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Islamic State Calls Coronavirus Pandemic a Plague of Biblical Proportions

Jeff Seldin

   WASHINGTON - The Islamic State is promising the terror group's enemies
   will be struck down by the coronavirus pandemic much like the Bible
   says Egypt's pharaoh was devastated by the 10 plagues.

   The warning, from IS spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurashi, came during a
   39-minute speech titled "And the Disbelievers Will Know Who Gets the
   Good End," issued on social media Thursday by IS's media division.

   "We rejoice today with the great torment of God that befell you,"
   al-Qurashi said in the message, obtained for VOA by the SITE
   Intelligence Group.

   "A greater punishment will befall you with our hands," he added,
   according to VOA's translation of the message. "What you are seeing
   today is nothing but indications of major transformations that the
   Muslim countries will witness in the coming period."

   The message is the third by al-Qurashi since he took over as the IS
   spokesman last October following the death of his predecessor, and the
   first since January when he mocked the Iraqi government and boasted of
   the terror group's staying power.

     DEVELOPING: [1]#ISIS' al-Furqan Media issues audio speech by new
     spokesman Abu Hamza al-Qurashi mocking the [2]#Iraq government for
     its lack of control and inability to expel US forces
     via [3]@siteintelgroup
     -- Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) [4]January 27, 2020

   U.S. counterterrorism officials have yet to verify the authenticity of
   the audio, though it came from IS's central media division, the
   al-Furqan Foundation. Analysts say the voice seems to match the one on
   al-Qurashi's previous releases.

   It would also appear to have been recorded somewhat recently, as it
   mentions not only the coronavirus pandemic but also the terror group's
   latest offensive in Iraq and Syria, the U.S. agreement with the Taliban
   in Afghanistan, and growing tensions between IS and al-Qaida terror
   affiliates in Africa.

   Analysts say the latest recording may hope to build on IS's recent
   momentum in Iraq and Syria, where the number of attacks has almost
   doubled since March.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISIS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iraq?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   3. https://twitter.com/siteintelgroup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   4. https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1221780322607607808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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