The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan known as Islamic State Khorasan Province, or ISIS-K, has claimed responsibility for the deadly terrorist attack in Moscow on Friday.
Formed in 2015 by disgruntled members of the Pakistani Taliban, ISIS-K adopted a more extreme form of Islam. By 2021, the group’s forces were reduced to 1,500-2,000 fighters due to American airstrikes and Afghan commando operations that killed many of its leaders.
After the fall of the Afghan government, ISIS-K saw a resurgence. In August 2021, they carried out a suicide bombing at Kabul’s international airport, killing 13 U.S. troops and up to 170 civilians, boosting their global profile as a major threat to the Taliban’s rule.
Since then, the Taliban have engaged in fierce battles with ISIS-K in Afghanistan, preventing the group from seizing territory or recruiting former Taliban fighters. President Biden has authorized “over-the-horizon” strikes on ISIS and Qaeda militants from bases in the Persian Gulf.
Counterterrorism officials in Europe have thwarted several ISIS-K plots targeting their countries. The U.S. recently shared intelligence with Russia about a potential terrorist attack in Moscow, highlighting the group’s ambition to carry out attacks beyond its usual areas of operation.
ISIS-K has claimed previous attacks outside Afghanistan, including a bombing in Iran that killed 84 people. The group has criticized Iran for its beliefs and has threatened the country multiple times in the past.
With a recent attack in Moscow, ISIS-K has shown its focus on Russia. The group often targets President Putin in its propaganda, citing Russian interventions in various Muslim-majority regions as justification for its actions.
