TERROR group ISIS could be plotting a blood-soaked comeback by exploiting the chaos in the Middle East.
Experts have been left fearing that the terror group could be "coming back to life" after they claimed to have been behind a deadly bombing in Iran that killed 103 people.
Across the Middle East, tensions are running high as Lebanon's feared terrorist group Hezbollah and powerful Iran have made it clear they will support Hamas at all costs against Israel.
As threats between the three powerful groups continue - plus Hamas and Israel still battling in the battered Gaza strip - it could be the ideal time for ISIS to strike again.
At the height of its wicked ways, the Islamic State militant group held a terrifying reputation after causing terror for millions of people.
Former US President Barack Obama was forced to order air strikes against ISIS in Iraq after the group killed thousands as they established themselves across the country.
They also claimed to have done over 300 bloody beheadings between 2014 to 2017 and planned twisted attacks on innocent civilians,
ISIS had created a near unthinkable empire of destruction by 2015.
They had control over parts of Iraq and Syria and were in fierce fights with countries across the world including the US, Britain and Turkey.
But after multiple deaths to the group's leaders and setbacks in Middle Eastern territories their power dwindled as almost the whole world came together to push them back.
After several more countries unleashed airstrikes in ISIS hotspots and fighting ramped up in 2016 and 2017, ISIS were being slowly contained.
It was reported that by the start of 2018 less than 1,000 ISIS fighters remained in Iraq and Syria.
Until in late 2019, their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed himself via a suicide vest during a US raid.
For the years since they have remained quiet and been seen as a neutralised threat by world leaders only for the latest attacks in the Middle East to spark up big concerns yet again.
Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, from Middle East Forum, told Reuters that they are now looking to get back to a period of dominance and install fear back into people's lives.
"The group's goals remain ever the same: waging jihad against all the group's enemies in order to establish the territorial Caliphate that should eventually rule the whole world," he said.
ISIS said two of their suicide bombers were responsible for the blasts at a memorial parade for infamous Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on Wednesday.
In a statement on Telegram, the group said terrorists Omar al-Muwahid and Sayfullah al-Mujahid, "activated their explosives vests" in the southern city of Kerman.
ISIS, known for the unprecedented attacks on civilians, launched their latest heinous strike during a tense few days in the Middle East that was left many worried about the potential escalation of war.
Colonel Richard Kemp spoke to The Sun about why he thinks ISIS claimed the horrific bombings.
He said: "I would imagine it’s to rally support for themselves, if they can appear to seem more active than they are at the moment it’s a way of gaining global support and any type of terror success works that way.”
“It may be that they sense the opportunity with conflicts going on elsewhere to jump in themselves.”
The retired British Army officer - who served for almost 30 years - feels that ISIS is looking to get back in the spotlight after the brutal war in Gaza continues to dominate conversations across the globe.
He continued: “With the attention of the world on Hamas they may want attention to turn to them to rally support and show people they’re still around.”
“Rather than a warning it’s more of them gaining support around world and recruiting to their cause, getting financial assistance and that sort of thing as they’ve been somewhat marginalised recently.
"It may be an indication that they’re coming back to life.”
In a recent post on X, Executive Director of The Henry Jackson Society, Alan Mendoza, described ISIS as "rearing its ugly head once more," and voiced his concerns over what the terror group might do next.
He also told The Sun: "ISIS claiming responsibility for this bombing reminds us that ideological terrorist groups like this never truly disappear.
"With the Middle East at a very volatile point, ISIS’ remaining extremists will be looking at ways to exploit tensions and carve out space for themselves to operate once more."
A day before the bomb attack, top Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri and Hezbollah leader Hussein Yazbek were killed in separate drone strikes.
Iran and Israel have been battling against each other ever since Iran declared their loyalty to Hamas.
The pair have long been working together including Iran funding operations and providing intelligence to the terrorist group for decades, according to reports.
Iran was also very vocal of their anger over the brutal airstrike condemning the killing of Arouri by “the aggressive Zionist regime”.
Iran, which sponsors Hamas and Hezbollah, also made their stance clear saying the assassination would only make Hamas stronger.
Hezbollah also declared those responsible would be met with a "severe reaction".
All the strikes haven't been claimed by Israel but many believe Iran and Hezbollah are plotting their revenge in the coming days as both blame Benjamin Netanyahu's nation for the drone attacks.
And Iran originally slammed Israel and the US for causing the bombings despite the US denying the pairs involvement.
