On Feb. 3, the Islamic State (IS or ISIS) terror group lost its second leader in two years when Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Quraishi blew himself up along with his family during a daring U.S. military raid in northwest Syria.
However, despite these leadership losses, ISIS has expanded in Africa's Sahel region and sees new regional opportunities following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, according to Reuters, the terror group has returned to its shadow roots, since losing its large geographic footprint at the peak of its power seven years ago.
Prior to being decimated by U.S. and coalition forces under President Trump, IS ruled millions of people in the Middle East and threatened the world with deadly bombings, beheadings, and shootings.