Al-Qaeda, Islamic State Urge Followers To Strike Israeli, US, and Jewish Targets
A Rising Threat of Extremist Violence
Overt Operator
October 23, 2023
In a series of recent statements, extremist groups Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) have called upon their followers to target Israeli, US, and Jewish targets, escalating concerns about potential terrorist violence in the Middle East and the West.
Over the past two weeks, affiliates of Al-Qaeda have praised Hamas for its "invasion of Israel." This reference is directed at the devastating terrorist attacks on October 7 that resulted in the death of approximately 1,400 individuals, predominantly civilians.
The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with over 4,500 fatalities reported by medical authorities in the Hamas-controlled territory. The escalating conflict has triggered widespread outrage across the Islamic world, providing extremist groups with an opportunity to incite further violence, according to experts.
A recent statement from Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda's powerful affiliate in Somalia, signifies the broader implications of the conflict. It characterizes the Middle East unrest as not merely a localized dispute but a battle involving the entire Muslim Ummah. The statement calls on Muslims to unite and support the mujahideen against "the Jews and their hypocritical infidel allies." It argues that the strength of the Muslim nation is dependent on the strength of its jihadist fronts.
Similar sentiments have been echoed by other Al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen, Syria, and the Indian subcontinent. The Long War Journal, a news website specializing in Islamist violence, reported that Al-Qaeda's branches in North and West Africa have lauded the Hamas attacks on Israel and urged further violence against Jews.
The groups' statement read, “We congratulate your actions and urge you to continue, biting your teeth with patience on the path of jihad… They [the Palestinians] attacked the Jews… wanting to lift the sword of humiliation from their necks.”
The amplified calls to violence from these extremist groups have heightened concerns among Western officials regarding a potential wave of extremist violence. The clear endorsement of terrorist acts and the call to participate in such actions underscores the urgent need for global counter-terrorism efforts and strategies to mitigate the risk of further escalation.