FRONTLINE|August 5, 2016

Under pressure on many fronts from Syria to Turkey to Iraq, the Daesh reverts to guerilla tactics, leading to a surge in terror attacks in many countries.

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THE EXPLOSION in Medina, Saudi Arabia, for which the Daesh claimed responsibility, on July 4.

THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMZAN WITNESSED A spate of terror attacks, most of them concentrated in the volatile West Asian region where the Daesh (the so-called Islamic State) continues to exercise influence. The spokesman for the group issued a statement in the last week of May calling on supporters to “make it, with God’s permission, a month of pain for infidels everywhere”. He indicated that the Daesh would once again revert to the guerilla insurgency tactics that had initially brought it international prominence as well as notoriety. The recent escalation in terror attacks started with the killings in Orlando, Florida. The overwhelming majority of Muslims believe that the holy month symbolises peace and brotherhood. The pernicious Daesh ideology, which has permeated the Indian subcontinent, however, glorifies suicide bombing and other forms of extreme terror activities. Bangladesh has been subjected to repeated terror attacks since the beginning of the year. The attack in the first week of July on a restaurant in Dhaka frequented by foreigners, for which the Daesh has claimed responsibility, has been the most brazen one so far.

This story is from the August 5, 2016 edition of FRONTLINE.

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This story is from the August 5, 2016 edition of FRONTLINE.

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