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.
EXCLUSIVE: ISIS Video Documents Suicide Bombing Carried Out By Teenager
On February 19, 2016, the media office of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Aleppo, Syria released a video titled "My Son Surpassed Me" featuring an interview with a 15-year-old boy who had been chosen to carry out a suicide bombing. The video, which also shows the boy's father, who encouraged his son to carry out the operation, was published on leading ISIS-affiliated jihadi forum Shumoukh Al-Islam.
In the interview, which took place on top of the hill of Dabiq - a place where jihadis believe the final battle between Muslims and non-Muslims will take place, the teen, named as Abu Ammarah, said that he had joined ISIS at the age of 14 and his father had encouraged him to register for a "martyrdom operation." When asked why children his age focus on video games instead of jihad, Abu Amarah noted that it is all about the upbringing and the role parents play in their children's life: "Thanks to Allah, my father has raised me according to teaching of the Prophet."
EXCLUSIVE: ISIS Weekly News Bulletin Tells Of 'Famous Egyptian Cyclist' In Austria Who Joined ISIS
The 19th issue of the Islamic State (ISIS) weekly news bulletin Al-Naba, released online on February 23, included a story about an alleged famous Egyptian athlete who lived in Austria and who at one point joined the Islamic State. The article does not identify the man, besides describing him as a world-class Egyptian cyclist, at one point ranked 15th worldwide, who moved to Austria around 2008. It states that he worked in the business world there and made a good life for himself, but that all that time he was ignorant of his religion and of events taking place in the Muslim world. That changed, it said, after he met a cleric from the Caucasus.
Al-Qaeda Mobilizes In Preparation For Western Intervention In Libya
In recent weeks, Al-Qaeda, particularly its branch in North Africa, has been mobilizing forces in preparation for a Western intervention in Libya. Al-Qaeda's strategists seem to be certain that the Western powers, especially the U.S., France, and Italy, intend to launch strikes in the near future against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Libya, and therefore envision Libya as the next great battleground in the war between the global jihad forces and the West. Writers in Al-Qaeda publications have urged the organization's operatives in North Africa to rally to Libya in order to turn the country into "a graveyard for the Crusader invaders." These calls come regardless of intense fighting and power struggles going on in Libya, especially in the east of the country, between ISIS and Islamist and jihadi groups close to Al-Qaeda.
EXCLUSIVE: ISIS, AQAP Trade Accusations Of Faking Videos And Spreading Lies About Each Other
On February 25, 2016, the ISIS-associated Telegram channel "Dawla Videos" released an 11-minute video titled "The Jews' Hollywood." The video is a response to a film circulated several days ago by members of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in which a man, allegedly a defector from ISIS, made various accusations against ISIS, including that its videos are "fake." ISIS's answering film hurls the accusation back at Al-Qaeda, stating that its own videos make false claims and spread lies about ISIS.
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EXCLUSIVE: ISIS Video Features Testimonies Of 'Repentant' Syrian Rebels Who Defected To ISIS
On February 22, 2016, the Aleppo province of the Islamic State (ISIS) released a video featuring testimonies by Sahawat members who had defected to ISIS in Syria.
The video follows the defectors' lives in the Islamic State, beginning with their arrival at ISIS-controlled territory, and ending with their return to the battlefield - but now as fighters for ISIS battling the organizations to which they previously belonged, as well as other "apostates."
Showing some of ISIS's procedures for dealing with such defectors, the video features the organization registering them electronically at the local ISIS "Bureau of Repentance" and the religious and other indoctrination that they undergo prior to joining ISIS's military force.
EXCLUSIVE: Teen Jabhat Al- Nusra Widow Shares Her Experiences In Syria On Instagram, Twitter
A 19-year-old Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN) member on Twitter and Instagram shares her experiences of life in Syria with stories and snapshots. Although she writes almost exclusively in English, she appears to be of Malaysian origin. She describes herself as a "passionate teacher and a serious foodie"; her photos of teaching young children in a classroom and of meals reflect these claims. She also mentions that she was widowed after about a year of marriage, and some of her posts are devoted to discussing her late husband. She appears to be based in Idlib, Syria.
Background Information
Twitter byline: "Loving life to the fullest in the bless[ed] land of AsShaam [Syria], passionate teacher and a serious foodie."
Instagram photo: "This is my new friend his name is Ra'ad, he is a very good horse and listens to my instruction. I am a Warrior!"
On February 23 2016 the hacker group Sons Caliphate Army (SCA) released a video titled "Flames of Ansar" (Flames of [ISIS] Supporters) on their Telegram channel. While ISIS-related videos are often swiftly removed, Sons Caliphate Army included 11 different links to various platforms that are hosting the video, which include YouTube, The Internet Archive, and Google Drive. The video shows Facebook and Twitter accounts being hacked and manipulated, and also claims that the hacked accounts are then given to ISIS supporters.
To Refute Reports Of Tribal Uprising In Al-Fallujah, ISIS Releases Video Showing City At Peace
In recent days there have been increasing reports about exchanges of gunfire and violent clashes taking place in Al-Falluja, Iraq, between the ISIS forces that have controlled the city since 2014 and Sunni tribesmen. These reports prompted ISIS to release a video showing that the city is calm and remains under its control. At the same time, ISIS activists issued threats against the Sunni tribesmen who are fighting ISIS in the Al-Fallujah area, promising them that "justice will triumph despite [their] opposition."
Top ISIS Supporter Arrested By FBI In Missouri
On February 18, 2016, Safya Roe Yassin, a 38-year-old woman from Missouri, was arrested at her home and charged with making threats online against two FBI agents. The affidavit states that on June 4, 2015, two FBI Special Agents visited Yassin at her residence. Yassin was shown images of her social media postings on Facebook and on Twitter that appeared to be sympathetic to the Islamic State (ISIS). According to the affidavit issued by the United States District Court (Western District Court of Missouri), Yassin denied that she had made any threats on social media, and stated that she did not endorse or encourage violence. Additionally, she went on record as saying that she did not support ISIS, but that she merely reported the news.
Jihadi How-To: Using Facebook To Attract ISIS Supporters
On February 24, 2016, a member of the Shumoukh Al-Islam jihadi forum posted recommendations on how to use Facebook to attract Islamic State (ISIS) supporters. He also suggested ways for jihadis to lessen the chance of their Facebook accounts being shut down.
On February 24, 2016, Al-Malahem, the media arm of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), released an audio statement in which Khaled Batarfi, one of the group's senior commanders, praised the mujahideen in Syria for their bravery and sacrifice, urged them to continue their fight until they achieve victory, and warned them not to fall prey to the enemies' conspiracy and to reject invitations to attend conferences.
Report: Moroccan Authorities Dismantle Terrorist Cell That Includes French National
According to an Al-Quds Al-Arabi report, Moroccan authorities have dismantled a terrorist cell that included a French national. The cell, said the report, was connected with the Islamic State (ISIS), and was planning to launch attacks against vital targets in the country.
