Summary of Information on Jihadist Websites November 2019
Highlights
The appointment of Sheikh Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi as the caliph and new leader of ISIS, in the wake of the al-Baghdadi elimination. Al-Qurashi earns a pledge of allegiance from ISIS members and supporters in its provinces (formal and informal ones): Sinai, Somalia, Pakistan, Yemen, West Africa, East Asia, East Africa, Baraqqa al-Baraqqa (Libya), al-Diyala Salah al-Din and Kirkuk (Iraq), Indonesia and Azerbaijan.
In the wake of a closure of over 2,000 of its Telegram accounts by Europol, ISIS responded that the enemy’s efforts to hurt its propaganda campaign are doomed to failure and its operatives are determined to keep disseminating its propaganda on any available platform.
Sheikh Qasem al-Rimi, leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), wishes to reinforce Syrians and jihadists in Idlib’s morale. At the same breath he asked the latter to maintain the unity within the ranks, focus on fighting the enemy and obey orders from jihadi leaders.
Sheikh Abd al-Illah Ahmad, the head of the political and foreign affairs committee of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), clarified that his organization supports the Algerian popular uprising and wish for the fall of the Algerian regime. Per him, the regime is responsible for hurting Islam and disseminating heresy. He also implored Algerian soldiers to search their souls and defect.
Sheikh Abu al-Fadl Iyad Ghali, leader of Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam, an umbrella organization for jihadi groups in Mali (including AQIM) clarifies that the last wave of attacks executed by his organization against the Mali and Burkina Faso armies was carried out because of the military alliance of these countries and France. He said that the attacks will continue for as long as the G5 Sakhl states will collaborate with France.
Shabab al-Mujahidin, the al-Qaeda extension in Somalia, posted a clip on its fighters’ preparations for the attack they executed on Ballidogle air base that has been used by the U.S. forces in Somalia. Sheikh Abu Obeida, the leader, clarified that the target for the attack were the Americans and not the infidel regime in Somalia. The organization clarified that it objected the colonialist policy the U.S. has for Somalia and that the U.S. is an obstacle for peace in Somalia. Further, they called for the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Somalia.
Hurras al-Din, the al-Qaeda extension in Syria, harshly criticizes sheikh Abu Muhammad al-Julani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, for his efforts to reach a cease fire with the enemy and cautioned that his policy will doom all jihadists and Idlib residents. Additionally, the organization called upon all jihadists to come to their senses, unite under the al-Qaeda flag and together fight their common enemies.
The Abdallah Azam Brigades, a Salafi jihadist organization that has operated mainly in Lebanon and Syria, announced that it was dissolving without giving any reason to the dissolution other than saying that the dissolution serves Muslims’ interests. Yet, they called upon Muslims to carry on with jihad.
This article is part of the RED-Alert project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation Programme under grant agreement No 740688.
