IS increases attacks as area of ​​control shrinks

(Baonghean.vn) - The IHS Jane's Center for Terrorism and Insurgency Analysis said on May 1 that the self-proclaimed Islamic State organization (IS) increased its attacks in 2016, especially in Iraq and Syria after suffering significant losses in the areas it controlled.

The IS group is shifting its focus after a series of recent defeats in Iraq and Syria.

In a recent report, IHS said that 891 attacks took place in the first quarter of 2016 in Iraq and Syria, the most in any quarter since mid-2014.

The attacks killed 2,150 people, up 44% from the previous three months and the highest number in a year.

"IS is increasingly engaging in violence as it comes under intense pressure from multiple angles," said Matthew Henman, head of IHS.

Previously, the US military estimated that the area of ​​territory controlled by IS had decreased by 40% compared to 2014 in Iraq and by 20% in Syria.

In Iraq, government forces have pushed IS militants out of the city of Ramadi, forcing the terrorist group to retreat to the western border near Syria in the past four months. Attacks in the north have been slower, with only four villages south of Mosul recaptured in the past month.

In Syria, government forces have retaken territory previously controlled by IS, including the ancient city of Palmyra, with Russian air support. IS is also under pressure from a US-led air campaign in the north and northeast of the country, where Kurdish fighters are dominant.

The IHS report also noted an increase in IS attacks in Libya, where militants have taken control of the central city of Sirte and oil fields.

The report shows that the number of attacks in the first three months of 2016 was equivalent to the previous six months in the country.

In addition, IHS also added that IS is increasing attacks on the city of Sabratha, southwestern Libya, as a springboard for attacks on Tunisia.

"IS is conducting a series of attacks with new methods and approaches to deal with the difficulties it is facing. This is completely consistent with what is happening now," Mr. Henman commented.

Thanh Hien

(According to Reuters)