Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
A new Egyptian antiterrorism law took effect this week, and to call it tough is an understatement.
As long as the Syrian conflict drags on, the self-proclaimed Islamic State will remain a reality and attract more sympathizers around the world.
Since the 2011 uprisings across the Middle East, each year has proven more challenging than the last. With conflicts spreading across the region, 2015 will follow a similar pattern.
With more than half of Syria under the control of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, there are concerns the militants are edging towards Baghdad.
Recent major territorial gains by the self-proclaimed Islamic State are making many players very nervous.
The chaos in Libya continues to have a negative impact on the region. Recently, a boat carrying immigrants from Libya to Italy was capsized and the Islamic State killed Ethiopian Christians.
The self-proclaimed Islamic State’s takeover of the Yarmouk refugee camp is good for Bashar al-Assad.
There are signs of internal dissension within the self-proclaimed Islamic State. But even if it is in partial retreat, it is a likely threat in the Middle East—and to Western interests—for years to come.
The self-proclaimed Islamic State uses media propaganda to compensate for military losses. The media must not become a platform for the group to promote its messages, as it seeks to assert power and influence.
Signs of genuine disunity inside the ISIS ranks would be something new, and a potentially important development for the countries locked in battle with the group.