, who oppose the Malian government. Meanwhile, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb remains a persistent threat.

Al Nusrah Front overruns Syrian Army tank position

2013-04-03T13:14:13Z

The video above shows the aftermath of an Al Nusrah Front unit overrunning what appears to be a platoon of Syrian Army reserve armored forces (the tanks are T-55s). The video bears the logo of the Al-Manara Al-Baydha' Foundation, the official media arm of the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria. It appears to have been shot in Dara'a in the south, where Al Nusrah has made great gains in the past several weeks. The video appears to be taken after the Al Nusrah Front overran the Syrian Army tank unit. While gunfire is heard on the video, no opposition to the Al Nusrah Front assault team is evident. But Al Nusrah clearly took the tank platoon; the bodies of dead Syrian soldiers are seen lying on the ground. The Al Nusrah Front fighters then torch the hastily built shelters and drive off with the T-55s. AL Nusrah Front fighters celebrate while waving the black banner of jihad.

Libya becomes an international weapons bazaar

2013-03-25T15:44:14Z

Al Jazeera reports on the emergence of Libya as a major source of weapons for jihadists in North and West Africa, and the Levant after the Western-led effort to topple longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Libyan rebels and the West failed to secure Qaddafi's massive weapons depots after Qaddafi's fall. Libyan weapons, from assault rifles to antiaircraft missiles, have appeared in the hands of jihadists on the battlefields of Algeria, Mali, Egypt, Syria, and the Palestinian Territories.

Syrian tank operates in Darayya

2013-03-18T21:11:52Z

A video posted by the Abkhazian Network News Agency shows mounted footage of a Syrian regime tank operating in the southern city of Darayya.

Chadian Army claims progress against al Qaeda

2013-03-15T15:50:50Z

Al Jazeera English covers the Chadian Army campaign in Mali in a Mar. 4 report, including assertions that "al Qaeda is on the run." "You can't say all the bases, but the principle base of the Salafists has been destroyed, I can assure you of that," said General Omar Bikomb, the commander of Chadian forces in Mali.

US Army veteran fighting with al Qaeda

2013-03-12T16:29:01Z

Video of a downed Syrian regime helicopter taken by Eric Harroun, a US Army veteran fighting alongside Islamist rebels. Harroun, a Muslim convert known as "the American," has fought with various groups, including the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda in Iraq's affiliate in Syria. From a Fox News profile:

Eric Harroun, 30, grew up in Phoenix before joining the U.S. Army in 2000. Although Harroun was never deployed during his three-year hitch, he has seen plenty of combat fighting with Syrian rebels and, more recently, Jabhat al-Nusra, a group the U.S. State Department classifies as an alias for Al Qaeda in Iraq. "I was separated in a battle and most of my group was K.I.A. and Al-Nusra picked me up," Harroun told FoxNews.com during one of several brief interviews conducted via Skype. Harroun, who said he is now in Turkey, shrugged off a question about fighting alongside Al Qaeda terrorists who have joined the Syrian rebellion, saying, "the U.S. plays both sides, too." He said the offshoot of the terror group behind the 9/11 attacks welcomed him.

French forces in the Ametetai Valley

2013-03-07T18:00:03Z

[click on the above image to access video]

France24 reports on the final phase of France's "Operation Serval" in Mali, including the search for French hostages held by Islamist forces.

Sudden T-62 in Syria

2013-03-06T18:37:15Z

An unverified video posted to Youtube appears to show a sudden Syrian Army tank assault on a rebel position.

French air support over Mali

2013-03-04T17:29:03Z

[click on the above image to access video]

A review of French air support over Mali. The video and a full report can be found at France24.

Syrian rebels shoot down helicopter

2013-02-28T21:51:04Z

[click on the above image to watch]

An unverified video published at the Guardian shows Syrian rebels shooting down a helicopter "reportedly at Menakh air base, 25 miles north of Aleppo."

Syrian activists release 'puppet dictator' cartoon

2013-02-24T22:16:45Z

[click on the above image to watch]

An animated cartoon depicting Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as a puppet of Iranian leaders has been released by Syrian activists. Click on the above image to watch. Al Arabiya has the video and a description.