Ayman al Zawahiri discusses the importance of jihadist media

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THE LONG WAR JOURNAL

A Project Of The Foundation For Defense Democracies

 

Ayman al Zawahiri discusses the importance of jihadist media

 

BY THOMAS JOSCELYN | August 19, 2015 | tjoscelyn@gmail.com | @thomasjoscelyn

 

In his third media appearance this month, Ayman al Zawahiri urges jihadist unity in the realm of the media.

 

After a lengthy media absence, al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri has appeared in three separate releases this month.

 

In the first, Zawahiri swore allegiance to Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, the Taliban’s new emir. Mansour, in turn, promptly accepted the pledge. In the second, Zawahiri introduced Osama bin Laden’s son, Hamzah, to the world as a “lion” of al Qaeda. Hamzah went on to deliver a lengthy address, praising al Qaeda’s regional branches and discussing other matters. The first two messages featured the same still image of Zawahiri set against different backgrounds. The al Qaeda leader’s talks were delivered via audio files, with no video of him speaking.

 

But Zawahiri’s third appearance is different. In a 35-minute video, which was disseminated via Twitter on August 15, Zawahiri discusses his time spent with Osama bin Laden. The video is the seventh part in Zawahiri’s “Days with the Imam” series, which began in November 2011. And bin Laden’s former deputy uses the video to preach jihadist unity, especially in the realm of the media.

 

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/08/ayman-al-zawahiri-importance-jihadist-media.php