Abdullah Azzam Brigades

Abdullah Azzam Brigades
كتائب عبد الله عزام
LeaderSaleh Al-Qaraawi[1]
Majid bin Muhammad al-Majid[1]
Surajuddin Zureiqat[2]
Dates of operation2009[3]–2015
Active regionsMiddle East (primary in Lebanon)
IdeologySunni Islam
Islamic fundamentalism
Salafist jihadism
StatusDesignated as a terrorist organization by the UN,[4] Bahrain, Iraq, NZ,[5][6] UAE, Israel, UK & US.
Part of Al-Qaeda[7]

The Abdullah Azzam Brigades (Arabic: كتائب عبد الله عزام), or al-Qaeda in Lebanon, was a Sunni Islamist militant group, and al-Qaeda's branch in Lebanon.[8][9] The group, which began operating in 2009, was founded by Saudi Saleh Al-Qaraawi and has networks in various countries,[10] mainly in Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

It is named after the late Abdullah Yusuf Azzam, a Palestinian from Jordan and a well-known preacher and organizer who was among the first Arabs to volunteer to join the Afghan jihad against the forces of the then-Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s.[11] Some other nonrelated terrorist organizations have been known to use the name "Abdullah Azzam Brigades" as a "name of convenience" for their operations.

After grave injuries Al-Qaraawi received as a result of a drone attack in Pakistan, and his eventual capture upon his return to Saudi Arabia by Saudi authorities, the leadership of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades was assumed by Majid al-Majid, a Saudi affiliated with Fatah al-Islam and al-Qaeda. Al-Majid was declared the leader and emir of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades in June 2012, until his capture by Lebanese authorities on December 27, 2013, and eventual death from kidney failure on January 4, 2014. Al-Majid was succeeded by Sirajuddin Zureiqat.

  1. ^ a b Bill Roggio (27 June 2012). "Abdullah Azzam Brigades names leader, advises against attacks in Syria's cities". The Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Abdullah Azzam Brigades leader calls on Lebanese people to attack Hezbollah". The Long War Journal. 14 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Terrorist Designations of the Abdallah Azzam Brigades". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  4. ^ "The List established and maintained by the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee with respect to individuals, groups, undertakings and other entities associated with Al-Qaida". United Nations Security Council Committee 1267. UN.org. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Designated individuals and organisations" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
  6. ^ United Nations Web Services Section. "The Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee". Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB)". Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Abdullah Azzam Brigades | Civil Society Knowledge Centre". Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  9. ^ Baker, Aryn (20 November 2013). "Who are the Abdullah Azzam Brigades?". Time. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. ^ The Abdullah Azzam Brigades Archived 2010-09-11 at the Wayback Machine, The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center 1 September 2010
  11. ^ Unknown group claims Peshawar hotel bombing Archived 5 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine, The News International, 11 June 2009