:Lashkar al-Zil

{{short description|Paramilitary organization}}

File:Lashkar al-Zil fighters.jpg, Pakistan.]]

The Lashkar al-Zil (Urdu: لشکر الضل; the Shadow Army), also known as Jaish al-Usrah, or the Army of the Protective Shield,Bill Roggio. [http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/08/al_qaeda_brigade_313_website_goes_online.php Al Qaeda Brigade 313 website goes online]. Long War Journal, August 2, 2010 is a paramilitary organization linked to al-Qaeda and descended from the 055 Brigade.{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Roggio |title=Al Qaeda's paramilitary 'Shadow Army' |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/02/al_qaedas_paramilita.php |publisher=The Long War Journal |date=2009-02-09 |access-date=2010-01-07}} According to Syed Saleem Shahzad, it "comprises the Pakistani Taliban, 313 Brigade, the Afghan Taliban, Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan and former Iraqi Republican Guards". Lashkar al-Zil has reportedly been led by Khalid Habib al Shami, Abdullah Said al Libi, and Ilyas Kashmiri.{{cite news |first=Syed Saleem |last=Shahzad |title=US spies walked into al-Qaeda's trap |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LA05Df01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105134754/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LA05Df01.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=2010-01-05 |publisher=Asia Times Online |date=2010-01-05 |access-date=2010-01-07}}{{cite news |first=Bill |last=Roggio |title=US killed al Qaeda's Lashkar al Zil commander in airstrike |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/01/us_killed_al_qaedas.php |publisher=The Long War Journal |date=2010-01-07 |access-date=2010-01-07}}

The Lashkar al-Zil has been involved in attacks in Afghanistan's eastern and southern provinces.{{cite news |first=Robert H. |last=Reid |author2=Gannon, Kathy |author3=Farrar, Jennifer |title=Al-Qaida Showing Smaller Presence In Afghanistan |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/07/al-qaida-showing-smaller_n_311985.html |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Huffington Post |date=2009-10-06 |access-date=2010-01-08 |quote="In my opinion al-Qaida fighters from the Lashkar al-Zil are actively involved in all Taliban fronts, from Nuristan in the north to Helmand in the south," [University of Massachusetts associate professor Bryan Glyn] Williams said.}} News reports have linked it to several specific attacks, including the Camp Chapman attack and the Sudhnati suicide bombing.{{cite news |first=Amir |last=Mir |title=Lashkar-e-Zil behind Azad Kashmir suicide hits |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/print1.asp?id=217998 |publisher=The News International |date=2010-01-11 |access-date=2010-01-31 |quote=there are clear indications that the January 6, 2010 attack targeting a military installation in the Sudhnoti district of Azad Kashmir, which killed four Pakistani soldiers...[was] masterminded by the Lashkar-e-Zil.}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}