Furthermore, while they themselves are threatened by the coronavirus, the reduced presence in the Levant of the coalition countries that fought against the Islamic State can help believers reorganize and prepare to fight the enemies of Islam.
The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause many deaths and an enormous economic crisis, including in Muslim countries and for many Muslims who live as minorities in other countries. Predictably, the global crisis has prompted responses from religious leaders, including those who serve as Salafi-jihadist clerics. Spokesmen on behalf of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State have also related to the crisis, instructing their supporters on how to behave given the threat, and encouraging them to maintain their loyalty to the organizations and to the path that charted for followers.
