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On 17 May 2024, Islamic State Khurasan (ISK) militants opened fire on tourists visiting Bamiyan, Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan. The shelling killed at least three tourists and an Afghan man, and seven more people, including other foreigners, were injured. Preliminary reports indicate that the killed included Spanish citizens and the injured Australian, Norwegian and Lithuanian, although the specific identities and nationalities of all victims have not been fully disclosed. IS insiders were "giddy" to report that four of the tourists were Americans but that did not bare out to be true.
In a surprising turn of events, Islamic State (IS) Central Command claimed responsibility for the armed assault in Bamiyan. They specifically mentioned the targeting of “Christian tourists and their Shiite companions” in their claim. While ISK claims typically mention the targeting of Shia (Shiite), as this is a crime which deserves their attention, they usually do not draw attention to if their targets are Christian. This is unlike other IS branches.
It is noteworthy that this attack was carried out on the directive of IS leadership to target citizens of coalition countries wherever they may be. It is possible that the Islamic State’s External Operations Branch, better known as The Emni, was involved in planning this attack. TRAC indicates that this incident will mark the first of many attacks on foreign nationals, extending beyond Afghanistan to all affiliated branches of the Islamic State.
Bamyan, known for its giant, destroyed Buddha statues, is the main town in Bamyan Province and a key tourist destination. While it is considered one of the safest regions in Afghanistan, this incident is no surprise. Targeting foreign nationals is a trusted strategy followed by Islamic State militants, as targeting tourists attracts significant global media coverage and sends a message to the global community and potential recruits about ISK’s reach and capabilities. Additionally, given the suggested nationalities of the targeted tourist, their appearance (skin colour) would have stood like a sore thumb in such a remote area; thus making them easy to spot and even easier to conduct surveillance.
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Just three days later, on 20 May 2024, Islamic State Khurasan (ISK) militants targeted a passenger bus with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Kandahar, Afghanistan. While Islamic State Central Command claimed that the bombing killed and wounded 20 Taliban (IEA) Security Forces, local sources indicated that six civilian residents were killed and another 15 were wounded. The truth always lies somewhere in the middle between the two conflicting causality accounts.
What is particularly notable about this incident is that it occurred in Kandahar, a stronghold of the Taliban and the political headquarters of the country's Taliban rulers, as well as the residence of the IEA’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The fact that ISK executed this attack in such a fortified area underscores their growing boldness and operational reach. The images released by IS Central Command suggest that IS militants were closely surveilling the bus and its passengers, indicating a high level of planning and precision in their operations.
Both incidents highlight ISK's strategy of expanding their attacks into previously secure Taliban territories, thereby challenging the Taliban's control and exposing vulnerabilities in their security measures.
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TRAC Incident Report: Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Circulates a Propaganda Poster, Encouraging Religiously Motivated Followers to Assassinate High-Profile Jews, Cyberspace | |
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On 22 May 2024, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) released a poster on its dedicated social media channels, urging religiously motivated supporters to take action by assassinating high-profile individuals linked to Israel in the name of Jihad.
The right side of the poster glorifies so-called ‘heroes’ who carried out armed assaults on prominent figures. AQAP specifically encourages followers to target individuals involved in high-level political, economic, and media activities, including politicians, bankers, entrepreneurs, and journalists, to draw international attention. Additionally, AQAP advises its supporters to act as lone wolves, executing their attacks ‘professionally’ after self-training. The group provides detailed guidelines on how to plan and carry out successful assassinations, sourced from its online periodical, Inspire Magazine. The suggested methods include using cold weapons like knives, firearms, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The instructional manuals, available in both Arabic and English, are clearly aimed at followers in the United States and Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, indicating AQAP's intent to inspire attacks in Western countries.
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TRAC Incident Report: Eleven Civilians Massacred Following Clashes Between Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) & Sinaloa Cartel (CDS), in Nueva Morelia, Chicomuselo, Chiapas, Mexico | |
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On 14 May 2024, armed confrontations between Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and Sinaloa Cartel (CDS) sicarios resulted in the massacre of eleven individuals in Nueva Morelia. While the identities of the majority of the victims have not been released, media reports have confirmed that two members of the Catholic Church and an eighteen-year-old student were among those killed.
According to sources on the ground, the armed confrontations between the CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel have been ongoing for five days. During this period, sicarios have established checkpoints, severely restricting movement between municipalities and cutting off electricity, inhibiting residents from requesting aid from security forces. The victims were local civilians from Nueva Morelia, including an eighteen-year-old girl and two individuals affiliated with the Catholic Church. As of now, no arrests have been made public, and elements of the Mexican Army, National Guard, and State Police are patrolling the region in search of the perpetrators.
TRAC has consistently recorded violent confrontations between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), particularly their armed paramilitary wing ‘El Maiz,’ and the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS) in Chicumselo and the neighboring municipality of Frontera Comalapa. These groups are competing for control over criminal markets, including narcotics trafficking, migrant smuggling, extortion, and the illegal extraction of natural resources. Notably, the Chicomuselo municipality houses a barite reserve, which can be exploited by criminal groups in various ways. For instance, criminal organizations can extort mine operators for permission to extract in a certain area, illegally extract the raw materials themselves while controlling their transportation and distribution, and use the mine to launder illegal proceeds.
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TRAC Incident Report: Islamic State West Africa (ISWA/Wilayat Gharb Afriqiyah) Militants Led an SVBIED/Armed Assault Double Tap, Killing 40 African Coalition Forces in Doro Naira, Kukawa LGA, Borno State, Nigeria | |
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On 19 May 2024, Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) militants executed a double-tap SVBIED (Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device) and armed assault attack on African coalition forces in Doro Naira, Kukawa LGA, Borno State, Nigeria. The attack began with an SVBIED detonation, followed by an armed assault, resulting in the deaths of 40 soldiers and the destruction or damage of at least six vehicles.
This attack is significant for its scale. Typically, ISWA assaults in Borno result in 1-5 casualties, far fewer than the 40 soldiers killed in this incident. The scale of the attack suggests extensive planning and likely insider intelligence for both the construction of the SVBIED and the subsequent armed assault.
The involvement of coalition forces, likely from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which includes troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin, adds another layer of complexity. While the attack occurred within Nigerian territory, the MNJTF's ability to operate across borders usually gives them a strategic advantage. However, despite their multinational composition, these forces often face challenges such as inadequate training, which can lead to issues like fleeing during engagements with ISWA.
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TRAC Incident Report: Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Militants Conduct Five Strike Offensive, Ufone Telecom Tower Downed, Tump, Qalat, Kolwah, Balochistan, Pakistan | |
(Video) Bandits Publish Video Playing with & Practicing Using a Remote-Controlled Drone, Nigeria | |
(Claim / Anonymous Anarchists) Anarchists Vandalised ZUG GmbH & German Bundeswehr Association Institutions with Paint, Stones & Butyric Acid, on Stresemannstrasse, Berlin, Germany
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