Reconciliation Agreement Between Islamic Army in Iraq and Al-Qaeda in Iraq

On June 6, 2007, the Islamic Army in Iraq posted a communiqué on Islamist websites announcing a sulh (reconciliation) agreement between it and Al-Qaeda in Iraq, after a long period of intensifying clashes between the two organizations. The communiqué explains that "in order to protect the jihad program from disintegrating and in the attempt to spare Muslim blood," the two organizations had reached an agreement calling for a) an immediate halt to all military confrontations and media attacks between the two sides, and b) the establishment of a mutually accepted judicial committee to resolve conflicts between the two sides.

Abu Al-Hassan Rashid Responds to Queries Regarding the Recent Attacks in Algeria

On June 4, 2007, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb posted a 23-page document in which Abu Al-Hassan Rashid, a member in the organization's Shari'a Council, replied to questions addressed to the organization regarding the recent suicide attacks that the organization carried out in Algeria.

The questions, set out in the introduction, pertain to several issues, among them: the issue of killing civilians, the organization's choosing to attack the government rather than U.S./ foreign interests in Algeria, its choosing to employ suicide attacks, and the effect of these attacks on public opinion in Algeria.

Regarding killing civilians, Abu Al-Hassan Rashid points to medieval religious authorities who sanctioned the killing of civilians under the following conditions: when there is absolutely no other way to reach the enemy than by killing civilians, and when refraining from doing so will jeopardize Islam. Abu Al-Hassan proceeds to explain that today, attacking the "apostate" Algerian government is a necessity, since the government insists on placing its well-guarded facilities in the midst of civilians. Thus, there is no other way but to attack those facilities, even though such attacks endanger the lives of civilians.

Regarding suicide attacks, Abu Al-Hassan Rashid cites various medieval and contemporary authorities who endorsed such acts if carrying them out "will greatly benefit Islam," provided that the act is carried out for the sake of martyrdom, that it is triggered by wrongdoing on the part of the enemy, and that it is likely to cause the enemy to fear Muslims.

As for attacking the government instead of U.S. interests, Abu Al-Hassan explains this as a tactical choice, rather than a strategic choice, because the mujahideen are faced with a double obligation to kill "the apostates and... their masters who are spearheads in the announced Crusade."