Laith Alkhouri

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

#ISIS claims responsibility for a motorcycle-borne IED attack targeting Iraqi soldiers in eastern Kabisah, #Anbar Province, allegedly killing two soldiers. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

https://t.co/z6ran1fUgg — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Insider threat is a serious thing. Forget Twitter; any company can face a similar fate when there are employees who maliciously capitalize on their access privileges. Insider threat auditing should be seriously considered, and regularly done. https://t.co/jrJprp7SpO — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

The COVID situation certainly helped the acceleration of attacks but it has not been the main factor. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Out of all the #ISIS operational territories, #Iraq has received the lion’s share of the group’s attacks for months on end, including before COVID hit the country. It signifies that the group’s focus on Iraq is related more to its image and standing as its center of gravity. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

For those tracking #ISIS insiders in #Iraq, there’s frequent jubilation online over the death of Iraqi military personnel who died of #COVID19. This trend continues. However, amplifying operations in #Iraq isn’t solely based on COVID; other major factors to be considered. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Good read by ⁦@CruickshankPaul⁩. Some of us have been discussing how #ISIS exploits #COVID19 & taking advantage of security gaps goes hand in hand w/ its opportunistic approach. This is another reason #Iraq has been witnessing a massive spike in ops. https://t.co/kmmYbnYtDi — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

I have a joke about the GRU, but it has just been hacked. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Video production fell down significantly; 1st after Mosul then after Baghuz. It hasn’t recovered. Today it’s once in a blue moon. While significant, it doesn’t reflect the reality on the grounds. Media personnel aren’t in the action but militants are going quite strong worldwide. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

There’s also a noteable shortage of #ISIS multimedia propaganda production, which isn’t new but continues to be the case. Claims of attacks are being issued, but there’s a major shortage in video releases. Another reason to believe its media production is suffering. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

While it is not ascertainable whether dozens were killed or not, #ISIS didn’t claim responsibility for this attack for a few days, which has happened more than once recently. A delay in the claim for such a “big” op tells me that there’s a noteable vacuum in its media apparatus. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Another possibility is that the number of casualties has been underreported by the Egyptian authorities. #ISIS has claimed multiple operations there over the past several weeks, and from reading the claims, it appears that its militants have upped the ante in Sinai. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

With such conflicting claims, one should make an assumption that #ISIS always exaggerates its operations and even when they are successful, the number of casualties is often exaggerated. But here we have a huge discrepancy. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

#ISIS claimed killing 40, wounding 60 security personnel in #Egypt #Sinai; that its militants launched 2 suicide ops targeting an army encampment & a security site, followed by a heavy assault last Tuesday. Media reports say authorities “foiled” the attack, possibly 2 killed. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

So horrific. https://t.co/dwQM8zItlc — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Absolutely nuts and unfathomable to accuse @MitchSilber of Islamophobia and racism. Mitch is a good friend, always balanced, and he worked at one of the most diverse law enforcement bodies in the world. Students and @ColumbiaSIPA are seriously lucky that he’s a professor there. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

For the photography aficionados, @Lee_Jeffries work is epic. For humanists, his portraits are a door into another world. Follow him! Even better, buy a signed portrait! — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Yeah, indeed, he turned our foreign policy around — upside down! He made the US the laughing stock of the world. Literally. You’re a disgrace for supporting his actions that weakened our foreign policy. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

RT @MiaMBloom: This thread by @MENAanalyst on the continued efforts by isis to remain relevant 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼 — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

We tend to forget that ISIS is operating in several countries & that it continues to be highly capable of managing ops in the Middle East, Central & West Africa, Central Asia & beyond. Today’s messaging aims at turning the attention to its potential ability to strike in the West. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

#ISIS wants to strike again in the West; it wants to reassert itself in the spotlight; it wants to shed light again on its notoriety and showcase that its losses are nothing but a bump in the road. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

These advices are notable, and urging potential homegrown violent extremists to maintain good relationships with neighbors and even integrate with people and adhere to the society’s traditions underscores that the group is restrategizing its recruitment in the West. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Further, it encourages supporters to become acclimated to being “alert and constantly aware,” and to maintain a “balanced relationship with neighbors, to avoid being aggressive towards anyone. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

In added that followers should integrate with their surrounding environment, advising against being different and oppositional to the surrounding traditions, which might “bring attention to you.” — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

The group advises its supporters in enemy homelands to avoid habitual acts incl what they eat or wear, as it makes it easier to become the subject of surveillance by authorities. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

In its latest issue of al-Nabaa magazine, #ISIS issued “security advice” tp those “living in the lands of the enemies” in which is emphasizes that mujahideen should maintain privacy and plot in secrecy. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Ok, this one might be one of the top three! @sarahcpr — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

I know we’re all dealing with #covid19 crisis, but can we please not forget about the children in cages, separated from their families, again, in cages! — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

RT @USAfricaCommand: @MENAanalyst UPDATE: It is our understanding 1 partner force member did sustain a minor injury, and was treated on sit… — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Important statement from @USAfricaCommand refuting the terror group’s claims of killing/wounding US service members or partner forces in #Somalia. USAFRICOM indicates that 7 #ISIS militants were killed in the airstrike. — PolitiTweet.org