Counter-Terrorism: That Is Just How ISIL Rolls

Archives

August 9, 2016: On July 13 ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) released data on its accomplishments during Ramadan (June 6 to July 5th). This is the annual period when observant Moslems fast and pray a lot. The Islamic calendar is lunar, meaning it follows the phases of the moon and thus these dates move each year. Most Islamic terror try to carry out more attacks during Ramadan which is typical of Islamic terrorist organizations. Attacks concentrate against what each group considers “enemies of Islam”. ISIL has a longer list than most and in 2016 claimed to have carried out or “inspired”143 attacks in 29 countries that killed over 5,000 people. About half the ISIL victims this year were Shia Moslems, six percent were Christians and the rest were mainly Kurds and other Sunni Moslems. Most Kurds are Sunni Moslems, as is ISIL, but the Kurds hate ISIL and have been one of the most effective Moslem groups in fighting ISIL. That makes the Kurds “enemies of Islam.” Kurds also anger ISIL by tolerating conversion from Islam to other religions. Most Sunni Moslems are opposed to ISIL but Sunnis are also the main source of recruits and cash donations for ISIL so some discretion is used. Nevertheless over 90 percent of ISIL’s victims during Ramadan were Moslems. Many of those attacks were not really connected with ISIL, but that’s just how ISIL rolls.

 


Article Archive

Counter-Terrorism: Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 


X

ad
0
20

Help Keep Us Soaring

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month.

Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage. A contribution is not a donation that you can deduct at tax time, but a form of crowdfunding. We store none of your information when you contribute..
Subscribe   Contribute   Close