Lashkar_al-Zil
Lashkar al-Zil
Paramilitary organization
The Lashkar al-Zil or Shadow Army (also known as Jaish al Usrah, or the Army of the Protective Shield[1]) is a paramilitary organization linked to al-Qaeda and descended from the 055 Brigade.[2] According to Syed Saleem Shahzad, it "comprises the Pakistani Taliban, 313 Brigade, the Afghan Taliban, Hezb-e-Islami Afghanistan and former Iraqi Republican Guards".[3] Lashkar al-Zil has reportedly been led by Khalid Habib al Shami,[2] Abdullah Said al Libi, and Ilyas Kashmiri.[3][4]
The Lashkar al-Zil has been involved in attacks in Afghanistan's eastern and southern provinces.[5] News reports have linked it to several specific attacks, including the Camp Chapman attack[3] and the Sudhnati suicide bombing.[6]