By Anant Mishra
10 Jan , 2015
The United Nations Security Council has given a top priority to eliminate the threat of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL popularly known as IS or ISIS) that posses a grave danger to the international community and global peace. However adequate steps are already taken in the past but further action is required. Severe human rights violations, mass killings and executions have been reported ever since the ISIL took control over parts of Syria and Iraq; in the previous weeks alone, numerous reports on mass executions, beheadings, rapes, torture, sexual enslavement and kidnappings were submitted to the UNHCR.
However air raids and aerial bombings from US and allied nations have assisted them in recovering some territories from ISIL; a more extensive and coordinated military strategy is required to eliminate the militants from their territories and stop human rights violations. With the increase in returning fighters from militant occupied regions throughout the world to the western civilization only creates a need of more urgency to address this situation. This concern of international community has to be addressed through the Security Council’s resolution.
Background
In October 2004, United Nations officially designated the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) as terrorist organization. Right after seizing significant territories of Iraq and Syria with approximately eight million civilians residing, ISIL proclaimed its world leader, Caliph Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi as the leader of worldwide Muslim populations and successor to the Prophet. They crowned him the king slayer of infidels. ISIL is probably the only militant organization that uses social media applications like twitter and YouTube for military propaganda, beheadings and mass execution. During its course of operation ISIL has been responsible for countless human rights violations and atrocities against civilians. Force religious conversions and physical torture are normal operations of ISIL.
Although most of the Islamic communities have condemned the “actions in the name of religion” by ISIL; recently the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia declared ISIL as “enemy number one” of Islam.
Organizational Structure
The Islamist group of ISIL is commanded by the caliph Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, along with his deputy commander Abu Ali al Anbari and Abu Muslim al Turkmani, which are currently commanding the regions of Iraq and Syria respectively. The working structure comprise of Twelve governors who are responsible for the administrative working within the regions along with working councils on finance, leadership, military matters, legal matters, fighters’ assistance, security, intelligence, and media, completes the regime. A Shura Council has been established that takes care of all the matters within the Sharia law. ISIL’s main source of income comes from exporting oils form the captured oil fields, selling sacred archaeological findings in the black market, illegal collection of taxes and ransom.
ISIL’s main source of income comes from exporting oils form the captured oil fields, selling sacred archaeological findings in the black market, illegal collection of taxes and ransom.
Huge donations from Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates add to the ISIL’s financial aid. If we talk about the arms and weaponry under its disposal, ISIL has military equipment from the Syrian military depots in region acquired under its rule and the ones from lost Syrian rebels and Iraqi soldiers along with some US military equipments. In a report submitted by the Senate Defence Committee to the White House, CIA estimated around 20,000 to 30,000 militants in ISIL by October 2014, and a huge amount of jihadists joining the organization worldwide. The intelligence agency also predicted around 1000 fighters entering the conflict zone from worldwide. However the number of fighters entering the conflict zones hail from the neighbouring nations but the fighters coming from the west is a major concern. CIA estimates these fighters within the range of 2000-5000.
History and Military actions (2013/2014)
ISIL started as a front of operations for AL Qaeda and by 2003, it started working as a sub group for carrying out militant operations in Middle East. It carried out numerous bombings, mass executions, suicide attacks and murders, captured their insanity on videos and publishing on jihadists website. By the end of 2007, ISIL started carrying out its operations in the entire Iraqi territory, killing 520 civilians and dozen soldiers. In May 2010 Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi rose to power, further increasing the attacks. After entering Syrian Civil war of 2011, they began their fight against the Assad’s regime simultaneously with Free Syrian Army. In January 2012, they called fighters from the Al Nusra front to push back the regime soldiers and FSA rebels and opened an Al Qaeda branch along the borders of Syria and Lebanon. In April 2013, these militant groups got involved in the political struggle. By the second half of 2013, ISIL had successfully captured cities within Syria and established its headquarters in the city of Mosul (Iraq) and continued their attacks on cities of both Iraq and Syria targeting mostly Christian and Alawite communities.
In a report submitted by Human Rights Watch to UNHCR, ISIL was responsible for killing at least 190 civilians and taking 200 POW’s, mostly women and children. By August 2013, the casualties increased with a record higher than ever.
In a video recorded by Al Baghdadi, ISIL opened a training camp for underage soldiers, particularly for those under 10. In a report issued by Amnesty International, the organization used tactics such as torture, lashings and targeted killings within their prisons. On January 2014, FSA launched a large scale ground attack on ISIL bases throughout Syria. With the end of February 2014, ISIL witnessed the end of all its allies within the Syrian boundaries including the Al Nusra front.
UNHCR estimates that there are over 1 million Iraqi populations on the run.
Shocked with this defeat, ISIL claimed itself an Islamic Nation on June 29th 2014. Undoubtedly ISIL has extended its territory throughout the year, along with its most important victory over the town of Mosul (Iraq), and capturing money, military equipment and oil fields worth 1.5 Million USD. By July 2014 Christian communities within the occupied regions were asked either to convert to Islam or pay a religion tax “jizya” or leave the city. The Iraqi army failed to contain the situation and did little to assist the people in the conflict. In the city of Tikrit alone 3000 Iraqi soldiers surrendered to ISIL; then the Islamist group subsequently divided the soldiers in Shiite and Sunni, later killing the Shiites.
August, September and October brought shocking reality of ISIL in the media. Journalists James Foley, Steven Footloff and David Haines along with international aid worker Alan Henning were executed and their execution videos were published on internet to avenge the American air strike of 8th August and UK’s transfer of weapons to Kurdish fighters of Peshmerga. In September 2014, ISIL captured the Syrian city of Kobani near the Turkish borders that too attracted international attention. After a huge pressure from the International Community’s Turkey opened its borders for refugees. With the help of US air support, Kurdish fighters are giving a tough fight in the region.
Human Rights violations and Ideology
Taking about the ideology of ISIL, it is entirely based on ultraconservative Sunni Wahhabism with more focus on importance of Sharia. They are strictly prohibited to consume alcohol, carry their weapons and hold meetings. Women are forced to wear burqa’s and cover their face; they are also banned from leaving the house. Muslims and particularly those believing in other dominations and dialect are considered a threat to Islam are shot to death, if found in the area. These so called “religious practices” are heavily criticised by Muslim communities’ throughout the world.
Muslims and particularly those believing in other dominations and dialect are considered a threat to Islam are shot to death, if found in the area.
In August 2014, United Nations accused ISIL for committing mass execution and atrocities against the civilian population. ISIL is responsible for conducting mass execution against ethnic minorities such as Christians, Alawits, Yazidi communities and Shiite Muslims. During the siege of cities in northern Iraq, a large number of Yazidi populations were captured. In a video issued by Al Baghdadi, he stated that the ultimate goal of ISIL is to eliminate the existence of Yazidi community from the world. As a result, more than 300 male captives were killed and women and children were kept as slaves.
Almost 200,000 escaped from the ISIL compounds, to shelter themselves in the Sindschar Mountains. However only 10% of the escapees could be saved by the Peshmerga forces. The rest are still held captive in the ISIL occupied region. ISIL trade women as young as of the age of 9 and rape of non Muslim women are encouraged. They use physically disabled persons to carry out suicide bombings. Mass execution of men, women and children, frequent rapes, murders, beheadings has become their daily routine. UNHCR estimates that there are over 1 million Iraqi populations on the run. The United Nations Human Rights Council considers ISIL as “an organization that seeks to subjugate civilians under its control and dominate every aspect of their lives through terror, indoctrination, and the provision of services to those who obey”.
International Responses
International Military Response
After Mossul fell into the hands of ISIL, Iraqi government approached United States for help. On 8th August 2014, US started aerial bombardment upon many ISIL known locations. Following the air strike Iraqi and Kurdish forces were able to recapture many cities that were previously held under ISIL rule. Additionally a large number of military advisors from the US and the UK were sent to coordinate and strategise military attacks on the front.
China although agrees on the fact that ISIL pose a grave threat to the international peace and eliminating this threat is the only active solution but it also argues on the fact that US should accept the bitter truth of supporting ISIL by invading Iraq in 2003.
On 5th September an “International response against ISIL” was formed. This international response team comprised of military personnel from US, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Australia, and Turkey. However on 12th September 2014, Middle East nations Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and UAE too joined the international response team. During the heavy fighting in September, Australia announced the transfer of over 600 military teams and 39 combat aircrafts to fight against Islamists groups. Shocked and angered by the international cooperation, a French nationalist Hervé Gourdel was abducted by ISIL supporters in Algeria and later beheaded on 24 September. As the fighting intensified in October, additional airstrikes were conducted by Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, UAE and the UK. Nations like Belgium, Netherlands, and Denmark sent soldiers and officers to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces, along with caches of ammunitions.
Some EU nations like Germany and Italy provided trainings of military equipment to Kurdish fighters.
Humanitarian Responses
A large Humanitarian Operation was conducted by US, UK, and Australia, along with its international partners, and focussed on refugees in the North Iraq, by air dropping water and survival aid. Till now EU has distributed around €17 million aid for humanitarian assistance.
International Stand
US led coalition
The US led coalition comprises of over 40 nations providing assistance at various levels. As per the United Nations Security Council nations such as France, the United Kingdom the United States, Jordan, and Australia have directly engaged the Islamists on various fronts. The EU has provided intensive rehabilitation facilities and air dropped aids. According to the President Obama, the ultimate goal of the coalition is to “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIL through combined and coordinative military strategy from Iraq and Syria. However looking at the ongoing situation there is absolutely no need to deploy more boots on the ground.
Russia and China
Russia and China are the only two permanent members of the Security Council that has not joined the fight against ISIL, yet. However Russia has expressed deep concerns about the ongoing situation but remains on the stand of strengthening ties with the two conflict nations. Russia has attempted to block the resolutions passed in the Security Council, while China has made a stand not to interfere in internal matters of sovereign nations. China although agrees on the fact that ISIL pose a grave threat to the international peace and eliminating this threat is the only active solution but it also argues on the fact that US should accept the bitter truth of supporting ISIL by invading Iraq in 2003. Both the nations have vetoed for the interference of ICC in the conflict.
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