Yarmuk launched its first attack in Kabardino-Balkaria that same month , ambushing policemen in Chegem district . A turning point came in December 2004 , when Yarmuk members conducted a raid on the office of the federal drug control agency in Nalchik , during which they seized large quantities of weapons and ammunition . The founding leader of Yarmuk , Muslim Atayev , was killed when the police stormed an apartment in Nalchik in January 2005 . The organization continued to operate , staging attacks under the leadership of his successor , Rustam Bekanov . He was killed three months later and was replaced by Anzor Astemirov , a former deputy director of the Islamic Center . The group 's base of operations was Nalchik and the Balkarian enclave around Mount Elbrus
conducted a raid
2004 Nalchik raid
United Vilayat of Kabarda, Balkaria and Karachay