The world is gradually awakening to the terror threat posed by the IS militants. The joint operation against the insurgents in the north of Iraq is a case in point.
The local Kurdish forces are reportedly advancing to retake Mosul dam from the Islamic State militants. In doing so they enjoy the air umbrella of the US forces. This is a well-coordinated strategic move in an attempt to push back the enemy from the water reservoir, which forms the lifeline for the region, and also to limit their march towards the south. The militants had seized the dam that provides water and electricity to northern Iraq. The Kurdish forces reportedly also enjoy arsenal support from Britain, and have several other undeclared avenues of armament supplies. This not only makes the minority community in the north a direct stakeholder in the upheaval but also a geopolitical entity when the state of affairs of the region comes up for a review.
The point is that the IS militants could have more effectively been checked when they started pouring into Iraq from Syria where they were battered down by the regime in Damascus. The notion that enemy of my enemy is friend prevented the West from taking action against the Islamic Levant forces, whereas there too they indulged in mass massacre and destruction. Had they been exterminated in Syria itself, and the West had not blundered by pampering radical militias against President Bashar Al Assad, the geostrategic reality would have been different. But now the West, especially London, is having nightmares as it fears that the dreaded group haunts geopolitical peace of not only Iraq but also shores far away from the Middle East.
The return of several Brits to home with alleged links with such groups is an instance of terror backlash. The issue is not limited to Britain, as Australia too is concerned over the groups penetration into the youngsters ranks and file. The blatant and daredevil media tweets of an Aussie citizen holding a severed head somewhere in Iraq with the IS militants had forced Canberra to review its anti-terrorism strategy. Similarly, former British foreign secretary William Hague had repeatedly warned of young falling under extremists indoctrination and coming back to Europe for furthering their propaganda as a direct threat to the pluralistic liberal society.
These are serious issues and demand comprehensive policy introspection. The least that needs to be done is to stem the onslaught of the IS and disarm them well within the Iraqi territory. Their spillover across the borders once again would be catastrophic. It is, indeed, an existential threat to the region and civility. Khaleej Times
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