The Islamic State confirms the death of its leader and announces the appointment of a new one: Abu Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi.

On 30 November 2022, the Islamic State’s official al-Furqan Media released a 9-minute and 44-second audio speech by IS spokesman Abu Umar Al-Mujahir entitled: “So they kill and are killed”.

The Islamic State spokesman announced that IS leader Abu Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi was killed in combat and “has left this sinful world and is no longer alive”.

Abu Umar then announced the name of the new caliph and leader of the Islamic State, whose battle name is Abu Hussein al-Husseini al-Qureshi.

Abu Umar then called on all IS fighters around the world to pledge allegiance to the new leader of IS.

The name of the new IS leader, al-Husseini al-Qureshi, attracts attention. In the audio, the spokesman claims that he is a descendant of Imam Hussain, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, who is extremely revered by Shia and respected by Sunnis.

Compared to previous audios, which always lasted more than twenty minutes and even longer, this audio is very brief and merely conveys the news of the death and the appointment of a successor.

As with the last two leaders (Abu al-Hasan and Abu Ibrahim), IS did not reveal the new leader’s identity; nothing is known about him. The IS spokesperson only gave his nom de guerre and said he was a veteran IS jihadist, assuring that he could be traced back to the Prophet Muhammed, a requirement for the position of caliph.

IS revealed that Abu al-Hasan, died fighting. According to various information gathered, he was supposedly killed in Syria, in the town of Jassem, in the Daraa area, by pro-government forces (probably mid/end of October).

In 2022, two IS leaders were killed; before him, Abu Ibrahim was killed in a US special operation in the Syrian province of Idlib on 22 February. In March, photos and videos of the provinces pledging allegiance to the new caliph were released.

It is therefore clear that in recent weeks, the Islamic State’s Shura Council has deliberately and opportunistically concealed the death of the organisation's leader.

Now, after only a few months, oaths of allegiance to the new leader are expected from all the provinces of the Islamic State.

Daniele Garofalo is a researcher and analyst on Jihadist terrorism and an expert in monitoring Jihadist media channels.

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