WASHINGTON — The FBI has confirmed the recovery of the Islamic State’s black banner from a truck that an American man from Texas drove into a crowd of partygoers in New Orleans’ French Quarter, resulting in the tragic deaths of 15 individuals.
The investigation will likely assess any potential support or influence that the driver, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, might have drawn from the extremist group or its numerous affiliated entities worldwide, totaling at least 19.
President Joe Biden mentioned on Wednesday evening that the FBI had informed him Jabbar posted videos on social media mere hours prior to the incident, indicating that he was motivated by the Islamic State.
Although the Islamic State has been notably diminished since its peak, when it controlled vast territories in Syria and Iraq thanks to a U.S.-led military coalition more than five years ago, it remains focused on maintaining a presence in the Middle East rather than staging large-scale attacks on Western nations.
However, within its original regions, the group has shown a propensity for brutal violence against foreigners, including Americans. At its strongest, Islamic State conducted numerous coordinated attacks against the West, such as the devastating 2015 Paris attacks that resulted in 130 fatalities. Despite experiencing a decline in its operational effectiveness in recent years, the organization continues to inspire individuals around the globe to commit horrific attacks against innocent civilians.
A closer look at the Islamic State reveals its evolution, present circumstances, and the actions of associated militant groups and individuals acting under its banner.
The organization, commonly known as IS, ISIS, or the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, originated as a splinter faction from al-Qaida. By 2014, under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, it remarkably expanded its control over areas in both Iraq and Syria. During its reign, the group enacted extreme violence against those of differing faiths, as well as against fellow Sunni Muslims diverging from its strict interpretations of Islam.
By 2019, a coalition of U.S.-backed forces had effectively dismantled the Islamic State’s territorial claims, and al-Baghdadi ultimately killed himself while facing capture. Currently, the main faction of the group has been significantly weakened, though experts indicate that it is attempting to rebuild its power and reclaim territory in Syria and Iraq.
The Islamic State’s flag is a black banner with white Arabic script, promoting a core tenet of Islam. Many Muslims worldwide vehemently oppose the violent actions of the group, viewing them as a grotesque misrepresentation of their faith.
The current influence of Islamic State is a concerning topic among experts, who suggest that its ability to inspire violence persists, functioning as a brand that incites various militant groups and lone actors. Many extremist organizations across Africa, Europe, and Asia have pledged loyalty to IS, forming a loosely connected, decentralized network.
Among these affiliates, Islamic State-Khorasan, based in Afghanistan, has garnered a reputation for its lethal operations, including the tragic killings of approximately 130 people at a theater in Moscow in March 2024 and a bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members alongside nearly 170 Afghans during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The recent rampage in New Orleans is a stark reminder of the danger posed by IS-inspired violence in the U.S., marking one of the deadliest attacks linked to the group in recent years. Notable previous incidents include a husband-and-wife shooting spree in San Bernardino, California, in 2015 that claimed 14 lives, and the 2016 massacre at an Orlando nightclub by a gunman who shot and killed 49 individuals while claiming allegiance to al-Baghdadi.
These attacks occurred amidst a time when many Westerners, including Americans, were traveling to Syria to join the Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate. Following those violent episodes, the threat of radicalization appeared to decline due to effective U.S. military strikes against IS members and the FBI’s proactive measures to thwart impending terrorist plots.
However, the FBI has recently cautioned of an increased international terrorism threat following the conflict between Hamas and Israel that escalated in October 2023. FBI Director Christopher Wray commented that he had never encountered such an elevated array of threats simultaneously during his career.
On social media, supporters of the Islamic State have been observed celebrating events like the New Orleans attack, with members expressing admiration and exultation, proclaiming messages like, “If it’s a brother, he’s a legend. Allahu Akbar,” which translates to “God is great.”
