Jama'at Ansar al-Islam

Ansar al-Islam, which was founded and led by Mullah Krekar in the Islamic Emirate of Kurdistan, and operated there until Operation Viking Hammer in March 2003, disbanding afterwards. Abu Abdullah al-Shafi'i escaped from the Kurdistan Region, and founded Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna, which was mostly Arab, but also included some Kurds. In 2007, Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna split into Ansar Ahl al-Sunna, and Jama'at Ansar al-Islam, modeled after the original Ansar al-Islam.{{cite book|author=Peter Chalk|title=Encyclopedia of Terrorism |volume=1|date=2012}}{{cite web |title=Ansar al-Sunnah Acknowledges Relationship with Ansar al-Islam, Reverts to Using Ansar al-Islam Name |url=http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/12/ansar_alsunnah_acknowledges_re.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091013162709/http://counterterrorismblog.org/2007/12/ansar_alsunnah_acknowledges_re.php |archive-date=13 October 2009 |access-date=7 February 2025|publisher=Counterterrorism Blog}} In November 2008, an archbishop in Mosul received a threat from Jama'at Ansar al-Islam, warning all Christians to leave or be killed.{{cite web |title=مەکتەبی راگەیاندنی یەکێتیی نیشتمانیی کوردستان |url=http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7622&Itemid=53 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218201820/http://pukmedia.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7622&Itemid=53 |archive-date=18 February 2012 |access-date=8 August 2012 |publisher=PUKmedia}}

Jama'at Ansar al-Islam was active in the Iraqi insurgency. The group claimed attacks against Iraqi security forces, particularly around Mosul and Kirkuk. Jama'at Ansar al-Islam also established a presence in Syria to take part in the Syrian civil war, briefly under the name of "Ansar al-Sham" before reverting to its name.{{cite web |author=Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi |date=23 January 2014 |title=Musings of an Iraqi Brasenostril on Jihad: Comprehensive Reference Guide to Sunni Militant Groups in Iraq |url=http://jihadology.net/2014/01/23/musings-of-an-iraqi-brasenostril-on-jihad-comprehensive-reference-guide-to-sunni-militant-groups-in-iraq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130065237/http://jihadology.net/2014/01/23/musings-of-an-iraqi-brasenostril-on-jihad-comprehensive-reference-guide-to-sunni-militant-groups-in-iraq/ |archive-date=30 January 2014 |access-date=7 February 2025|publisher=Jihadology.net}} The group cooperated with the Ahfad al-Rasul Brigades to bomb Syrian military compounds in Damascus in August 2012.{{Cite news |date=12 October 2012 |title=Bomb explosion hits security area of Damascus: activists |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-explosion/bomb-explosion-hits-security-area-of-damascus-activists-idUSBRE89A1CB20121011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316151956/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-explosion/bomb-explosion-hits-security-area-of-damascus-activists-idUSBRE89A1CB20121011 |archive-date=16 March 2018|access-date=7 February 2025 |newspaper=Reuters}} It also played a role in the Battle of Aleppo and collaborated with several other Salafist groups including al-Qaeda's al-Nusra Front and the Islamic Front. Jama'at Ansar al-Islam remained functioning when many high-ranking members joined ISIS.{{cite web |date=15 December 2015 |title=A Complete History of Jamaat Ansar al-Islam |url=http://www.aymennjawad.org/2015/12/a-complete-history-of-jamaat-ansar-al-islam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809215750/http://www.aymennjawad.org/2015/12/a-complete-history-of-jamaat-ansar-al-islam |archive-date=9 August 2016 |access-date=18 February 2025|work=Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi's blog}}

While the group was mainly a revival of Ansar al-Islam, the two groups had significant differences. Jama'at Ansar al-Islam was the most popular jihadist group for Kurds, however it was not as uniquely Kurdish as Ansar al-Islam, and was not nationalist either. When Jama'at Ansar al-Islam was founded, Mullah Krekar claimed it had nothing to do with him or the original Ansar al-Islam.{{Cite web |date=6 February 2024 |title=Kurdish group incorporated into Syrian Ministry of Defense |url=https://zagrosmedia.com/kurdish-group-incorporated-into-syrian-ministry-of-defense/ |website=Zagros Media}}

On 29 August 2014, 50 members and commanders of Jama'at Ansar al-Islam announced that they were joining the Islamic State. However, they joined as individuals, and Jama'at Ansar al-Islam continued to oppose ISIS and functioned independently. On 15 December 2011, Jama'at Ansar al-Islam announced a new leader, Abu Hashim al Ibrahim. In November 2015, Abu al-Waleed al-Salafi stated that "a number of leaders of the group, including Abu Hashim Al Ibrahim, the emir of the group, were arrested in early 2014", and did not mention his successor.

In 2016, they fought alongside the Al-Nusra Front in Aleppo during a major offensive in the city. A military commander of the group, Abu Layth al-Tunisi, was reportedly killed in combat during this operation, likely in southwest Aleppo.{{cite web |author=Zen Adra |date=20 August 2016 |title=Top salafist commander killed in southern Aleppo |url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/top-salafist-commander-killed-southern-aleppo/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929162814/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/top-salafist-commander-killed-southern-aleppo/ |archive-date=29 September 2018 |access-date=7 February 2025|work=Al-Masdar News}}{{cite web |date=20 August 2016 |title=Terrorist Numbers Drying Up In Aleppo as Syrian Army Kills Over 60 |work=Syrian Perspective|url=http://syrianperspective.com/2016/08/terrorist-numbers-drying-up-in-aleppo-as-syrian-army-kills-over-60-syrian-army-slashes-rodents-in-hama-major-advance-in-daarayyaa-snafu-at-idlib-crossing.html#dblFlZYx1pGMCUG5.99 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715011034/https://syrianperspective.com/2016/08/terrorist-numbers-drying-up-in-aleppo-as-syrian-army-kills-over-60-syrian-army-slashes-rodents-in-hama-major-advance-in-daarayyaa-snafu-at-idlib-crossing.html#dblFlZYx1pGMCUG5.99 |archive-date=15 July 2018 |access-date=7 February 2025}} By July 2018, the Syrian faction of Jama'at Ansar al-Islam was active in Idlib and Latakia Governorate, raiding local Syrian Army outposts.{{Cite web |author=Thomas Joscelyn |date=11 July 2018 |title=Ansar al-Islam raids Assad regime position in Latakia |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2018/07/ansar-al-islam-raids-assad-regime-position-in-latakia.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713195647/https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2018/07/ansar-al-islam-raids-assad-regime-position-in-latakia.php |archive-date=13 July 2018 |access-date=7 February 2025|work=Long War Journal}} Following the Turkish-Russian agreement to demilitarize Idlib in September 2018, the Syrian branch of Jama'at Ansar al-Islam joined the Rouse the Believers Operations Room with other al-Qaeda-linked groups to oppose any attempts to demilitarize northwestern Syria. The group later joined the So Be Steadfast Operations Room.{{cite web |author=Sirwan Kajjo |date=15 June 2020 |title=Jihadists in Syria’s Idlib Form New ‘Operations Room’ |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/extremism-watch_jihadists-syrias-idlib-form-new-operations-room/6191167.html |access-date=7 February 2025 |work=Voice of America}} Jama'at Ansar al-Islam opposed Turkey after the Idlib demilitarization, and began to directly attack Turkish forces in Syria in March 2019.{{Cite web |date=31 March 2020 |title=Attack on Turkish soldiers spotlights Ankara's Idlib conundrum |url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/03/attack-on-turkish-soldiers-spotlights-ankaras-idlib-conundrum.php |access-date=7 February 2025 |website=FDD's Long War Journal |language=en-US}}

On 30 October 2019, Jama'at Ansar al-Islam claimed responsibility for an IED attack on a Popular Mobilization Forces vehicle in the Diyala Governorate in northeastern Iraq.{{Cite web |title=New statement from Anṣār al-Islām: "Attack in Iraq" |url=https://jihadology.net/2019/10/30/new-statement-from-an%e1%b9%a3ar-al-islam-attack-in-iraq/|work=Jihadology |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111042941/https://jihadology.net/2019/10/30/new-statement-from-an%e1%b9%a3ar-al-islam-attack-in-iraq/ |archive-date=11 November 2019 |access-date=7 February 2025}} By 2021, it distanced itself from its alliances and became more independent.{{cite web |title=Jamaat Ansar al-Islam (JAI) |url=https://www.counterextremism.com/armed-opposition-groups-nw-syria/jamaat-ansar-al-islam-jai |accessdate=7 February 2025 |work=Counter Extremism}}

The group had an estimated 100 fighters in 2024, and around 300 before 2020. It was composed primarily of Kurds, regardless of country. The group also had Syrian Kurdish members, being one of the very few jihadist groups which had a Syrian Kurdish presence. Other ethnicities and foreign jihadists were also prevalent.{{Cite web |date=25 September 2024 |title=سورية: مقتل 9 من جماعة "أنصار الإسلام" بغارة للتحالف غرب حماة |url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/politics/%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-9-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81-%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A9?amp |website=alaraby.co.uk}} On 29 January 2025, at the Syrian Revolution Victory Conference, the group announced that it had dissolved along with many other groups and was incorporated into the Ministry of Defense.

{{Reflist}}

Category:Anti-Assad factions of the Syrian civil war

Category:Sunni Islamist groups

Category:Syrian opposition groups

Category:Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)

Category:Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist

Category:Al-Qaeda allied groups

Category:Qutbist organisations

Category:Factions in the Iraq War

Category:2007 establishments in Iraq

Category:Jihadist groups in Iraq

Category:Jihadist groups in Syria

Category:Paramilitary organizations based in Iraq

Category:Paramilitary organizations based in Syria

Category:Salafi Jihadist groups

Category:2025 disestablishments in Syria