Thread by @Minalami

🧵Key messages from new #ISIS leadership audio statement on the occasion of Ramadan, delivered on 17 Apr by the group’s new spokesman, Abu Omar al-Muhajir. Again, offers no info on the new leader, Abu al-Hasan al-Qurashi: 👇

1) Declares new militant campaign to avenge deaths of its late leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi, killed in US op in Feb, and spokesman. Urges IS militants to wage retaliatory attacks, focusing on high-ranking figures and to not bother too much with “soldiers”, unless killing many

2) IS seems disappointed in the lack of attacks on behalf of the group in the West and refers to the “absence” of such “brave” men – possibly to shame loyalists into action. Urges a “return” to such attacks, calling for car rammings and stabbings, among other methods

3) Interestingly, on the subject of IS-inspired attacks in the West, IS tells supporters they have “an opportunity before you today”, as it refers to the Russia-Ukraine war and Europe being at risk of being dragged into conflict, according to IS

Cont'd: The group does not specify how sympathisers should exploit the Russia-Ukraine war to carry out attacks in the West, but the obvious suggestion is that they use the West’s pre-occupation with the war to strike. There may be other implicit suggestions

Cont'd: A recent issue of a pro-al-Qaeda magazine urged jihadists to take advantage of encouragement of foreign volunteers to travel to Ukraine to fight Russia, and use that to go to Ukraine to receive military training and weapons that could then be used in jihadist attacks

4) By way of inspiring attacks in the West and against Jews & Israelis, IS refers to the shooting in Hadera, Israel, on 27 Mar, in which 2 gunmen killed 2 Israeli policemen. IS at the time claimed the attackers were two of its “soldiers”

5) Another message was directed at IS-linked prisoners (men and women), telling them once again IS has not forgotten them and that freeing them continues to be the group's utmost priority. Reminds IS militants to prioritise prison breaks and avenging prisoners

6) The spox conveys greetings from IS’s new "caliph" to IS militants around the world, and praises them for rushing to pledge allegiance to him in a show of unity & loyality. In Mar IS told followers it can't reveal ID of“caliph” but urged them to trust that he’s a worthy leader

7) Overall, the new IS msg doesn't carry any surprises: no info about leader; typical launch of revenge campaing following death of leaders and typical msg about prisoners...

Cont'd: But there's a reneweed call for attacks in the West, which had been absent in recent IS leadership messages, and an effort to exploit the circumstances caused by the Russia-Ukraine war to faciliate such attacks