November’s wave of deadly terror attacks — including major incidents in Beirut, Paris, Nigeria and Mali — represented a new stage in the evolution of the Islamic State terrorist group, which many experts previously insisted was mostly focused on establishing…

Extremists armed with guns and grenades stormed a luxury hotel in Bamako, Mali, early Friday morning, shooting dozens. Witnesses said they went room by room, letting guests go if they could recite verses of the Koran. Malian special forces stormed…