Khorasan (Islamist group)
| Khorasan | |
|---|---|
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(Arabic: خراسان) Participant in the Syrian Civil War and the Global War on Terrorism |
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The Shahada flag commonly used by al-Qaeda, the parent organization of Khorasan
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| Active | March 2012 – present |
| Ideology | |
| Leaders |
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| Headquarters |
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| Area of operations |
 Northwestern Syria
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| Strength | 50 |
| Part of |
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| Allies |
 al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (2012–present) Jund al-Aqsa (2014–17)
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| Opponents |
 U.S. Armed Forces European Union Syria Russian Armed Forces
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| Battles and wars | |
Syrian Civil War
Military intervention against ISIL
Khorasan, also known as the Khorasan group, is an alleged group of senior al-Qaeda members operating in Syria. The group is reported to consist of a small number of fighters who are all on terrorist watchlists, and coordinates with al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's official affiliate in Syria. At an intelligence gathering in Washington, D.C. on 18 September 2014, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper stated that "in terms of threat to the homeland, Khorasan may pose as much of a danger as ISIS."
The term first appeared in news media in September 2014, although the United States had reportedly been keeping track of the group for two years. By early November 2014, the term had disappeared from political rhetoric. Commentators have stated that the threat the Khorasan Group represented was exaggerated to generate public support for American intervention in Syria, and some have questioned whether the group even exists as a distinct entity.
On 28 May 2015, al-Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammad al-Golani explicitly denied the existence of the supposed Khorasan group. The al-Nusra Front had received specific orders since at least early 2015 from al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri to cease any activities related to attacking Western targets.
In July 2015, both Muhsin al-Fadhli, said to be the operational leader of the group, and chief bombmaker David Drugeon, were killed by 2 US airstrikes. After their deaths, FBI Director James Comey stated that the Khorasan group had become diminished, and that ISIL was now a bigger threat to the US.
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