ISIS Research Articles

Verbal attacks on terrorist groups increase violence against civilians

Abstract Terrorists and other transnational extremist groups are responsible for thousands of civilian deaths. In confronting extremists, governments have relied heavily on threats, demands, denunciations, and other forms of verbal conflict. Do these efforts at verbal coercion have any effect on terrorist behavior? This analysis focuses on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which continues to be the world's deadliest terrorist group and was responsible for recent high-profile attacks in Baghdad, Vienna, Kabul, and Russia. We use Bayesian structural vector autoregression models to analyze daily event data on interactions between ISIS and foreign governments for the 2014–2020 period. We find that verbal conflict initiated by governments not only failed to deter ISIS but in fact increased the frequency of ISIS's attacks on civilians. Additional empirical analyses, combined with evidence from ISIS's publications and public statements, suggest that this effect resulted from a perceived credibility deficit. Extremists use terror attacks to signal that they have the capabilities and willingness to inflict pain and suffering on civilian targets. Government attempts to coerce extremist groups verbally, rather than militarily, reflect an underestimation of the group's capabilities and resolve. In an effort to solidify their reputations, extremists engage in further violence toward civilians, thus leading to worse humanitarian consequences. We extend the analysis to Al-Qaeda in Iraq and Boko Haram and find similar results.

Fixers, Fieldwork, and Precarity: The Postcoloniality of Western Fieldwork on ISIS in Kurdistan

After the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in 2014 and the fight of both Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces as well as the Syrian Kurdish forces of the People's Protection Units (YPG, Yekîneyên Parastina Gel) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ, Yekîneyên Parastina Jin) against them, Western journalists tried to gather information quickly. Locals were happy to share as much as possible, as ISIS was a great danger. As an often forgotten population under permanent occupation seeking visibility, the Kurds allow Westerners unparalleled access to the field and provide unpaid or underpaid labor, hoping that the world will see their struggle. This deepened the disparity between Kurdish journalists, academics, and writers and their Western counterparts. Using postcolonial theory on the mindset of colonialized peoples, this article shows how the fear of being forgotten, the material disparity between colonizers and colonized, and the coloniality of local political actors are obstacles for Kurdish professionals. Looking at a focus-group discussion and two interviews with Kurdish journalists, fixers, and translators from Iraq and Syria, the comparison shows that both autonomous regions are projects that sought to end decades of occupation and now face challenges that show similarities and differences.

The impact of coronavirus pandemic shutdowns on immunization completion in Hadeetha, Anbar, Iraq: A case-study of vaccine completion in a recovering healthcare system

The SARS-COV2 pandemic caused significant disruptions in immunization delivery. Baseline deficit gaps in immunization completion exacerbated ongoing disparities in immunization coverage in low- and middle-income. Emerging reports focused on global strategies for return to routine immunization schedules. Currently, there are no studies that examined the dual challenge of returning to normal immunization in a conflict-recovery setting, such as the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) occupation of Iraq post-COVID-19 pandemic.The objective of this study was to estimate the number of children in Hadeetha, Iraq from 12 to 24 months of age who continued to be lost to the routine immunization schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. Random sampling occurred from a compiled district health facility registrar of all children in the target birth cohort who had a 12-month immunization scheduled during the 2020 lockdown and were lost to the immunization schedule. A total of 171 households from the sampling frame were included in the final sample. In this cross-sectional study, survey data was collected on the head of the household, the caregiver and the child. Additional questions assessed vaccine hesitancy, vaccine information trusted sources and COVID-19 impact on healthcare access. A risk factor analysis was applied to assess using Chi-square (Χ2) for predictors of lack of DTP3 (Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio) third dose completion. Of children in the study, 67.3 % did not complete the 6-antigen series at 12-months of age and 46.2 % were missing DTP3 for vaccines to be completed during the pandemic shutdown. Specific risk factors for lack of immunization for the DTP3 vaccine included area of residence, age and caregiver knowledge of vaccines. Respondents indicated a dependence on mass vaccination campaigns but also indicated a willingness to receive phone reminders and television campaigns about vaccination schedules.

Long-lasting effects of post-traumatic stress disorder in Yazidi women living in Northern Iraqi camps

The severity of post-traumatic stress disorder and its long-lasting effects among the Yazidi population has not yet been investigated. ObjectivesThis study evaluated the impact of PTSD severity and chronicity on physiological and anthropometric parameters in women survivors of the genocide-related events after the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) attack in 2014. MethodsThe diagnosis PTSD was assessed using PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Participants were divided into: External control (healthy individuals living outside the camps), Internal control (healthy individuals living in the camps), and PTSD group (individuals diagnosed with PTSD). The PTSD group was subdivided according to chronicity <2 years, 2–5 years, and >5 years and subdivided according to PTSD severity into “Moderate”, “Severe” and “Extreme”. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood oxygen saturation (SPO2) and heart rate (HR) were evaluated. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. ResultsThe PTSD group showed significant increases in SBP, DBP, heart rate, BMI, WC, weight, and WHtR compared to the control groups. SPO2 values decreased in the PTSD group. As the disease progressed, there were further increases in SBP, DBP, heart rate, BMI, WC, WHtR, and weight. Similar increases were observed with the severity of the disease. ConclusionOur data indicates that a long-term impact on physiological and anthropometric parameters is present in women diagnosed with PTSD which might be aggravated by the severity and chronicity of the disease.

Comparative Analysis of the Content of Online Magazines of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Different Languages: Dabiq, Rumiyah, and Konstantiniyye

Comparative Analysis of the Content of Online Magazines of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Different Languages: Dabiq, Rumiyah, and Konstantiniyye

Islamic law and its application as penal code by the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS)

Islamic law and its application as penal code by the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS)

Linguistic Stylistics of Extremist Discourse in the Digital Realm: Analyzing ISIS's Rhetoric

This study delves into the linguistic characteristics within the structure of extremist discourse across social media platforms, focusing on a collection of speeches by the Islamic State organization (ISIS). The research aims to uncover the thought process and the underlying meanings that can be analyzed through what is known as the Stylistic Footprint. That is done by examining semantic and syntactic levels, identifying repetitions and intensifications of specific lexical units, and considering their use of rhetorical tools and strategies grounded in their linguistic repertoire—which encompasses connotations and phonetic rhythms, or their deliberate choices in the structure of syntactic relation networks including stylistic deviations from the standard expression level.The findings of this analysis highlight that exploring the extremist thought structure embodied in linguistic discourse is a crucial aspect of criminal investigations. It aids in identifying warning signals that precede or potentially predict acts of violence in some instances. Furthermore, it contributes to developing more convincing counter-narratives to combat extremist discourse by studying the stylistic features of the extremist language.

A Critical Overview of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)’s Origin, Goals, and Its Fall through the US and Allied Forces

The origins of ISIS were traced to the Arab Spring that created instability in the Middle East. This instability was exacerbated by the American-led coalition's invasion of Iraq in 2003, prompted by the 9/11 attacks. The paper aims to have an overview of the origin and goals of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the strategies employed by the U.S. and Allied Forces to make ISIS fall. A systematic literature review approach was adopted to review the selected literature. ISIS was formed out of various militant groups in the country whose goal is to establish an Islamic caliphate governed by strict Sharia law. The goal of ISIS was to establish an Islamic caliphate in Iraq, Syria, and beyond with a caliph as the leader of the territories, thereby eradicating state borders and governments they deemed to be illegitimate. This caliphate is to be governed by strict Sharia law. This analysis delves into the strategies used by the US-led coalition to reclaim territories from ISIS. These strategies include military strategies, economic strategies, political strategies, and social strategies. It was, therefore, recommended that to combat ISIS's ideology effectively, the United States may need to collaborate more with Muslim clerics all over the world to promote interpretations of the Quran that counter radicalization in Islam.

The Islamic State-Khorasan’s Recent Reorganization and Remaining Threat for Central Asia in 2024

The self-proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was defeated in 2019 but today there are still some branches of the organization active in various parts of the world. For a long time ISIS functioned as a state (a self-proclaimed caliphate) with its territory, governance, and bureaucracy although it was not recognized on an international level. The main research question is what makes ISIS (as being an unrecognized state) a challenge for international and regional security today. This presentation refers to the first question in the workshop regarding how continuities, changes and/or transformations are expressed in the practice of terrorism. ISIS is not functioning anymore as a state but has autonomous local affiliates around the world. This is also related to the implications of borders, spaces and territorialities on the fight against terrorism. The report looks more specifically at the activities of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISK or ISKP) in Central Asia and particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its strategy on a regional and international level comprises interlinked media warfare and kinetic action. The military and political pressures have caused it to restructure or face a more lasting attenuation. Although it is now reorganizing, it still presents a danger in Central Asia. The very recent example is the attack in Iran from January 3. The author provides some future recommendations on how the international community should address the current risks presented by ISK in particular.

The Role of Wild Plants in Cultural Restoration: Community Collaboration and Engaged Ethnobotany in the Nineveh Plains, Northern Iraq

The Nineveh Plain region of Northern Iraq is a site of ecological and cultural diversity. Between 2014 and 2017, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh, severely disrupted the region, resulting in community displacement, particularly for members of ethnic minority groups. This article highlights an ongoing multinational, multidisciplinary collaboration between botanists, ecologists, mental and public health specialists, sociologists, and anthropologists to foster cultural and ecological restoration among the Christian, Yezidi, Shabak, Turkman, and Kaka’i minority groups of the Plains. Members of these groups identified wild plant collection as an important cultural and economic practice and expressed a shared concern over the decreased access to wild plant resources. Researchers are partnering with local communities using engaged, decolonial methodologies to bring communities together around this shared interest in wild plants. Project activities include producing videos highlighting local plant knowledge, hosting workshops on using wild plants for art and textile design, offering trainings on herbal medicine, collecting recipes for a wild plant cookbook, and increasing awareness of the sustainable use of wild plants. Through collaborative knowledge production, this partnership aims to bring diverse stakeholders together around an interest in wild plants to promote cultural understanding and exchange.

Handling Deportants and Returnees of Former Foreign Terrorist Fighter: International and Domestic Law Perspectives

The defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) after the last war in Baghouz, Syria, by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2019 was not the end of the problem of global terrorism today. ISIS, which has sympathizers from different countries, currently leaves the problem of handling its deportees and returnees, including in Indonesia. This paper intends to examine the problems of deportants and returnees of former Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) in Indonesia normatively, focusing on the political aspects of law, positive criminal law, and international criminal law. Based on the type of normative research, legislative, comparative, and conceptual approaches, this paper argues that the handling of deportants and returnees of former foreign terrorist fighters in Indonesia within the framework of positive criminal law still seems to be dominated by a paradigm of legal thinking that leans on aspects of restraint and retribution rather than prioritizing aspects of reformation and deterrence. In addition, positive criminal law instruments are still not sufficiently accommodating in supporting law enforcement in handling deportants and returnees of former FTFs in Indonesia.

Spinal Cord Injuries in Iraq: A Teleassessment Survey of the Survivors from 2017 to 2018 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria War.

Introduction: The significance of comprehensive investigations specifically addressing the characteristics and implications of nervous system injuries (NSIs) and particularly war-related spinal cord injuries (SCI) remain limited. Iraq lacks comprehensive survey studies for quality of life for people after SCI. The objective of this work was to identify the number of NSIs and mortality of those injured during the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) war in Iraq and analyze events specifically as sociodemographic variables to assess quality of life healthy, psychological, and social disorders from onset of injury till the involving. Methods: A survey-based descriptive study, and analytical retrospective at community-based of Nineveh Governorate, in Iraq. The participants were 34 survivors of ISIS war with SCIs, ages between 9 and 60 years, and 7 females (20.59%) and 27 males (79.41%) as registered in Nineveh Center of Disability Rehabilitation. Data collection was conducted using Telephone Video Interviews and respondents' health information. Protocol-specific questions and some psychological and social scales (PTSD) (DSM-IV), (TAS-20), (SWLS), and (MSPSS) were also used. Results: There were 2,990 NSIs with the highest rate of injuries occurring from 2017 to 2018, and the SCIs were 267 injuries (8.93%), and (70.59%) at level T the mortalities were 57 cases, all participants suffered from physical and psychological chronic complications, while the results of the PTSD, GPC, and SWLS were at a moderate level. Conclusions: In urban warfare, there's a rise in NSIs, notably SCIs influenced by the type of weaponry. The survivors face significant physical, psychological, social, and financial burdens. More research is crucial to understanding their situations and developing strategies to alleviate their health, social, and financial challenges.

Indonesian Women and Terrorism: An Analysis of Historical and Contemporary Trends

From 2016 to 2021, women attempted to or perpetrated suicide attacks in Indonesia. These attacks were committed by them as individuals or in family units, who were affiliated to the Islamic State. These incidents marked the first occurrence of suicide attacks carried out by women in Indonesia. Current scholarship and policy analysis of female terrorism attributed to the Islamic State or proxy groups is still catching up with the implications of trends emerging from women’s actions as suicide attackers in Indonesia and worldwide. Primarily, scholarly and policy analyses of female terrorism focus on the individual woman engaged in violence, whereas women who support terrorist groups—as ideologues, wives, and online activists—are given a secondary analytical focus. This creates conceptual limitations in understanding women’s pathways to violence, which can encompass violent and supportive roles within the social world in which they operate. Using Indonesia as a case study, this article advances a framework to account for the mobilisation of different identities to commit violence across personal and political linkages. In examining historical and current developments in Indonesia, this article illustrates that women as supporters or actors of violence, while largely conforming to traditional gender ideology and roles, are driven by both personal and political considerations. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;

Mental health in genocide: Balancing between posttraumatic distress and growth among displaced Yazidi mothers

Background The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) committed genocide of the Yazidis in Sinjar 2014, resulting in dispersion and enslavement. Research shows severe mental health problems, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors, but less is known about their resources and strengths, conceptualized as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Aims are to examine the balance between symptoms and strengths among Yazidi women caring for their infants by identifying groups differing in PTSD and PTG, and analyze how demographic, obstetric, and infant-related factors associate with the groups. Method Participants were 283 Yazidi mothers with their 1-18-month-old infants displaced in Kurdish Region of North Iraq. PTSD symptoms were measured by Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and PTG by the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Results identified four groups: “Severe symptoms and low growth” (39%), “Low symptoms and moderate growth” (38%), “Moderate symptoms and very high growth” (13%), and “Moderate symptoms and low growth” (10%). Low education, economic difficulties and obstetric problems related to the “Severe symptoms and low growth” group, whereas newborn and infant health problems did not have an impact. Conclusion Effective help for genocide survivors should both alleviate suffering and encourage resources through tools of recreating a sense of cultural security and pride.

Peacebuilding, Patronage-Building, and Post-Conflict NGO Corruption: Barriers to Democratization in Anbar, Iraq

Promoting civil society has been a standard component of post-conflict democratic peacebuilding. In post-2003 Iraq, however, the international coalition's introduction of the muhasasa system (apportionment) inhibited local nongovernmental organizations' ability to hold the government to account and made many NGOs into vehicles of state capture. Substantiated by an interview-based study of Anbar Governorate following the 2017 defeat of the Islamic State organization (ISIS), we argue that modeling Iraq as a "limited access order" — in which ruling elites manage society and the economy — largely explains the muhasasa's effects on local NGOs and the widespread perception that the sector is mired in corruption.

Terrorism Financing Typologies: Comparison of PKK and ISIL in Turkey

This comparative case study investigated the financing typologies of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Turkey. PKK is a Marxist- Leninist organization that pursues ethnic separationist policies in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. ISIL is a radical Wahhabi network that aspires to re-establish the Caliphate and restore the “glory” of Sharia by defeating the “near” and “far” enemies. These networks are chosen for this case study as they operate in close proximity along Turkish, Iraqi and Syrian borders. In addition to primary and secondary interviews, the research has been based on content analysis of unclassified documents and media coverage on counter PKK/ISIL investigations. This study indicated that both organizations have been highly skillful in exploiting the regional licit and illicit enterprises. Financing methods of PKK and ISIL were similar in complex regional underground economic infrastructure. However, PKK has been able to develop much more sophisticated financial infrastructure than ISIL due to a longer life span and existence of specialized cadres in the Middle East and Europe. Ideology had a significant impact on differences in state sponsorship and exploitation of non-profit organizations. Both the Marxists and radical İslamists encouraged illicit trade schemes not only to generate funds but also to avoid taxation by the “hostile” regimes. ISIL has failed to develop advanced financing infrastructure mainly due to a shorter life span, loss of territorial control and the UN-US sponsored international sanctions.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: The Influence of the Environmental Context and Analysis of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory and Glycemic Markers in Women Living in Kurdistan Regional Government-Iraq.

Background Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are still home to a large number of female survivors of the Yazidi genocide carried out in Iraq in 2014 by the Islamic organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Many of these women suffer from a persistent form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can last for many years. On the other hand, little is known about the intricate etiology of PTSD. Objectives In this observational cross-sectional study, the biochemical parameters, including inflammatory and oxidative stress (OXS) markers, were evaluated in two groups: the case group (women with newly diagnosed PTSD) and the control group (apparently healthy women). Furthermore, how the environment impacts the biochemical and OXS parameters of people not diagnosed with PTSD but living in IDP camps was also analyzed. Materials and methods The PTSD group (n=55, age=30.0 years) was made up of women survivors of genocide-related events living in IDP camps in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The studied parameters in the PTSD group have been compared to two healthy control groups: (1) internal control group (n=55, age=28.1 years): healthy women living inside the IDP camps; and (2) external control group (n=55, age=28.3 years): healthy women living outside the IDP camps. The diagnosis of PTSD was conducted using a validated Kurdish version of the PTSD Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) (PCL-5) scale. Blood samples were collected to determine the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the concentrations of fasting serum glucose (FSG), C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin (CP), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PC), and catalase (CAT) activity. Results Women with PTSD presented increased values of FSG (4.41%, p<0.05), HbA1c (4.74%, p<0.05), and CRP (114.29%, p<0.05), as well as increased levels of 8-OHdG (185.97%, p<0.001), CP (27.08%, p<0.001), MDA (141.97%, p<0.001), and PC (63.01%, p<0.001), besides increased CAT activity (121.5%, p<0.001), when compared with the control groups. A significant reduction of GSH (-20.33%, p<0.05) was observed in PTSD patients as compared to the external control group. In relation to the internal control group, women diagnosed with PTSD presented significantly increased levels of FSG (3.88%, p<0.05), HbA1c (2.83%, p<0.05), CRP (77.97%, p<0.05), and PC (41.3%, p<0.05), as well as increased levels of 8-OHdG (118.84%, p<0.001), CP (22.72%, p<0.001), MDA (90.67%, p<0.001), and CAT activity (55.31%, p<0.001). Healthy individuals residing in IDP camps, compared with external healthy control, presented significantly elevated levels of 8-OHdG (30.68%, p<0.001), MDA (26.91%, p<0.001), PC (15.37%, p<0.001), and CAT activity (42.62%, p<0.001). Conclusion Our findings indicate that PTSD significantly influences glycemic, inflammatory, oxidant, and antioxidant parameters, as evidenced by increased levels of FSG, HbA1C, CRP, PC, MDA, 8-OHdG, and CP, as well as increased CAT activity and a reduced GSH concentration in the PTSD group in comparison to the external control group. Additionally, our results suggest that the environmental context in IDP camps by itself can potentially affect oxidant and antioxidant parameters, as evidenced by the increased concentrations of 8-OHdG, MDA, and PC and increased CAT activity found in individuals not diagnosed with PTSD but living inside the camps.

Public Support for Power Grabs after Civil Conflict

Power-sharing is a recognized strategy for reaching durable settlements among rivals. However, power-sharing arrangements are often violated when one side grabs power. We examine public perceptions of power-sharing versus power-grabbing in the context of local policing in Mosul, Iraq. In a survey experiment, we investigate if ­individuals believe that security in Mosul, in the aftermath of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) occupation, is enhanced or reduced under power-sharing versus power-grabbing treatments, which vary the authority held by distinct factions of the counter-ISIS coalition. The public is more likely to support power-grabbing than power-sharing in matters of policing and security. In the case of power-grabbing, there are also important moderating effects of conflict-related victimization. Unlike nonvictims who favor ingroup power-grabbing to enhance local ­sectarian control, victims place a premium on stability, welcoming even external, out-group control over power-sharing among groups who might be at odds. Our results underscore the challenges of institutionalizing power-sharing mechanisms for peacebuilding after conflict.

Examining the counterinsurgency-counterterrorism tradeoff: the effects of targeted strikes on militant attacks

ABSTRACT Do targeted strikes against militant groups affect insurgent operations differently from terrorist operations? One of the reasons it is challenging for states to counter militant groups who simultaneously wage an insurgency and a terrorist campaign is that there are offsetting effects between counterinsurgency and counterterrorism. As both an insurgent group and a terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses particular challenges to states. Since 2014, the United States and coalition allies have conducted thousands of targeted strikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria as part of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). In this article, we examine the effects of targeted strikes against ISIL. Using a novel dataset of time-series observations from Iraq and Syria between 2015 and 2018, we examine the relationship between targeted strikes conducted under OIR and the number of insurgent and terrorist attacks conducted by ISIL. Our findings give empirical support to the theoretical argument that the same military strategy can have different effects on insurgency and terrorism.

Discourse Analysis of ISIS Ideology Show Cased in Speeches Addressing Jordanians

This study aimed to investigate the existence of ideology in the discourse of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) by examining the linguistic elements of two speeches through video addressing Jordanians. The discourse analysis approaches were adopted, such as the socio-cognitive and ideology theories of Van Dijk, which were considered to sense the manipulation of discourse and find out ISIS's discursive strategies. The study analysed two videos broadcasted on the Internet and social network accounts at a superstructural level, namely, the context, pattern, and topic which uncovered that ISIS carefully took into consideration the political and social context of Jordan to elaborate speeches exploiting Islamic topics and practices familiarly and persuasively. The study concluded that the discursive strategies of ISIS were constructed by glorifying the group members' actions and achievements while de-emphasising the outside group's positivity and delegitimising its authority. Keywords: ISIS, Critical discourse analysis, Ideology, Jordan, Socio-cognition