Terrorism in the United Arab Emirates

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Terrorism in the United Arab Emirates describes the terrorist attacks in the United Arab Emirates, as well as steps taken by the Emirati government to counter the threat of terrorism. Although terrorist attacks are rare, the UAE has been listed as a place used by investors to raise funds to support militants in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the financing of the September 11 attacks. [1] [2] Businesses based in the UAE have been implicated in the funding of the Taliban and the Haqqani network. [3] In the 72nd session of the UN General assembly in New York, UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed the United Arab Emirates policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism financing. [4]

Contents

The United Arab Emirates Armed Forces plays an active role in US-led War on Terrorism and have been nicknamed by US defense secretary James Mattis and other United States Armed Forces Generals as "Little Sparta" for being the United States' right-hand ally on War on Terrorism, and for conducting operations effectively against terrorists in the Middle East. [5]

The Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates, following the implementation of the UAE Federal Law No. 7 in November 2014, designated a list of 83 organizations and entities including the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Hezbollah, Houthis and the Islamic State as terrorist organizations. [6]

History

Al Qaeda

The 9/11 Commission Report states that several 9/11 hijackers traveled to the United States via transiting first in Dubai International Airport. 17 of the 19 hijackers transited through the UAE in the months immediately preceding the 9/11 attacks. The Library of Congress, Research Division in its 2007 report stated, “Dubai is strongly linked to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States; more than half of the hijackers flew directly out of Dubai International Airport to the United States". No official connection to state-sponsored terrorism was found between the United Arab Emirates government to the terrorists. [7] [8] The report also indicates that the hijackers received funding from terror investors in the UAE who raised funds through their UAE based business. [9]

According to the 9/11 Commission Report, in response to concerns that the UAE banking system has been used by 9/11 hijackers to launder funds, the UAE adopted legislation giving the Central Bank in 2002 the power to freeze any suspected accounts for 7 days without prior legal permission. The report stated "banks have been advised to carefully monitor transactions passing through the UAE from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan and are now subject to more stringent transaction and client reporting requirements." [10]

Unnamed sceptics in Washington raised concerns that the United Arab Emirates might be associating with Osama bin Laden, citing a missed opportunity for a drone strike in 1999 mentioned in the 9/11 Commission Report which was abandoned due to being located in a UAE run hunting camp in Afghanistan. However, no evidence or proof apart from speculations was presented. [11] According to the CIA in the 9/11 Commission Report, the strike was called off because the intelligence was dubious. [12]

In November 2002, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind of the bombing of USS Cole and head of Al Qaeda in the Persian Gulf, was captured in the United Arab Emirates by Emirati authorities. [13] [14]

The family of the late FBI counter-terrorism chief John P. O’Neill, who was killed in the September 11 attacks, filed a lawsuit against Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), a UAE based bank, implicating the bank that it was directly involved in the funding of the 9/11 hijackers. [15] [16] A total of 8 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Dubai Islamic Bank. 2 of the plaintiffs have since withdrawn their lawsuits. In 2016, 5 additional lawsuits were filed in concordance with Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA); however, all five lawsuits have been dismissed in 2017. According to Dubai Islamic bank, no provision has been made with any outstanding 9/11 legal proceedings as professional advice indicates that it is unlikely that any significant or material costs or loss, other than legal costs in connection with the defence, are expected to be incurred. DIB expects a complete dismissal from any lawsuits because the evidence uncovered would not permit a fact finder to hold DIB liable for damages and argues that unsubstantiated claims harms its reputation. [17]

A British petroleum engineer who was held as a hostage while working in Yemen was extracted in 2015 by the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces after a military intelligence operation. The hostage was held by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen for 18 months. [18]

A Washington Post op-ed by Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE ambassador to the US, indicated that more than 2,000 militants have been removed from Yemen, with their controlled areas now having improved security and a better delivered humanitarian and development assistance such as to the port city of Mukalla and other liberated areas. [19] US defense secretary James Mattis called US-UAE joint counter-terrorism operations against Al Qaeda in Yemen a model for American troops, citing how the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces liberated the port of Mukalla in April 2016 from AQAP forces in 36 hours after being held by AQAP for more than a year. [20] In 2018, a report by the Associated Press suggested that the United Arab Emirates, as part of Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, may have brokered deals with Al-Qaeda militants in Yemen, and have recruited them to fight against the Houthis. [21] UAE Brigadier General Musallam Al Rashidi responded to the report by stating that Al Qaeda cannot be reasoned within the first place and argued that he has men who have been killed by Al Qaeda, he said “They are not willing to negotiate, most of these hard-core guys. They are willing to go and fight. We have guys who have been injured, killed by AQAP and there’s no point in negotiating with these guys.” [22] The notion of the UAE recruiting or paying AQAP has been thoroughly denied by the United States Pentagon with Colonel Robert Manning, spokesperson of the Pentagon, calling the news source "patently false". [23]

Lashkar-e-Taiba

Investors based in the UAE are implicated for providing financial aid to the Lashkar-e-Taiba. [24] In 2008, the United Nations Committee conducted an investigation of the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Tayibba (LeT) which found them to be associated with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The investigation found that UAE-based banks cleared financial transactions from UAE-based investors which were then used to fund the terrorist organization. [25] [26]

Murder of Ibolya Ryan

On 1 December 2014, a lone wolf terrorist attack committed by a woman wearing black gloves and a veiled niqab included the murdering of Hungarian-American kindergarten teacher in Abu Dhabi and a failed attempt to plant a home-made bomb at the home of an Arab–American physician. The Hungarian-American teacher, Ibolya Ryan, was stabbed to death by the perpetrator. The stabbing, which took place in Boutik Mall, an Abu Dhabi shopping mall located on Al Reem Island was caught on tape in a routine surveillance video. [27]

The Emirates have classified the murder as a lone wolf terrorist attack inspired by terrorist ideology acquired online. [28] [29] [30]

Haqqani Network

The Haqqani network, the militant partners of the Afghan Taliban, has received significant funding from UAE-based businesses. In January 2009, the US intelligence sources stated that two of Taliban's senior fundraisers travelled regularly to the UAE where the Haqqani networks and Taliban laundered money via local front companies. [31] [32]

Taliban

The United Arab Emirates is the only Arab country to serve and contribute forces alongside American Green Beret Special Forces to the mission in Afghanistan. [33] On July 31, 2017, a New York Times correspondent published an article reportedly based on the information gathered from the leaked emails of the UAE Ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, stating that in June 2013, both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates competed with each to host a Taliban embassy. [34] In response to the article, ambassador Otaiba wrote an open letter to the New York Times on August 9, 2017, claiming that the previously issued article carried half information and as a result, told the half story. Ambassador Otaiba commented on the allegation by arguing that the decision to host the Taliban embassy was requested from the US and the UAE offer was made due to being pressured by the US. The ambassador added that the UAE had presented three conditions to the group and the refusal to accept has led the Gulf nation to withdraw its offer to host them. The three conditions state that "Taliban must denounce Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, recognize the Afghan constitution, and renounce all violence and lay down their weapons. The Taliban refused all three conditions, and the UAE withdrew its offer." [35]

Measures against state sponsored terrorism

Lebanon

The UAE advises its citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon because of safety and security concerns due to the increasing influence of Hezbollah across the Lebanese government. [36]

Qatar

In June 2017, the UAE alongside Bahrain, Egypt, the Maldives, Mauritania, Senegal, Djibouti, the Comoros, Jordan, the Tobruk-based Libyan government, and the Hadi-led Yemeni government severed diplomatic relations with Qatar due to allegations of Qatar being a state sponsor of terrorism, citing sources which implicated that Qatar paid $700 million to Iranian-backed Shi'a militias in Iraq, $120–140 million to Tahrir al-Sham, and $80 million to Ahrar al-Sham. [37]

The UAE, alongside Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Bahrain moved to implement sanction on Qatar by boycotting and banning air travel, shipping, media, finance, and energy between the two countries unless Qatar complies with a list of 13 demands imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain. [38] Qatar has denied the accusations put forth by the four countries. [39]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Qaeda</span> Pan-Islamic Sunni Jihadist terrorist organization (established 1988)

Al-Qaeda is a pan-Islamist militant organization led by Sunni Jihadists who self-identify as a vanguard spearheading a global Islamist revolution to unite the Muslim world under a supra-national Islamic caliphate. Its membership is mostly composed of Arabs, but also includes people from other ethnic groups. Al-Qaeda has mounted attacks on civilian, economic and military targets of the US and its allies; such as the 1998 US embassy bombings, the USS Cole bombing and the September 11 attacks. The organization is designated as a terrorist group by NATO, the UN Security Council, the European Union, and various countries around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Arab Emirates Armed Forces</span> Military of the United Arab Emirates

The 'United Arab Emirates Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates. They are also occasionally referred to as "Little Sparta", a nickname that was given by former United States Marine Corps General and Secretary of Defense James Mattis, due to their active and effective military role and power projection in the surrounding region compared to their relative size.

State-sponsored terrorism is terrorist violence carried out with the active support of national governments provided to violent non-state actors. States can sponsor terrorist groups in several ways, including but not limited to funding terrorist organizations, providing training, supplying weapons, providing other logistical and intelligence assistance, and hosting groups within their borders. Because of the pejorative nature of the word, the identification of particular examples are often subject to political dispute and different definitions of terrorism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fayez Banihammad</span> Emirati terrorist and 9/11 hijacker (1977–2001)

Fayez Rashid Ahmed Hassan al-Qadi Banihammad, commonly known as Fayez Banihammad, was an Emirati terrorist who was one of five hijackers of United Airlines Flight 175, which crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center as part of the September 11 attacks in 2001.

The following is a list of attacks which have been carried out by Al-Qaeda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula</span> Sunni Islamist militant organization

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, abbreviated as AQAP, also known as Ansar al-Sharia in Yemen, is a Sunni Islamist insurgent extremist group, which is part of the al-Qaeda network and primarily active in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It is considered the most active of al-Qaeda's branches that emerged after the weakening of central leadership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Arab Emirates–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

The United Arab Emirates has quite a close and friendly relationship with the US, being described as the United States' best counter-terrorism ally in the Gulf by Richard A. Clarke, the U.S. national security advisor and counter-terrorism expert. In terms of defense, the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces has been nicknamed "Little Sparta" by United States Armed Forces generals and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis for its active role against extremists in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates also hosts the only United States border preclearance in the Middle East. Both countries are members of the I2U2 Group, which was established in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen</span> Ongoing conflict

The Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen is an ongoing armed conflict between the Yemeni government, the United States and their allies, and al-Qaeda-affiliated cells in Yemen. It is a part of the Global War on Terror.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

Afghanistan–United Arab Emirates relations refers to the bilateral relations between Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In December 2022, Afghan Defense Minister Mullah Yaqoob along with Anas Haqqani made an official visit to the UAE. There he met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi Arabia–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ansar al-Sharia (Yemen)</span> Militant Khawarij organization in Yemen

Jama'at Ansar al-Shari'a, also known as Ansar al-Shari'a, is a Yemen-based umbrella organization which includes units from several militant Islamic groups of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). In 2011, AQAP created Ansar Al-Sharia as a Yemen-based affiliate focused on waging an insurgency rather than international attacks on the West. In the view of the International Crisis Group, AQAP is "an internally diverse organisation with varying layers of support among the local population" and many AAS members and allies are not committed to AQAP's international agenda.

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Abd al-Wahhab Muhammad Abd al-Rahman al-Humayqani is a Yemeni politician. He is the Secretary General of the Al-Rashad Union, the first Yemeni Salafi political party established in March 2012. He is also a founding member of Alkarama, a Swiss-based independent human rights NGO with alleged links to terrorist organizations. He was one of only two Yemeni party leaders to participate in UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva in 2015 in an attempt to find a peaceful solution to the Yemeni civil war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International propagation of Salafism</span>

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The Qatar diplomatic crisis was a high-profile incident involving the deterioration of ties between Qatar and the Arab League between 2017 and 2021. It began when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt simultaneously severed their bilateral relations with Qatar and subsequently banned Qatar-registered aircraft and Qatari ships from utilizing their sovereign territory by air, land, and sea; this involved the Saudis' closure of Qatar's only land crossing, initiating a de facto blockade of the country. Tensions between the two sides came to a close in January 2021, following a resolution between the Saudis and the Qataris.

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References

  1. ↑ Walsh, Declan (December 5, 2010). "WikiLeaks cables portray Saudi Arabia as a cash machine for terrorists". The Guardian . London. Archived from the original on December 15, 2016.
  2. ↑ "WikiLeaks cables portray Saudi Arabia as a cash machine for terrorists". The Guardian. December 5, 2010.
  3. ↑ "US embassy cables: Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network using United Arab Emirates as funding base". The Guardian . December 5, 2010.
  4. ↑ "UAE calls for zero tolerance for all those who support terrorism financing". United Nations . Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "In the UAE, the United States has a quiet, potent ally nicknamed 'Little Sparta'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "List of groups designated terrorist organisations by the UAE". The National . UAE. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  7. ↑ "Country Reports on Terrorism 2017" (PDF). United States Department of State. September 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-19.
  8. ↑ "The United Arab Emirates and the 'war against terrorism'". United Kingdom Parliament. 2 July 2006.
  9. ↑ "UAE: Financial and Transit Hub of 9/11 Terror". Huffington Post . September 14, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Country Profile: United Arab Emirates (UAE)" (PDF). Library of Congress, Federal Research Division. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  11. ↑ 9/11 report cited possible bin Laden, U.A.E. ties
  12. ↑ "9/11 Commission Report" (PDF). USA: 9/11 Commission. p. 138.
  13. ↑ "U.S.: Top al Qaeda operative arrested". CNN. November 22, 2002. Archived from the original on August 26, 2006.
  14. ↑ "Alleged USS Cole Plotter is Still Fighting to See Records of His CIA Torture". 4 December 2019.
  15. ↑ "'Terror' Banks Targeted in 9/11 Suit". New York Post . May 16, 2005.
  16. ↑ "UAE warned US it could end intelligence cooperation over 9/11 victims claims". Daily Telegraph . June 21, 2017.
  17. ↑ "DIB TIER 1 SUKUK (3) Ltd". Dubai Islamic Bank. 21 January 2019.
  18. ↑ The Independent (25 August 2015). "Bob Semple British Hostage Free After 18 months in Yemen Delighted and Relieved to be Home".
  19. ↑ "The Arab coalition is making progress against extremists in Yemen". The Washington Post. 12 September 2018.
  20. ↑ "US-UAE counter-terrorism operations on the rise in Yemen". The National . UAE. 15 March 2018.
  21. ↑ "AP Investigation: US allies, al-Qaida battle rebels in Yemen". Associated Press. August 7, 2018.
  22. ↑ "UAE responds to AP report on deals with al-Qaida in Yemen". Associated Press. 13 August 2018.
  23. ↑ "Pentagon denies reports of U.S. allies bribing, recruiting al Qaeda fighters in Yemen". Washington Times. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  24. ↑ "US embassy cables: Hillary Clinton says Saudi Arabia 'a critical source of terrorist funding". The Guardian . December 30, 2009.
  25. ↑ "Pak banks sent funds to UAE to finance 9/11, 26/11 attacks". The Business Standard. June 27, 2017.
  26. ↑ "REVEALED: 9/11 families could sue UAE for alleged role in attacks". Middle East Eye. July 14, 2017.
  27. ↑ Vinograd, Cassandra (3 December 2014). "U.S. Teacher Ibolya Ryan Fatally Stabbed in Abu Dhabi Shopping Mall". NBC . Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  28. ↑ Fitch, Asa (7 December 2014). "U.A.E. Classifies Killing of U.S. Teacher 'Personal Terrorist Act' Suspect in Ibolya Ryan's Stabbing Was Looking for 'Anyone Who Looks Foreign,' Security Official Says". Wall Street Journal.
  29. ↑ "Abu Dhabi stabbing suspect inspired by 'terrorist ideology' found on the internet". The Guardian. Reuters. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  30. ↑ Batrawy, Aya (8 December 2014). "UAE: Stabbing of US teacher a 'lone terrorist act'". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  31. ↑ "WikiLeaks cables portray Saudi Arabia as a cash machine for terrorists". The Guardian. Jul 15, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Haqqani Leaders Detained in Persian Gulf, Not Inside Afghanistan". The Wall Street Journal . October 19, 2014.
  33. ↑ "UAE Special Forces continue participation with ISAF mission in Afghanistan". UAE Embassy in Washington.
  34. ↑ "Persian Gulf Rivals Competed to Host Taliban, Leaked Emails Show". The New York Times . Jul 31, 2017.
  35. ↑ "The United Arab Emirates and the Taliban". The New York Times. Aug 9, 2017.
  36. ↑ "UAE advises citizens not to travel to Lebanon". Gulf News. Retrieved 2018-09-23.
  37. ↑ Erika Solomon, The $1bn hostage deal that enraged Qatar’s Gulf rivals: Doha reportedly paid al-Qaeda affiliate and Iran to win release of royal hunting party Archived 5 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine , Financial Times (5 June 2017).
  38. ↑ "It's a boycott, not a blockade". Gulf News. June 14, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Qatar refutes Saudi, UAE allegations of supporting 'terrorism'". Al Jazeera. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
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