Prophecies of apocalypse rally ISIS jihadists
9 Oct 2014 6:45 AM IST
An infidel horde flying 80 banners meets a Muslim army at the Syrian town of Dabiq in an apocalyptic battle. The Muslims are decimated but ultimately prevail, ushering in the end of days.This ancient Sunni Muslim prophecy, mentioned in canonical accounts of the Prophet Mohammed’s sayings, has become a rallying cry for Islamic State jihadists in Iraq and Syria, especially since they seized Dabiq in August.
The town itself has negligible military value compared with the strategic IS-controlled cities of Raqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.But as IS jihadists come under a US-led aerial onslaught to stop their advance, its importance as a symbol has become clear.‘It raises morale,’ said Shadi Hamid, a fellow at the Brookings Institute.
The town itself has negligible military value compared with the strategic IS-controlled cities of Raqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.But as IS jihadists come under a US-led aerial onslaught to stop their advance, its importance as a symbol has become clear.‘It raises morale,’ said Shadi Hamid, a fellow at the Brookings Institute.
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