BREAKING: #ISIS Furqan releases speech from spokesman Abu Umar al-Muhajir, contrary to reports of his death in May 2022.
Speech is titled, “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’an), and be not divided among yourselves."
Last Furqan speech was issued in Apr. 2022, which also featured Muhajir. There has not been a speech from an ISIS leader since the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October 2019.
Muhajir focuses on the group's recent surge of operations targeting Christians in Africa, as well as its continued emphasis on prison breaks/raids as a top operational priority across its active territories.
The emphasis on prison breaks is not surprising. It has long been a top operational directive for group fighters. Thus far in 2022, the group has conducted three high-profile prison raids, in DRC, Nigeria, and Syria.
Muhaijr also makes a point to single out Southeast and Central Asia - calling on Muslims in Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia - and India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to join ISIS.
Overall, speech did not break new ground. Standout aspect was Muhajir’s calls to Muslims to join fighters, starting w SE Asia (Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indo), and continuing with C Asia, C and W Africa, Iraq, Syria, Afghan, and Sinai.
While there’s been plenty to assess on each anniversary of 9/11, this year seems especially noteworthy for the global jihadist movement: al-Qaeda is leaderless and Afghanistan is under Taliban rule.
The following thread gives my thoughts on where we stand 21 years later. 🧵
9/11 of course made al-Qaeda the face of the Global Jihad. However, 21 years later, it is increasingly treated more as an historical event as opposed to the rallying, immediate memory it once was—especially to a new generation of supporters that didn't live the event.
Time isn't the only variable affecting how al-Qaeda hypes 9/11, though. With the Taliban in control of Afghanistan—and wary of provoking US operations—it has likely directed al-Qaeda to tone down incitements, at least publicly.
Leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath keepers "collaborated" with Trump allies like Rodger Stone and Former General Michael Flynn.
Stone "regularly" had contact with these extremists via a chat group called "Friends of Stone" in months ahead of January 6.
Unsent draft of a Trump tweet contained an announcement there would be a march to the Capitol after his speech on J6. Messages among organizers ahead of that day hinted that he would announce the march at the end of his speech.
ISIS' Furqan announces forthcoming release. Comes over a month since Mar 10 speech by spox Abu Umar al-Muhajir on death of leader Abu Ibrahim & announcing former spox's death.
Speech released: a message from ISIS spokesman Abu Umar al-Muhajir titled, "Fight Against Them So that Allah will Punish Them by Your Hands"
The speech starts off with Ramadan greetings, after which Abu Umar announces a new military campaign called "Revenge Invasion for the Two Shaykhs" (referring to former leader Abu Ibrahim and former spox Abu Hamza).
1) The following thread discusses a recent news story about a supposed HTS terrorist “plot” in Russia, providing a case study in how the Kremlin uses fake news to advance its geopolitical agendas. tass.ru/proisshestviya…
2) Russian news outlets pushing story that Russia’s FSB (ex-KGB) arrested a cell of HTS (Syrian group headed by Julani) plotting attack in Kaluga, Russia.
In no way defending HTS, but this reeks of fake news--about as believable as Putin's "denazification" lie regarding Ukraine.
3) A video, attributed to FSB (ex-KGB), shows supposed suspects (faces not shown, how convenient) and several bomb-making components. Russian outlets report they were planning terrorist attack on military facilities “at the direction of foreign emissaries”
Police are searching for a man with a gas mask and orange construction vest. Authorities say at least 13 were injured, some from gunshots, without providing specifics of severity.
Update: #NYPD states that "there are NO active explosive devices at this time."
1) As the Russia-Ukraine situation escalates, @SITE_FRFL has tracked the profound ripple effects emerging across far-right extremist communities in Ukraine, Russia, and across the West.
The following thread will provide ongoing updates on SITE’s findings.
2) Extensive online recruitment efforts have been seen from pro-Russia Donetsk militias, as well as far-right Ukrainian paramilitary groups like Azov: fundraising, enlisting potential fighters and medics, etc. ent.siteintelgroup.com/Far-Right-/-Fa…
3) In Ukraine, such far-right paramilitary entities are fundraising via an array of methods, from major Ukrainian financial institutions to crypto currency and mobile applications. ent.siteintelgroup.com/Terrorism-Fina…