Laith Alkhouri

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

6) However, it is important to acknowledge that many of those who joined #ISIS in places like #Iraq, #Syria, #Nigeria, #Afghanistan and others didn’t have a choice when the group dominated a territory, and others didn’t have access to the Internet to “get radicalized” to join. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

5) Today, we don’t have statistics or intelligence to denote the direct impact propaganda and online activities have on the actions of an observer or sympathizer, but what we do know is that a number of those arrested & convicted of terrorism offenses have consumed propaganda. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

4) Another important piece to this is that the groups‘ propaganda is aimed at the international community as much as it is aimed at the support base — the online activities are directly and indirectly impacting sympathizers and potentially what action, if any, they might take. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

3) As much of the research done today is based on observations of groups’ propaganda & online activities, it’s a significant piece of the entire body of research. As researchers & journalists on the ground cover the action, their research isn’t complete without the online part. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

2) Not so different from taking multiple selfies & publishing the best new on social media. But importantly, the online activities are meant to impact public opinion, decision making, & (mis)trust in governing bodies, w/ consequences on architecting strategies re battlefield. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

1) For those in #counterterrorism, the #cyber field & the kinetic, on the grounds activities are largely connected. For groups like #ISIS, they are inseparable. Part of the group’s success is due to exhibiting a healthy standing through online publications and propaganda. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Whe President Biden is in office. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

RT @StephenKing: 1919. https://t.co/v37DFMFmbQ — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

RT @NatashaFatah: Sudan bans FGM and breaks with hardline Islamist policies https://t.co/EMUFUhlhtZ — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

10) #ISIS supporters are neither capable of building bioweapons, nor are they supported in this line of thinking by the collective violent extremists at large. We ought to be more concerned w/ our individual responsibility (masks & social distancing) than ISIS building bio wpns. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

9) But the most important reason I'm mentioning this is to place the lid on the topic. Yes, a couple of jihadists have previously discussed biowarfare & viruses, but at large our collective fear in this regard is based on a lack of understanding of what are *actually* capable of. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

8) Part of the reason I'm tweeting this out is that I'd forgotten all about this discussion from 6 years earlier when some journalists inquired whether jihadists ever discussed Corona Virus. I had to do some due diligence to find it and it took a while. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

7) Pro #ISIS channels online later released information about #Botulism & #Anthrax - on a scale, a very small part of a big collection of militant material (mostly on explosives) aimed at equipping jihadists with the know-how to launch attacks. None has taken biowarfare seriously — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

6) He mentioned that #ISIS fighters are already "martyrdom-seekers," and even if transporting viruses from overseas to the US would require them to "drink it," then they would, because it would be for the purpose of causing a "pandemic" in the US. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

5) The ISIS forum user talked about "germ harvesting:" weaponizing "germs and viruses," indicating that it is doable even in a small apartment lab. The two examples of fatal viruses he mentioned are #coronavirus and #Ebola. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

4) As I combed through some of the old discussions, going back years - hundreds of militant discussions (some discussions go back to over 13 years), I spotted the first mention of #coronavirus among online jihadists in a September 2014 posting on a top ISIS web forum. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

3) They largely do not possess the capability to weaponize viruses, and the majority of them has discouraged others from even discussing these topics on ISIS supportive deep web forums. Most of them believe that dabbling in this murky territory isn't their business. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

2) I previously commented on potential scenarios wherein terrorist groups and their supporters could exploit the pandemic, and I mentioned that they would be more opportunistic (i.e take advantage of under-secure areas) than sophisticated, long-term planning. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Thread: 1) A number of people have asked me about whether throughout my research on terrorist groups if I'd come across violent extremist discussions on biowarfare, on the heels of discussions regarding #coronavirus and whether there's potential to weaponize it by ISIS types. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

#ISIS claims that its militants launched 4 IED attacks in Muqdadiya, Khanqin and Jalulaa in Diyala Province yesterday, targeting PMU and counterterrorism personnel, allegedly killing and wounding 18. A number of other ops took place in Diyala during the last few days as well. — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

RT @NCPTF8: MALVERN, PA — A 14-year-old’s message, “I don’t want to be here anymore,” assisted in an investigation that uncovered an East W… — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Help needed! Alert authorities with any information. @MissingKids @NCPTF8 @Volk_NCPTF #AmberAlert — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

The Taliban continues to launch ops despite the shameful so-called peace deal. While not against Americans this time, the group has been in breach of it and will likely continue to breach it in the foreseeable future. Attacks will continue to intensify. https://t.co/leer6219Fr — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

That’s not good... https://t.co/FxxVppkC24 — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Russian hacker behind 2012 hack of LinkedIn and DropBox finally found guilty in US court. https://t.co/C5If1ojSn5 — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

So the non-scientists want to tell the scientist how science works? — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Oh God! The Trump Hotel Easter buffet! — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

#Christchurch terrorist to represent himself at sentencing in #NewZealand https://t.co/LuOH6FGGwj — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Manhunt in Germany for man who disarmed 4 police officers (from @AP) https://t.co/PG2ebEkCNb — PolitiTweet.org

Laith Alkhouri @MENAanalyst

Gasundheit — PolitiTweet.org