In a significant escalation of rhetoric, the Islamic State (IS) group has issued its first official audio statement in two years, directly calling for intensified attacks against the Syrian government and national army. The message, delivered by spokesperson Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari through the group’s official media channels, marks a strategic shift in the organization’s priorities.
The recording explicitly identifies the overthrow of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration as the group’s primary objective, characterizing his leadership as ‘apostate and secular rule.’ This declaration comes amid growing tensions following Syria’s recent alignment with international counter-terrorism efforts.
President al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, has undergone a remarkable political transformation. After ousting longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, he assumed the interim presidency in January 2025. His journey from leading al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch—which historically fought against IS—to his current position as a conventional political leader represents one of the most dramatic political evolutions in the region.
The timing of IS’s message appears directly linked to Syria’s November participation in the US-led global coalition against the terrorist organization. During his historic visit to Washington, al-Sharaa formalized Syria’s cooperation with the 90-member coalition, including attendance at recent meetings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The IS spokesperson condemned this alignment, accusing Western ‘crusaders’ of being Syria’s true rulers and vowing perpetual conflict in Damascus.
Independent researcher Cagatay Cebe, who specializes in jihadist movements, interprets the statement as an official declaration of strategic regrouping within Syria. ‘After its territorial losses in 2019, the organization preferred to maintain a low profile in Syria while strengthening its branches across different continents,’ Cebe explained to Middle East Eye. He noted that the group previously avoided claiming responsibility for attacks in government-held areas but changed tactics following al-Sharaa’s Washington visit.
The audio statement also celebrated IS’s operational successes across Africa while urging followers to mobilize in regions where the group maintains influence. Shortly after its release, IS claimed responsibility for an attack in Raqqa that killed two alleged Syrian army members, followed by another claimed operation in Deir al-Zor that resulted in one casualty and one injury among internal security forces.
According to a recent UN Office of Counter-Terrorism report, IS has already attempted five failed assassinations targeting President al-Sharaa and two senior cabinet ministers. The group, which once controlled vast territories across Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat in 2017-2019, appears to be repositioning itself for a renewed campaign centered in Syria, potentially transferring forces from Iraq according to analyst assessments.