Counterterrorism Research Library Iraq A Rift Between the Islamic Army of Iraq and Al-Qaida
A Rift Between the Islamic Army of Iraq and Al-Qaida
Last Updated (Monday, 29 November 1999 19:00) Written by Evan Kohlmann Wednesday, 11 April 2007 19:00
On April 5, the Islamic Army of Iraq (IAI) issued a new statement responding to recent accusations made by Al-Qaida's "Islamic State of Iraq" and its leader Abu Omar al-Baghdadi. In the communiqué, the IAI vigorously denied these charges (including its would-be links to the Iraqi Baath party) and instead countered with its own set of allegations against Al-Qaida--including that Al-Qaida is responsible for killing more than 30 IAI fighters in needless fratricidal violence, and that Al-Qaida was behind the assassination of 1920 Revolution Brigades leader Harith Tahir al-Dari. The IAI went on to appeal directly to Al-Qaida leader Usama Bin Laden to intervene in the situation and "correct the path" of Al-Qaida's forces in Iraq. While it is possible that Al-Qaida may be losing appeal among Sunni insurgents, it is more likely that this new letter may signal a major split within the IAI itself, dividing the group into corresponding Sunni nationalist and pro-Al-Qaida sub-factions.
