By Pramod Raj Sedhain.
US-initiated campaign against Islamic State terrorist is now a meaningful broad-based coalition. Western and regional key military power countries’ pledge to participate against anti-terrorist operation against Islamic State (IS) has taken a significant step – both militarily as well as politically. Defeating the IS terrorist group is now the priority of the integrated Western air force. But they are not prepared for ground attacks. Initial air strikes have been successful but without ground control, the long term goal remains uncertain. Hundreds of aerial bombardments have been carried out forcing the militants to retreat. Many allied countries’ ability to fight against IS seems limited but their support has weakened the terrorists’ morale. The U.S. itself has massive military power than the entire coalition and it can carry out massive operation alone. However, several countries joining hands have symbolic meaning – to show “an alliance against terror”. Most of the allied countries might involve in logistic and other supporting mission. This can be a symbolic step against the ongoing fight against Islamic State terrorist group.
Since August 08, US’s significant air strikes totally blocked the jihadists from advancing. The strikes also helped to rescue the trapped civilians as well as besieged Kurds, Yazidis and Christians. The French – America’s key traditional ally – was the first European country to join the U.S-led bombing campaign. France is the country with the independent military policy than any other US-NATO western allies. France was one of the most vocal critics of US military action in 2003 and now it is involved in a totally different context. French aerial presence is limited in this operation but possess a great idea and experience to tackle terrorism. It was also involved in an operation in Mali in 2011 to purge al-Qaida-linked militants and its forces were deployed to end sectarian violence in Central African Republic (CAR). French troops flexed military muscle in Ivory Coast, Libya and other parts of Africa. After extensive debate in the United Kingdom parliament and voted on approving the multinational aerial operation, US closest ally, UK warplanes joined the US-led air strikes to target the IS militants. European economic powerhouse Germany has supported the coalition. Australia, Netherlands, Belgium among others countries have joined the mission.
Most of the US ally only participated in Iraq but the US-led Arab allies participated in Syria against the radical Islamist militants. In order to wipe out extremist leadership, US-led Arab coalition simultaneously attacked several dangerous extremist groups in Syria among Islamic State, al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra front, rare-known Al Qaeda network in Syria- Khorasan, among others extremist targets. Five Arab nations – Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have taken part in the air strikes in Syria. The beginning of broader approach might be a similar alarm bell to the Syrian government because they might impose a no-fly zone in the northeastern part of Syria to aim the Syrian moderate rebels controlling the ground. If they remain successful to enforce the no-fly zone, the Syrian military’s ability to launch air strikes against apportion rebels can lead to a total collapse.
Aircraft have attacked IS’s command, control and logistics capabilities as well as the capital of terrorist groups’ self-declared caliphate in Syrian city of Raqqa and its primary economic source – oil installations in eastern Syria. French fighters pounded the significant Islamic State targets in Iraq. Nearly 40 countries have joined the US-led coalition against terror group. Such a broad coalition has been formed nearly two and half decades after the Gulf War (2 August 1990 – 28 February 1991). In 1991, a coalition of some 34 countries had joined the Operation Desert Shield (17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991) and were involved against Iraq in response to Iraq’s invasion and annexation of Kuwait.
Now that it is time for more countries to join the campaign against IS to protect their own soil. Commitment to join the coalition is important for controlling possible threat of Islamist extremists. After series of anti-western terrorist activities and beheading of US, UK and France citizens, the West felt it a necessity to declare war on them and to put military pressure against the IS. The US-led pressure against IS militants is necessary to protect their own interest as well as to prevent their nationals from joining the jihadists. Arial operation in wider areas is a difficult task but this harder choice is because the IS seriously poses threat not only at the regional level but to the whole world. Killing or capturing senior Islamic State leaders, destroying their number of command headquarters, controlling the spread of terrorism and extremism is the prime concern for the coalition countries’ air strikes. Necessary ground intelligence gathering is more crucial after intensified air strikes against the terrorist group. According to Central Intelligence Agency assessment, the terror group IS could have as many as 31,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria. The threat from this terror group is far dangerous than al-Qaeda because of its ground base, brutal tactics, its fighter size, its weaponry, its economic source, and fighters’ determination.
Conducting military strikes in IS targets is necessary for protection of world peace and stability. Destroying their capability and weapons is impossible without effective air-strikes. Air strikes have damaged the Islamic State’s ability to control more significant territories in Iraq but high- morale with equipped and trained force is needed to gain the ground. Questions remain how long will it take for the operation? And can air-strikes defeat the IS? The former al-Qaeda in Iraq group formed in 2013 had captured several cities. It had captured eastern Syrian city-Raqqa and expanded its capture in neighbor Iraq in June. The terrorist group changed the Middle East map after capturing Iraq’s second largest city Mosul and declared a “caliphate” in the controlled areas in Syria and Iraq. The U.S.-led air strikes on Islamic State neutralized the group but despite the limited bombardment of a few key targets they could be hiding in small trenches and civilian areas. Recruitment and cut-off of a major source of revenue is still a challenge.
Ideological battle is equally important like military campaign. According to Reuter’s news agency, more than 120 Islamic scholars from around the world issued an open letter denouncing Islamic State. Reuters mentions the letter signed by figures from across the Muslim world from Indonesia to Morocco states: “You have misinterpreted Islam into a religion of harshness, brutality, torture and murder”. The letter described IS interpretation of the faith as “a great wrong and an offense to Islam, to Muslims and to the entire world.” Another humanitarian crisis is refugee with thousands of civilian population of the town flee posing threat to regional stability in the Middle East. Coalition’s bombing campaign is yet to be justified. Three-year-old Syrian civil war political solution is still uncertain and Iraqi political settlement is another challenge. Sectarian division, ethnical tension and political discrimination are some other problems in the crisis region. Inclusive and integrated joint government is the need in both Iraq and Syria. If political solution is underestimated in the current crisis across the region, this could pose another serious threat, which will start a new cycle of violence in the region.
