‘Responding to Foreign Terrorist Fighters’ by Global Center

A Risk-Based Playbook for States and the International Community.

Syria

‘Differences between Islamic State and Al-Qaida’ by Jacob Greene

This project provides an analysis of the strategic, operational, and organisational differences between ISIS and al-Qaeda.

ISIS and al-Qaeda

‘The Islamic State Crisis and US Policy’ by Library Of Congress Washington DC Congressional Research Service

The Islamic State is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group that has expanded its control over areas of parts of Iraq and Syria since 2013. There is debate over the degree to which the Islamic State organisation might represent a direct terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland or to U.S. facilities and personnel in the region.

US Policy

‘Defeating ISIS: Policy Memoranda’ by Council on Foreign Relations

In this policy recommendation, Max Boot, offers what he calls a reasonable goal for the United States, which would be neither to “degrade” ISIS (vague and insufficient) nor to “destroy” it (too ambitious for the present), but rather to “defeat” or “neutralise” it, ending its ability to control significant territory and reducing it to, at worst, a small terrorist group with limited reach.

Policy Recommendations

‘Next Steps for US Foreign Policy on Syria and Iraq’ by Council on Foreign Relations

The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, CFR Senior Fellow Elliott Abrams details the United States’ goals in Iraq and Syria: to alleviate the humanitarian and refugee crisis; to prevent an Iranian victory in Syria; and to strike devastating blows at the Islamic State.

US Policy

‘The Islamic State’ by Soufan Group

This report, by Richard Barrett, explores in depth the Islamic State’s objectives and ideological evolution, operations, media strategy and financial and military operations at the end of the group’s first year of existence.

ISIS Overview

‘Be Afraid. Be a Little Afraid’ by Brookings Institute

This report explores the threat of terrorism from western foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq.

Foreign Fighter Threat to Europe

‘ISIS Terror Threat’ by Yahoo News

ABC News’ Brian Ross and Alexander Marquardt report the latest on the threat from the jihadist group in Iraq and Syria.

ISIS Threat

‘Ahrar al-Sham’ by Stanford

The Mapping Militant Organisations Initiative presents an overview of Ahrar al-Sham.

Ahrar al-Sham

‘The Origins of ISIS (Islamic State)’ by the Brookings Institute

In this video, the Brookings Institute, examine the origins and history of the Islamic State, and how Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi came to power.

Origins of ISIS