The following are some of this week's reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock, among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to jttmsubs@memri.org with "Membership" in the subject line.)
Note to media and government: For a full copy of these reports, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to media@memri.org. Please include your name, title, and organization in your email.
By: Y. Kerman
Since its founding, ISIS – as well as its forerunners Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and the Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) – has expressed its desire to wage war on Israel and conquer Palestine. The organization's rhetoric has included threats to Israel and to Jews, similar to the discourse of other jihadi and Islamic groups.
On May 29, 2022, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) outlet released an Arabic-language infographic poster discussing the features and weaknesses of the U.S.-made Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), also known as the M2 Bradley.
Following the May 24, 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, jihadis published posts online celebrating the attack and claiming that the only reason the "hypocritical" U.S. authorities have not classified the attack as an act of terrorism is that the shooter was not Muslim.
On May 27, 2022, jihadi Telegram channels that oppose the Islamic State (ISIS) commented on a news report published on a Turkish website claiming the Turkish authorities arrested Abu Al-Hassan Al-Hashimi Al-Qurayshi, the newly-appointed Caliph of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Istanbul last week.
Over the past days, the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for several arson attacks in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, targeting farms owned by Shi'ites and members of the Yarsani sect.
Issue 340 of the Islamic State (ISIS) Al-Naba' weekly magazine, released on May 26, 2022, includes an editorial which attacks "the distortion and corruption of the Islamic faith" by means of Western ideas, such as nationalism, humanism and interfaith dialogue.
ISIS Continues Its Escalation Of Attacks In Mozambique By Burning Christian Homes
In recent days, ISIS perpetrated several new attacks in Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique. On May 29, ISIS operatives attacked a Christian village, burning residents' houses.
On May 30, 2022, a prominent Islamic State (ISIS) supporter published a "notice" on their Telegram channel warning that the "unbelievers" often spread false rumors pertaining to "jihadi personalities with important and sensitive roles," in what is apparently a reference to recent unconfirmed reports that ISIS leader Abu Al-Hasan Al-Hashemi Al-Qurashi was captured by Turkish authorities in Istanbul.
On May 23, 2022, an anti-Islamic State (ISIS) channel on the Al-Qaeda-operated server claimed that ISIS slain spokesman Abu Hamzah Al-Qurayshi was not killed in a February 3 U.S. airstrike with top ISIS leader Abu Abu Ibrahim Al-Hashemi Al-Al-Qurayshi in Atma near Idlib, Syria, as ISIS claimed in a March 10 audio message.
The coverpage article in the latest issue of the "Voice of Khurasan" – which is published by the Islamic State (ISIS) – attacks the Afghan Taliban's growing alliance with Iran and friendship with Shi'ites in Afghanistan.
An article in the latest issue of the "Voice of Khurasan," titled "The Media War upon the Islamic State," accuses the West of using international media to downplay the strengths of ISIS fighters and to sow seeds of discord among them.
An article in the latest issue of the "Voice of Khurasan" – which is published by the Islamic State (ISIS) – criticizes the concept of territory-based nationalism, advocates the idea of religion-based caliphate, and declares Afghan Taliban of Afghanistan, Hamas of Palestine, and Ikhwanis (Muslim Brotherhood) of Egypt as apostates, i.e., those who have left Islam.
In recent days, prominent Islamic State (ISIS) supporter has been leading a campaign against female supporters, warning against accounts on Telegram and other social media platforms that subscribe to pro-ISIS channels run by women, promote such channels, or post video clips featuring women, even if they are fully covered in Islamic dress.
London-Based Pro-ISIS Preacher Calls For Jihad Against China
On May 30, 2022, London-based pro-Islamic State (ISIS) preacher posted an article on his website titled "Jihad: The Only Solution to China's War against the Muslims!"
In a press release issued May 29, 2022 on his blog, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) British preacher discussed the Sue Gray report, a government report compiled by a senior British civil servant, investigating the parties held at the official residence of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during Covid lockdowns.
Al-Shabab Claims Simultaneous Attacks Against Military Targets In Southern Somalia And Mogadishu
On May 30 2022, Al-Qaeda's Somali affiliate, Harakat Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen (Al-Shabab), reported that on May 29 its operatives carried out six simultaneous attacks against six military bases of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the Somali Armed Forces in the capital city of Mogadishu and in other cities.
On May 31, 2022, the media arm of Al-Qaeda's Somali affiliate Al-Shabab released a video titled "Excerpts From Sharia: Distribution of Livestock Zakat [Almsgiving] In Islamic Provinces During The Year 1442 [Hijri, corresponding to the year 2021] — Part One."
On May 25, 2022, a Canada-based pro-Al-Qaeda idealogue published a post on Telegram calling on supporters to exert pressure on Libyan authorities to free imprisoned jihadis, whether they are Libyan nationals or immigrants from Tunisia Egypt, and Algeria, who have been wrongfully accused of being members of the Islamic State (ISIS).
On May 30-31, 2022, the official media outlet of Syrian jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) reported that the units in all the branches of its military had undergone a series of training exercises and that its forces are now in a state of "high readiness."
On May 31, 2022, a pro-Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Telegram channel published a short video titled "Meet the Silent Killer," highlighting the danger posed by drones operated by Russian forces supporting the Syrian regime, which target rebel factions.
On May 30, 2022, a media network supporting the Syrian jihad run by a U.S.-born journalist and other published a video clip from its "Fatwas on the Air" program featuring a pro-rebel cleric.
On May 31, 2022, a Syrian opposition website reported that as part of its efforts to disguise its weapons shipments to Syria, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has recently adopted a new approach, as it capitalizes on the convoys of Shi'ite pilgrims making their way to Syria.
A Syrian opposition website reported that on May 25, 2022, the Iran-backed Iraqi Al-Nujaba Movement held training exercises in the use of short- and long-range surface-to-surface missiles south of Al-Raqqah.
On May 25, 2022, a Syrian opposition website posted an article which it claims, "reveals, for the first time, information about the large military presence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) at the former civilian airport which is now part of the military airport at Deir Al-Zour."
Syrian Opposition Website: Iran Recruits Syrians To Fight Alongside Houthis In Yemen
On April 18, 2022, a Syrian opposition website reported that Iran had begun to recruit Syrian Shi'ites who reside in eastern Syria to fight alongside the Houthi Ansar Allah movement in Yemen.
Iran-Backed Group Claims Responsibility For Second Attack In A Month On Ayn Al-Assad Airbase In Iraq
On May 30, 2022, a group an Iran-backed group claimed responsibility for launching six 122 mm Grad rockets (BM-21 "Grad") at the Ayn Al-Assad Airbase in Iraq.
On May 27, 2022, a Telegram channel affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraq reported that Iran has seized two ships bearing the national flag of Greece in the Persian Gulf.
On May 21, 2022, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Afghan Taliban) published their official Arabic-language monthly magazine, Al-Somood. The editorial on the third page of the issue is titled "Afghanistan: The Beating Heart of the Islamic Nation."
On May 22, 2022, the National Liberation Front (NLF) for Afghanistan, a newly established anti-Taliban armed organization, claimed to have killed and wounded several Taliban leaders in an attack targeting the ceremony in Kabul commemorating the anniversary of the death of Taliban emir Akhtar Mohammad Mansour.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (the Movement of the Pakistani Taliban, TTP) has released a video featuring "laser gun" attacks against Pakistani security forces in the restive North and South Waziristan tribal districts of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (the Movement of Pakistani Taliban, TTP), which is in peace talks with the Pakistani government, has sought to intervene in the political situation in Pakistan, which was set off by mass street protests led by former prime minister Imran Khan and demanding that the current government headed by Shehbaz Sharif announce dates for general elections.
