According to court documents, Kandic had a variety of responsibilities, including recruiting foreign fighters (ISIS photo).
On January 4, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) called for attacks against Jews and Christians worldwide, later claiming 110 attacks in 12 countries that injured or killed 610 people.
“The threat from ISIS remains a significant counterterrorism concern,” Director of National Intelligence Avril D. Haines told the Senate panel, noting that most attacks “have been perpetrated by some elements of ISIS outside of Afghanistan.” .”
The main body of ISIS operates in Türkiye, Syria, and Iraq, but is also absorbing other forces. In the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf was a major terrorist organization.
However, in 2014 the Abu Sayyaf faction pledged allegiance to ISIS, and in 2016 a new faction was formed called ISIS-East Asia or ISEA-Philippines. ISIS is also affiliated with several groups in West Africa, including elements of the Nigeria-based terrorist group Boko Haram.
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), an ISIS faction, is gaining notoriety and is believed to be responsible for the Moscow concert attack and an attack in Iran that killed 100 people. Director Haines warns that ISIS-K may be ready to launch attacks in the United States and the West within six months.
Founded in 2015, ISIS-K mainly consists of fighters from Central Asia, as well as members of Pakistan's Tehreek Taliban and Uzbekistan's Islamic Movement.
ISIS-K's reputation as a global jihadist organization has grown since the Taliban took over the Afghan government in 2021. ISIS-K, named after the 'Khorasan' territory encompassing Afghanistan, parts of Pakistan, Central Asia and Iran, aims to establish a caliphate there. . It receives funding from ISIS in Syria and anti-Taliban sources in Afghanistan.
Although both the Taliban and ISIS-K are Islamist groups, they have significant ideological differences. ISIS-K follows a much stricter and more violent interpretation of Islam. They saw the Taliban as not extreme enough and clashed with them for territorial control and influence.
Both groups seek control over Afghanistan and its resources. ISIS-K regards Taliban rule as illegitimate and aims to overthrow the Taliban. This competition for power has led some Afghans to support ISIS-K against the Taliban.
Additionally, some former Taliban members who disagree with the group's leadership or perceive it as not radical enough join or support ISIS-K. The group also leverages local grievances against the Taliban, including perceived corruption and harsh rule, to gain support.
The Taliban is fighting ISIS-K in Afghanistan but has not been able to eradicate the group, which is also active in Pakistan and Iran. ISIS-K has been implicated in numerous foiled terrorist plots in Europe. Members of the ISIS-K network have been arrested in Germany and the Netherlands.
ISIS-K claimed responsibility for an attack on a Roman Catholic church in Istanbul that left one person dead. The Turkish attack highlights observations by some terrorism experts that ISIS-K has largely relied on poorly trained individuals, with many of its attacks failing or being thwarted.
However, the group is gradually gaining experience and strengthening its capabilities through integration with other terrorist organizations. Conversely, if ISIS-K is indeed responsible for the attacks on Moscow and Iran, this means that it is one of the deadliest terrorist organizations currently operating. Both of these attacks showed a significant level of planning and capability.
ISIS-K's recruitment strategy has proven remarkably successful, as is evident in its rapid growth. The group targets disillusioned Muslims across South and Central Asia by exploiting a range of regional grievances, including poverty, government corruption and ethnic tensions. These complaints are woven into a single narrative that positions ISIS-K as the only solution while blaming external forces or weak local governments.
They often use sophisticated online propaganda tailored to specific geographies. ISIS-K specifically targets Shia Muslims, highlighting sectarian divisions to stoke anger and fuel talk of repression against Muslims.
This propaganda utilizes social media and messaging apps to spread messages and glorify violence. We also distribute publications in local languages to reach people who are not active online. Groups provide a sense of belonging and purpose to people who are marginalized or isolated. They capitalize on feelings of despair and promise an opportunity to fight against perceived injustice.
ISIS-K hates Jews, Christians, Shia Muslims, Iranians, and even terrorist organizations it deems not extreme enough, such as the Taliban. Essentially, if you exist and are not a member, ISIS-K hates you and wants to kill you. With the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the looming threats from Iran, China, and Russia, the resurgence of Islamic extremist terrorism and ISIS-K present additional threats that the United States must deal with.
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