ISIS calls for attacks on West and Saudi Arabia in rare message

It is the first statement from the extremist group's spokesman since January

ISIS once controlled large areas of Iraq, leaving execution sites dotted across the country. AP

In a rare message, ISIS called on its supporters to target westerners as well as oil pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the kingdom's economic infrastructure.

The group has long called for attacks on the kingdom and security services foiled several attacks in recent years.

"Targets are plenty. Start by hitting and destroying oil pipelines, factories and facilities which are the source [of income]," ISIS spokesman Abu Hamza Al Quraishi said in a recorded speech on the militant group's official Telegram channel.

He singled out Saudi Arabia for supporting recent moves by the UAE and Bahrain to establish ties with Israel.

Al Quraishi claimed the agreements were a betrayal of Islam. In the group's last recording in January, ISIS called for attacks on Jewish targets to counter US President Donald Trump's peace proposals for the Middle East.

Al Quraishi also called for attacks on the West.

The group once controlled vast areas of Iraq and Syria, marshalled thousands of foot soldiers and had followers who carried out attacks around the world.

However, with offensives in Iraq and Syria backed by the US-led international coalition, the group has been reduced to a few thousand men camped out in rugged areas in the Iraq-Syria border regions.

Their capacity to plan, co-ordinate and carry out attacks is also diminished – although they still carry out frequent attacks in areas they used to control.

As the fortunes of the group have been eroded, the frequency of the group's propaganda messages reduced.

Sunday's release is the first since January, whereas ISIS used to broadcast regular videos, audio messages and even monthly magazines and newspapers when they controlled parts of Syria and Iraq.

Al Quraishi said Saudi Arabia supported normalisation with Israel by opening its airspace for Israeli flights to neighbouring Gulf states.

The threats come as Bahrain followed the UAE in agreeing to normalise ties with Israel.

The UAE agreement was conditional on the freezing of annexation of occupied territories in the West Bank and Jordan Valley.

Officials stressed that the Emirates still maintains strong support for the Palestinian cause and a two-state solution.

Saudi Arabia stressed the need to step up efforts to reach a lasting and sustainable peace agreement among the Palestinians and the Israelis.