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A notable development with the arrest & indictment of an al-Shabaab operative who was getting flight training as part of a plot to strike the United States. A few aspects of the plot to note and outstanding questions 1/8 https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kenyan-national-indicted-conspiring-hijack-aircraft-behalf-al-qaeda-affiliated-terrorist
1) The plot is significant no matter how one looks at it. It was an al-Shabaab effort to strike the US Homeland. The group has certainly targeted US interests in East Africa, but this plot is an expansion in tactics, targets, and intent. 2/8
2) A Kenyan operative is noteworthy, as is the reference to the commander who deployed him being instrumental in the Dusit attack bc the lead planner of that operation was also Kenyan. Traditionally, Shabab has been Somali-centric in planning operations, so that is a change 3/8
3) Linking this plot to al-Qaida's “Operation Jerusalem Will Never be Judaized” campaign does not make sense. Shabaab deployed the operative to the Philippines in 2016, well before the US policy shift on Israel’s capital. 4/8
4) As @EricaMa16 noted, in 2016 al-Shabaab also conducted two operations with laptop bombs against aviation targets. This plot seems more likely to be related to what was going on with the group then than the Jerusalem issue. 5/8
5) Outstanding questions about how much contact the operative getting flight training had with Shabaab prior to his arrest. Did the group send him and then basically wait to see what he could accomplish or was it supporting him throughout the planning? 6/8
6) Also would be useful to know more about the other Shabaab operative arrested seeking flight training in Africa earlier this year and how he fits in with this plot. 7/8
7) Shabaab has always been an evolving organization, demonstrating impressive adaptability and learning. But nonetheless, this is a significant development in terms of the group’s intent and effort to develop capability. 8/8
