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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?

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By Mario Abou Zeid
Published on Aug 30, 2014
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Middle East

The Middle East Program in Washington combines in-depth regional knowledge with incisive comparative analysis to provide deeply informed recommendations. With expertise in the Gulf, North Africa, Iran, and Israel/Palestine, we examine crosscutting themes of political, economic, and social change in both English and Arabic.

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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.

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