IS is back in headlines as Australian families tied to ISIS fly home or face charges; global ops, camps, and repatriation wars flare up. ISIS: Islamic State group, extremist dawlah born from post-2000 jihadist networks.
Retired Major-General Suresh Sallay was detained in Colombo over links to the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. Authorities allege he conspired and aided the attacks, which targeted churches and hotels, causing over 500 injuries. The arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation.
Recent clashes in northeastern Syria led to mass escapes from al-Hol and Roj camps housing suspected IS families. Syrian forces took control after Kurdish-led SDF withdrew, raising security concerns. Australia’s detained nationals remain unreturned amid political tensions. The situation highlights regional instability and ongoing risks of IS resurgence.
Recent attacks across Nigeria and the Sahel highlight escalating jihadist activity, with regional forces struggling to contain violence. Nigeria's military faces criticism for failures at home, while ECOWAS plans a regional troop deployment amid growing insecurity and regional fragmentation. The threat is intensifying and spreading.
Recent attacks in the US, linked to ideological motives, highlight vulnerabilities as the counterterrorism system faces staffing and resource shortages amid escalating tensions with Iran. The FBI and other agencies are under strain following personnel purges and shifting priorities, raising concerns over national security readiness.
All three border crossings between Iraq and Syria have reopened, including al-Rabia/Yarubiyah, after nearly 13 years. The reopening aims to boost trade, facilitate oil exports, and support regional development projects amid ongoing regional shifts and economic needs.
Airliners carrying Australian women and children with alleged ties to the Islamic State group have landed in Australia.
A 20-year-old Syrian refugee, Wassim Al M., was convicted for stabbing a tourist at Berlin's Holocaust Memorial in February 2025. The attack, motivated by Islamic State ideology, targeted Jewish symbolism amid rising anti-Semitic sentiment in Germany. The victim survived but faces ongoing trauma.
Turkey's intelligence agency, MIT, denied requesting MI6's help to protect Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa amid rising threats from Islamic State and regional instability. The story highlights ongoing international efforts to stabilize Syria post-Assad, with concerns over Islamic State plots and regional security cooperation.
Two young men from Pennsylvania, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested after allegedly throwing improvised explosive devices at anti-Muslim protesters outside Gracie Mansion. The devices, inspired by ISIS, did not detonate. The suspects expressed allegiance to ISIS and aimed for a larger attack than the Boston Marathon bombing. No injuries occurred.
Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were arrested after attempting to set off improvised explosives at an anti-Muslim rally near Gracie Mansion. They claimed inspiration from Islamic State, and police found evidence including TATP explosives. The attack was thwarted, with no injuries reported. The suspects are held without bail.
In March 2024, four Tajik gunmen claimed by ISIS attacked Crocus City Hall, killing 19 and injuring over 600. They were sentenced to life in prison in March 2026. Russia links the attack to Ukraine, but Kyiv denies involvement. The attack remains Russia’s deadliest in over two decades.
Recent violent incidents in the US, including a college shooting in Virginia and a synagogue attack in Michigan, are connected to Middle East conflicts. Perpetrators had terrorist backgrounds or links, raising security concerns as regional tensions escalate. Today’s date: Mon, 23 Mar 2026.
Multiple rocket and drone attacks targeted US military and diplomatic facilities in Iraq, including Baghdad airport and the US embassy. Attacks have increased since mid-March, with Iran-backed groups claiming responsibility and calling for US troop withdrawal. No casualties reported in recent strikes.
NATO has announced the safe relocation of its Iraq mission personnel to Europe, citing security concerns amid ongoing regional conflicts. The mission, focused on advising Iraqi forces, will continue from Naples, Italy, with several hundred troops affected. The move follows recent troop withdrawals by multiple NATO countries.
The UK government has added two individuals to its sanctions list for their roles in managing Islamic State's finances. Sami Jasim Muhammad Jaata al-Jaburi and Abd el Hamid Salim Ibrahim Brukan al-Khatouni are now subject to asset freezes, arms embargoes, and travel bans, with their names listed on INTERPOL-UN notices. The move aims to disrupt the group's financial operations and prevent further terrorist activities.
Recent weeks have seen intensified violence in Haiti, with gangs killing dozens and displacing over a million people. Gangs control most of Port-au-Prince, and recent massacres highlight the country's ongoing security crisis. International efforts are underway to restore order.
Britain’s Prevent program faces a surge in referrals, with over 10,000 expected this year. Many involve individuals with no fixed ideology or mental health issues, raising concerns about system capacity and effectiveness. Experts call for a new approach to address modern online extremism and violence.
Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach last December, killing 15 people. Inspired by Islamic State, he and his father planned the attack for months. Akram faces 59 charges, while his family fears vigilante violence. Courts rejected a gag order to protect relatives' identities.
On April 7, 2026, three armed attackers engaged in a gunfight with Turkish police outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul's Levent district. One attacker was killed, two wounded and captured. Two police officers sustained minor injuries. No Israeli diplomats were present, as diplomatic ties have been frozen since late 2023 following the Gaza conflict. The attackers reportedly had links to a religious extremist group, possibly ISIS.
Two young men from Pennsylvania, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, planned a terror attack in New York, inspired by ISIS. They carried homemade bombs and discussed targeting festivals, protests, and police. Authorities intercepted their plot before any harm occurred, arresting them on terrorism charges.
A gunfight outside Istanbul's main financial district resulted in one attacker killed and two wounded. Several suspects were detained, and authorities linked the attack to groups exploiting religion. The attack occurred during heightened tensions following Israel's withdrawal of diplomats from Turkey amid security concerns.
Multiple attacks by Boko Haram and Ansaru have targeted military bases in Nigeria, resulting in casualties. Recent assaults in Borno and Kwara states have killed soldiers and injured others, with insurgents increasing pressure on overstretched Nigerian forces amid ongoing military operations.
A French court has found Lafarge, now owned by Holcim, guilty of financing armed groups during the Syrian civil war. The company paid millions to jihadist groups between 2013 and 2014 to keep its factory in northern Syria operational. It has been ordered to pay fines and confiscate assets, and its former CEO has been sentenced to six years in prison. This follows a 2022 US case where Lafarge pleaded guilty to supporting terrorist organizations with a $778 million fine. The court's ruling highlights the company's direct payments to jihadist groups, which helped them control Syrian resources and finance attacks abroad. Lafarge's ongoing legal issues include allegations of crimes against humanity and sanctions breaches.
U.S. forces have completed the handover of major military sites in Syria to the Syrian government, following a deal with Kurdish-led forces and the Syrian regime. The withdrawal marks a shift in regional military presence, with Syria now assuming full control of former U.S. bases. The U.S. continues to support counterterrorism efforts without maintaining permanent outposts.
Australian authorities have reiterated they will not repatriate citizens tied to Daesh, as four Australian families depart Roj camp in northeast Syria for Damascus under coordination with the Syrian government. The move follows a February attempt and ongoing safety and legal concerns cited by Canberra.
Since late April, al‑Qaida‑linked JNIM and Tuareg separatists have launched coordinated attacks across Mali, seizing Kidal and other northern bases, killing Defence Minister Sadio Camara and setting up checkpoints around Bamako. The junta under Assimi Goita has reassigned defence responsibilities and opened probes into alleged military complicity while Russia's Africa Corps has been pushed back in the north.
A Virginia jury has convicted Mohammad Sharifullah of providing material support to ISIS-K but has deadlocked on whether that support caused deaths at Abbey Gate during the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation. Sentencing faces up to 20 years if death is not proven; trial marks the first U.S. criminal proceeding linked to Abbey Gate.
Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has opened public hearings in May 2026 and has heard dozens of Jewish Australians describe a sharp rise in antisemitic abuse since October 2023, trauma after the December 2025 Bondi Hanukkah massacre that killed 15, and calls for tougher security, counterterrorism and gun reforms.
A Kampala court has sentenced Christopher Okello Onyum to death after finding him guilty of fatally stabbing four toddlers at a Gaba nursery on April 2. The judge rejected insanity claims, citing premeditation and a lack of remorse. The trial was conducted in an open, mobile court to bring justice closer to the people.
Thirteen Australian women and children linked to ISIS are returning from al-Roj camp in Syria. Authorities say some will be arrested on arrival; others are under ongoing investigation. The group’s return prompts questions over legal action, security, and welfare for children.
Naveed Akram has been charged with 59 counts and now faces 19 additional charges as investigations unfold into Australia’s deadliest mass shooting on Bondi Beach.
Australian authorities have confirmed four women and nine children detained in Syria’s al-Roj camp have planned to travel home. Some will be arrested on arrival while others face ongoing investigations; children are set to enter reintegration programs. The government has reiterated it will not provide assistance for returnees.
Australian police have returned 3 women and 9 children from Syrian camps to face crimes including owning slaves. Two women and a daughter have been charged in Melbourne with crimes against humanity and slavery; a Sydney arrest relates to ISIS membership. Government says 53 Australians remain in camps as authorities pursue prosecutions.
The New York Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian report that Donald Trump has announced a joint US-Nigerian operation has killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as a top ISIS leader. The White House-linked posts credit Nigerian forces and American support, while Nigeria confirms involvement and states the compound was near Lake Chad. The US has previously deployed troops to Nigeria for training and support, with no combat role stated by Abuja.
The operation in the Lake Chad Basin has targeted Abu Bakr al-Minuki, a top ISWAP commander linked to ISIL, and has been described by Nigerian and US officials as a coordinated effort. Officials say the strike is part of an expanded security partnership and follows recent US troop deployments to Nigeria.