1) Latest issue of #ISIS’ Naba gives lengthy bio of the group’s immensely influential media official Abu Muhammad al-Furqan, who was killed in 2016 in Raqqah via a US airstrike. Even shows picture of him after his death for first time. Unclear why it waited five years to do so. 
https://twitter.com/siteintel_jt/status/1390780764942487555
2) The Naba biography details Al-Furqan’s resume prior to #ISIS’ (which he was critical in helping grow): studying pediatric medicine, co-founding al-Qaeda in Iraq, being appointed by Zarqawi to head media operations, his capture and influence among fellow prisoners.
3) Al-Furqan pledged to Zarqawi after the Iraq War began and took a hands-on role in video production “to plant fear of the mujahideen in the hearts of the polytheists.” These productions of course look shabby now, but were revolutionary to the global jihadi movement at the time.
4) Much of this might seem irrelevant in that it was so long ago, but Furqan made jihadi propaganda what it is today. He was the mentor and teacher to ISIS’ American media “mastermind” Ahmad Abousamra, who helped steer ISIS’ massive media machine.
https://twitter.com/Rita_Katz/status/849792394371485699
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