Who Runs ISIS Mouthpiece ‘Amaq’? Terror Expert Explains in Tweets

In a series of tweets, NYT’s Rukmini Callimachi provides a lowdown on Amaq’s modus operandi.

Rukmini Callimachi, a journalist with The New York Times and an expert on ISIS, however, argues that ISIS does not arbitrarily claim any attack. (Photo: ISIS Propaganda on Social Media/Altered by The Quint)

In the past few weeks, the world has seen terror attacks in quick succession with the Manchester Arena bombing, the London bridge attack, the Melbourne siege and most recently, the deadly twin attacks in the heart of Tehran. Each of these attacks – not unlike several others in the past three years – were claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Now each time there’s a terror attack, the world expects that ISIS will claim responsibility, usually through its mouthpiece Amaq. What is the Amaq agency though, and how does it function?

Rukmini Callimachi, a journalist with The New York Times and an expert on ISIS, however, argues that ISIS does not arbitrarily claim any attack.

In a series of tweets, Callimachi provides a lowdown on Amaq’s modus operandi. Take a look.

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Callimachi reports that Amaq cannot just function out of Iraq and Syria, given how quick they are to make announcements and upload videos.

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She argues that Amaq always cites a “source” when claiming an attack, almost like they’re reporting it.