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Despite Heavy Losses, ISIS Structures Remain Resilient
(The National-Abu Dhabi) Hassan Hassan - After more than 1,000 days of relentless American-led operations against ISIS, the once well-equipped and 35,000-strong organization has lost the bulk of its fighters and a large number of its commanders. Its territory has shrunk by over 80% in Iraq and 60% in Syria, and significantly fewer foreign fighters are now willing to join it. Yet national forces still lack the ability to protect themselves without precision air support from the U.S., even after these forces have expelled ISIS. "Taking territory away from them is such a temporary activity," said Craig Whiteside, professor at the Naval War College Monterey. ISIS "will be strong until they are dismantled in a more thorough way." The group's continued ability to run a full-fledged urban insurgency means that its organizational structures remain resilient. The writer is a senior fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy in Washington.