The attack on Friday represented a shocking escalation in the carnage, with Egyptian officials reporting 235 dead. The Egyptian branch of the Islamic State appeared to be targeting fellow Sunni Muslim civilians at prayer. The Sinai branch, like most of the regional chapters, existed long before the Islamic State declared the establishment of its caliphate in 2014. The al-Rawda mosque attack suggested that the group was almost entirely focused on amassing body counts rather than holding territory or winning new followers. One concern is the possibility that substantial numbers of Islamic State fighters — including perhaps the senior leadership — could resurface in a new location.

Source: Washington Post November 24, 2017 23:57 UTC