Moscow concert hall attack

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K)?
• Why is ISIL attacking Russia?

Why in news?

Multiple gunmen went on a shooting rampage in Moscow’s famous Crocus City Hall, killing at least 143 people, and injuring hundreds more.

The Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on social media.

Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K)

• About
  • Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), emerged in eastern Afghanistan in late 2014, and is currently one of the most active ISIS-affiliates.
    • Khorasan refers to an ancient caliphate in the region that today encompasses parts of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan.
  • The group comprises breakaway fighters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), and others pledging allegiance to the late ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
  • It has established a reputation for extreme brutality.
• Attacks carried out by ISIS-K
  • The group has been responsible for a host of high-profile attacks since its inception. These include:
    • The Kabul international airport attack in 2021, during the US’s Afghanistan withdrawal. The attack killed 13 US troops, and at least 175 Afghan civilians.
    • The suicide bombing at the Russian embassy in Kabul, in 2022.
    • The twin bombings in Kerman, Iran, earlier in 2024.

Why is ISIL attacking Russia?

• Russia is seen by ISIL and its affiliates as a crusading power against Muslims
  • The Moscow attack is the group’s most notable activity outside its home turf in Afghanistan and Iran.
  • However, the group has openly opposed Putin due to his alleged mistreatment of Muslims in Russia, for years.
  • Russia is considered a key adversary of ISIS and its affiliate ISIS-K because of its military actions in Syria against them and its efforts to work with the Afghan Taliban, who are enemies of ISIS-K.
  • These actions of Russia include;
    • The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan,
    • Russian actions in Chechnya,
    • Moscow’s close relationships with the Syrian and Iranian governments,
    • Military campaigns that Russia has waged against ISIS fighters in Syria and — through Wagner Group mercenaries – in parts of Africa.
• Goal to evolve into a terrorist organisation with global influence
  • The group (ISIS - K) hopes to win support and advance its goal to evolve into a terrorist organisation with global influence.
  • It wants to do so by demonstrating that it can launch attacks within Russian territory.
  • By directing its aggression towards nations such as Iran and Russia, ISIS-K not only confronts regional heavyweights but also underscores its political relevance and operational reach on the global stage.

Q1) What is Wagner Group?

The Wagner Group is a Russian private military company (PMC) that is funded by the Russian state. It was founded in 2014 by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy businessman and convicted criminal, and its first field commander was Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian special forces officer.

Q2) What is Khorāsān?

Khorāsān, historical region and realm comprising a vast territory now lying in northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, and northern Afghanistan. The historical region extended, along the north, from the Amu Darya (Oxus River) westward to the Caspian Sea and, along the south, from the fringes of the central Iranian deserts eastward to the mountains of central Afghanistan. Arab geographers even spoke of its extending to the boundaries of India.