Overview
Between the 17th and 23rd of September, Daesh claimed attacks and activities in Iran, Iraq, the Philippines and Syria. Al-Naba, released on 21 September, includes two infographics. The first infographic gives detailed information on Daesh activities between the 15th and 22nd of September. It states that they have killed or injured 483 people in 146 attacks all over the world. The second infographic gives an update of Daesh activities over the last year (Hijri calendar). They allege to have carried out 2,891 attacks; killing or injuring 19,900 people; destroying 1,725 military vehicles, 167 military headquarters and 221 houses of Shiites or dissident Daesh fighters. They also claim to have 113 Shiites and dissident fighters in detention.
Amaq released a short video showing the three men behind the attack at the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps military parade. The statement that was released by Daesh regarding this attack was later corrected. Another video was issued, showing the alleged statistical breakdown of Daesh operations, claiming 127 attacks across Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Somalia, Sinai region, Syria and Yemen. Another video allegedly shows clashes with Iraqi soldiers and PMU forces in Diyala. Daesh media affiliate, Furat Media Foundation, released an English chant promoting violent jihad as a form of worship. Voice of the caliphate, Daesh’s radio in Afghanistan, restarted their broadcasting on 19 September after having stopped two weeks earlier because of technical issues. Daesh has previously rebranded the Iraq and Syria branches – this time they have rebranded the Libya branch, merging three separate ‘provinces’ into one called Wilayah of Libya.
On the 21st of September, two posters were circulated on Telegram, threatening Australia and suggesting that Daesh is behind the strawberry scare (needles have been found in strawberries). A pro-Daesh group used a poster referring to Hitler and WWII to challenge the US to defeat Daesh. A pro-Daesh channel promoted the use of an Indonesian charity for bank transfers. A Daesh-linked tech group released a tutorial, in Arabic and English, on how to remove the camera and microphone from an Android smartphone for security reasons. The French pro-Daesh group, an-Nur media centre, promoted the use of antifreeze to kill. A pro-Daesh group accused AQAP of endangering civilian lives during their battles with Daesh, causing the death of a young girl.
Daesh propaganda video shows clashes in Diyala.
On the 17th of September, Daesh published a 15-minute, 30-second video via its official media outlets on Telegram. The video, entitled ‘Jihad is ongoing until the hour of judgement’, shows Daesh fighters carrying out attacks in Diyala. It urges its followers to continue fighting. It begins by highlighting that the group once controlled and then later lost territory. It uses an audio message of al-Zarqawi talking about perseverance in fighting regardless of setbacks. The video shows footage of attacks, including attacks on military barracks and dead bodies. It features old footage of IED attacks and clashes using light and heavy weapons. In the video, old audio messages of Daesh figures are being used to urge followers to keep fighting.