The Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham, a former al Qaeda affiliate that operates in Iraq and Syria, praised French, German, and Libyan suicide bombers in the latest release of its English-language magazine, which is called “Islamic State News.” The three suicide bombers are the latest foreign “martyrs” celebrated by the ISIS.

The second edition of Islamic State News, an 11-page digital magazine comprised of photographs, short captions, and statements, was released yesterday by the al I’tisaam Media Foundation, the ISIS’ official media outlet. The magazine was obtained by the SITE Intelligence Group.

Islamic State News breaks out its updates by wilayats, which are divisions or administrative units of the Islamic State. The ISIS has identified 16 wilayats in territory under its control or influence in Iraq and Syria. [See LWJ report, ISIS’ ‘Southern Division’ praises foreign suicide bombers.]

The announcement of the suicide bombers is on the third page under the heading “Wilayat Homs.”

Photographs of the three suicide bombers are published under the statement “Victory through Allah and then the truthfulness of the istishhadiyyun.” The term ‘istishhadiyyun’ is used to describe suicide bombers. Photographs of large smoke plumes from explosions, presumably from the bomb blasts, are shown next to those of the French and Libyan suicide bombers.

The dates and results of the suicide attacks were not disclosed. Nor were the true identities of the three suicide bombers; only their noms de guerre were provided.

The French suicide bomber, identified as Abdur-Raheeem al Faransi, reportedly conducted his attack in the village of Umm al ‘Amad.

The German suicide bomber, identified as Uthman al Almani, is said to have launched his attack in the village of Al Kaafaat.

And the Libyan suicide bomber was identified as Abu Aasim al Libi. He executed his attack in the village of Al Hiraki.

ISIS increases its propaganda on foreign suicide bombers

Over the past several months, the ISIS’ Baghdad, Southern, Ninewa, and Diyala divisions have all released statements that celebrated foreign suicide bombers.

The ISIS has said that suicide bombers from Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan or Pakistan, Tajikistan, the Russian Republic of Chechnya, France, Germany, England, and Denmark have carried out attacks for the group.

Just as its feud with al Qaeda over the ISIS’ expansion into Syria began heating up, the ISIS began to increase its propaganda highlighting the role of foreign suicide bombers in its operations. The uptick in such propaganda may be an attempt to emphasize the international nature of the group’s cadre. The ISIS and its emir, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, are seeking to portray themselves as the true standardbearers of international jihad instead of a regional terror group focused on Iraq and Syria. And the ISIS is signaling to foreign jihadists that they should join the terror group’s ranks as their deaths will be celebrated as martyrdoms.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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