Kataib al-Khoul
Encyclopedia
Kataib al-Khoul also known as the Ossetian Jamaat is a militant Islamist
organization connected to numerous attacks against the local and federal security forces in Russia
n region of North Ossetia-Alania
in the North Caucasus
. Its part of the Caucasian Front
of the Second Chechen War
. Its existence inside a republic which is largely Russian Orthodox
has led to denial of officials who refuse to recognise that an Islamic insurgency group exists in Ossetia, and instead blame the attacks on the Ingush Jamaat
.
Ossetian Jamaat, closely associated with the separatist conflict in nearby Chechnya
, was established by Alan Digorsky better known as Emir
Saad. Its existence was first mentioned in March 2006 after increased insurgency in parts of North-Ossetia. The group announced that it fought in favor of Chechnya's independence and was integrated into the Caucasian Front by the decree of the then President of Ichkeria
, Sheikh Abdul Halim
. Since the proclamation of the Caucasus Emirate
in 2007, Kata’ib al-Khoul has similar goals to other Islamic nationalist insurgent groups in the region, as it seeks to end Russian control of North Ossetia and establish an Ossetian Islamic state
called Iriston.
Kataib al-Khoul claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in North Ossetia. It claimed responsibility for the February 2006 bombing in casino
s and gambling
clubs in the center of Vladikavkaz
, the capital of North Ossetia, which resulted in the closure of all the gambling clubs and casinos in the republic, as well as a number of assassinations and acts of sabotage
, including the May 2006 downing of a military helicopter near Vladikavkaz that resulted in the death of 15 Russian soldiers (among them several high-ranking military officials), the March 2008 assassination of the head of North Ossetia's anti-organized crime unit Mark Metsayev, and the November 2008 assassination of the Mayor
of Vladikavkaz Vitaly Karayev
.
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
organization connected to numerous attacks against the local and federal security forces in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n region of North Ossetia-Alania
North Ossetia-Alania
The Republic of North Ossetia–Alania is a federal subject of Russia . Its population according to the 2010 Census was 712,877.-Name:...
in the North Caucasus
North Caucasus
The North Caucasus is the northern part of the Caucasus region between the Black and Caspian Seas and within European Russia. The term is also used as a synonym for the North Caucasus economic region of Russia....
. Its part of the Caucasian Front
Caucasian Front (Chechen War)
The Caucasian Front also called Caucasus Front or the Caucasian Mujahadeen, was formally established in May 2005 as an Islamic structural unit of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria's armed forces by the decree of the separatist President of Chechnya Abdul-Halim Sadulayev during the Second Chechen...
of the Second Chechen War
Second Chechen War
The Second Chechen War, in a later phase better known as the War in the North Caucasus, was launched by the Russian Federation starting 26 August 1999, in response to the Invasion of Dagestan by the Islamic International Peacekeeping Brigade ....
. Its existence inside a republic which is largely Russian Orthodox
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
has led to denial of officials who refuse to recognise that an Islamic insurgency group exists in Ossetia, and instead blame the attacks on the Ingush Jamaat
Ingush Jamaat
Ingush Jamaat, also known as the Ingush sector of the Caucasian Front, is an Islamist militant organization connected to numerous attacks against the local and federal security forces in the Russian region of Ingushetia and Chechnya in the North Caucasus. In 2005 it became a part of the Caucasian...
.
Ossetian Jamaat, closely associated with the separatist conflict in nearby Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
, was established by Alan Digorsky better known as Emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
Saad. Its existence was first mentioned in March 2006 after increased insurgency in parts of North-Ossetia. The group announced that it fought in favor of Chechnya's independence and was integrated into the Caucasian Front by the decree of the then President of Ichkeria
President of Ichkeria
This is a list of Presidents of the unrecognised Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, a pro-independence movement that controlled most of Chechnya from 1991 to 1999...
, Sheikh Abdul Halim
Sheikh Abdul Halim
Abdul-Halim Salamovich Sadulayev was the fourth President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria...
. Since the proclamation of the Caucasus Emirate
Caucasus Emirate
The Caucasus Emirate also known as the Caucasian Emirate is a self-proclaimed virtual state entity, partially successor to the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and was officially announced on October 31, 2007 by former President of Ichkeria Dokka Umarov, who became the first Emir...
in 2007, Kata’ib al-Khoul has similar goals to other Islamic nationalist insurgent groups in the region, as it seeks to end Russian control of North Ossetia and establish an Ossetian Islamic state
Islamic State
An Islamic state is a type of government, in which the primary basis for government is Islamic religious law...
called Iriston.
Kataib al-Khoul claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in North Ossetia. It claimed responsibility for the February 2006 bombing in casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
clubs in the center of Vladikavkaz
Vladikavkaz
-Notable structures:In Vladikavkaz, there is a guyed TV mast, tall, built in 1961, which has six crossbars with gangways in two levels running from the mast structure to the guys.-Twin towns/sister cities:...
, the capital of North Ossetia, which resulted in the closure of all the gambling clubs and casinos in the republic, as well as a number of assassinations and acts of sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
, including the May 2006 downing of a military helicopter near Vladikavkaz that resulted in the death of 15 Russian soldiers (among them several high-ranking military officials), the March 2008 assassination of the head of North Ossetia's anti-organized crime unit Mark Metsayev, and the November 2008 assassination of the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Vladikavkaz Vitaly Karayev
Vitaly Karayev
Vitaly Sergeyevich Karayev was the mayor of the North Ossetian capital, Vladikavkaz. He was murdered by an unknown gunman on November 26, 2008. He had been in power for less than a year before being murdered...
.