The FBI has recovered the black banner of the Islamic State group from the truck that an American man from Texas smashed into New Year’s partygoers in New Orleans’ French Quarter, killing 15 people. The investigation will focus on any support or inspiration that driver Shamsud-Din Jabbar may have drawn from IS or any of its affiliated groups. President Joe Biden revealed that Jabbar had posted videos on social media indicating that he was inspired by IS mere hours before the attack. While IS has lost its self-proclaimed caliphate in Syria and Iraq, it continues to inspire attacks around the world.
IS, also known as ISIS or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, emerged as a breakaway group from al-Qaida. Under leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, IS gained control of significant territory in Iraq and Syria by 2014. The group engaged in brutal acts of violence and oppression against those who did not adhere to its strict interpretation of Islam. In recent years, a US-led military intervention has weakened IS, with al-Baghdadi taking his own life as US forces closed in on him in 2019. However, the group is working to regain strength and territory in Syria and Iraq.
The influence of IS today extends beyond its physical presence, with many experts believing that the group’s power lies in its ability to inspire attacks globally. Various armed extremist organizations have pledged allegiance to IS, and offshoot groups like Islamic State-Khorasan in Afghanistan have carried out deadly attacks. The recent rampage in New Orleans reflects the deadliest IS-inspired attack on US soil in several years, adding to a history of attacks inspired by the group, such as the San Bernardino shooting and the Orlando nightclub massacre.
The threat of international terrorism has been elevated in recent years, with FBI officials warning about an increased risk following Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023. FBI Director Christopher Wray noted that there are multiple elevated threats simultaneously, indicating a concerning trend in global terrorism. IS supporters have been celebrating the New Orleans attack online, highlighting the continued influence and inspiration that the group wields over individuals and extremist groups worldwide. Despite efforts to disrupt IS plots, the threat of attacks inspired by the group remains a significant concern.
The black banner with white Arabic letters that symbolizes IS is viewed by many Muslims as a perversion of their religion due to the group’s coercive violence. IS continues to work on regaining strength and territory in Syria and Iraq, even as it faces challenges from military interventions and targeted operations. The group’s brand and ideology have inspired attacks across the globe, with various offshoot groups carrying out lethal acts of violence in different regions. The threat of IS-inspired attacks in the United States remains a significant concern for law enforcement agencies, as demonstrated by the recent New Orleans tragedy.
