IS has recently taken on more and more attacks in Iraq and Syria. The terrorist movement is trying to re-establish itself in the region, warns the USA.
So far this year, IS has claimed to be behind a total of 153 attacks in Iraq and Syria, according to the US military command for the Middle East, Centcom.
This is significantly more than last year. Then, the group was responsible for a total of 121 attacks in the two countries, according to an American military source for the AP news agency.
"The increased number of attacks suggests that IS is trying to re-establish itself after several years of reduced capacity," writes Centcom.
It was ten years ago that the terrorist movement proclaimed its so-called caliphate after taking control of large parts of Iraq and Syria. An international, US-led military coalition succeeded, together with, among others, the Kurdish YPG militia, in combating IS. The group lost control of its last territory in Iraq in 2017, and in Syria in 2019.
Since then, IS has, however, continued to be active through dormant cells.
Iraq, which now claims to be able to keep the threat from IS under control, has initiated talks with the USA about reducing the American military presence in the country.
