We’ve all heard about the recent terrorist attacks in Paris carried by the vicious militant group ISIS, but I find that many of us lack the understanding of what exactly ISIS is. This leads me to ranswer the question: who is ISIS and what do they want?
Deriving from the Iraqi group al Qaeda, which consequently disowned ISIS in 2014, this radical anti-Western group is devoted to establishing an independent Islamic state in the region. Also differing from al Qaeda, ISIS is much more effective in maintaining control over seized states. The group’s most prominent state is in Raqqa, found in eastern Syria, which is home to much of Syria’s oil resources. ISIS is reported to be in control of over half of Syria’s oil, as well as some oil fields in Iraq. The group is thought to be introducing oil into the black market, potentially making them up to $3 million per day. With control of the majority of Syria’s oil, ISIS is gaining more and more momentum.
The recent Paris attacks have more than demonstrated the malicious nature of ISIS. The Islamic group claimed the attacks to be only “the first of the storm” and mocked France as a “capital of prostitution and obscenity.” With close to 130 people killed, ISIS’s claim that the attacks were only “the first of storm” is undoubtedly frightening for France and countries in alliance with France, such as the United States.
After seeing the brutality of ISIS’s actions, one may wonder what exactly do they want? Although the answer to this question is often unclear, one of the main goals of ISIS is to follow a strict Islamic way of life. Following takfiri doctrine, the Islamic State is committed to purifying the world by killing vast numbers of people. Overall, ISIS is highly dedicated to their religious beliefs and is willing to do whatever it takes to establish them. I think the most difficult aspect of ISIS to understand is its ability to harm innocent people in the process of implementing their beliefs.
I think it is important to understand the seriousness of ISIS and how difficult it has been, and will continue to be, to pacify them. One can only hope that tragedies such as the recent attack in Paris will not reoccur in France or other countries allied with France. Such acts of inhumanity only destroy the trust and comfort that people have in their country, not to mention the disheartening loss of loved ones when disaster strikes unexpectedly as it did in Paris. Paris, often referred to as “the city of love,” will no doubt get through this heartbreak as a community, but it is the underlying fear of attack by ISIS that desperately needs to be contained in order for people around the world to feel protected no matter where they are.
