Articles and Analysis

Three years since Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a “caliphate” from the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, Iraq, his terrorist group has gone through significant change in terms of its global military and media presence.

Islamic State (IS) and pro-IS media units have turned to the Baaz social media platform as a new means of propaganda distribution.

The July 14, 2016 attack in Nice, France has brought a great deal of attention to the Islamic State’s (IS) use of French in its propaganda.

Introduction

In wake of an increased military role in the Syrian Civil War, the Russian government performed a series of airstrikes in eastern Syria.

As the Islamic State (IS) continues its march to expand its Caliphate into more regions of Syria and Iraq, suicide operations have been one of its most valuable weapons.

A recent move by al-Qaeda’s wing in Syria, the al-Nusra Front, illustrates again the importance of social media for the global jihadi movement and its effect on the evolution in jihadi online platforms.

In an unexpected and unprecedented turn of events, al-Qaeda members and jihadists from all over the world who embrace the ideology of global jihad are now doubting the group’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and calling for his removal.

The August 14, 2013, clashes between Egyptian security forces and supporters of Mohamed Morsi have reinvigorated calls amongst jihadis for the establishment of armed jihadi groups in the country.

AQAP leader Abu Baseer al-Wuhayshi

Reports circulated in the media point to an intercepted communication between al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader Abu Baseer al-Wuhayshi as causing the U.S. government to issue a travel alert and temporarily close its embassies.