Since its commencement, ISIS conducted many operations, killing and injuring thousands to date. Syria and Iraq remained as their base of operations. Other than Syria and Iraq, these militants attacked over 29 countries conducting various operations and killing thousands of innocents.
Their major target was to establish Sunni Islamic state, in order to that they are assassinating other religious groups and Shia sect of Muslims. Since there are more than hundreds of attacks conducted by ISIS, we are going to see some of the major attacks. Here are some of the inhumane attacks undertaken by Al-Qaeda and ISIS:
September 11 attacks:
Remembered as the deadliest terrorist attack in human history, the September 11 attacks by Al-Qaeda killed almost 3,000 and injured 25,000 innocents besides causing a loss of $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. On a Tuesday Morning, 19 Muslim jihadis (Al-Qaeda terrorists) hijacked four commercial airlines.
Two of the four planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, crashed the twin towers of the World Trade Center complex in downtown New York, resulting in the collapse of both 110 storey buildings. The debris and fires caused the partial or complete collapse of the buildings surrounding it.
American Airlines Flight 77, the third plane, crashed into the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, known as the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, which partially collapsed the west side of the building.
US authorities believed that the intention of the hijackers of the fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93, was to collapse either on the US capitol or the White House as it has blown towards Washington but they crashed it into a field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania after the passengers thwarted the hijackers.
Initially, Osama bin Laden denied the attacks but claimed his responsibility for the attacks in 2004. These attacks not only affected infrastructure but also the economy of the States. Though there are many reasons for Osama attacking the USA, the major reasons were close military relations with Israel, presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, the sanctions against Iraq. Supporting India on oppression against Muslims in Kashmir triggered bin Laden against USA.
Battle of Marawi:
Reckoned as the longest urban battle in the history of the Philippines after world war 2, the battle of Marawi was a five-month long-drawn conflict between the Philippine government security forces and militants affiliated with the ISIS, the Maute (Islamic State of Lanao), and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups.
The Philippine government, after receiving the information that Isnilon Totoni Hapilon (leader of the ISIL affiliated Abu Sayyaf group), is in the city of Marawi perhaps to meet the militants of the Maute group started clashes with him. Maute group has pledged its allegiance to Islamic State, which is believed that it is responsible for the 2016 Davao City bombing.
The militant group attacked Camp Ranao and various buildings in the city, Marawi City Hall, Mindanao State University, a hospital, and the city jail, were also occupied. The frequent firings between the militants and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) along with the Philippine National Police costed not only infrastructure but also the lives of civilians and police.
Over 3000 buildings were collapsed and 2000 buildings were partially damaged within 4 sq km of the main battle area. Because of congested evacuation camps of the government, many people died because of dehydration, congestion, and illness.
The principal aim of this group is to raise an ISIS flag at the Lanao del Sur and declare it as provincial ISIL territory. In this operation nearly 1,000 militants were killed, 168 government forces killed, more than1,400 government forces wounded and 87 civilians dead.
Lashkar-e-Taiba:
Lashkar-e-Taiba, founded in 1987 by Hafiz Saeed, Abdullah Azzam, and Zafar Iqbal, was an Islamist Jihadist group of Pakistan that conducted many operations in India, leading to many civilian deaths and the Indian CRPF. Initially, the group received its funding from Osama bin Laden.
The major aim of the group is to merge the whole of Kashmir into Pakistan. Responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack, 2001 Indian parliament attack, 2019 Pulwama attack on the CRPF, etc, this group is recognized as a terrorist organization by India, Pakistan, Russia, UK, European Union, United Nations, and many more.
Since the 1990s the Pakistan government-funded LeT to use their militant groups against India. In the name of charity boxes and donations from various personnel throughout the world, this militant group is increasing its workforce and training camps. According to US intelligence, the group had a military budget of more than $5 million by 2009.
It is believed that over 150 people lost their lives and over 300 injured in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The well-known Pulwama attack by the same group killed 40 CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) personnel. Abdullah Azzam, one founder of this organization, was the teacher and mentor of Osama bin Laden, he persuaded Osama to join the Soviet-Afghan war and the jihad. By this, we can conclude that ISIS spread terrorism either directly or indirectly.
ISIS Series Part 1: How ISIS Founded and Funded? The Secret History of International Terrorist Organisation
ISIS Series Part 2: From Al-Qaeda to Islamic State: How ISIS Evolved as a World Organization
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