Since the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in recent years, the jihadist organization has played an immense (and destructive) role in the Middle East, including Syria, Iraq, and Libya.
A Brief History
ISIS was originally affiliated with al-Qaeda; however, it was disowned by the latter extremist group in 2014. Later that same year, it declared the establishment of an Islamic caliphate — that is, a religious state — in large parts of Syria and Iraq. In doing so, it claimed authority over all Muslims, and called for a return to strict Islamic law. Its operations, which have included both territorial advances in the Middle East and terrorist attacks around the world, have resulted in massive civilian casualties and displacement.
The rise of ISIS prompted widespread international intervention, particularly from the US, who carried out a significant number of airstrikes. Eventually, Western allies working in collaboration with the Syrian Democratic Forces were able to recapture Baghouz, the last holdout of ISIS forces, in 2019.
ISIS in Syria
In particular, the advancement of ISIS in Syria was extremely opportunistic. ISIS forces took advantage of the Syrian Civil War and the resulting weakness and disorganization of Syrian government forces to invade the country. And although ISIS’s grip on Syria has been weakened substantially, the threat of a resurgence by scattered fighters and militias remains a major concern, especially since President Trump’s decision to withdraw US forces in 2019.
In addition, Syria continues to deal with the consequences of the ISIS conflict, including damaged or destroyed communities and displaced persons. One major problem is the question of what to do with imprisoned or defeated ISIS fighters and their families, many of whom are living in refugee camps. In Northeast Syria, for example, the al-Hol camp currently houses around 57,000 people, many of them women and children.
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