The Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant, abbreviated as ISIL is the same organization known by the name Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). ISIS is an Islamic militant group that has taken responsibility for terror and destabilization in the middle-east states of Iraq and Syria, forming what they term to be restoring the Islamic caliphate which operates across the borders of the two countries from which it draws most of its members. The USA and Russia have been at the forefront in helping the Syrian and Iraqi troops to fight the ISIS by bombing them from the air before the local forces attacks them on the ground (Fantz). The success of bombing the terror group by Russia America and its allied forces is a one of the short-term solutions to curb the terror group.
Sending ground troops to fight the ISIS in Iraq and Syria is considered impossibility by the United States government and even Americans support the government decision. The United States used massive resources in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and also incurred massive casualties in the process. Sending troops back to Iraq to fight the ISIS will be a costly affair and an increased burden on the American taxpayers. The number of soldiers who will perish in the case of ground operations by the United States will taint the foreign policy of the government in the public image. The debate of the achievements of the war against Saddam Hussein and the Taliban in Afghanistan already indicates that the United States and its allied forces cannot justify the advantages of the war over the disadvantages. The reality that the growth of ISIS is hugely attributable to the Iraq invasion by the United States military is used by critiques of taking soldiers to fight ISIS.
The Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria is another reason why the United States and the United Nations are against the deployment of ground troops to fight the ISIS militants. The United States government has declared its stand in the situation of Syria where the regime of al-Assad is fighting with rebels who sought to overthrow it since the Arab revolution of 2011. The United States has opposed the attack on civilians by the Assad regime and hence a stand-off could ensue in case the United Soldiers are deployed in Syria to fight the ISIS (Gusovsky). The government of Syria is currently being supported by the Russian forces who are carrying out bombings of ISIS and other rebels groups opposed to the Assad governance. Considering that the United States and the Russian governments are not in the best terms, taking ground forces to fight ISIS remains a complicated affair.
There are however other ways through which the international community can utilize to stabilize Iraq and Syria and in the process eliminate the domination of ISIS in the region. One of the means is mediating and strengthening the current governing authorities and the moderate rebel groups in both Syria and Iraq to form inclusive governments under the guard of the international society (Al-Rubaye). This would ensure that the people in power are strengthened to be able to fight the ISIS on their own.
A middle ground must be reached on the position of the United States and the Russian government regarding the Syrian conflict (Gusovsky). One of the reasons for ISIS thriving in the region is the lack of unity of the forces fighting it in the two countries. If the Iraq and Syria government and their supporting allies in USA and Russia could effectively help to mount a united front which in turn could help curb the ISIS menace.
In conclusion, the threat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria is a threat to the regional security and the spread of Salafi Jihadism into other countries in the world pose a threat to global peace. The constant bombardment of the ISIS strongholds as a way of supporting the ground forces of the countries to fight the ISIS is a step in the right direction. There is, however, the need to mount a united front against the ISIS by all opposed factions such as the governments of Syria, Iraq and their allied forces. Finding a common ground for the governments and moderate rebels is another way that the international community can help achieve as a way to defeat ISIS and eventually stabilize the two countries.
Works Cited
Al-Rubaye, Ahmad. "Fighting ISIS". Cbsnews.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 June 2016. http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/fighting-isis/
Fantz, Ashley. "War On ISIS: Who's Doing What?". CNN. N.p., 2016. Web. 3 June 2016. http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/20/world/war-on-isis-whos-doing-what/
Gusovsky, Dina. "Russia And US Could Join Forces To Combat ISIS". CNBC. N.p., 2015. Web. 3 June 2016. http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/16/russia-us-may-find-common-ground-in-fight-against-isis.html
