Two chilling attacks in the US on New Year’s Eve—one in New Orleans and the other in Las Vegas—have reignited concerns about the Islamic State’s (IS) global resurgence and its ability to inspire or coordinate terror acts.
Driving the news: New Orleans
- A US army veteran, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, drove a pickup truck into a crowd in New Orleans during New Year celebrations, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens.
- Jabbar, a 42-year-old Texas resident and former military IT specialist, carried an Islamic State flag in his vehicle, and officials described the attack as inspired by ISIS.
- US President
Joe Biden condemned the attack as “despicable” and noted that Jabbar posted videos online hours before the incident, showing his allegiance to ISIS. - The attack began near Bourbon Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, a major tourist area, and ended with Jabbar being killed in a shootout with police, during which two officers were injured.
- Two homemade bombs were found and neutralized at the scene, and officials are searching for possible accomplices, believing Jabbar did not act alone.
- The FBI is conducting search warrants in New Orleans and other states and investigating possible links between this attack and an explosion in Las Vegas, though no connection has been confirmed.
- Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and horrifying, with one calling it a “war zone” due to the carnage and bloodshed.
- Jabbar had a military history, serving from 2007 to 2015, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and later in the Army Reserve until 2020.
- The incident caused significant disruption in New Orleans, delaying the Sugar Bowl and raising security concerns ahead of the Super Bowl, set to be held in the city next month.
Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump Las Vegas hotel
- A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on Wednesday, killing the driver and injuring seven others, prompting an FBI investigation into possible terrorism.
- Videos captured by witnesses showed the vehicle engulfed in flames outside the hotel, which is owned by the Trump Organization, linked to President-elect
Donald Trump . - The incident occurred hours after a separate attack in New Orleans, where a man drove a truck into New Year’s revelers, killing 15, raising questions about potential connections.
- FBI special agent Jeremy Schwartz stated it was not yet clear if the explosion was a terrorist act, emphasizing the need for further investigation.
- The Cybertruck had been rented in Colorado through Turo, the same car-sharing service used for the vehicle in the New Orleans attack; a Turo spokesperson stated neither renter had a known criminal background.
- Tesla CEO
Elon Musk clarified that the explosion was unrelated to the Cybertruck’s design, attributing it to fireworks or a bomb in the truck bed, with vehicle telemetry confirming no faults. - The explosion killed one person inside the vehicle and caused minor injuries to seven others, two of whom were hospitalized; the Trump Hotel was evacuated as a precaution.
- Sheriff Kevin McMahill acknowledged the high-profile nature of the location and vehicle involved, noting parallels with the earlier New Orleans incident.
- The FBI is collaborating with local authorities and Turo to investigate both incidents, while Las Vegas firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and ensured public safety.
Why it matters
- These incidents highlight a worrying trend: IS, though territorially defeated in Iraq and Syria, continues to wield influence as a brand, inspiring attacks across the globe.
- The New Orleans tragedy is the deadliest IS-inspired act on American soil since the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting.
- If IS links are confirmed, it would signify the group’s alarming ability to carry out—or inspire—coordinated attacks far beyond the Middle East.
- The New Orleans and Las Vegas incidents expose vulnerabilities in US domestic security, despite years of counterterrorism investments.
- Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in the
New Orleans attack , was an army veteran with no apparent red flags in his background. Yet he managed to plan and execute a deadly attack under law enforcement’s radar. - The coordinated nature of the two incidents raises concerns about IS’s operational capabilities and suggests a potential failure in detecting pre-attack signals.
Zoom in
The dual attacks come at a time of significant political transition in the US, with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in less than three weeks. Trump has often criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI for what he perceives as misplaced priorities, calling for stronger leadership to combat internal and external threats. His remarks following the attacks called for immediate CIA involvement to prevent further erosion of US safety and democracy.
Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership. The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job. They are incompetent and corrupt, having spent all of their waking hours unlawfully attacking their political opponent, ME, rather than focusing on protecting Americans from the outside and inside violent SCUM that has infiltrated all aspects of our government, and our Nation itself. Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen to our Country. The CIA must get involved, NOW, before it is too late. The USA is breaking down – A violent erosion of Safety, National Security, and Democracy is taking place all across our Nation. Only strength and powerful leadership will stop it. See you on January 20th. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
US President-elect Donald Trump
The attacks also highlight gaps in interagency cooperation and resource allocation. Since the Obama administration, the focus of US security policy has shifted toward great-power competition with China and Russia, potentially diverting attention from counterterrorism efforts. Experts warn that this shift has left domestic agencies ill-equipped to detect and prevent emerging threats from groups like IS.
IS’s global resurgence
The Islamic State’s capacity to inspire violence, even as it lacks a physical caliphate, underscores its evolution into a decentralized network. While IS once held significant territory and resources, it now functions as an ideological and operational hub, using social media and encrypted communication to connect with sympathizers worldwide. This shift has made the group harder to combat, as attacks are increasingly carried out by individuals or small cells acting with little direct oversight.
Data from US Central Command (CENTCOM) reveals that IS has claimed 153 attacks across Iraq and Syria in the first half of 2024, a sharp increase from previous years. Globally, IS-inspired violence has spiked, with major attacks in Iran, Turkey, and Russia showcasing the group’s ambition to remain relevant. As per an Economist report, Bruce Hoffman, a counterterrorism expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, described 2024 as IS’s “year of resurrection,” warning that the group’s resilience lies in its ability to adapt and exploit geopolitical instability.
Analysts note that the chaotic aftermath of Bashar al-Assad’s removal in Syria may provide IS with an opportunity to regroup, recruit, and plan further operations.
In addition, the war in Gaza and other regional conflicts have amplified grievances that IS exploits to fuel its recruitment efforts.
The power of propaganda
IS has long mastered the use of propaganda to inspire lone wolves and small cells to commit acts of terror. The New Orleans attack highlights the group’s ability to motivate individuals without direct operational ties.
Social media videos posted by Jabbar before the attack indicate ideological alignment with IS, suggesting he may have been radicalized online. Similarly, the Las Vegas attack, involving a rented Cybertruck and potential explosives, aligns with IS’s preference for highly visible and symbolic targets.
IS affiliates have also been active in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In January 2024, IS-linked bombings in Iran killed 95 civilians. In March, an attack at a Moscow concert hall claimed 130 lives. These incidents reflect IS’s strategic pivot to asymmetric warfare and its focus on high-profile attacks to sustain global relevance.
What they’re saying
- Experts and officials have weighed in on the implications of these events.
- Colin Clarke, Soufan Center: “This is not a garden-variety attack.” Clarke believes the New Orleans incident reflects a level of sophistication that suggests external influence or inspiration.
- Elon Musk, Tesla CEO: “Appears likely to be an act of terrorism… Perhaps they are linked in some way.” Musk pointed to similarities between the rented vehicles used in both attacks.
- President Joe Biden: “The situation is fluid.” Biden emphasized the need for vigilance, noting that investigators are probing potential connections between the attacks.
What’s next
- Enhanced vigilance:Law enforcement agencies are intensifying their efforts to investigate potential IS links to the recent attacks. The FBI has expanded its probe to include Jabbar’s associates in Texas and beyond. Meanwhile, Biden has called for increased international cooperation to counter IS’s resurgence.
- Policy shifts under Trump: As Trump prepares to take office, his administration faces pressure to address these threats head-on. While Trump has pledged to “make America safe again,” his isolationist tendencies and past critiques of Nato may complicate efforts to build global coalitions against IS. Republican hawks, including Senator Lindsey Graham, have called for a balanced approach that combines strong domestic measures with sustained international engagement.
- Long-term strategies: Experts emphasize the need for comprehensive counterterrorism strategies that go beyond military solutions. Addressing root causes, such as political disenfranchisement and socioeconomic inequality, is crucial to undercutting IS’s appeal. Additionally, bolstering intelligence-sharing among allies and investing in cybersecurity measures to combat online radicalization will be key to preventing future attacks.
- Between the lines:As families mourn the victims and investigators piece together the events, one thing is clear: The battle against IS is far from over. The US must recalibrate its counterterrorism efforts to address this evolving threat, ensuring that the events of New Year’s Eve 2025 do not mark the beginning of a new wave of terror.
(With inputs from agencies)
