IS ISIS STILL AROUND?
Sadly, ISIS is still around and has a newfound commitment to reestablishing itself even further. Luckily, the Islamic State isn’t what it was at its height. However, make no mistake that the American Armed Forces are still working to stifle their efforts in the Middle East and elsewhere. Especially during a time in which the U.S. military finds itself involved with groups backed by Iran as it stands by its ally, Israel. There are many enemies on multiple fronts engaging with American forces. ISIS hasn’t learned its lesson and remains one of the threats our warfighters engage with. Suggested read: Makua Valley Army Live Fire Drills Permanently Going Away
Does ISIS Still Exist?
ISIS is still active despite being ousted from Syria in 2019. There are still some operations in the nation along with Iraq. Many ISIS leaders have been killed and yet, there are several sects and branches on multiple continents. “While the extremist group’s capacity has been drastically reduced and millions of people have returned home, ISIS has managed to continue attacks year after year despite no longer holding territory. Meanwhile, some of the most difficult human legacies — the challenges facing the people the ISIS conflict left behind — are still with us, with no end in sight,” writes Sarhang Hamasaeed, the Director of Middle East Programs at the United States Institute of Peace. Some of the challenges allowing the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria to remain an ongoing threat are complex. They range from individualistic ideals to the fact that ISIS doesn't seem to have an actual home. So long as the idea of ISIS and the willingness to seek power, glory, and religious extremism persists, something can and likely will replace it. Even Al-Qaeda, with support from the Taliban, still exists. Overall, ISIS is seeing fewer successes than it once did but hanging on because its ideology persists. The current, surviving members, whether imprisoned or in hiding, continue to pose a threat. This has led to an uptick in military operations in 2023 from the U.S. military.
November 2023 Was Busy to Say the Least
Israel is at war and the United States is supporting its ally. Al Qaeda remains a legitimate terrorist organization that is protected by the Taliban and able to lick its wounds. Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen are firing at civilians and the U.S. ISIS terrorists remain…November 2023 has been a lot. Even with a short-lived ceasefire, there has been plenty going on. ICYMI, that also includes the fact that the American Armed Forces, along with its allies, conducted 40 missions against ISIS alone. Of the 40 missions, 24 were in Iraq and 16 missions took place in Syria. In total, four suspected ISIS fighters were killed and 33 were captured. Make no mistake about it, there are around 3,400 American troops in the area working hard to keep ISIS from reestablishing its caliphate. There have been strikes attacking sites that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria and Iraq use. Additionally, 78 attacks on American fighters have happened since the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. A lot is going on in a region that continues to breed violence. Experts believe that Iranian-backed attacks are growing, and that the U.S. must focus on multiple threats at the same time. By doing so, Iran hopes that it can limit American support in fighting Hamas. However, it is proving ineffective. The pace of U.S. military operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria remained consistent in November. In 2023, there were 427 missions against ISIS, up from 313 in 2022. However, the number of suspected ISIS operatives killed in Iraq and Syria has decreased, with 105 killed as of November, compared to 686 in 2022. The increased attacks by Iranian-backed groups have not significantly impacted the U.S. military's mission to defeat ISIS. Related read: Ukraine Funding Tied to Army’s Ability to Recruit Soldiers
Where Is ISIS?
ISIS's current territory is a lot less solid than the caliphate. With that being said, the group is in both Iraq and Syria. They maintain nearly 20 offshoots in various parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. The unfortunate truth is that ISIS still exists and it maintains networks on multiple continents. While the Middle East has the strongest concentration, and likely remains a target to establish its caliphate once more, counterterrorism measures must occur worldwide to avoid any power vacuums or opportunities for the group to do so elsewhere.
Photo credit: Statea USA (Wikimedia Commons)
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