From MEMRI:
April 4, 2011 Inquiry & Analysis Series Report No.681
Jihadists' Reactions to the Libyan Rebellion – An Overview
By: R. Green*
Introduction
Global jihad leaders and operatives and online jihadists have been following the events in Libya closely since the beginning of the uprising there on February 17, 2011. Unlike the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, the revolution in Libya took a violent turn practically from the very start. Seemingly, this provided a boost to the jihadists' theory regarding the necessity to wage an armed jihad in order to topple the "tyrants" – the secular rulers of the Arab regimes. Indeed, the proponents of jihad have seized this opportunity and called for jihad to be waged against Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi's forces and for the establishment of an Islamic state in Libya.
The subsequent intervention of Western allied forces in the combat in Libya was another factor that drew great attention from jihadists. While some saw this intervention as an inevitable necessity, claiming that these forces can be dealt with after they assist in toppling Al-Qadhafi, others, including Al-Qaeda leaders, have rejected this intervention outright, warning the West not to intervene in Libya and threatening to attack NATO forces.
The following is an overview of reactions from global jihad circles to the uprising in Libya.
Reactions from Al-Qaeda Central Leadership
Two senior leaders of Al-Qaeda's central leadership, incidentally, are Libyans themselves, namely Abu Yahya Al-Libi and Atiyyat Allah. Both figures released recorded messages addressed to the Libyans, whom they encouraged to persist in their rebellion against Al-Qadhafi.
On March 13, senior Al-Qaeda commander Abu Yahya Al-Libi released a 31-minute video titled "To Our People in Libya." In the video, Al-Libi congratulated the peoples of Tunisia and Egypt for toppling their regimes, saying that, following Hosni Mubarak and Zine El Abidine Ben 'Ali, it was now Al-Qadhafi's turn. He urged the Libyan rebels to complete the task of toppling Al-Qadhafi:
"Then came the turn of [Al-Qadhafi] – the false prophet of our times, the evil liar, curser of the Prophet Muhammad. He was caught between a rock and a hard place – Tunisia in the west and Egypt in the east – after the Libyan people suffered all kinds of torture at his hands for over 42 years, as well as displacement and subjugation, barely known to any of the peoples of the earth. He turned his people into guinea pigs for his putrid ideas, his stinking nonsense, his reckless policies, and his stupid, idiotic notions.
"If Allah had decreed that this insane tyrant remain safely in power, until he died a natural death, without the people revolting against him – this would have been a disgrace, which would have been passed down from one generation to another until the end of time…
"You, [Al-Qadhafi,] your sons, your entourage, your mercenaries, and your Green Book will be thrown in the filthiest garbage bins of history...
"Oh, you defiant people, with your loyal tribes, proceed along your path, seeking your Lord's help, defining your goals, renewing your obligation, moving towards your goal without hesitation, and toss Al-Qadhafi into the bottomless pit of disgrace..."
Al-Libi, however, stressed that toppling the Arab rulers was only part of the greater goal, which is to establish Islamic rule in the Muslim countries, which, he said, must be instated in Libya, as well:
"The toppling of these collaborating and corrupt regimes is not the end of the true path of change, for which we should strive. It is merely a step, to be followed by other steps, and an effort, to be followed by other efforts, in order for all of us to reach the goal for which all true Muslims strive: making the word of Allah supreme..."[1]
In his audio recording addressing the revolution in Libya, Al-Qaeda ideologue 'Atiyyat Allah focused on Libya's future following the hoped-for ouster of the current regime. To enhance his appeal to his fellow Libyans, 'Atiyyat Allah revealed his real name, Jamal Ibrahim Shtiwi Al-Masrati (signifying his origins in Misrata, Libya), for the first time.
'Atiyyat Allah credited Al-Qaeda as having been one of the driving forces behind the Libyan revolution: "Praise Allah, Who turned Al-Qaeda into a great source of concern and vexation for [Al-Qadhafi], which [has] him by the neck and is making his life miserable..." He reiterated Al-Qaeda's view that Libya should become an Islamic state, and added that the mujahideen must have a role in shaping its future: "The post-Qadhafi stage is the stage of Islam, and I hope that all will understand this and join the best of Islam [i.e., the mujahideen] and act for Islam's sake... May the constitution of the country at this new stage be clearly committed to the Islamic religion and to the shari'a as the source of legislation... This is a binding condition that no one can slight or neglect, and it is inconceivable that the Libyan people and its youth should agree to accept anything else... Any new stage in Libya that does not include the fighting vanguard of the sons of the Muslim ummah [i.e., the mujahideen]... is tantamount to forming a pact with the enemies of Allah against [the Muslim ummah]..."
'Atiyyat Allah concluded his message by threatening the U.S. and its Western allies against interfering in Libya: "I warn the enemies of Allah – the Americans and others – not to even consider attacking or intervening in Libya, for, if they do, the soldiers of Allah and the valiant of Islam will [strike them so hard] that they will forget the disasters they [suffered in the past], and I need say no more."[2]
Reaction from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
In a recorded message, AQIM leader Abu Mus'ab 'Abd Al-Wadoud congratulated the Libyans for rising up against Al-Qadhafi. 'Abd Al-Wadoud drew a comparison between the battles waged by the Muslim masses against the "puppet" regimes and those waged by the mujahideen against the "crusaders." He promised Muslims in Libya that the mujahideen would always be on their side, until the tyrant regimes were removed and the land ruled by Islamic law. He also said that NATO and the U.S. were the source of evil in the world, warning Libyans against allowing any U.S. involvement in their situation. 'Abd Al-Wadoud concluded by calling upon Libyan Muslims to gather around any available revolutionary Muslim leaderships that had proven their dedication and commitment to fighting the regime. He urged the Libyans to trust Allah and to continue their blessed battle and jihad on their way to removing the oppressive ruler and his supporters.
Jihadist Clerics to NATO: "The Youth of the Islamic Maghreb Are Thirsty for Your Blood"
Salafi-jihadist clerics seized the situation in Libya as an opportunity to decree jihad against the tyrant Al-Qadhafi, in an attempt to paint the rebellion in Libya – and, indeed, the entire wave of unrest that has recently swept the Arab world – as an Islamic revolution. The reaction of jihadist clerics to the Libyan rebels underwent a change as events progressed. At first, they expressed satisfaction with the rebellion and an optimistic view of the leading body, the Interim Transitional National Council (ITNC). However, with the onset of Western strikes and initial signs of cooperation between the West and the council, they expressed disappointment with the ITNC, attacking it for collaborating with the enemy West.
With the outbreak of the rebellion in Libya, several jihadists asked Abu Muslim Al-Jazairi, of the Salafi-jihadi website Minbar Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad, whether he recommended joining the rebels and what his general opinion of the situation there was. In the fatwa he issued in reply,[3] Al-Jazairi attempted to depict the current struggle against the Al-Qadhafi regime as one of with an inherently Islamic nature: "To the people in Libya, especially the rebels [in the ITNC], know that your rebellion was born in the mosques; its motto is 'Allahu Akbar'; its role model is the mujahid Sheikh Omar Al-Mukhtar.[4] Do not allow your rebellion to be usurped [by] the apostate regime." Al-Jazairi advised the rebels' to accept the help of the mujahideen, who benefit from combat experience and familiarity with Libya's terrain, and urged them to set the establishment of a state based in shari'a law as their goal.
Al-Jazairi advised his followers not to travel to Libya for jihad unless they had well-established contacts there, considering the severe risks the trip entailed. Regarding foreign intervention – the fatwa was written several weeks prior to the issue of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which approved a no-fly zone over Libya – Al-Jazairi addressed NATO and warned the Western countries against intervening in the rebels' fight against Al-Qadhafi: "To the enemies from NATO, if you decide to enter our land in Libya, we shall inform you that the soldiers of the Islamic Maghreb, and all of the youth of the Islamic Maghreb, are thirsty for your blood. By Allah, our land will be the end of your story, after the disasters our brothers in Iraq and Afghanistan brought upon you..."
After the passage of Resolution 1973 and with the first aerial attacks on Libya by European countries and the U.S., readers of the Minbar Al-Tawhid Wal Jihad submitted queries to the site's clerics regarding the legitimacy of accepting Western help in toppling Al-Qadhafi. Two members of the site's Shari'a Committee offered differing opinions. Abu Mundhir Al-Shinqiti stated that it is permissible to accept help from the enemy – in this case, the West – in order to defeat another enemy – in this case, the Al-Qadhafi regime. Abu Muslim Al-Jazairi, in contrast, rejected the notion of accepting aid from NATO or the West, which were also considered enemies.[5]
Al-Qaeda Offers Military Advice to Libyan Rebels
Several writers on jihadi websites offered advice and guidance on military matters to the Libyan rebels in the field. Foremost among them was Saif Al-Adl, also known as Ibrahim Al-Makkawi, a senior Al-Qaeda commander and former officer in the Egyptian army. Writing under the penname 'Abir Sabil, he published a series of articles on a website run by Mustafa Hamed, also known as Abu Walid Al-Masri.[6] In of the articles, dated March 9, 2011, and titled "May Allah Help You, O Libya", Saif Al-Adl reviews the military balance of power in Libya between the rebels and the forces loyal to Al-Qadhafi, offering some guiding principles to the former. Saif Al-Adl provides explains the Libyan government's military capabilities and resources, and compares them to those available to the rebels.
The bulk of Saif Al-Adl's article consists of a series of guidelines and suggestions he proposes to the rebels. He touches upon the issue of dealing with the air power of the pro-Qadhafi forces and suggests moves that would allow the rebels to remove them from the conflict, including attacking airplanes while they are grounded in airfields, and targeting them with anti-aircraft weapons after luring them into the air with decoys.
Regarding ground forces, Saif Al-Adl offers several guidelines regarding defending the rebel forces and the cities they are holding, as well as delineating offensive steps that should be taken when attempting to take over cities controlled by the government. Finally, Saif Al-Adl warns the rebels not to trust the international community, and not wait for it to enforce a no-fly zone. He also warns them of accepting support from Russia and China, which he says are concerned over the wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world.[7]
Assad Al-Jihad2: If the West Interferes in Libya, the Libyan Response Will Make Iraq "Look Like a Walk in the Park"
In an article published upon the outbreak of initial hostilities between the Al-Qadhafi regime and the rebels, a prominent writer on jihadi forums, who goes by the name Assad Al-Jihad2, spelled out what he said should be the rebels' overall goal: the establishment of an Islamic state in Libya.[8] Assad Al-Jihad2 states that the jihadists can and should take charge of the rebellion, and urges the Libyans not to settle for anything less than establishing an Islamic state, even if they are forced to settle for doing so only in part of the country. He warns the West against interfering in Libya, saying that if they did, they would find themselves stuck in a scenario similar to that which the U.S. was facing in Iraq:
"Today, we must decide that the era of silence and capitulation, the era in which the [Muslim] nations [neglected] their jihad and [let others] steal the fruit of their sacrifice, has ended for good. From now on, we will no longer let the agents of the imperialist countries climb on our backs...
"Should the countries of the world oppose the establishment of an Islamic state, there are ways to compel them to accept it, and we have already seen the fear and horror that gripped them when the [Libyan] people managed to halt the production of oil at some of the Libyan refineries... The peoples of the Islamic Maghreb harbor feelings of vengefulness towards the [Western] countries, which took over their lands, misled them, kept them backward, robbed [their resources], and appointed rulers who enslaved themselves [to the West]. [So] if the reaction of our enemies is to be one of direct interference, I swear by Allah that the Iraq war, which exhausted them, will look like a walk in the park compared to the horrible [fighting] they will encounter in our land."[9]
Online Jihadists Follow Events in Libya
The situation in Libya aroused a great deal of excitement in the online jihad community. Jihadist websites have been following the events closely since the outset of the rebellion. Numerous members have offered advice to the rebels and initiated various discussions, with some even announcing their intent to set out to join the battle there.[10]
A number of heated debates have been conducted via the jihadi forums, especially with regard to the NATO raids and the extent to which the Western forces should be considered friends or foes. Some on these forums called upon the Libyan rebels to consider any foreign presence in Libya as hostile and to attack any Western force that entered the country. Others urged the fighters from the Al-Qaeda affiliate groups in Africa, from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and from Somalia's Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen to join the rebels in their fight against the Qadhafi regime.
One member of the Shumukh Al-Islam forum suggested striking the West economically by attacking and sabotaging Libyan oil installations.[11] In what appeared to be an announcement that he was joining the battle in Libya, another member, calling himself Al-Qa'qa' Al-Qaedi, asked fellow members to pray with him that God grant him martyrdom.[12] It should be noted that several erstwhile active Shumukh Al-Islam members known to have operated out of Libya, such as a member going under the name Abu Qatada Al-Libi, have not been active on the forum since the uprising began.
It should be added that jihad sympathizers have also formed groups on Facebook to promote the idea of establishing an Islamic state in Libya after the longed for toppling of Al-Qadhafi.[13]
*R. Green is a research fellow at MEMRI.
Endnotes:
[1] See JTTM report, "Communiqué by Al-Qaeda Leader Abu Yahya Al-Libi Urges Libyans to Overthrow Al-Qadhafi, Criticizes U.S. and the West," March 18, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/report.htm?report=5108¶m=APT.
[2] See JTTM report, "Al-Qaeda Ideologue Calls on Libyans to Establish Islamic State under Shari'a Law, to Show Clemency to Those Qadhafi Supporters Who Repented," March 21, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=4630¶m=GJN.
[3] http://www.tawhed.ws/dl?i=12031103, March 12, 2011.
[4] Leader of the Libyan rebellion against the Italian occupation in the 1920's.
[5] See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 3722, "Salafi Jihadist Clerics Disagree on Issue of NATO Forces in Libya," March 31, 2011, http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5156.htm.
[6] These articles will be treated in a separate report by MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor.
[7] http://www.mafa.asia/ar/temp.php?K_Mafa=1061&id1=6&detail=511&cnl=1
[8] See Special Dispatch No. 3633, Prominent Writer on Jihadist Websites: If the West Interferes in Libya, It Will Face a War Far Worse Than the One in Iraq
[9] See JTTM report, "Prominent Writer on Jihadist Websites: If the West Interferes in Libya, It Will Face a War Far Worse than the One in Iraq," March 2, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/report.htm?report=5057¶m=GJN.
[10] See also Discussion Of The Libyan Uprising On A Major Jihadi Forum
[11] See JTTM report, "Online Jihadists Call to Destroy Libya's Oil Wells and Installations," March 24, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=4668¶m=GJN.
[12] http://www.shamikh1.net/vb/showthread.php?t=99645, March 16, 2011.
[13] See JTTM report, "New Facebook Group Titled 'Islamic State of Libya,'" March 15, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=4607¶m=GJN.
April 4, 2011 Inquiry & Analysis Series Report No.681
Jihadists' Reactions to the Libyan Rebellion – An Overview
By: R. Green*
Introduction
Global jihad leaders and operatives and online jihadists have been following the events in Libya closely since the beginning of the uprising there on February 17, 2011. Unlike the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, the revolution in Libya took a violent turn practically from the very start. Seemingly, this provided a boost to the jihadists' theory regarding the necessity to wage an armed jihad in order to topple the "tyrants" – the secular rulers of the Arab regimes. Indeed, the proponents of jihad have seized this opportunity and called for jihad to be waged against Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi's forces and for the establishment of an Islamic state in Libya.
The subsequent intervention of Western allied forces in the combat in Libya was another factor that drew great attention from jihadists. While some saw this intervention as an inevitable necessity, claiming that these forces can be dealt with after they assist in toppling Al-Qadhafi, others, including Al-Qaeda leaders, have rejected this intervention outright, warning the West not to intervene in Libya and threatening to attack NATO forces.
The following is an overview of reactions from global jihad circles to the uprising in Libya.
Reactions from Al-Qaeda Central Leadership
Two senior leaders of Al-Qaeda's central leadership, incidentally, are Libyans themselves, namely Abu Yahya Al-Libi and Atiyyat Allah. Both figures released recorded messages addressed to the Libyans, whom they encouraged to persist in their rebellion against Al-Qadhafi.
On March 13, senior Al-Qaeda commander Abu Yahya Al-Libi released a 31-minute video titled "To Our People in Libya." In the video, Al-Libi congratulated the peoples of Tunisia and Egypt for toppling their regimes, saying that, following Hosni Mubarak and Zine El Abidine Ben 'Ali, it was now Al-Qadhafi's turn. He urged the Libyan rebels to complete the task of toppling Al-Qadhafi:
"Then came the turn of [Al-Qadhafi] – the false prophet of our times, the evil liar, curser of the Prophet Muhammad. He was caught between a rock and a hard place – Tunisia in the west and Egypt in the east – after the Libyan people suffered all kinds of torture at his hands for over 42 years, as well as displacement and subjugation, barely known to any of the peoples of the earth. He turned his people into guinea pigs for his putrid ideas, his stinking nonsense, his reckless policies, and his stupid, idiotic notions.
"If Allah had decreed that this insane tyrant remain safely in power, until he died a natural death, without the people revolting against him – this would have been a disgrace, which would have been passed down from one generation to another until the end of time…
"You, [Al-Qadhafi,] your sons, your entourage, your mercenaries, and your Green Book will be thrown in the filthiest garbage bins of history...
"Oh, you defiant people, with your loyal tribes, proceed along your path, seeking your Lord's help, defining your goals, renewing your obligation, moving towards your goal without hesitation, and toss Al-Qadhafi into the bottomless pit of disgrace..."
Al-Libi, however, stressed that toppling the Arab rulers was only part of the greater goal, which is to establish Islamic rule in the Muslim countries, which, he said, must be instated in Libya, as well:
"The toppling of these collaborating and corrupt regimes is not the end of the true path of change, for which we should strive. It is merely a step, to be followed by other steps, and an effort, to be followed by other efforts, in order for all of us to reach the goal for which all true Muslims strive: making the word of Allah supreme..."[1]
In his audio recording addressing the revolution in Libya, Al-Qaeda ideologue 'Atiyyat Allah focused on Libya's future following the hoped-for ouster of the current regime. To enhance his appeal to his fellow Libyans, 'Atiyyat Allah revealed his real name, Jamal Ibrahim Shtiwi Al-Masrati (signifying his origins in Misrata, Libya), for the first time.
'Atiyyat Allah credited Al-Qaeda as having been one of the driving forces behind the Libyan revolution: "Praise Allah, Who turned Al-Qaeda into a great source of concern and vexation for [Al-Qadhafi], which [has] him by the neck and is making his life miserable..." He reiterated Al-Qaeda's view that Libya should become an Islamic state, and added that the mujahideen must have a role in shaping its future: "The post-Qadhafi stage is the stage of Islam, and I hope that all will understand this and join the best of Islam [i.e., the mujahideen] and act for Islam's sake... May the constitution of the country at this new stage be clearly committed to the Islamic religion and to the shari'a as the source of legislation... This is a binding condition that no one can slight or neglect, and it is inconceivable that the Libyan people and its youth should agree to accept anything else... Any new stage in Libya that does not include the fighting vanguard of the sons of the Muslim ummah [i.e., the mujahideen]... is tantamount to forming a pact with the enemies of Allah against [the Muslim ummah]..."
'Atiyyat Allah concluded his message by threatening the U.S. and its Western allies against interfering in Libya: "I warn the enemies of Allah – the Americans and others – not to even consider attacking or intervening in Libya, for, if they do, the soldiers of Allah and the valiant of Islam will [strike them so hard] that they will forget the disasters they [suffered in the past], and I need say no more."[2]
Reaction from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
In a recorded message, AQIM leader Abu Mus'ab 'Abd Al-Wadoud congratulated the Libyans for rising up against Al-Qadhafi. 'Abd Al-Wadoud drew a comparison between the battles waged by the Muslim masses against the "puppet" regimes and those waged by the mujahideen against the "crusaders." He promised Muslims in Libya that the mujahideen would always be on their side, until the tyrant regimes were removed and the land ruled by Islamic law. He also said that NATO and the U.S. were the source of evil in the world, warning Libyans against allowing any U.S. involvement in their situation. 'Abd Al-Wadoud concluded by calling upon Libyan Muslims to gather around any available revolutionary Muslim leaderships that had proven their dedication and commitment to fighting the regime. He urged the Libyans to trust Allah and to continue their blessed battle and jihad on their way to removing the oppressive ruler and his supporters.
Jihadist Clerics to NATO: "The Youth of the Islamic Maghreb Are Thirsty for Your Blood"
Salafi-jihadist clerics seized the situation in Libya as an opportunity to decree jihad against the tyrant Al-Qadhafi, in an attempt to paint the rebellion in Libya – and, indeed, the entire wave of unrest that has recently swept the Arab world – as an Islamic revolution. The reaction of jihadist clerics to the Libyan rebels underwent a change as events progressed. At first, they expressed satisfaction with the rebellion and an optimistic view of the leading body, the Interim Transitional National Council (ITNC). However, with the onset of Western strikes and initial signs of cooperation between the West and the council, they expressed disappointment with the ITNC, attacking it for collaborating with the enemy West.
With the outbreak of the rebellion in Libya, several jihadists asked Abu Muslim Al-Jazairi, of the Salafi-jihadi website Minbar Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad, whether he recommended joining the rebels and what his general opinion of the situation there was. In the fatwa he issued in reply,[3] Al-Jazairi attempted to depict the current struggle against the Al-Qadhafi regime as one of with an inherently Islamic nature: "To the people in Libya, especially the rebels [in the ITNC], know that your rebellion was born in the mosques; its motto is 'Allahu Akbar'; its role model is the mujahid Sheikh Omar Al-Mukhtar.[4] Do not allow your rebellion to be usurped [by] the apostate regime." Al-Jazairi advised the rebels' to accept the help of the mujahideen, who benefit from combat experience and familiarity with Libya's terrain, and urged them to set the establishment of a state based in shari'a law as their goal.
Al-Jazairi advised his followers not to travel to Libya for jihad unless they had well-established contacts there, considering the severe risks the trip entailed. Regarding foreign intervention – the fatwa was written several weeks prior to the issue of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which approved a no-fly zone over Libya – Al-Jazairi addressed NATO and warned the Western countries against intervening in the rebels' fight against Al-Qadhafi: "To the enemies from NATO, if you decide to enter our land in Libya, we shall inform you that the soldiers of the Islamic Maghreb, and all of the youth of the Islamic Maghreb, are thirsty for your blood. By Allah, our land will be the end of your story, after the disasters our brothers in Iraq and Afghanistan brought upon you..."
After the passage of Resolution 1973 and with the first aerial attacks on Libya by European countries and the U.S., readers of the Minbar Al-Tawhid Wal Jihad submitted queries to the site's clerics regarding the legitimacy of accepting Western help in toppling Al-Qadhafi. Two members of the site's Shari'a Committee offered differing opinions. Abu Mundhir Al-Shinqiti stated that it is permissible to accept help from the enemy – in this case, the West – in order to defeat another enemy – in this case, the Al-Qadhafi regime. Abu Muslim Al-Jazairi, in contrast, rejected the notion of accepting aid from NATO or the West, which were also considered enemies.[5]
Al-Qaeda Offers Military Advice to Libyan Rebels
Several writers on jihadi websites offered advice and guidance on military matters to the Libyan rebels in the field. Foremost among them was Saif Al-Adl, also known as Ibrahim Al-Makkawi, a senior Al-Qaeda commander and former officer in the Egyptian army. Writing under the penname 'Abir Sabil, he published a series of articles on a website run by Mustafa Hamed, also known as Abu Walid Al-Masri.[6] In of the articles, dated March 9, 2011, and titled "May Allah Help You, O Libya", Saif Al-Adl reviews the military balance of power in Libya between the rebels and the forces loyal to Al-Qadhafi, offering some guiding principles to the former. Saif Al-Adl provides explains the Libyan government's military capabilities and resources, and compares them to those available to the rebels.
The bulk of Saif Al-Adl's article consists of a series of guidelines and suggestions he proposes to the rebels. He touches upon the issue of dealing with the air power of the pro-Qadhafi forces and suggests moves that would allow the rebels to remove them from the conflict, including attacking airplanes while they are grounded in airfields, and targeting them with anti-aircraft weapons after luring them into the air with decoys.
Regarding ground forces, Saif Al-Adl offers several guidelines regarding defending the rebel forces and the cities they are holding, as well as delineating offensive steps that should be taken when attempting to take over cities controlled by the government. Finally, Saif Al-Adl warns the rebels not to trust the international community, and not wait for it to enforce a no-fly zone. He also warns them of accepting support from Russia and China, which he says are concerned over the wave of unrest sweeping the Arab world.[7]
Assad Al-Jihad2: If the West Interferes in Libya, the Libyan Response Will Make Iraq "Look Like a Walk in the Park"
In an article published upon the outbreak of initial hostilities between the Al-Qadhafi regime and the rebels, a prominent writer on jihadi forums, who goes by the name Assad Al-Jihad2, spelled out what he said should be the rebels' overall goal: the establishment of an Islamic state in Libya.[8] Assad Al-Jihad2 states that the jihadists can and should take charge of the rebellion, and urges the Libyans not to settle for anything less than establishing an Islamic state, even if they are forced to settle for doing so only in part of the country. He warns the West against interfering in Libya, saying that if they did, they would find themselves stuck in a scenario similar to that which the U.S. was facing in Iraq:
"Today, we must decide that the era of silence and capitulation, the era in which the [Muslim] nations [neglected] their jihad and [let others] steal the fruit of their sacrifice, has ended for good. From now on, we will no longer let the agents of the imperialist countries climb on our backs...
"Should the countries of the world oppose the establishment of an Islamic state, there are ways to compel them to accept it, and we have already seen the fear and horror that gripped them when the [Libyan] people managed to halt the production of oil at some of the Libyan refineries... The peoples of the Islamic Maghreb harbor feelings of vengefulness towards the [Western] countries, which took over their lands, misled them, kept them backward, robbed [their resources], and appointed rulers who enslaved themselves [to the West]. [So] if the reaction of our enemies is to be one of direct interference, I swear by Allah that the Iraq war, which exhausted them, will look like a walk in the park compared to the horrible [fighting] they will encounter in our land."[9]
Online Jihadists Follow Events in Libya
The situation in Libya aroused a great deal of excitement in the online jihad community. Jihadist websites have been following the events closely since the outset of the rebellion. Numerous members have offered advice to the rebels and initiated various discussions, with some even announcing their intent to set out to join the battle there.[10]
A number of heated debates have been conducted via the jihadi forums, especially with regard to the NATO raids and the extent to which the Western forces should be considered friends or foes. Some on these forums called upon the Libyan rebels to consider any foreign presence in Libya as hostile and to attack any Western force that entered the country. Others urged the fighters from the Al-Qaeda affiliate groups in Africa, from Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and from Somalia's Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen to join the rebels in their fight against the Qadhafi regime.
One member of the Shumukh Al-Islam forum suggested striking the West economically by attacking and sabotaging Libyan oil installations.[11] In what appeared to be an announcement that he was joining the battle in Libya, another member, calling himself Al-Qa'qa' Al-Qaedi, asked fellow members to pray with him that God grant him martyrdom.[12] It should be noted that several erstwhile active Shumukh Al-Islam members known to have operated out of Libya, such as a member going under the name Abu Qatada Al-Libi, have not been active on the forum since the uprising began.
It should be added that jihad sympathizers have also formed groups on Facebook to promote the idea of establishing an Islamic state in Libya after the longed for toppling of Al-Qadhafi.[13]
*R. Green is a research fellow at MEMRI.
Endnotes:
[1] See JTTM report, "Communiqué by Al-Qaeda Leader Abu Yahya Al-Libi Urges Libyans to Overthrow Al-Qadhafi, Criticizes U.S. and the West," March 18, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/report.htm?report=5108¶m=APT.
[2] See JTTM report, "Al-Qaeda Ideologue Calls on Libyans to Establish Islamic State under Shari'a Law, to Show Clemency to Those Qadhafi Supporters Who Repented," March 21, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=4630¶m=GJN.
[3] http://www.tawhed.ws/dl?i=12031103, March 12, 2011.
[4] Leader of the Libyan rebellion against the Italian occupation in the 1920's.
[5] See MEMRI Special Dispatch No. 3722, "Salafi Jihadist Clerics Disagree on Issue of NATO Forces in Libya," March 31, 2011, http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/5156.htm.
[6] These articles will be treated in a separate report by MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor.
[7] http://www.mafa.asia/ar/temp.php?K_Mafa=1061&id1=6&detail=511&cnl=1
[8] See Special Dispatch No. 3633, Prominent Writer on Jihadist Websites: If the West Interferes in Libya, It Will Face a War Far Worse Than the One in Iraq
[9] See JTTM report, "Prominent Writer on Jihadist Websites: If the West Interferes in Libya, It Will Face a War Far Worse than the One in Iraq," March 2, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/report.htm?report=5057¶m=GJN.
[10] See also Discussion Of The Libyan Uprising On A Major Jihadi Forum
[11] See JTTM report, "Online Jihadists Call to Destroy Libya's Oil Wells and Installations," March 24, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=4668¶m=GJN.
[12] http://www.shamikh1.net/vb/showthread.php?t=99645, March 16, 2011.
[13] See JTTM report, "New Facebook Group Titled 'Islamic State of Libya,'" March 15, 2011, http://www.memrijttm.org/content/en/blog_personal.htm?id=4607¶m=GJN.
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