List Of Recent ISIS Attacks: Islamic State Group Hits Targets From Belgium To Syria In 2016

Turkish officials have linked the terror attack on Istanbul Atatürk Airport late Tuesday to the Islamic State group. The terrorist organization, also known as ISIS, has not claimed responsibility for the attack, which left at least 41 people dead, but the group has embraced similar attacks across the globe in recent months.

CIA Director John Brennan this month warned that as ISIS loses ground in Iraq and Syria, the group will increasingly attempt attacks on Western targets. The CIA has estimated that there are between 18,000 to 22,000 ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq, down from an estimate of over 30,000 in 2014.

“ISIL has a large cadre of Western fighters who could potentially serve as operatives for attacks in the West,” Brennan said, using another acronym for the group.

Here’s a look at ISIS’ global reach and attacks the group has been linked to so far in 2016 that left 10 or more people dead.

January

Libya: ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide truck bombing on a Libyan police training center Jan. 7. The attack left at least 47 people dead.

Turkey: A suicide bombing in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Square on Jan. 12 left 10 people dead and 14 injured. The attack highlighted ISIS’ increasing pivot toward targeting areas popular with tourists.

ISIS was also linked to attacks in Indonesia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia during January.

February

Syria: Major attacks rocked Syria in February. Car bombings in Homs and suicide bombings in Damascus left over 130 people dead.

Iraq: Twin bombings in Baghdad on Feb. 29 left at least 70 people dead. “Our swords will not cease to cut off the heads of the rejectionist polytheists, wherever they are,” ISIS said in a statement.

March

Belgium: Following the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris, ISIS again struck in the heart of Europe with a series of attacks in Belgium’s capital of Brussels. The attack left 32 people dead and over 300 people injured.

Iraq: An attack on a crowded soccer stadium in Baghdad March 25 killed at least 26 people.

ISIS was also linked to an attack in Turkey during March.

May

Yemen: ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that left at least 40 people dead in the southern city of Aden. The attack took place while army recruits were in line to enlist.

June

United States: The man responsible for carrying out an attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12 had pledged allegiance to ISIS. The attack left 49 people dead.

An attack in France in June was linked to ISIS sympathizers.