IS has called on its followers and 'lone mujahideen' to exploit and draw 'inspiration' from the LA fires, urging them to carry out arson attacks targeting forests, buildings, malls, and other structures. In the past, the group has consistently called for such attacks and has

🚨Profoundly important insights from Wassim Nasr @SimNasr the only international journalist to spend time with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa both before and after the fall of Assad. His insights in the spring of 2023 in CTC Sentinel on al-Sharaa's ideological journey

The 34th issue of #ISKP Voice of Khurasan magazine mentions countries already targeted by Islamic State, including the knife attack on a Jewish man in Zürich on 2 March 2024. First time that an attack in #Switzerland is praised by the group, even if this is not an official claim.

10/ Key findings: • The Islamic State claimed 2,028 attacks in 24 countries in 2022, a decrease from the previous year. • Sharp drop in Iraq. • Africa was the most afflicted continent, with a significant increase in attacks at Christians. • High focus on prison(er)s. [END]

9/ Even if the Islamic State tends to overstate the number of casualties, it is worth noting that, while #IS remained the most active in Iraq, its attacks proportionally caused much more casualties in Mali, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Syria in 2022.

8/ In 2022, the Islamic State claimed four attacks at prisons in DRC, Syria and Nigeria. #IS spokesman devoted a quarter of his latest speech to highlight these prison breaks. Attacks in Syria were conducted to revenge the IS men/women held in al-Hol camp. https://t.co/vbtj2hrJyH

7/ Last year saw an upsurge in attacks against Christians in #Africa, namely in Nigeria, Mozambique and DRC. In two separate videos, ISCAP and IS in Mozambique fighters also threatened Christians, and they published numerous photosets of churches burning throughout the year 2022.

6/ In 2022, the Islamic State claimed 39 military operations per week on average. Peak in the group’s attacks in Iraq, Syria and Nigeria in April, during the holy month of #Ramadan. Significant increase in Egypt in #IS claimed operations in August during the Galabana campaign.

5/ IS-Iraq was the top province in 2022, followed closely by #ISWAP that expanded its operations to new States in Nigeria. Fratricidal fighting between IS and #JNIM in the Sahel. First IS attack in Iran in four years, and in Israel in five years. First claimed operation in Benin.

4/ Over the past year, #Africa was a focus in IS magazine al-Naba’. In 40 out of 52 issues, #ISWAP (Nigeria-Cameroon) and #ISCAP (DRC) made the headlines. IS-Iraq was on the front page only once, which confirms that it has not conducted any significant operation in the country.

3/To start with, interestingly, the number of Islamic State’s attacks has dropped consistently since the fall of Baghûz (March 2019), last #IS stronghold in Syria. This is particularly striking in the case of #Syria and #Iraq, where the group is a mere shadow of what it once was.

2/ Detail about the methodology: I have analysed all the information provided by the Islamic State in the 52 issues of its weekly magazine al-Naba’ (cf. the front page of the issue 369). For every single IS claimed attack, I have analysed the target(s)/weapon(s) used/geolocation.

[THREAD] 1/ In 2022, the Islamic State claimed 2,028 attacks in 24 countries. It carried out large-scale operations in Syria, Nigeria and Afghanistan. Sharp decline in #IS operations in Iraq. Africa was the continent most afflicted, with a sharp increase in attacks at Christians.

Good catch @TomaszRolbiecki. The Islamic State claimed #ISWAP VBIED that killed three guards at the Okene emir's palace in Kogi State #Nigeria on 29 December. The attack took place minutes before the President @MBuhari opened a hospital less than a kilometre away from the palace.

Between 1 and 19 December, the Islamic State published more than 300 photos showing the pledge of allegiance of 14 #IS provinces (+ Tunisia and Lebanon) to their new leader. Again, IS-Iraq, IS-Syria and #ISWAP were by far the most represented. Half of IS provinces are in #Africa.

In a nine-minute audio statement, the Islamic State's spokesman 'Abu 'Umar al-Muhâjir announces that #IS leader 'Abu al-Hassan al-Hâshimi al-Qurashi has been killed in action. This is the second IS leader killed this year. The new leader is 'Abu al-Hussain al-Hussaini al-Qurashi.

#DRC Three and a half years after the #ADF's plegde of allegiance to the Islamic State, IS in Central Africa published yesterday its first long-form video (19:46). In sum: review of #ISCAP biggest attacks, anashîd in Swahili and Arabic, images of training camps and drone footage.

In a 36-minute audio statement, the Islamic State's spokesman Abu 'Umar al-Muhâjir devotes a quarter of his speech to highlight #IS prison breaks this year in Syria, Nigeria and DRC. Praises ISWAP/ISCAP/IS-Sinai/ISKP. Calls on Muslims to join the group. Criticises AQ/HTS/Taliban.

#Africa Within ten days, the Islamic State's affiliated 'A'mâq news agency has released two short videos showing #IS fighters in Mozambique 🇲🇿 and DRC 🇨🇩. One key message in both productions: jihâd will continue until the application of Sharia and until Non-Muslims pay jizya/tax.

For the third time this year, the Islamic State claims an attack at a prison, this time in Butembo #DRC 🇨🇩. 750 inmates freed. Previous attacks in Hassakeh #Syria 🇸🇾 and in Kuje #Nigeria 🇳🇬 The group regularly calls on #IS fighters to carry out such attacks in its communications.