The 055 Brigade () was a guerrilla organization loyal to Osama bin Laden that was sponsored and trained by al-Qaeda, and was integrated into the Taliban between 1996 and 2001.

Composition and role

The unit consisted mostly of foreign guerrilla fighters (mujahideen) from the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, North Caucasus, and the Balkans who had some form of combat experience, either fighting the Soviet invasion during the 1980s or elsewhere.

They were equipped with weapons left behind by the Soviets, as well as those provided by the Sudanese and Taliban governments. The Brigade was also the beneficiary of al-Qaeda's worldwide network of procurement officers who obtained sophisticated equipment including satellite phones, night vision goggles, and even airplanes. Reports from Time magazine indicate that members of the 055 Brigade were often deployed in smaller groups to help reinforce regular Afghan members of the Taliban. This was often achieved via threats or intimidation designed to enforce discipline and a commitment to the mujahedin philosophy. About 100 members served as bin Laden's personal security detail.

Before the September 11 attacks and the subsequent United States invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, it had been based and trained at Rish Khor camp outside Kabul. They had no heavy artillery or heavy weapons, and it was believed to be equipped with sophisticated western communications equipment and night vision goggles. Some military sources said they had a collection of small mobile units which has been used to back up Taliban fighters on the frontlines of the civil war. The group was not organised along traditional army structures and borrowed brigade names from the former Afghan army. JTF-GTMO analysts said that, under bin Laden's command, the 055 Brigade was integrated into the Taliban's military. Abdul Hadi al-Iraqi was asserted to be in direct operational control. Mustafa Mohamed Fadhil was his second-in-command.

A Summary of Evidence memo prepared for Guantanamo captive Said Ibrahim Ramzi Al Zahrani's first annual Administrative Review Board, on 14 October 2005 stated, "The al Qaida Force, or 055 Brigade, is Osama bin Laden's primary formation supporting Taliban objectives. Information indicates that the ideology of those in the 055 Brigade includes willingness to give their lives for tactical objectives as declared by Osama bin Laden and the Taliban."

History

The 055 Brigade was founded by Bin Laden in Afghanistan in 1996. The force had close contacts with militant groups fighting against Indian security forces in Kashmir and with Islamist organisations trying to foment a revolt in Central Asia, particularly the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. There were rumours in the weeks before the September 11 attacks that Juma Namangani, had been appointed as one of the top commanders in the 055 brigade.

According to the Long War Journal, the 055 Brigade had been reestablished as part of the Taliban's Lashkar al Zil or 'Shadow Army.'

See also

  • Afghan Arabs
  • Mujahideen in Chechnya

Yugoslav wars:

  • Bosnian mujahideen

References

Further reading

  • Secrets of Brigade 055 – Time magazine
  • The elite force who are ready to die – The Guardian