As the security situation in Iraq remains unstable, kidnappings of foreigners or other individuals are expected to persist.  While the Ali bin Abu Talib Jihad Organization has not claimed responsibility for further terrorist attacks, it is possible that the group is still active and remains a security threat for the region.

Revolutionary Movement of October 8 (MR-8) -- Ally

A&#231;&#227;o Libertadora Nacional, National Liberation Action, National Liberation Alliance

By the end of 1970, the group had ceased to exist. The group has not been responsible for any recent attacks and is considered inactive.

The al-Imam Ali Brigades is an Islamic militant group that claimed responsibility for the June 15, 2006 kidnapping of Hasan Eskinutlu, a Turkish engineer working in Iraq, and his translator.  No information is available regarding the group's size and leadership, although it appears that they are a rather small organization with limited resources.  Reports indicate that the group is comprised of Sunni Muslims, despite having a reference to Ali, the most revered Shiite saint.  <P><br /><br />The kidnapping, as the group claimed, was carried out to elicit a response from the Turkish government concerning specific demands.  First, the al-Imam Ali Brigades sought the release of Iraqis from prisons in the U.S. and Iraq, and demanded that Turkey place pressure on these governments to facilitate the process.  Second, the group wanted the Turkish ambassador removed from Iraq.  Lastly, they wanted to prevent Turkish businesses from cooperating with U.S. and coalition interests in the region.  Absent from their demands was any reference to ransom payments, or other indicators that they sought to profit from the kidnapping.  The group set a deadline for these demands to be met within one week.  However, no information is available regarding Eskinutlu or his translator's possible release.  <P><br />

In recent years, kidnapping has become a common occurrence in Iraq, placing foreign workers and journalists at most risk.  While the al-Imam Ali Brigades sought to achieve purely political goals, other groups utilize kidnapping for financial gain, as well as spreading fear and propaganda through executions.  Even though the al-Imam Ali Brigades have not claimed another attack since the Eskinutlu kidnapping, they most likely remain active and a threat to stability in Iraq.