A statement to be released by ISIS shortly, either from the new leader or the spokesman (more likely). It was expected given the recent surge in attacks. 
A new statement by ISIS spokesman just now
ISIS Spox Abu Hamza al-Qurashi, after 7 minutes of usual preaching intro, he speaks about Covid-19.
He says the coronavirus is a punishment to "crusaders" who are facing the same misery that ISIS faced, bodies in the streets, lockdown, siege etc.
He says the coronavirus is a punishment to "crusaders" who are facing the same misery that ISIS faced, bodies in the streets, lockdown, siege etc.
ISIS spox Abu Hamza al-Qurashi says that greater punishments will be faced when the jihadists achieve their victory and establish themselves once again.
ISIS spox Abu Hamza al-Qurashi says that Covid-19 is a similar campaign but against "the crusaders", and had the same effect on them.
[Operation Inherent Virus]
[Operation Inherent Virus]
ISIS spox Abu Hamza al-Qurashi mocks the West:
the virus has distracted ISIS's enemies and got them busy with unsuccessful efforts to deal with it, despite their might. [paraphrased]
the virus has distracted ISIS's enemies and got them busy with unsuccessful efforts to deal with it, despite their might. [paraphrased]
ISIS spox Abu Hamza al-Qurashi attacks Muslim countries for closing mosques during the coronavirus. "As if coronavirus only spreads in mosques"
The only cleric who agrees with ISIS on this point is the Kuwaiti radical Hakem al-Mutairi twitter.com/DrHAKEM
The only cleric who agrees with ISIS on this point is the Kuwaiti radical Hakem al-Mutairi twitter.com/DrHAKEM
ISIS spok attacks the Taliban for striking a deal with the U.S. He says "the apostate Taliban militia" has aligned with the US against the "monotheists" and claims they delayed the announcement for several years to prevent the youth from joining ISIS.
Same for Sunnis in Iraq.
Same for Sunnis in Iraq.
ISIS spox says Sunnis in Iraq falsely think that the new government in Baghdad of Mustafa al-Kadhimi is less bad for them than previous ones, forgetting he was the head of intelligence & who was a big part of their problems.
Predictably, he vows to repeat the old scenario against the Sahwat/awakening citing recent attacks in various parts of Iraq. The US is withdrawing from Iraq, he says, and 'recent attacks are only a taste of what's coming... your war with us is long.' Threatens rebels in Syria too
ISIS spokesman: "we have made a pledge that no day passes by without bloodshed [against enemies]"
Important - ISIS spokesman speaks about Isis & al-Qaeda in Africa, says ISIS put off the fight against AQ for years, but AQ initiated aggression against ISIS in preventing defectors from joining ISIS but allowing them to join apostate groups.
That aligns with the analysis about the dynamics there, it’s not alliance, but operating in the same theater without hostility (this is normal, happened in Syria before Isis built its capabilities to move to the inevitable next stage of fighting them.)
ISIS spokesman about al-Qaeda in Africa: aggression can only be faced by aggression, and “if they returned to fighting us, we will fight them.”
ISIS spokesman congratulates ISIS fighters for waging attacks across the region, tells them this is going to be a long road. Advises them to be cautious about innocent Muslims & their properties, and to defend them.
Important (to show ISIS is thinking of changes and grant strategies)
ISIS spokesman says the coming period is critical, “what you are witnessing these days are only signs of big changes in the region that’ll offer greater opportunities than we had previously in the past decade”
ISIS spokesman says the coming period is critical, “what you are witnessing these days are only signs of big changes in the region that’ll offer greater opportunities than we had previously in the past decade”
ISIS spokesman passes a message from the leader Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi. Says he is sending special greetings, pleased with recent “attrition” operations, asks you to doubt the effort, and set plans & strategies, and seek to free prisoners. Ask prisoners to have patience.
ISIS spokesman says “with every hardship there is ease”, “the crusaders are increasingly inner-looking”, and threatens those who thought “they’ll defend you until the day of judgment (indefinitely)”
I couldn’t hear the audio statement from ISIS spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurashi till the end, but it turns out the most interesting part is in the last two minutes. The closing remarks are usually important.
A few notes:
A few notes:
1. This is the first, or at least one of the rarest, statement from the top leaders not to mention Saudi Arabia. It always comes up, even if briefly, as a keg messaging by the group.
This time, he focused on Qatar. Two full minutes on a country ISIS never mentioned before.
This time, he focused on Qatar. Two full minutes on a country ISIS never mentioned before.
2. ISIS spokesman says the group will never forget that Qatar financed the Sahwat (the US-backed Awakening Councils that fought al-Qaeda in Iraq) back in the day, and the Syrian Sahwat/rebels against ISIS. He also attacked its relations to Shia government in Baghdad...
3. ISIS spokesman also goes on and on about how Qatar has worked quietly against the group, by supporting various “apostate” forces against the group. He also attacks its role in the Taliban’s deal with the US, supporting the apostate Muslim Brotherhood, and hosting a US base.
4. This focus on Qatar is unprecedented, and interesting. Those who follow the group’s “strategic communication” will recognize the absence of mention of Saudi Arabia. Mentioning one & leaving the other is unusual for ISIS, which usually mentions Iran & Saudi in the same breath.
5. Even more curious is that he briefly mentioned Turkey for leading quiet efforts against it, but he left that and focused on Qatar. This means something, I just can’t tell.
6. This is the beginning of that section, about 3 minutes not 2. The framing is that this is a message to Arab regimes, so the exclusive mention is even more intriguing. Can’t explain it:
7. In this small part, he most certainly sounds from the Gulf region. The ‘ayn’ is unmistakable, and the way he says Oudaid is not how Arabic speakers elsewhere say it. He sometimes sounds Iraqi but that’s likely because he’s been in Iraq for a decade or two.
Adding this note
