Why ISIS Doesn't Always Publicize Its Attacks

Global Courant

Contents

Islamic State (ISIS) has never shied away from bravura. Claiming attacks and the ability to storm capitals have been used to frighten enemies since it rose to prominence.

But a recent report suggests the terror group has deliberately begun to hold back from publicizing its own attacks, revealing internal tensions and a dynamic that policymakers leading the fight against ISIS should consider.

On June 25 ISIS issued a report on Telegram presenting his military operations in Syria, particularly in Deir Ezzor and Daraa. What set this report apart from others was that several of the attacks had not previously been claimed by the group.

While the idea that ISIS under-reports the attacks it carries out for security reasons is not new, another set of ISIS documentsallegedly leaked and published by an anti-ISIS outlet further support this claim and indicate that it is not just a selfish story.

The leaked documents provide valuable insight into the decision-making behind claiming certain attacks and not others, as well as the resulting internal tensions within the group. It also shows that analysts relying solely on the number of claimed attacks will not get an accurate measure of the strength of a militant group.

Therefore, policymakers should be careful and take a comprehensive approach when assessing the capabilities of the group and the threat it poses.

The leaked documents were published by Fadh Ubbad al-Baghdadi and al-Hashimi on June 20 and June 21. The outlet — whose name means “Exposing the Worshipers” of slain ISIS leaders Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi — is a pro-Al-Qaeda, anti-ISIS account that posts comments and reportedly leaked internal communications from the group.

According to the documents, the media arm of ISIS is generally responsible for publicizing attacks. It receives local documentation and forwards it to the central department for publication.

However, the decision whether or not to publicize an attack rests with both senior media and military commanders, and local military leaders have the power to veto publication if they feel it is against their best interests.

The leaked documents also reveal contrasting perspectives between media and military commanders in Syria on which attacks should and should not be made public. While some departments, such as Deir Ezzor, cooperate with media personnel, others, such as Badia and Daraa departments, reject the idea of publishing attack claims.

The military leadership, particularly in those regions, reportedly maintains a policy of media silence due to security concerns.

These disagreements have led to internal tensions and disputes. Media officials critical of the de facto gag order claim it is counterproductive, benefits the group’s enemies and hinders propaganda efforts.

They claim that apart from failing to deter enemy counter-offensives, publicizing ISIS activities would spread fear among “renegades” and potentially lead to similar attacks in Syria.

To bolster their argument, media officials reportedly asked how the situation in Syria differed from that in Iraq where, despite intense military pressure, the fighters continued to make attacks claims.

ISIS has previously acknowledged its disclosure policy in its weekly magazine Al-Naba. In an article dated March 16 claimed the group that it deliberately withholds some attack claims for operational reasons.

In a rare interview last July with the head of ISIS operations in Syria’s Badia – a vast desert region connecting Homs, Hama, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor – a similar claim was made. The official said ISIS has carried out a significantly higher number of attacks than it has publicly acknowledged, indicating a strategy of selectively sharing, delaying or withholding information about attacks for operational reasons.

Interestingly enough, the commander warned supporters who might be excited about sharing news of the group’s attacks not to do so and to strictly adhere to ISIS’s official claims.

It is important to recognize that ISIS’s narrative of media silence can be used to justify the notable drop in attack rates reported by the group. However, ISIS is not the only entity to have emphasized a strategy of under-reporting.

The Rojava Information Center, which monitors ISIS attacks in areas held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said the group is known to carry out attacks unclaimed attacks in northeastern Syria.

The center also said that of the 285 attacks attributed to the group by outside media in 2022, ISIS only claimed responsibility for 185.

This article is provided by Syndication Bureauon which the copyright is based.