Islamic State: Rising Again?

The Islamic State was defeated soundly by the US, UK, and even Iran. Funny how a common enemy unites usually hostile nations. Other nations like Iraq, also helped to defeat the Islamic State. At the height of its power, Islamic State ruled territories in Iraq and Syria. Raqqa was the capital of what was to all intents and purposes, a functioning state of 10 million people. IS like the Japanese in WW II had a good 6 months run of capturing territory and seemed unstoppable. Even on the verge of capturing Baghdad as Iraqi forces fell back under their onslaught. Groups the IS did like were executed in what amounted to a genocide. Captured Westerners were executed. Thousands of people from around the world swelled their ranks thinking they were going to some perfect Islamic paradise. As many later found out, the promised land for Muslims, turned out to be hell on earth, especially for women.

Like the Japanese in WW II when facing the American war machine, IS underestimated the range of forces who would reverse their conquests. Led by the Americans these forces rolled back the lands Islamic State had conquered. IS like the Japanese were fighting a largely defensive war as they fell back from the US onslaught. Like Japan in the 1940s, IS was facing a superior enemy in the US and its Allies, though again like the Japanese, they resisted with a fanatical resolve.

Eventually, IS was defeated and that was that. However, the Islamic State was destroyed as regards its mini-empire or khalifate but they have reemerged in Afghanistan. The Taliban are now facing an insurgency from IS. Just as the Taliban were fighting a guerilla war against NATO now the Taliban find themselves in the same situation with IS.

Sky News visited parts of Syria where the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are operating. They control a sliver of land captured from IS as the Islamic State Khalifate crumbled. There are camps where ex-IS operatives are being held with men, women, and children. In this area, there are US bases keeping an eye on the situation. IS is still operating in the area and they are launching attacks on SDF forces and civilians. The SDF say these groups are getting stronger and getting better organised and supplied with weapons. The SDF launched a raid on an IS stronghold and captured three operatives. They also captured a cache of weapons including AK-47 assault rifles, grenades, a pistol, and other munitions.

A Syrian Defence Forces Commander told Sky that he understood the West was focused on the Russian-Ukraine war. Also, the war between Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and potentially, Iran itself. The commander went on that the West should also focus on the regrowth of the Islamic State and the danger they pose. IS when it arose caught the West and surrounding Middle Eastern nations napping and off guard. If this vile organisation gets going again it will be a tinder box in the Middle East or Western Asia as it is being called these days.

The world appears to be going through a dangerous period war and conflict-wise. Whether it be the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the war between Hamas, Israel and the Axis of Resistance and the possible rising again of the Islamic State.

If things did get out of hand, the US with bases in the area, would step up and deal with it. However, IS will know that this is the case and may step up to fight a stronger guerilla warfare. IS will be looking at other areas in the world where it can gain a foothold. Afghanistan as described seems to be where it may resurge more if the Taliban cannot hold them.

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