The responsibility for the recent terrorist attack near the city of Krasnodar, close to the Russian capital Moscow, lies with the Islamic State Khorasan, according to confidential evidence, even though the United States claims the attack was carried out by the same group. The attack resulted in the death of at least 137 people.

• who exactly is the Islamic State Khorasan?

The Islamic State Khorasan is the Central Asian branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which declared itself a caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Despite losing control of most territories by 2018, various branches of ISIS have emerged in Africa and other regions, including the Central Asian branch, Islamic State Khorasan.

According to Reuters, the term “Khorasan” refers to the historical Islamic name for the region covering parts of Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan. The Economist reports that the Islamic State Khorasan primarily operates in northern and eastern Afghanistan, posing a significant threat to the Taliban, who are already enemies of the United States after reaching an agreement with them.This branch of ISIS is believed to have been established around 2014. While ISIS is known for its extreme interpretation of Sunni Islam, the Khorasan branch does not spare Shia Muslims or even less extreme Sunnis.

Between 2019 and 2021, this group was responsible for numerous attacks on mosques and schools in Afghanistan. They also carried out a suicide bombing at Kabul airport during the withdrawal of US forces, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people, including 13 American soldiers.

In January 2024, the group also claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack during a memorial event for Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, killing over 100 people.The group’s focus has shifted from fighting in Syria to returning fighters from Syria to their home countries, including Russia, according to some reports.

• Why did the Islamic State Khorasan attack Russia?

The group’s confrontation with Russia intensified after they cooperated with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to defeat ISIS. Putin’s severe treatment of Muslims in Chechnya and his antagonism toward Islamic extremists have also fueled tensions.

Many of the individuals labeled as attackers in Russia are Tajik nationals. Tajikistan’s authoritarian ruler, Emomali Rahmon, has faced criticism for attempting to control radical Muslims. He is also a supporter of Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the recent attack, which claimed the lives of at least 137 people, as carried out by “extremist Muslims.” Despite not directly mentioning the American warning in yesterday’s program, Western media have written that Putin was alerted by American sources that such a terrorist attack could take place in places where there could be large crowds.

However, three days before the attack, during a meeting of intelligence agencies, Western countries were reportedly spreading rumors to divert attention from the war in Ukraine. Putin instructed them to focus on the war against Ukraine. They wrote that this warning was tantamount to “blackmail” and aimed at frightening and destabilizing Russian society.

Putin did not mention any American warnings in yesterday’s program.