Timeline of the Islamic State (2026)

This article is about IS-related events in 2026. For other time periods, see List of terrorist incidents linked to the Islamic State.

This is a timeline of Islamic State (IS)-related events that occurred in 2026.

Timeline

January

• 1 January – In Syria, an IS suicide bomber targeted New Year's celebrations killing 1 person and wounding 2 others. ^[1]
• 2 January – In the United States, the FBI foiled a New Year’s Eve attack plot targeting a grocery store and fast-food restaurant in North Carolina, authorities say they arrested an IS member. ^[2]
• 3 January – In Syria, the United Kingdom and France launched airstrikes on an underground arms cache formerly used by the IS. ^[3]
• 4 January – Eight Nigerian soldiers were killed by an ISWAP IED detonation targeting their vehicle near Damasak, Borno State. ^[4]
• 5 January – In Nigeria, nine Nigerian soldiers were killed and several others were injured when they hit a landmine and came under fire by IS – West Africa Province (ISWAP) near Bindundul, Borno State. ^[5]
• 8 January:
  • United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 31 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[6]
  • In Nigeria, 15 Christians are killed by the IS – West Africa Province in various raids in North Eastern Nigeria. ^[7]
• 9 January – In Somalia, USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 33 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[8]
• 10 January – In Syria, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, alongside partner forces, conducted multiple airstrike against IS. The strikes are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched in direct response to the 2025 Palmyra attack. ^[9]
• 11 January – USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 27 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[10]
• 14 January – In Nigeria, the Nigerian Air Force launched airstrikes on the 'Timbuktu Triangle' killing 10 militants. ^[11]
• 16 January – CENTCOM forces conducted a precision airstrike in northwest Syria against a militant leader with direct ties to Al-Qaeda and the IS gunman responsible for the 2025 Palmyra attack. ^[12]
• 19 January:
  • Seven people are killed and twenty others are injured in a bombing at a Chinese restaurant in Shahr-e Naw, Kabul, Afghanistan. The IS – Khorasan Province claims responsibility. ^{[13] [14]}
  • The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) says it has lost control of a prison holding thousands of IS fighters in Al-Hasakah Governorate after the prison came under attack from armed groups. A video released by the SDF appears to show dozens of IS militants escaping the prison. ^{[15] [16] [17]}
• 20 January – In Nigeria, the military arrested three recruiters for ISWAP in Borno State. ^[18]
• 21 January:
  • CENTCOM forces announce a transfer of up to 7,000 IS detainees from Syria to Iraq as part of an effort to reduce the risk of a resurgence amid increased fighting in Syria. ^[19]
  • USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 66 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[20]
• 23 January:
  • USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted multiple airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 40 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[21]
  • In the Philippines, an ambush by the IS-linked Maute Group kills 4 people. ^[22]
  • In Mozambique, the IS – Mozambique Province (ISMP) stole a motorboat and kidnapped people. ISMP demanded a ransom of 50,000 meticais ($784) each. ^[23]
  • In the United States, a 17-year-old pleaded guilty for planning a terrorist attack. ^[24]
• 25 January:
  • Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) launched an offensive against the IS in Arbinda, Burkina Faso. IS militants were driven out of the area and four were killed. ^[25]
  • In Mocímboa da Praia, Mozambique, ISMP abducted the son of a local militia member. ^[23]
• 26 January – In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 25 people are killed in an IS-linked attack in Eastern Congo. ^[26]
• 27 January:
  • In Azerbaijan, the State Security Service announced that it foiled an attempt by the IS's Khorasan Province to bomb the Israeli embassy in Baku. ^[27]
  • From 27 January to 2 February, the U.S. conducted five strikes against "multiple" IS targets in Syria, locating and destroying "an IS communication site, critical logistics node, and weapons storage facilities" utilizing "50 precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft," according to CENTCOM. ^[28]
• 28 January – In Singapore, a 14-year old supportive of IS has been issued a restriction order. ^[29]
• 29 January:
  • In Brazil, an IS member is arrested for allegedly planning a suicide attack in the country. ^[30]
  • The Diori Hamani International Airport is attacked by the IS. ^{[31] [32]}
• 30 January – USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 43 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[33]

February

• February 1:
  • IS – Sahel Province (ISSP) claimed an attack in Ménaka, Mali. ^[34]
  • USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 40 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[35]
• February 2 – ISWAP appoints Abu Khalifa as its new commander in the 'Timbuktu Triangle'. ^[36]
• February 3:
  • Donald Trump falsely accused Ilhan Omar of links to IS – Somalia Province. ^[37]
  • USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 41 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[38]
• February 4 – Attacks on two villages by IS-affiliated Lakurawa gunmen in Kwara State, Nigeria, kill at least 162 people. ^{[39] [40]}
• February 5 – Jamal Borhot, convicted of joining the IS is sentenced to 16 years in prison. ^[41]
• February 6:
  • The Iraqi Air Force carries out strikes on IS hideouts near Hatra in northern Nineveh Governorate, Iraq, using F-16 fighter jets, killing four militants. ^[42]
  • An Islamic State suicide bomber detonates explosives at a hideout in Al-Qa'im District, Iraq, during an attempted arrest, killing himself and injuring two security officers. ^[43]
  • The IS – Pakistan Province (ISPP) claimed responsibility for 2026 Islamabad mosque bombing through Telegram, releasing a photo purported to show the assailant holding a gun. ^{[44] [45]} The attack killed at least 31 people and injured more than 169 others. ^[46]
  • IS member, Humzah Mashkoor, pleads guilty to terrorism charges. ^[47]
  • ISSP militants attacked a Nigerien customs office in Kouré, Niger. Two officers were reportedly killed. ^[48]
• February 7 – Pakistani security forces arrest four suspects involved in the 2026 Islamabad mosque bombing. ^[49]
• February 9 – In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, IS-linked Allied Democratic Forces kill 20 people in Eastern Congo. ^[50]
• February 13 – USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 50 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[51]
• February 14 – USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 65 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[52]
• February 16:
  • A 21-year-old Islamic State member is charged with terrorism and other offences for his role in the 2024 Vienna terrorism plot on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna, Austria, in 2024. ^[53]
  • USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 70 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[54]
• February 18 – A security officer is killed and another is injured in an attack by IS in Raghib, Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria. ^[55]
• February 21 – The Islamic State claims responsibility for two attacks on security personnel in northern and eastern Syria, in which a soldier and a civilian were killed. ^[56]
• February 22 – In Nigeria, the Nigerian Army kills 25 ISWAP fighters. ^[57]
• February 23:
  • The Syrian interior ministry reports that four security personnel and an assailant were killed in an attack claimed to involve the Islamic State at a checkpoint in Raqqa. ^[58]
  • Nigerian Army troops kill five suspected Lakurawa insurgents near Mayama Hill, Kebbi State, Nigeria, and recover a cache of weapons. ^[59]

March

• March 3 – 14 Nigerian Army soldiers and a local imam are killed and several others are injured in two separate attacks by ISWAP militants on army bases in Gwoza, Borno State, Nigeria. 9 soldiers and the local imam in Ngoshe town and 5 soldiers Pulka. ^[60]
• March 8 – USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 70 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[61]
• March 9 – In New York City, an attempted bombing took place outside of Gracie Mansion. Two men, Ibrahim Kayumi and Emir Balat, allegedly attempted to detonate two bombs in a crowd of people protesting the Iran War. Both bombs failed to detonate. ^{[62] [63] [64]} Investigators say they were inspired by the Islamic State and wanted the incident to be deadlier than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. ^[65]
• March 12 – Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The assailant, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, opended fire on a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) group. ^{[66] [67]} The perpetrator was an Islamic State supporter. ^[68]
• March 16 – USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted airstrikes against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 45 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[69]
• March 17 – In India, a 19-year-old student allegedly linked to IS was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad. ^[70]
• March 18:
  • Over 60 Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents are killed in an operation by the Nigerian Army in Abadam, Borno State, Nigeria. ^[71]
  • USAFRICOM forces, in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted airstrikes against IS militants in the vicinity of the Golis Mountains, approximately 65 km southeast of Bossaso, Somalia. ^[69]
• March 20 – Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announces the withdrawal of Polish Armed Forces from Iraq, stationed there as part of the CJTF–OIR joint task force against the Islamic State, citing the regional threat from Iran. ^[72]
• March 24:
  • In Morocco and Spain, 3 suspected IS members were arrested in coordinated raids. ^[73]
  • In Nigeria, IS insurgents kill nine Nigerian troops, one police officer and a civilian during attacks in Kebbi State, Nigeria. ^[74]
• March 25 – In Melbourne, Australia, a teen was arrested for owning an Islamic State flag and extremist manuals. ^[75]

See also

• Timeline of the IS

References

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