IS behind nearly 400 attacks during Ramadan: UN

Islamic State committed or indirectly inspired at least 393 attacks in 16 countries during the month of Ramadan, the United Nations’ counterterrorism chief said Friday.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, during which strict fasting is observed from sunrise to sunset. Islamic militants consider Ramadan to be the most sacred period for acts of martyrdom.

Despite having its territorial expansion halted or reversed, Islamic State is likely to continue such attacks as it transforms from a military organization into a ‘real terrorist organization,’ said Jean-Paul Laborde, head of the U.N. Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate.

Most of the Ramadan attacks, between June 6 and July 5, took place in Iraq and Syria, Mr. Laborde said.

One of the attacks occurred in Istanbul on June 28, when suicide bombers struck Turkey’s busiest airport, killing 41 people and injuring dozens more. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim blamed Islamic State for the attack.

‘There is no doubt that the threat from terrorism remains persistent and unfortunately credible as demonstrated in many places,’ Mr. Laborde said. ‘The world is not becoming a safer place anytime soon.’

In late May, Islamic State urged its supporters to intensify attacks against the West.

‘Ramadan is upon us, the month of invasions and jihad... the month of conquests. So get ready and prepared. Be keen on spending it as a conqueror in the name of God,’ Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, an Islamic State spokesman and senior leader, said in the statement that was posted on online.

He implored supporters to make Ramadan ‘a month of destruction on infidels everywhere, especially soldiers of infidels in Europe and the U.S.’