Overview

In the Summer of 2014, the world learned of a new horror as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) stormed its way into the sovereign state of Iraq. Fueled by a religious fervor and united through Salafist dogma, ISIL overwhelmed Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) through use of tempo and deliberate lines of operation to achieve strategic aims. Within a two-month period, ISIL advanced hundreds of kilometers, secured multiple population clusters, and established a governmental regime to replace the Iraqi government. With the withdrawal of U.S. combat power from Iraq, and the lucrative investment of Iraqi forces, multiple questions remain unanswered. How could a group of jihadists, with limited training, armed with technical vehicles and various small arms weapons overwhelm the security forces of the Iraqi government? Through the lens of Quranic warfare, this monograph argues that operational art was present during ISIL's offensive action and consolidation activities. Understanding the deliberate methodologies of jihadist organizations, like ISIL, will enable today's military practitioners to further understand jihadists and their Salafist ideology. This monograph examines the presence of lines of operation, tempo, center of gravity, lines of effort, phasing and transitions during ISIL's offensive and consolidation activities. The monograph discusses ISIL's adherence to Salafist ideologies and the unique requirements to maintain a global caliphate. United by their interpretations of pure Sunni Islam, members of ISIL can converge both lethal and non-lethal action against belligerents. The monograph concludes with the understanding of ISIL's deliberate arrangement of lethal and non-lethal activity to accomplish strategic objectives.This compilation also includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.1. Introduction * Background of the Study * Statement of the Problem * Significance of the Study * Definition of Terms * Theoretical Framework * Research Questions * Limitations * Delimitations * Organization of the Study * 2. Literature Review * Past Jihadist Doctrine and Literature: Justification for War * Past Jihadist Doctrine and Literature: The Objective of War * Past Jihadist Doctrine and Literature: The Conduct of War * Current ISIL Doctrine and Literature * 3. Methodology * Data Collection * Data Analysis * 4. Case Study * ISIL's Iraq Offensive, May-July 2014: Campaign Summary * ISIL's Iraq Offensive, May-July 2014: Research Questions * ISIL Consolidation Activities, May-July 2014: Campaign Summary * ISIL's Consolidation Activities, May-July 2014: Research Questions * 5. Findings and Analysis * 6. ConclusionISIS's activities in the summer of 2014 are noteworthy in that a jihadist organization yielded tactical success through synchronized activity and achieved strategic effects against a coherent opponent. Since the receding of controlled territory, the world is growing aware at the sophistication and organized decision-making ISIS employed. Understanding the strategic aims and operational frameworks of modern jihadist groups requires the military practitioner to understand ISIL's activities in Iraq in the summer of 2014.

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9781699042106

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