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Islamic State – Caucasus Province

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Islamic State – Caucasus Province
الدولة الإسلامية - ولاية القوقاز (ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah – Wilayah al-Qawqaz)
Вилаят Кавказ Исламского государства (Vilayat Kavkaz Islamskogo gosudarstva)
Leaders
vacant (2021 – present)
Dates of operation23 June 2015 (2015-06-23)[1] – present
Active regionsRussian North Caucasus
Ideology
Part of Islamic State
OpponentsState opponents

Non state opponents

Battles and wars
Flag
Preceded by
Caucasus Emirate (various defecting factions)

The Islamic State – Caucasus Province[note 1] (IS-CP)[1] is a branch of the militant Islamist group Islamic State (IS), that is active in the North Caucasus region of Russia. IS announced the group's formation on 23 June 2015 and appointed Rustam Asildarov as its leader.[2][3] Although it was defeated militarily as an organized force by 2017, some lone wolves still act on behalf of the Islamic State.[4][5]

Background

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Starting in November 2014, mid-level commanders of the Caucasus Emirate militant group began publicly switching their allegiance from Emirate leader Aliaskhab Kebekov to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, following al-Baghdadi and his group's declaration of a caliphate earlier in the year.[6] By February 2015, many commanders of the Emirate's branches in Chechnya (Vilayat Nokhchicho) and Dagestan (Vilayat Dagestan) had defected.[6][7] Kebekov and senior loyalists within the Emirate released statements denouncing them, and accused the most senior defector, Rustam Asildarov, of betrayal.[8][9] Further pledges of allegiance to al-Baghdadi occurred in June 2015 by Vilayat Nokhchicho leader Aslan Byutukayev,[10] and in an audio statement purportedly made by militants in Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and Kabardino-Balkaria.[11]

History in Russia

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On 23 June 2015, IS's spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani accepted these pledges and announced the creation of a new Wilayah, or Province, covering the North Caucasus region. Adnani named Asildarov as the IS leader of this area and called on other militants in the region to follow him.[12][13]

The group claimed responsibility for its first attack, on a Russian military base in southern Dagestan, on 2 September 2015.[14] In a video also released in September, Asildarov called on IS supporters in the Caucasus to join the fight there, rather than travel to Iraq and Syria.[15]

On 4 December 2016, Russian security services reported that they had killed Asildarov and four of his associates in a raid on a house in Makhachkala.[16]

On 18 February 2018, a 22-year-old man opened fire on a church in Kizlyar, killing 5 and injuring 5. The attacker was later killed by security forces and a video later emerged of the attacker pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, while the Islamic State also claimed responsibility.[17]

On 20 August 2018, multiple young militants attacked a police station in Grozny with knives and injured at least 7 police officers. All attackers were killed; the Islamic State claimed responsibility.[18]

In early January 2019, the group claimed responsibility for the 2018 Magnitogorsk building collapse, and an attack the following day. The group said that the building collapse was caused by bombings. The claim was, however, dismissed by some Russian investigators, who said that the cause of the building collapse was most likely a gas leak.[19]

On 25 January 2019, a group of policemen were attacked by a gunman, in the settlement of Sernovodskoye (Kursky district), causing the injuries of two policemen. The policemen fired back, killing the attacker, whose body was later found next to a Kalashnikov in a forest. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack.[20][21]

On 12 April 2019, in an extensive operation involving Alpha Group, local police and Rosgvardia, 2 heavily armed IS militants were killed in the city of Tyumen. These militants were planning to attack the city's public places.[citation needed]

On 23 June 2019, a knife-wielding militant attacked two police officers just outside Ramzan Kadyrov's residence in Grozny. The assailant was then killed by the police. A hunting rifle was reportedly found in his car. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack.[22]

On 2 July 2019, a law enforcement officer was killed and several others injured at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Bamut when a militant managed to attack police officers with a knife and a hand grenade. The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for the attack.[23]

On 21 January 2021, Aslan Byutukayev and five other IS militants were killed in Chechnya.[24]

After 2021, the group's fate is unknown. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the organization became leaderless.

March 2-3 2024 (2024 Karabulak clash), was a deadly stand-off between Russian security services and a cell of Ingush militants affiliated with Islamic State – Caucasus Province.[25]

In April 2024, Vilayat Kavkaz (sector Ingushetia) released an audio message regarding the situation of the group, according to them the group is getting stronger, bigger and more active. The group is trying to choose a leader after 2021.[26]

On 22 April 2024, suspected IS gunmen attacked a Russian police patrol in the town of Karachayevsk in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Karachayevo-Cherkessia, killing 2 police officers and wounding a third, in addition to seizing their service weapons (a pistol and rifle) and some ammunition.[27]

On 28 April 2024, suspected IS gunmen attacked a Russian police post in the village of Mara-Ayagy of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, driving up to the police post before throwing explosives and opening fire, killing 2 police officers and wounding at least 4 others. All of the attackers were allegedly killed during the attack.[28]

History in Georgia

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On 22 November 2017, three suspected militants of IS, were killed in a raid on a flat/apartment in Tblisi, Georgia. The raid killed 3 IS Militants, and arrested one, while SSSG suffered 4 wounded men, and later 1 death in a hospital. According to the Georgian security officials, the group planned to carry out terror attacks against foreign diplomatic missions in Georgia and Turkey.[29]

In May 2022, Tbilisi City Court convicted five individuals who had been arrested in August 2021 for membership in IS and plans to travel to a terrorist camp in Syria. In December, State Security Service of Georgia detained Tsiskara Tokhosashvili, the brother of IS commander Tsezar Tokhosashvili, on charges of joining IS and assisting terrorist activities in Syria and Iraq.[30]

In late 2022, the Georgian State Security Service on Thursday announced the arrest of a member of the Islamic State terrorist organisation at Tbilisi International Airport by its Counter-Terrorism Centre. His younger brother Tsezar Tokhosashvili, known as Al-bara Shishani, was arrested in a joint special operation in Kyiv, Ukraine in November 2019 and was extradited to Georgia the following year. Wanted through an Interpol red notice on terrorism charges, he also joined IS in 2015.[31]

On 6 June 2024, the Georgian State Security Service detained and arrested two militants affiliated with IS along with a cache of weapons in the city of Batumi.[32]

On 20 February 2025, the Security Service of Georgia conducted operations against militants affiliated with IS. As a result RG-42 grenades, F-1 grenades, explosives, detonators, UZRGM fuzes, AK-74 Bakelite magazines and 5.45x39mm ammunition was captured from the raid.[33]

History in Azerbaijan

[edit]

On 2 July 2019, as part of a series of videos showing supporters and fighters of IS around the world renewing their pledge of allegiance to IS, a video was published from Azerbaijan featuring three fighters armed with Kalashnikov style rifles pledging their allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The video was formally released by IS, without explicitly referring it to a Wilayah.[34]

4 months later, after al-Baghdadi's death on 27 October 2019, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi received pledges of allegiance (bayah) from various provinces and regions, with photos of fighters from Azerbaijan pledging allegiance to him, on 29 November.[35]

On 19 September, 2024, the Islamic State claimed its first-ever attack in Azerbaijan, via its weekly Al-Naba newsletter, claiming to have killed 7 Azeri security personnel and wounded 1 in a clash in Qusar district, Northern Azerbaijan, five days prior; one IS militant was killed.[36][37]

Designation as a terrorist organization

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IS-CP was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization by the United States on 29 September 2015; Aslan Byutukaev was listed as a SDGT individual on 13 July 2016.[38]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Arabic: الدولة الإسلامية - ولاية القوقاز, romanized: ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah – Wilayah al-Qawqaz,
    Russian: Вилаят Кавказ Исламского государства, romanized: Vilayat Kavkaz Islamskogo gosudarstva,
    Chechen: Исламан пачхьалкх – Кавказан провинци, romanized: Islaman paçẋalq – Kavkazan provinci,
    Georgian: ისლამური სახელმწიფო - კავკასიის პროვინცია, romanized: islamuri sakhelmts'ipo - k'avk'asiis p'rovintsia,
    Azerbaijani: İslam Dövləti - Qafqaz Vilayəti,
    Armenian: «Իսլամական պետություն» – Կովկասյան նահանգ, romanized: «Islamakan petut’yun» – Kovkasyan nahang

References

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  1. ^ a b "Designations of Foreign Terrorist Fighters". State.gov. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Islamic State moves in on al-Qaeda turf". BBC News. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  3. ^ "ISIS Declares Governorate in Russia's North Caucasus Region". Institute for the Study of War. 23 June 2015. ISIS's spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani declared the creation of a new wilayat, or governorate, in the North Caucasus region of Russia on June 23, 2015. Al-Adnani named 'Abu Mohammad al-Qadari' the leader of the group, and congratulated 'the soldiers of the Islamic State' in the Caucasus.
  4. ^ ""Ликвидация в Дагестане Рустама Асельдерова – крупный успех силовиков"". «Ликвидация в Дагестане Рустама Асельдерова – крупный успех силовиков».
  5. ^ "Лидера боевиков придавило домом". www.kommersant.ru. 5 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Caucasus Emirate and Islamic State Split Slows Militant Activities in North Caucasus". Jamestown. Jamestown Foundation. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  7. ^ Liz Fuller (2 January 2015). "Six North Caucasus Insurgency Commanders Transfer Allegiance To Islamic State". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Dagestani jihadist swears allegiance to Islamic State, invoking backlash". Long War Journal. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  9. ^ "New jihadist leader in Dagestan denounces Islamic State defectors". Long War Journal. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  10. ^ "What Caused the Demise of the Caucasus Emirate?". Jamestown. Jamestown Foundation. 18 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Two North Caucasus Rebel Leaders Face Off in Islamic State–Caucasus Emirate Dispute". Jamestown. The Jamestown Foundation. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015. We testify that all Mujahideen of the Caucasus—in the Velayats of Nokhchiycho [Chechnya], Dagestan, Galgaicho [Ingushetia] and KBK [Kabarda, Balkaria and Karachay]—are united in their decision and we do not have differences among ourselves.
  12. ^ "Islamic State spokesman calls on other factions to 'repent', urges sectarian war". The Long War Journal. 23 June 2015. Baghdadi, the 'Emir of the Faithful', has 'accepted your bayat and has appointed the noble sheikh Abu Muhammad al Qadarī as Wali [or governor] over [the Caucasus]', Adnani says.
  13. ^ "ISIS Declares Governorate in Russia's North Caucasus Region". Institute for the Study of War. 23 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Islamic State's Caucasus 'province' claims first official attack on Russian forces". Long War Journal. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  15. ^ "IS's North Caucasus Affiliate Calls For Recruits To Join It In Daghestan". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 3 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  16. ^ "Russian security service says killed North Caucasus Islamic State 'emir'". AFP. 4 December 2016. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  17. ^ "Russia Dagestan shooting: Five women killed in attack on churchgoers". BBC News. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  18. ^ "Estado Islámico golpea en Rusia". 20 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Deadly Russian Apartment Blast — Reports". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  20. ^ "Установлена личность обстрелявшего полицейских на окраине н.п. Серноводское" (in Russian). bakdar.org. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  21. ^ "IS claims attack on Chechen security forces in Stavropol Krai in Naba 167 'exclusive'". Site Intel Group. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  22. ^ "Islamic State claims attack on Chechen leader's home in Grozny". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  23. ^ "Islamic State claims killing of Chechnya police officer in grenade and knife attack". The DefensePost. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  24. ^ "Кадыров заявил о полной победе над бандподпольем". Kommersant.ru. 20 January 2021.
  25. ^ Wars, Atlas of (8 March 2024). "Russia reveals the aftermath of armed conflict in Ingushetia". Atlas of wars. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  26. ^ "ISIS is trying to activate the "Vilayat Kavkaz"". ecrats.org. 18 April 2024.
  27. ^ "2 Police Officers Killed in Armed Attack in Russia's North Caucasus". The Moscow Times. 22 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Two died, four were in hospital: what is known about the attack on police in Karachay-Cherkessia". 72RU. 29 April 2024.
  29. ^ "4 killed in terror raid".
  30. ^ "Georgia (country) report on Terrorism 2022".
  31. ^ "1 arrested in tblisi airport".
  32. ^ "Georgia raids Batumi".
  33. ^ "Facebook of SSSG".
  34. ^ "New video message from the Islamic State: "And the [Best] Outcome is for the Righteous – Azerbaijan"".
  35. ^ "The Islamic State's Bayat Campaign". jihadology.net. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  36. ^ "Backgrounder on The Islamic State and Jihadism in Azerbaijan". 23 September 2024.
  37. ^ "In First Recorded Fighting Activity in Azerbaijan, IS Reports Clash in Qusar District Inflicting 8 Casualties". SITE. 19 September 2024.
  38. ^ U.S. Department of State. "Designated ISIS Branches and Individuals". Retrieved 23 January 2019.
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