Islamists in Azerbaijan Swear Allegiance to the Islamic State

• 09.10.2015, 20:10
•  Region,  World

The terrorist organization Islamic State is consistently strengthening its position in the Caucasus. During the last years intensification of extremist ideas in the neighboring Azerbaijan paved the way for the IS. It is well known that thousands of Azerbaijanis fight in Syria and Iraq on the side of the IS and other terrorist organizations.

One of the authors of Azerbaijani  Haqqin.az says there are already 40 thousand of jihadists in Azerbaijan. Most of them now fight in Syria. Azerbaijan has a transit point of spreading radical ideas. It became one of the most reliable supplier of foreign recruits. During the last 3 years more than 200 Azerbaijani fighters were killed in Syria.

Now Islamic State’s involvement in the Caucasus enters a new stage. The Islamists that act in Azerbaijan, swear allegiance to the Islamic State. "We welcome our brothers from the Islamic State. Our victories and defeats are the same. This is the reason "Arran Al-Islamiyya" gives sworn to Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, joining the jihad against the enemies of Allah," the announcement of the organization put on Facebook says.

Azerbaijani authorities have not officially recognize "Islamic State" as a terrorist organization. Some analysts say the strengthening of the Islamic State in Azerbaijan takes place in the conditions of the connivance of the authorities. They stress the possibility that the Azerbaijani leadership wants to use their military experience against Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Armenia.

It should be noted that in June terrorist organization "Imarat Kavkaz" also joined the Islamic State. This means the IS implements its plans in the Caucasus, becoming a real threat to regional countries, including Armenia.