Islamic State Mozambique Continues To Employ Attack Tactics Directed At Stretching And Exhausting The Security Forces’ Resources And Morale In Cabo Delgado

The Islamic State Mozambique (IS-MOZ) continued with its violent campaigns in the vast province of Cabo Delgado after the militants attacked locations in Meluco and Macomia districts.

In Meluco, terrorists burned several houses in Iba village. While a unit of the Defense and Security Forces had been deployed from Macomia to Iba, the group had already abandoned the village. Terrorists also attacked Chocomo village for the second time within a month burning houses as most of the village was deserted by civilians for fear of an attack.

In the past two weeks, attacks by the insurgency have become more sporadic and stretched over large areas. While the initial speculation was that the group was expanding and seeking to expand its territory it is gradually becoming a battle strategy.  The current pattern of insurgency activities is increasingly shifting by guerilla raids on remote, vulnerable targets across multiple districts. This is a strategy that is geared at stretching and exhausting the security forces’ resources.