The group pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden 's al - Qaeda network in a letter in October 2004 .
The group changed its name to Tanzim Qaidat al - Jihad fi Bilad al - Rafidayn .
The group pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden 's al - Qaeda network in a letter in October 2004 and changed its name to Tanzim Qaidat al - Jihad fi Bilad al - Rafidayn .