Most importantly The Islamic State won this game of media play. This claimed attack is not only an attack on an obvious enemy (Russia bombing IS in Syria) but also an attempt to destabilize the Egyptian regime. As it is it would seem tourism in Sinai, maybe in whole Egypt, will fall to a standstill. By attacking Egypt in its economical heart IS is trying to spread anarchy and chaos. Chaos to be managed and used to accomplish the realization of the end goal; to defame and destabilize the Egyptian government.

In related news, the ISIS State of Aleppo yesterday released a video titled "Healing Souls to Kill Russians", congratulating ISIS' Wilayat Sinai on the Sharm el Sheikh plane bombing. (No link because I don't want to spread ISIS videos and it has some graphic scenes.)

The video is in Arabic, and begins with graphic scenes of Russian air strikes in Syria, and then gives its explanation of the Sharm el-Sheikh plane bombing. Then it moves to "man in the street" interviews, during which several residents congratulate Wilayat Sinai on its (assumed) accomplishment.

Here are some of the graphics from the video (which also includes photos of Putin, Assad, Obama and ISIS leader al-Baghdadi.)

As to what it says, Michael DeGerald, a doctoral candidate in Modern Middle East History and Visiting Scholar at the University of Washington in Seattle provides a basic translated version on his blog, History X ISIS, which I just came across today.

ISIS in Sinai had brought down the plane, killing the Russian “crusaders” on board. This term “صليبين”, meaning “crusaders” has also been used by Al-Qaeda and other jihadist groups in the past to refer to the United States, insomuch as they perceive the United States to be Christian. This responds to the statements of the Russian Orthodox Church, when they described the Russian airstrikes in Syria as “a holy war against terrorism“.شفاء

The video continues, describing how Russia aligned itself with Iran and “bombed the homes of Muslims” in Syria, which they undertook to “promote their interests and realize their ambitions” in Syria. In doing so they made themselves an extension of the “Nusayri” state (meaning Assad’s regime) and they killed women and children in the process.

The video refers to Iranians in derogatory terms and then "makes broad statements about how Russia has entered into a losing war and that they failed to heed the warnings of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi."

In more related news, it was reported yesterday that the British Government confirmed that a Thomson jet going to Sharm el Sheikh averted a missile in August. The Government said it investigated and came to the conclusion that the missile was "connected to routine exercises being conducted by the Egyptian military in the area at the time."

Other speculation making the rounds is that AQAP bombmaker Ibrahim al-Asiri, who published a guide to making non-detectable, non-metal bombs for use on aircraft, and who later reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and al-Baghdadi, was responsible for the design of the Russian plane bomb. Here's a 2014 short video news report on fears of his (and AQAP) working together with ISIS. He was reported killed in 2014 by a U.S. drone in Yemen, but that turned out to be false. He's believed to still be alive. Here's the story of the rectal bomb he made for his brother to detonate remotely by cell phone when meeting with the Saudi Prince. Here's a Stratfor account.

While the U.S. is ramping up air security at Middle Eastern airports that have flights to the U.S., this really isn't about the U.S. If ISIS, though Wilayat Saina, bombed the Russian flight, the attack was primarily directed at Egypt, and secondarily, Russia. The only thing our increased intervention will do is put a greater target on our back than would exist otherwise.