The real lessons of mosul and sixteen years of war in. Islamic state reverts to guerrilla warfare tactics in quest to reclaim, expand territory. The attack sparked international media coverage and brought attention to the brutal tactics employed by isis. Isis s priority has been to destabilize regimes in order to control territory as quickly as possible. The islamic state of iraq and alsham and its urban warfare tactics. Sep, 2018 the nine isis female suicide bombers documented by the gem confirm how this deadliest of extremist groups has modified its tactics and ideological stance. To study the impact of isis on the overall twitter community, we focus here on their interactions with the community. The fight in mosul is still a work in progress, but iraq is close enough to driving isis fully out of the city to show iraqi forces have steadily improved over time, and the combination of iraqi forces, u.
May 08, 2018 the isis tactics that have left iraqi special forces weakened. Despite this decline, the methods or tactics used by the extremist violent group remained relatively consistent between 2016 and 201 8. Arabic language but since isis is mainly active in the middle east and the majority of its members are arabic speakers, we believe this dataset provides a clear window into isis social media strategy. This article deals with isiss establishment of the socalled cyber caliphate and its strategies of advancing extremist discourse over social media websites such as twitter. Islamic state of iraq and syria isis a global threat. The main isis tactics in urban environments include utilizing different types of.
An analysis 105 introduction clausewitz said, war is an instrument of policy. Isis military strategy is believed to be complicated, seemingly conducted by the alshura council majlis alshura. The strategy and tactics of revolutionary terrorism. Pdf a critical analysis on isis propaganda and social. Considerable evidence indicates that both the insiders and the outsiders play a central role in the determination of hamas strategy on terrorist operations against israel and the solicitation and dis. Isiss postcaliphate strategy is to target sunnis that collaborate with government forces or other insurgent groups using hitandrun tactics and targeted assassinations, using as its base desert areas. In actuality, his speech illuminated two distinct approaches to strategy. The islamic state of iraq and alsham isis, widely known as the islamic statedaesh, has supplanted alqaeda as the jihadist threat of greatest concern. Policy congressional research service summary the islamic state is, aka the islamic state of iraq and the levant, isilisis, or the arabic acronym daesh is a transnational sunni islamist insurgent and terrorist group that controlled large areas of. Western carolina university there is an enormous socialscientific literature on the concepts of polit. Trucks packed with explosives and guided by sacrificial drivers, fields of simple improvised explosive devices ieds, and chlorine gas. Tactics, techniques, and procedures of the islamic state. Conventional methods of fighting, such as onforceforce clashes and shelling, consistently accounted for.
Al qaeda has sometimes capitalized on isis tactics and made gains in. A critical analysis on isis propaganda and social media strategies. Some technical and tactical elements of the counteris strategy. The organizations primary fighting force is within. Isis in syria was partly the result of a deliberate strategy by president bashar. Isis the islamic state of iraq and syria has become a key political and military actor in the middle east and in north africa.
This council contains some former highranking military and security generals from the iraqi army of saddams era, but these officials have since given full allegiance and loyalty baiah to isis. Isis has struck at iraqs civilian population with the clear goal of dividing the country between sunni and shiitealthough one of its three bombs did kill sunnis as well. Strategy for counterterrorism outlines how the united. Terrorism, tactics, and transformation katherine immerman 7 salafijihadists believe armed conflict is the way to restore the caliphate, unifying the umma global muslim community under a single leader. A look at a month of historic attacks attributed to the islamic state, and what they might mean. The recent attack on istanbuls airport, which killed 44 people and authorities said was the work of isis, should persuade turkey. Jun 26, 2015 this visual strategy is a powerful tool for isis, particularly in view of the fact that isis aspires to gain influence and power in areas where the state has collapsed and anarchy prevails. Few words are as ubiquitous and amorphous as the word strategy this has certainly been true regarding the u. Isis is being forced to change its strategy and tactics, but it has been proactively preparing for the next phase of the conflict. Alqaeda has sometimes capitalized on isis tactics and made gains in unexpected ways. Rural insurgency is not an afterthought for isis and other jihadis who are currently on the defensive.
However, for isis, expulsion from former urban strongholds is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Considerable evidence indicates that both the insiders and the outsiders play a central role in the determination of hamas strategy on terrorist. Isis has sought to tout itself as the defender of sunnis across the region and the choice of words in its statement is. Isiss desire to remain a force means that it has needed to adapt to increased counterextremism measures. Isis main military strategy as a territorial force was to take control of peoples. The speech outlined what the president would like to have happen, but it also. Pdf islamic state of iraq and syria isis a global threat. This article analyzes the assumptions, tactics, the most important decisions. The military doctrine of the islamic state and the limits. Isis shifts tactics to guerrilla warfare to reclaim. In short, it is transitioning from an insurgent organization to a.
Lasting and expanding the islamic states strategic objectives revolve around the acquisition of money, resources, and power. A key reason for this weakness is the coalitions focus on limited mili. Iran, hezbollah, and russia have all sent troops to fight isis directly. Since then, islamist extremist groups have manipulated the concept of istishhad, or martyrdom, to build an ideological justification for waging violent jihad. Its strategy is methodical e ven as its warfare has been irregular since 2009.
Origins, tactics, strategy, and response by robert satloff these three circles each have different spheres of responsibility. Isis ideology, rhetoric, and longterm goals are similar to al qaedas, and the two groups were. While isiss capacity to launch attacks in syria has significantly diminished. What the war with isis teaches us about strategy cicero. Army war college conducted a wargame early this year to discover the diplomatic and. In the following we will take a closer look at different media outlets used by isis. Isis financing strategy relies upon the conquest of territories in order to control and exploit the natural resources therein to fund both its war efforts and the administration of the populations under its control.
Pdf the american military strategy to combat the islamic state in. This essay aims at outlining isis warfare through an analysis of its operations in the frame of hybrid warfare theory proposed by frank hoffman. Opinion fighting isis as it shifts tactics the new. Its intervention in 2015 has since enabled the syrian government to reinforce its positions, retake territory from syrian rebels, and regain aleppo, using brutal tactics against syrian civilians and targeting hospitals and schools. Individuals and groups pursuing this end state at the local. Driving most isis forces out of mosul is an important victory at the tactical level. In these placesits propaganda narrative more pervasivethe situation is borne of an offline media strategy that has, for a long time, been almost totally obscured by the worlds fixation on. This paper examines isis s actions, publications, and communications to determine its insurgency strategies and longterm. Also in 2014, al qaeda broke ties with isis, formally rejecting the group and.
In an internal document, isis described its strategy as follows. To better understand the difference between strategy and tactics, lets look at one possible scenario the united states could use to. On september 10th, president obama intended to present a clear strategy for combatting the terrorist group. The isis tactics that have left iraqi special forces weakened. Fighting isis as it shifts tactics the new york times.
The public executions target westerners theyre not doing this to everybody they just let 350 yazidis go and are truly barbaric but simultaneously are the most violently theatrical way of demonstrating territorial control. Policy congressional research service summary the islamic state is, aka the islamic state of iraq and the levant, isilisis, or the arabic acronym daesh is a transnational sunni islamist insurgent and terrorist group that controlled large areas of iraq and syria from 2014 through 2017. Isiss terrorist attacks are part of a war of attrition strategy. A wargame by harleen gambhir isis is a brutal, capable enemy that seeks to break modern states and establish a worldwide caliphate.
Alqaeda has sometimes capitalized on isis tacticsand made gains in unexpected ways. Fear tactics have proven successful for isis center for. Strategy to counter the islamic state of iraq and the levant isil the islamic state of iraq and the levant isil poses a clear threat to the people of iraq and syria, and to the broader middle east, as well as u. The united states, australia, the uk, canada, holland, france, jordan, turkey, russia, and egypt have all engaged in air strikes against isis. It is more and more likely to avoid major battlefield engagements and instead resort to terrorist. Isis is executing a sophisticated global strategy that involves simultaneous efforts in the middle east and north africa, as well as the wider world. In short, it is transitioning from an insurgent organization to a terrorist group. Currently, the biggest threat to isis comes from outside states. Terrorists disagree about their goals, their methods tactics and strategy and the pace at which they seek to implement change in their societies. Iraq has just seen one of its most horrifying days of terrorism in what is now some thirteen years of war. These tactics employed by zarqawi continued to bother al qaedas top.
The islamic state of iraq and syria isis uses social. The isis tactic is to make a surprise attack, inflict maximum casualties and. Isis has demonstrated its desire to return to its terrorist roots. Countering isiss global strategy is extremely difficult. This piece offers a comprehensive overview of isiss wider media strategy that should prove useful to academics and practitioners, enabling a more nuanced understanding of the groups overarching goals and its usage of positive imagery in particular. The jihadi threat united states institute of peace. The united states currently faces multiple national security threats in an environment of growing disorder. This visual strategy is a powerful tool for isis, particularly in view of the fact that isis aspires to gain influence and power in areas where the state has collapsed and anarchy prevails. An analysis of isis communication strategy an interview in december 2015 with the figaro, assael adary emphasised that. The military doctrine of the islamic state and the limits of. The strategy and tactics of revolutionary terrorism h. The essay will argue that isiss communication strategy presents a multilayered, dynamic. Islamist terrorists such as isis and alqaida, expand our agile counterterrorism toolkit to.
The first modern suicide bombing, in lebanon in 1981, ushered in a new era of terrorist violence. So, throughout this course, you have seen that there are several different flavors of terrorism. It discusses the role of open online platforms and the dark web in the groups efforts to recruit fighters, intimidate its opposition, and. The islamic states global propaganda strategy this research paper aims to analyse in depth the global propaganda strategy of the socalled islamic state is by looking at the methods through which this grand strategy is carried out as well as the objectives that is wants to achieve through it. Military strategy and tactics have rendered it the most skilled fighting force in iraq and syria, significantly more effective in most military exchanges than regime and rebel forces there. Nov 16, 2015 isiss terrorist attacks are part of a war of attrition strategy. Isis and isil, for the islamic state of iraq and the levant has signaled the. Pdf a critical analysis on isis propaganda and social media. It is more and more likely to avoid major battlefield engagements and instead resort to terrorist attacks in the middle east, other conflict zones, and the west. This begs the question which characteristics isiss communication strategy features. Moreover, these hostage situations necessarily force states with.
Isiss priority has been to destabilize regimes in order to control territory as quickly as possible. Therefore, its tactical strategies will define or provide clues about how. Heres how isis is running sun tzus counsel to attack the informational part of us strategy. Pdf the american strategy to combat the islamic state rests on four pillars.
Sep 25, 2017 isis is being forced to change its strategy and tactics, but it has been proactively preparing for the next phase of the conflict. Discussions about the islamic states leadership often note that many of its commanders served in the baathist army of iraqi president saddam hussein. Isiss postcaliphate strategy is to target sunnis that collaborate with government forces or other insurgent groups using hitand run tactics and targeted. Isis is executing a sophisticated global strategy that involves simultaneous efforts in iraq and syria, the middle east and north africa, and the wider world. Isis calls them inghemasiyoun, arabic for those who immerse themselves, a sort of special forces unit parallel to its regular forces that is credited with many of the groups stunning.