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GEOSTRATEGY-DIRECT INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
Al-Qaida commander describes new tactics
In interview says terrorist group moving to guerrilla warfare phase

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Posted: July 17, 2002
5:00 p.m. Eastern


©2002 WorldNetDaily.com


An al-Qaida field commander says the terrorist group has moved to the next
phase of its war, using guerrilla tactics.

"We are trying to develop the fronts, where fighting was marked by skirmishes,"
said commander Abu-al-Layth al-Libi in a July 10 telephone interview with an
Arabic language website linked to Islamic Jihad.

"We are now developing the fronts along all lines to make it a large-scale war
– the war of ambushes, assassinations and operations that take place in the
most unexpected places for the enemy, al-Libi said. "We are succeeding in that,
thanks to God's graces and the cohesion, affiliation, solidarity of the
Mujahedin, both Arab and Afghan."

"What we see is full cohesion," he stated. "We have succeeded in establishing
bases behind the enemy and inside its collapsing fortresses. Thank God also we
have succeeded in reaching the phase of destroying bases and ammunition dumps
and carrying out combat operations and assassinations. We have managed to carry
out successful operations, praise be God. We ask God Almighty to bless our new
operations, guide our shooting, straighten our opinions, and consolidate our
steadfastness. For he is Omnipotent."

Al-Libi said the group has been "greatly hurt" by the Pakistani government and
"let down" by Pakistan's ISI intelligence service.

Al Libi said the group is communicating through a website known as the Islamic
Emirate website, as well as the Al Neda website, which was closed down by U.S.
authorities.

"We primarily and essentially use the Emirate website," he said. "But, when we
were told about Al Neda, we will not spare any effort or withhold anything that
we can offer to this website."

Al-Libi also noted that the Taliban is willing to work with pro-Iranian warlord
Gulbaddin Hekmatyar, who was expelled from Iran several months ago and is now
organizing in northern Afghanistan against the current pro-U.S. government.

"Taliban would do well to deal with and coordinate with him," he said. "But, if
he went against the legitimate government of Taliban or tried to pursue
policies that are not acceptable under the shari'a [Islamic law], his situation
would be the same as in the past. This is what the Taliban themselves said. We
pray to God that Taliban and Hekmatyar have benefited from the previous phase
and that Hekmatyar has become convinced that Islam is the solution. Taliban
also knows that it has no other choice but to unify efforts and ranks, as the
cause is bigger than everything else."

Hekmatyar has specialists in military affairs that are needed for the
Taliban’s guerrilla war, he said.



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