The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting attack at a concert near Moscow on Friday. Here is all you need to know about the Islamic State’s Afghan branch, known as ISIS-K, and their reasons for attacking Russia.
What is ISIS-K?
Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), named after an old term for the region that included parts of Iran, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, first appeared in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014 and quickly gained a reputation for extreme brutality.
ISIS-K, one of the most active regional affiliates of the Islamic State militant group, has seen a decline in membership since its peak in 2018. The Taliban and US forces inflicted significant losses.
The United States has stated that its ability to develop intelligence against extremist groups in Afghanistan, such as ISIS-K, has decreased since the withdrawal of US troops in 2021.
ISIS-K has a history of attacks, including on mosques both inside and outside Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, the United States intercepted communications confirming that the group carried out twin bombings in Iran, killing nearly 100 people.
ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years
In September 2022, ISIS-K militants claimed responsibility for a fatal suicide bombing at the Russian embassy in Kabul.
The group was responsible for an attack on Kabul’s international airport in 2021, which killed 13 US troops and dozens of civilians during the chaotic US evacuation from the country.
Earlier this month, the top US military commander in the Middle East stated that ISIS-K could attack US and Western interests outside of Afghanistan “in as little as six months and with little to no warning.”
While ISIS-K’s attack in Russia on Friday was a dramatic escalation, experts said the group has been opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for years.
“ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years, frequently criticizing Putin in its propaganda,” said Colin Clarke of the Soufan Center, a Washington-based research organization.
According to Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington, ISIS-K “sees Russia as being complicit in activities that regularly oppress Muslims.”
He added that the group includes many Central Asian militants who have their grievances against Moscow.