Three suicide attacks hit three different cities in Saudi Arabia today, which could be a sign that ISIS is continuing to ramp up its activity as Ramadan comes to a close. In late May, ISIS leaders called for their followers to carry out more attacks during Ramadan, and sure enough the past four weeks have … Continue reading Several terrorist attacks hit Saudi Arabia, developing

Though ISIS and its fighters may have occasion to attack an airport in Istanbul or a bakery in Dhaka, Baghdad still has the unfortunate distinction of being the primary target for the group's terrorist activities. That was once again made clear today when two car bombings in the Iraq capital killed somewhere in the neighborhood … Continue reading Baghdad is still ISIS’s main target

For those who put up with me as I tried to hack my way through a summary of yesterday's events in Bangladesh while on about four hours of sleep, here are a few updates: 20 hostages are confirmed killed along with six of the attackers--a seventh was arrested. Most of the victims were foreigners: nine … Continue reading Bangladesh update

It's late and I've been away most of the evening, but I would be remiss not to at least say something here about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. A group of attackers, "six to eight" according to reports, took perhaps 20-35 hostages in a bakery/cafe in downtown Dhaka and killed at least two police officers … Continue reading Bangladesh developing: terrorists attack cafe in Dhaka, take hostages

Turkish authorities have reportedly arrested 13 people in connection with Tuesday's terrorist attack on Istanbul's Atatürk Airport, an attack that has now claimed at least 42 lives with another 239 people injured. The bombers themselves have been identified, or at least their nationalities have been determined: one was Chechen (Russian), one Uzbek, and the third … Continue reading Istanbul bombing picture becoming clearer

His work (?) done, would-be UK prime minister Boris Johnson is slinking out the back door instead of, as expected, campaigning to replace David Cameron: The battle for the Conservative leadership was dramatically transformed today after Boris Johnson ruled himself out of the race. It followed the shock declaration from Michael Gove that he would throw his … Continue reading Emergency Brexit

There's such a constant barrage of news from Syria, somebody always advancing on this or launching air strikes on that, and it can be easy to slip into a sort of hazy feeling that things are going a certain inexorable way. Lately, for example, ISIS always seems to be struggling, as it is in Manbij … Continue reading Syria’s twists and turns

While there's much, good and bad, to sort out about Brexit's impact on the UK and Europe, it may, presumably unintentionally, be good news for the Palestinians: In a last minute pandering for votes, British Prime Minister, David Cameron — who, to his credit, had the dignity to resign after the vote — made a … Continue reading One of the (potentially) brighter sides of Brexit

A major terror attack, probably perpetrated by ISIS, strikes Istanbul.

Last Monday the Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced that it had "thwarted" a planned terrorist attack on Tehran that would have been one of the "biggest" the country has ever experienced. They claimed that the attack, which was supposed to happen on the anniversary of the death of Khadijah, Muhammad's first wife (which is a minor … Continue reading Did Iran foil a “major terrorist attack” last week?