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June 25, 2021 Special Announcements No. 1070

Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Weekly: June 19 – 26, 2021

June 25, 2021
Special Announcements No. 1070

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: Pro-ISIS Media Outlets Release Posters Encouraging Attacks In the West

On June 21, 2021, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) media outlet that regularly releases pro-ISIS material in Arabic shared a new poster encouraging supporters to carry out terror attacks in the West.

 

EXCLUSIVE: ISIS Spokesman Commends Victories In Africa, Cites Death Of Boko Haram Leader, Announces Reward For Anyone Beheading Judges, Investigators, Calls For Freeing Of Prisoners In Iraq, Syria

On June 22, 2021, Al-Furqan Media Foundation, which specializes in circulating official statements from ISIS's leadership, released a new audio recording featuring a speech by group spokesman Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi.

 

EXCLUSIVE: New Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Video Presents Its Fighters As Institutionalized Army

On June 18, 2021, a media outlet for the Syrian jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) released a video clip titled, "Strong Will," presenting various military aspects of the organization.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Responding To Seizure of Its Websites By U.S. Department Of Justice, Iran-backed Kata'ib Hizbullah Vows To Launch Dozens Of Websites To Expose The 'Despicable Acts' Of The U.S.

On June 24, 2021, a Telegram channel affiliated with Iran-backed Kata'ib Hizbullah (Hizbullah Brigades) in Iraq published a statement issued by Kata'ib Hizbullah's media bureau in response to recent seizure of three of the group's websites by the U.S. Department of Justice, for violating U.S. sanctions on Iraq.

 

Poster By Pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Media Group Declares West Africa 'Gateway To The Conquest Of Europe'

On June 20, 2021, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) media group released a poster titled "Africa is the Gateway to the Conquest of Europe."

 

ISIS Editorial Calls 'Apostate' Taliban 'Security Guard' Of U.S. Interests In Wake Of Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan, Refutes Claims Taliban Seeks To Establish Islamic Shari'a

The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.

Issue 291 of Al-Naba', the weekly newspaper of the Islamic State (ISIS), published on June 17, 2021, included an editorial alleging that the Taliban "apostates" are no longer a threat to "Crusader" America and noting that they have become "the security guard" that protects American interests by fighting the mujahideen in Afghanistan.

 

Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP) Claims Killing Two Alleged Spies For Afghan Government In Separate IED Attacks In Kabul

On June 16, 2021, the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility for two separate IED attacks that killed two alleged "spies" working for the "apostate" Afghan government in Kabul.

 

ISIS Claims It Targeted 16 Electricity Towers In Iraq As Part Of Economic War Campaign

On June 17, 2021, the Islamic State (ISIS) released Issue 291 of its newspaper Al-Naba', which includes exclusive reports and an infographic claiming that ISIS fighters have targeted 16 electricity towers in Dyala, Dijlah, Kirkuk, and Ninawa.

 

Continuing 'Economic War,' ISIS Claims Responsibility For Rocket Attack On Iraq's Largest Oil Refinery Of Baiji

On June 21, 2021, the Islamic State (ISIS) Wilayat Al-'Iraq, or Iraqi Province, claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on Iraq's largest oil refinery of Baiji in the northern Salahuddin province.

 

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Claims Killing 13 Tuareg Imghad Fighters In June 3 Ambush In Menaka, Mali

On June 22, 2021, the Islamic State (ISIS) Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiyah ("West Africa Province") also known as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), claimed the killing of 13 fighters from the Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group And Allies (GATIA) in a June 3 ambush in northwest Menaka in eastern Mali, along the border with Niger.

 

Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Claims Attack On Home Of Niger's National Assembly President In Niamey

On June 22, 2021, the Islamic State (ISIS) Wilayat Gharb Ifriqiyah, also known as Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP), claimed responsibility for a June 12 attack on the home of Seini Oumarou, the National Assembly speaker, in the Nigerien capital of Niamey.

 

ISIS Claims Deaths Of French Soldiers In Mali-Niger Border Skirmish

On June 23, 2021, the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed that on June 11 its fighters ambushed a joint patrol of Niger soldiers and French soldiers from the Barkhane force, in the In-Arbane area on the Mali-Niger border.

 

ISIS Al-Furqan Media Foundation To Release Important Statement From ISIS Leadership, Claims Supporter

On June 22, 2021, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Telegram channel announced an upcoming release from Al-Furqan Media Foundation, which specializes in circulating official statements from ISIS's leadership.

 

In 'How To Get Arrested' Post, ISIS Supporter Advises Against Sharing Information With Unknown Persons Online, Warns About Deepfake Technology

On June 15, 2021, an ISIS supporter shared a post on Telegram warning other ISIS supporters about making mistakes that could lead to their arrest.

 

In Bid To Demonize Jordanian Salafi-Jihadi Ideologue, Pro-HTS Media Group Creates Website To 'Expose The Truth About Al-Maqdisi'

A media group active in 2019 that was devoted to condemning clerics who oppose Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) announced on June 22, 2021 the creation of a new Telegram channel (452 subscribers) after Jordan-based jihadi ideologue Essam Al-Barqawi, aka Abu Muhammad Al-Maqdisi, became active again. The foundation also created a website exclusively dedicated to condemning Al-Maqdisi.

 

Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) Releases Video Highlighting News About Jihadis In Syria, Afghanistan, Western Condemnation Of China's Abuses Against Uighurs

On June 11, 2021, the Uighur jihadi group the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) released on its website a four-minute video summarizing Uighur-language news reports on East Turkestan, Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt, and the United States.

 

Ansar Al-Islam Claims Bombing Of Syrian Forces In Hama, Releases Photos Documenting Preparations For Attack

On June 17, 2021, Al-Ansar Media Foundation, the media arm of a jihadi group that operates in Syria and Iraq, released a statement on Telegram claiming that its fighters used mortars and rockets to target Syrian military forces stationed at various checkpoints in Hama province.

 

Syria-Based Saudi Clerics Honor Syrian Cleric Abdul Razzaq Al-Mahdi For His Role In Encouraging Mujahideen

On June 17, 2021, a Telegram channel affiliated with a recently-formed association of Saudi-born mujahideen in Syria, shared a three-minute video documenting a ceremony held to honor a Syrian jihadi cleric.

 

AQIM Commander Urges Palestinians To Continue On 'Path Of Jihad And Martyrdom,' Calls On Muslims To Support Palestinians With Funding, Weapons, And Men, And Accuses President Macron Of Inciting Hostility Towards Prophet Muhammad

On June 20, 2021, the media arm of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) released an audio statement delivered by the group's commander, Abu 'Ubaydah Yousuf Al-'Annabi.

 

Security Concerns In Nigeria Follow Death Of Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau

In May it was reported once again that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau had died.

 

Telegram Channels Affiliated With Iran-Backed Militias In Iraq React To Seizure Of Kata'ib Hizbullah's Web Domain By U.S. Department Of Justice

On June 22, 2021, Telegram channels affiliated with Iran-backed militias in Iraq commented on the decision of the U.S. Justice Department to seize multiple web domains including one operated by the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hizbullah in Iraq.

 

Iranian TV Channel Al-'Alam, Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias, And Telegram Channels Affiliated With Them Say U.S. Seizure Of Iranian And Pro-Iran Websites Reflects Their Growing Global Influence, U.S. Inability To Accept Competitors

In response to the announcement on June 22, 2021 that the U.S. Department of Justice seized 33 websites used by the Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTVU) and three websites operated by Kata'ib Hizbullah (KH) for violating U.S. sanctions, Iranian TV channel Al-'Alam, Iran-backed Iraqi militias, and Telegram channels affiliated with them condemned the U.S., saying that the seized websites reflect their growing global influence and the U.S. inability to accept competitors in any sector.

 

Anticipating Victory In Afghanistan, Qatar-Based Taliban Deputy Leader Mullah Baradar Writes: 'We Urge The International Community To Let The Afghans Decide Their Fate'

The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.

With a country-wide war raging in Afghanistan, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy emir for political affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban organization), has written an unprecedented article published by one of the Taliban official websites.

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