07 June 2, 2016
The Fighting in Syria and Iraq has been pronounced since 2013 with concurrent warfare at the hands of jihadists in sectarian enclaves fighting to protect their areas, but failing like the Iraqi, and Syrian government to reclaim national territories from ISIL rule. Jenkins (2015) mentioned that there is a connection between the civil war in Syria, the perpetual conflict in Iraq, the breakdown of Al Qaeda, and possible connection to the Islamic State, and threats of terrorism that have been posed by jihadist foreign fighters who have joined jihadist groups that have become active participants in the Iraq/Syria conflict. This prompted bombings by the United States of America (U.S.A). The conflict in both countries is primarily being driven by ethnic and sectarian divisions. National armies of Iraq and Syria have both failed in their abilities to restore authority, shifting power to the insurgents. The conflict continues as this power shift has largely weakened central governments in Syria, and Iraq (Jenkins, 2015). In spite of the U.S.A led bombing campaign, the fighting in Syria, and Iraq will continue in the future. The conflict is no longer about politics, and peace but since none of the insurgents can see themselves under the rule of their enemies, where the warfare has become a mechanism of pure violence, and revenge (Jenkins, 2015). The Ascent of ISIL: Fighting between forces of Jabhat al-Nusra (JAN) in Syria, which is an al Qaeda affiliate as well as members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), in Iraq an affiliate of al Qaeda. ISIL has become a rising jihadist main-stay in the area since 2014, where it has grown in Iraq, and toppled leadership in al Qaeda, while killing Sunni Muslims who did not want to follow ISIL’s interpretation of Islam, and innocent Shia Muslims, non-Muslims who opposed its ideologies and version of Sharia law, and responsible for violent and indiscriminate bombings in Iraq that was responsible for thousands of deaths (Jenkins, 2015). ISIL claimed its ownership and authority in the region as a self-proclaimed caliphate over enclaves in Iraq, and throughout the Levant (Jenkins, 2015). In spite of the battles between ISIL, and ethnic rebel in Syria, it was able to gain control, and maintain its operations in Iraq territories (Jenkins, 2015).
Role of Gulf Cooperation Council: Anthony(2015) mentions that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was formed as a result of an agreement established on May 1981 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, along with other member nations such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE (”Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), n.d.”). The GCC was established to handle special relations, in the area based on geography and political concerns but all dealt with based on common objectives, joint goals, and beliefs in Islam(”Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), n.d.”). The primary role of the GCC is to coordinate, interconnect and integrate with all member states of the GCC in order to strengthen connection between peoples of the members states, where they formulate policies on which they all are concerning sectors such as trade, finances, legislation, security, water, natural resources to name a few(Harb, 2014). The GCC is an ally to the United States in a coalition led-campaign to topple ISIL, and restore power to government officials in Iraq, and Syria while ridding the region of militia action, and terrorism (Anthony, 2015). Role of Gulf Cooperation Council views of ISIS: ISIS’s iedoelogical extreme, poltical, security, and ides on governmance are at the oppositve end of the spectrum to GCC ideologies that have more of a Western influences (Anthony, 2015). The countries that are part of the GCC are the most reliable and strongest partners for the United States in its anti-ISIL campaign. Countries of GCC have lent their military weaponry to destabilize ISIS movement in the area (Harb, 2014). GCC has regional and local legitimacy in fighting ISIL, and for this reason it is very integral to the anti-ISIL warfare (”Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), n.d.”). When countries that are part of GCC as well as Jordan support the U.S.A led coalition against ISL, this would legitimize the operation against ISIL in the area, and would not be criticized as another war that is promoted by the United States in the Middle East against Islamic ummah. GCC’s primary focus is to fight terrorism in the area, both local and regional (Harb, 2014).
Works Cited
Anthony, J.D. ISIS, the United States, and the GCC, 2015. Web. 07 June 2016
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), n.d. Web. 07 June 2016
Harb, I. The Return of Strong GCC-U.S. Strategic Relations. 2014. Web. 07 June 2016
Jenkins, B.M. How the Current Conflicts Are Shaping the Future of Syria and Iraq, 2015.
Web. 07 June 2016
