On November 10, a series of statements were issued by groups vowing allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), including from Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, and the “Arabian Peninsula”, referring to Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, in a November 13 audio recording, IS leader and self-declared Caliph, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, stated that he accepted said oaths of allegiance. The simultaneous oaths from groups in five countries were likely meant as a “media operation” and may serve to heighten competition between groups while encouraging attacks by new ones.