My Turn: Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) raises its ugly head

On Dec. 13, 2025, the Iowa National Guard reported that two soldiers were killed in an apparent ISIS attack in Syria, along with a U.S. civilian interpreter, who was killed in the ambush. The shooter, who was serving as an interpreter, is believed to have been an Islamic State infiltrator working as part of a local security force, multiple sources told CBS News. Two members of Syria's security force were also wounded. NBC News reported Dec. 15 that at least 15 people were killed in a shooting at a Hanukkah event at Australia’s Bondi Beach in Sydney. The police are formally describing it as an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack. New South Wales Police confirmed the attacker’s vehicle contained IEDs and two homemade ISIS flags, evidence authorities said points directly to extremist inspiration.