By Pramod Raj Sedhain.
After seizing a vast swath of territory in eastern Syria as well Iraq’s northern and western region, Islamic State (IS) has posed a real and serious threat to global security. Since June, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists, which controls parts of Syria, crossed the northern Iraq and carried out a ‘sweeping seize’ of the large swaths of territory by straddling the borders between the two countries. Islamic State militants have taken control over the Iraq-Syria border including Iraq’s second largest city Mosul and Syria’s eastern province of Raqqa. Iraqi military force saw a quickly humiliating loss in a horrific way with ISIL declaring the “Islamic State”.
In June, secretive head of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (in a video message) declared himself as a “caliph” (ruler of all the world’s Muslims). The crisis in Iraq escalated after the militants controlled the northwest part and moved forward to other cities. They acquired advanced weapons and money, and continued their advances to the capital Baghdad as well Kurdish capital Erbil. The highly mobile militancy Islamic State, which split with the al Qaeda terrorist network during the Syria’s Civil war, has now a potential threat.
US humanitarian intervention
Growing Islamic State threat in the region has sounded alarm bells to the US, which has taken necessary and effective humanitarian actions. The U.S. ‘wait and watch’ strategy ended after the militants activities escalated. The intention of the US clearly signifies that it is keen on protecting innocent civilians and prevent humanitarian catastrophe. The steps of intervention would be legal under the request of the Iraqi government, and unanimous international and regional support.
Islamic militants targeted victims of Yezidi, Christian, Kurdist and Shia communities. This cannot be prevented without essential military and humanitarian support. US military has started dropping of relief materials, including bundles of food, water and medical supplies in the seized area, where civilians are facing shortages of food and water. US has been carrying out air strikes against the IS militants to prevent their activities and further advance to protect several religious minorities who are at high-risk. Merely shedding crocodile tears will not address the crisis.
The position of ISIL militants in northern Iraq has been bombarded by US airstrikes since August 8 thus allowing Kurdish forces to retake control of the some of vital significant areas such as the Mosul dam. In other frontlines, Iraqi army backed by thousands of volunteers have been engaged in fighting against the IS militants to push them out of their captured areas. According to Pentagon figure, the US spends $7.5million average per day on military operations against Islamic State in Iraq.
Islamic State militants have been committing heinous crimes such as mass execution of civilians and captive troops, beheadings, crucifixions, terrifying, torching, and deplorable murders. The world has never seen such notorious, barbaric and brutal shocking images, which are against humanity. The terrorist group beheaded U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. The group also mercilessly eliminated the rival insurgents and the moderate rebels.
The U.S.’s accurate air strike with laser-guided bombs has destroyed Islamic State’s significant offences weapons while several fighters have been killed. US ultra-modern technology and drone successfully eliminated the Islamic State offense position, heavy weapons and convoy. This has not only stopped militants’ advance but also proved to be a humiliating defeat of IS militants. Since the last two and half decades, the US’s military involvement in Iraq has been for the third time. But the current military intervention is more urgent as well as legal.
U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 was widely criticized by its long-standing allies. But this time, the US role is highly praised worldwide. Since the withdrawal in 2011, this time US has been handling the situation sensitively. It will certainly defeat the Islamic State because of US military and technological might no matter how strong and defiant the core leadership of terrorist is.
The U.S. intelligence has been keeping a close eye tracking of the Islamic State Chief Baghdadi. It is just a matter of time where and when he will have the pay the price for the militant and brutal activities. Air strikes are limited and the focus remains only in Iraq. However, it has been a necessity to expand air strikes in the Islamic state heart-land, Syria. President Barack Obama had already authorized spy planes to track militants in Syria to air-strike their positions. However, the question is how long will it take to achieve the goal?
How can the radical terrorists be wiped out?
How long it would take to down IS terrorism in the region is still unclear. It might take months or even years. The threat posed by IS extremists is not an easy task to deal with. It will also not entirely depend on military action alone. There has to be a political solution. Understanding the root-cause of the crisis and taking a right political approach might resolve the crisis permanently. Forming an effective new collation government is the foremost thing to tackle the growing IS threat.
Combating terrorist or militants without cutting off funding and controlling fresh recruitment is not an easy task. Proper co-ordination and intelligence gathering is prime necessity to strike at the Islamic State’s high-level leadership. Without clear ground and clear information about the group’s organizational structure, clear battlefield structure, command and control identification, it would be difficult to identify the targets and such miscalculation could lead to unfortunate circumstances.
Islamic State is purely a terrorist group and fiercest enemies of modern civilization. Only a massive and accurate military force can deal with these radical groups. Striking at their core leadership, command and control, equipment and technology and air force against militancy can only prevent the IS militants from spreading their influence.
Crumbling Iraqi security forces need modern weapons, training, advice, effective intelligence as well as logistic support. Effective and credible new Iraqi force can only protect any future possible threats or militancy. Iraqi and Kurdish forces urgently need arms and equipment to combat terrorism.
There is also a need for international support for Iraq to combat and overcome Islamic state extremists. European leaders must act quickly with the US to take action against terrorism to eliminate the jihads. If France and UK joined hands with the US against the militants, this will help in controlling the threat. Other western countries too can support humanitarian, logistic as well weapons and training. Muslim scholars and clerics have to initiate a campaign in favor of true ideology by criticizing the barbaric activities of the IDS militants.
Western homeland under threat
Rapidly growing extremist Islamic State isn’t just a threat to the Middle East but will have an impact in several countries worldwide. The whole world might be affected by such regional phenomena. Growing Jihadists in Iraq and Syria has remained a long-term potential security threat for the western countries. Surprise events have been witnessed in the Middle East with modern western youths joining the radical Islamist group. Thousands of western citizens are inspired by the Islamic State radical ideology and hundreds of westerners have already joined their rank. Western governments are in a difficult position since their citizens are joining the Jihadists.
According to The Wall Street Journal report (August 29, 2014), 12,000 people form 74 different countries jointed the Islamic State terror group along with 500-600 British citizens and 2,200 European. US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told CNN that 100 Americans are fighting with the Islamic State. He added, “There may be more. We don’t know.” U.S. intelligence estimated more than 300 Americans may have joined with the Islamic State. Similarly Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop revealed that a significant number of Australians have taken up leadership role in Islamic State. She said that the government assessed more than 60 of their citizens and 100 more supported those militant groups.
How the number of Jihadists from Europe and America are joining the terrorist group is still not exactly known. Their return will always be a threat. Another problem is that they possess valuable western passports and they can easily travel to most of the countries. Such a situation is not a threat for western countries but also to the whole world. All countries need to strongly adapt to counter-terror strategy and control mechanism.
Western intelligence agencies have been facing several difficulties to identity, tracking, monitoring and verifying the militants one by one. Their number is still at doubts and the danger of carrying out terror attacks on its own soil remains high. Question remains how the western nations will be capable of monitoring potential suspects and their activities? Which system will the western security agencies adapt to when it comes to interrogation and investigation of extremists to identify their possible motive? Such complex security channel and effective intelligence surveillance depend on the threat level.
