Mosque attack suggests IS aims to make Sinai Peninsula its new base

ON FRIDAY, at least 305 people died when terrorists attacked a Sufi mosque in the Sinai Peninsula. So far, no organization has claimed responsibility. However, the Islamic State is the main suspect. According to Egypt's state prosecutor, militants flying the Islamic State group's black banner had surrounded the mosque and massacred the worshippers during weekly Friday prayers. Ifeng.com comments:

Since earlier in the week both Iran and Iraq had claimed the IS had been defeated, IS leaders would naturally want to remind the world about their existence as well as unite their own forces, as the Iraqi government stressed, the threat of terrorist attacks remains.

Also the IS leaders might have required their Sinai supporters to launch the attack in order to prove their allegiance.