INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST: ISIS AS A CASE STUDY

The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) with their brutal Sunni Muslim terror organization [42] swept into the global media spotlight [23] and to prominence in 2012-2014 during and after Syria’s civil war with their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi [42]. The international community has watched in shock as the group has terrorized en masse those that do not comply with its violent and extremist worldview. ISIS poses a direct threat to international safety and security, as they are the largest in land control and fighting size, and wealthiest terrorist organization in history. ISIS now controls more territory and resources than any terrorist organization that has ever existed [42]. A comparative approach allows us to map where IS has developed new techniques, as well as where it has mimicked or built off of previous jihadist tactics [22]. This paper analyzes International terrorism in the Middle East with critical view on ISIS as a case study and proposed coherent political solution.