New AFRICOM recording of strikes on Islamic State West Africa Province militants has just been released, with three IS jihadists seen bombed yesterday. Unspecified location in NE of Nigeria. #Nigeria

AFRICOM releases a recording of the operation to kill Mainuki and other unspecified Islamic State commanders.The location seems to have been Lake Chad, we will likely know more in several days. The op itself included drones/helicopters,and a likely ground component too. #Nigeria

An hour ago, Trump announced the killing of "Abu Bilal al-Minuki", who he said was hiding in Africa, as a second in global Islamic State command, in an operation conducted by US and Nigeria forces. Since early 2025, the most important assassination of an IS global operative. 🧵

An hour ago, Trump announced the killing of "Abu Bilal al-Minuki", who he said was hiding in Africa, as a second in global Islamic State command, in an operation conducted by US and Nigeria forces. Since early 2025, the most important assassination of an IS global operative. 🧵

Slowly gathering my wits to record that video on the Sahel, with main discussion being April 25 and Kidal's seizure consequences, but as it's usual, it will go way beyond that since I like to talk. So, if anyone wants to know something, ask questions below, will try to answer

Exclusive: Saudi Arabia launched covert attacks on Iran as regional war widened, sources say www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

Two months later - Wall Street Journal publishes a report on, indeed, Israeli Special Forces in Iraq,and their forward base there for ops in Iran. At some points, a shepperd discovered it by accident and the base was defended by airstrikes before approaching Iraqi forces. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Answered a few questions regarding Mali for L'opinion. JNIM and FLA plans, differences, war on Mali and beyond, Islamic State. www.lopinion.fr/internationa...

Tuaregs enter Tessalit, after another Russian withdrawal from a key base location. A week after, the situation remains volatile, JNIM/FLA consolidated their gans. Eyes on Timbuktu. Blockade around Bamako. Russians stay. War continues in Burkina Faso and Niger. Thread tommorow.

According to Reuters, the Islamic State entered Menaka. Not clear in what exact capacity and if they intend to seize it permanently. But ISGS is inside. And that's already the biggest Islamic State success for many years. The have been besieging the city for 3 years. www.reuters.com/world/mali-m...

Islamic State is finally visible on the map, quickly moving between JNIM and FAMA/Russia agreements. Not much info for now, but there was simply no way they would stay put while their all rivals shuffle territory. And it seems, Tessalit/Labbezanga is where IS appeared.

It's clear that there are tensions in Bamako big enough for some clashes to appear, amid arrests and counter arrests of faction. Not clear the exact picture, there likely isn't a coup happening (for now), but... JNIM and FLA caused a complete and glaringly obv in Bamako mayhem.

I am trying to not go out of my way to declare something, but it seems that yesterday + Kidal's and now rumored other towns nearby with Russian withdrawal, may have hit junta way harder than anyone expected. Psychological damage is enormous and it makes people panic.We will see.

If you like reading consider a coffee or two. Not going the best, anything sent is a huge help. People that know me from the Devil app know the circumstances. ko-fi.com/saladinaldro...

The dust largely settled, there are various rumours in place on agreements/deals/political interim government, but it doesn't seem there is much truth in them. Kidal is in JNIM/FLA hands, alongside multiple points in the Kidal province. Tensions today are of different level. 🛢

It seems that Russia is withdrawing from Kidal. A humiliating development. Their push to oust Tuaregs from the city in 2023, and subsequent campaign to reach the border with Algeria, were their main goal for years. Now, in shambles.Another Russian defeat, but scale is different.

The dust largely settled, there are various rumours in place on agreements/deals/political interim government, but it doesn't seem there is much truth in them. Kidal is in JNIM/FLA hands, alongside multiple points in the Kidal province. Tensions today are of different level. 🛢

A friendly reminder to all interested in Mali, but not knowing what happened in Syria in 2024...or ever tbh - It took a few days for a snowball to start rolling from Aleppo to Hama/Homs the rest, and farther. JNIM skips multiple steps, situation is not the same at all.

Unprecedented statement by JNIM has just been released. JNIM claims to have attacked: -the houses of Malian dictator Ghoita, Mali minister of Defense. -Modibo Keita airport in Bamako -Kati base -taken control over Mopti, parts of Gao and Séváre

Huge operations of Tuaregs FLA and Al-Qaeda affiliated JNIM are ongoing in Mali since early morning today, with several positions in Kidal region overrun, Reuters reports of an attack on Mali military base near the capital Bamako. It seems Tuaregs are back inside Kidal. #Mali

A massacre was conducted by gunmen on civilians in Herat city, with dozens of killed and many other wounded. Given how many times it has happened, prime suspect remains ISKP, which is always interested in sparking sectarian tensions, massacring Hazaras.

Trump’s mixed messages and Iran’s bombs kept the Kurds out of the war www.reuters.com/investigatio...

fronts.co/article/iran... New analysis of mine for Fronts "The Implications of Iran's Uneasy Ceasefire

fronts.co/article/iran... New analysis of mine for Fronts "The Implications of Iran's Uneasy Ceasefire

According to Reuters, three people killed and two police officers wounded. Two years ago, Islamic State gunmen attacked a church in Istanbul, where Polish Consul was attending the mass. www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gunfire-heard-near-israeli-consulate-istanbul-reuters-witness-says-2026-04-07/

Israeli consulate in Istanbul has been attacked, with a local Turkish policeman injured in the process of defending the consulate. The consulate had been closed for over a year, perpetrators for now uknown, but given it's Turkey, their affiliation is not easy to determine.

This month that is ending today has been quite a return of mine after many years, and I hope it's for good this time. For the ones interested I will be pinning articles and longer blog posts in this thread from now on, starting with the Foreign Policy article on the Sahel.

This month that is ending today has been quite a return of mine after many years, and I hope it's for good this time. For the ones interested I will be pinning articles and longer blog posts in this thread from now on, starting with the Foreign Policy article on the Sahel.

My debut at Foreign Policy The Islamic State Sahel Threat Is Transnational and expanding. foreignpolicy.com/2026/03/31/i...

It seems that the Balochi insurgents for the second time in a few weeks staged a massive assault across dozens of Pakistani cities, targeting communication towers, railway stations, gas supply lines, taking over highways and establishing checkpoints for a few hours. #Pakistan

"At least 400 people were killed and 250 injured in an air strike by Pakistan on a drug rehabilitation hospital in ​Kabul, a spokesman of the Afghan Taliban government said on Tuesday, a sharp escalation in the conflict between the neighbours" www.reuters.com/world/asia-p...

Pakistan bombing a drug rehabilitation addicts hospital in Kabul is one of those things that are bound to bite Islamabad back. So far the jihadists inside Pakistan have been largely sitting in preparation, but it's inevitable they join once Kabul/Kandahar declare jihad.

Glad to be debuting at Jamestowj New article on Islamic State in Northern Azerbaijan and what does it tell us about IS in Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, Central Asia and more. Especially important today with mayhem in Iran. Open access. jamestown.org/islamic-stat...

One of the most serious attacks of the Islamic State so far this year is the new jihadi assault on a Chinese mine in Ituri region. IS claims to have killed 24 people, taken hostage over a 100 Christians, burnt Chinese equipment, vehicles and residences. #Congo

Glad to be debuting at Jamestowj New article on Islamic State in Northern Azerbaijan and what does it tell us about IS in Caucasus, Iran, Turkey, Central Asia and more. Especially important today with mayhem in Iran. Open access. jamestown.org/islamic-stat...

It's been a very long while, but here is my very first article of this year, debuting at Fronts, depicting possibilities of Iran's terror threat regionally and globally, based on Tehran's history with state sponsored terror. Behind paywall alas. fronts.co/article/the-...

Absolutely unprecedented in scale attack by Tuareg FLA today, with anti-junta rebels claiming to have struck the Gao airport and Malian/Russian forces inside, with 25 suicide drones (!). If true, it would be the biggest drone swarm attack ever in the region. #Mali

In this weird info space the fact that everyone can lose in Iran war is beyond grasping for many. But it is a highly likely possibility. Especially if the regime is reduced to Assad-style mafia enterprise that will be forced to finance itself by flooding the region with crime.

Al-Qaeda forces seem to have succeeded in killing at least six Russian soldiers from Africa Corps contingent in Mali, in an ambush conducted in Segou province, striking another blow to the junta-led efforts to hold JNIM off gaining ground this year. #Mali

Islamic State angle is suspected regarding the attempted bombing of mayor Mamdani's residence in New York. Three explosives were found, two thrown from within a protester crowd, one in a car. One had TATP. #USA

Second assault on a city and an airport in Niger by Islamic State Sahel in barely over a month - this time, IS attacked the Tahoua airport, with clashes happening before dawn. Terrorists attacked both the airport and the city center before withdrawing. #Niger

Iran names Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, as new supreme leader, state media report www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Dla polskiej widowni - mój wkład w temacie wojny w Iranie. Zapraszam po długiej przerwie. youtu.be/HU8Jg2vHudE?...

And, judging from what I woke up to *a bomb under the US embassy in Oslo* that external part was avtivated. Don't underestimate it, they've had massive amount of operatives in Europe, obviously it's going now to bite us back for not dealing with that seriously in recent years.

So *this* is what unwoking rules of engagement means huh. Primitive barbarian high schoolers imposing their Call of Duty sessions against a bloodthirsty pathetic regime.

Especially visible tonight. They, Israel and the US, really want to shatter that state. And I, ever since it all started last weekend think, they are going to succeed. Unleashing absolute domestice and external horrors.

Multiple Nigerian military camps assaulted and destroyed by the Islamic State jihadists in recent days, with ISWAP significantly expanding their operations in Nigeria, killing dozens of soldiers, burning a massive quantity of vehicles and gaining a sizeable ghanima. #Nigeria

Iranian president draws criticism at home for apology earlier today, with political and military figures denouncing him. www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Especially visible tonight. They, Israel and the US, really want to shatter that state. And I, ever since it all started last weekend think, they are going to succeed. Unleashing absolute domestice and external horrors.

Can't muster anything resembling feelings regarding ongoing events. Just a few months ago, hundreds of thousands of people were annihilated live on Instagram in a matter of few weeks, so these cities can get richer and enable more unsatiated greed.