Analysis: Islamic State spokesman says ‘new phase’ of jihad has begun
By Thomas Joscelyn | April 24, 2018
The Islamic State’s Al-Furqan Media released a lengthy speech from its spokesman, Abu al-Hasan al-Muhajir, on Apr. 22. In the 49-minute message, titled “So Follow Their Guidance,†al-Muhajir summarizes his organization’s war against its many enemies, both in the region and abroad. Far from conceding defeat, he says the fight continues.
Indeed, Al-Muhajir claims that the so-called caliphate’s men have entered a “new phase†in the “path of jihad†as others now seek “to inherit what is left behind by America†after it withdraws from the region. The ISIS spokesman says the U.S. is leaving Syria and Iraq after the “mujahideen exhausted it.†He claims that America is “incapable of countering†the Russians and the Iranians, who are expanding their sphere of influence as America supposedly retreats.
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2018/04/analysis-islamic-state-spokesman-says-new-phase-of-jihad-has-begun.php
