Sunni Chiefs Declare Jiahd on Shiite Rebels in North Yemen

SANAA, 24 Oct — The military online website, 26-September Saturday said a number of social and tribal figures in Yemen “have urged the state to open up the door of Jihad to fight Zaydi Shiite rebels in north Yemen,” stressing “Jihad against the insurgents is now a religious duty upon all Yemenis.”

“The rebels are implementing a Satanic agenda for foreign powers, targeting social peace and the nation’s stability and security,” said 26-September and quoted a number of dignitaries as saying “Jihad must be declared against this group of terrorists so that citizens can join the battle.”

The Grand Sheik of Bani Hoshish tribes, Muhammad Bashir said “the rebels committed atrocious crimes in our area last year and I was among a few who talked to them in a bid to bring them back to the right path but in vain.

What they are doing in Sadaa and Harf Sufian today shows they are aiming at destroying everything. They shut down schools in north Yemen as they did in our area last year in order to teach their satanic ideology.”

Sheik Ibrahim Ali al-Maqdeshi from Dhamar said “the insurgents have corrupted on earth and the Islamic ruling must be upheld against them: their hands and legs have to be cut off and then they should be crucified as God has ordained,” adding “this cancer has to be eradicated and all the people in Dhamar are ready and willing to join the ranks of the army.”

The Rest @ Yemen Hearland Tribune

Hezbollah and Salafi Groups Sign Agreement in Lebanon

Shiia Islam and Sunni -Salaf Islam are historically in opposition, sometimes war against each other, though they have been agreement in their anti-American and Israel positions.

There is an unconfirmed memorandum of understanding (See below) between Shiia and Salafis about war against America. If this alleged Lebanon based agreement is true, it has significant implications for Jihad in Africa.

Hezbollah has significant connections in African commerce, especially in the coastal regions. To date most Hezbollah contribution to terror appears to be in the form of "tax" collection that gets funneled back to Hezbollah in Lebanon, which directs the terror acts using the funds.

There are significant terror groups all over North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and if Hezbollah starts directing some of their funds into Salafi Terror groups which range from AQIM in the Maghreb to the Shabaab in Somalia, The Salafi terror groups could divert their time and efforts from petty local criminal, kidnapping, and trafficking activities to raise funds to significant acts of war against Western Targets in Africa.

-Shimron


Hezbollah Signs Pact with Salafis
By Walid PharesAmidst a growing world crisis, new developments in Lebanon may signal what lies ahead in the sphere of global jihadist forces in the near future. A memorandum of understanding has been signed by Hezbollah, the main pro-Iranian organization in the region, and a number of Salafist groups outlining efforts to "confront America."

The Rest @ Muslims Against Sharia


On Aug. 19, leaders from Hezbollah and Salafist organizations called a press conference at Al Safir Hotel in Beirut's Raouche district and signed a memo of understanding between the two forces.

Radwan Aqeel wrote in the Beirut daily An-Nahar (Aug. 18): "Hezbollah is practicing a calm policy of overture toward the Sunni political and religious forces, especially since last May (against the Sunni Future Movement) to save the image the party has developed in the past as an 'Islamic resistance' in the Arab and Muslim world including in the Arab Gulf, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian territories."

It is believed that the move by Hezbollah to sign an agreement of understanding with Salafist organizations aims ultimately at penetrating the Arab Sunni world via Lebanon's Muslim community and maintaining an influence over the region's attitude toward the West.
According to Aqeel, "this move didn't come [out of the] void, but after many meetings away from media between representatives of Hezbollah and some Salafist groups." These encounters, said An-Nahar, included the head of Hezbollah's political bureau Ibrahim al-Amin and Sheikh Safuan al-Zuhbi from the Salafist movement.

Another Beirut daily, Al-Mustaqbal (Aug. 18) wrote that Hezbollah has been successful in recruiting 15 Salafist groups in Lebanon including the Waqf Ahya' al-Turath al-Islami to form a "Salafist camp" allied to the Iranian-Syrian axis. Hezbollah officials, wrote Al-Mustaqbal, are declaring that Americans have been defeated in the region by "resistance" in Lebanon, Iraq and Gaza.

The Rest @ Counterterrosim Blog

Late breaking news

Other Salafi Groups appear to be "excommunicating" these 15 Salafi Groups, and they are now claiming to "freeze the agreement

Salafis freeze memorandum of understanding with Hezbollah

Published: Tuesday, 19 August, 2008 @ 10:10 PM in Beirut

Tripoli -The Salafi groups in Lebanon on Tuesday announced indefinite freezing of a memorandum of understanding with Hezbollah, 24 hours after it was announced at a press conference in Beirut.

Sheikh Hassan Shahhal, who signed the understanding on Monday with Hezbollah 's Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed, declared freezing the agreement pending "appropriate circumstances that allow its implementation."

Sheikh Hassan made the announcement after a meeting with leaders of Salafi factions presided over by their highest authority Dai al-Islam al-Shahhal who had rushed to denounce and criticize the deal with Hezbollah, minutes after it was announced on Monday.

The Dai, or Preacher, on Monday termed the agreement "media crackling in favor of Hezbollah and the Shiite community" and called for abolishing it.

The freeze was announced in the northern town of Tripoli, power base of the Salafi movement.
"The Salafi movement totally rejects this document … and who signed it has no right to claim belonging to the Salafi movement or representing it," the ageing Dai al-Islam Shahhal said on Monday.

"This document is … harmful to the Sunni community and would end up in vain, God willing," he added.

"Those who signed it have no influence, and whoever wants to defuse tension should talk to forces that do exist," he stressed.

Hezbollah and its allies welcomed the understanding that was sharply rejected by almost all Sunni factions and members of the March 14 majority alliance.

Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri, who heads the largest Sunni bloc, had avoided direct comment on the understanding. But his aides and members of his parliamentary bloc said he opposed it.

The Rest @ Yalbinan

Iran and the Comoros

Special Dispatch No. 2004 July 28, 2008Egypt/IranInvestigation by Egyptian Daily Al-Ahram Finds Iranian Involvement, Shi'ization in Comoros Islands

Recently, Iran has been showing increased interest in the Union of the Comoros, the island nation off Africa's east coast.

Historically, the inhabitants of this nation's three component islands were mostly Shi'ite, until they were conquered by France in the mid-19th century; today, most residents are Shafi'i Sunnis.

Iran's interest in the Union of the Comoros is supported by Comoros President Ahmad Abdallah Sambi, despite opposition from various elements in the country.

On May 1, 2008, the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram published an investigative article on Shi'ization in the Union of the Comoros. Following are translated excerpts from the investigation:

(1) Iranian Elements Are In Charge of Security for Comoros President Sambi According to the Al-Ahram report, ever since Ahmad Abdallah Sambi was elected president in 2006, Iranian intervention in the Union of the Comoros has intensified, as manifested in the office of the presidency as well as in the areas of medicine, culture, and humanitarian and other aid:

"The Iranian presence in Comoros is currently focused in four areas, the most important of which is the institution of the presidency. According to statements by a politician in the Comoros Islands, Iranian elements are in charge of security for President Ahmad Abdallah Sambi... inside the country and also on his trips outside it.

"Iran has also set up a medical center belonging to the Iranian Red cross... a cultural center... and an additional center for humanitarian aid, officially called the Al-Khomeini Committee for Help in the Comoros Islands... Also, according to reports from several sources, Iran is planning to set up an embassy there in the near future...

"The medical center's main activity focuses, of course, on providing various medical treatments at no cost to the Comoros Islanders. The Imam Khomeini Help Committee conducts various humanitarian activities, the most important of which are three-month professional training courses... for the Comoros youth... They also give help to poor families, and provide them with material and economic support. Five hundred families benefit from this bimonthly support. "

Comoros Residents Call Their President "Ayatollah" Al-Ahram reported that "prominent Comoros politicians link the Iranian presence [in the country] to President Sambi's affection for Iran, where he attended religious studies in his youth.

Some of them even accuse the president of secretly becoming a Shi'ite, and of attempting to spread [Shi'ism] in the country, [which is] Sunni Arab." The paper added that "[even before he was president,] island residents called him 'Ayatollah.' The president says that at first he opposed the nickname, but afterwards came to think that there was nothing wrong with it, and therefore agreed to it." According to the Al-Ahram report, "there are numerous reasons for the opposition members' accusations that the president has affection for Iran, and perhaps even became a Shi'ite: his dress, which is similar to that of Iranian clerics; his personal interest in links with Iran, to the point of appointing a relative as ambassador of his country in Tehran; his personal oversight of Iran's activity in his country, and even the Iranian medical center, [which] began operations without applying for a license from the Health Ministry... the [staff's] entrance into the country followed a direct request from President Ahmad Abdallah Sambi."

However, the Al-Ahram report also raised the possibility that the Iranian presence in the country was not the result of a deliberate policy of President Sambi's, but of lack of choice, stating: "Perhaps the reason behind Sambi's agreement to the Iranian presence is a poor country's need for any foreign help, in light of the lack of Arab support..."

Has President Sambi Become a Shi'ite? In addition to this evidence, the Al-Ahram report cites statements posted on a Shi'ite website confirming rumors about President Sambi becoming a Shi'ite: "Sambi is one of the most prominent clerics on the African continent, who has studied with the religious authority Ayatollah Al-Sayyed Muhammad Taqi Al-Modarresi... and he moved from the Sunni school to the Shi'ite school, thus becoming a proselytizer of Shi'ism in the Comoros Islands."

According to the report, "the president of Comoros denies these charges outright; he always stresses... that he belongs to the Shafi'ite school... and that he has affection for Shi'ites."

However, President Sambi's opponents claim that his denials are a manifestation of the Shi'ite principle of taqiyyah, permitting them to pretend not to be Shi'ites when necessary: "They [many in Comoros political circles] accuse him of secretly becoming a Shi'ite, [and of] implementing the principle of taqiyyah."

The report also presented evidence that "according to one of the island's residents... the president once lived in Dubai and would pray at a Shi'ite mosque [there]."

Sunni Clerics Against Shi'ization The spread of Iranian-Shi'ite influence and activity in the Union of the Comoros has aroused not only opposition from Comoros politicians but also the anger of Sunni clerics in the country – who have demanded that the authorities expel the Iranian Shi'ite missionaries and protect the Sunna: "Some of the activities conducted by the Iranian cultural center have enraged the [Sunni] clerics in the Comoros Islands, after they sensed that they were attempting to disseminate Shi'ism in the region.

"In February 2007, 60 Sunni clerics met in the capital Moroni and warned of the danger inherent in the holding of Shi'ite ceremonies in the island. This meeting took place several days after some Comoros Island residents held in public, for the first time in the island's history, the Ashoura, the ceremony commemorating the killing of Imam Al-Hussein.

These clerics... headed by the capital's head qadi... demanded the expulsion of the foreigners who are disseminating Shi'ism in the Comoros Islands. They demanded that President Sambi protect the Sunni ceremonies – but the president decided to leave the cultural center [in place, but] to restrict its activity so that it would not anger those who oppose it.

"The [Sunni] clerics in the Comoros Islands continue to fear the activity of the Iranian institutions operating on the country's soil, and are unconvinced that their real goals are purely humanitarian..."

Al-Ahram: Sunni Arab Countries Must Increase Presence in the Comoros Islands The Al-Ahram report concluded with a call to Arab countries to increase their diplomatic presence in the Union of the Comoros, and even to support its economy – before the country becomes another focus of tension between the Arab countries and Iran, and between Shi'ites and Sunnis:

"In any event, the presence of only one Arab embassy – that of Libya – is inconceivable, and there is no escape from increasing the Arab presence there by establishing diplomatic representations in addition to those currently in place in the capital Moroni. "Similarly, there is no escape from taking an interest in the economic situation of this poor country... Certainly, the establishment of a number of economic projects there, in addition to aid, is considered essential in dealing with the problem, which is still in its early days – before it gets worse and becomes a new center of Arab-Iranian tension that we do not need."

Al-Ahram (Egypt), May 1, 2008, as translated by MEMRI

The Following Banks Are Facing Possible US Sanctions:

Agricultural Bank of Iran (Bank-e Keshavarzi), Teheran;
ANZ Grindlays Bank, TeheranBanca di Roma, Teheran;
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, Teheran;
Banco Central Hispanoamericano, Teheran;
Bank Agricultural, Teheran;Bank Center Iran, Teheran;
Bank Commerce, Teheran;Bank e Sanat o Madan, Teheran;
Bank French Paysbas, Teheran;Bank Fuji, Teheran;
Bank Iran Mashhad, Teheran;
Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islam, Teheran;
Bank Maskan, Teheran;
Bank Mellat, Teheran;
Bank Melli Iran, Teheran;
Bank of Industry and Mine (trading facility),Teheran;
Bank of Tokyo,Teheran;Bank Ostan, Teheran;
Bank Refah Kargaran, Teheran;
Bank Saderat, Teheran;
Bank Sepah, Teheran;
Bank Sumitomo, Teheran;
Bank Tejarat, Teheran;
Bank Tokai, Teheran;
Berliner Bank, Teheran;
Credit Lyonnaise, Teheran;
Deutsche-Iranische Handelsbank, Teheran;
Deutsche Bank, Teheran;Dresdner Bank, Teheran;
Europaeisch-Iranische Handelsbank,
Teheran Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI), Teheran;
ING Bank, Teheran;
Kredietbank, Teheran;
Lloyds Bank, Teheran;
Mitsubishi Bank, Teheran;
Pamok Bank, Teheran;
Swiss Bank Corporation, Teheran;
Representative office: Banca Commerciale Italiana, Teheran;
Commerzbank , Teheran

Source: Internet Anthropologist

Shiites trying to Convert Sunnis - Another Front of the Islamic Civil War

While the media focuses on the aggressive Iranian expansion in the whole Middle East, another insidious campaign is being orchestrated by Iran to control the region. Proselytizing is the new name of the game.

And since, through this Iranian-sponsored operation, Sunnis have been converting to Shiism in significant numbers, Sunni states are starting to react. That could well open a new front in the Sunni-Shiite war.

Of all Sunni countries, Saudi Arabia is the one feeling the most threatened by this new wave of Shiite proselytizing. “If it’s not to export the revolution like in the time of the Khomeini regime, Shiism exportation, as we see it today is still unacceptable” noted Saudi Social Affairs Minister Abdel Mohsen al Hakas.

Read the rest from the Counter Terrorism Blog

When is the time to Out Maneuver Iran...

Iran and Hezbollah, it's world-wide proxy, have been expanding, gaining in financial resources and infamous prestige. They have been executing a multifaceted flexible strategy that will soon make it capable to respond to anything any nation or multinational organization can do.

Experimenting with Chemical weapons, developing nuclear weapons (eventually) and a decentralized way to exercise its influence. There have even be military exercises in the Straights of Hormuz to rehearse their Military forces.

Yet who is willing to go to war? strategic surgical military action will serve as a defensive strategy, but an offensive, multifaceted strategy that will require Iran to redeploy its resources in response.

The Sunnis will have to act when the US leaves Irag....

So When is the time to Out Maneuver Iran? ...Before the US leaves

The Coming Sunni - Shiite Conflict

It is time for the US to sit down with Saudi, Egypt, Kuwait, UAE and others

• Tell them we would love to leave this Shiite thing alone (Iran - Hezbolla - Syria)
• They need to deal with their threats to the world themselves:
• This way we stay out.

It will take at least two years for them to come to a limited truce. This will take an trememdous amount of focus for the salayyia/Wahhabist resources.

A coordinated and intense time of Evangelcial Chrstian Prayer is needed for Africa during this two year time.

Thoughts?

Jihad al-Bina

Anyone know if Hezbollah's Jihad al-Bina has shown up in Africa?

-Shimron


Hizballah operates Jihad al-Bina for its own construction needs as well as to attract popular support through the provision of civilian construction services," said Stuart Levey, Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). "We will take action against all facets of this deadly terror group."

Jihad al-Bina has used deceptive means to seek funding for projects from international development organizations.

• In cases when intended solicitation targets were thought to object to the group's relationship with Hizballah and the Iranian government, the organization employed deceptive practices, applying in the name of proxies not publicly linked to Hizballah.
• Following the summer 2006 conflict with Israel, Hizballah used Jihad al-Bina to raise funds for the terrorist organization and to bolster the group's standing by providing construction services in Southern Lebanon.

This company is also know as:

Jihad al-Binaa', Jihadu-I-Binaa, Construction for the sake of the holy struggle, Construction Jihad, Struggle for Reconstruction, Jihad Construction Institution, Jihad Construction Foundation, Jihad al Binaa Association, Holy Construction Foundation, Jihad

Construction Location: Beirut, Lebanon, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, Southern Lebanon

The Rest @ The US Treasury OFAC

Radical Islam's coming split: Christian Evangelical Impact

the radical arms of Both Shi'ite and Sunni Islam are already at war. This expanded in Iraq, and there are signs that the war is escalating. This has signifcant implications to Jihad world wide, and the work of Evangelical Christians.

Introduction

Islam has a number of traditions. The two largest groups are Sunni & Shia , in respective order. Radical Shi'ism Islam, led by the government of Iran and it's multinational proxy Hezbollah has been preparing itself for war with the west. However, there are signs that the Largest Islamic group, the Sunnis, are moving to Counter The growth in power of Radical Shi' ism.

1. Evidence is emerging that Saudi Arabia, controlled by Wahhabi Sunni Isalm, is deliberately moving to undermine the price of Iranian oil. This will keep them from being able to fund the expansion of their agenda.
2. A Kuwati Sunni Cleric is drafting a comprehensive strategy for a two fronted war for al Qaida, (a Sunni terrorist group) fighting both America and Shi'ite fronts simultaneously.
3. In Iraq the recent battle with the army of heaven, a Shiite splinter group illustrates that even within groups the forces are are not holding together.

-more to follow

-Shimron Issachar