Washington, D.C. – A new ominous audio message from mysterious Islamic States al-Furqan media wing spokesperson, Abu Hassan al-Muhajir was released in the early morning hours of April 4th. In a speech translated from Arabic titled; “So Be Patient. Indeed, The Promise of God Is Truth,” which is filled with the patented fire and brimstone-esque rhetoric the international community has become accustomed to. ISIS spokesperson, al-Muhajir, quickly began to lash out at the United States claiming the U.S. is “…bankrupt and the signs of your demise are evident to every eye.” and also took a jab at U.S. President Donald Trump claiming that; “There is no more evidence than the fact that you are being run by an idiot who does not know what Syria or Iraq or Islam is.”
Al-Muhajir also called on ISIS supporters, namely ‘lone wolf’ hopefuls in the West to pledge their; “support of the caliphate in America, Russia and Europe, the enemy’s interest can easily be targeted by you,” the spokesperson continued his request by also stating that ISIS lone wolves should endeavor to; “Make the enemy busy with itself so they can be distracted from targeting the nation of Islam.”
This latest propaganda message falls on the heels of the Islamic State’s colossal losses of troop strength and ground in both the Islamic State’s defacto caliphate capital city of Mosul in northern Iraq as well as large swaths of real estate in the east and northern regions of Syria to U.S. Special Operations along with the U.S.-backed coalition forces. The audio message and threats to the U.S. also coincides with President Trump’s latest promise of making the destruction of the Islamic State his administration’s top priority in a press conference after the terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom and most recently, in Russia. Something that doesn’t surprise most terrorism analysts tracking the Islamic State, such as SITE Intelligence Director, Rita Katz stated in a tweet:
7) Nothing new in #ISIS spokesman speech, but rather calls for support for #ISIS in time of weakness while lauding fighters and supporters
Little is truly known about the Islamic State’s newest media spokesperson, Abu Hassan al-Muhajir. Al-Muhajir stepped into the role of ISIS media mouth-piece after his successor, Abu Mohammad al-Adani. Who had the job of spokesperson along with leading a terror cell known as “Emni Unit” that exported terror attacks internationally, was killed in a coalition airstrike by U.S. warplanes in August 2016. Al-Muhajir released his first audio recording that December announcing his appointment to the position of Islamic State’s defacto press secretary. The Islamic State has gone to great lengths to hide Abu Hassan al-Muhajir’s true identity, rumors have been flying that he is in fact a U.S. citizen.
In a compelling report in The Atlantic, journalist Graeme Wood believes that Abu Hassan al-Muhajir is actually Texas-born American that fled to Syria to fight with ISIS, John Georgelas. Georgelas, also known by his Arabic name or kunya, Yahya Abu Hassan is reported to have had a very close friendship with his predecessor, al-Adani who was considered the second most powerful figure within the Islamic State next the its caliph al-Baghdadi prior to catching a 500-lb bomb from a U.S. warplane. In the Atlantic article, Mr. Woods spoke with John’s Greek-American father Timothy Georgelas in Plano, TX and his father had this to say after being told of Mr. Wood’s suspicion that his son was in fact a high-level ISIS member:
“I told him what I knew—that his son, John, was Yahya. Tim sat, lips pursed, and with a shake of his head began to speak. “Every step of his life he’s made the wrong decisions, from high school onward,” Tim told me. “It is beyond me to understand why he threw what he had away.” Two of Yahya’s sisters have earned advanced degrees, he added, as if to demonstrate that it wasn’t failed parenting that led his only son to drop out of school, wage holy war, and plot mass murder. He was always the youngest kid in the class, and always a follower,” Tim said. “I have bailed him out so many times—financially, in circumstances with his wife and kids, you name it. I always pick up the wreckage.”
Abu Hassan al-Muhajir; Suspected of being American, John Georgelas. Photo: The Atlantic
Despite the nationality of the Islamic State’s newest media spokesperson, this latest audio declaration is being met with a collective eye-roll from most inside the intelligence and counterterrorism communities. And little credence is being given to an actual ISIS plot to, in fact, attack President Trump or the United States. This latest audio recording from ISIS is simply being looked at as a desperate attempt to keep the fear of the ISIS jihadist threat very much real and right under the West’s nose.
A freelance journalist based on the West Coast. Green Beret veteran of the Global War on Terror. He researches and reports on African, and Horn of Africa Terror Networks & News. Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Member, Humanist, and Former Armed Anthropologist that longs for what was, the American Dream. Veteran of 82nd, 173rd, RTB, & "The Legion" 5th Special Forces Group (A/1/5 CIF). Twitter: @derekgannoncm6.
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Joni S
I can't imagine how hard it is for the family of John Georgelas to see the person he has become. Obviously, there is some denial, and who wouldn't want to deny what he has become. It has to be devastating. With that said, John or Yahya, has become a threat. A very real threat. And I hope his days on this earth are numbered. I know someone else will just take his place just like he took the place of his predecessor, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. I doubt this war will ever end. There will always be someone to take the place much like ants building a mound. You mess up their mound, they just move the mound to a new location. Said a person from Texas who deals with fire ants... they are almost as heinous.
Joni S
I also worry his ex might decide to have a renewed interest in her former lifestyle... or his children take up the cause... I would hope if this man sets foot on the US soil, he is arrested.
Joni S
Thanks for the book recommendation, Derek. Graeme Wood's article was very enlightening into the mind of this young man.
Derek Gannon
I highly suggest Mr. Woods book on the Islamic State called: The Way of the Strangers. Very good read.
lesley y
Thank you Mr. Gannon. The "The Atlantic" report by Graeme Wood is very intriguing and tells a lot about this "underachiever-turned-zealous-ISIS-scholar/spokeman".
Join our community. To comment on this article please join/login. Here's a sample of the comments on this post.
I can't imagine how hard it is for the family of John Georgelas to see the person he has become. Obviously, there is some denial, and who wouldn't want to deny what he has become. It has to be devastating. With that said, John or Yahya, has become a threat. A very real threat. And I hope his days on this earth are numbered. I know someone else will just take his place just like he took the place of his predecessor, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. I doubt this war will ever end. There will always be someone to take the place much like ants building a mound. You mess up their mound, they just move the mound to a new location. Said a person from Texas who deals with fire ants... they are almost as heinous.
I also worry his ex might decide to have a renewed interest in her former lifestyle... or his children take up the cause... I would hope if this man sets foot on the US soil, he is arrested.
Thanks for the book recommendation, Derek. Graeme Wood's article was very enlightening into the mind of this young man.
I highly suggest Mr. Woods book on the Islamic State called: The Way of the Strangers. Very good read.
Thank you Mr. Gannon. The "The Atlantic" report by Graeme Wood is very intriguing and tells a lot about this "underachiever-turned-zealous-ISIS-scholar/spokeman".