The terrorist group ISIS or Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has grabbed headlines with its territorial gains in West Asia. It has already replaced the Al-Qaeda as the most dreaded terrorist group in the mind space of world citizens.
A look some of the reasons why it’s a big major global threat…
1. It’s a terrorist country: Terrorist organizations can be gone after and hunted down, but what do you do with one that becomes a virtual country? ISIS proclaimed its independence at the beginning of this year and while many had dismissed it, ISIS is still alive and kicking after nearly six months.
They have declared a large city in the form of Ar-Raqqah as their capital and are eying Baghdad too. Iraq has already seen two Gulf Wars in the last quarter century and may not be able to withstand a third.
Interestingly, ISIS fighters have taken over US weapons and vehicles and even wear their uniforms full with interceptor body armour! The way the Afghan mujahideen had stinger missiles, the ISIS have ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns.
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Image: Iraqi Kurdish forces take position near Taza Khormato as they fight jihadist militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) positioned five kilometers away in Bashir, 20 kms south of Kirkuk.
Text: Sify
Images: AFP/AP