(VOVworld)- The establishment of the Islamic State had a strong impact on the world in 2014. Within a short time, the IS showed its extreme, brutal nature going against all nations. Though a US-led international alliance is trying to wipe out this organization, the fight against IS will face several challenges in 2015 and the following years.
Formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS, the Islamic State was founded in April, 2014, from an Al-Qaeda group in Iraq. Unlike other terrorist groups in Syria, the IS’s aim is to set up an Islamic Kingdom stretching from Syria to Iraq. With its strategies, military techniques and abundant financial support, the IS has surpassed other terrorist groups to become a major challenge for the geo-political order in the Middle East and has inspired fear around the globe.
Launching a global jihad
Within a short time, the IS has showed its extreme, brutal nature in fighting against all nations. Starting with about 30,000 members, this organization has so far recruited about 200,000 fighters, 10% of them from other continents. The IS militants can launch terrorist attacks in any place. While seizing large tracts of territory in the Middle East, the IS has shocked the world with repeated massacres of hostages including civilians and foreigners.
Besides disseminating information about its activities, the IS has joined other Jihad groups and Al Qeada activities to launch a global jihad.
Initial anti-terrorism efforts
In the face of the expansion of the IS and the increasing brutality of its activities, an anti-IS international alliance led by the US was established in May 2014, involving more than 40 countries, 20 of which have launched operations against the IS in Iraq and Syria. Air strikes launched by the US and its allies have helped to slow IS attacks. Since August, 2014, the IS has not been able to occupy any more cities in Iraq and has been pushed out of several regions in northern Iraq. In Syria, a number of IS facilities were destroyed. The world community has pursued measures to block financial, weapons and human resources supplies to the IS.
Difficult to root out IS
Though the US has managed to persuade 60 countries to join the anti-IS alliance, their operations have not been effective. Allied air strikes have destroyed some IS targets but they have spurted the IS gunmen to become more extreme and brutal. Despite its brutal acts and extreme ideology, the IS has received wide support from individuals and organizations around the world. Most major jihad groups in the Middle-East, Africa, South Asia and the Far East support the IS. This support poses a great threat to governments around the globe.
One of the reasons the fight against the IS has been ineffective is that some allies want to prevent certain others from benefiting from any IS defeat. Syria and Iran, who both play important roles in the Middle East, have not joined the international coalition. Russia is not interested in joining the US in this fight though it doesn’t oppose the fight. The reason for Russia not joining the fight is the Ukrainian issue. For Iran, it’s the nuclear issue. And for Syria, it’s the matter of the unrecognized government. Recent developments in the world show that terrorism continues to be a terror for the world.