‘No more red lines’: Muslims worldwide left reeling after Ramadan marred by bloodshed
The diverse, high-profile targets show Islamic State, despite being on the defensive at home, has expanded its theatre of operations
As Muslims around the world celebrate the end of Ramadan, many are struggling to comprehend a wave of attacks that killed 350 people across several continents during the holy month and made urgent the question of what drives the militants to ever more spectacular violence against civilians.
The diverse, high-profile targets – including one that struck the heart of Islam in the month’s final days – underline the warnings of many experts: Islamic State (IS), especially when on the defensive at home, will metastasize far beyond its theatre of operations.
The future of the Islamic State is on the line, and it is trying to maximise the cost for its adversaries
The extremist group has always sought attention and recruits through brazen terrorism. The projection of daring, operational competence and utter disregard for the norms of its enemies has proven a winning strategy among its disenfranchised and angry followers around the Muslim world.
“ISIS is waging an existential fight,” said Fawaz Gerges, a London-based scholar of jihadist groups, using an alternate acronym for the militant group. “The future of the Islamic State is on the line, and it is trying to maximise the cost for its adversaries and also to inspire this particular segment of young men and women who subscribe to its ideology.”