Friday, October 12, 2007
Major insurgent groups announce formation of political council
Insurgency, Politics
(AP) -- Six main Iraqi insurgent groups announced the formation of a "political council" aimed at "liberating" Iraq from U.S. occupation in a video aired Thursday on Al-Jazeera television. The council appeared to be a new attempt to assert the leadership of the groups, which have moved to distance themselves from another coalition of insurgent factions led by al-Qaida in Iraq. In the video aired on Al-Jazeera, a man identified as the council's spokesman - wearing traditional Iraqi garb, with his face blacked out - announced the council's formation and a "political program to liberate Iraq."
He said the program was based on two principles. "First, the occupation is an oppression and aggression, rejected by Islamic Sharia law and tradition. Resistance of occupation is a right guaranteed by all religions and laws," he said. "Second, the armed resistance ... is the legitimate representative of Iraq. It is the one that bears responsibility for the leadership of the people to achieve its legitimate hope."
The groups forming the council include the Islamic Army of Iraq, the Mujahideen Army, Ansar al-Sunna, the Fatiheen Army, the Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance (Jami) and the Islamic Movement of Hamas-Iraq. The step could be a bid by the insurgents for a more cohesive political voice at a time of considerable rearrangement among Sunni insurgent groups and Iraq's Sunni Arab minority.
Splinter factions of two insurgent groups, the 1920 Revolution Brigades and the Mujahideen Army, have cooperated with U.S. forces in fighting insurgents allied to al-Qaida in Iraq. Earlier this year, other groups - the Islamic Army of Iraq, the main faction of the Mujahideen Army, a branch of Ansar al-Sunna and the Fatiheen Army - formed a coalition called the Jihad and Reform Front opposed to al-Qaida in Iraq, though they have continued attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces.
He said the program was based on two principles. "First, the occupation is an oppression and aggression, rejected by Islamic Sharia law and tradition. Resistance of occupation is a right guaranteed by all religions and laws," he said. "Second, the armed resistance ... is the legitimate representative of Iraq. It is the one that bears responsibility for the leadership of the people to achieve its legitimate hope."
The groups forming the council include the Islamic Army of Iraq, the Mujahideen Army, Ansar al-Sunna, the Fatiheen Army, the Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance (Jami) and the Islamic Movement of Hamas-Iraq. The step could be a bid by the insurgents for a more cohesive political voice at a time of considerable rearrangement among Sunni insurgent groups and Iraq's Sunni Arab minority.
Splinter factions of two insurgent groups, the 1920 Revolution Brigades and the Mujahideen Army, have cooperated with U.S. forces in fighting insurgents allied to al-Qaida in Iraq. Earlier this year, other groups - the Islamic Army of Iraq, the main faction of the Mujahideen Army, a branch of Ansar al-Sunna and the Fatiheen Army - formed a coalition called the Jihad and Reform Front opposed to al-Qaida in Iraq, though they have continued attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces.
Labels: Ansar al-Sunna, Islamic Army of Iraq, JAMI, Jihad and Reform Front, politics, the Fatiheen Army, the Islamic Front for the Iraqi Resistance, the Islamic Movement of Hamas-Iraq, the Mujahideen Army
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Five major insurgent groups to unite
Insurgency
(Quds Press) Five Resistance groups reportedly form unified command and common organization, in opposition to call to join al-Qa'idah. In a dispatch posted on Thursday, Quds Press reported that a source close to the Resistance organization the Islamic Army in Iraq, one of the largest Resistance groups, said that five major Resistance groups had agreed to unite their armed efforts and political positions.
The source told Quds Press that leaders of the Islamic Army, the Army of the Mujahideen, the Army of the Rashideen, the 1920 Revolution Brigades, and the Islamic Resistance Front (Jami') held meetings over three consecutive days to reach agreement on uniting their efforts in resisting the occupation and its stooges and uniting their political positions. The groups will also take one common name and chose a general commander, according to the source.
The source told Quds Press that the organizations will announce the conclusion of their discussions, the new name for the group and the name of their commander in a joint communiqué. He said that all the groups had agreed to set up a united front organization and a united Shura (Consultative) Council.
The move comes two days after a voice message issued by the Amir of the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq – a prominent member in which is the al-Qa'idah organization – in which he called on all the Iraqi Resistance groups to join the "Islamic State of Iraq and take oaths of allegiance to him.
The source told Quds Press that leaders of the Islamic Army, the Army of the Mujahideen, the Army of the Rashideen, the 1920 Revolution Brigades, and the Islamic Resistance Front (Jami') held meetings over three consecutive days to reach agreement on uniting their efforts in resisting the occupation and its stooges and uniting their political positions. The groups will also take one common name and chose a general commander, according to the source.
The source told Quds Press that the organizations will announce the conclusion of their discussions, the new name for the group and the name of their commander in a joint communiqué. He said that all the groups had agreed to set up a united front organization and a united Shura (Consultative) Council.
The move comes two days after a voice message issued by the Amir of the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq – a prominent member in which is the al-Qa'idah organization – in which he called on all the Iraqi Resistance groups to join the "Islamic State of Iraq and take oaths of allegiance to him.
Labels: Islamic Army in Iraq, Islamic Resistance Front, JAMI, the 1920 Revolution Brigades, the Army of the Mujahideen, the Army of the Rashideen
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Insurgent group weighs up supporting security conference
Insurgency, Politics
COMMENT: Al-Zawra reported that the Iraqi Resistance Islamic Front (JAMI) first announced its existence on May 30, 2004. JAMI is believed to have been formed by a number of smaller Sunni resistance groups brought together by common political goals. The groups activities and attacks on coalition forces are primarily centered in the Ninawa and Diyala governorates. The group affirmed several times that it only focuses on fighting the American forces and those who directly collaborate with it; they don't target the Iraqi Police or any other Iraqis in general.The group has also renounced beheadings, saying that they distort the image of the resistance.Most importantly, the group vowed not to cooperate with any other insurgent group which targets Iraqis. COMMENT ENDS.
(SITE) The Islamic Iraqi Resistance Front, JAMI, an insurgency group in Iraq, issued through its “Political Bureau” on Monday, March 5, 2007, a statement regarding the international conference to be held in Baghdad this coming Saturday, March 10. JAMI observes sinister intent in the Iraqi government convening the talks, claiming that it seeks to launch a “diplomatic attack” in defense of its standing, overlook human rights issues, and deny the resistance. The quick response of the United States and Iran to the conference allegedly indicates their respective involvement in the Iraqi arena: the U.S. mired in a swamp and Iran wishing to appear innocent of the killing and destruction caused by its militias.
However, if the international conference is in support of the Iraqi people, to restore their independence and honor, and additionally recognize the Mujahideen and negotiate with the jihadi brigades, then JAMI will support the conference. Here they also address the “occupiers” to their position: “If you want to benefit from your mistakes - and we think you are not - you don’t have to rely on this sectarian government nor its agent parties who came onboard your tanks. The only way to get out of this awkward position is to find a solution with the leaders of jihad and resistance, and not with the agents and mercenaries.”
However, if the international conference is in support of the Iraqi people, to restore their independence and honor, and additionally recognize the Mujahideen and negotiate with the jihadi brigades, then JAMI will support the conference. Here they also address the “occupiers” to their position: “If you want to benefit from your mistakes - and we think you are not - you don’t have to rely on this sectarian government nor its agent parties who came onboard your tanks. The only way to get out of this awkward position is to find a solution with the leaders of jihad and resistance, and not with the agents and mercenaries.”
COMMENT: Al-Zawra reported that the Iraqi Resistance Islamic Front (JAMI) first announced its existence on May 30, 2004. JAMI is believed to have been formed by a number of smaller Sunni resistance groups brought together by common political goals. The groups activities and attacks on coalition forces are primarily centered in the Ninawa and Diyala governorates. The group affirmed several times that it only focuses on fighting the American forces and those who directly collaborate with it; they don't target the Iraqi Police or any other Iraqis in general.The group has also renounced beheadings, saying that they distort the image of the resistance.Most importantly, the group vowed not to cooperate with any other insurgent group which targets Iraqis. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Baghdad security conference, Islamic Iraqi Resistance Front, JAMI
