• Research
  • Strategic Europe
  • About
  • Experts
Carnegie Europe logoCarnegie lettermark logo
EUNATO
  • Donate
{
  "authors": [
    "Mario Abou Zeid"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Gulf",
    "Syria",
    "Iraq",
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform",
    "Security"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

In The Media
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

‘Islamic Caliphate’ or Dirty Intelligence Trick?

The Islamic State has ambitions in exporting its ideology outside the Middle East. What kind of threat does this pose to the global community?

Link Copied
By Mario Abou Zeid
Published on Aug 30, 2014

Source: Press TV

As Muslims around the world were celebrating the Holy Month of Ramadan, the leader of the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group announced himself the ‘Caliph.’ The ISIL terrorist group, which currently controls parts of eastern Syria and Iraq’s northern and western regions, continues to commit acts of violence against the people of Iraq and Syria. According to reports, around 80 Kurds were massacred and hundreds of women kidnapped as slaves when the terrorist group swept into the northern Iraqi town of Kocho. 

U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized military strikes on ISIL positions in Iraq. The United Nations has announced sanctions on individuals with links to the ISIL. The ISIL Takfiri militants took control of Iraq’s Mosul on June 10. They also took over the city of Tikrit but it was later liberated by the Iraqi army.

To discuss the global impact of ISIL and the threat it poses to countries outside the Middle East, Press TV’s Middle East Files spoke with Carnegie’s Mario Abou Zeid. 

This interview was originally broadcast on Press TV.

About the Author

Mario Abou Zeid

Former Research Analyst, Middle East Center

Abou Zeid was a research analyst at the Carnegie Middle East Center, where his work focuses on political developments in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

    Recent Work

  • In The Media
    Lebanese Presidential Elections

      Mario Abou Zeid

  • Article
    The Emerging Jihadist Threat in Lebanon

      Mario Abou Zeid

Mario Abou Zeid
Former Research Analyst, Middle East Center
Mario Abou Zeid
Political ReformSecurityGulfSyriaIraqMiddle East

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Europe

  • Commentary
    Can Europe Compete with the United States and China?

    Between the United States’ market-driven approach and China's state-led industrial strategy, Europe is reckoning with how it can remain competitive in the global economy. But is Europe in danger of becoming a U.S. or China colony?

      Noah Barkin, Anu Bradford

  • Europe flags citizens demonstration
    Commentary
    Strategic Europe
    EU Enlargement Forgets Europeans

    Preparing candidate countries for EU membership is no longer enough. As the enlargement process becomes a reality, the union must also prepare its own societies.

      Iliriana Gjoni

  • Climate desalination plant Saudi Arabia
    Paper
    Ecological Statecraft in the Midst of War: Water, Regeneration, and the Future of Gulf Security

    The U.S.-Iran war has crossed a dangerous threshold: water infrastructure in the Gulf is now a target. Ecological statecraft is no longer peripheral to security, it's part of its foundations.

      • Ali Bin Shahid

      Olivia Lazard, Ali Bin Shahid

  • Commentary
    Deciphering Europe’s Relationship with Turkey

    Debate is heating up on how Turkey could be integrated into a common European defense framework. Commercial and industrial deals offer a better chance at alignment than sweeping political efforts.

      Marc Pierini

  • Article
    EU Integration Without Ratification?

    Countries face several hurdles in joining the EU, including the final stage of ratifying their accession treaties. Procedural reforms and substantive adjustments could help move the process forward.

      Stefan Lehne

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Europe
Carnegie Europe logo, white
Rue du Congrès, 151000 Brussels, Belgium
  • Research
  • Strategic Europe
  • About
  • Experts
  • Projects
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
  • Gender Equality Plan
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Europe
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.