The "black" attack on a mosque belonging to the Shia community in the capital of Oman during the recent Ashura event is serious in terms of its place and timing. For the first time - as officially stated - Oman has witnessed an attack of this nature, orchestrated by ISIS, with perpetrators being Omani nationals. Consequently, some commentators, both from Oman and abroad, hastily denied that the operation was a planned terrorist act, with some attributing it to Pakistani nationality. Additionally, some opportunists from the "Muslim Brotherhood" tried to implicate countries opposing the Brotherhood, alleging that Oman’s policies were friendly to their "resisting" axis, they claimed. However, all these speculations were blown away like yellow autumn leaves in front of the storm of the statement from the Royal Oman Police, which clarified that the perpetrators were three Omani brothers "who met their demise due to their insistence on resisting security forces... Investigations revealed that they were influenced by extremist ideas." The matter is thus settled, especially after ISIS broadcasted, via its affiliated "Amaq" platform, images of the operation and the allegiance of the three brothers to "Abu Hafs"; the current ISIS caliph, as well as a video filmed by one of the "ISIS brothers" during the operation.
"ISIS" is the one who committed the crime of killing people in "Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque" in the Great Valley in Muscat during the well-known Ashura event. It is thus a complex crime... firstly against Omani security and national peace, and secondly a serious sectarian crime. How did "ISIS" followers react to the Great Valley crime in Muscat? Supporters of "ISIS" celebrated the attack, as reported in a special examination by the BBC, across social media, expressing joy over the incident, and posted offensive comments against the Shia community while praising the "attackers" affiliated with "ISIS." Yes, "ISIS" is against everyone, considering all either outright "infidels" or "apostates," except for "ISIS members" and perhaps some "common masses," as they say.
However, the most dangerous aspect of current "ISIS" recruitment elements is the emphasis that "ISIS" is the vengeful arm against Shia hegemony. They differentiate themselves from Sunni groups, such as "Hamas" and "al-Qaeda," which they consider part of the Iranian sphere. This "ISIS" tactic could potentially lure some simple individuals suffering from the oppression of Iranian-affiliated militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen... This is the reality, and some might deal with the devil of "ISIS" to combat another sectarian devil. Today we observe this new and dangerous "ISIS" tactic and warn everyone; those who are seduced by this destructive vengeful rhetoric, and the other side that intensifies sectarian, vengeful domination, backed by Iranian support amidst Western confusion and malice, and the absence of Arab influence.
"ISIS" is against everyone... and may God protect the House of Peace and Harmony; the Sultanate of Oman and its people.
