Late in the evening on Friday the 13, the city of lights fell under fire in the deadliest terrorist attack in Europe since 2004. The assaults were carried out by three teams of terrorists who hailed from the Islamic State, coordinating attacks at six locations through out the French capital. The locations included a famous concert hall called Bataclan Theatre, the Stade de France, and at least two restaurants. The number of victims has settled at 129 people, while 352 others were wounded, with 99 percent of them reported to be in serious condition.
Shortly after the attacks rippled through the city, ISIS released a statement claiming responsibility for the terrorism, condemning Paris for its involvement with US led airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. The statement from the Islamic State claimed that Paris is the “capital of prostitution and vice,” and “the lead carrier of the cross in Europe.” The statement refers to the terrorists by stating that: “This group of believers were youth who divorced the worldly life and advanced towards their enemy hoping to be killed for Allah’s sake.”
The attacks quickly reached the rest of the globe using social media and online news outlets, prompting major responses from France’s allies and other affected countries. This attack has come at a time when similar violent atrocities have been seen in places like Kenya and Lebanon, at a time when the threat of the Islamic State seems to be getting closer and closer to home. When masses of innocent concert-goers and soccer fans, and friends enjoying happy hour at a local restaurant are mercilessly murdered out of sheer evil, it is hard not to take ISIS seriously. But, contrary to many people’s fears, this feat might not be a symbol of Islamic domination.
ISIS builds its strength and authority from conquering territories, mainly in Iraq and Syria. But, with recent military efforts from the US and its allies in conducting air strikes on ISIS hotspots, the Islamic State has actually lost a quarter of its territory. With the loss of Islamic terrain, ISIS is weakened and feels feeble up against major nation’s militaries. This could be one feasible theory for what caused the attacks in Paris. ISIS is afraid and feels threatened, and they know that one thing they can do that our military won’t and France’s won’t is kill innocent civilians for the purpose of serving their God and “sending a message.”
What still doesn’t add up in my head is how ISIS thought this would help them. If they are feeling weaker with their loss of territory and less solidified against our military, killing civilians will only heighten France and the US military involvement, and make it even more aggressive and more calculated.
In many ways this attack on Paris has awoken a monster, but not one that exists in ISIS, one that has been dooming in the Western nations for years and can finally put forth its most assertive efforts in stopping Islamic extremists and protecting the freedoms that our civilians have the right to enjoy.
