As-Sahab

As-Sahab Media
Founded	2001; 23 years ago
Headquarters	Afghanistan, Pakistan
Official language	Arabic; English
Leader	Abd al-Rahman al-Maghribi
Affiliations	Al-Qaeda

As-Sahab Media (Arabic: السحاب, "The Cloud") is the official media wing of Al-Qaeda's core leadership based in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It produces media featuring original sermons and speeches by senior Al-Qaeda commanders as well as footage of international operations carried out by Al-Qaeda.^[1] In addition to being released in Arabic, some published videos come with English subtitles.

As-Sahab produces "documentary-quality" videos and its first production under the name is believed to have been in 2001 with the involvement of Adam Yahiye Gadahn.^[2]^[3]

Regional subchannels

As-Sahab's subchannels are divided into their respective geographical regions and prominent Al-Qaeda groups of the regions, these channels feature region specific footage and feature speeches from their own individual leaders.^[4]

Az-Zallaqa Media, Nusrat al-Islam in West Africa

Al-Andalus Media, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Al-Malahem Media (lit. 'The Battle/War'), Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Al-Kataib Media (lit. 'The Battalions'), Al-Shabaab in East Africa

Production

The organization uses modern technology to produce its videos. The release of the "5 Years After Tribute [Manhattan Raid]" video demonstrated a new standard comparing favorably with the production quality obtained by major television networks. Video and audio are (depending on the source material, some of which is dated) usually crisp, and subtitles are by and large free of grammatical and spelling errors and sometimes even explain Islam-specific concepts.^[5]

In 2005 a CBC program was released, called, Media Jihad - As-Sahab Foundation, which traces the origins of As-Sahab.^[5]

Method of delivery

Previously, Al-Qaeda was known to deliver its videos and audio via a dead drop method using couriers carrying disks or drives. However, the method of delivery was changed in January 2006 after an airstrike on an Al-Qaeda meeting near Damadola, Pakistan. As-Sahab now releases its media on the web.^[6]

Filmography

Knowledge Is for Acting Upon: The Manhattan Raid (2006); a 97 minute video describing the motivations of the September 11 attacks^[5]^{[unreliable source?]}
America Burns (2021); a 14 minute video about American decline^[6]

References

^ Kohlman, Evan (2009). "Prominent Jihad Media Organizations in Central Asia" (PDF). CIA | NEFA Foundation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-04-08.
^ Kohlmann, Evan (May 18, 2008). "Where's the beef? Mystery grows surrounding whereabouts of Adam Gadahn". Counterterrorism Blog. Archived from the original on October 13, 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
^ Whitlock, Craig (2008-06-24). "Al-Qaeda's Growing Online Offensive". Washington Post.
^ Joscelyn, Thomas (September 11, 2019). "Ayman al-Zawahiri defends 9/11 hijackings in anniversary address". Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 2019-09-14.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Media Jihad - As Sahab Foundation". Islamic Awakening Forums. vBulletin Solutions, Inc. 18 May 2008. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
^ ^a ^b Video From Al-Qaeda's Al-Sahab Media Wing Asserts U.S. Is Headed For Civil War As A Result Of COVID-19, Collapsing Economy, January 6 Riot, Black Lives Matter Protests And Civil Unrest; Encourages Trump Supporters To Read Al-Qaeda's 'Inspire' Magazine, Suggests Biden May Be Assassinated: 'The Drumbeats Of Impending Civil War Can Clearly Be Heard'. MEMRI.

External links

[1] Kohlman, Evan (2009). "Prominent Jihad Media Organizations in Central Asia" (PDF). CIA | NEFA Foundation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-04-08.

[Kohlmann-2] Kohlmann, Evan (May 18, 2008). "Where's the beef? Mystery grows surrounding whereabouts of Adam Gadahn". Counterterrorism Blog. Archived from the original on October 13, 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2012.

[Whitlock-3] Whitlock, Craig (2008-06-24). "Al-Qaeda's Growing Online Offensive". Washington Post.

[4] Joscelyn, Thomas (September 11, 2019). "Ayman al-Zawahiri defends 9/11 hijackings in anniversary address". Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 2019-09-14.

[ia-5] "Media Jihad - As Sahab Foundation". Islamic Awakening Forums. vBulletin Solutions, Inc. 18 May 2008. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2015.

[mm-6] Video From Al-Qaeda's Al-Sahab Media Wing Asserts U.S. Is Headed For Civil War As A Result Of COVID-19, Collapsing Economy, January 6 Riot, Black Lives Matter Protests And Civil Unrest; Encourages Trump Supporters To Read Al-Qaeda's 'Inspire' Magazine, Suggests Biden May Be Assassinated: 'The Drumbeats Of Impending Civil War Can Clearly Be Heard'. MEMRI.

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