The Islamic State - The Sunni Force Catching Steam

IS – are the radical Sunni group that has already taken over a significant piece of Syria and Iraq. In Syria, as Sunni Muslims, they oppose Shia President Assad. Isis has supported the Syrian Rebels as the conflict within Syria continues.

This group claims to be a caliphate – meaning they are attempting to create an Islamic state led by a “supreme leader” under Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. This proclamation is eerily reminiscent of the earlier work of the Taliban from the 1990s. This new group is ambitious, organized, and possibly more important, they are capitalized. IS has Money as they have taken control of many lucrative oil fields of northern Iraq and military equipment from the Iraqi security forces. Where there is money, there is power. Additionally, they have taken over several banks. IS’ caliphate proclamation is frightening as it could easily attract the discouraged youth in the region who could potentially buy into the propaganda and begin the process of becoming jihadists. 

At least, this is the Western view of the matter. IS has a strict interpretation of the Koran: Women need to cover their faces and eyes, IS will take and arm for theft, and have a subjugated status on religious minorities. The view towards religious minorities has been very terrifying for the Iraqi Christians who for the most part, have fled the country.

The group is able to exert their power using little Force, which has allowed them to cover an extremely impressive, albeit disturbing, amount of territory. The group already has significant influence in North and East Syria as well as Northern and Western Iraq.

Iraq is an especially appealing area for the group as they have oil, and a political system ruled by Shias. Yet, the Sunnis in these countries for the most part have been unscathed. The group essentially leaves villages and cities alone as long as they obey their rules. Unlike the rule of Syrian rebels, there was wide spread looting and violence. Yet, under IS, this does not occur. In fact, they offer to protect the citizens who have fallen victim to theft.

According the Erika Solomon of the Financial Times, “Isis (IS) appears to be perfecting a model mixing fear, divisiveness and soft power tactics to slowly seize control from under the feet of other rebel groups. A group that is able to gain territory rapidly, win to a certain extent the admiration of the occupied population, while obtaining great wealth, could certainly create a force to be reckoned with. The group has actually brought some sort of stability to a region that hasn't had any in at least 10 years.

Very recently, IS has made moves to invade Lebanon. Now, they will not be joining forces with Hezbollah. However, there is evidence to support that IS is attempting to invade now as Hezbollah is supporting hamas against Israel. To put things delicately, the Middle East is experiencing rapid change. The U.S. is flooding resources into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Ukraine-Russian disputes, that is has looked the other way on this one. But, I am sure this situation is being closely monitored from a counter terrorism perspective, even if it is not publicized.