Weapons Analysis: Islamic State Groups Across Asia Pledge Allegiance to New Leader

Following the death of its leader, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi, in Syria and operational setbacks in most theatres, the Islamic State’s (IS) propagandists look to uphold morale by portraying such events and developments as temporary challenges toward a greater victory. This was articulated in an editorial featured in issue 404 of IS’s weekly newsletter Al-Naba. Despite losing four leaders since October 2019, IS purports that the series of pledges to the organization and its new leadership show the continued strength and resilience of the movement globally.

IS admits that its branches face intense military and media opposition internationally but accepts this as inevitable in forging the group’s future. In recent years, IS’s Asian contingents have generally been degraded yet continue to operate and pose threats to their respective regions. This article will examine the visual content released by these affiliates in renewing allegiances to IS authorities.