Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations

Jamaat al-Murabiteen

Not yet designated terrorist by a Western country
Base of operations: Egypt, Libya
Background: Long War Journal
Jihadology Podcast with Mokhtar Awad

Jamaat al-Murabiteen (The Sentinels Group; also calling itself just 'al-Murabitun') is a jihadi group that came to public light in a video in July 2015, led by one Abu Omar al-Muhajir, the alias for Hisham Ashmawi, who defected from the Egyptian army's special forces and was once linked to Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, which became the Islamic State's Sinai Province. The group should not be immediately confused with al-Murabitun in the Sahel area. Ideologically, like the Sahel's al-Murabitun, Jamaat al-Murabiteen appears to identify with al-Qaeda, featuring al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in its video. Thus, Jamaat al-Murabiteen should be seen as a pro-al-Qaeda break-off from Ansar Bait al-Maqdis. At present, Ashmawi himself is based in Libya and wanted by the Islamic State. It is also possible Jamaat al-Murabiteen has cells operating in Egypt.

Jamaat al-Murabiteen Emblem	Jamaat al-Murabiteen: Abu Omar al-Muhajir