The recent terrorist attack in the concert hall in Moscow is reminiscent of the terrorist attacks that occurred in Russia over 20 years ago, such as the one in a theater in Moscow in October 2002 and in a school in Beslan in September 2004, resulting in hundreds of people dead and injured. The current attack was carried out in a similar manner, with indiscriminate shooting and the deliberate burning of the hall, trapping people inside. At least 137 people were killed, and a similar number of people were wounded, serving as a chilling reminder that the violent nature of various factions of the global jihad movement remains unchanged.
The Moscow attack is attributed to the “Islamic State Khorasan Province” organization, which is affiliated with ISIS and its partners. This organization has been highly active and prominent over the last two and a half years, particularly since its members carried out an attack on the Kabul Airport during the evacuation of American forces from Afghanistan, killing 183 people.
Established in 2014 immediately following the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate, this organization has become the main adversary of the Taliban regime, which it denounced as apostates and collaborators with the enemies of Islam. Since its inception, the organization has carried out numerous terrorist attacks and in recent years has focused on Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is also responsible for the double attack in Iran in January of this year that resulted in significant casualties. The attack took place during the memorial service for Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards who was assassinated in January 2020. The organization perceives Iran and Russia as two key players responsible for undermining the Islamic State’s control over a large part of territory in Syria and Iraq. These countries, along with the US-led Western-Arab coalition, continue to fight against the organization in Syria today.
Alongside the “Islamic State Khorasan Province” organization, other terrorist organizations affiliated with the Islamic State continue to carry out hundreds of attacks every year in various countries across the African continent, as well as in South, Central and Southeast Asia. In the Western countries, attempts by individuals and terrorist cells consisting of ISIS sympathizers have been stopped before their intentions were realized. Moreover, the absence of significant terrorist attacks with high casualties has led to a declining public interest in ISIS and has aided Western countries in suppressing the threat from global Sunni jihadist organizations.
Although Israel has successfully thwarted terrorist groups associated with ISIS, including in the past year, it has still experienced occasional attacks from such entities. It’s crucial for Israel to remain vigilant and attentive to this phenomenon and its manifestations, particularly given that events in Gaza may serve as a motive and context for ISIS and its affiliates to attack targets in Israel and worldwide, especially amid the growing expressions of animosity and the negative portrayal of Israel.
The recent terrorist attack in the concert hall in Moscow is reminiscent of the terrorist attacks that occurred in Russia over 20 years ago, such as the one in a theater in Moscow in October 2002 and in a school in Beslan in September 2004, resulting in hundreds of people dead and injured. The current attack was carried out in a similar manner, with indiscriminate shooting and the deliberate burning of the hall, trapping people inside. At least 137 people were killed, and a similar number of people were wounded, serving as a chilling reminder that the violent nature of various factions of the global jihad movement remains unchanged.
The Moscow attack is attributed to the “Islamic State Khorasan Province” organization, which is affiliated with ISIS and its partners. This organization has been highly active and prominent over the last two and a half years, particularly since its members carried out an attack on the Kabul Airport during the evacuation of American forces from Afghanistan, killing 183 people.
Established in 2014 immediately following the establishment of the Islamic Caliphate, this organization has become the main adversary of the Taliban regime, which it denounced as apostates and collaborators with the enemies of Islam. Since its inception, the organization has carried out numerous terrorist attacks and in recent years has focused on Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is also responsible for the double attack in Iran in January of this year that resulted in significant casualties. The attack took place during the memorial service for Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards who was assassinated in January 2020. The organization perceives Iran and Russia as two key players responsible for undermining the Islamic State’s control over a large part of territory in Syria and Iraq. These countries, along with the US-led Western-Arab coalition, continue to fight against the organization in Syria today.
Alongside the “Islamic State Khorasan Province” organization, other terrorist organizations affiliated with the Islamic State continue to carry out hundreds of attacks every year in various countries across the African continent, as well as in South, Central and Southeast Asia. In the Western countries, attempts by individuals and terrorist cells consisting of ISIS sympathizers have been stopped before their intentions were realized. Moreover, the absence of significant terrorist attacks with high casualties has led to a declining public interest in ISIS and has aided Western countries in suppressing the threat from global Sunni jihadist organizations.
Although Israel has successfully thwarted terrorist groups associated with ISIS, including in the past year, it has still experienced occasional attacks from such entities. It’s crucial for Israel to remain vigilant and attentive to this phenomenon and its manifestations, particularly given that events in Gaza may serve as a motive and context for ISIS and its affiliates to attack targets in Israel and worldwide, especially amid the growing expressions of animosity and the negative portrayal of Israel.