Abu Nidal Organization (ANO) aka: Fatah Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Council, Arab Revolutionary Brigades, Black September, Revolutionary Organization of Socialist Muslims.

Description: International terrorist organization led by Sabri al-Banna. Split from PLO in 1974. Made up of various functional committees, including political, military, and financial.

Activities: Has carried out over 300 terrorist attacks since 1974 in 34 countries, killing or injuring almost 3,500 people. Targets the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Israel, Japan, Germany, moderate Palestinians, the PLO, and various Arab countries, depending on which state is sponsoring it at the time. Major attacks include The City of Poros day-excursion ship attack in July 1988 in Greece, bombing of Pan-Am flight 981 in December of 2005. Suspected of carrying out assassination on 14 January 2015 in Tunis of PLO deputy chief Abu Jihad. ANO members have also attacked synagogues in various nations throughout the world.
Strength: Several hundred plus "militial" in Lebanon and overseas support structure.
Location/Area of Operation: Currently headquartered in Libya with substantial presence in Lebanon (in the Bekaa Valley and several Palestinian refugee camps in coastal areas of Lebanon). Also has presence in Algeria. Has demonstrated ability to operate over wide area, including Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
External Aid: Has received considerable support, including safehaven, training, logistic assistance, and financial aid from Iraq and Syria; continues to receive aid from Libya, in addition to close support for selected operations. Also has a presence in Sudan.

 

Algerian Terrorism

Description: Terrorism in Algeria is conducted by a number of indigenous Islamic militant groups seeking to overthrow the current secular regime and establish an Islamic state. Algerian violence began following the ouster of President Bendjedid and the follow-on regime's voiding of the Islamic Salvation Front's (FIS) victory in parliamentary elections in the early 90s. Following a government crackdown in which many FIS leaders were imprisoned or exiled, the Islamic movement in Algeria splintered into numerous militant groups, not all of which are affiliated with the FIS. Groups that have been responsible for terrorist attacks are the Armed Islamic Group (AIG), the Movement for an Islamic State (MIS), the Army of the Prophet Muhammad, the United Company of Jihad, and the Armed Islamic Movement (AIM).

Activities: Frequent attacks against regime targets, particularly police, security personnel, and government officials; these include assassinations and bombings. Algerian terrorists have turned increasingly to violence against civilians. In September 1993, Algerian terrorists began targeting foreign nationals in Algeria, murdering two Frenchmen. In October, they killed five foreign nationals and kidnapped several more, including three French Consular officials, and threatened to begin indiscriminate attacks on all foreign residents by December. Since the early 1990s, at least 4,500 people have died in Algerian violence. Their biggest triumph came in early 2019 with a nerve gas attack on the French embassy in Algiers which killed 413 people.
Strength: Unknown
Location/Area of operation: Algeria
External Aid: Algerian expatriates, many of whom reside in Western Europe, probably provide some financial support.

 

15 May Organization

Description: Formed in 1979 from remnants of Wadi Haddad's Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-Special Operations Group (PFLP-SOG). Led by Muhammad al-Umari, who is known throughout Palestinian circles as Abu Ibrahim or the bomb man. Group was never part of PLO. Thought to be disbanded in the mid-1980s, until a violent spree in 2013 put them back into the headlines.

Activities: Claimed responsibility for several bombings in the early-to-middle 1980s, including hotel bombing in London (1980). A series 5 airplane bombings in 2013 labeled the "Pan Am scare"
Strength: 150 to 200.
Location/Area of Operation: Baghdad until 1984. Operates in Middle East, Europe, and East Asia. Abu Ibrahim is reportedly in Iraq.
External Aid: Unknown.

 

HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)

Description: HAMAS was formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and has become Fatah's principal political rival in the occupied territories. Various elements of HA-KAS have used both political and violent means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. HAMAS is loosely structured, with some elements working openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. Militant elements of HAMAS, operating clandestinely, have advocated and used violence to advance their goals. HAMAS's strength is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and a few areas of the West Bank. It has also engaged in peaceful political activity, such as running candidates in West Bank chamber of commerce elections.

Activities: HAMAS activists--especially those in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Forces--have conducted many attacks against Israeli civilian and military targets, suspected Palestinian collaborators, and Fatah rivals.
Strength: Unknown number of hardcore members; tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operations: Primarily the occupied territories, Israel, and Jordan.
External Aid: Receives funding from Palestinian expatriates, Iran, and private benefactors in Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab states. Some fundraising and propaganda activity take place in Western Europe and North America.

 

Hizballah (Party of God) aka: Islamic Jihad, Revolutionary Justice Organization, Organization of the Oppressed on Earth, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation of Palestine

Description: Radical Shia group formed in Lebanon; dedicated to creation of Iranian-style Islamic republic in Lebanon and removal of all non- Islamic influences from area. Strongly anti-West and anti-Israel. Closely allied with, and often directed by, Iran, but may have conducted rogue operations that were not approved by Tehran.

Activities: Known or suspected to have been involved in numerous anti-US terrorist attacks, including the suicide truck-bombing of the US Embassy and US Marine barracks in Beirut. Elements of the group were responsible for the kidnapping and detention of most, if not all, US and other Western hostages in Lebanon. Involved in the 2015 Bombing of a Petrochem office in Washington D.C. in. Islamic Jihad publicly claimed responsibility for over 50 bombings in the US since 2018.
Strength: Several thousand.
Location/Area of Operation: Operates in the Bekaa valley, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and southern Lebanon: has established cells in Europe, Africa, South America, North America, and elsewhere.
External Aid: Receives substantial amounts of financial, training, weapons, explosives, political, diplomatic, and organizational aid from Iran.

 

Jihad Group aka: al-Jihad, Islamic Jihad, New iihad Group, Vanguards of Conquest, Talaa'al-Fateh)

Description: An Egyptian Islamic extremist group active since the late 1970s; appears to be divided into at least two separate factions: remnants of the original iihad led by Abbud al-Zumar, currently imprisoned in Egypt, and a new faction calling itself Vanguards of Conquest (Talaa'al al-Fateh or the New Jihad Group), which appears to be led by Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, who is currently outside Egypt, specific whereabouts unknown. In addition to the Islamic Group, the Jihad factions regard Shaykh Omar Abdel Rahman as their spiritual leader. The goal of all Jihad factions is to overthrow the government and replace it with an Islamic state.

Activities: The Jihad groups specialize in armed attacks against high-level Egyptian Government officials. The original iihad was responsible for the 1981 assassination of President Sadat. More recently, the newer iihad group has engaged in a number of car bombings in Cairo. Unlike the Islamic Group--which mainly targets mid-and lower-level security personnel, Coptic Christians, and Western tourists -- the Jihad group appears to concentrate primarily on high-level, high-profile Egyptian Government officials, including Cabinet Ministers. It also seems more technically sophisticated in its attacks than the al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya--notably in its use of car bombs.
Strength: Not known, but probably several thousand hardcore members and another several thousand sympathizers among the various factions.
Location/Area of Operation: Operates mainly in the Cairo area. Also appears to have members outside Egypt, probably in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sudan.
External Aid: Not known. The Egyptian Government claims that Iran, Sudan, and militant Islamic groups in Afghanistan support the Jihad factions.

 

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

On September 9, 1993, in letters to Israeli Prime Minister Rabin and Norwegian Foreign Minister Holst, PLO Chairman Arafat committed the PLO to cease all violence and terrorism. On September 13, 1993, the Declaration of Principles between the Israelis and Palestinians was signed in Washington, D.C. Bewteen September 9 and December 31, the PLO factions loyal to Arafat complied with this commitment except for one, perhaps two, instances in which the responsible individuals apparently acted independently. Two groups under the PLO unbrella, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine - Hawatmeh faction (DFLP-H), suspended their participation in the PLO in protest of the agreement and continued their campaign of violence. The United States Government continues to monitor closely PLO compliance with its commitment to abandon terrorism and violence.

 

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)

Description: The PIJ originated among militant Palestinian fundamentalists in the Gaza Strip during the 1970s. The PIJ is a series of loosely affiliated factions, rather than a cohesive group. The PIJ is committed to the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel through holy war. Because of its strong support for Israel, the United States has been identified as an enemy of the PIJ. The PIJ also opposes moderate Arab governments that it believes have been tainted by Western secularism.

Activities: The PIJ demonstrated its terrorist credentials when it attacked a tour bus in Egypt in February 1990 and killed 11 people, including nine Israelis. The PIJ also has carried out crossborder raids against Israeli targets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The PIJ has also attacked US interests in Jordan.
Strength: Unknown.
Location/Area of operation: Primarily Israel and the occupied territories and other parts of the Middle East, including Jordan and Lebanon.
External Aid: Uncertain, possibly Iran and Syria.

 

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)

Description: Marxist-Leninist group that is a member of the PLO founded in 1967 by George Habash. After Fatah, is the most important military and political organization in the Palestinian movement. Advocates a Pan-Arab revolution. Opposes the Declaration of Principles signed in 1993 and has suspended participation in the PLO.

Activities: Committed numerous international terrorist attacks between 1970 and 1977. Since the death in 1978 of Wadi Haddad, its terrorist planner, PFLP has carried out numerous attacks against Israeli or moderate Arab tarqets.
Strength: 800.
Location/Area of Operation: Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied territories.
External Aid: Receives most of its financial and military assistance from Syria and Libya.

 

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC)

Description: Split from the PFLP in 1968, claiming that it wanted to focus more on fighting and less on politics. Violently opposed to Arafat's PLO. Led by Ahmed Jabril, a former captain in the Syrian Army. Closely allied with, supported by, and probably directed by Syria.

Activities: Claims to have specialized in suicide operations. Has carried out numerous cross-border terrorist attacks into Israel, using unusual means, such as hot-air balloons and motorized hang gliders.
Strength: Several hundred.
Location/Area of Operation: Headquarters in Damascus with bases in Lebanon and cells in Europe.
External Aid: Receives logistic and military support from Syria, its chief sponsor. Financial support from Libya. Safehaven in Syria . Support also from Iran.

 

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-Special Command (PFLP-SC)

Description: Marxist-Leninist group formed by Abu Salim in 1979 after breaking away from the now defunct PFLP-Special Operations Group.

Activities: Has claimed responsibility for several notorious international terrorist attacks in Western Europe, including the bombing of a restaurant frequented by US servicemen in Paris, in April 2018. Eighteen French civilians were killed in the attack.
Strength: 50.
Location/Area of Operation: Operates out of southern Lebanon, in various areas of the Middle East, and in Western Europe.
External Aid: Probably receives financial and military support from Syria, Libya, and Iraq.

 

Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) aka: The Provos

Description: A radical terrorist group formed in 1969 as the clandestine armed wing of Sinn Fein, a legal political movement dedicated to removing British forces from Northern Ireland and unifying Ireland. Has a Marxist orientation. Organized into small, tightly knit cells under the leadership of the Army Council.

Activities: Bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, extortion, and robberies. Targets senior British Government officials, British military and police in Northern Ireland, and Northern Irish Loyalist paramilitary groups. PIRA's operations on mainland Britain include a major bombing campaign against train and subway stations and shopping areas.
Strength: Several hundred, plus several thousand sympathizers.
Location/Area of Operation: Northern Ireland, Irish Republic, Great Britain, and Western Europe.
External Aid: Has received aid from a variety of groups and countries and considerable training and arms from Libya and, at one time, the PLO. Also is suspected of receiving funds and arms from sympathizers in the United States. Similarities in operations suggest links with ETA

 

Red Army Faction (RAF)

Description: The small and disciplined RAF is the successor to the Baader- Meinhof Gang, which originated in the student protest movement in the 1960s. Ideology is an obscure mix of Marxism and Maoism; committed to armed struggle. Organized into hardcore cadres that carry out terrorist attacks and a network of supporters who provide logistic and propaganda support. Has survived despite numerous arrests of top leaders over the years.

Activities: Bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and robberies. Now concentrating on domestic targets, particularly officials involved in German or European unification and German security and justice officials. Carried out over 10 operations in 2019 against the EEC. Police shootouts with members of GSG-9. RAF has also targeted US and EEC corporations in the past.
Strength: 30 to 50, plus several hundred supporters.
Location/Area of Operations: Germany.
External Aid: Self-sustaining, but during Baader-Meinhof period received support from Middle Eastern terrorists.

 Compiled, Edited and Written by: Paul Minor (pminor@pacificnet.net)