Recently several terrorist attacks occurred in Paris, France. It was believed, and later made official, that the Islamic State was responsible, or at least took credit for these attacks. These attacks are devastating not only to Paris, but to the whole world leaving death, destruction, and fear in their wake.

ISIS has come out and threatened several nations as future targets, including: Russia, the United States, Germany, Belgium, and local nations surrounding the Islamic State (such as Turkey), putting many countries on alert. This is also alarming many nations accepting refugees from the battlefield, as some of the men who participated in Friday’s attacks were supposedly posing as refugees leaving war torn Syria. Several U.S. states have already stated their displeasure for the bringing of refugees to their states (not to mention the country).

In response to the bombings, French President Francois Hollande proposed sweeping new laws and increasing spending on public safety in response to Friday’s events promising the eradication of terrorism, but not at the expense of his country’s freedom. President Hollande stated at a UN Security Council meeting that “we are not committed to a war of civilizations, because these assassins don’t represent any civilization; we are in a war against terrorism, jihadism, which threatens the whole world. Terrorism will not destroy France, because France will destroy it.” France also claimed that the attacks in Paris are considered an act of war. Rather than just patch things up at home, the French have decided to take the fight to them, bombing several ISIS targets in Syria, including Raqqa (the self-proclaimed ISIS capital city), Sunday night as well. The French bombed targets, according to US Intelligence which was provided by president Obama.This intelligence is rarely given away, showing the US’s support for the French at this time.

As well as protecting their own borders, the Paris bombings are also causing many nations to unite against the terror threat in Syria. For example, Russian president Vladimir Putin has agreed to work with the French government this past Tuesday. Since then, Russia has begun more intensive bombing strikes within Syria’s borders, directed at ISIS targets as a result of their downed airliner in Egypt and the attacks in Paris. “We will search for them everywhere, wherever they are hiding. We will find them in any spot on the planet and we will punish them” said Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has since then ordered the Russian navy to aid in helping a French naval force steaming towards Syria (CNN).

President Obama said that he was open to cooperating with Russia in the campaign against the Islamic State, but only if the government of President Putin begins targeting the militant group.

According to Belgian Justice Minister Koen Geens, “the spider in the web is no longer a danger.” The suspected Islamic State mastermind of the Paris attacks was among those killed in a police raid north of the capital, France confirmed on Thursday, bringing an end to the hunt for Europe’s most wanted man.

Authorities said they had identified the mangled corpse of Belgian nationalist Abdelhamid Abaaoud from fingerprints in the aftermath of Wednesday’s raid and gun battle where at least two people died, including a female suicide bomber. Brussels has since then been placed under Belgium’s highest terror alert level, level 4, while the rest of Belgium will remain at level three. As of a result of last week’s raids in Paris, Belgium will attempt to do the same to help bring down the web of those involved. Salah Abdeslam, the second high priority target, is now the new most wanted man in Europe. Last seen driving into Belgium, Abdeslam was let go at a checkpoint entering the country as police did not know of his involvement at the time.

In most recent developments, as of 11/24/15, several soccer matches have been canceled due to fear of a similar incident to Paris. The Turkish military has also shot down a Russian warplane on the Turkish- Syrian border. Ground forces supposedly did warn the crew of two they were in violation of Turkish airspace before shooting them down. Keep in mind this is in accordance with Turkey’s rules of engagement. This further complicates matters in foreign affairs and will likely be a factor putting the resolution of the Syrian conflict on hold.