Islamic State propaganda video details battle of Kobane


مؤسسة الاعتصام تقدم عزم الأباة The Resolve of… by you33216

A video released by an Islamic State media wing detailed the battle for Kobane from the group’s perspective. The video was uploaded to YouTube and Dailymotion and was then disseminated on Twitter by the group’s supporters. The terror group has taken to spreading its propaganda that way as Twitter has cracked down on official Islamic State accounts. The YouTube link will likely be taken down soon.

The video, which is just under 21 minutes, features an explanation of who the Kurdish defenders are and a justification as to why the jihadist group is fighting them. The Islamic State claims that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the PKK’s Syrian affiliate, People’s Protection Units (YPG), are founded on “atheism and the denial of Allah’s lordship and godhood,” “socialism with regards to wealth and promiscuity with regards to chastity,” and “Kurdish nationalism as a basis for the establishment of a state.” The video mentions that Kurds, elements of the Free Syrian Army, and elements of the Islamic Front formed an “operations room” north of Aleppo to fight the Islamic State.

The “operations room,” which is not a physical room but a general coordination of military activity, is called Burkan al Furat (Euphrates Volcano). The propaganda states that the Kurds in Kobane and the Euphrates Volcano wanted to fight the Islamic State to expel it from areas near the Euphrates River. These statements are presented as a justification for the Islamic State’s attack on Kobane.

The rest of the video shows Islamic State fighters battling on the outskirts of Kobane using howitzers and tanks. Several shots also depict Islamic State fighters using small arms to battle the Kurds both on the outskirts of Kobane and within the city. Throughout the video, several shots of dead Kurdish fighters are shown.

A number of scenes show the Islamic State destroying alcoholic beverages, drugs, and cigarettes from Kurdish houses seized in the fighting. The video also highlights several suicide bombers who were used in assaulting the city. Before the video ends, it features part of an audio speech released in late September by Islamic State spokesman Abu Muhammad al Adnani.

Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Tags: , ,

3 Comments

  • Tom says:

    Pretty effective use of close infantry support of Tanks reminiscent of WW2. The Tank shields the Infantry from small arms fire and lays down suppressing fire, destroys strong points, and the infantry protect the tank from AT weaponry.

  • Jamanka Karfa says:

    I do not believe that the use of Kurdish armed groups as proxies to fight against the Islamist is the best way to end the Syrian or Iraqi mesh.
    Western powers, or the International Community, should take the bull by the horn in dealing directly with The Islamic State rather than using either Kurdish or Shiite milisia.
    State actors must be used against all existential threats to states.

  • Jamanka Karfa says:

    I do not believe that the use of Kurdish armed groups as proxies to fight against the Islamist is the best way to end the Syrian or Iraqi mesh.
    Western powers, or the International Community, should take the bull by the horn in dealing directly with The Islamic State rather than using either Kurdish or Shiite milisia.
    State actors must be used against all existential threats to states.

Iraq

Islamic state

Syria

Aqap

Al shabaab

Boko Haram

Isis