ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Espionage, Intelligence, and Security Volume ...

Al-Ittihad al-IslamiUnited States. The organization is unofficially split in twofactions, one that supports the cease-fire led by MustafaHamza and one led by Rifa’i Taha Musa, calling for a returnto armed operations. Taha Musa in early 2001 published abook in which he attempted to justify terrorist attacks thatwould cause mass casualties. Musa disappeared severalmonths thereafter, and there were conflicting reports as tohis current whereabouts. The primary goal of the IG is tooverthrow the Egyptian government and replace it with anIslamic state, but disaffected IG members, such as thosepotentially inspired by Taha Musa or Abd al-Rahman, maybe interested in carrying out attacks against the U.S. andIsraeli interests.Organization activities. The IG has conducted armed attacksagainst Egyptian security and other government officials,Coptic Christians, and Egyptian opponents of Islamic extremismbefore the cease-fire. From 1993 until the ceasefire,al-Gama’a launched attacks on tourists in Egypt, mostnotably the attack in November, 1997, at Luxor that killed58 foreign tourists. The IG also claimed responsibility forthe attempt in June, 1995, to assassinate Egyptian PresidentHosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The IG hasnever specifically attacked a U.S. citizen or facility, but hasthreatened United States interests.At its peak, the IG probably commanded several thousandhard-core members and a like number of sympathizers,but its present size is unknown. The 1999 cease-fireand security crackdowns following the attack in Luxor in1997, and more recently, tightened security efforts followingthe September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the UnitedStates probably have resulted in a substantial decrease inthe group’s numbers.IG operates mainly in the Al-Minya, Asyu’t, Qina, andSohaj Governorates of southern Egypt. They also appearto have support in Cairo, Alexandria, and other urbanlocations, particularly among unemployed graduates andstudents, and have a worldwide presence, including theUnited Kingdom, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Austria.The oragnization’s external sources of support, ifany, are unknown. The Egyptian government believesthat Iran, Osama Bin Ladin, and Afghan militant groupssupport the organization. The IG may also obtain somefunding through various Islamic non-governmentalorganizations.❚ FURTHER READING:ELECTRONIC:Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook, 2002. (April 16, 2003).Taylor, Francis X. U.S. Department of State. Patterns ofGlobal Terrorism 2001, Annual Report: On the recordbriefing. May 21, 2002 (April 17,2003).U.S. Department of State. Annual reports. (April 16, 2003).SEE ALSOTerrorism, Philosophical and Ideological OriginsTerrorist and Para-State OrganizationsTerrorist Organization List, United StatesTerrorist Organizations, Freezing of AssetsAl-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI)Al-Ittihad al-Islami (AIAI) also operates as, or is known as,the Islamic Union.AIAI is Somalia’s largest militant Islamic organization.AIAI rose to power in the early 1990s following thecollapse of the Siad Barre regime. AIAI aims to establishan Islamic regime in Somalia and force the secession ofthe Ogeden region of Ethiopia. AIAI participates in primarilyinsurgent-style attacks against Ethiopian forces andother Somali factions. The group is believed to be responsiblefor a series of bomb attacks in public places in AddisAbaba in 1996 and 1997, as well as the kidnapping ofseveral relief workers in 1998. AIAI sponsors Islamic socialprograms, such as orphanages and schools, and providespockets of security in Somalia. AIAI strength is estimatedat some 2,000 members, plus additional reserve militias.The AIAI operates primarily in Somalia, with limitedpresence in Ethiopia and Kenya. AIAI has received fundsfrom Middle East financiers, Western diaspora remittances,weapons deliveries from Sudan, and—prior to OperationEnduring Freedom—conducted training in Afghanistanwith ties to al-Qaeda (also spelled al-Qaida).❚ FURTHER READING:ELECTRONIC:CDI (Center for Defense Information), Terrorism Project.CDI Fact Sheet: Current List of Designated Foreign TerroristOrganizations. March 27, 2003. (April 17, 2003).Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook, 2002. (April 16, 2003).Taylor, Francis X. U.S. Department of State. “Patterns ofGlobal Terrorism 2001,” Annual Report: On the recordbriefing. May 21, 2002 (April 17,2003).U.S. Department of State. Annual reports. (April 16, 2003).SEE ALSOTerrorism, Philosophical and Ideological Origins24 Encyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Security