As Ramadan approaches, the Islamic State re-emerges

Lost in all the reporting on the war in Ukraine is a story of the re-emergence of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist terrorist organization.

Over the weekend, IS carried out a terrorist attack in Israel, one of just a few times that IS has successfully targeted the Jewish state. Two IS jihadists, the brothers Ibrahim and Ayman Ighbariah, opened fire on unarmed civilians in Hadera, Haifa district, striking 6 people. Both of the attackers were killed.

The Islamic State Amaq “news agency” claimed credit for the attack and released a video showing the two pledging allegiance to the Islamic State’s new emir, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Qurayshi prior to launching their murderous rampage. Such pledge videos are common among IS fighters prior to attacks.

Al-Hashemi is the new emir of the Islamic State who ascended to leadership after his predecessor, Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi , was killed in a US special operations forces raid on 2 February in an operation that received almost no American press attention. Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi Al-Qurayshi’s real name is Jima Awad al-Badri. He was formerly chief of the Islamic State Shura Council and is the brother of the original Islamic State emir, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He was announced as the new emir on 10 March.

The attack came just a week before the start of Ramadan, a Muslim holy period during which jihadist groups often escalate, launching waves of new attacks. Additionally, the Hadera attack comes after a series of pledges to the new emir from IS affiliates:

In India, Islamic State Wilayat India members released a video pledging allegiance to al-Qurayshi on 26 March.
On 24 March, Islamic State Wilayat Egypt members released a video entitled “Jihad of Believers” in which they pledged allegiance to al-Qurayshi.
On 22 March, in Mali, Islamic State Wilayat al-Sahel claimed responsibility for an attack on a military base and pledging allegiance to al-Qurayshi. Also on 22 March, Islamic State Wilayat Pakistan released a video pledging allegiance to al-Qurayshi.
On 21 March, in Afghanistan, Islamic State Wilayat Khorosan released a video depicting jihadis pledging allegiance to al-Qurayshi.
On 18 March, in Somalia, Islamic State Wilayat Somal released a video with members pledging allegiance to al-Qurayshi.
On 17 March Islamic State Wilayat Iraq released a video showing 8 separate groups of Jihadis pledging allegiance to al-Qurayshi.
On 15 March, Islamic State Wilayat West Africa released a video showing fighters from 6 areas pledging allegiance to al-Qurayshi and urging beheadings of kafirs (unbelievers).
On 13 March, in Syria, Islamic State Wilayat Sham released a video pledging allegiance to al-Qurayshi.

It remains to be seen if the attack in Hadera is an opening blow in a new wave of terror from IS, but two factors could indicate that to be a real possibility. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin warning of retaliatory strikes against U.S. targets in the wake of the U.S. operation that resulted in the death of the previous emir. The parade of pledges from Islamic State affiliates around the Muslim world could be a show of force or a preview of coming operations at a time when the Biden administration is focusing on other issues.