What's happened
Gunmen attacked the Imam Ali Mosque in Oman, killing five people, including four Pakistani nationals, and injuring at least 30 others during a religious event for Shia Muslims. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack, heightening sectarian tensions in the region.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that analysts suggest ISIL may be trying to stay relevant amidst the focus on other conflicts. The Independent highlights the repatriation of the victims' bodies and Pakistan's ambassador stating that Pakistanis were not the target. South China Morning Post emphasizes the shock of the attack in Oman, a country with well-trained security forces and a history of non-intervention.
How we got here
Oman, a peaceful country in the Middle East, was shaken by the attack on the Shiite mosque, highlighting ISIL's strategy of striking in unexpected locations. The country's population includes Sunni, Ibadi, and Shiite Muslims, with Shiites forming a minority.
Go deeper
- What security measures are being implemented in Oman following the attack?
- How is the international community responding to the ISIL claim of responsibility?
- What impact will this attack have on Oman's reputation as a safe and tolerant country?
Common question
More on these topics
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Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. Located in a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the country shares land borders with the United Arab E
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Shia Islam or Shi'ism is one of the two main branches of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor and the Imam after him, most notably at the event of Ghadir Khumm, but was prevented from the caliphat
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The Middle East is a transcontinental region that generally includes Western Asia, all of Egypt, Iran, and Turkey. Soviet Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are generally excluded.
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The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, officially known as the Islamic State and also known by its Arabic-language acronym Daesh, is a militant group and a former unrecognised proto-state that follows
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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
