Extremist groups are getting more dangerous and ruthless than ever, as from time to time an extremist group dominates the scene through executing hostages or committing terrorists attacks, while another resurfaces on the scene by committing more horrifying act. During the weekend, Al-Shabab extremist group released a video encouraging its supporters to attack malls in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Meanwhile, in the same day, Islamic State (IS) extremist group released another video displaying its members escorting imprisoned hostages down the streets of Iraq, in the group's latest series of dreadful videos. In addition to, Al-Qaeda's ever-lasting threat and Boko Haram's brutality, there is also Taliban extremist group. Al-Shabab: It is a Somali-based extremist group that has links to al-Qaeda extremist group. Its target is to transfer Somalia into an Islamic state ruled by Sharia law. It has operated not only domestically, but also internationally at neighboring countries Kenya and Uganda. African Union forces consisting of Kenyan, Somali, and Ugandan soldiers are combating the militants in their home country, but the group has still managed to dominate parts of Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda. However, it also targets western countries, like the U.S., as on Saturday, it released a video encouraging its supporters to attack malls in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, similar to the attack on a mall in Kenya, which became a siege that lasted four days and left more than 60 civilians dead. Al-Qaeda: It is an extremist group that has branches in the Middle East and Africa. It targets what it calls enemies of Islam or infidels. It has attacked Western countries, military facilities, and Muslims, in addition to the September 11 attacks that killed 3,000 civilians. As a result of September 11 attacks, the U.S. launched its war on terrorism, in which the group's al leader Osama Bin Laden died. It has members all over the world that conduct operations in its name. It has carried out suicide attacks in Indonesia, U.S., Kenya, and Iraq. It has an alliance with Al-Shabab. Boko Haram: It is a Nigerian, Islamist, Salafist jihadi group that focuses on the application of Islamic law in all the states of Nigeria, which is divided between Muslims majority in the north and Christians majority in the south. It aims to eliminate the Nigerian government. The group's violent activities include killing, burning, bombing, and kidnapping girls. Neighboring countries Cameroon and Chad, in addition to the U.S. cooperate with Nigerian forces in combating the group. Boko Haram focuses its attacks on West Africa, but it has targeted western facilities, such as the United Nations' offices in Nigeria. IS: It is an extremist group that operates at Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Libya. It is a group formed from Al-Qaeda in 2006. It targets what it calls western infidels and is aiming to form an Islamic State in the region. It claims that the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is the successor to Prophet Mohamed. It has demanded all Muslims to announce their support and allegiance to al-Baghdadi. Jordan and Egypt, in addition to the U.S. led international coalition are combating the group using fighter jets. Syrian and Iraqi forces are desperately fighting the group in order to gain control of their lands, of which they have lost many parts of it to the group in fierce battles. The group's terrorist activities are best known not only to be focusing on kidnapping and beheading its western and Arab hostages, but also committing terrorist attacks in France and Australia through their foreign members, who are returning to their homelands. Taliban: An extremist group with branches in the Middle East and is allied to Al-Qaeda. The group ruled Afghanistan until 2001, where it forced Islamic Sharia law. In 2001 the U.S. invaded Afghanistan and removed Taliban. However, it remains to be a violent and strong force in Afghanistan and neighboring country Pakistan. It aims to remove both governments and impose Islamic Sharia law. The Pakistani government has tried to hold peace talks with Taliban, but they failed. The U.S. and NATO forces are training Afghan troops to counter-terrorism and defend their country. The group has attacked a number of western facilities, including a U.S. military base in Afghanistan and a consulate in Peshawar.
