Bondi Beach Hanukkah Massacre Raises Fears: Is ISIS Back?
A Weekend of Terror That Shook the World
The Bondi Beach terrorist attack in Sydney has reignited global fears about the resurgence of ISIS. On Sunday, December 14, 2025, a father-and-son duo stormed a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 people and injuring 40 more. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as “motivated by Islamic State ideology.” But experts warn it was more than just inspiration — it may have been ISIS-directed or enabled.
Counterterrorism analyst Colin Clarke of the Soufan Center told Vox that the attackers had traveled to the Philippines last month, where they allegedly received military training from an ISIS affiliate. “Clearly this wasn’t just two guys sitting around reading Telegram deciding that they want to hatch a plot,” Clarke said.
The Bondi Beach massacre came just a day after another ISIS-linked attack in Syria, where a gunman killed two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter. Together, these incidents raise a chilling question: Is ISIS staging a comeback?
ISIS: Down but Never Out
A decade ago, ISIS controlled territory the size of Great Britain across Iraq and Syria, with nearly 80,000 fighters. Today, its so-called “caliphate” has collapsed, and estimates suggest fewer than 3,000 fighters remain. Yet, the group continues to inspire and direct attacks worldwide.
Recent examples include:
- January 2025: An ISIS-inspired car attack in New Orleans killed 15 people.
- 2024: ISIS-K carried out mass casualty attacks in Russia and Iran.
- 2024: Austrian authorities foiled a plot targeting a Taylor Swift concert.
- 2025: Affiliates in Africa expanded operations in the Sahel, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Experts say ISIS has shifted from territorial control to global coordination through affiliates and online radicalization.
The Bondi Beach Attack: Why It Matters
The Sydney attack is significant for several reasons:
- Direct training link: The attackers reportedly trained in the Philippines, showing cross-border coordination.
- Legal firearms purchase: Despite one suspect being previously investigated for terrorism links, they obtained weapons legally.
- Target choice: A Jewish religious celebration, highlighting ISIS’s opportunistic targeting amid global tensions.
This attack underscores how ISIS blends local grievances, online radicalization, and international training to sustain its campaign.
Syria Attack: Echoes of Afghanistan
The Bondi Beach massacre wasn’t the only ISIS-linked violence that weekend. In Syria, a member of the Syrian security forces turned his weapon on US soldiers, killing two and wounding others. The Pentagon confirmed ISIS affiliation.
This “green on blue” style attack — where local forces attack their Western partners — recalls the final years of the US war in Afghanistan. Analysts warn ISIS may be using similar tactics to push the US out of Syria, just as Taliban attacks accelerated America’s withdrawal from Kabul.
Global ISIS Strategy in 2025
ISIS’s current leader, Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, reportedly based in Somalia, oversees a network of affiliates across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Despite losing its caliphate, ISIS remains centralized enough to coordinate:
- Africa: Rapid growth in the Sahel, Somalia, and Congo.
- Middle East: Rising attacks in Syria after Assad’s fall.
- Asia-Pacific: Philippines emerging as a training hub.
Online, ISIS exploits anger over the Israel-Gaza war to recruit new members, even though Hamas and ISIS are bitter enemies. Many European plots involve teenagers radicalized online by “cyber-coaches.”
Western Governments: Distracted or Unprepared?
Since 9/11, Western governments poured resources into counterterrorism. But in recent years, focus shifted to China, Russia, narcotics, and migration. The US National Security Strategy (NSS) released this year barely mentions ISIS, warning against “sustained attention to the periphery.”
Yet, the Bondi Beach massacre and Syria attack may force a rethink. President Donald Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” against ISIS perpetrators, echoing his earlier pledge to “bomb the shit” out of ISIS.
Is ISIS Back?
While ISIS is weaker than in its peak years, the Bondi Beach shooting and Syria attack show it remains capable of high-profile, coordinated violence. Analysts caution against complacency. Lone wolves radicalized online, affiliates in Africa, and trained operatives in Asia all point to a group adapting to survive.
The chilling reality: ISIS may not hold territory anymore, but it still holds the power to terrorize.
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