IS increases attacks as area of ​​control shrinks

(Baonghean.vn) - The IHS Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Analysis Center said on May 1 that the self-proclaimed Islamic State (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 attacks after a series of recent defeats in Iraq and Syria.

In a recent report, IHS said there were 891 attacks 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 carrying out violent acts as it comes under heavy 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 organization 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, with the support of Russian air power, government forces have recaptured territory previously controlled by IS, including the ancient city of Palmyra. 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 indicates 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 the IS organization is increasing attacks on the city of Sabratha, southwest Libya, to use as a springboard for attacks against Tunisia.

"The IS group 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)