Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) is named after an old term for Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan
Washington:
The United States has intelligence confirming the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility for a deadly shooting at a concert near Moscow on Friday, a U.S. official told Reuters.
Here’s what you need to know about ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of the Islamic State, and its motivations for attacking Russia:
What is ISIS-K?
The Islamic State in Khorasan (ISIS-K), a term derived from the old name for the region that includes parts of Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, emerged in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014 and quickly gained a reputation for extreme brutality.
ISIS-K is one of the most active regional affiliates of the Islamic State militant group, and its membership has been declining since its peak around 2018. The Taliban and the US military suffered heavy losses.
The United States says its ability to develop intelligence against Afghan extremist groups such as ISIS-K has diminished since the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021.
What attacks has the group carried out?
ISIS-K has a history of launching attacks, including targeting mosques in Afghanistan and abroad.
Earlier this year, communications intercepted by the United States confirmed that the group was responsible for two bombings in Iran that killed nearly 100 people.
In September 2022, ISIS-K militants claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing at the Russian Embassy in Kabul.
The group launched an attack on Kabul International Airport in 2021, killing 13 U.S. troops and dozens of civilians during the chaotic evacuation of U.S. troops from Kabul.
Earlier this month, the top U.S. general in the Middle East said ISIS-K could attack U.S. and Western interests outside Afghanistan “in as little as six months, with little warning.”
Why are they attacking Russia?
While ISIS-K’s attacks in Russia escalated sharply on Friday, experts say the group has been in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years.
“ISIS-K has been focusing on Russia over the past two years, often criticizing Putin in its propaganda,” said Colin Clark of the Soufan Center, a Washington-based research group.
Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington said ISIS-K “sees Russia as complicit in its ongoing campaign to oppress Muslims.”
He added that the group also includes some Central Asian militants with dissatisfaction with Moscow.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
