The militant group has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military facility in the restive region. A National Guard spokesman said the agency was at the forefront of fighting "international terrorism."
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/TASS/S. Savostyanov
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At least six Russian soldiers were killed on Friday when gunmen launched an attack on a military facility in Chechnya, the National Guard said in a statement.
"Six of the attackers were destroyed," the National Guard said. "During the armed combat, six military were killed and there are wounded."
The "armed bandits" stormed the base under heavy fog but failed to enter the facility, said the National Guard, a national security agency created by Russian President Vladimir Putin last year for counterterrorism and border security operations.
The so-called "Islamic State" (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying "six soldiers of the caliphate" were killed in the attack, according to the "Amaq" news agency, which is known for its links to the militant group.
The militants attacked "a military base of the Russian National Guard close to Naurskaya village in northwestern Grozny in Chechnya," said a statement from the militant group. "They clashed with those at the base with light weapons for several hours."
A National Guard spokesman said the attack showed that the security agency is "on the forefront of struggle with international terrorism," according to state-owned TASS news agency.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Moscow has fought two separatist wars in the predominantly Muslim region. However, under the rule of strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov, such violence has remained relatively uncommon.
Russia targeted
Since Moscow entered the Syrian conflict in September 2015, "IS" has vowed to launch attacks on Russian targets.
In October 2015, an affiliate of the militant group claimed responsibility for downing a passenger plane over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, killing all 224 people on board. It has also plotted attacks on Russian targets at home and abroad.
Russia announced it would provide air support for Syrian government forces fighting terrorist groups in the country. However, the maneuver was largely seen as a means to bolster Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's grip on power amid a protracted, multi-faceted conflict.
"IS" rose to notoriety in 2014, when it occupied large swathes of land across Syria and Iraq, culminating in the seizure of the latter's third-largest city, Mosul.
An international coalition led by the US has vowed to defeat the group. However, Moscow is not included as a member of the anti-"IS" alliance.
What is the 'Islamic State'?
IS has gone from an obscure al-Qaida splinter group to a global phenomenon. DW takes a look at the defining aspects of the jihadi group — from its "caliphate" to its tactics.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Al-Furqan
Where did it come from?
The "Islamic State" (IS) — also known as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh — is an al-Qaida splinter group with a militant Sunni Islamist ideology. It emerged in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their goal is to create a worldwide "caliphate." It gained worldwide notoriety in 2014 after a blitzkrieg military campaign that resulted in the capture of Mosul.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Where does it operate?
IS is believed to be operational in more than a dozen countries across the world. It controls territories in Iraq and Syria. However, the group has lost much of the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria at the height of its expansion in 2014.
Who is fighting back?
The US leads an international coalition of more than 50 countries, including several Arab nations. Russia, Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally Hezbollah, which all support the Syrian government, also fight IS. Regional forces such as the Kurdish peshmerga (above) and US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, fight IS on the ground. The Iraqi army and militia have pushed IS from large parts of the country.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Huseyin
How does it fund itself?
One of IS' main sources of income has been oil and gas. At one point, it controlled an estimated one-third of Syria's oil production. However, US-led airstrikes deliberately targeted oil resources and the Syrian government as well as US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters have retaken most oil wells. Other means of income include taxes, ransom, selling looted antiquities and extortion.
Image: Getty Images/J. Moore
Where does it carry out attacks?
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks across the globe. The militant group has targeted capitals across the EU, including Berlin, Brussels and Paris. IS leaders have encouraged so-called "lone wolf" attacks, whereby individuals who support IS carry out terrorist acts without the direct involvement of the group.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Spingler
What other tactics does it use?
The group uses various tactics to expand its power. IS fighters have looted and destroyed historical artifacts in Syria and Iraq in an attempt at "cultural cleansing." The group has also enslaved thousands of women from religious minority groups, including Yazidis. IS also uses a sophisticated social network to distribute propaganda and recruit sympathizers.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
How has it impacted the region?
IS has further exacerbated the ongoing Syrian conflict. Millions of Syrians and Iraqis have fled their homes, many traveling to Europe in pursuit of refuge. Although it has lost all of its strongholds, the militant group has left extraordinary destruction in its wake. Areas affected by the militant group's rule will likely take years to rebuild.
