Narrative
Narrative of the Organization's History
Narrative of the Organization's History
Leadership, Name Changes, Size Estimates, Resources, Geographic Locations
Ideology, Aims, Political Activities, Targets, and Tactics
First Attacks, Largest Attacks, Notable Attacks
Foreign Designations and Listings, Community Relations, Relations with Other Groups, State Sponsors and External Influences
Mapping relationships with other militant groups over time in regional maps
AQKB shares Al Qaeda’s ideology and goals; it is a Sunni jihadist organization that seeks to implement Shariah Law and establish an Islamic caliphate in the Middle East.[17]
There are no recorded political activities for this group.
Although AQKB has only perpetrated a handful of attacks since its formation in 2007, when it has carried out acts of terrorism it has most often used suicide and car bombings. However, there is also evidence that AQKB sought to carry out chemical weapons attacks and sent several of its members to Afghanistan and Pakistan to receive training with chemical weapons. The group allegedly sought to use an unmanned aircraft to carry out chemical attacks and blow up the Qaragul Bridge in the Sulaymaniyah province. Other forms of chemical attacks planned by AQKB included wiping the handles of cars used to transport Kurdish politicians with deadly poisons.[18] There is no evidence that AQKB was ever put its plans to utilize chemical weapons into action.
AQKB’s primary targets have included Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) buildings, troops, and employees in addition to non-Sunni religious groups, namely the Yazidis.[19] The group’s most notable attack was a truck bombing of the building of the Kurdish Ministries of the Interior and Security in Iraq, killing 19 people.[20] Reports also surfaced in 2014 that AQKB was fighting alongside other Kurdish groups against the Islamic State (IS).[21]
Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.
September 2010: Several AQKB militants were arrested after the Kurdish security forces foiled an AQKB suicide bomb attack in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. (0 killed, 2 wounded)[22]
July 2007: AQKB operatives ambushed and killed seven border guards and another security force member in Penjwin, Iraq. (8 killed, unknown wounded)[23]
May 2007: AQKB militants claimed responsibility for a car bomb that was detonated at the Kurdistan Interior and Security Ministries building, killing 19 civilians. (19 killed, unknown wounded)[24]
AQKB’s extreme Islamist ideology and terrorist tactics have rendered the group highly unpopular among Iraq’s predominantly secular and nationalist Kurdish population.[27]
AQKB is an affiliate of Al Qaeda and has sworn allegiance to both Aymenn al-Zawahiri and former AQI leader, Abu Umar al-Baghdadi. The group was also a member of the Islamic State of Iraq, the umbrella organization founded by AQI.[28] However, AQKB released a statement in April 2014 making clear its opposition to AQI’s successor organization, the Islamic State (IS). There are even reports that AQKB has actively fought against IS in northern Iraq.[29]
AQKB’s traditional enemies are the secular Kurdish organizations that participate in the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), namely the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The majority of the group’s attacks have been aimed at Kurdish government forces.[30]
AQKB allegedly maintained bases in the Iranian towns of Mariwan and Sanandej, suggesting that the Iranian government at least tacitly tolerated the group.[31] There has also been some speculation that the group has received funds from Western sources, particularly Canada, since taking up arms against the Islamic State in 2014; AQKB nevertheless remains designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Canadian government.[32]AQKB allegedly maintained bases in the Iranian towns of Mariwan and Sanandej, suggesting that the Iranian government at least tacitly tolerated the group.[31] There has also been some speculation that the group has received funds from Western sources, particularly Canada, since taking up arms against the Islamic State in 2014; AQKB nevertheless remains designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Canadian government.[32]
[1] "US Names al Qaeda-linked Outfit as Terrorist Entity." DaijiWorld. January 6, 2012. http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=126624. Accessed July 27, 2012.
[2] "US Names al Qaeda-linked Outfit as Terrorist Entity." DaijiWorld. January 6, 2012. http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=126624. Accessed July 27, 2012.
[3] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.; Roggio, Bill. “’Al Qaeda in Kurdistan’ Breaks ranks with ISIS over Syria.” The Longwar Journal, 1 May 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015
[4] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[5] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[6] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[7] "US brands al-Qaeda Kurdish Battalions 'terrorist'." Reuters, Date unknown. We. 27 July 2012.; "US Names al Qaeda-linked Outfit as Terrorist Entity." DaijiWorld, 6 January 2012. Web. 27 July 2012.
[8] Taylor, Scott. “Flying Blind on ISIS.” NOW, 25 March 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.; “We should not champion individual volunteers fighting with foreign forces.” Espritdecorps, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.; Roggio, Bill. “’Al Qaeda in Kurdistan’ Breaks ranks with ISIS over Syria.” The Longwar Journal, 1 May 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[9] Roggio, Bill. “’Al Qaeda in Kurdistan’ Breaks ranks with ISIS over Syria.” The Longwar Journal, 1 May 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.; Van Wilgenburg, Wladimir. “Iraqi Kurdistan Hit by First Suicide Bombing in Six Years.” Al-Monitor, 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[10] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[11] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[12] “US Designates Kurdish Group Terrorists.” Rudaw, 15 Jan. 2012. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[13] Roggio, Bill. "US adds Al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions to list of terrorist groups." January 5, 2012. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/01/us_adds_al_qaeda_kur.php. Accessed July 27, 2012.; Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[14] Taylor, Scott. “Flying Blind on ISIS.” NOW, 25 March 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.; “We should not champion individual volunteers fighting with foreign forces.” Espritdecorps, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[15] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.; Hawkins, Scott. “Transcript of Al-Qaeda Kurdish Battallion.” Prezi, 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.
[16] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[17] Hawkins, Scott. “Transcript of Al-Qaeda Kurdish Battallion.” Prezi, 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.; "US brands al-Qaeda Kurdish Battalions 'terrorist'." Reuters, Date unknown. We. 27 July 2012.; "US Names al Qaeda-linked Outfit as Terrorist Entity." DaijiWorld, 6 January 2012. Web. 27 July 2012.
[18] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[19] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[20] “US Names al Qaeda-linked Outfit as Terrorist Entity." DaijiWorld, 6 January 2012. Web. 27 July 27, 2012.
[21] Taylor, Scott. “Flying Blind on ISIS.” NOW, 25 March 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.; “We should not champion individual volunteers fighting with foreign forces.” Espritdecorps, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.; Roggio, Bill. “’Al Qaeda in Kurdistan’ Breaks ranks with ISIS over Syria.” The Longwar Journal, 1 May 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[22] "US Names al Qaeda-linked Outfit as Terrorist Entity." DaijiWorld, 6 January 2012. Web. 27 July 27, 2012.
[23] "US brands al-Qaeda Kurdish Battalions 'terrorist'." Reuters, Date unknown. Web. 27 July 2012.
[24] "US Names al Qaeda-linked Outfit as Terrorist Entity." DaijiWorld, 6 January 2012. Web. 27 July 27, 2012.
[25] Roggio, Bill. "US adds Al Qaeda Kurdish Battalions to list of terrorist groups." January 5, 2012. Web. July 27, 2012.
[26] Taylor, Scott. “Flying Blind on ISIS.” NOW, 25 March 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.; “We should not champion individual volunteers fighting with foreign forces.” Espritdecorps, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[27] Khalil, Lydia. “The Kurdish Brigades: Al-Qaeda’s Kurdish Henchmen.” The Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Focus 4(14), 18 May 2007. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[28] Roggio, Bill. “’Al Qaeda in Kurdistan’ Breaks ranks with ISIS over Syria.” The Longwar Journal, 1 May 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.; Van Wilgenburg, Wladimir. “Iraqi Kurdistan Hit by First Suicide Bombing in Six Years.” Al-Monitor, 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[29] “We should not champion individual volunteers fighting with foreign forces.” Espritdecorps, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.; Taylor, Scott. “Flying Blind on ISIS.” NOW, 25 March 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.
[30] Hawkins, Scott. “Transcript of Al-Qaeda Kurdish Battallion.” Prezi, 19 Nov. 2014. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.; "US brands al-Qaeda Kurdish Battalions 'terrorist'." Reuters, Date unknown. We. 27 July 2012.; "US Names al Qaeda-linked Outfit as Terrorist Entity." DaijiWorld, 6 January 2012. Web. 27 July 27, 2012.; "US brands al-Qaeda Kurdish Battalions 'terrorist'." Reuters, Date unknown. Web. 27 July 2012.
[31] “US Designates Kurdish Group Terrorists.” Rudaw, 15 Jan. 2012. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.
[32] Taylor, Scott. “Flying Blind on ISIS.” NOW, 25 March 2015. Web. 25 Aug. 2015.; “We should not champion individual volunteers fighting with foreign forces.” Espritdecorps, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Aug. 2015.