Islamic State announces 'revenge' attacks during Ramadan
Iraq has stepped up security amid an IS campaign called 'Battle of Revenge for the Two Sheikhs' that killed dozens in several countries in the first few days.
ERBIL – The Islamic State (IS) has taken responsibility for a rash of attacks in recent days as part of their “Battle of Revenge for the Two Sheikhs,” announced on April 17 and seen as global in scope.
Multiple attacks this week in Afghanistan, Syria, Nigeria, Libya, Uzbekistan, and other locations have been claimed by the group since the announcement of the campaign, which comes amid Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. In the first three days of the campaign, 42 attacks were reported in nine countries.
A large number of casualties resulted from at least four attacks on April 21 in Afghanistan, including at a Shiite mosque in the northern city of Mazar al-Sharif near the border with Uzbekistan.
The two sheikhs referred to in the IS campaign are the former leader of the international terrorist organization, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, and its former spokesman, Abu Hamza al-Quraishi.
