The Salahaldin Al-Ayoubi Brigades, the military wing of the insurgent group Islamic Front of the Iraqi Resistance, released a video on January 10, 2007, of what it claims to be an attack on an American base near the Iraqi city of Samarra. The video has footage of rockets supposedly carrying “a chemical substance.” [1] While this video is another in a long line of such videos used to buoy insurgent groups, it is significant because it features a supposed chemical weapons substance.

The Salahaldin Al-Ayoubi Brigades emerged in late 2004 with the release of their first communiqué. The Brigades take their name from Salah al-Din, the Muslim general who expelled the Crusaders from Jerusalem in 1187. While it is an Islamist group, it is believed that the organization is not affiliated with al-Qaeda in Iraq, because in the past it has criticized the latter for its attacks against the Iraqi Shi’a. Nevertheless, the group often posts materials on trusted websites, some of which do incite violence against the Shi’a. [2]

The video opens in a room with men wearing gas masks preparing four missiles leaning against a wall. The camera moves to a scene showing a black viscous liquid being slowly poured into one of the missiles, whereupon the top of the missile is tightened with a wrench. Two of the four missiles are then launched from a field; however, footage of the missiles hitting their intended target is not shown and U.S. forces have not verified that such an attack occurred. During the video, a voice-over makes the following statement: “Your brothers in the Salahaldin Al-Ayoubi Brigades placed chemical weapons in four missiles and shelled an American base. It was a direct hit. That was in Samarra.” The type of chemical substance used in the attack is not specified.

Insurgents groups in Iraq prefer to have regional satellite channels broadcast their videos. When these channels refuse, insurgent groups often utilize the Internet to deliver footage of their attacks. The footage serves as a form of advertising, with the particular group’s logo displayed prominently on the upper corner of the user’s computer screen. Groups like the Brigades have maintained their own websites. However, the sites are often shut down, so the groups also deliver their videos to websites that are sympathetic to their cause.

Only two groups have previously claimed to have carried out chemical attacks against American and Coalition Forces: al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic Army in Iraq, both rivals to the Brigades. Their claims were made in 2005. [3] The Brigades’ announcement and video are significant when placed within the context of the communication strategies of the Iraqi insurgency. Such videos are designed to sustain morale among those fighting in the insurgency, in addition to inspiring their sympathizers. [4] The Brigades have released numerous videos in the past, usually recording their attacks against U.S. forces, particularly against military vehicles or aircraft. Out of numerous videos and close to 80 written communiqués released by the Brigades, the latest announcement and video are the first to highlight the group’s use of chemical weapons. [5] While the attack has not been verified, the effort made by the Brigades to document and demonstrate that they have deployed chemical weapons is in itself an indication that the group will continue to seek to acquire these types of munitions in the future.

Ibrahim Al-Marashi - Koc University