Islamic Militants Launch Attacks in Chechnya; Violence Continues in Mostly Muslim Province

Islamic militants launched a series of attacks today (August 20, 2018)  in Russia's southern province of Chechnya, leaving five militants dead and several police officers wounded, according to the VOA News website.

The violence indicated the Islamist insurgency remains active in the mostly Muslim province, despite authorities' claims that it has been eradicated.

It follows an attack on a Russian Orthodox Church in May that left four attackers, two policemen, and a churchgoer dead.

The fact is that radical Islamic militants -- some of whom have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group -- have conducted sporadic raids in Chechnya during the past year and continue to be a terrorist threat to the region.