Islamic State in Iraq Claims Responsibility for Downing Chinook

On February 7, 2007, the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) posted a communiqué on the Islamist websites in which it claimed responsibility for the downing of a U.S. Chinook helicopter in Iraq on the same day. According to the message, around 10:40 AM an Islamic State in Iraq air defense unit had targeted the helicopter in Al-Karamah, Iraq, destroying it completely.

Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi Calls to Extend Jihad in Iraq, Declares War on "Persians"

On February 3, 2007, Islamist websites posted a 23-minute audio recording by Emir Al-Muaminin (Commander of the Believers) Abu Omar Al-Baghdadi, whom Al-Qaeda has appointed "head of the Islamic State of Iraq." In his address, Al-Baghdadi announces that the arena of the jihad will now be extended beyond the boundaries of Baghdad, calls on Sunni youths to join the war against the "Crusader" forces, and urges mujahideen who have not yet done so to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq. He also declares war on the "Persians," whom he characterizes as an enemy worse than the Christians. He states that the intensive activity of the mujahideen in Iraq has kept the Americans busy, allowing North Korea to conduct successful nuclear experiments, which in turn provided Iran with greater room for maneuvering and prevented the elimination of the Ba'th regime in Syria. Al-Baghdadi ends his address by saying that, in his estimation, America will soon acknowledge its defeat in Iraq and will then turn to carrying out a tactical nuclear attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Below is the banner that accompanies the official announcements of the Islamic State of Iraq.