[Editorial Note: This is not a "Best of," only a roundup of significant pieces. See here for an introduction to this roundup series]
English Articles
2014: The Year ISIS Won the Propaganda Battle (31 December 2014)
Markham Nolan writes about the ways in which ISIS has been documenting its progress throughout 2014 in a constant stream of propaganda.
Vanguard of Syria’s uprising, now on the run from ISIS, weighs a bleak future2014: The Year ISIS Won the Propaganda Battle (1 January 2015)
Anne Barnard on Syria’s “lost generation” and the former fighters exhausted by the continuous clashes and years of war.
Hammer and Anvil (2 January 2015)
Robert A. Pape, Kevin Ruby, and Vincent Bauer analyze the hammer-and-anvil approach and provide insights into how best to weaken and defeat ISIS.
Islamic State school closures in Syria affect 670,000- U.N. (6 January 2015)
Syrian youth are being deprived of their education due to the fact that IS has ordered the closing of schools to change the current curriculum.
U.S. Military Investigating if Airstrikes Killed Civilians in Iraq and Syria (6 January 2015)
“Allegations of civilian deaths raise questions about the need for deeper U.S. military involvement in the war against the Islamic State.”
Voices from the Caliphate – Deir al-Zour (7 January 2015)
Farah Nasif tells stories of how Syrians in ISIS-controlled Deir al-Zour respond to ISIS rule in different ways varying from adapting, staying home, pretending piety or even travelling to regime-controlled areas.
Young Syrians make easy prey for militants (8 January 2015)
“By September, Abu Mahmoud said the family faced an ultimatum. They could either accept a new life in Raqqa under the banner of ISIS, he said, or they could flee.”
Jamaat Ansar al-Islam in Syria Joins The Islamic State? (8 January 2015)
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi provides an insight about the relation between Jamaat Ansar al-Islam (JAI) and the Islamic State (IS) after purported allegiance to IS by JAI.
CENTCOM's Twitter Hacked By ISIS? (12 January 2015)
“Central Command has been hacked by ISIS, according to messages posted on CentCom's Twitter page”
Amid Raging Violence in Syria, Lebanese Sunnis Turn Backs on Islamic State (13 January 2015)
David Kenner analyzes the fallout of the twin suicide bombings by al Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front that targeted Tripoli's predominantly Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen.
Don’t believe the hype, ISIL is still on the offensive (13 January 2015)
Hassan Hassan argues that the new analysis that indicates that ISIS has lost 10% of its territory does not mean that ISIL is retreating. In fact, Hassan emphasizes: "ISIL is still in full control of its territory and sometimes on the offensive in enemy territory."
Months of Airstrikes Fail to Slow Islamic State in Syria (14 January 2015)
“Militant Group Has Gained Territory Despite U.S.-Led Strikes, Raising Concerns of the Obama Administration’s Mideast Strategy.”
Exclusive: ISIS Gaining Ground in Syria, Despite U.S. Strikes (15 January 2015)
This article illustrates that despite nearly 800 airstrikes by the American-led campaign against ISIS, the latter continues to gain substantial ground in Syria and controls now one-third of the country’s territory.
ISIS executes pigeon and bird breeders in Diyala, Iraq (16 January 2015)
ISIS executes 15 pigeon and bird breeders in Diyala, Iraq for being “unislamic.” ISIS seeks to force individuals to join them.
Conversations: In Raqqa, Pharmacists Take an ISIS 'Re-Education Course' (16 January 2015)
Syrian Pharmacist gives his opinion on the rulings and practices of ISIS and how this has effected life in Raqqa, especially for pharmacists.
Kurdish leaders say they know who pushed ISIS to attack Kurdistan (16 January 2015)
Kurdish leaders reveal that they know who encouraged ISIS to begin attacks on the Kurdistan Region last summer.
US to send 400 troops to train Syrian rebels (16 January 2015)
The BBC reports that the US is sending 400 troops and hundreds of support staff to train moderate rebels against ISIS aiming to train more than 5,000 rebels annually for three years.
America needs to develop a consistent policy in Syria (17 January 2015)
Hussein Ibish argues that the coalition against ISIS "cannot have a plausible strategy to defeat ISIS in Iraq without simultaneously having one in Syria."
Prisoners in Their Own City: ISIS Bans Women Under 45 from Leaving Raqqa (19 January 2015)
ISIS bans women under 45 to leave the city of Raqqa for the purpose of forcing women to marry ISIS fighters.
Sectarianism hides truth that ‘people have no role in their destinies,’ says Alawite dissident (19 January 2015)
Alawite: “If you find me an alternative to Nusra and ISIS, Asad wouldn’t find a single person behind him.”
When Women Become Terrorists (21 January 2015)
Jayne Huckerby criticizes the West’s inability to appreciate the role that women play in terror by discussing the example of the hunt for Hayat Boumeddiene.
Turkey's porous Syria border no barrier for jihadists (21 January 2015)
This Al-Monitor article raises questions about Hayat Boumeddiene as well as Ankara's political will to control its borders with Syria and confront the threat posed by ISIS jihadists.
The secret world of Isis training camps – ruled by sacred texts and the sword (24 January 2015)
Hassan Hassan writes about the ways in which Isis bases its teachings on religious texts that mainstream Muslim clerics ignore and the effect of these teachings on recruits.
More moderate Syrians ready to battle Islamic State than expected: U.S. official (25 January 2015)
U.S. plans to train and equip vetted Syrian opposition fighters in efforts to stop the Islamic State.
As US targets ISIS, al Qaeda's Syria branch waits in the wings (29 January 2015)
Lauren Williams compares between ISIS plans and The Nusra Front plans to build an Islamic state and discusses the effect of the US air campaign on these plans.
The Political Geography of Syria's War: An Interview with Fabrice Balanche (30 January 2015)
Aron Lund interviews Fabriche Balanche who provides an insight that takes a closer look at Syria’s war and the “interplay between power, community, and territory.”
‘We are so proud' – the women who died defending Kobani against Isis (30 January 2015)
After Kurdish forces took full control of Kobani, Mona Mahmood speaks to four Kurdish families about the female fighters contributions to this triumph.
Battered Syrian city deals with post-victory reality check (2 February 2015)
The victory in Kobani, Syria, is far from assured and “increasingly appears Pyrrhic.”
After defeating Islamic State in Kobane, what next for Syria's Kurds? (3 February 2015)
The battle may have been won in Kobane, but the challenge is rebuilding Kobane and changing military to political gains.
Jaish Al-Islam goes after another rival (3 February 2015)
Jaish al-Islam and allied factions continue to eradicate minor factions in East Gouta, claiming they’re linked to IS.
Moaz al-Kasaesbeh: profile of Jordanian pilot burned alive by Isil (3 February 2015)
Ruth Sherlock writes a profile about Lt Moaz Kasaesbeh, who was shown burned alive by ISIS jihadists in a video released on February 3rd.
Dispatches: Jordan’s Executions Are Not the Answer to ISIS Brutality (4 February 2015)
Eric Goldstein writes against the Jordanian authorities response to the brutal murder of al-Kasasbeh by executing death row prisoners, and argues that such actions do not weaken ISIS.
How much of a state is the Islamic State? (5 February 2015)
Quinn Mecham provides an insight into the “stateness” of ISIS as it has developed in early 2015.
Islamic State punishes cleric who objected to pilot's killing: monitor (6 February 2015)
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an Islamic State cleric who objected to the group's decision to burn to death al-Kasasbeh has been removed from his post and will be put on trial.
Islamic State claims American hostage killed in bombing in Syria (6 February 2015)
Adam Goldman and Karen DeYoung report on the death of Kayla Mueller, a humanitarian aid worker kidnapped and murdered by ISIS.
Guess Who’s Bombing ISIS? (7 February 2015)
Micah Zenko comments on the UAE’s behavior of suspending airstrikes against ISIS and the dynamics of the counter-ISIS coalition warfare.
Isis has reached new depths of depravity. But there is a brutal logic behind it (7 February 2015)
Hassan Hassan examines the ideology that is driving ISIS to ever more brutal killings.
Islamic State pulls forces and hardware from Syria's Aleppo rebels (9 February 2015)
While the Islamic State is under pressure from U.S.-led air strikes, they have started to evacuate several small villages in northeastern Aleppo and heading east.
Here's How Obama and Assad Team Up against ISIS (10 February 2015)
Jamie Dettmer argues that strong evidence suggests the White House and the Assad government in Syria are unofficially coordinating attacks against ISIS in Northern Iraq.
The destruction of the idols: Syria’s patrimony at risk from extremists (11 February 2015)
Patrick Cockburn writes about the ways in which Syria's wealth of archaeological treasures is under threat both from iconoclastic Islamic fundamentalists and looters operating amid the lawlessness of war.
Isis 'forces Raqqa citizens to give blood to fighters' badly wounded by coalition air strikes (11 February 2015)
Heather Saul reports that ISIS is forcing people living under its rule to give blood after dozens of fighters were injured in US-led coalition air strikes.
Syrian townspeople insist U.S. airstrike killed civilians (12 February 2015)
Syrians claim that U.S. kills 25 to 60 Syrian civilians in bombing of ISIS prison in al-Bab, but denies truth of reports.
Homo Homini human rights award given to a Syrian teacher that stood up to Bashar Assad's regime and the Islamic State (13 February 2015)
Souad Nawfal, a Syrian teacher and activist, was awarded the 2014 Homo Homini Award, for her perseverance and fortitude with which she stood against the injustices committed by President Bashar Assad's regime and the so-called Islamic State, regardless of the threat to her own safety.
Why the victory in Kobane matters (13 February 2015)
According to Aron Lund, the victory in Kobane was no “Pyrrhic victory,” the U.S. backed Kurdish defeat of the Islamic state in northern Syria was the beginning of a serious turn of events for the Islamic State.
Will Middle East ground troops be rallied against IS? (13 February 2015)
Muath Al Wari discusses the possibility of the participation of Middle Eastern forces in war against ISIS and the question of President Bashar al-Assad’s fate.
Manufacturing Silence: On Jordan's ISIS War, Arab Authoritarianism, and US Empire (14 February 2015)
Ziad Abu-Rish criticizes Jordanian regime’s silencing of dissent after al-Kassasbeh’s capture, which aims to legitimate “the regime at a time when regional protest movements have challenged authoritarian rule in new ways”.
A Libyan Front in the War on ISIS Might Not Be All That It Seems (16 February 2015)
Mary Dejevsky claims that the murder of twenty-one Egyptian guest-workers outside Sirte, Libya is a proof of a strong ISIS presence outside Northern Iraq and Syria.
Will Racism Keep ISIS from Teaming Up with Boko Haram? (18 February 2015)
Robert Windrem provides his insight into the difference between ISIS and Boko Haram. U.S. Intelligence officials claim that ISIS won't join forces with Nigeria's Boko Haram because of racism.
Missing Syria girls: Parents must 'keep passports under lock and key' to stop children joining Isis (23 February 2015)
Lizzie Dearden writes about ISIS social media campaign to target young girls and the increasing cases in which teenage girls had fled to Syria from London to join the jihadist group.
ISIS abducts scores of Christians in northeastern Syria, groups say (24 February 2015)
Greg Botelho and Gul Tuysuz report about the abduction of between 70 and 100 Assyrians in northeastern Syria villages by ISIS militants.
Islamic State is selling looted Syrian art in London to fund its fight (25 February 2015)
Daniela Deane writes about how many Syrian archaeological sites have suffered damage amid civil war as well as looting by the Islamic State.
Boko Haram + ISIS = Marriage from Hell (25 February 2015)
Tim Lister provides insights into the possibility of alliance between ISIS and Boko Haram, who “has also begun using ISIS symbolism in its media productions and operations “
How ISIS Runs a City (26 February 2015)
Thanassis Cambanis describes how ISIS functions much like a government than any of its “detractors,” collecting taxes, pumping oil, and policing streets.
Why Bashar Assad Won’t Fight ISIS (26 February 2015)
Aryn Baker gives her take on Bashar Al-Assad’s ulterior motive towards the Islamic State and how this approach is necessary.
ISIS Onslaught Engulfs Assyrian Christians as Militants Destroy Ancient Art (26 February 2015)
Anne Barnard writes about the assault on the Assyrian communities and the catastrophic loss for Iraq history and archaeology after the destruction of ancient relics and valuable objects inside the Mosul Museum, in northern Iraq, by ISIS.
Understanding Turkey's For ISIS, tough times as it seeks to regroup cross-border operation into Syria (28 February)
“It's been a tough month for the "Islamic State." Its fighters were finally driven out of the Syrian border town of Kobani after more than 100 days of fighting against Kurdish militia; Iraqi government forces pushed ISIS back in Diyala province; the city of Mosul -- still under ISIS control -- is beginning to look vulnerable”
Understanding Turkey's unprecedented cross-border operation into Syria (28 February 2015)
“Turkey is now realizing that it should update its security policy with the West in regards to the ISIS threat."
Policy and Reports
Why the Islamic State Will Continue to Exist in 2015 (7 January 2015)
Lina Khatib provides her perspective on the reasons that will keep The Islamic State as a major actor in the Syrian conflict in 2015 and beyond.
The Arabic version of this article can be found here:
تنظيم "الدولة الإسلامية" باقٍ في 2015
The Islamic State Eyes Expansion in Damascus (20 January 2015)
According to Chris Kozak, a Research Analyst at The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), "The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has begun to expand its presence in the Syrian central corridor which stretches from the Jordanian border through Damascus to the central cities of Homs and Hama."
Why the fight against Islamic State is not the success we're told it is (23 January 2015)
Scott Lucas explores the fundamental political challenges in Iraq and Syria and some alternatives that could challenge ISIS.
ISIS Tactics Questioned as Hostages Dwindle (1 February 2015)“F.B.I. claims ISIS-affiliated group is tasked with kidnapping journalists in the region & returning them to Syria”
Syria Situation Report: February 03-10, 2015 (11 February 2015)
According to Institute for the Study of War (ISW), “ISIS Continues to Lose Ground in Northeastern Aleppo: ISIS appears to be contracting in response to continued gains by the YPG and allied rebel forces.”
TSG IntelBrief: Extremists and Rebels Battle for Northern Syria (10 February 2015) According to Soufan Group, a New York-based security and intelligence firm, “amid reports the Islamic State is withdrawing from parts of Aleppo, the fighting in northern Syria has increasingly become Turkey’s regional battlefield.”
The “Islamic State” Crisis and U.S. Policy (PDF file) (11 February 2015)
Kenneth Katzman, Christopher M. Blanchard, Carla E. Humud, Rhoda Margesson and Matthew C. Weed provide a comprehensive report that analyze the situation in both Syria and Iraq after the emrgence of ISIS and the U.S. strategy to combat the Islamic State organization as well as policy debates and related legislative Issues.
TSG IntelBrief: The Islamic State’s Greatest Enemy (11 February 2015)
According to Soufan Group, a New York-based security and intelligence firm, the Islamic State has targeted both aid workers and journalists because “the goals of those two professions—providing aid and information—are anathema to the group.”
How to Authorize War (15 February 2015)
Jens David Ohlin applauds the White House for seeking congressional authorization for operations against ISIS but questions the nebulous definition of "associated forces" also targeted by the authorization.
ISIS is losing (23 February 2015)
Zack Beauchamp analyzes the current situation on ground and argues that ISIS will lose its battle to hold territory in Iraq
Economy and Agriculture
Oil prices have collapsed, but oil-rich ISIS says it's still in the black (5 January 2015)
Oil prices are rapidly decreasing, and there is a significant amount of external pressure being put on ISIS, however this does not seem to be hurting ISIS as much as planned.
The Isis economy: Meet the new boss (5 January 2015)
Erika Solomon provides insights into ISIS’s economic management in Syria and Iraq, "If Isis’s “caliphate” were a state, it would be a country of the poor. Most Syrians in the territory are struggling to get by on about $115 a month. Isis’s foreign fighters make as much as five times that. "
ISIS Could Cost Italy Billions In Libyan Oil Profits (20 February 2015)
Barbie Latza Nadeau explains how the emergence of ISIS in Libya affects current and future Italian investments. “Historically, Italy and Libya have had a cozy relationship, but as Libya unravels under the threat of ISIS, their bond with Italy is unraveling too. Billions of dollars in oil profits are caught in the crossfire.”
“ISIS Caliphate Meets China’s Silk Road Economic Belt” (22 February 2015)
Christina Lin examines the clashing ambitions between ISIS and China. “While the Western U.S.-led coalition continues to be hamstrung by a lack of ground forces, the coveted “boots on the ground” could eventually come from the East–as China asserts its military power to protect its energy supply and stem ISIS-inspired insurgency in its strategic Xinjiang province.”
Documentaries, Special Reports, and Other Media
Inside Kobane: Keeping Islamic State at bay (5 January 2015)
“The Kurdish border city of Kobane in Northern Syria has been under siege by Islamic State fighters for more than three months. But Kurdish forces are managing to retain hold of most of the city. As well as keeping IS at bay – they see getting their story out to the rest of the world as a vital part of their mission. An Iranian Kurdish film-maker spent two weeks inside Kobane following the men and women risking their lives to publicise the ongoing battle.”
"سبايا الخلافة": وثائقي بي بي سي عن الأيزيديات (12 January 2015)
The BBC documentary about sex slaves being held by ISIS and the trauma of the Yazidi women who bravely tell their stories.
Kazakh Child Soldier Executes ‘Russian Spies’ in Islamic State Video (13 January 2015)
A new video released by the official Islamic State media wing, Al Hayat Media, shows a Kazakh child soldier executing two men, allegedly identified as Russian “spies.”
Is U.S. Gaining Or Losing Ground Against ISIS? (15 January 2015)
“Is the U.S. gaining or losing ground in its bombing campaign against ISIS? Audie Cornish puts the question to Jennifer Cafarella, a fellow at the Institute for the Study of War.”
US should stop Syria not ISIS: Saudi prince (21 January 2015)
Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud told CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos U.S. policymakers should concentrate on eliminating the threat posed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad instead of Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
Families Beg Runaway U.K. Teen Girls Not to Join ISIS in Syria (21 January 2015)
“Families of two of the three teenage girls who U.K. counterterrorism officials fear are headed for Syria to join ISIS expressed their concern for the girls' safety”
Map: How the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria has surged since October (27 January 2015)
According to the ICSR, the number of foreign fighters traveling to Iraq and Syria has grown to 20,000, which indicates that the Syrian conflict has attracted more foreign militants than the 1980s Afghan conflict.
War Debate Looms for Congress (3 February 2015)
CNN reports on lawmakers' reactions to the White House request for a war authorization for operations against ISIS.
Source: ISIS wants more hostages (7 February 2015)
Paul Cruickshank and Steve Almasy report that ISIS has plans since the middle of last year to kidnap Westerners and others in neighboring countries.
We left them behind promo (8 February 2015)
We Left Them Behind, a documentary about kidnapped journalists who vanished in troubled Syria. Omar al-Muqdad investigates their stories from the moment they put foot in Turkey until their disappearance in Syria. The film took place in four different countries. From the USA to Turkey, Syria, Germany and back to the USA.
A Formal U.S. War On The Islamic State (12 February 2015)
Joshua Landis discusses the status of the Islamic State on NPR, and says that: “Unless you’re willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars, you’re not going to fix Syria.”
Noam Chomsky on the rise of Islamic State & the Ukraine crisis | Channel 4 News (12 February 2015) Noam Chomsky talks to Jon Snow about the rise of Islamic State and the crisis in Ukraine.
Landis: Assad Wants Cooperation From Unwilling U.S., No Partner In Syria (13 February 2015) According to Joshua Landis, the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad seeks to strategically team up with the U.S. against a common enemy, the Islamic State.
On The Kurdish Front Line In The Fight Against ISIS (16 February 2015)
“In the disputed area on the edges of IS-controlled territory are the last outposts of Kurdish resistance to IS”. With incredible access, Marco Maisano, Giacomo Betti and Marco Picinotti meet the hardened fighters and embittered refugees among them.
ISIS: On The Frontline (27 February 2015)
Ahlulbayt TV went to Iraq to find out what is happening on the frontlines on the war on ISIS.
Antiquities Scholar: Islamic State's Destruction of Museum & Library is Cultural & Ethnic Cleansing (27 February 2015)
Zainab Bahrani, professor of Near Eastern and East Mediterranean art and archeology at Columbia University, comments on the destruction of the ancient artifacts at the museum of Mosul by ISIS. The group also reportedly destroyed the Mosul public library, which housed more than 8,000 rare books and manuscripts.
بالفيديو...شاهد نموذجا عن مدارس داعش!
This video shows an example of schools under ISIS rule.
Arabic:
«داعش» يقطف ثمار «غزوة باريس»
Abdullah Suleiman Ali comments on the recent France Charlie Hebdo attacks and its connections to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
تبادل أسرى بين النظام السوري و"داعش" جنوب القلمون
Osman Al-Mukhtar reports that the Syrian regime and ISIS made a deal to exchange prisoners in Kalamoon, Syria.
بالصور: «داعش» يطلق «رجال الحسبة» في «ولاية طرابلس»
This article reports ISIS implementation of Hisbah in Tripoli, which means the duty of the ruler to command right and forbid wrong according to Sharia.
«داعش» يتمدد نحو اليمن والجزائر!
Abdullah Suleiman Ali discusses ISIS new expansions in Syria, Yemen, and Algeria.
The English version of this article can be found here:
Islamic State announces new province in Syria
"داعش" يعيد افتتاح مدارس الرقة باسماء جديدة
This article reports that ISIS reopened schools in Raqqah under new names and conditions.
متى يعتزل المقاتلون السوريون الجهاد
Salam al-Saadi shares his opinion about the future of Syrian jihadists and the power dynamics that they are caught within it.
شيزوفرينيا سورية
Bisan El Sheikh writes about women and sexuality issues under the rule of ISIS and the ways in which some Syrian opposition figures ignore these issues.
بالصور.. مخرج فلسطيني يحلّل فيلم حرق الكساسبة لحظة بلحظة
Nizar Abu Ziad, a Palestinian director, analyzes ISIS' 22-minute film entitled “Healing the Believers' Chests” that records Al-Kasasbeh murder.
عفراء جلبي تكتب: نيران داعش .. تفضح الجميع
Afra Jalabi criticizes the selective empathy with victims of violence in Syria depending on the identity of the killer.
حُرق الكساسبة فهل داعش هو المجرم الوحيد
Ammar Daiob criticizes representing ISIS, after al-Kasasbeh execution by burning, as the only criminal force in the ongoing conflict in Syria and ignoring other political powers’ violations and crimes.
هكذا "يسلب" ويصنع "داعش" أمواله ويثري خزائنه
This article highlights the strategies that Da‘ish uses to build its economy incomes.
العبادي لـ «الحياة»: بغداد خارج خطر «داعش» والسنّة أول المتضررين
Al-Hayat conducted an interview with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who addressed Iraqi-Iranian relations and their fluctuations in light of Islamic State attacks, and the Saudi Arabia issue, among other regional files.
The English version of this article can be found here:
Iraqi PM talks Iran, IS and Saudi Arabia
داعش يوزع منهاجاً دراسياً جديداً في الميادين بدير الزور
This article reports that Da‘ish started to distribute an Islamist Wahhabi curriculum in the schools of Mayadin city in Deir ez-Zor Governorate.
هل يمكن للأسد أن يكون شريك في مواجهة داعش؟
Haid Haid explores the possibilities of Al-Assad's army to win the battle against ISIS and Al-Nusra front.
استراتيجية أوباما في الحرب على «داعش» والنظام السوري
Raghida Dergham analyzes Obama's strategy to combat Da‘ish as well as the Syrian regime and the impact of the nuclear negotiations on this strategy.
تنظيم الدولة الإسلامية: منطق المغالاة في العنف
Dalia Ghanem-Yazbeck argues that ISIS strategy in showing extreme power and cruelty aims to motivate people to put pressure on their governments to withdraw their troops from the coalition.
"داعش" يكشف عن مفاوضات ساجدة ــ الكساسبة
Mohammad al-Fadilat discusses an audio recording released by ISIS that reveals aspects of the mediation process between ISIS and Abu Muhammad al-Maqdis regarding swapping Sajida al-Rishawi, the would-be bomber, for Moaz al-Kasasba, the captivated Jordanian pilot.
سوريا: فرار آلاف المسيحيين إثر اختطاف "داعش" للعشرات
This article reports the escape of thousands Syrian Christians after ISIS's abduction of 270 Assyrians in northeastern Syria villages.
تقارير ألمانية: داعش يستولي على نحو 3800 جواز سفر سوري خالي
ISIS has seized 3,800 blank Syrian passports in Raqqa, with valid passport numbers.
«داعش» والمسألة الطائفية في العراق
Amer Mohsen criticizes the dominant narrative that attributes the reasons behind the emergence of ISIS in Iraq to the "marginalization of Sunni".
The Islamic State's (ISIS, ISIL) Magazine: Dabiq
“All of the issues of the Islamic State's glossy propaganda magazine 'Dabiq,' named after a key site in Muslim apocalypse mythology can be found here.”
Or you can download the last issue (Issue 7) from here:
Islamic State (ISIS) Magazine: Dabiq - "From Hypocrisy to Apostasy" (Issue 7)
New Books
'ISIS: Inside The Army of Terror'; An Excerpt from Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan (23 February 2015)
"A legacy of both Saddam and al-Zarqawi, ISIS has excelled at couching its struggle in world-historical terms. It has promised both death and a return to the ancient glories of Islam. Thousands have lined up to join it, and even more have already fallen victim to it. The army of terror will be with us indefinitely."