The US-Led War Against ISIS

This assignment requires an in-depth analysis of the US-led war against ISIS. Students must evaluate the strategies employed by the coalition, assess its achievements and shortcomings in combating ISIS, and explore the wider geopolitical consequences of this conflict. The focus should be on providing a comprehensive understanding of the complex factors influencing the war against ISIS.

West fight against ISIL
with limited force

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
The issue was aroused by ISIL (also referred as ISIS). In this period, people of country
faced anxiety and terror against the coercion. From this war, various nations faced a lot of
troubles and issues. In 2014, it started with holding a high terror attack by involvement of
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS)1. The case about the rise in terrorism in United States.
Due to these, many countries were affected and then, various states started interventions in war
against the ISIL. In mid-2014, countries like America and UK started flying drones over the Iraq.
In July 2014, the US and Iran begin a campaign of air strikes against ISIL. It happened because
Iran and Levant government did not take strict actions against terrorism. Due to impacts of ISIL,
many nations lost their families and people. Thus, to overcome terrorism, western countries like
US have taken many steps to remove the effect of ISIL. On 5th September, Ministers of United
Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, Turkey and Denmark decided to invite meeting in which
they planned the strategies against ISIL forces2.
In this, the sound command of theoretical framework which is important to protect people
of various nations against ISIL or ISIS attacks is explained. Also, critical analysis of positive and
negative impacts of these fights is done. Besides this, study about the rival explanation and ISIL
affects the economic growth of United States & other countries and some other important facts
and findings which is related to this assignment. By the end of this assignment, overall results or
impact on various countries from this fight and methods from which they can overcome. To
remove the impact of terrorism, many international countries' comes and give support to this
issue. Like Germany joins fight against ISIL. Berlin approves to send tornado jets and about
1,200 military personnel soldiers to help against the ISIL. Furthermore, Britain joined the United
State led Bombing Campaign over Syria. During this time, many international countries made
strategies against Syria.
1 Davis, L. E., Martini, J. and Cragin, K., 2017. A Strategy to Counter ISIL as a
Transregional Threat. RAND Corporation.
2 Andersen, L. E., 2017. The Locals Strike Back: The Anbar Awakening in Iraq and the Rise
of Islamic State. In Reconfiguring Intervention (pp. 187-205). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
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MAIN BODY
ISIL (also known as ISIS) is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It is one of the Islamic
terrorist groups across world. It is a type of organisation which spreads terrorism in a vast and
rapid form. It is mainly known for its videos of death punishment. It kills people, kidnap them
and perform other malpractices with the citizens. In December 2015, the Syria group held a
chain of terrorist attacks on government bodies and other institutions. Millions of people died
and got injured during these attacks (Who is doing what in the coalition battle against ISIS?,
2017). This report analysed the given topic i.e. ‘Why does the west fight against ISIL with
limited force?’. US has maximum resources or weapons by which they can beat the terrorism3.
In the fight against ISIL, various countries faced many political, social and economic
issues. During the time of this war, different countries faced many terrorist attacks and there was
a constant fear against the missiles and bomb blast. Main threat was that most of the ISIL
terrorist groups included Muslims of various countries around Syria and Levant. These terrorists
played the main role in disaster. There are many factors behind this war and rise of ISIL as the
name of terror. The main reason for this fight is lack of political appetite. Political rules and
policies are weak in these countries making it difficult to fight with ISIL attacks. US government
has not taken timely and strict actions against those attacks which is the reason they are lacking
behind to solve these big problems.
On the other hand, ISIL is having very powerful weapons and terror force which can
harm mankind. In most of the cases, they attacked on the local people and harmed their buildings
and organisations as well. Nevertheless, the British and American soldiers have fought with
bravery but lack of support from local government and politicians is restricting them to take
serious actions. They are reluctant to give any information and won’t provide required resources
to the army to compete with ISIL. The main reason of failure is lack of support from powerful
parties. American troops fought against Afghanistan and Iraq but the lacking point is that they
couldn't get the support of government to take strict actions against terrorists.
On the other hand, they have limited resources like information to fight with these
terrorists. According to the political parties, they do not have right to take any action against this
issue and due to lack of coordination and support, they can’t do anything. Meanwhile, 10,000 of
3 Blanchard, C. M. and Humud, C. E., 2017. The Islamic State and US Policy.
Congressional Research Service Washington United States.
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American and British military formed some important instruments to fight with the Iraq because
military of this nation has a large number of different types of weapons which are highly
dangerous. To compete with the Iraq, US needs to make new strong army and teams which are
powerful and well equipped to fight with terrorists. Furthermore, there are many reasons due to
which British army fails to reach at their targets. Some of the major reasons are like:
Lack of advanced resources: ISIL resources are very much advanced. This is the reason
United States was not successful to defeat this group. ISIS is increasing in power because they
recruit brainwashed soldiers and feed them with all negative things due to which they perform
harmful attacks on the public. The British government has not taken strict steps to purchase new
techniques of arms and weapons and thus, they are not able to effectually compete with powerful
forces of ISIS.
Western forces have lack of agenda and priorities: The first thing is that west has to
resolve their own conflicts. They don’t have any cooperation with Assad Regime which is an
opposition party of ISIL emergence. US government itself is not capable enough to handle the
main agenda in their political parties. This creates lack of coordination among team members.
Many associates of the US party are not interested to make new efforts and forces to tackle ISIS.
Military remains confused with strategies or plans to follow: Another reason is that
military doesn't know what to do for protecting their country against this terror. Western states
are not prepared well to fight with the ISIL. To fight with the big terror group, it is important for
the military army to take corrective guidance to beat them. Western army fights by using limited
arms and resources against ISIS. Military of western countries is in need to develop and
implement their plans properly.
Banned ISIL radicalism: ISIL is not an organisation. It is only a group of members
which create harmful strategies to harm the people4.
US needs to enhance the power of its weapons and should take direct actions against this
form of terrorism. They also need to appoint some trainers to improve the fighting skills of their
soldiers. Later on, government can also take some strict actions and decide to remove this
4 Blanchard, C. M., Humud, C. E. and Nikitin, M. B. D., 2014, September. Armed conflict
in Syria: Overview and US response. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
3

terrorism group from the country. They can take the help from other countries and make unity to
defeat this terrorist organisation.
National Security Strategy (February 2015) has mentioned that ISIL issues have harmed
countries badly. Many countries make strategic plans like UK against Iran but still there is no
solution. European countries got badly affected due to the ISIL terrorism. From the same, it was
concluded that these ISIL soldiers have negative impacts on the country’s growth. These
situations have changed the minds of many Europeans. In 2005, London faced terrorist attacks.
Due to this, people don’t feel safe in the country. These major attacks increased the insecurity
level among citizens. To protect the country, government needs to take strict actions like keeping
high security on airports, railway stations and every populated place where crowd is usually
high.
From these effects, many individuals decided to migrate from the country as soon as
possible due to high rate of terrorism. In Brussels and Paris, culprits crossed the border for
freedom due to November’ 2015 attacks. To reduce such effects, EU took major decisions to
have control over terrorist attacks like November 2015. They have planned to work for
eradication of terrorism from UK as well as EU. They have made powerful plans, rules and
regulations to protect the citizens from firearms, smugglers and illegal immigrants. It increases
the cooperation and coordination among EU members. To protect the country against ISIL
attacks, they also check passenger’s name, travellers, records of passenger as well as
accommodation services hotels and rentals5.
Furthermore, to prevent ISIL effects, EU members increased their security measures.
Another important step taken was in January 2016, the European counter terrorism centre,
(ECTC), following the November 2015. The justice and home affair ministers took strict actions
against terrorist attacks and increased information sharing, coordination with identifying all other
sources by which they give any harm. In October 2016, EU launched new European border and
guard agency with talented staff members and strict regulations to protect their delimitation.
The most powerful group in ISIL is Mosul which is under the ISIL control since 2014. It
is one of the major terrorist groups. It is important because they help ISIL to supply the harmful
weapons. It was estimated that there are 8000 soldiers in ISIL which all are from different
5 Ellis, R. E., 2015. Radical Islam in Latin America and the Caribbean: Implications for US
National Security. AIR UNIV MAXWELL AFB AL AIR FORCE RESEARCH INST.
4

Muslim countries and known as “jihads”. They harm people for their own benefits. Their main
aim is to destroy the country. Through these effects, government of country needs to make strict
actions and laws so that terrorist’s ratio will go down.
Consequences
ISIL put a direct impact on the overall economy which gives many insecurities to
individuals. In Iraq & most of the country involved Muslim population. Terrorists harm people’s
life by doing murders, making bomb attacks and spreading fear of terrorism. Due to these effects,
individuals decide to leave the country one can leave their life easily. Terror is arisen due to lack
of control of political parties. Government should provide powerful weapons to the soldiers so
that they can protect the nation from terrorist’s attacks effectually. United States need to measure
the factors which arise security against terror effects.
Germany has become an important part of military action in Syria to fight against ISIL. It
was the great conceptual framework. With the support of many country's government, now
national bodies have become able to raise their voice against these terrorists’ activities6.
Steps taken by western countries to protect against terrorist attacks”
US has launched their new air strikes over Iraq in order to respond against the terrorism.
On the same day, France has given their support in this mission. France has begun
reconnaissance flights over Iraq so that they can fight against this terrorist group and attack over
them. Support of all western countries was the strongest point which has made them able to gain
success. US has outlined their plans and president of the nation, Mr Barack Obama, has given
permission for air strikes attack over Syria.
United States need to make the people aware against terrorism and give some instructions
and guidance so that they would protect themselves in such situations of any terrorist attacks. As
per the request of US, Australia has deployed aircraft to give their support against this battle. But
terrorist groups were too strong and spread in most of the western countries that was the main
issue due to which it took time for fighting. Military intervention against ISIL has helped the
western countries in gaining success. In the mid of 2014, as per the given information from
sources, Britain has flying drones over Iraq. In this attack, it has attacked over thousands of
terrorists and killed them.
6 Katzman, K. et.al., 2014, November. The'Islamic State'Crisis and US Policy. LIBRARY
OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
5

Government of the nation has taken steps to protect their citizens against terrorism. But
there are limited military force as terrorist’s group is big and there are many criminals who are
giving support to ISIL. Thus, this step of the authorities was not worthwhile. However,
authorities have made strong laws related to Visa and other activities so that no stranger would
come to this place and spoil western countries.
On the basis of analysis made, this situation arise due to paradigm of power that means
not having enough resources. US fails to deal with ISIL. Due to lack of government support,
leaders of the political parties fails to take strict action against the ISIL. But the power on the
face of it has nothing shadow about it. Lack of resources and strategies countries fails to compete
with the terror attacks. Soldiers of the US wants to fight against ISIL but due lack of support of
political government they fail to implement the planning. In the realist context, ISIS is a major
threats for other countries as they are gaining a rapid power and can emerge as major threat for
the other countries. According to Neorealism, ISIS is a result of political failure. The unstable
political conditions in Syria and Iraq has led to formation of ISIS which has become a major
threat for other countries.
CONCLUSION
From the above essay, it can be concluded that ISIL terror attack has spoiled many
nations and have become major issue in most of the western countries. It has been assessed that
limited forces and lack of coordination among politician parties were the main drawbacks which
have raised the issue for these nations due to which they were unable to fight against these
terrorist activities at initial phase7. Political parties were unable to take corrective and strict
actions against those effects. Thus, now, US government is planning to work for eradication of
terrorism from UK as well as EU. Support from all western countries has helped in taking strong
actions against the ISIL group that has aided in abolishing terrorist activities from the nation and
protecting citizens as well8. Furthermore, essay has shown that it is important for the political
7 Schmitt, E., et.al. , 2015. As US Escalates Air War on ISIS, Allies Slip Away. The New
York Times.
8 Yeşiltaş, M. and Kardaş, T., 2018. The New Middle East, ISIL and the 6th Revolt Against
the West. In Non-State Armed Actors in the Middle East (pp. 147-167). Palgrave
Macmillan, Cham.
6

parties to take some major security tools by which they help to identify the terror attack
beforehand and on the other side, soldiers are always ready to take new challenges9.
9 4 Reasons the War Against ISIS Is Working—and 1 Reason It's Not. 2017. [Online]
Available through: <http://time.com/4319763/isis-coalition-war-iraq-syria/>.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Davis, L. E., Martini, J. and Cragin, K., 2017. A Strategy to Counter ISIL as a Transregional
Threat. RAND Corporation.
Andersen, L. E., 2017. The Locals Strike Back: The Anbar Awakening in Iraq and the Rise of
Islamic State. In Reconfiguring Intervention (pp. 187-205). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Blanchard, C. M. and Humud, C. E., 2017. The Islamic State and US Policy. Congressional
Research Service Washington United States.
Blanchard, C. M., Humud, C. E. and Nikitin, M. B. D., 2014, September. Armed conflict in
Syria: Overview and US response. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
Ellis, R. E., 2015. Radical Islam in Latin America and the Caribbean: Implications for US
National Security. AIR UNIV MAXWELL AFB AL AIR FORCE RESEARCH INST.
Katzman, K. et.al., 2014, November. The'Islamic State'Crisis and US Policy. LIBRARY OF
CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE.
Klausen, J., 2015. Tweeting the Jihad: Social media networks of Western foreign fighters in
Syria and Iraq. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 38(1), pp.1-22.
Schmitt, E., et.al. , 2015. As US Escalates Air War on ISIS, Allies Slip Away. The New York
Times.
Yeşiltaş, M. and Kardaş, T., 2018. The New Middle East, ISIL and the 6th Revolt Against the
West. In Non-State Armed Actors in the Middle East (pp. 147-167). Palgrave Macmillan,
Cham.
Online
4 Reasons the War Against ISIS Is Working—and 1 Reason It's Not. 2017. [Online]. Available
through: <http://time.com/4319763/isis-coalition-war-iraq-syria/>.s
Who is doing what in the coalition battle against ISIS?. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/14/world/meast/isis-coalition-nations/index.html>.
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