This time, a suicide attack unleashed terror in Iraq. It has been claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group that its affiliates wreaked havoc in Baghdad and Istanbul within a couple of days. During the New Year’s attack at a popular Istanbul nightclub, 39 people were killed and scores of others sustained injuries. In the latest terrorist attack in Baghdad, a suicide bomber driving a pickup loaded with explosives struck a bustling market on Monday and killed at least 36 people. It shows that there is no respite from terror as the incidents of violence are recurring again and again in the Middle East and neighbouring states. The IS is targeting those countries that have mounted a campaign against the militant group.
The frequent terror and bomb attacks have claimed numerous lives all over the world. Tranquility, people’s welfare, economic growth and the universal environment will be severely affected if the terror menace is not dealt with cautiously. The time has come now for the countries that are the victims of this threat to stand united and take stern action against the menace of terrorism. Politically unstable regions and war zones are the usual strategic targets of IS (as in the case of Iraq and Syria). IS has a maniacal dedication to expanding its territory and will undoubtedly seize any opportunity to encroach into other states in the Middle East. The involvement of the IS-affiliated persons in terrorist attacks has renewed concerns about security of common citizens. Although the military offensive is going on against militants, yet stakeholder states have failed to completely eliminate the threat of militancy.
