The most prominent electronic al-Qaeda (Group Profile) publications, the monthly Sawt al-Jihad and bi-monthly al-Battar training manual, have both placed an emphasis on the merits of jihad operations during the Muslim holy month. In these publications, al-Qaeda is helping to fuel speculation that it or the Iraqi resistance has something up its sleeve for the ongoing month of Ramadan (see October 13, 2004 WAR Report), with a number of references between the two publications to Ramadan operations. A description and analysis of the contents relating to Ramadan in the recent issue of Sawt al-Jihad can be found in the October 20 WAR Report.

The issue of al-Battar training manual for the final two weeks of the month of Sha?ban, which precedes Ramadan, opens with a letter that describes how the greatest battles of Islam have all been fought and won during Ramadan ? including the legendary Battle of Badr, fought by the Prophet and his companions, the Prophet?s seizure of Mecca, as well as battles won in more recent times in Afghanistan in 1988, in Bosnia, in Chechnya, and the ?Badr Raid (named after the original battle) fought between Mujahideen and Saudi security services in Riyadh last year. The author quotes a purported saying of the Prophet: ?If you commit the best act ? Jihad ? during the best time ? the month of Ramadan ? in the best place ? the Arabian Peninsula, the outcome will be great.? The author closes with the prayer ?I ask God to make this a month of victory for Islam and the Muslims and to make it a month of humiliation for the enemies of religion, the Jews, the Christians, and the apostates.?