How Isis Fights: Military Tactics in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Egypt

ISIS's success in occupying over 120 cities, towns, and villages was due to its innovative military and tactical innovations, combining conventional military tactics with guerrilla warfare and urban terrorism strategies. Omar Ashour analyzes these strategies in his book.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2021
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

ISIS, a widely hated, massively outnumbered, and ludicrously outgunned organization, managed to occupy over 120 cities, towns, and villages from the Southern Philippines to Western Libya. Seeking to understand ISIS's combat effectiveness, Omar Ashour analyzes the military and tactical innovations of ISIS and their predecessors in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Egypt. He shows how their capacity to mix conventional military tactics with innovative guerrilla warfare and urban terrorism strategies allowed ISIS to expand and endure beyond expectations.

ISIS's success in occupying these territories can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the organization's ability to recruit and train large numbers of fighters from diverse backgrounds and regions. ISIS's propaganda and social media campaigns played a significant role in attracting recruits, particularly among disaffected youth and marginalized communities. Secondly, ISIS's use of unconventional warfare tactics, such as suicide bombings, ambushes, and hit-and-run attacks, proved highly effective in disrupting enemy lines and gaining territory. Thirdly, ISIS's control over key infrastructure, such as oil fields and transportation networks, provided them with a significant source of funding and resources.

However, ISIS's success also had its limitations. The organization's strict interpretation of Islamic law and its harsh treatment of civilians and non-believers led to widespread opposition and resentment. This opposition was further fueled by the organization's brutal tactics, which included public executions, torture, and sexual violence. Additionally, ISIS's reliance on foreign fighters and the lack of local support in many of the territories it occupied made it vulnerable to counter-insurgency operations.

To address these limitations, ISIS has made significant changes to its tactics and strategy. The organization has begun to focus more on local governance and development, providing services to the communities it controls. It has also attempted to recruit more local fighters and has implemented a more moderate interpretation of Islamic law. However, these changes have been slow and have not been able to completely reverse ISIS's reputation as a brutal and oppressive organization.

In conclusion, ISIS's success in occupying over 120 cities, towns, and villages from the Southern Philippines to Western Libya can be attributed to its ability to recruit and train large numbers of fighters, use unconventional warfare tactics, control key infrastructure, and rely on foreign fighters. However, its success has also been limited by its strict interpretation of Islamic law, harsh treatment of civilians and non-believers, and reliance on foreign fighters. To address these limitations, ISIS has made significant changes to its tactics and strategy, but these changes have been slow and have not been able to completely reverse ISIS's reputation as a brutal and oppressive organization.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474438216