According to Turkish news outlet Kısa Dalga, the message first appeared on jihadist forums on the dark web before briefly circulating in Turkish on a messaging application. The account was quickly deactivated after the document was discovered. The instructions were published alongside flags of 60 countries, including Turkey, suggesting the global scope of ISIS's operational ambitions.
The manual emphasizes the importance of seasonal timing for attacks, explicitly recommending increased operations during winter months when "security forces are very busy," while advising reduced activity in the summer. Among the most striking directives is the instruction to avoid surveillance cameras at all costs, with militants told to "identify cameras and determine escape routes" while maintaining strict operational security.
Personal Security and Family Relations
The document reveals ISIS's extreme compartmentalization policies, particularly regarding family members. Militants are explicitly warned never to share information with their wives, stating that "many brothers were arrested because of women." The manual instructs operatives to maintain false identities, avoid predictable patterns, and regularly change their daily routines, routes, and clothing.
A notable historical reference mentions former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who allegedly passed through a Kurdish checkpoint undetected by adhering to security protocols. This anecdote highlights the importance of adhering to operational guidelines.
Digital Security and the Casio Watch Warning
Particularly intriguing is the specific warning against wearing Casio F-91W watches on the right wrist, a detail suggesting awareness of profiling techniques used by security services. The affordable digital watch, introduced in 1991, has gained notoriety for its association with militant groups due to its reliability and timer functions, which are suitable for improvised explosive devices.
The manual provides extensive digital security instructions, revealing that ISIS leadership no longer uses phones except for emergencies lasting less than one minute. Communication is conducted through "trusted human mail" or encrypted messages. Militants are instructed to use VPNs, create fake social media profiles, and remove phone batteries after use.
Interrogation Resistance and Prison Behavior
The document's section on capture and interrogation advises militants to "deny accusations, lie - it is permissible" and to "play dumb" to psychologically challenge interrogators. It warns that prison cells contain informants and instructs captured fighters to share nothing, even with fellow jihadists.
The manual states: "Before martyrdom, think of your safety. Follow the withdrawal plan before the attack." This pragmatic approach to survival contradicts the group's public glorification of martyrdom operations.
Implications for Counter-terrorism
The sophistication of these instructions demonstrates ISIS's adaptation to modern surveillance technologies and intelligence gathering methods. The emphasis on operational security, compartmentalization, and counter-surveillance techniques reflects lessons learned from years of international counter-terrorism pressure.
Security experts note that while such manuals reveal ISIS's operational thinking, they also highlight vulnerabilities that intelligence services can exploit. The very existence of such detailed instructions suggests the group's ongoing recruitment efforts and its attempt to maintain operational capability despite territorial losses in Iraq and Syria.
Photo: The Source