Five years ago this month, an American-backed Kurdish and Arab militia ousted Islamic State fighters from a village in eastern Syria, the group’s last sliver of territory. Since then, the organization has transformed into a more traditional terrorist group, with clandestine networks of cells spanning from West Africa to Southeast Asia.
One of the most relentless affiliates of the Islamic State is the Islamic State in Khorasan, also known as ISIS-K, which is active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. Recently, the group carried out an attack near Moscow, killing scores of people and injuring many others.
According to U.S. officials, ISIS-K remains a significant counterterrorism concern, with the capability and will to attack U.S. and Western interests abroad with little to no warning. The group has been responsible for various attacks, including twin bombings in Iran and a suicide bombing at the international airport in Kabul that killed U.S. service members and civilians.
Despite facing opposition from the Taliban in Afghanistan, ISIS-K has continued to carry out cross-border strikes into Pakistan and plots in Europe. While many of these plots have been thwarted, there are concerns that ISIS-K is learning from its mistakes and becoming more sophisticated in its attacks.
Recent attacks in Moscow and Iran have demonstrated a greater level of planning and coordination by ISIS-K, raising concerns among counterterrorism officials. The group has been fixated on Russia for the past two years, criticizing President Vladimir V. Putin in its propaganda and accusing the Kremlin of having Muslim blood on its hands.
As ISIS-K continues to pose a threat, counterterrorism specialists are on high alert, particularly with major events like the Paris Olympics on the horizon. The group’s ability to tap into local extremist networks and recruit fighters from Central Asia and the Caucasus has raised concerns about future attacks in Europe and beyond.
Overall, the evolving threat posed by ISIS-K underscores the ongoing challenges faced by counterterrorism officials in combating the spread of terrorism and protecting against potential attacks on a global scale.
