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Formation of Al- Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)
In 2003 after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi established Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), or al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia. AQI is a Sunni Muslim extremist group whose objective is to bring forth civil unrest in Iraq and accomplish their goal of a single, transnational Islamic state based on sharia law. AQI supporters are also located in Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. -
Al-Zarqawi comes to power
After almost five years of resisting, Al-Zarqawi agreed to work with Osama bin- Laden after nearly eight months of intense negotiations. An explanation for these two former antagonists coming together was al-Zarqawi would profit from the al-Qaida franchise and Osama bin- Laden needed some sort of presence in Iraq. -
Famous attacks connected to al- Zarqawi
In 2004 through 2005, al- Zarqawi admitted credit to attacks on the port city of Basra, multiple attacks on Shiite worshippers and mosques , and videotaping and largely publicized beheading of a kidnapped American contractor, Nicholas Berg; all attacks taking place in Iraq. -
Al-Zarqawi's death
On June 7th, 2006 Al-Zarqawi was hiding in a safe house about fifty-five miles north of Baghdad when U.S. forces in Iraq launched an air strike. This act was the result of a lengthy intelligence effort to track down terrorist leaders; accomplished with the help of Jordan's intelligence service. For the U.S. Zarqawi's death meant an important victory and turning point for the organization, making it grow more disorganized. -
More sophisticated tactics
During recent years, Al Qaeda in Iraq's tactics has been growing more sophisticated. The use of chlorine-laden bombs, hiring snipers, and targeting U.S. helicopters has been becoming more and more frequent in Jihadis usage. Bus the AQI's main weapon of choice remains to be car bombing, according to Brookings’ Iraq Index, jumping from seventy-one (January 2006 to April 2006) to eighty per month (May 2006 to September 2006). -
AQI helps create ISI
Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) was established in 2006 with the help of Al- Qaeda in Iraq. Al- Qaeda in Iraq formed this group as a political arm, -
AQI gains strength
Al Qaeda in Iraq number has grown to as many as 60,000 fighters; gaining in both strength and number. Suicide attacks against civilians have been increasing in recent months across the country. Many attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda’s foreign fighters, the latest ones timed to undermine the U.S.-led surge of additional forces (AP) into the central part of Iraq, Unfortunately for the U.S. al-Qaeda in Iraq has been growing to be both more effective and fragment. -
Iraqi forces kill two AQI leaders
Led by the Iraqis; the U.S. forces joined Iraqi security forces and killed the two leaders, al-Masri and Baghdadi, of AQI over a series of joint security operations near Tikrit. These deaths pose devastating blows towards al Qaeda in Iraq. Soon after, an Iraqi from the town of Samarra, Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri (aka Abu Du'a) was chosen to be the new leader of AQI. -
Abu Du’a current leader of AQI
Abu Du’a, leader of AQI, is listed as a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Abu Du’a is responsible for leading operations based in Iraq and for managing and directing large scale operations in AQI. Three days after bin Laden’s death, Abu Du’a claimed responsibility for an attack in Hilla, Iraq, that killed 24 policemen and wounded 72 others, in retaliation for bin Laden’s death. AQI also claimed responsibility for 23 other attacks between March and April 2011 -
AQI in Syria
AQI fighters are joining up in Syria in rebellion against the minority Alawite regime of Bashar al-Assad, who, despite international condemnation, has continued his crackdown on opposition protesters. Intelligence officials believe al-Qaeda is executing most of the high-profile attacks on Syrian military forces. This migration of AQI fighters means a decrease of violence in parts of Iraq. The migration could have a destabilizing effect in the overthrow of Syria.
