E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

U.S. says it added head of al-Qaeda's eastern zone in Afghanistan to the list of global terrorists
[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The Treasury Department of the United States says it has added Nayf Salam Muhammad Ujaym al Hababi who is also known as Farouq al-Qahtani, a senior al-Qaeda leader based in Afghanistan, to the list of specially designated global terrorists, The Long War Journal reports.

Hababi wears multiple hats for al Qaeda. And the government's dossier for him demonstrates that there is no firm dividing line between the jihadists' insurgency operations in South Asia and their plotting terrorist attacks in the West.

In his "key leadership role," Hababi "is responsible for planning attacks against US and Coalition forces in Afghanistan, contributing to al Qaeda's external operations planning, and fundraising on al Qaeda's behalf." External operations means terrorist plots in the West or against Western interests.

Indeed, "Hababi planned to carry out attacks in the West, including in the United States and other Western countries" as "Dire Revenge for the deaths of senior al Qaeda leaders." He has been "consulting on al Qaeda operations worldwide" since 2011.

Adam J. Szubin, the Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, noted in Treasury's blurb that Hababi "has a long history of directing deadly attacks against US forces and our Coalition allies in Afghanistan, along with plotting al Qaeda terrorist operations in the United States and around the world."

Hababi's fundraising activities have supported both al Qaeda's international plotting and its role in the Afghan insurgency as well. Since 2010, he has helped raise funds and also had a say in "authorizing spending on behalf of al Qaeda." As of 2012, according to Treasury, Hababi "solicited funds from supporters in Gulf countries to support al Qaeda's external operations and also expected to receive funds from Gulf-based donors for activities in Afghanistan."

Treasury lists a variety of ways in which Hababi has been involved in the fighting in Afghanistan "since at least 2009."

In 2009, "he led operations in northeast Afghanistan that included attacks against US military bases." Hababi "participated in two attacks against Coalition Forces convoys" the following year. He has also overseen the acquisition of weapons, "including rocket propelled grenades," for distribution to jihadists in Afghanistan.

Suicide bombers "affiliated" with Hababi have been "tasked to attack Afghan bases and Coalition convoys in Afghanistan" since 2012. In early 2013, Hababi "and his battalion intended to take control of Kunar Province
...one of the four N2KL provinces (Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar and Laghman). N2KL is the designation used by US and Coalition Forces for the rugged and very violent region opposite Pakistain's Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Northwest Frontier Province. Kunar is the center of the N2KL region. Its population is 95% Pashtun. It is adjacent to Bajaur Agency..
, Afghanistan and establish a base to launch external operations on behalf of al Qaeda."

As of 2015, he has been the "emir for the Eastern Zone of Afghanistan" and, in that capacity, has been "responsible for finding a new sanctuary for al Qaeda."

Treasury's designation provides clues concerning Hababi's role in the Death Eaters' gains last year.

He "worked on attack plans for fighting in northeast Afghanistan" in 2015 and "has been in charge of al Qaeda-sponsored training in northeast Afghanistan" for several years. In addition, Hababi "directed the delivery of funds and weapons to Taliban associates in Afghanistan for use in future attacks."


Posted by: Fred 2016-02-12
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=445083