Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has called on followers to set fires in forests in enemy states as part of what the network termed holy war.
AQAP, deemed the greatest threat to the United States, has also provided instructions on how to easily and rapidly destroy forests.
"Imagine that, after all the damage is caused, if a jihad organization were to take responsibility for the forest fires," Al Qaida said. "You can imagine the dread it would cause people in the United States, Europe, Russia, and Australia."
In the latest issue of Inspire magazine, AQAP explained how Muslims can assemble firebombs and other weapons to torch forests. The Al Qaida magazine argued that forest fires are supported by the Koran as legitimate means of Islamic warfare.
AQAP's main target has been the United States. In 2003, the FBI reported the arrest of a suspected Al Qaida operative accused of planning a series of forest fires. In January, Al Qaida claimed responsibility for a forest fire in the U.S. state of Nevada.
Israel has suspected that a series of forest fires in 2012 might be linked to Al Qaida supporters. An Al Qaida-aligned cell called Masadat Al Mujahadeen in Palestine, said commanded by Abu Amar Al Ansari, took responsibility for recent arsons in the Jewish state.
Are these Jihadists to blame for the lack of rain as well? Guess they've been reading 'Dune' and know the power of water in a dry land. Perhaps these Jihadists are to blame for the lack of federal planes to fight the fire as well. I wonder if there is any problem in the world they aren't responsible for?